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A Study of Competition Strategy of Petroleum Firms under Petroleum Market Liberalization THESIS ABSTRACT The ultimate purpose of market liberalization is to enhance the operational efficiency of the firms through good competition under the market mechanism. This enhancement enables the consumers to share the best quality of products and services with the most reasonable prices. It indicates the realization of a social welfare system of the ideal "returning benefits to people". Therefore, the government should play a more proactive role under the tide of liberalization, i.e., to construct a fair competition environment, to institute a reasonable game rule for all the petroleum participatory firms to abide by, and to regulate the possible illegal behaviors of the relevant firms. On this account, this paper first review and analyze the political and economic environment and market perspectives of Taiwan's petroleum industry. Second, we predict the probable competitive behavior of relevant petroleum firms under petroleum market liberalization. Third, we use SCP (structure-conduct-performance) analytical method to examine how the firms adjust their conduct, especially their price strategy, when the market structure has changed. Since the open of telecommunication market not only has brought the consumers many advantages but also reduce the manufacturing cost to upgrade Taiwan's industrial competitiveness, then we evaluate whether it is similar that the firms' performance has positive contribution to the society after petroleum market liberalization. Finally we use rational decision making of game theory to analyze the price competition behavior of relevant firms and their probable influence to the general public.

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Abstract Mammalian peroxisomes contain two parallel multifunctional enzymes (MFE), MFE type 1 and MFE type 2 (MFE-2), which are responsible for the degradation of fatty acids. They both catalyze the second and third reactions of the β-oxidation pathway, but through reciprocal stereochemical courses. MFE-2 possesses (2E)-enoyl-CoA hydratase-2 and (3R)-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase activities. In addition, the carboxy-terminal part is similar to the sterol carrier protein type 2 (SCP-2). The purpose of this work was to study the structure-function relationship of functional domains of mammalian MFE-2 by recombinant DNA technology, enzyme kinetics and X-ray crystallography. The work started with the identification of conserved regions in MFE-2. This information was utilized when dehydrogenase, hydratase-2 and/or SCP-2-like domain were produced as separate recombinant proteins. Subsequently, both dehydrogenase and SCP-2-like domains were crystallized and their crystal structures were solved. The structure of the dehydrogenase region of rat MFE-2 contains the basic α/β short-chain alcohol dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) fold and the four-helix bundle at the dimer interface, which is typical of dimeric SDR enzymes. However, the structure has a novel carboxy-terminal domain not seen among the known structures. This domain lines the active site cavity of the neighbouring monomer, reflecting cooperative behaviour within a homodimer. The monomeric SCP-2-like domain of human MFE-2 has the same fold as rabbit SCP-2. The structure includes a hydrophobic tunnel occupied by an ordered Triton X-100 molecule, demonstrating the ligand-binding site. Compared to the unliganded rabbit SCP-2 structure, the position of the carboxy-terminal helix is different. The movement of this helix in the liganded human SCP-2-like domain resulted in the exposure of a peroxisomal targeting signal, suggesting ligand-assisted protein import into peroxisomes. The roles of conserved protic residues in the hydratase-2 region of human MFE-2 were studied by mutating them to alanine. In the first step, the ability of mutated variants to utilize oleic acid in vivo was tested with Saccharomyces cerevisiae fox-2 cells (devoid of endogenous MFE-2). Subsequently, in vitro characterization of the mutant enzymes revealed two amino acid residues, Glu366 and Asp510, vital for hydratase-2 activity. The results indicate that the acid-base catalysis is valid for hydratase-2.

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The imposed commission ban to Finnish insurance intermediaries has generated some controversy and the intermediary market has experienced consolidation in the few last years. The thesis examines the relationship between market structure and profitability among Finnish life insurance intermediaries and tests for the applicability of two market power hypotheses. The panel data analysis shows that there is support for the Relative Market Power hypothesis while the Structure-Conduct-Performance hypothesis is not applicable for Finnish life insurance intermediaries. The implication of this research is that competition authorities should be concerned with market structure effects when discussing changes to the regulatory environment which surrounds life insurance intermediaries.

Submitted by ADNIVIA SANTOS COSTA MONTEIRO null (adniviacosta@hotmail.com) on 2017-05-02T16:46:03Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Adnívia S. C. Monteiro.pdf: 2683414 bytes, checksum: 3838428f87bcd749eeed2b8e389be1f3 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luiz Galeffi (luizgaleffi@gmail.com) on 2017-05-03T20:31:20Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 monteiro_asc_dr_araiq.pdf: 2683414 bytes, checksum: 3838428f87bcd749eeed2b8e389be1f3 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-03T20:31:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 monteiro_asc_dr_araiq.pdf: 2683414 bytes, checksum: 3838428f87bcd749eeed2b8e389be1f3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-04-07 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Os estudos de especiação em águas naturais são a chave para a compreensão do comportamento e destino dos íons metálicos no ambiente, uma vez que estes elementos podem ser encontrados em diversas formas químicas (livres ou complexados). A mobilidade, biodisponibilidade e transporte desses íons podem ser influenciados pela presença da matéria orgânica natural (MON) e as substâncias húmicas aquáticas (SHA), principais ligantes presente no ambiente aquático. Nesse contexto, o objetivo desse trabalho foi desenvolver métodos eletroanalíticos utilizando a cronopotenciometria de redissolução anódica (SCP) e a técnica de redissolução nernstiana na ausência de gradientes (AGNES) capazes de determinar a concentração de cádmio total (CdT) e livre (CdL), respectivamente, diretamente em amostras de águas dos rios Itapanhaú (RI) e Sorocabinha (RS) localizados no estado de São Paulo, que possibilitem uma futura aplicação on-site. E avaliar a influência da MON e SHA extraídas desses rios nas interações com o Cd(II) e/ou Pb(II). Para investigar o efeito da sazonalidade foram coletadas amostras de água no março e novembro de 2014, as quais foram caracterizadas através de parâmetros de qualidade da água, carbono orgânico dissolvido (COD), espectroscopia UV/Vis e concentrações de metal total, dissolvido e “livre” (ultrafiltrado em 1kDa com fluxo tangencial - UFT). As SHA e suas frações (ácido húmico (AH) e fúlvico (AF) foram caracterizadas por meio da análise elementar, RMN 13C e fracionadas através da UFT com membranas de 100, 30,10, 3 e 1 kDa. Os métodos desenvolvidos de SCP (determinação do CdT) e de AGNES (determinação do CdL) aplicados nas amostras de águas in natura e ultrafiltradas em 1kDa, foram validados por comparação com a espectroscopia de absorção atômica com atomização em forno de grafite (GF-AAS). Os resultados encontrados revelaram que as principais diferenças entre as águas dos RI e RS estão associadas possivelmente à maior influência da água do mar e da sazonalidade no RS. A composição estrutural das SHA e AF apresentou maior predominância de compostos alifáticos. A distribuição do COD após o fracionamento molecular mostrou que as frações predominantes nas SHA e AF estiveram entre 10 e 1 kDa, enquanto que para os AH, 50% do COD é maior que 100kDa. Os resultados de SCP (LD de 1,6x10-9 mol L-1) e AGNES (LD de 1,9x10-9 mol L-1) revelaram o seu potencial na quantificação do Cd(II) total e livre, respectivamente, nas amostras estudadas. Os estudos da interação de Cd(II) e Pb(II) com os AF e AH revelaram que ambos os materiais dos RI e RS apresentaram maior complexação com Pb(II), e a complexação aumenta com o aumento do pH. / The study of speciation in natural waters are crucial to understand the behaviour and fate of metal ions in the environment, since these elements can be found in different chemical forms (complexed or free). The mobility, bioavailability and transport of these ions can be influenced by natural organic matter (NOM) and aquatic humic substances (AHS), which are the main ligands in aquatic environments. The objective of this thesis was to develop electroanalytical methods using the techniques stripping chronopotenciometry (SCP) and absence of gradients and nernstian stripping (AGNES), which are able to determine the concentration of total (TCd) and free (FCd) cadmium directly in water samples from the rivers Itapanhaú (RI) and Sorocabinha (RS), located in the state of São Paulo. It would make possible a future on-site measurement applications. This study also aimed to evaluate the influence of NOM and AHS extracted from these rivers in the interactions with Cd(II) and Pb(II). Water samples were taken in march and november/2014 in order to investigate the effect of seasonality. These samples were characterised using water quality parameters, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), UV/VIS spectroscopy and concentrations of total, dissolved and free metal (ultrafiltered through 1 kDa membrane with tangential flow- TUF). AHS and their fractions (humic, HA, and fluvic acid, FA) were characterised by elemental analysis, NMR 13C. They were fractionated through TUF through membranes 100, 30, 10, 3 and 1 kDa. The methods developed of SCP (TCd determination) and AGNES (CdL determination) applied in the in natura and ultrafiltered (1 kDa) samples were validated using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). The results showed that the main differences between the waters from RI and RS are related probably to the influence of seawater and seasonality. The structural composition of AHS and FA presented higher content of aliphatic compounds. The distribution of DOC after size fractionation showed that the predominant fractions in the AHS and FA were between 10 and 1 kDa. On the other hand, 50% of the material was higher than 100 kDa in the HA. The results of SCP (LoD: 1.6x10-9 mol L-1) and AGNES (LoD: 1.9x10-9 mol L-1) revealed their potential in quantification of total and free Cd(II), respectively, in the samples analysed. The study of interactions of Cd(II) and Pb(II) with FA and HA showed that both materials from RI and RS presented higher complexation with Pb(II). The complexation increases with the pH for both materials. / FAPESP: 13/14122-0

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Esta dissertaÃÃo teve como objetivo principal avaliar as relaÃÃes entre os fatores componentes do modelo de estratÃgia corporativa sustentÃvel, modelo esse que tem como base o modelo ECP-Triplo de Abreu (2001). As discussÃes acerca da preocupaÃÃo ambiental e social que deve haver por parte das empresas e o retorno que elas devem aos seus diferentes stakeholders levam a novas consideraÃÃes nos modelos apresentados mais recentemente. Abreu (2001), diante da necessidade de avaliar a estratÃgia utilizada pela empresa, nÃo somente na dimensÃo econÃmica, mas tambÃm social e ambiental, propÃs o Modelo de AvaliaÃÃo da EstratÃgia TrÃplice, denominado de ECP-Triplo (Estrutura-Conduta-Performance). Diferente do modelo SCP que enfatiza apenas a dimensÃo econÃmica como aspecto de desempenho, o modelo ECP_Triplo inclui tambÃm os aspectos sociais e ambientais. Mas, mesmo assim, maioria dos modelos, incluindo aà o ECP-Triplo, baseia sua anÃlise unicamente em estatÃsticas descritivas sem poder explicativo das relaÃÃes entre as variÃveis de estrutura/conduta/performance. Chegou-se a realizar atà uma regressÃo linear mÃltipla, no caso de Abreu e outros (2009), no entanto, somente com um Ãndice social criado a partir das condutas e o desempenho. Em busca de um elo mais forte entre o construto teÃrico e sua medida, este trabalho utilizou-se de Modelagem de EquaÃÃes Estruturais (MEE) para avaliar e medir, por meio da anÃlise quantitativa multivariada, as relaÃÃes entre os atores e prÃticas das organizaÃÃes, bem como a relaÃÃo de ambos com os resultados da firma. Os dados utilizados foram da pesquisa de Abreu (2008) realizada no ano de 2009 com empresas que atuam no Brasil. Foram obtidos 112 questionÃrios vÃlidos na survey realizada por Abreu (2008). A maioria delas de mÃdio (42,0%) e grande porte (38,4%), com mais da metade de suas vendas para o mercado interno (54,5%) e um forte retorno de respondentes da indÃstria quÃmica (27,7%). Os resultados obtidos confirmaram a relaÃÃo existente entre os construtos que compÃem o modelo de estratÃgia corporativa sustentÃvel, no entanto, apenas a relaÃÃo entre a influÃncia dos stakeholders e a responsabilidade corporativa foi significante. As relaÃÃes entre stakeholders e estratÃgias de negÃcios, estratÃgias de negÃcios e responsabilidade corporativa, estratÃgias de negÃcios e vantagens competitivas, bem como entre a responsabilidade corporativa confirmaram a ser positivas, porÃm nÃo se apresentaram significantes, sendo necessÃrio um estudo mais aprofundado dessas relaÃÃes e com uma amostra mais robusta. Sob o ponto de vista de gestÃo, as organizaÃÃes podem se beneficiar dos resultados, pois, mesmo com amostra mÃnima necessÃria para tÃcnicas estatÃsticas mais sofisticadas (caso da AnÃlise fatorial e da MEE) a relaÃÃo entre os construtos influÃncia dos stakeholders e responsabilidade corporativa mostrou-se significativa, indicando o interesse cada vez maior das partes interessadas na forma como a empresa trata as questÃes social e ambiental. Assim, a partir do conhecimento gerado, pode-se alcanÃar vantagens competitivas a partir da relaÃÃo empresa-stakeholders.

Digitaliseringen av det litterära samhället har medfört många nya möjligheter för skapandet och delandet av litteratur. Det jag ämnar undersöka i min uppsats är ett exempel på den digitala litteratur som faller utanför den etablerade bokmarknaden, mer specifikt det skräcklitterära kollaborativa projektet SCP Foundation. SCP Foundation presenteras som ett slags digitalt arkiv där läsaren får ta del av tusentals fiktiva dokument som beskriver anomala objekt på ett ytterst torrt och kliniskt språk. I detta arkiv kan läsaren bland annat ta del av dokumentet som hanterar SCP-055, ett objekt som karakteriseras av omöjligheten att komma ihåg vad det exakt är för något. Min uppsats utgår från objektet SCP-055 och med hjälp av Abigail De Kosniks teori kring digital fiktion och Eugine Thackers teori kring skräckfiktion så ämnar jag undersöka hur SCP-055 relaterar till en diskurs kring digital lagring av information och den moderna rädslan kring överflödig information. Vidare kopplar jag denna diskurs till konceptet övernaturlig skräck, och argumenterar för att SCP-055 genom dess mottagande av läsaren avslöjar en destruktiv relation till det okända. Min uppsats hanterar dels det dokument som berör SCP-055, men även ett smalt urval andra berättelser och även kommentarsfälten på SCP Wiki, för att föra en diskussion kring hur objektet påverkas av SCP Wikis kollaborativa format, där varje läsare blir en möjlig medförfattare. Jag argumenterar för att SCP-055 dels pekar på en fruktan inför den oändliga information som finns att tillgå digitalt och även hur dess kollaborativa format möjliggör att SCP Wikis gemenskap fortsätter att låta objektet vara okänt.

2015年臺灣超過1,300萬人次出國，並由3,000多家旅行社服務，臺灣旅遊業競爭相當激烈。資訊科技與網際網路興起，促使電子商務模式日臻成熟，線上旅遊產品通路（OTA）也順勢發展。並且，全球廉價航空公司興起，航空公司因競爭激烈，利潤降低而欲向下游整合，自行創立旅行社直接服務消費者，都使得傳統旅行社面臨被去中間化的威脅。 因此，本論文透過SCP模型分析臺灣傳統旅行社的發展階段和政策的影響，以及市場結構、企業行為與市場績效，用以解釋目前旅遊產業的環境及所面臨的困境。接續針對專家學者、消費者及通路商進行專家問卷訪談，得到團體旅遊創新商業模式，用以檢視個案旅行社積極引進資訊科技改善作業效率，結合資訊科技與旅遊產業經營知識的整合運用，串接整個旅行產業內外部的價值鏈，達到旅客需求傳遞一致及服務不中斷，讓自身得以產生中間價值，是否符合團體旅遊產業鏈再中間化之成效。最後針對個案公司給予相關建議。 / In 2015, over 13 million people in Taiwan traveled abroad and they were serviced by more than 3,000 travel agencies, showing how fierce competition is in the travel industry. At the same time, the rise of both the information technology and the Internet has led to the maturation of the E-Commerce model, followed by the development of online travel agencies. Moreover, the rise of low-cost airlines has prompted traditional airlines to start their own travel agencies and directly serve their customers, in order to compensate for the loss in profits due to increased competition. All factors mentioned above indicate the threats faced by traditional travel agencies nowadays. Therefore, this dissertation is aimed at understanding the current travel industry in Taiwan as well as challenges it faces by using the SCP model to analyze the following: phases involved in the development of traditional travel agencies, influence of governmental policies on the travel industry, market structure, corporate behavior and market performance. Furthermore, this dissertation will introduce an innovative business model for group traveling, obtained after interviewing experts, scholars, business customers and distributors. The model is then used to check whether effective reintermediation of the group traveling industry will occur by reviewing a specific case company, which has actively introduced IT to improve its operating efficiency, combined it with knowledge in management of the traveling field, and connected the value chain within and without the whole travel industry,. These actions have contributed to consistent transmission of travelers’ needs and uninterrupted service, which then increased the value of the case company itself as a middle man. Finally, this dissertation proposes several recommendations for the case company.