Thesis (Master of Military Studies)-Marine Corps Command and Staff College, 2008. / Title from title page of PDF document (viewed on: Jan 11, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.

The thesis aims to explain different theoretical approaches to definition of deflation, categorize deflation, define positive and negative connotations typical for each economical school, define the role of monetary policy in relation to price stability and monetary instruments with an emphasis on unconventional. The last part applies theoretical knowledge on Swiss situation, describes the interventions between years 2009 and 2016 and presents their initially predicted and subsequently real, graphically illustrated impact on economy. The theoretical part of diploma concludes that mainstream economy perception is the most suitable for definition of deflation, therefore perceive it as a negative phenomenon and calls for elimination. Each step of SNB monetary policy was controversial. The author opens the question of the necessity of intervention from 2009, explains the reasons of SNB steps from 2011 and exit strategy from 2015. However, the author do not forget on negative connotations. In the final part, thesis outlines the most discussed topics raised by Swiss interventions and opens the topic of negative rates as unconventional monetary instrument.

RESUMÉ V ANGLICKÉM JAZYCE The diploma thesis is focused on parts of speech in the Czech language in the lower primary school. Its aim is to chart it on the general level, to introduce their definition, their historical background and the selection into the word-classes. The theoretical section introduces the parts of speech as the common part of the language. It describes them on basis of the syntactic, semantic and morphological division. That is needed for concrete introduction and realisation of the individual parts of speech. For each word class there is also briefly showed how they are presented in contemporary Czech language textbooks for the lower primary school. The practical part focuses on introduction of new methods of teaching parts of speech mainly through games and unconventional tools. The games contain rules, time management, tools and number of pupils involved. Furthermore., there are the interviews with the teachers of the concrete lower primary school who had got to test the games and tools and summarizes their opinions. KEY WORDS parts of speech, teaching, the lower primary school, unconventional approach to teaching, games, unconventional tools

Thesis (Master of Military Studies)-Marine Corps Command and Staff College, 2008. / Title from title page of PDF document (viewed on: Dec 29, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.

The thesis deals with the current trends and development of the unconventional oil and natural gas production. The main aim is to evaluate and analyze the global development of unconventional production and the influence of its growth in the last decade on the global economy and the given markets. In addition, not only the pros, but also the risks and limitations of unconventional production, are examined, e.g. economic and environmental issues. The final part focuses on the United States and the local shale boom. Based on the analysis of American unconventional production, the future of these sources is predicted. At the end of the thesis the effects of shale boom on the U.S. economy are explored as well, focusing mainly on the U.S. trade balance.

In this paper we compare the transmission of a conventional monetary policy shock with that of an unexpected decrease in the term spread, which mirrors quantitative easing. Employing a time-varying vector autoregression with stochastic volatility, our results are two-fold: First, the spread shock works mainly through a boost to consumer wealth growth, while a conventional monetary policy shock affects real output growth via a broad credit / bank lending channel. Second, both shocks exhibit a distinct pattern over our sample period. More specifically, we find small output effects of a conventional monetary policy shock during the period of the global financial crisis and stronger effects in its aftermath. This might imply that when the central bank has left the policy rate unaltered for an extended period of time, a policy surprise might boost output particularly strongly. By contrast, the spread shock has affected output growth most strongly during the period of the global financial crisis and less so thereafter. This might point to diminishing effects of large scale asset purchase programs. (authors' abstrct) / Series: Department of Economics Working Paper Series

An integrated stratigraphic analysis of a ~350 ft drill core from Upton County (Texas) has revealed pervasive variability of several key siliciclastic and carbonate lithofacies in vertical section, where organic-rich siliceous mudrock beds alternate with aluminum-rich mudrocks and calcareous gravity flow deposits. Sediment chemistry, especially major and trace elements derived from x-ray fluorescence, captures this variability with high sensitivity. The high frequency chemostratigraphic variability appears to be cyclic, and it is interpreted to represent the first example of deep-water Late Pennsylvanian cyclothems for the Midland Basin. Positive trace metal (Mo, Cr) correlations to total organic carbon and gamma ray response in siliceous mudrocks, in conjunction with abundant pyrite, indicate bottom-water anoxia and possibly euxinia within the basin. The influence of glacial ice-sheets on the water level of the global ocean, in concert with local oceanographic gradients, regional tectonics, and tropical paleoclimate, constitute the primary controls on lithofacies and chemostratigraphy. The results of this study have implications for understanding the depositional history of the Midland Basin, as well as for identifying horizontal drilling zones for resource development.

Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracture stimulation have enabled the economic development of unconventional resource plays. An average horizontal well in the Barnett Shale requires 3 to 4 million gallons of fresh water, 90% of which is used for hydraulic fracture stimulation. While the water consumption of Barnett Shale operations is less than 1% of total Region C consumption, extended drought conditions and competing demands for water resources are placing pressure on operators to reduce terminal water consumption. Strategies which reduce water requirements associated hydraulic fracture stimulation without compromising the efficiency and cost of energy production are essential in developing a comprehensive policy on energy-water management. Recycling and reuse technologies were evaluated on the basis of performance, cost, and capacity to treat reclaimed flowback water and oilfield brine. Recycling flowback fluids for future hydraulic fracture applications is the most practical repurposing of oilfield waste. The low TDS content of flowback derived from water-based fracs permits multiple treatment options. Mobile thermal distillation technology has emerged as the prevailing technique for recycling flowback water, yielding maximum water savings and reduced operating costs. The estimated cost of recycling flowback water by thermal distillation is $3.35/bbl. Compared to the current cost of disposal, recycling provides an opportunity to minimize waste and reduce the fresh water requirements of hydraulic fracture stimulation at an incremental cost. The stewardship role of the Texas Legislature is to protect the water resources of the state and to facilitate the Regional Water Planning Process, ensuring future water needs are met. The support and participation of the Legislature and other planning entities is critical in advancing the energy-water nexus. As operators pursue innovative water management practices to reduce terminal water consumption in the oilfield, the Barnett Shale positions itself as a model for sustainable water use in the development of unconventional shale resources. The cost of recycling and reuse technology limits the participation of small and mid-size operators who possess the greatest market share of the Barnett Shale. Funding for research and implementation of water-conscious strategies such as shared recycling facilities, CO2 capture and storage, and pipeline infrastructure would create multi-user opportunities to promote conservation and reduce net consumption of fresh water supplies. Through the integration of technology and policy, terminal water consumption in the Barnett Shale can be greatly diminished. / text

The field of computational complexity theory--which chiefly aims to quantify the difficulty encountered when performing calculations--is, in the case of conventional computers, correctly practised and well understood (some important and fundamental open questions notwithstanding); however, such understanding is, we argue, lacking when unconventional paradigms are considered. As an illustration, we present here an analogue computer that performs the task of natural-number factorization using only polynomial time and space; the system's true, exponential complexity, which arises from requirements concerning precision, is overlooked by a traditional, `time-and-space' approach to complexity theory. Hence, we formulate the thesis that unconventional computers warrant unconventional complexity analysis; the crucial omission from traditional analysis, we suggest, is consideration of relevant resources, these being not only time and space, but also precision, energy, etc. In the presence of this multitude of resources, however, the task of comparing computers' efficiency (formerly a case merely of comparing time complexity) becomes difficult. We resolve this by introducing a notion of overall complexity, though this transpires to be incompatible with an unrestricted formulation of resource; accordingly, we define normality of resource, and stipulate that considered resources be normal, so as to rectify certain undesirable complexity behaviour. Our concept of overall complexity induces corresponding complexity classes, and we prove theorems concerning, for example, the inclusions therebetween. Our notions of resource, overall complexity, normality, etc. form a model-independent framework of computational complexity theory, which allows: insightful complexity analysis of unconventional computers; comparison of large, model-heterogeneous sets of computers, and correspondingly improved bounds upon the complexity of problems; assessment of novel, unconventional systems against existing, Turing-machine benchmarks; increased confidence in the difficulty of problems; etc. We apply notions of the framework to existing disputes in the literature, and consider in the context of the framework various fundamental questions concerning the nature of computation.

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / The unwillingness to correct deficiencies in current COIN Doctrine or to follow the correct methods within current doctrine will lead to continued instability and possible failure of counterinsurgency operations and governments in states with large Islamic populations. The conflict in Afghanistan and Iraq is insurgent in nature, therefore requires a Counterinsurgent strategy. Current US Army Doctrine focuses entirely on the Counterguerilla aspect of an insurgency, rather than viewing the insurgency in its entirety. Therefore, not only is the COIN doctrine is inadequate, it also requires an overall governing strategy which must include the engagements of both the populace, and the infrastructure of the insurgency, as well as counterforce operations against the guerillas. The entire hierarchy of COIN Doctrine is skewed in favor of the conventional units who write it. Currently all COIN operations fall under Support and Stability Operations, as do Counterguerrilla Operations in doctrinal hierarchy that is written by the US Army Infantry Branch. However, US Army Special Forces Branch writes Insurgency and Foreign Internal Defense Doctrine (COIN falls under FID for all Internal Defense and Development [IDAD] Programs). The unique qualifications of Special Forces units make them ideal for creating, developing, instituting, and commanding these operations. Special Forces soldiers are language and culturally trained to operate within these nations, and normally have habitual associations previously developed with the people and militaries of these nations. / Major, United States Army