In 1995, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) took over the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) on grounds of mismanagement and failure to revitalize a failing housing stock. When the CHA regained independence five years later, in 2000, the agency launched the most extensive redevelopment effort of public housing in the nation’s history. This paper assesses the extent to which the CHA has succeeded in meeting the directive outlined by the Plan for Transformation. It concludes that, despite setbacks in meeting specific goals, the CHA has demonstrated itself to be an effective and accountable housing agency. Nonetheless, the CHA needs to addresses shortcomings in the transparency of management, efficiency of operations, and accessibility of services.

In this study, a total of twelve beams continuous over two spans of 2,800 mm each were constructed and tested to failure. The beams were divided into two series. Series 1 included six T-beams under symmetrical loading, while Series 2 dealt with six rectangular beams under unsymmetrical loading conditions. In Series 1, the test variables included material type, assumed percentage of moment redistribution, spacing of lateral reinforcement in flange, arrangement of shear reinforcement, and serviceability requirements. In Series 2, three different loading cases were considered, I) loading both spans equally, II) loading both spans maintaining a load ratio of 1.5 and III) loading one span only. Under the loading case II, the parameters of reinforcing material type, assumed percentage of moment redistribution and serviceability requirements were investigated. The test results of both series showed that moment redistribution from the hogging to the sagging moment region took place in GFRP-RC beams which were designed for an assumed percentage of moment redistribution. In Series 1, the decrease of the stirrups spacing from 0.24d to 0.18d enhanced the moment redistribution percentage. Also, decreasing the spacing of lateral reinforcement in the flange from 450 to 150 mm improved the moment redistribution through enhancing the stiffness of the sagging moment region. In Series 2, the unsymmetrical loading conditions (loading case II and III) reduced the moment redistribution by reducing flexural stiffness in the heavily loaded span due to extensive cracking. Regarding serviceability in both series, the GFRP-RC beam designed for the same service moment calculated from the reference steel-RC beam, was able to meet the serviceability requirements for most types of the structural applications. / February 2017

The kinetics of the pressure dependent O + SO2 + Ar reaction have been investigated using laser photolysis resonance fluorescence at temperatures of 289 K, 399 K, 581 K, 699 K, 842 K and 1040 K and at pressures from 30-665 torr. Falloff was observed for the first time in the pressure dependence. Application of Lindemann theory yielded an Arrhenius expression of k(T) = 3.3 x 10-32exp(-992/T) cm6 molecule-1 s-1 for the low pressure limit and k(T) = 8.47 x 10-14exp(-468/T) cm3 molecule-1 s-1 for the high pressure limit at temperatures between 289 and 842 K. The reaction is unusual as it possesses a positive activation energy at low temperature, yet at higher temperatures the activation energy is negative, illustrating a reaction barrier.

Introduction: Approximately 3% to 4% of all pregnancies at term will have a fetus with a breech presentation. Studies have shown that the US has almost completely abandoned vaginal delivery for breech presentation through the influence of the "Term Breech Trial" (TBT) which concluded that a policy of planned caesarian section would reduce perinatal mortality, late neonatal mortality, and serious neonatal morbidity by approximately two-thirds for term fetuses. However, the recommendations are still being challenged by others.Objectives: The purpose of the study was to describe who in Virginia is having a vaginal delivery for a breech presentation and to determine if there is a difference in birth outcome based on mode of delivery for breech presentation of term infants.Methods: This population-based study used all birth records for term infants with breech presentation delivered between 1996 and 2005. Data were obtained from the Center for Health Statistics at the Virginia Department of Health. Descriptive statistics were done to characterize vaginal and caesarean section deliveries. These methods were compared using logistic regression for infant mortality and 5-minute Apgar scores as dependent variables.Results: In Virginia, over the last ten years, the prevalence of vaginal deliveries dropped from 13.1% to 6.6% for full term infants with a breech presentation, a decrease of almost 50%. Black women, younger mothers between the ages of 12 and 24, and women with less than or equal to a high school education had the highest occurrence of vaginal births. In the logistic models, the risk for infant death was highest for black women [OR = 1.93; (1.56, 2.38)], women with more than 13 prenatal visits [OR = 1.25; (1.02, 1.53) for 13-15 visits, OR = 2.33; (1 .82, 2.98) for >15 visits], infants who had a low birth weight [OR = 2.8 1 ; (2.08, 3.79)], and women who had a vaginal delivery [OR = 1.42; (1.10, 1.84)] The characteristics that were associated with a lower 5-minute Apgar score for breech infants delivered vaginally included the mother's method of payment, [Medicaid OR 1.75; (1.03, 2.97) and self pay OR 2.33; (1.13, 4.83)], low birth weight [OR = 2.54; (1.24, 5.22)], and delivery type [OR = 4.71; (2.95, 7.52)].Discussion/Conclusions: Our data showed that women who have a vaginal delivery for a term breech infant were more likely to be black, 12-24 years of age, no private insurance, and fewer prenatal visits and was associated with higher infant mortality and lower 5-minute Apgar scores. However, our results indicated that these infants had other significant problems, as indicated by the association with a high number of prenatal visits. Therefore, having physicians who are experienced in delivering breech infants vaginally, careful exclusion of risk factors and, educating the patient about the risks and complications of a vaginal delivery for breech fetuses could help decrease the potential risks for the mother and the infant.

This thesis presents the measurement of the inclusive jet cross section using data collected in 2010 by the ATLAS detector, with a particular focus on the reconstruction and calibration techniques used for jets in this measurement and on the estimate of the systematic uncertainty on their energy scale. The inclusive jet cross section measurement is used as input to fits of parton distribution functions. Although the PDF analysis in this thesis is preliminary and its main purpose is to serve as a proof of principle for future studies, improvements in the knowledge of the gluon density are observed thanks to the inclusion of ATLAS data.

Accelerator driven transmutation systems could be a solution to the problem with long-lived nuclear waste and opening the way to thorium fuel cycle. Due to intensive neutron source based on spallation reaction are these systems very litle dependent on the arrangement of the core and fuel quality. These systems can transmute the spent fuel, eventually 232Th or 238U without affecting maintenance of fission reaction. Additionally subcritical blanket ensures high safety. For these systems it is necessary to know the cross sections of reactions of fast neutrons produced in the spallation reaction with different materials. This data is necessary not only for the selection of appropriate construction materials, but also for creation of programs simulating accelerator driven transmutation systems. This thesis is focused on the experimental determination of cross sections of reactions 89Y(n,2n)88Y and 89Y(n,3n)87Y with neutron energies from 17,6 to 33,6 MeV. Yttrium is analyzed for its (n,xn) threshold reactions, which makes it appropriet activation detector for study of the neutron fields in model configurations of accelerator driven transmutation systems. The obtained cross sections are unique, in that so far there are no experimental data for used neutron energies.

Self-Dealing within a Joint-Stock Company and a Limited Liability Company Martin Pástor The main aim of this thesis is to analyze the regulation of self-dealing in Czech law with a brief regard to theoretical fundamentals that influence the legal approach to such regulation and further to compare it with Slovak regulation of self-dealing and the future regulation of self-dealing after the recodification of private law in the Czech Republic. The regulation of self-dealing is provided for in section 196a of the Commercial Code. This highly controversial provision causes many interpretation difficulties and strongly influences the legal certainty of entrepreneurs and non- entrepreneurs in the Czech Republic. As I mention in the introduction of this thesis, the legislator incorporated this provision into the Commercial Code due to negative experience of Czech society with so-called tunneling after the change of regime to capitalistic and with an intent to regulate transactions with conflicts of interests, in particular transactions carried out between a corporation and related persons. The second chapter briefly describes the agency problems, meaning the conflicts arising among particular persons involved in a corporation, problems of which are the theoretical foundation of self-dealing regulations....

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Physics / Yurii Maravin / In this dissertation, you will find a study of di-boson production in pp collision with the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) detector at Large Hadron Collider (LHC). A study of Z+gamma process is performed on the data collected by the CMS during 2011 and corresponding to integrated luminosity L= 5 fb[superscript]-1. The study consists of two parts: cross section measurement and setting the limits on anomalous trilinear gauge couplings (aTGC) between a Z boson and a photon. The measured cross-section of Z+gamma agrees within the uncertainties with the standard model predicted cross section at next to leading order. Having found no excess in cross section measurement, we set the 95% con fidence level (C.L.) limit on aTGC. Another study discussed is a study of a low-scale walking Technicolor model with rho[subscript]T and a[subscript]T production in the fully leptonic fi nal state at 95% C.L. in proton-proton collisions at center of mass energy 10 TeV scenario using Monte Carlo simulation. We conclude that such processes can be excluded with 366 pb[superscript]-1 of data for rho[superscript]T masses up to 400 GeV and the observation would require 2.8 fb[superscript]-1 of data with 5 sigma precision.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Physics / Yurii Y. Maravin / This thesis presents the first study of a rare production of Z boson in association with two photons (Zγγ), where the Z boson decays into a pair of muons or electrons, by proton-proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). This study uses full data samples that have been collected with the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) detector in 2012 with a center of mass energy of 8TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb⁻¹. The Zγγ production cross section is measured within a fiducial region defined by two leptons with two photons where transverse momentum over 15 GeV and distance between gamma and lepton above 0.4. Using the obtained samples, the Zγγ cross section is measured to be: 12.6 ±1.6 (stat.) ± 1.7 (syst.) ± 0.3 (lumi.) fb. where stat., syst., and lumi. denote the statistical uncertainty, systematic uncertainty, and the uncertainty in integrated luminosity, respectively. This result is in an excellent agreement with the theoretical prediction of 13.0 ± 1.5 fb.

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998 took effect in 2001 and provides encouragement for universal design and compliance requirements to the federal sector for purchases that are accessible by people with disabilities. A division of General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems (GDAIS) is located in Pittsfield, Massachusetts and provides electronic and information technology solutions to federal customers in the defense, intelligence, and homeland security communities. The general lack of training is a major factor for low compliance to Section 508. Improving awareness is important at GDAIS in order to increase its federal sales market share, develop new products and services, transfer technology to other fields, and support a global market for users with different human conditions. The study aimed to implement a computer-based training program for design engineers and managers within GDAIS to foster universal design skills and increase accessibility awareness. The four-level model created by Donald L. Kirkpatrick was utilized to evaluate the training. Survey, test, and interview instruments were designed to evaluate the reaction, learning, and behavior of the participants. An expert panel provided validation and reliability of the instruments. A case study methodology was used to analyze Section 508 compliance in depth for four months. Also analyzed were the possible effects of the training on the engineering design, the organization both financial and cultural, and the individual. Learning of the standards and universal design concepts through better application of usability and accessibility features were improved. While the training did improve compliance slightly, there was a lack of Section 508 inclusion within solicitations. The organizational culture to support the disabled community showed a possibility of improving through awareness and education.