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This research introduces parallel U-shaped assembly lines with crossover points. Crossover points are connecting points between two parallel U-shaped lines making the lines interdependent. The assembly lines can be employed to manufacture a variety of products belonging to the same product family. This is achieved by utilizing the concepts of crossover points, multi-line stations, and regular stations. The binary programming formulation presented in this research can be employed for any scenario (e.g. task times, cycle times, and the number of tasks) in the configuration that includes a crossover point. The comparison of numerical problem solutions based on the proposed heuristic approach with the traditional approach highlights the possible reduction in the quantity of workers required. The conclusion from this research is that a wider variety of products can be manufactured at the same capital expense using parallel U-shaped assembly lines with crossover points, leading to a reduction in the total number of workers. / M. S.

This paper investigates the market microstructure of the Taiwan Stock Exchange Capitalization weighted Stock Index (TX) futures contracts traded on the Taiwan Futures Exchange which quite recently switched from an electronic periodic call auction market to an electronic continuous auction market. No doubt it is a rare opportunity for us to deeply look into market quality under different trading mechanisms. Using time-stamped transaction data of trades and quotes covering the period from January 2001 to September 2002, overall behavior for all TX Futures contracts are explored first—including intraday and daily patterns in the bid-ask spreads, volume, trade size, volatility, liquidity ratio and other characteristics. Next, in order to observe whether long-term contracts and short-term contracts have different patterns, the sample is divided into two groups—quarterly expiration contract months (March, June, September, and December) and non-quarterly expiration contract months, and the intraday/daily patterns are displayed. Moreover, since TAIFEX transferred trading mechanism on July 29th 2002 from an electronic periodic call auction market to an electronic continuous auction market, intraday/daily patterns are separately illustrated and compared before and after July 29th 2002, and ANOVA F-Statistic and Kruskal-Wallis tests are also taken to provide more insights into time-varying behavior under two different kinds of market trading mechanisms. The empirical results indicate that the most active periods correspond to the TAIFEX’Ss opening five-minute interval (8:45-8:50), TSEC’Ss opening five-minute interval (9:00-9:05), and TAIFEX’S closing five-minute interval (13:40-13:45) with wide spreads and large trade sizes. In 54 five-minute intervals for the regular trading session of both TAIFEX and TSEC from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the behavior of spreads, volume and trade sizes mainly reveal U-shaped patterns. The average trading volume within each time interval plunges, except within the final 5 minutes closing procedure interval, after TAIFEX transferred trading mechanism from an electronic periodic call auction market to an electronic continuous auction market with wider spreads and narrower volatility, in general. Moreover, intraday patterns of the average volume under new microstructure exhibit a right angular U-shape while intraday patterns of volume under old microstructure reveal a smooth U-shape. The evidence suggests a conjecture that the transfer of market trading mechanism might result in informed traders’ altering their intraday behavior and might lessening their trading desire. Further evidence in confirmation of this statement is left to future work. / This paper investigates the market microstructure of the Taiwan Stock Exchange Capitalization weighted Stock Index (TX) futures contracts traded on the Taiwan Futures Exchange which quite recently switched from an electronic periodic call auction market to an electronic continuous auction market. No doubt it is a rare opportunity for us to deeply look into market quality under different trading mechanisms. Using time-stamped transaction data of trades and quotes covering the period from January 2001 to September 2002, overall behavior for all TX Futures contracts are explored first—including intraday and daily patterns in the bid-ask spreads, volume, trade size, volatility, liquidity ratio and other characteristics. Next, in order to observe whether long-term contracts and short-term contracts have different patterns, the sample is divided into two groups—quarterly expiration contract months (March, June, September, and December) and non-quarterly expiration contract months, and the intraday/daily patterns are displayed. Moreover, since TAIFEX transferred trading mechanism on July 29th 2002 from an electronic periodic call auction market to an electronic continuous auction market, intraday/daily patterns are separately illustrated and compared before and after July 29th 2002, and ANOVA F-Statistic and Kruskal-Wallis tests are also taken to provide more insights into time-varying behavior under two different kinds of market trading mechanisms. The empirical results indicate that the most active periods correspond to the TAIFEX’Ss opening five-minute interval (8:45-8:50), TSEC’Ss opening five-minute interval (9:00-9:05), and TAIFEX’S closing five-minute interval (13:40-13:45) with wide spreads and large trade sizes. In 54 five-minute intervals for the regular trading session of both TAIFEX and TSEC from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the behavior of spreads, volume and trade sizes mainly reveal U-shaped patterns. The average trading volume within each time interval plunges, except within the final 5 minutes closing procedure interval, after TAIFEX transferred trading mechanism from an electronic periodic call auction market to an electronic continuous auction market with wider spreads and narrower volatility, in general. Moreover, intraday patterns of the average volume under new microstructure exhibit a right angular U-shape while intraday patterns of volume under old microstructure reveal a smooth U-shape. The evidence suggests a conjecture that the transfer of market trading mechanism might result in informed traders’ altering their intraday behavior and might lessening their trading desire. Further evidence in confirmation of this statement is left to future work.

The subject of this thesis is financial globalisation in historical perspective, and its key contribution is to demonstrate the J-curve as an alternative depiction of financial globalisation since the classical Gold Standard period. As a preliminary and essential step, some definitions and clarifications on globalisation are provided in a literature review. Then, fundamental issues are considered to assess financial globalisation, so that both the goals and the boundaries of the thesis are clearly stated. Throughout the historical period in debate, there were two waves of financial globalisation: the first one occurring during the 1870-1914 period, and the second lasting from the end of the Bretton Woods agreements until the present day. The dominant approach in economics asserts that the degree of commercial and financial integration corresponds over time to a U-shaped pattern, i.e. markets presented high levels of integration during the forty years before WWI. Then, this integration collapsed in the years between the wars, recovering gradually after the Bretton Woods agreements until it reached again in the 1990s the same pre-1914 level of integration. The thesis approaches this model focusing on the financial side. Then, according to the U-curve, contemporary financial globalisation is not unprecedented. This thesis proposes an alternative view. In contrast to the mainstream U-curve, the empirical data provided indicates that today’s financial integration is unprecedented and more pervasive in some key financial markets than it was during the pre-1914 era. The empirical evidence provided proposes that a J-shaped pattern is a more appropriate way to interpret how financial markets have evolved since the late 19th century. The Jshape suggests that in some financial achieved a huge surge from the 1990s to 2005, surpassing the previous level of integration. So, in these markets, contemporary financial globalisation is unprecedented from the 1990s onwards. The J-curve does not mean that all financial markets became more globalised during the late 20th century in comparison to the Gold Standard era, but only some that presented the U-shape from 1870 to 1995. Qualitative aspects of the J-curve are examined. The different institutional frameworks underlying each historical period are discussed revealing that new institutional arrangements, policy changes, technological advances in ICT and a wide range of financial innovations are the key driving forces that have spurred today’s financial globalisation to higher levels than in the past. Finally, the last chapter assesses the key macroeconomic implications of this new era for the world economy.

Dual Organization in the Andes. The Problem and Research Methodology at San Luis Site, ZañaThis paper presents the preliminary results of archaeological research at San Luis Site, Zaña Valley, in the Peruvian north coast. The concept of dualism in the Central Andes is analyzed in the context of the associations and material distributions like ceramics, lithics and burned zones. This work will help to determine ritual activities in the study of analogous phenomena in other sites satisfactorily not yet defined. / Este trabajo presenta los resultados preliminares de investigaciones arqueológicas en el sitio monumental de San Luis, en el valle de Zaña. Basándose en las asociaciones y distribuciones de material, se analiza el concepto de dualismo manejado en los Andes Centrales. A partir del análisis de la distribución de cerámica, líticos y otros materiales así como zonas quemadas, este enfoque permite la interpretación de actividades rituales y ayudará en el estudio de fenómenos comparables que aún faltan en su precisión debida.

This thesis has investigated the validity of the Environmental Kuznets Curve in the provinces of China which assumes the increase in GDP per capita (income per capita) would generate the raise of CO2 emissions (pollution) until a turning point in which CO2 emissions start decreasing. The study includes 30 provinces over a period spanning from 2000 to 2019 by applying OLS and Fixed-effects regression model with panel data. The findings demonstrate that the provinces of China conform to the EKC theory's projections by exhibiting an inverted-U shape. Apart from that, this study also confirmed the presence of differences in turning points between provinces with high income and those with low income, and the former exhibiting a significantly higher value. Our research findings suggest that policymakers should tailor their CO2 emission reduction policies to the specific circumstances of each region. In the absence of appropriate measures, a negative outcome may arise.

[pt] Foram determinados experimentalmente fatores de concentração de tensões teóricos para placas e eixos com entalhes simétricos e circunferenciais em U sujeitos à combinação de esforços de flexão e tração, para as placas e, flexão e torção para os eixos. Os fatores obtidos foram plotados em gráficos para comparação com fatores determinados aplicando-se o princípio da superposição. Foram utilizadas as relações geométricas D / d = 1,5; 1,25; 1,10 e r/d = 0,30; 0,25; 0,20 para as placas. Para os eixos utilizaram-se apenas as relações 0/d = 1,3 e r/d = 0,25. Também foram obtidos fatores de concentração de tensões para os esforços puros e seus valores comparados com resultados já publicados. Os resultados para as placas foram obtidos a partir da fotoelasticidade bidimensional. Foi empregado o método fotoelástico tridimensional de congelamento de tensões para os eixos. Neste caso, os modelos foram cortados em finas fatias para separação das tensões. Para o estudo tridimensional foi utilizado um material desenvolvido no laboratório de Fotomecanica da PUC-RJ. / [en] Theoretical stress concentration factors were determined experimentally for bars and shafts with symmetrical and circunferential U – shaped grooves subjected to combinations of bending – tension loads for the bars and bending – torsion loads for the shafts. The stress concentration factors obtained were plotted to compare with the factors determined by application of the superposition effects. The geometric relations used for the bars were Dd = 1,5; 1,25; 1,10 and rd = 0,30; 0,25; 0,20. The geometric relations used for the shafts were Dd = 1,3 e rd = 0,25. The stress concentration factors were also determined for single loaded specimens and they were compared wuth data already published. The stress concentration factors for the bars were determined by the two – Dimensional photoelastic method. In the case of the shafts they were determined by the three – Dimensional photoelastic Method of stress Freezing. In this method, the models developed in the laboratory of Photomechanics of the Universidade Católica.

Thesis advisor: Christopher Maxwell / The questions that this paper intends to answer are: 1) Is there a U-shaped relationship between the female labor force participation (FLFP) rate and development in the present day? And 2) If we group countries geographically, will we see the U-shaped function outlined as development occurs over time? The U-shaped function is important because it allows us to predict the direction that the FLFP rate will move, dependent on a country's level of development. This prediction is crucial because there are endless gains of increased FLFP to both women and to society at large. Previous research has shown that in a snapshot in time (1985), there was evidence of the U-shaped function. However, there has been little research on how the function has played out throughout the past 30+ years. This paper finds that the U- shaped function remains robust to present day data. However, grouping countries geographically does not always produce results that support movement along the U-shaped function. Having a clearer understanding of the trends that FLFP follows through development will allow us to more successfully monitor and create policy to help women and society at large reap the benefits of increased women in the workforce. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2019. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Departmental Honors. / Discipline: Economics.

本論文是以Kellerman (1978) 的U型學習理論為基礎做擴大研究。本篇論文旨在探討英文程度不同的中文為母語之人士，在學習非賓格不及物動詞時是否也會出現U型曲線，除此之外，非賓格不及物動詞與非賓格及物動詞，被動態，主詞生命度之間的互動也將做討論。 在這個研究中，我們採用語法判斷(Grammaticality judgment)來測試受測者對於非賓格不及物動詞的理解和中英轉譯(Chinese to English translation)來測試受測者對於主詞生命度和主被動態之間的影響。此研究共有123位受測者，他們根據學習英文的長短被分為四個組別，分別是低、低中、中、與中高程度。 此研究可歸納為以下結論。(1) 不同英文程度的中文為母語之人士，在學習英文非賓格不及物動詞時也會出現U型曲線。此即意味著U型曲線不僅僅出現在母語為荷蘭語學習非賓格及物動詞Break的學習上，更可擴大到母語為中文學習非賓格不及物動詞上。(2) 中文為母語之人士無法正確使用非賓格及物動詞，並且會把非賓格及物動詞當作非賓格不及物動詞。(3) 在學習非賓格不及物動詞中，主詞生命度確實會影響學習者使用主被動態之不同。當主詞有生命時，句子傾向使用主動態，當主詞是無生命時，句子傾向使用被動態。 / The study is based on Kellerman’s (1978) U-shaped leaning on break to do further study. The study aims to examine if the learning of non-alternating unaccsatives for L2 Chinese learners of English with different proficiency presents a U-shaped curve. In addition, the interactions among alternating unaccusatives, non-alternating unaccusatives, passives and animacy effect are discussed as well. In the study, we use grammaticality judgment task to test participants’ understanding of non-alternating unaccusatives, and adopt Chinese to English translation task to test animacy effect in non-alternating unaccusatives. 123 participants involve the experiment of the study. Among these participants, they are classified as four groups, low, low-intermediate, intermediate, and high-intermediate, according to how long they studied English. The results of the study are summarized as follows. (1) There is a U-shaped curve in learning of non-alternating unaccusatives for L2 Chinese speakers learning English. It suggested that U-shaped learning is not only in alternating unaccusatives break in L1 Dutch but also in non-alternating unaccusatives in L1 Chinese. (2) For L2 learners, they are unable to use alternating unaccusatives correctly and tend to view alternating unaccusatives as non-alternating ones. (3) Animacy effect does influence the choices of voice forms. The study showed that participants tend to use active voice while the subject is animate and prefer to use passive voice while the subject is inanimate.

An Approach to the Formative Period in the Chillón ValleyThe author describes 29 Formative sites in the Chillon Valley subdivided into monumental architecture (U-shaped buildings, pyramid with circular sunken courts and simple pyramids) and 17 domestic sites. A typology of the recollected ceramics is given as well as comparisons with other sites and chronological proposals. U-shaped complexes are concentrated in the lower valley but located up to km 59. Huacoy is the largest one of them, communicated with Ancon and related with 8000 has of arable land. Chocas is probably a minor copy of Huacoy and part of the system, while Pucara integrates the middle valley. / El autor describe 29 sitios del Formativo en el valle de Chillón. Los subdivide en arquitectura monumental: edificios en forma de U, pirámide y recinto circular hundido y pirámides simples además de 17 sitios domésticos. Se presenta una tipología cerámica con propuestas anteriores. La distribución de los complejos en U se percibe hasta el kilómetro 59 pero se concentra en la parte baja; Huacoy es el mayor de ellos, comunicado con Ancón y relacionado con 8000 hectáreas de tierra cultivable. Chocas probablemente es una copia menor de Huacoy y parte del sistema, mientras que Pucara integra el valle medio.