The aim of this thesis is to clarify the affect that preferential and regional trade agreements have on the World Trade Organization (WTO), as being establisher of the international trading regime. The essay is an explanatory literature study, which strives to answer the following questions: Are regional and preferential trade agreements a threat or a complement to the WTO? Is an undermining of the MFN principle weakening the WTO? How do regional trade agreements made by the EU affect the future of the WTO? The empirical material is to be analyzed using an explanatory framework, which is based on neo-liberal instutionalism, theories on regime changes and a game theoretical approach, using prisoner’s dilemma. I will employ the EU-ACP relation, the Cotonou agreement to exemplify how an agreement of this kind can have an influence on multilateral trade. The result shows that preferential agreements do have an impact on the WTO, one that is fairly negative in scope. Preferential trade agreements do pose a threat to the WTO, in its current structure and may be harmful to the international trading regime. It is partly because the MFN is widely discouraged that PTAs are stumbling stones to the organization. By signing agreement that do not comply with WTO regulations and considering its role in international trade, EU does affect the future of the WTO.

L’hétérogénéité de la zone non saturée joue un rôle important dans le transfert d’eau et de soluté car elle accentue à la fois le développement des zones de stockage temporelles et les écoulements préférentiels. Par conséquent, la validation des modèles prédictifs nécessite le développement des outils expérimentaux spécifiques afin d’observer et de quantifier les mécanismes de transport impliqués dans un système non saturé hétérogène. Cette thèse vise à étudier l’effet combiné de la vitesse d’infiltration, de la barrière capillaire et l’angle de la pente d’interface entre deux matériaux sur les processus de l’écoulement de l’eau et du transport de soluté dans un modèle physique, le lysimètre de laboratoire 1x1x1.6 m3, nommé LUGH (Lysimeter for Urban Groundwater Hydrology) et un modèle numérique 3D de ce lysimètre. Le lysimètre LUGH est rempli par un sable fin et un mélange bimodal (50 % sable fin et 50 % gravier) en deux configurations: un profil uniforme de matériau bimodal ou un profil avec deux couches avec une pente de 14o. Ces agencements figurent l’hétérogénéité structurale et texturale observée sur un des sites expérimentaux de l’OTHU (Observatoire de Terrain en Hydrologie Urbaine) : le bassin d’infiltration d’eaux pluviales Django Reinhardt géré par la ville de Lyon (France). Le lysimètre est alimenté en eau et avec un traceur inerte (bromure de potassium, KBr) sur une partie de la surface par un système d’arrosage automatique. Les effluents ont été recueillis dans quinze sorties différentes en bas du lysimètre. La forte hétérogénéité des flux des sorties et des courbes de percée souligne la mise en place des écoulements préférentiels résultant à la fois de l’effet de barrière capillaire et de l’effet de fond du lysimètre. A partir des résultats expérimentaux, la modélisation numérique à l’aide de logiciel COMSOL MultiphysicsTM a permis de mieux comprendre les mécanismes responsables de ces transferts hétérogènes. Lorsque le modèle numérique validé, un test de sensibilité a été conduit pour étudier les effets de la vitesse d’infiltration et de la pente de l’interface sur l’écoulement. Les résultats montrent que la diminution de la vitesse d’infiltration ou l’augmentation de la pente de l’interface favorisent le développement des écoulements préférentiels. Notre étude a donné également des renseignements pertinents sur le couplage entre les processus hydrodynamiques et le transfert des solutés dans les sols non saturés hétérogènes en soulignant le rôle de la géométrie des interfaces ainsi que celui des conditions aux limites comme des facteurs clés pour la quantification des écoulements préférentiels. / The heterogeneity of the unsaturated zone plays an important role in the water and solutes transfer as it accentuates both the development of stagnant zones for water and preferential flow. Therefore, the validation of predictive models requires the development of specific experimental tools to observe and quantify the transport mechanisms involved in a heterogeneous unsaturated system. The aim of this thesis is to describe the combined effect of infiltration, capillary barrier and sloping layered soil on both flow and solute transport processes in a large physical model (1x1x1.6 m3) called LUGH (Lysimeter for Urban Groundwater Hydrology) and a 3D numerical flow model. Sand and a soil composed of a bimodal sand-gravel mixture were placed in the lysimeter represent one of the commun structural and textural elements of the heterogeneity observed in the vadose zone under an infiltration basin of Lyon (France). The soil was compacted in two configurations: a uniform profile and a profile with two layers having a slope of 14°. Water and an inert tracer (KBr) were injected from the top of the lysimeter using a specific water sprinkler system and collected at 15 different outlets at the bottom. The 15 breakthrough curves obtained presented high heterogeneity, emphasising the establishment of a preferential flow resulting from both capillary barrier and soil layer dip effects. Numerical modelling led to better understanding of the mechanisms responsible for these heterogeneous transfers and it was also used to perform a sensitivity analysis of the effects of water velocity (water and solute flux fed by the sprinkler) and the slope interface. The results show that decreasing velocity and increasing the slope of the interface can lead to the development of preferential flows. In addition, the offset of the centre of gravity of the flow distribution at the output increases linearly as a function of the slope angle of the layered soil. This paper allows coupling the hydrodynamic approach with the transfer of pollutants in unsaturated heterogeneous soil and highlighting preferential flow by flow modeling.

In this study, the possibility of using low pressure hydrogenated steam to simulate primary water reactor conditions is examined. The oxides formed on Alloy 600 (WF675) between 350 Celsius and 500 Celsius in low pressure hydrogenated steam (with a ratio of oxygen at the Ni/NiO to oxygen in the system of 20) have been characterised using analytical electron microscopy (AEM) and compared to oxide that formed in a high pressure water in a autoclave at 350 Celsius with 30 cc/kg of hydrogen. Preferential oxidation of grain boundaries and bulk internal oxidation were observed on samples prepared by oxide polishing suspension (OPS). Conversely, samples mechanically ground to 600 grit produced a continuous, protective oxide film which suppressed the preferential and internal oxidation. The surface preparation changed the form of the oxides in both steam and autoclave tests. The preferential oxidation rate has been determined to be K_{oxide} = Aexp{-Q/RT}with A = 2.27×10^(−3) m^(2)s^(−1) and Q = 221 kJ.mol^(−1) (activation energy) for WF675 and A = 5.04 × 10^(−7) m^(2)s^(−1) and Q = 171 kJ.mol^(−1) for 15% cold worked WF675. These values are consistent with the activation energy of primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) initiation. Bulk oxygen diffusivities were calculated from the internal oxidation after 500 h exposures. At 500 Celsius the oxygen diffusivity was determined to be 1.79×10^(−20) m^(2)s^(−1) for WF675 and 1.21×10^(−20) m^(2)s^(−1) for 15% cold worked WF675, the oxygen diffusivity at 400 Celsius in 15% cold worked WF675 was calculated to be 1.49×10^(−22) m^(2)s^(−1).The Cr-depletion associated with preferential oxidation has been assessed by AEM. The Cr-depletion was asymmetric and it could not be accounted for by local variations in the diffusion rate. Chemically induced grain boundary migration is suggested as a possible explanation. Constant load SCC tests conducted in hydrogenated steam at 400 Celsius have shown a similar trend to the classical dependency of PWSCC as a function of potential. The SCC samples were also prepared with two surface finishes, OPS and 600 grit. In all SCC tests, significantly more cracking was observed on the OPS surface and all failures initiated from this surface.

A garantia da igualdade implica a proibição da discriminação. Algumas normas internacionais criaram exceções à proibição de discriminar com o objetivo de permitir a adoção de medidas especiais ou positivas de caráter transitório para acelerar o desenvolvimento e a representação de grupos e categorias que, por motivos discriminatórios, se encontrem em posição de desvantagem diante dos demais. Cabe ao Estado eleger os grupos beneficiários e as medidas de ação afirmativa adequadas para atingir o fim almejado. A constitucionalidade das medidas de ação afirmativa depende da análise em concreto de cada tipo quanto à compatibilidade com os demais direitos e garantias fundamentais por se tratar de medida de exceção quanto à proibição de discriminar. As políticas públicas que incluam medidas de ação afirmativa devem se pautar pelos princípios da razoabilidade e da proporcionalidade, para que a busca da igualdade material não implique o paradoxo de criar novas desigualdades. A política de reserva de vagas por meio de cotas não é o tipo de ação afirmativa mais adequada ao Brasil. As cotas raciais são incompatíveis com a realidade brasileira, carecendo de proporcionalidade na medida em que não se prestam ao fim colimado no tocante ao combate à discriminação e ao preconceito. A formulação de uma política participativa com incentivos à representatividade de grupos sub-representados por meio de metas e cronogramas sem qualquer viés racial tende a atingir melhores resultados sem que o Estado institucionalize a racialização por meio da discriminação reversa. / The equality safeguard implies a ban on discrimination. Some international standards have created exceptions to the ban on discrimination to enable the adoption of special or positive measures, transient in nature, and speed up the development and representation of groups and segments that, because of discrimination, would be at a disadvantage before others. It falls to the government to choose the beneficiaries as well as the appropriate affirmativeaction measures to achieve the desired outcome. The constitutionality of affirmative-action measures depends on a concrete analysis of the compatibility of each type with the other fundamental rights and safeguards since this is an exception to the ban on discrimination. Any policies that include affirmative-action measures must follow the principles of reasonableness and proportionality so that the search for material equality does not entail an inequality-creating paradox. The racial-quota policy is not the appropriate type of affirmative action for Brazil. Racial quotas are incompatible with the Brazilian reality and lack proportionality as they fail to counter discrimination and bigotry. Devising a participatory policy that encourages the representation of underrepresented groups through goals and timetables without any racial bias tends to achieve better results and the government does not have to institutionalize racialization through reverse discrimination.

Venture capital (VC) plays an increasing role as part of the private equity asset class and the general investment continuum. The lack of transparency due to limited reportings and market data obstructs a concise view on VC investment value and performance. This thesis aims to shed some light on VC investment peculiarities and their effect in valuation terms. It primarily reflects on the implications of contractual rights on the investment value. In the first chapter, I present an approach to integrate the multi-perspective of VC investment and analyze the interaction effects of control and cash flow rights on the feasibility of follow-on funding based on the value position of investors. In the second chapter, I present a joint study by Prof. Dr. Schwetzler, Dr. Schreiter, Dr. Lodowicks and myself where we propose a valuation framework that is applied to a sample of primarily European ventures to derive investment level values and assess misvaluation when using simple heuristics instead. In the third chapter, a joint work by Dr. Schreiter, Dr. Lodowicks and myself is presented where we develop a prediction model that allows to derive more accurate estimates of VC investments.

Application of (geo)demographic methods in education Abstract This master's thesis presents the possibilities of application of demographic, geodemographic and statistical methods on data published by the educational sector. The methods of demographic analysis are represented by the usage of rates, the concept of multistate demography (Markov chains) and the application of life tables. The enrollment ratio at particular levels of education, the average length of schooling and the number of dropouts from school grades are evaluated by these procedures. Markov chains which are based on the probabilities of transition between grades are also examined in terms of their use for forecasting purposes. These methods analyze the situation at the preschool, primary and secondary levels and are used on data from the annual Statistical Yearbooks on Education. In the field of geodemography, the so called preferential model of migration flows is presented. This model examines how applicants for tertiary education prefer or reject the regions of the Czech Republic for their tertiary education studies. The last method is the binary logistic regression which analyzes the inequalities in access to tertiary education. Both preferential model and logistic regression are based on data files on the admission process at...

This thesis focuses on the question of preferential treatment by U.S. national newsmagazines of presidential candidates in the 2004 election as evidenced by their visual coverage. Using content analysis, all the visual depictions of candidates George W. Bush and John Kerry were analyzed for 10 visual attributes to determine whether one had received better pictorial treatment. This study asked if the newsmagazines had printed greater amounts of visuals overall for one candidate and if one candidate's visuals were more or less positive than the other. The author concludes that more coverage was given to Bush over Kerry in a 60/40 ratio in all three magazines, and overall, the pictures published for each candidate were positive and neither candidate was given preferential treatment by any of the magazines. The newsmagazines were not deemed biased for publishing more visuals of Bush because, though more visuals were of the president during September, the newsmagazines published nearly equal numbers of visuals in October and November, often pairing them in layouts. The magazines were also not biased in their selection of visuals. All three tended to publish more positive or neutral visuals and rarely did any significantly differing patterns emerge to show that the editors favored one candidate over the other. Those attributes that did reach significance had weak associations. This study is a replication and a continuation of visual media content analyses of the 1984, 1988, and 1996 campaign coverage by Moriarty and Garramone (1986), Moriarty and Poppovich (1989), and Waldman and Devitt (1998) respectively. This research adds to the body of media bias and agenda-setting among newspapers and magazines and visual media.

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The assessment of impacts of an altered nutrient availability, e.g. as caused by consistently high atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition, on ecosystem phosphorus (P) nutrition requires understanding of P fluxes. However, the P translocation in forest soils is not well understood and soil P fluxes based on actual measurements are rarely available. Therefore, the aims of this study were to (1) examine the effects of experimental N, P, and P?N additions on P fluxes via preferential flow as dominant transport pathway (PFPs) for P transport in forest soils; and (2) determine whether these effects varied with sites of contrasting P status (loamy high P/sandy low P). During artificial rainfall experiments, we quantified the P fluxes in three soil depths and statistically analyzed effects by application of linear mixed effects modeling. Our results show that the magnitude of P fluxes is highly variable: In some cases, water and consequently P has not reached the collection depth. By contrast, in soils with a well-developed connection of PFPs throughout the profile fluxes up to 4.5 mg P m-2 per experiment (within 8 h, no P addition) were observed. The results furthermore support the assumption that the contrasting P nutrition strategies strongly affected P fluxes, while also the response to N and P addition markedly differed between the sites. As a consequence, the main factors determining P translocation in forest soils under altered nutrient availability are the spatiotemporal patterns of PFPs through soil columns in combination with the P nutrition strategy of the ecosystem.