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Water infiltration associated with natural precipitation events or other artificial activities such as pipe leaks in expansive soils significantly influence the engineering properties; namely, coefficient of permeability, shear strength and volume change behavior. For this reason, it is challenging to design or construct geotechnical infrastructure within or with expansive soils. Several billions of dollars losses, world-wide, can be attributed to the repairing, redesigning and retrofitting of infrastructure constructed with or within expansive soils, annually. Piles are widely used as foundations in expansive soils extending conventional design procedures based on the principles of saturated soil mechanics. However, the behavior of piles in unsaturated expansive soils is significantly different from conventional non-expansive saturated soils. Three significant changes arise as water infiltrates into expansive soil around the pile. Firstly, soil volume expansion contributes to ground heave in vertical direction. Secondly, volume expansion restriction leads to development of the lateral swelling pressure resulting in an increment in the lateral earth pressure in the horizontal direction. Thirdly, pile-soil interface shear strength properties change due to variations in water content (matric suction) of the surrounding soil. These three changes are closely related to matric suction variations that arise during the water infiltration process. For this reason, a rational methodology is necessary for the pile load transfer mechanism analysis based on the mechanics of unsaturated soils. Studies presented in this thesis are directed towards developing simple methods to predict the load transfer mechanism changes of piles in expansive soils upon infiltration. More emphasis is directed towards the prediction of the pile mechanical behavior which includes the pile head load-displacement relationship, the pile axial force (shaft friction) distribution and the pile base resistance using unsaturated mechanical as a tool. The function of matric suction as an independent stress state variable on the mechanical behavior pile is highlighted. More specifically, following studies were conducted: (i) Previous studies on various factors influencing the load transfer mechanisms of piles in unsaturated expansive soils are summarized and discussed to give a background of current research. More specifically, state-of-the-art reviews are summarized on the application of piles in expansive soils, mobilization of lateral swelling pressure, mobilization of unsaturated pile-soil interface shear strength and methods available for the load transfer analysis of piles in expansive soils. (ii) Employing unsaturated soil mechanics as a tool, theoretical methods are proposed for estimating the lateral earth pressure variations considering the mobilization of lateral swelling pressure. The proposed methods are verified using two large-scale laboratory studies and two field studies from published literatures. (iii) The shear displacement method and load transfer curve methods used traditionally for pile load transfer mechanisms analysis for saturated soils were modified to extend their applications for unsaturated expansive soils. The influence of volume change characteristics and unsaturated soil properties on unsaturated expansive soils are considered in these methods. The validation of the modified shear displacement method and modified load transfer curve method were established using a large-scale model test performed in the geotechnical engineering lab of University of Ottawa and a field case study results from the published literature. (iv) A large-scale model pile infiltration test conducted in a typical expansive soil from Regina in Canada in the geotechnical lab of University of Ottawa is presented and interpreted using the experimental data of volumetric water content suction measurements and shear strength data. The results of the comprehensive experiment studies are also used to validate the proposed modified shear displacement method and modified load transfer curve method achieving reasonable good comparisons. The proposed modified shear displacement method and modified load transfer curve method are simple and require limited number soil properties including the soil water characteristic curve (SWCC), matric suction profile upon wetting and drying and some soil physical properties. Due to these advantages, they can be easily and conveniently applied in engineering practice for prediction of the mechanical behavior of piles in unsaturated expansive soils, which facilitate practicing engineers to produce sound design of pile foundation in unsaturated expansive soils in a simplistic manner.

With the development of globalization, increasingly more companies began to use worldwide resources to do product or service research and development. Multinational corporations (MNC) became to more rely on their subunits that located in different countries to conduct innovations. As a result, keep a good knowledge transfer between headquarter and subunits or among peer subunits is crucial for MNC to operate R & D activities. This study explores the relationship between knowledge transfer and R & D operations through two knowledge transfer mechanisms and three categories of R & D configurations.   By applying the qualitative strategy with a focus on four case companies (three are from Sweden, one is from China), we conduct a cross case analysis and the result shows that both expatriate management policy and communication frequency are very important knowledge transfer mechanisms for MNC to keep a good knowledge transfer in global R & D operations. In terms of expatriate management policy, it is very important for MNC sending engineers from headquarter to subunits or between peer subunits in order to transfer technology knowledge and facilitate R & D operations. Moreover, send top managers from headquarter to subunits could also help transfer process knowledge and keep overall control of subunits. In terms of communication frequency, if MNC employs a concentrated development in headquarter (or R & D center), it is very important to maintain a frequent communication between headquarter and subunits so as to keep a smooth knowledge transfer between them. And if MNC applies a dispersed research and development configuration, keep a frequent communication between peer subunits is crucial. In addition, this study also found certain connections between innovation process and R & D configurations.

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Master of Science / Department of Civil Engineering / Dunja Peric / Piles have been used for many years in civil infrastructure as foundations for buildings, bridges, and retaining walls. Energy piles are thermo-active foundation systems that use geothermal energy for heating and cooling of buildings. Ground source heat is a very attractive, economical, efficient and sustainable alternative to current heating practices. Unlike the air temperature, the temperature below the Earth’s surface remains relatively constant throughout the year, somewhere between 10oC to 15oC below a depth of 6 m to 9 m (Kelly, 2011). This provides an opportunity for construction of thermo-active foundation systems with embedded geothermal loops. The main purpose of such thermo-active system is to transfer deep ground heat to a building through the fluid circulating within the geothermal loop. It is because these thermo-active foundation systems enable heat exchange between the deep ground and the building that is called the heat exchanger pile (HEP). The thermal energy supplied by a HEP can then supplement air-pump-based heating/cooling system. Although heat exchanger piles have been successfully implemented in Europe and Asia, their usage in U.S. remains uncommon. One reason for this might be currently limited understanding of the associated soil-structure interaction, thus unfavorably affecting the design procedures. To this end, a study was undertaken to investigate the predictive capabilities of computational models and to gain a better understanding of the load-transfer mechanisms of energy piles. Thus, coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical computational modeling of a single actual end bearing HEP was carried out for different loading scenarios including thermal and mechanical loads by using the finite element code ABAQUS/Standard 6.13-2. The results of the analyses of the heat exchanger pile with two different types of layered soil profile are presented: isotropic and anisotropic. The computational model was validated and verified successfully against field test results for all considered loading scenarios. Additional analyses were performed to gain a deeper insight into the effects of soil layering and on the behavior of energy piles. It was found that changes in the soil stiffness affected primarily the head displacement and vertical stresses and strains in the pile.

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology is a renewable energy source that employs microorganisms as biocatalysts to degrade substrates into electrons and protons, and then transfer the electrons to the anode electrode. Electron transfer rates by microorganisms depend on many factors as well as on their diverse electron transfer mechanisms. The present study compared cytochromes, flavoproteins, electron transfer complexes, redoxins and other extracellular membrane proteins that have direct involvement in electron transfer mechanisms in Escherichia coli str. K-12 MG1655, Rhodopseudomonas pulastris DX-1 and Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. Escherichia coli str. The results showed that K-12 MG1655 had a more diverse range of extracellular proteins for electron transfer mechanisms compared to Rhodopseudomonas pulastris DX-1 and Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. Escherichia coli str. K-12 MG1655 expressed more flavoproteins, redoxin and electron transfer complex related proteins that had direct involvement in electron transfer mechanisms compared to two other bacterial species indicating that it may be able to transfer more electrons when employed in MFC technique. Escherichia coli str. K-12 MG1655 expressed 16 cytochromes, 9 flavoproteins, 6 redoxins, 6 electron transport complexes, 1 hypothetical and 1 oxidoreductase proteins. On the other hand, Rhodopseudomonas pulastris DX-1 and Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 expressed 26 and 35 cytochromes proteins. But these two bacterial species expressed less flavoproteins and redoxin related proteins and they didn’t express any electron transport complexes or hypothetical and oxidoreductase related proteins for electron transfer. STRING and SMART results suggested that the identified proteins transferred electrons either by connecting with other types of identified proteins in the constructed gene network or independently by taking part in oxidation-reduction reaction, metal ion reduction reaction or by their FMN binding activities.

Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-01-26T10:17:46Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Elisandra Miranda de Oliveira - 2008.pdf: 8045679 bytes, checksum: bbc3ccef6840ca7cc9f60fd22a61ed85 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-01-26T10:18:11Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Elisandra Miranda de Oliveira - 2008.pdf: 8045679 bytes, checksum: bbc3ccef6840ca7cc9f60fd22a61ed85 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-26T10:18:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Elisandra Miranda de Oliveira - 2008.pdf: 8045679 bytes, checksum: bbc3ccef6840ca7cc9f60fd22a61ed85 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-09-17 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / The joint is part of the constructive process of the rigid pavement. In its implementation the section of concrete located below it is weakened and eventually becoming the most vulnerable of the pavement can arise where the possible diseases that may affect their strength and durability. Despite the importance that the joint has in the life of the rigid pavement it is not exploited, and therefore became the main subject of this study. This work is an experimental study of the sawed joint in rigid pavement of concrete with evaluation of the transference of shear strength through the saweds joints. The experimental program consisted of test of fourteen simple concrete plates with sawed joint, and adoption of the following variable: presence of smooth dowel of Ø 12,5mm, variation of the length of dowel (500 mm, 400 mm and 300 mm), variation of the thickness of the plates (120 mm and 160 mm), variation of the strength to the compression of the concrete (20 MPa and 30 MPa) and of the type of used concrete (conventional and autoadensável). These plates had been supported on natural and assayed rubber layers with static shipment application in one of the sides of the together one until the rupture of the plate. The results had shown that: the use of dowel in these meetings increases the efficiency in the transference of efforts; the increase in the thickness of the plate increases the resistant capacity of the together one, the efficiency in the transference of efforts and possesss minors displacements of the plate during the application of the shipment; the dowel with reduced size are efficient, but the bars of 400 mm present resulted next to the one to the bar in commercial size, 500 mm; the plates in autoadensável concrete after the fissuration practically do not present contribution of the concrete in the transference of efforts for the intertravamento of aggregates; the sawed joint depth of the together one has influence in the way of rupture of the plate and tack relation enters the bar of transference and concret. / A junta faz parte do processo construtivo do pavimento de concreto. Na sua execução a seção de concreto localizada abaixo dela fica enfraquecida e acaba se tornando o ponto mais vulnerável do pavimento onde podem surgir as possíveis patologias que venham a afetar a sua resistência e durabilidade. Apesar da importância que a junta possui na vida útil do pavimento de concreto este assunto é pouco explorado, e por isso se tornou o objeto principal deste estudo. Este trabalho é um estudo experimental das juntas serradas em pavimento rígido de concreto com avaliação da transferência de esforços cisalhantes através das juntas serradas. O programa experimental constou de ensaios de quatorze placas em concreto simples com junta serrada, e adoção das seguintes variáveis: presença de barra de transferência lisa de Ø 12,5mm, variação do comprimento das barras de transferência (500 mm, 400 mm e 300 mm), variação da espessura das placas (120 mm e 160 mm), variação da resistência característica à compressão do concreto (20 MPa e 30 MPa) e do tipo de concreto utilizado (convencional e autoadensável). Essas placas foram apoiadas sobre camadas de borracha natural e ensaiadas com aplicação de carregamento estático em um dos lados da junta até a ruptura da placa. Os resultados mostraram que: o uso de barras de transferência nessas juntas aumenta a eficiência na transferência de esforços; o aumento na espessura da placa aumenta a capacidade resistente da junta, a eficiência na transferência de esforços e possuem menores deslocamentos da placa durante a aplicação do carregamento; as barras com tamanho reduzido são eficientes, mas as barras de 400 mm apresentam resultados próximos ao da barra em tamanho comercial, 500 mm; as placas em concreto autoadensável após a fissuração praticamente não apresentam contribuição do concreto na transferência de esforços pelo intertravamento dos agregados; a profundidade da junta serrada tem influência no modo de ruptura da placa e relação de aderência entre a barra de transferência e o concreto.

隨著中國大陸近十餘年來的改革開放，以低廉的勞工與土地成本、及高度持續之經濟成長，吸引台商紛紛將過去的台灣經驗移植到大陸。本研究從大陸子公司角度探討影響其經營績效之因素，分析台商母公司的智慧資本對大陸子公司經營績效的影響，特別將母子公司間的移轉機制與子公司的吸收能耐納入實證分析中。 本研究採用田野研究、問卷調查、與實證資料檢定，並結合多種不同的資料庫來源，以在大陸設有子公司進行投資活動之我國公司為研究對象進行問卷調查，回收之有效樣本合計共103家。路徑分析之結果發現大部分台商母公司所擁有的智慧資本會直接影響大陸子公司的經營績效。在智慧資本的移轉成效上，台商人力資本有移轉和吸收效果，但創新資本的效果則不佳。在上市櫃電子業之樣本下，母公司所擁有的人力資本係先透過影響母子公司間的移轉機制，再間接影響大陸子公司的資產報酬率。當台商母公司所擁有的人力資本愈高時，有助於提高大陸子公司之吸收能耐，並間接影響大陸子公司的資產報酬率。另外，迴歸分析之結果發現，不同智慧資本組成要素對大陸子公司經營績效影響的程度並不相同，人力資本對經營績效有顯著的正效果，而創新資本對經營績效的影響並不顯著。本研究最後建議理論或實務上之管理意涵。 / Over the past decade, the regulations of China have changed, and it provided a huge resource of cheap labor and land. Following the rapid economic growth has attracted Taiwanese enterprises to transfer their success experiences to China. It is important to examine the determinants of performance of subsidiary in China. This study analyzes the relationship between intellectual capital and performance covering the transfer from Taiwanese parent to Chinese subsidiary. This study particularly highlights the role of transfer mechanism and absorptive capacity in explaining the effect of intellectual capital on performance. This study integrates multiple research methodologies including field study, questionnaire, and empirical study. Since no single database exists to support this study, multiple sources are employed for constructing the sample frame. Based on a sample of 103 subsidiaries of Taiwanese enterprises in China, results of path analysis indicate that intellectual capital from parent is positively associated with the performance of subsidiary. In general, the results support that the effects of human capital on performance are mediated by both transfer mechanism and absorptive capacity, but the transfer roles of innovation capital are not supported. Finding from the public electronic industry reveals that the influence of human capital on return of assets is indirect through the mediating role of transfer mechanism. An absorptive capacity path is presented where absorptive capacity is associated with return of assets, and human capital influences absorptive capacity. Moreover, regression analyses demonstrate that different intellectual capital elements have a different effect on organizational performance. Human capital is important in explaining the variations in the performance of subsidiary, while innovation capital has little or no effect. Implications for theory and research are discussed.

<div>The first chapter reports a study of aryl nitrene intermediates. Although extensively studied over the past 30 years, phenyl nitrenes have a propensity to undergo rearrangement reactions and form polymeric tars. This is in stark contrast to the phenyl carbenes which are known to undergo several important reactions to produce a library of useful organic compounds. One such reaction is the insertion of phenyl carbenes into a double bond to produce a cyclopropane moiety. If aryl nitrenes can be exploited to conjure a similar reactivity, they would be an excellent synthetic route to produce aziridine rings which are a crucial component of many natural products. This review chapter is a collection of all the efforts that have been made in this regard.</div><div><br></div><div>In the next chapter, the electronic effect of the azide functional group on an aromatic system has been investigated by using Hammett-Taft parameters obtained from the effect of azide-substitution on the gas-phase acidity of phenol. Gas-phase acidities of 3- and 4-azidophenol have been measured by using mass spectrometry and the kinetic method and found to be 340.8 ± 2.2 and 340.3 ± 2.0 kcal/mol respectively. The relative electronic effects of the azide substituent on an aromatic system have been measured by using Hammett-Taft parameters. The σF and σR values are determined to be 0.38 and 0.02 respectively, consistent with predictions based on electronic structure calculations. The values of σF and σR demonstrate that azide acts an inductively withdrawing group but has negligible resonance contribution on the phenol. In contrast, acidity values calculated for substituted benzoic acids gives values of σF = 0.69 and σR = -0.39, indicating that the azide is a strong  donor, comparable to that of a hydroxyl group. The difference is explained as being the result of “chimeric” electronic behavior of the azide, similar to that observed previously for the n-oxide moiety, which can be more or less resonance donating depending on the electronic effects of other groups in the system.</div><div><br></div><div>Phenyl nitrenes undergo bimolecular chemistry under very specific circumstances. For example, having an oxide substituent at the para position of the phenyl ring enables the formation of an indophenol product from a photocatalyzed reaction of the nitrene. Although, this reaction has been reported before, the mechanism involved in this reaction has not been fully understood. A two-electron mechanism involving electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction has been proposed in the literature, however we found evidence that did not support this theory. Instead, we find this reaction analogous to the popular Gibbs’ reaction whose single electron transfer mechanism has been extensively studied. The following chapter encompasses a study of the mechanism of the photolysis reaction to look for evidence of a single electron transfer similar to the Gibbs’ reaction.</div><div><br></div><div>As mentioned earlier, phenyl nitrenes have a proclivity to undergo rearrangement reactions instead of exhibiting bimolecular reactivity that can lead to useful products. One of the strategies to overcome this challenge is to spatially separate the two electrons of an open-shell singlet nitrene so as to minimize electron-electron repulsion. This separation can be achieved by delocalizing the individual electrons over multiple aromatic rings and heteroatoms which can act as radical stabilizers. In this chapter, a short review of literature that sets precedence for developing a unique heteroatom containing aromatic backbone to achieve the necessary stabilization is presented. Our efforts in synthesizing the model azide precursor compound have also been discussed.</div>

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