In this thesis, we conduct an experimental simulation of 131 students from a university in Hong Kong and investigate the relationship between pay changes and the perceived values (i.e., utility). Applying traditional psychophysical methods, we measure the utility of pay changes (i.e., pay raises and pay cuts) of different sizes by individual responses (i.e., happiness/unhappiness). Drawing on utility theory and expectancy theory, we examine the function that best fits this relationship by considering common function forms including linear, quadratic, logarithmic, and power functions. Using regression techniques, we find that a quadratic function best fits the data, and the utility function is concave in the pay change. When we examine the best form of utility functions for pay raises and pay cuts separately, we find that the utility of pay raises and that of pay cuts are best described by a quadratic function and a linear function, respectively. We further show that a single model involving all pay changes better describes the utility than two separate models for pay raises and pay cuts. In addition, our best-fit utility model reveals that a sufficiently small amount of pay increase may generate a negative value of utility, and we calculate the percentage of smallest meaningful pay increase that results in non-negative utility. We also discuss the theoretical contributions of our findings to the literature and their implications to practitioners.

Renewable energy is a promising alternative to alleviating fossil fuel-based dependencies, but its development can require a complex set of environmental trade-offs for bird communities in the area, ranging from effective and physical habitat loss to direct collision-related mortality. The wide variation in the nature and significance of predicted impacts of utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) facilities on birds, and the low levels of confidence attending these predictions, has emphasised the need for scientific research. This study assesses the risks to bird populations and guilds at one of South Africa's largest PV developments. Firstly, in order to identify functional and structural changes in bird communities in and around the development footprint, bird transect data were gathered, representing the solar development, boundary, and untransformed landscape. Secondly, to assess the risk of collision mortality with solar-related infrastructure, representative samples (core vs. edge) were surveyed for bird carcasses and other signs of collision for three months covering 20-30% of the facility at search intervals of 4, 7 and 14 days. In order to account for potential biases in carcass detection, searcher efficiency and carcass persistence trials were conducted. The distribution of birds in the landscape changed, from a shrubland to open country and grassland bird community, in response to changes in the distribution and abundance of habitat resources such as food, water and nesting sites. These changes in resource availability patterns were detrimental to some bird species and beneficial to others. Shrubland specialists, such as the black-chested prinia (Prinia flavicans) and chestnut-vented tit-babbler (Parisoma subcaeruleum), appeared to be negatively affected by the presence of the PV facility. In contrast, open country/grassland and generalist species, especially species such as the Cape sparrow (Passer melanurus) and familiar chat (Cercomela familiaris), were favoured by its development. Utility-scale PV facilities inevitably will not substitute for the natural habitats they have replaced, but might offer opportunities for climate protection that do not necessarily conflict with nature conservation. Monitoring success of avian mortality was significantly influenced by variation in detection rates by size class (60 and 95% for birds <100 g and >100 g, respectively) and the location of carcasses relative to the solar panel units (65 and 90% for birds adjacent and under the units, respectively) as well as decreasing persistence rates per search interval (57, 53, and 40% after 4, 7, and 14 days, respectively). Only injuries associated with non-fatal collision of large-bodied birds with the underside of the panels and entrapment between fencing could be concluded with reasonable certainty. An extrapolated fatality estimate of 4.53 fatalities.MW⁻¹.yr⁻¹ (95% CI 1.51-8.50), short study period, and lack of comparable results from other sources made it difficult to provide a meaningful assessment on avian mortality at PV facilities. Despite these limitations, the few bird fatalities that were recorded might suggest that there is no significant link with collision-related mortality at the study site. In order to fully understand the risk of solar energy development on birds, further collation and analysis of data from solar energy facilities across spatial and temporal scales, based on scientifically rigorous research designs, is required.

Trees in a community provide numerous benefits, including reducing ambient temperature, removing gaseous and particulate pollutants from the air, sequestering atmospheric carbon, and improving stormwater retention and filtration. However, trees also pose risks, especially in proximity to overhead utility lines. Trees near utility lines cause a large proportion of electrical power outages. As such, trees must be frequently and often severely pruned away from lines to minimize this risk. Presumably, community trees not growing near overhead utility lines are not pruned as frequently or severely. The objectives of this study are to (i) assess factors related to both individual trees and the sample populations of trees growing near and away from overhead utility lines, and (ii) determine whether those factors differed between the two groups. From May through September 2020, I sampled 200 utility easement plots and 200 non-utility plots in Eversource Energy’s distribution territories, measuring 2361 trees. I measured diameter at breast height (DBH), crown height and spread, percent crown missing, percent twig dieback, and likelihood of failure. Using this field collected data, I conducted an i-Tree Eco assessment to evaluate the contribution ecosystem services delivered by trees at each sampling site.

The following thesis studies how the utility of organization can influence oneâ s work sphere. Presented is a modular storage unit that can be reconfigured to ensure its utility to the user. / Master of Science

This diploma thesis is concerned with design of amphibious rescue vehicle. The aim of this work is to design external shape of the vehicle and to create a modul container which fullfills technical, contructional, ergonomic and aestethic features of the vehicle. The work is meant to show variety of new shapes of amphibious vehicles and the advancement from former shapes towards newer and more suitable ones.

The aim of this master´s thesis is to find a suitable means of communication to provide supervisory control for the distribution network of the utility company E.ON. Comparison of a digital radio system, which would be in the property of the company and of the radio systems of mobile operators is done. In this work the reader gets familiar with the structure of the distribution network of the utility company E.ON and with the scope of activities of the grid controller. The reader also gets acquainted with the current state of the radio system of the E. ON, and with the requirements, which should be fulfilled by them. An important part of this work is formed by the description of the possibilities of the private radio systems and mobile operators. At the end, the possibility of the private radio systems and systems of mobile operator usage in the Smart Grid system is given.

Diplome work of mini utility vehicle with big body box. Primary fonction is simple changing of boxes.

The thesis discusses the task of easements appraisement in detail. The theoretical part is aimed to general analysis of easements; kinds of easements, possible ways of their formation and termination are stressed. Separate part deals with delimitation of basic terms associated with appraicement of real estate, basic techniques of appraicement of easements from the point of view of appraicement purpose and the kind of easement. Consecutively the theoretical part is applied to appraicement of easement for cost free using of family house and garden, easement for participating on crop from garden and appraicement of easement for domestic animals breeding for tax purposes so as contractual purposes for the lifetime of the eligible person.

This diploma thesis deals with the new building of hotel with restaurant in Ochoz u Brna. The building consists of three above-ground floors. On the first floor is a reception, a restaurant with hinterland and a technical room. The second and the third floor is designed to accommodate guests at the apartments. The object has a saddle roof with wooden truss and steel purlins. The apartments include loggia. The object is placed in slighty sloping terrain. There is no other object on the land parcel.

Theme of the diploma thesis is design of an urban electric car. The main aim of my diploma thesis is to create a concept of a vehicle which will benefit from advantages of utility vehicles and small urban cars . In my thesis I think about using of ecological materials, effective production technologies and requirements for car in present.