Mechanism design theory has given economists a set of tools for designing institutions to achieve socially desirable outcomes. Unfortunately, the behavioral assumptions that these theories often rest are somewhat unrealistic. Testing these institutions in a laboratory setting gives us insight into what assumptions or properties of institutions make them behaviorally successful. Moreover these insights allow us to create new theories that offer, in principle, better actual performance. Thus, the interplay between experimental economics and economic theory seems vital in mechanism design to insure successful institutions. It is in this spirit that this dissertation precedes focusing entirely with mechanisms that were designed to achieve the Lindahl allocation in a public goods environment. The first chapter experimentally examines three such mechanisms in a laboratory setting. It finds that the mechanism that gets the closest to the Lindahl allocation is the one that induces a game with very strong stability of equilibrium properties. Unfortunately this mechanism also has some clear disadvantages: first, it is very complicated; second, payoffs to consumers while learning to play equilibrium are very low; and last, the mechanism gets more complicated when more people participate. The second chapter uses the insights from the first experiment to create a new institution which avoids some of the concerns outlined above while maintaining the strong stability of equilibrium property. The third chapter contributes a missing stability result into the literature. The final chapter of the dissertation experimentally compares the new mechanism introduced in chapter 2 with the most successful mechanism from the first experiment. The treatments in this experiment are designed to stress the above observed trouble areas.

There is no abstract available for this dissertation. / School of Physical Education

abstract: State-owned Enterprises (SOE) in China were described as Government Business Enterprises (GBE) in planned economy time. Not only as investor and owner, but also manager, government at that time was an all-powerful role in GBE. All factors of production, such as money, raw materials, production, sell, human affairs, were all decided by administrative orders. After reform and opening up, especially since 90s of last century, some related laws, including The Companies Act, were gradually promulgated and carried out, State-owned Enterprises have been found fairly like modern enterprises in appearance, but observe carefully, you will find that with the growing up of the market mechanism, Non-market mechanism still exists stubbornly during the whole company's actual operation. This study focus on two cases of State-owned Enterprises, which are administrated by myself. Trying to find out the difference in business efficiency and group cohesiveness, this study examines the effects of the market mechanism and non-market mechanism, which are respectively operated as a pivotal figure in the two companies. Under the background of the social transformation and State-owned Enterprises’ deepen reform, for stimulating the vitality and efficiency of companies, this study tries to find an optimization management model for State-owned Enterprises. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Business Administration 2015

Over the last decade there has been a worldwide increase in the use of retractable roofs for stadia. This increase has been based on the flexibility and better economic performance offered by venues featuring retractable roofs compared to those with traditional fixed roofs. With this increased interest an evolution in retractable roof systems has followed. This dissertation is concerned with the development of concepts for retractable roof systems. A review is carried out to establish the current state-of-the-art of retractable roof design. A second review of deployable structures is used to identify a suitable retractable structure for further development. The structure chosen is formed by a two-dimensional ring of pantographic bar elements interconnected through simple revolute hinges. A concept for retractable roofs is then proposed by covering the bar elements with rigid cover plates. To prevent the cover plates from inhibiting the motion of the structure a theorem governing the shape of these plate elements is developed through a geometrical study of the retractable mechanism. Applying the theorem it is found that retractable structures of any plan shape can be formed from plate elements only. To prove the concept a 1.3 meter diameter model is designed and built. To increase the structural efficiency of the proposed retractable roof concept it is investigated if the original plan shape can be adapted to a spherical surface. The investigation reveals that it is not possible to adapt the mechanism but the shape of the rigid cover plates can be adapted to a spherical surface. Three novel retractable mechanisms are then developed to allow opening and closing of a structure formed by such spherical plate elements. Two mechanisms are based on a spherical motion for the plate elements. It is shown that the spherical structure can be opened and closed by simply rotating the individual plates about fixed points. Hence a simple structure is proposed where each plate is rotated individually in a synchronous motion. To eliminate the need for mechanical synchronisation of the motion, a mechanism based on a reciprocal arrangement of the plates is developed. The plate elements are interconnected through sliding connections allowing them mutually to support each other, hence forming a self-supporting structure in which the motion of all plates is synchronised. To simplify the structure further, an investigation into whether the plate elements can be interconnected solely through simple revolute joints is carried out. This is not found to be possible for a spherical motion. However, a spatial mechanism is developed in which the plate elements are interconnected through bars and spherical joints. Geometrical optimisation of the motion path and connection points is used to eliminate the internal strains that occur in the initial design of this structure so a single degree-of-freedom mechanism is obtained. The research presented in this dissertation has hence led to the development of a series of novel concepts for retractable roof systems.

The combustion of petroleum-based fuels leads to the formation of several pollutants. Among them, soot particles are particularly harmful due to their severe consequences on human health. Over the past decades, strict regulations have been placed on automotive and aircraft engines to limit these particulate matter emissions. This work is primarily focused on understanding the fundamental behaviour of soot particles and their formation. Though the focus of this work is on soot formation and growth pathways, the study of the gas-phase combustion process was also an integral part to validate the mechanism. A reduced mechanism is developed with retaining the larger PAH species till coronene from KAUST-ARAMCO mechanism. Counterflow diffusion flames had emphasized the simulation of canonical configuration where the reduced mechanism is validated and the soot growth pathways are evaluated. The importance of the significant contribution of larger PAH species on the soot growth pathways in both SF and SFO flames is evident in this analysis. The sensitivity of these flames with respect to strain rates, dilution, and at higher pressures are analysed. Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) of two-dimensional counterflow diffusion flames is conducted to understand the impact of vortex interactions on soot characteristics. The results indicate that the larger PAH species contributes to the soot formation in the air-side perturbation regimes, whereas the soot formation is dominated by the soot transport in fuel-side perturbation. The study is extended to simulate and compare coflow laminar flame using different statistical moment methods MOMIC, HMOM and CQMOM.

Master 's thesis deals with design of a drivetrain of six cylinder inline engine with cylinder deactivation for heavy agricultural vehicles. In this thesis were devised various possibilities of crankshaft balancing, the best design solution of counterweight was based on optimization in software Catia. Further, the crankshaft was analysed for force and momentum loading and torsional vibration, based on which, the torsional vibration damper was designed. There were considered several options for cylinder deactivation, which were analysed for finest run of engine and the best thermal distribution. Based on these criteria, the best option was to deactivate 2nd and 5th cylinder. The crankshaft was analysed for the fatigue failure by finite element method. The fatigue failure is the most dangerous case for the crankshaft, the resulting safety factor for this limit state is 3,05.

The diploma thesis deals with a design of a rotating part of a crane trolley of a scrap crane with a load capacity of 110,000 kg, which is situated in an exterior environment. The aim of the diploma thesis is a design and calculation verified design of the lifting mechanism, rotation mechanism and the design of a spacious traverse, which is used for the manipulation of the scrap trough and casting ladle.

This master´s thesis deals with a proposed design of the derrick of the filling car of a coke-oven battery, which is used for working with unit loads, repairing and maintenance of the filling car and cleaning of the battery risers. In the first part a solution concept was chosen. For this concept a main steel structure was designed, which was controlled in stress analysis by the FEM program I-DEAS NX 11. Further, the main parts of the lifting and travelling mechanism were calculated using specified parameters. In the conclusion of this thesis the results summary of specified targets is stated. Assembly drawing is in the annex of this thesis.

The main goal this thesis is presenting solution for manipulation with chopper BELL between of hangar and landing zone. The main task is design useful construction solution by required task, also perform a strenght calculations each part of mechanism and drawing documentation. Also included is a 3D visualization of the entire mechanism.

The diploma thesis deals with some parts of bridge magnet crane with 15 tons of nominal lifting capacity. This crane is designed for operation in the steel mill for handling billets using magnets suspended on the traverse. This work is focused on design of hoisting and traverse mechanism of crane trolley, selection of individual components on the basis of relevant standards and calculations. Next part of this thesis is investigation magnet traverse in terms of its strength according to standard ČSN EN 13001.