Thesis (M.S.)--Worcester Polytechnic Institute. / Keywords: Performance based -- structural steel -- fire conditions. Includes bibliographical references (p. 138-141).

Thesis (MTech (Human Resource Management))--Peninsula Technikon, 2003. / Word processed copy. Summary in English. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 117-122). Also available online.

Thesis--Hamburg. / Cover title. Includes bibliographical references (p. 293-326).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--City University of Hong Kong, 2009. / "Submitted to Department of Mathematics in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy." Includes bibliographical references (leaves [90]-94)

I develop a novel metaphysical theory of the modal structure of the physical world, which has important consequences for debates regarding laws of nature, scientific explanation, the nature of physical properties, and the applicability of mathematics to science. The theory holds that modal properties of the physical world metaphysically depend on properties of mathematical structures. I show that the relation of metaphysical dependence is naturalistically acceptable by offering examples of non-causal scientific explanation that tacitly make use of such a notion. My view offers a non-Humean understanding of nomological necessity, a unification of the epistemology of modality with the epistemology of mathematics, and an explanation of the success of mathematics in predicting and explaining empirical phenomena. / text

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a medical system with a unique medical philosophy that continues to guide the contemporary turning out of new pharmaceutical formulae. The clinically-proved effective components of these formulae are being extracted by means of modern technology. Natural Chinese medicines account for approximately 30% of the global sales volume of all medicines, and the international market-size of the TCM industry is increasing rapidly. The TCM industry depends on the patent protection of the results of its R&D no less than does any other industry. However, the patent examination guidelines of many important jurisdictions are hostile to the granting of patents to TCM products and processes. This is partly attributable to the vast differences between the philosophies of TCM and Western medicine, and to the imperfect understanding in many jurisdictions (particularly where Western Medicine is dominant) of the former. To this considerable degree, patent law fails to accommodate the TCM industry. Consequently, the TCM inventor will be left open to the depredations of the ‘free-rider’ phenomenon, the circumstance in which the inventor loses the benefits of his invention, and his investment in it, to a purloiner. The research examines the compatibilities between patent law and TCM, and argues that patent policy shall be adjusted to better accommodate the characteristics of TCM. Other forms of IPR protection are also discussed in comparison with patent with the purpose of illustrating the significance of patent in protecting TCM inventions. / published_or_final_version / Law / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

To understand why Kabwe, Zambia is one of the most lead polluted towns, one has to look at the source of this pollution and its extent. With a history of poor environmental regulation, policies, and public information, the lead pollution caused by mining activities in Kabwe went unmitigated for decades. The natural blood-lead level in humans is about 0.0016 µg/dl, in developed countries like the United States, strict enforcement has resulted into lead levels averaging figures below 10 µg/dl, but in Kabwe, averages lie between 60 µg/dl and 120 µg/dl. Levels over 10 µg/dl are unhealthy, while levels above 20 µg/dl can cause acute poisoning whereas levels over 120 µg/dl often result into death. New environmental and rehabilitation laws were only enacted after a new administration came into office in 1991; however, additional mitigation measures such as obtaining a reclamation bond prior to being issued a mining permit need to be considered. / text

This dissertation consists of three distinct yet inter-related research papers in labor economics, each with relevance for public policy. The first chapter examines the role of wage differentials for caring work in explaining the gender wage gap. We find that both women and men face caring penalties that are small, about 2% for one standard deviation difference in caring. While women disproportionately work in caring jobs, it is unlikely that policies governing wages in the care sector could achieve pay equity between men and women. The second chapter evaluates the impact of state legislation on bullying in schools. I employ a difference-in-differences approach exploiting variation across states in the timing and type of law adopted using nationally representative surveys at the student and school levels. While I find no impact of the laws on bullying in high schools, bullying occurs most often in middle school. And impacts might vary by school type and legislation type. I also discuss current challenges to evaluating bullying legislation and provide recommendations for facilitating a conclusive assessment of whether state bullying laws work. The third chapter uses a field experiment to evaluate an intervention aimed at increasing participation in an academic assistance program. Supplemental Instruction (SI) is a widely used, but poorly evaluated, peer-tutoring program with low participation rates. We randomize encouragements to attend SI across a large student population. The resulting boost in participation allows us to estimate the per-session average causal impact of SI on grades for a subpopulation under certain assumptions.

This thesis is concerned with the reform of agricultural leases in Scotland. There is a review of selected topics in the history of legislation in this area concentrating upon the issue of security of tenure. It is argued that developments in 2010 with regard to prospective legislation and in case law have left open the road for renewed pressure for the creation of a compulsory “right to buy” for tenants with secure agricultural leases. Subsequent relevant developments are ‘noted up’. The thesis includes a Draft Bill which would introduce a new statutory structure for the tenure of certain farms currently held on “1991 Act tenancies”. The structure would rebalance the property law rights and duties of landlords and tenants with due regard to property rights and land management issues. Protections for the legitimate concerns of both former landlord and tenant are included and there is a major supervisory role for the Scottish Land Court. The Draft Bill includes detailed provisions on succession to the new form of tenure. The Draft Bill also innovates upon recently modified arrangements for fixed term farm tenancies Limited Duration Tenancies (“LDTs”) by the introduction of a degree of flexibility. Recent statistics on the take up of LDTs and the issue of a compulsory right to buy for secure agricultural tenants cast a shadow over the future of most of the currently available statutory forms of tenure. The new statutory structure and the innovation upon the LDT which would be introduced by the Draft Bill map out a future for Scottish agricultural tenancies which would enable the question posed in the title to be answered in the affirmative.

No description available.