Goal: The aim of the current studies was to evaluate the ability of individual defenses to differentiate Antisocial (APD) and Borderline (BPD) personalities. Because multiple defense measures were utilized, Study 1 was dedicated to evaluating the convergent validity between the measures used: Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ), Defense-Q, and Defense Mechanism Manual (DMM). Studies 2, 3, and 4, then evaluated the ability of the defenses to differentiate APD and BPD groups. Method: In Study 1, participants completed all defense measures and correlations were conducted between the individual defenses. In Studies 2, 3, and 4, groups of nonclinical participants were divided into APD and BPD groups based on scores from the Personality Assessment Inventory. They also completed the DSQ (Studies 2, 3, & 4), the Defense-Q (Study 3), and/or the DMM (Study 4).The groups were then examined for differences on defenses using MANOVA and DFA analyses. Results: Results from Study 1 revealed no significant correlations between the measures for any of the individual defenses. In Studies 2, 3, and 4, DSQ and Defense-Q results revealed that defenses were able to differentiate the APD and BPD groups, but the DMM results did not replicate these findings. Univariate analyses showed that many defenses differed between the groups (e.g., Acting Out, Denial, and Turning Against Self), while others showed no differences (e.g., Idealization). Conclusion: The results were discussed in relation to previous theory and research. The findings provided support for many theoretical expectations. For example, the results supported: Kernberg (1984) who posited both groups would use primitive defenses (e.g., Splitting, Denial); Perry and Cooper (1986) who posited BPD groups would internalize negative views towards the self; and Gacono and Meloy (1988) who believed Denial was characteristic of APD. Overall, the results suggested that APD and BPD groups demonstrated differences in defense use.

This essay presents a portrayal of Heathcliff, Catherine and Isabella from a psychoanalytical perspective with regard to four defense mechanisms; namely, repression, denial, sublimation and projection in order to see how these defense mechanisms have affected the characters’ decisions and behaviour, and led them to their destinations in life. It will include three major sections: repression in characters, denial in characters, and sublimation and projection in characters. These terms will be more clearly defined and explained in the subsequent sections.

In product pricing and reserving, actuaries are often required to make predictions of future death rates. In the past, this has been performed by using deterministic improvement scales that give only a single mortality trajectory. However, there is enormous likelihood that future death rates will turn out to be different from the projected ones, and so a better assessment of longevity risk would be one that consists of both a mean estimate and a measure of uncertainty. Such assessment can be performed using a stochastic mortality model, which is the core of this thesis. The Lee-Carter model is one of the most popular stochastic mortality models. While it does an excellent job in mean forecasting, it has been criticized for providing overly narrow prediction intervals that may have underestimated uncertainty. This thesis mitigates this problem by relaxing the assumption on the distribution of death counts. We found that the generalization from Poisson to negative binomial is equivalent to allowing gamma heterogeneity within each age-period cells. The proposed extension gives not only a better fit, but also a more conservative prediction interval that may reflect better the uncertainty entailed. The proposed extension is then applied to the construction of mortality improvement scales for Canadian insured lives. Given that the insured lives data series are too short for a direct Lee-Carter projection, we build an extra relational model that could borrow strengths from the Canadian population data, which covers a far longer period. The resultant scales consist of explicit measures of uncertainty. The prediction of the tail of a survival distribution requires a special treatment due to the lack of high quality old-age mortality data. We utilize the asymptotic results in modern extreme value theory to extrapolate death probabilities to the advanced ages, and to statistically determine the age at which the life table should be closed. Such technique is further integrated with the Lee-Carter model to produce a stochastic analysis of old-age mortality, and a prediction of the highest attained age for various cohorts. The mortality models we considered are further applied to the valuation of mortality-related financial products. In particular we investigate the no-negative-equity-guarantee that is offered in most fixed-repayment lifetime mortgages in Britain. The valuation of such guarantee requires a simultaneous consideration of both longevity and house price inflation risk. We found that house price returns can be well described by an ARMA-EGARCH time-series process. Under an ARMA-EGARCH process, however, the Black-Scholes formula no longer applies. We derive our own pricing formula based on the conditional Esscher transformation. Finally, we propose some possible hedging and capital reserving strategies for managing the risks associated with the guarantee.

The aim of this study was to understand injury mechanisms behind fractures of the upper extremities in car accidents. Volvo Car Corporation initiated this project based on the fact that no safety system today focuses on preventing injuries to the upper extremity. A literature study was undertaken focusing on the basic anatomy of the upper extremity, different fracture types and fracture mechanisms. Three subsets, from 1998 – January 2009, were selected from Volvo’s statistical accident database: 1) all occupants involved in an accident 2) all occupants with a MAIS2+ injury 3) all occupants with an upper extremity fracture. These subsets were used in a comparison, using frequency analyses. The comparison analysis showed that frontal impact is the dominating accident type for all three subsets. The comparison analysis also indicated that the risk for upper extremity fractures follows the pattern of MAIS2+ injury risk. An in-depth study using 92 selected cases, including 80 occupants, was also performed. All available information, such as medical records, questionnaires completed by the occupants and photographs from the accident scene was collected and analysed. The analysis of the in-depth study, together with knowledge retrieved from the literature study, resulted in six different mechanism groups that were used to categorise fractures. The groups were then analysed individually in regard to accident type and fractured segment of the upper extremity. Analysis of the mechanism groups showed that frontal impact is the dominating accident type in these subsets as well. It could also be seen that the fractures occurring in the in-depth study are quite evenly distributed along the upper extremities. Upper extremity injuries are relatively infrequent in car accidents but may result in long-term disability, including chronic deformity, pain, weakness and loss of motion. More attention is therefore necessary in order to develop a safer environment for car occupants.

In product pricing and reserving, actuaries are often required to make predictions of future death rates. In the past, this has been performed by using deterministic improvement scales that give only a single mortality trajectory. However, there is enormous likelihood that future death rates will turn out to be different from the projected ones, and so a better assessment of longevity risk would be one that consists of both a mean estimate and a measure of uncertainty. Such assessment can be performed using a stochastic mortality model, which is the core of this thesis. The Lee-Carter model is one of the most popular stochastic mortality models. While it does an excellent job in mean forecasting, it has been criticized for providing overly narrow prediction intervals that may have underestimated uncertainty. This thesis mitigates this problem by relaxing the assumption on the distribution of death counts. We found that the generalization from Poisson to negative binomial is equivalent to allowing gamma heterogeneity within each age-period cells. The proposed extension gives not only a better fit, but also a more conservative prediction interval that may reflect better the uncertainty entailed. The proposed extension is then applied to the construction of mortality improvement scales for Canadian insured lives. Given that the insured lives data series are too short for a direct Lee-Carter projection, we build an extra relational model that could borrow strengths from the Canadian population data, which covers a far longer period. The resultant scales consist of explicit measures of uncertainty. The prediction of the tail of a survival distribution requires a special treatment due to the lack of high quality old-age mortality data. We utilize the asymptotic results in modern extreme value theory to extrapolate death probabilities to the advanced ages, and to statistically determine the age at which the life table should be closed. Such technique is further integrated with the Lee-Carter model to produce a stochastic analysis of old-age mortality, and a prediction of the highest attained age for various cohorts. The mortality models we considered are further applied to the valuation of mortality-related financial products. In particular we investigate the no-negative-equity-guarantee that is offered in most fixed-repayment lifetime mortgages in Britain. The valuation of such guarantee requires a simultaneous consideration of both longevity and house price inflation risk. We found that house price returns can be well described by an ARMA-EGARCH time-series process. Under an ARMA-EGARCH process, however, the Black-Scholes formula no longer applies. We derive our own pricing formula based on the conditional Esscher transformation. Finally, we propose some possible hedging and capital reserving strategies for managing the risks associated with the guarantee.

Goal: The aim of the current studies was to evaluate the ability of individual defenses to differentiate Antisocial (APD) and Borderline (BPD) personalities. Because multiple defense measures were utilized, Study 1 was dedicated to evaluating the convergent validity between the measures used: Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ), Defense-Q, and Defense Mechanism Manual (DMM). Studies 2, 3, and 4, then evaluated the ability of the defenses to differentiate APD and BPD groups. Method: In Study 1, participants completed all defense measures and correlations were conducted between the individual defenses. In Studies 2, 3, and 4, groups of nonclinical participants were divided into APD and BPD groups based on scores from the Personality Assessment Inventory. They also completed the DSQ (Studies 2, 3, & 4), the Defense-Q (Study 3), and/or the DMM (Study 4).The groups were then examined for differences on defenses using MANOVA and DFA analyses. Results: Results from Study 1 revealed no significant correlations between the measures for any of the individual defenses. In Studies 2, 3, and 4, DSQ and Defense-Q results revealed that defenses were able to differentiate the APD and BPD groups, but the DMM results did not replicate these findings. Univariate analyses showed that many defenses differed between the groups (e.g., Acting Out, Denial, and Turning Against Self), while others showed no differences (e.g., Idealization). Conclusion: The results were discussed in relation to previous theory and research. The findings provided support for many theoretical expectations. For example, the results supported: Kernberg (1984) who posited both groups would use primitive defenses (e.g., Splitting, Denial); Perry and Cooper (1986) who posited BPD groups would internalize negative views towards the self; and Gacono and Meloy (1988) who believed Denial was characteristic of APD. Overall, the results suggested that APD and BPD groups demonstrated differences in defense use.

No description available.

In this thesis, I planned to fabricate Cu/Ni metallic multilayers with equal layer thicknesses on different substrates by using magnetic sputtering technique. My objective was to characterize the texture, structure and hardness, in order to study strengthening mechanisms and nanotwins in the Cu/Ni multilayers. Sputtered, highly textured (111) and (100) Cu/Ni multilayers with individual layer thickness, h, vary from 1 to 200 nm. At greater h, X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of Cu and Ni (100 or 111) peaks are clearly separated indicating that the interface between Cu and Ni is semi-coherent. When h decreases to 5 nm or less, XRD spectra show significant peak distortions due to coherency stress. High resolution microscopy studies confirm the coexistence of nanotwins and coherent layer interfaces in highly (111) textured Cu/Ni mutilayers. Nanoscale twins can be formed in Cu at all h and in Ni at smaller h. Multilayer hardnesses increase with decreasing h, approach maxima at h of 2.5-5 nm, and show softening thereafter. A detail comparison between (111) and (100) textured Cu/Ni is made in both microstructure and strengthening. In this thesis, the possible mechanisms to form high density growth twins in Ni are discussed. Furthermore, the influences of both coherent layer interfaces and twin interfaces on strengthening mechanisms are discussed.

Since Kyoto Protocol took effect on Feb.16, 2005, Greenhouse gas emission reduction and Energy tax levy become a hot topic immediately. In addition, an action plan has been raised at the second National Energy Conference in 2005, for promoting ESCOs (Energy Service Companies) to improve energy efficiency and achieve energy conservation by conducting Energy Saving Performance Contract(ESPC). Hopefully these results will attain substantial reduction of carbon dioxide emission goals. International ESCO development model involves inter-industry integration, it faces many barriers¡Asuch as financing, insurance, measurement and verification, risk guarantee, tax exemption, small-scale market---etc. The financing barriers are the most importment problem in the development of ESCOs. In the study, Yin case studies are used to collect and analyze national barrier factors in financing. feasible financing mechanisms were explored in this study for ESCO , by participating in TAESCO¡¦s activities and interviewing with key persons in energy service companies, financial institutions and ESCO industry experts. The achievements of this study are¡G(1)ESCO industry prospects is optimistic conservative.(2)The business models have different opinions for localized development.(3)The key barrier factors are consistent with the types of barriers reported in the literatures on ESCO industry in other countries.(4)The industry has a few successful energy saving projects only, and then general business loans and own funds are the main way in ESCO financing.(5)The biggest gap of the financing with financial institutions is that banks do not have experience in ESCO industry.(6)There are three feasible financing mechanisms, which can be promoted on national ESCO industry. Finally, implementation of the results proposed three appropriate localization financing mechanisms(ESCO Credit Guarantee, Firefly Project Fund, Development Fund or Project Best Lending) will be worthy to explore empirically in the future.

ABSTRACT In recent years, there has been increasing demands for high dielectric materials to replace SiO2 for high-density dynamic random access memories with ultra large scale integration (ULSI). As the dimensions of the charge storage node decrease in high-density dynamic random access memories (DRAMs), TiO2 and BaTiO3 are very promising candidates for applications with exhibiting higher dielectric constant, high refractive index and high chemical stability. The physical and chemical properties of LPD thin film by means of several measuring instruments, including Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR), Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES), Secondary Ion Spectrometer (SIMS), and X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD). As for the category in the electrical properties, such as C-V curve and I-V curve, of LPD-BTO thin film is comprehended in the most important part of this chapter. Further, we try to improve these electrical properties of LPD-TiO2 and LPD-BTO thin film by post-annealing in oxygen atmosphere at several high temperatures. From leakage current density-electric field intensity voltage (J-E) and capacitance-voltage (C-V) measurements, the leakage current densities are about (LPD-TiO2: 1 ¡Ñ 10-5 A/cm2 and LPD-BTO: 5 ¡Ñ 10-9 A/cm2). And the individual dielectric constants of both films (TiO2 and BTO) are calculated about 40 and 60. This value is larger than thermal oxide, PECVD oxide, and LPD-SiO2. We also can obtain the flat band voltage shifts of LPD-TiO2 and LPD-BTO films which are about ¡V0.5V and 0V; the effective oxide charges which are calculated about ¡V4.52¡Ñ1011 cm-2 and ¡V2.27¡Ñ1012 cm-2 The future goals: (1) Raising the atomic concentration of oxygen within both films and of barium within LPD-BTO film. (2) Shortening the process in preparation of both deposition solutions. (3) Re-checking both models.