Why are initial public offerings (IPOs) underpriced? We consider this is a strategy that insiders use to maximize their personal wealth. When a company offers shares in an initial public offering, insiders typically enter into a lock-up restriction which prohibits insiders from selling their shares within a specified period after the IPO. Insiders interested in maximizing their personal wealth will take actions to maximize the lock-up expiration share price rather than the offer price. When the IPOs underprice, the share price will go up during the honeymoon period. The large run-up in the stock price will attracts interest from the media. And the enhanced coverage brings the stock to the attention of more investors. Then the demand for the stock will increase and make the stock price go up. This allows the insiders to sell shares at the lock-up expiration at price higher than he would otherwise be able to obtain. This study examines the relationship among underpricing, coverage and return. We find that stock deposit and the age of a company are positively correlated with underpricing. The electronic-related companies are much more noticeable than underpricing to lead to more coverage. We also find that coverage is positively correlated with return through the lock-up expiration.

As the demand for oil and gas resources increases, the need to venture into more hostile environments becomes a dynamic focus in the petroleum industry. One problem associated with certain high risk formations is lost circulation. As a result, engineers have concentrated research efforts on developing novel Lost Circulation Materials (LCM’s) that will effectively treat thief zones. The most pioneering LCM’s require mixing energy to activate a reaction involving two or more chemicals. However, minimal research has been conducted to accurately predict downhole mixing capabilities. Therefore, this research focuses on developing a correlation between laboratory experiments and scaled model experiments for accurate prediction of downhole mixing energies in terms of flow rate for adequate mixing of lost circulation prevention fluids.

Diss.--Augsburg. / Bibliogr. p. 210-222.

No description available.

In 2002, Feldman, Ilmanen, and Knopf constructed the first example of a non-trivial (i.e. non-constant curvature) complete non-compact shrinking soliton, and conjectured that it models a Ricci flow singularity forming on a closed four-manifold. In this thesis, we confirm their conjecture and, as a consequence, show that limits of blow-ups of Ricci flow singularities on closed four-dimensional manifolds do not necessarily have non-negative Ricci curvature. / text

Romantic relationship dissolution has been implicated in the onset of mood disorders (Monroe et al.,1999; Overbeek et al., 2003). It is therefore imperative that researchers and mental health professionals have an understanding of the factors that contribute to dysfunctional responses so as to assist vulnerable individuals with developing healthy strategies for coping with relationship dissolution. Prior research on the relationship between initiator status (i.e., who ended the relationship) and subsequent emotional distress has been mixed, with multiple researchers finding that a person's level of distress was unrelated to whether he or she ended the relationship. I hypothesized that the effect of initiator status on post-break-up distress would vary as a function of trait self-esteem such that individuals with low self-esteem would experience more distress after being rejected by their partners, whereas individuals with high self-esteem would be no more distressed after a rejection than after acting as the rejecter. I tested this hypothesis using two designs. First, I used a prospective, naturalistic design in which university students were assessed for emotional responses following the dissolution of their romantic relationships. Those who had self-reported lower trait self esteem at the outset of the study experienced higher levels of break-up-specific distress. On the other hand, those who had reported higher trait self-esteem did not exhibit differing distress levels as a function of who ended the relationship. This pattern was replicated in a laboratory design in which university students imagined breaking up with their partners. Participants with low trait self-esteem experienced more negative mood, reported lower state self-esteem, and evaluated themselves more negatively after a scenario in which they were rejected as compared to a scenario in which they rejected their partners. Participants with high self-esteem did not differ on any of these variables as a function of rejection condition. Results are discussed in terms of the theoretical implications for understanding self-esteem processes and the effects of romantic rejection. Implications for interventions for individuals with low self-esteem who are coping with romantic rejection are also explored. / Thesis (Ph.D, Psychology) -- Queen's University, 2007-07-12 12:36:26.478

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is a dynamic technique that possesses tremendous potential for the synthesis of novel polymeric materials not possible through conventional free radical polymerization. However, its use on an industrial scale has been limited by the high level of transition metal complex required. Significant advances have been made in the last 5 years towards lowering the level of copper complexes used in ATRP, resulting in novel variants called “activator regenerated by electron transfer” (ARGET) and “single electron transfer-living radical polymerization” (SET-LRP). To fully realize the potential of ATRP, its use in industrially relevant processes must be studied. Continuous processes such as tubular flow reactors and stirred tank reactors (CSTR) can reduce waste, improve productivity and facilitate process scale-up when compared to common batch reactors. The combination of low copper concentration ATRP techniques and continuous processes are especially attractive towards the design of a commercially viable process. This thesis presents a study into ARGET ATRP and SET-LRP as applied to continuous tubular and stirred tank reactors for the production of acrylic and methacrylic polymers. The equilibrium which governs polymerization rate and control over molecular architecture is studied through batch ARGET ATRP experiments. The improved understanding of ARGET ATRP enabled the reduction of ligand from a 3 to 10 fold excess used previously down to a stoichiometric ratio to copper salts. ARGET ATRP was then adapted to a continuous tubular reactor, as well as to a semi-automated CSTR. The design of the reactors and the effect of reaction conditions such as reducing agent concentration and residence time are discussed. The use of common elemental copper(0) such as copper wire and copper tubing is also investigated with SET-LRP for room temperature polymerization of methyl acrylate. SET-LRP is adapted to a CSTR to observe the effects of residence time on reaction rate, molecular weight control as well as copper consumption rate. The use of copper tubing as a catalyst source for SET-LRP is demonstrated and the design of a continuous tubular reactor using a combination of copper and stainless steel tubing is discussed. / Thesis (Ph.D, Chemical Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2012-04-30 16:01:28.916

In this study, I develop a transition follow-up system (TFS) — a data-collection system that tracks information about persons with disabilities from high school to adulthood — that is socially valid in Manitoba. I investigate the current data-collection practices regarding persons with disabilities in Manitoba and analyze stakeholders’ needs for a transition follow-up system using document review, surveys, focus groups, and individual interviews. There is currently no formal data-collection system documenting the transition from school to adulthood of persons with disabilities in the province. Stakeholders have acknowledged the need for such a data-collection system in order to improve current support systems. The key suggestions that stakeholders have made with regard to implementing a transition follow-up system are (a) ensuring impartial, reliable data management, (b) minimizing any additional work required for schools and adult services programs/agencies, (c) utilizing existing data collection practices, (d) applying various data collection methods, (e) carrying out longitudinal data collection regarding individuals with disabilities, (f) including persons with various disabilities, from mild to severe, (g) involving various government departments in the transition process, (h) protecting privacy and confidentiality, and i) ensuring user-friendly data collection and reporting. The most significant concern that stakeholders express relates to securing the financial and human capacity to develop and maintain a transition follow-up system. Based on these suggestions and the current Manitoba context, I propose a transition follow-up system model, recommending operative aspects such as scope, purpose, administrators, target youth, information to collect, data collectors, data-collection methods, data sources, timeline of data collection, reporting, confidentiality and privacy, and methods of ensuring the reliability and validity of data. Although the model proposed is relevant to the Manitoba context, it also offers a useful set of general guidelines on critical issues that need to be considered in developing and implementing a transition follow-up system.

A system for visual guidance in patient set-up for external-beam radiotherapy procedures was developed using augmented reality. The system uses video cameras to obtain views of the linear accelerator, and the live images are displayed on a monitor in the treatment room. A 3D model of the patient's external surface, obtained from planning CT data, is superimposed onto the treatment couch in the camera images. The augmented monitor can then be viewed, and alignment performed against the virtual contour. The system provides an intuitive method for set-up guidance, and allows non-rigid deformations to patient pose to be visualised. It also allows changes to patient geometry between treatment fractions to become observable, and can remain in operation throughout the treatment procedure, so that patient motion becomes apparent. Coordinate registration between the camera view and the linac is performed using a cube which is aligned with the linac isocentre using room lasers or cone-beam CT. The AR tracking software detects planar fiducial tracking markers attached to the cube faces, and determines their positions in order to perform pose estimation of the 3D model on-screen. Experimental results with an anthropomorphic phantom in a clinical environment have shown that the system can be used to position a rigid-body with a translational error of 3 mm, and a rotational error of 0.19 degrees, 0.06 degrees and 0.27 degrees, corresponding to pitch, roll and yaw respectively. With further developments to optimise the system accuracy and its interface, it could be made into a valuable tool for radiotherapy clinics. The outcome of the project has been encouraging, and has shown that augmented reality for patient set-up guidance has great potential.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the phenomenon of role models for younger girls. Girls aged 5 to 12 years were asked who they chose to look up to, how significant their role models were to them, why they had chosen them and if they thought they thought that they could achieve their chosen model‟s achievements. Socio-cultural framework provides a useful perspective for understanding the significance of role models as they act as powerful transmitters and reinforcers of the tenets of socialization. In Social Cognitive Theory, it is claimed that children largely learn through modelling, observing and imitating significant others. Interview and task sessions including a field-mapping activity and the sorting of peer-generated photographs were conducted with 12 girls aged from 5 to 12 years from one urban school. In analysis of the interview data, it was found that family members or family substitutes were the most significant people that these girls chose and, despite the alleged pressure from popular culture, young girls in this study were able to make discerning judgements about the „hollowness‟ of characters of popular culture. They identified skills or attributes that their role models demonstrated rather than physical attractiveness, their popularity or the amount of money their fame had brought them. This study is a valid representation of what mattered to a group of young girls at one specific point in time and could indicate the value of further investigation of how to maximize the benefits of role models for young girls.