Excessive use of fossil fuels to meet everyday energy demands has led to adverse environmental impacts like global warming and high dependence on foreign oil. Development of cellulosic feedstocks provides energy security and also reduces the burden on food crops like corn and sugarcane used for ethanol production. This thesis uses cost-benefit analysis to ascertain the profitability of producing cellulosic ethanol from Switchgrass and Sweet Sorghum Bagasse. First, breakeven price of producing Switchgrass and Sweet Sorghum is calculated to obtain a raw material (feedstock) cost for ethanol production. Next, net present value (NPV) and minimum ethanol selling price (MESP) for Switchgrass and Sweet sorghum are calculated. Lastly, risk analysis is performed and its impacts on NPV are calculated for two farmer categories. The results show that ethanol production from Switchgrass and Sweet Sorghum is commercially feasible and generates a Net Present Value (NPV) of $39.54 million for Switchgrass and $96.76 million for Sweet Sorghum at an ethanol selling price of $2.17 per gallon. At NPV zero the MESP for Switchgrass and Sweet Sorghum is estimated to be $2.10 and $1.96 per gallon respectively. The risk analysis results revealed that there is a 9.5 percent probability that the NPV for a risk-averse Switchgrass farmer will be less than zero. On the other hand, the probability of the NPV being less than zero is 67.4 percent. The overall analysis indicates that ethanol production from Switchgrass and Sweet Sorghum is a promising option. Reduction in feedstock prices, optimization of the conversion process and additional revenues from by-products can make cellulosic ethanol more competitive with current gasoline prices. / Master of Science

A grounded theory methodology, justified by the logic of methodical hermeneutics, was employed to guide both the collection and analysis of data produced from interviews with 11 psychotherapy clients who reported having unsuccessful experiences. Ultimately, I put forth the Clients Helical Path as a theoretical model grounded in clients' unsuccessful therapy experiences. The theory subsumes four subcategories: three cyclically-related subcategory processes (Embarking, Evaluating, and Ending), and a fourth category (Familiarity) that provides a temporal/experiential dimension. Clients embark upon a course of therapy with certain expectations; they later evaluate their experience on the basis of these expectations, and then end therapy when they adjudicate it as not sufficiently successful. Clients' familiarity with the enterprise of therapy is enhanced with each successive therapy experience, and this familiarity implicates clients' subsequent expectations, evaluations, and endings. The theory contextualizes clients experiences of unsuccessful therapy at the level of the individual, rather at the level of the course of therapy, thereby providing an understanding for how past therapy experiences influence future ones. This feature of the theory represents a significant departure from and contribution to the existing psychotherapy research literature. I discuss the unique nature and utility of the theory, its overlap with existing empirical findings, as well as its limitations. I suggest directions for future research, and I provide multiple credibility checks.

A grounded theory methodology, justified by the logic of methodical hermeneutics, was employed to guide both the collection and analysis of data produced from interviews with 11 psychotherapy clients who reported having unsuccessful experiences. Ultimately, I put forth the Clients Helical Path as a theoretical model grounded in clients' unsuccessful therapy experiences. The theory subsumes four subcategories: three cyclically-related subcategory processes (Embarking, Evaluating, and Ending), and a fourth category (Familiarity) that provides a temporal/experiential dimension. Clients embark upon a course of therapy with certain expectations; they later evaluate their experience on the basis of these expectations, and then end therapy when they adjudicate it as not sufficiently successful. Clients' familiarity with the enterprise of therapy is enhanced with each successive therapy experience, and this familiarity implicates clients' subsequent expectations, evaluations, and endings. The theory contextualizes clients experiences of unsuccessful therapy at the level of the individual, rather at the level of the course of therapy, thereby providing an understanding for how past therapy experiences influence future ones. This feature of the theory represents a significant departure from and contribution to the existing psychotherapy research literature. I discuss the unique nature and utility of the theory, its overlap with existing empirical findings, as well as its limitations. I suggest directions for future research, and I provide multiple credibility checks.

Abstract This study investigates the relationship between play and child development. This work is the continuation of a thesis on children’s verbal creativity stimulated by dialogical drama intervention which I defended in 2001 at the Vilnius Pedagogical University, Lithuania. The first doctoral thesis in educology resulted in the main intervention method (Dialogical Drama with Puppets) used in this project. The theoretical framework of the study is based on cultural-historical theories developed by Vygotsky and his followers. This approach has influenced on the methodological choices of the study and the concept of the zone of proximal development is a central concept in Vygotskian theory of human cultural development. The concept has been elaborated in an earlier publication (Hakkarainen & Bredikyte 2008) and is now used as an analytic tool. Other theoretical concepts of Vygotsky like the social situation of development, the unit, environment and mechanism of development are used. This study is a small sample from the whole research project, which integrated research studies, theoretical courses and practice of master’s degree students in early education. For families and children the project was a play club. From the theoretical point of view the project was a “genetic experiment”, a “playworld” and intervention study aiming at joint creative play of adults and children. In cultural-historical theory (cultural) environment is the source of qualitative developmental changes of individuals, but each child has to be motivated and self carry out developmental acts. These theoretical principles require special forms of social interaction “mutual interventions”. The methodological approach opens a new perspective to the study of play and development. Individual play development of some children is followed up several years. Cumulative effects and qualitative changes can be detected easier in this setting. Multi-age child groups change our understanding about play development. Empirical part of this study consists of a few cases, which demonstrate what kind of developmental trajectories are possible. It is impossible to tell exactly what the effect of our play environment is, but observations and interpretations can guide further research activity. The results of this study demonstrate in which conditions narrative intervention in joint playworld environment can lead to creative acts, what steps are necessary in the development of joint play, how mutuality in adult-child play supports child development, and what elements are essential in play producing pedagogy and professional growth. / Tiivistelmä Tämä tutkimus selvittää leikin ja lasten kehityksen välistä yhteyttä. Siinä työssä jatkuu tekijän edellisessä Vilnan pedagogisen yliopiston edukologian väitöskirjassa 2001 aloittama lasten luovuuden tutkimus dialogista draamaa käyttäen. Tämä tutkimus tuotti keskeisen intervention menetelmän (Dialoginen nukkedraama), jota nyt käytetään. Tämän tutkimuksen viitekehys perustuu Vygotskin ja hänen seuraajiensa kehittelemään kulttuuri-historialliseen teoriaan. Metodologiset ratkaisut ja Vygotskin kulttuurisen kehityksen teorian keskeinen käsite – lähikehityksen vyöhyke – ovat vaikuttaneet tutkimuksen toteutukseen. Tätä käsitettä on kehitelty aikaisemmassa julkaisussa (Hakkarainen & Bredikyte, 2008) ja sitä käytetään nyt analyyttisenä työvälineenä. Vygotskin muitakin teoreettisia käsitteitä kuten ”kehityksen sosiaalinen tilanne”, ”kehityksen analyysiyksikkö”, ”kehityksen ympäristö”, ja ”kehitysmekanismi” on otettu käyttöön. Tämä tutkimus on pieni siivu koko tutkimusprojektista, johon kytkeytyi varhaiskasvatuksen maisteriopiskelijoiden tutkimusopintoja, teoriakursseja ja harjoittelua. Perheiden ja osallistuvien lasten näkökulmasta projekti oli leikkikerho. Teoreettiselta näkökulmalta projektin ydin oli ”geneettinen eksperimentti”, ”leikkimaailma” ja ”interventiotutkimus”, joka pyrkii saamaan aikaan aikuisten ja lasten yhteistä luovaa leikkiä. Kulttuuri-historiallisessa teoriassa (psykologinen/ kulttuurinen) ymäristö on yksilön laadullisten kehityksen muutosten lähde, mutta jokaisen lapsen on oltava motivoitunut ja itse toteutettava kehittävät teot. Nämä teoreettiset periaatteet edellyttävät erityistä sosiaalisen vuorovaikutuksen muotoa ”vastavuoroista interventiota”. Käytetty metodologinen lähestymistapa avaa uuden mahdollisuuden tutkia leikkiä ja kehitystä. Joidenkin yksittäisten lasten leikin kehitystä on voitu seurata useita vuosia. Kasautuvat vaikutukset ja laadulliset muutokset voidaan todeta helpommin tällaisella tutkimusotteella. Eri-ikäisten lasten yhteiset leikkiryhmät auttavat ymmärtämään paremmin leikin olemusta ja kehitystä. Tutkimuksen empiirinen osa muodostuu yksitäistapauksista, jotka kertovat millaiset kehityskaaret ovat mahdollisia. Tarkkoja syitä ja seurauksia ei ole mahdollista leikkiympäristössä osoittaa, mutta havainnot ja tulkinnat ohjaavat jatkotutkimusta. Tutkimuksen tulokset kertovat millaisissa olosuhteissa narratiivinen interventio yhteisessä leikkiympäristössä voi johtaa luoviin tekoihin, miten yhteinen leikki voi kehittyä ja kehittää, millainen vastavuoroisuus aikuisen ja lasten leikissä tukee kehitystä sekä mitkä asiat ovat välttämättömiä leikin pedagogiikassa ja ammatillisessa kasvussa.

This diploma thesis deals with strategic planning and is elaborate for company which carry business in sector gastronomy. The aim of the work is by the help of theoretical solutions and strategic analysis to propose a change that would help the company further develop its business, which is plan for year 2011.

No description available.

Os problemas ambientais são cada vez mais comuns e de magnitudes e escalas variadas, atingindo principalmente as áreas urbanas. Poluição atmosférica e dos corpos dágua, deslizamentos de encostas e enchentes são alguns dessas situações adversas. São Gonçalo não foge á regra. Localizada na Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro, essa cidade sofre com as situações exemplificadas, principalmente em relação a degradação dos rios urbanos e as enchentes que acometem algumas áreas do município. Partindo-se da problemática exposta, a presente pesquisa tem como objetivo principal promover uma discussão teórica e reflexiva sobre a importância da efetivação da educação ambiental com foco na bacia hidrográfica urbana, tomando-se a bacia hidrográfica do rio Imboassú no município de São Gonçalo (RJ), como recorte. A fundamentação metodológica deste trabalho está pautada na análise ambiental que prioriza a participação pública e a educação ambiental no processo de planejamento e gestão, visando minimizar as diversas situações de desequilíbrio e degradação que acometem a bacia. A operacionalização deu-se do seguinte modo: análise inicial a partir da sistematização de estudos diagnósticos e de consultas de documentos, relatórios, dentre outros de órgãos governamentais; análise intermediária a partir da observação em campo do atual estado de degradação da bacia hidrográfica do rio Imboassú e da identificação do conjunto de políticas públicas vigentes; análise integrada análise dos estudos diagnósticos, análise da situação atual da bacia (in loco e documental), análise final com identificação de lacunas de gestão e propostas viáveis no âmbito da educação ambiental. Verificou-se que essa bacia está urbanizada e os rios que a compõem descaracterizados e poluídos, com histórico de enchentes. Falta de ordenamento urbano, degradação ambiental e descaso do poder público são alguns problemas enfrentados pelos moradores dessa bacia, resultando na falta de ordenamento territorial urbano e falta de qualidade de vida da população. Diante do exposto, fica claro a necessidade de se criar mecanismos que amenizem essa degradação e tragam equilíbrio ao funcionamento e dinâmica da bacia, influenciando positivamente o dia-a-dia da população residente em seu interior. Um eficiente caminho para promover essa mudança é a educação ambiental como ferramenta para a transformação da sociedade, conscientizando-a de seu papel participativo e modificando a maneira como esta se relaciona com o meio ambiente. Verificou-se que na prática, na bacia do Imboassú, o poder público não efetiva os pressupostos presentes, tanto na legislação ambiental, quanto no plano diretor municipal e alguns órgãos (CEDAE, INEA, SEMMA) não atuam de forma satisfatória. Logo, levantar a discussão da importância da Educação Ambiental como política pública a ser promovida pelos gestores municipais e apontar para a participação e atuação da sociedade de forma crítica na estruturação do espaço urbano é de extrema importância para promover melhoria na relação sociedade meio ambiente. / Environmental problems are increasingly common and varying magnitudes and scales, affecting mainly the urban areas. Air pollution and water bodies, landslidesand floods are some of these adverse situations. São Gonçalo is no exception. Located in the Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro, the city has exemplified with situations, especially in relation to degradation of urban rivers and floods affectingsome areas of the city. Based on the problems exposed, this research has as main objective to promote a reflective and theoretical discussion about the importance of effective environmental education with a focus on urban watershed, taking the river basin Imboassú in São Gonçalo ( RJ), such as clipping. The methodological foundation of this work is based in the environmental analysis that prioritizes environmental education and public participation in planning and management in order to minimize the number of imbalances and degradation that affect the basin. The operation took place as follows: initial analysis from the systematic diagnostic studies and consultation documents, reports, among other government agencies; interim analysis from the field observation of the current state of degradation of river basin Imboassú and identify the set of policies in force, integrated analysis - analysis of diagnostic studies, analyzing the current situation of the basin (on-site and documentary), the final analysis to identify gaps in management and viable proposals in the context of environmental education. It was found that the basin is urbanized and the rivers that make up the defaced and polluted, with a history of flooding. Lack of urban planning, environmental degradation and neglect of the public are some problems faced by residents of the basin, resulting in the disorder and lack of urban land quality of life. In this light, it is clear the need to create mechanisms that mitigate this degradation and bring balance to the function and dynamics of the basin, positively influencing the lives of the residents inside. An efficient way to promote such change is the environmental education as a basis for transformation of society, making them aware of their role in participatory and modifying the way it relates to the environment. It was found that in practice the government did not effectively present the assumptions, both in environmental legislation, as in the municipal master plan and some organs (CEDAE, INEA, SEMMA) do not work satisfactorily. So raise the discussion of the importance of environmental education as public policy to be promoted by municipal and point to the participation and performance in a critical society in the structuring of urban space is extremely important to promote better value society - environment

Os problemas ambientais são cada vez mais comuns e de magnitudes e escalas variadas, atingindo principalmente as áreas urbanas. Poluição atmosférica e dos corpos dágua, deslizamentos de encostas e enchentes são alguns dessas situações adversas. São Gonçalo não foge á regra. Localizada na Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro, essa cidade sofre com as situações exemplificadas, principalmente em relação a degradação dos rios urbanos e as enchentes que acometem algumas áreas do município. Partindo-se da problemática exposta, a presente pesquisa tem como objetivo principal promover uma discussão teórica e reflexiva sobre a importância da efetivação da educação ambiental com foco na bacia hidrográfica urbana, tomando-se a bacia hidrográfica do rio Imboassú no município de São Gonçalo (RJ), como recorte. A fundamentação metodológica deste trabalho está pautada na análise ambiental que prioriza a participação pública e a educação ambiental no processo de planejamento e gestão, visando minimizar as diversas situações de desequilíbrio e degradação que acometem a bacia. A operacionalização deu-se do seguinte modo: análise inicial a partir da sistematização de estudos diagnósticos e de consultas de documentos, relatórios, dentre outros de órgãos governamentais; análise intermediária a partir da observação em campo do atual estado de degradação da bacia hidrográfica do rio Imboassú e da identificação do conjunto de políticas públicas vigentes; análise integrada análise dos estudos diagnósticos, análise da situação atual da bacia (in loco e documental), análise final com identificação de lacunas de gestão e propostas viáveis no âmbito da educação ambiental. Verificou-se que essa bacia está urbanizada e os rios que a compõem descaracterizados e poluídos, com histórico de enchentes. Falta de ordenamento urbano, degradação ambiental e descaso do poder público são alguns problemas enfrentados pelos moradores dessa bacia, resultando na falta de ordenamento territorial urbano e falta de qualidade de vida da população. Diante do exposto, fica claro a necessidade de se criar mecanismos que amenizem essa degradação e tragam equilíbrio ao funcionamento e dinâmica da bacia, influenciando positivamente o dia-a-dia da população residente em seu interior. Um eficiente caminho para promover essa mudança é a educação ambiental como ferramenta para a transformação da sociedade, conscientizando-a de seu papel participativo e modificando a maneira como esta se relaciona com o meio ambiente. Verificou-se que na prática, na bacia do Imboassú, o poder público não efetiva os pressupostos presentes, tanto na legislação ambiental, quanto no plano diretor municipal e alguns órgãos (CEDAE, INEA, SEMMA) não atuam de forma satisfatória. Logo, levantar a discussão da importância da Educação Ambiental como política pública a ser promovida pelos gestores municipais e apontar para a participação e atuação da sociedade de forma crítica na estruturação do espaço urbano é de extrema importância para promover melhoria na relação sociedade meio ambiente. / Environmental problems are increasingly common and varying magnitudes and scales, affecting mainly the urban areas. Air pollution and water bodies, landslidesand floods are some of these adverse situations. São Gonçalo is no exception. Located in the Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro, the city has exemplified with situations, especially in relation to degradation of urban rivers and floods affectingsome areas of the city. Based on the problems exposed, this research has as main objective to promote a reflective and theoretical discussion about the importance of effective environmental education with a focus on urban watershed, taking the river basin Imboassú in São Gonçalo ( RJ), such as clipping. The methodological foundation of this work is based in the environmental analysis that prioritizes environmental education and public participation in planning and management in order to minimize the number of imbalances and degradation that affect the basin. The operation took place as follows: initial analysis from the systematic diagnostic studies and consultation documents, reports, among other government agencies; interim analysis from the field observation of the current state of degradation of river basin Imboassú and identify the set of policies in force, integrated analysis - analysis of diagnostic studies, analyzing the current situation of the basin (on-site and documentary), the final analysis to identify gaps in management and viable proposals in the context of environmental education. It was found that the basin is urbanized and the rivers that make up the defaced and polluted, with a history of flooding. Lack of urban planning, environmental degradation and neglect of the public are some problems faced by residents of the basin, resulting in the disorder and lack of urban land quality of life. In this light, it is clear the need to create mechanisms that mitigate this degradation and bring balance to the function and dynamics of the basin, positively influencing the lives of the residents inside. An efficient way to promote such change is the environmental education as a basis for transformation of society, making them aware of their role in participatory and modifying the way it relates to the environment. It was found that in practice the government did not effectively present the assumptions, both in environmental legislation, as in the municipal master plan and some organs (CEDAE, INEA, SEMMA) do not work satisfactorily. So raise the discussion of the importance of environmental education as public policy to be promoted by municipal and point to the participation and performance in a critical society in the structuring of urban space is extremely important to promote better value society - environment

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Statistics / James Higgins / Many studies are performed on units that cannot be replicated due to cost or other restrictions. There often is an abundance of subsampling to estimate the within unit component of variance, but what is needed for statistical tests is an estimate of the between unit component of variance. There is evidence to suggest that the ratio of the between component of variance to the total variance will remain relatively constant over a range of studies of similar types. Moreover, in many cases this intraclass correlation, which is the ratio of the between unit variance to the total variance, will be relatively small, often 0.1 or less. Such situations exist in education, agriculture, and medicine to name a few. The present study discusses how to use such prior information on the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) to obtain inferences about differences among treatments in the face of no replication. Several strategies that use the ICC are recommended for different situations and various designs. Their properties are investigated. Work is extended to under-replicated experiments. The work has a Bayesian flavor but avoids the full Bayesian analysis, which has computational complexities and the potential for lack of acceptance among many applied researchers. This study compares the prior information ICC methods with traditional methods. Situations are suggested in which prior information ICC methods are preferable to traditional methods and those in which the traditional methods are preferable.

Submitted diploma thesis deals about operational deformations in the cylinder unit of turbocharged diesel engine used in commercial vehicles. Introductory part analyses combustion engines computational modelling based on finite element method. The next step is the creation of computational models for thermal-structural analyses of the piston and engine block. In order to determine material characteristics of the head gasket, experiment is performed on the OEM gasket to determine its real behaviour under compressive load. The results shows strong nonlinear behaviour which justifies the decision of making such an experiment in the first place. The results of computational models are radial deformations of the piston and cylinder liners during load conditions. The last chapter deals with the application of these results to an advanced computational piston assembly dynamics model.