An abelian arrangement is a finite set of codimension one abelian subvarieties (possibly translated) in a complex abelian variety. We are interested in the topology of the complement of an arrangement. If the arrangement is unimodular, we provide a combinatorial presentation for a differential graded algebra (DGA) that is a model for the complement, in the sense of rational homotopy theory. Moreover, this DGA has a bi-grading that allows us to compute the mixed Hodge numbers. If the arrangement is chordal, then this model is a Koszul algebra. In this case, studying its quadratic dual gives a combinatorial description of the Q-nilpotent completion of the fundamental group and the minimal model of the complement of the arrangement. This dissertation includes previously unpublished co-authored material.

This submission for a PhD by publication comprises original empirical work (Blyth 1994a, 1995a, 1995b, Blyth and Hunt 1998) and documentary analysis as a basis for undertaking critical appraisal of policy implementation and practice, both within the UK and internationally (Blyth, 1990, 1991, 1993a, 1993b, 1998a, 1998b, 1999a, 1999b, 2000a, Blyth and Cameron, 1998). In addition to the above papers, all of which have been published in academic and professional journals, the submission includes one single authored text: Infertility and Assisted Conception: Practice Issues for Counsellors, Birmingham: British Association of Social Workers (Blyth, 1995c) and one co-edited book: Truth and the Child 10 Years On: Information Exchange in Donor Assisted Conception, Birmingham: British Association of Social Workers (Blyth, Crawshaw and Speirs, 1998). This work provides a critical analysis of the concept of the welfare of the child in the context of assisted conception and an evaluation of the provision and regulation of assisted conception services, in particular third party assisted conception, including surrogacy arrangements, and the utilization of gametes (sperm and oocytes) or embryos 'donated' by a third party, usually anonymously. In addition to an overview discussion of the conceptualisation of the welfare of the child in the context of assisted conception treatment, two sub-themes are located within this work: (1) access to genetic origins information by individuals conceived as a result of sperm 'donation', oocyte 'donation' or embryo 'donation' ('donor offspring'), and (2) the implications of surrogacy arrangements for the welfare of the child.Although all the empirical work has been undertaken within the UK and much of the documentary analysis is located within a UK context, the publications presented here also draw on international perspectives.

This dissertation uses methods from homological algebra and computational commutative algebra to study four problems. We use Hilbert function computations and classical homology theory and combinatorics to answer questions with a more applied mathematics content: splines approximation, hyperplane arrangements, configuration spaces and coding theory. In Chapter II we study a problem in approximation theory. Alfeld and Schumaker give a formula for the dimension of the space of piecewise polynomial functions (splines) of degree d and smoothness r. Schenck and Stiller conjectured that this formula holds for all d 2r + 1. In this chapter we show that there exists a simplicial complex such that for any r, the dimension of the spline space in degree d = 2r is not given by this formula. Chapter III is dedicated to formal hyperplane arrangements. This notion was introduced by Falk and Randell and generalized to formality by Brandt and Terao. In this chapter we prove a criteria for formal arrangements, using a complex constructed from vector spaces introduced by Brandt and Terao. As an application, we give a simple description of formality of graphic arrangements in terms of the homology of the flag complex of the graph. Chapter IV approaches the problem of studying configuration of smooth rational curves in P2. Since an irreducible conic in P2 is a P1 (so a line) it is natural to ask if classical results about line arrangements in P2, such as addition-deletion type theorem, Yoshinaga criterion or Terao's conjecture verify for such configurations. In this chapter we answer these questions. The addition-deletion theorem that we find takes in consideration the fine local geometry of singularities. The results of this chapter are joint work with H. Schenck. In Chapter V we study a problem in algebraic coding theory. Gold, Little and Schenck find a lower bound for the minimal distance of a complete intersection evaluation codes. Since complete intersections are Gorenstein, we show a similar bound for the minimal distance depending on the socle degree of the reduced zero-dimensional Gorenstein scheme. The results of this chapter are a work in progress.

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Ces travaux de thèse porte sur la caractérisation des propriétés thermomécaniques et sur l’étude à différents niveaux d’échelle de la structuration d’un polymère issu de la biomasse candidat au remplacement des polymères de commodité, à savoir, l’acide poly(lactique) (PLA). Ils ont été motivés par le comportement complexe, encore mal compris à l’heure actuelle, que présente ce polymère notamment en raison de l’existence de stéréoisomères.Le premier but de ce travail a été de caractériser les propriétés thermomécaniques, en fonction du taux de co-monomère, en relation avec les arrangements moléculaires locaux pouvant exister dans la phase amorphe. Le second objectif a été d’étudier la structuration d’un copolymère industriel lorsque celui-ci est déformé uniaxialement à une température supérieure à sa température de transition vitreuse. L’analyse par diffraction-diffusion X in situ sur synchrotron a permis d’établir le lien entre la réponse mécanique du matériau et l’évolution structurale induite par la déformation. Ces essais ont également permis de montrer qu’une phase mésomorphe était induite pour certaines conditions de sollicitation, l’origine de cette phase ayant pu être corrélée avec des aspects de dynamique des chaînes macromoléculaires. Un intérêt particulier a également été porté à l’influence du taux de cristallinité initial du matériau sur ses propriétés mécaniques ainsi que sur la structuration associée en cours de déformation. Finalement, il a été montré que la déformation du PLA en dessous de Tg est gouvernée par une compétition entre plasticité par craquelures et par bandes de cisaillement, le second mécanisme devenant prédominant avec l’augmentation de la température. / This PhD work deals with the characterization of the thermomechanical behavior in relation to the structural organization at different scales of a bio-based polymer candidate for the replacement of usual polymers, the Poly(lactic acid). The present study is motivated by the complex behavior exhibited by this polymer, mainly linked to the occurrence of stereo-isomers.The first goal of this work was the characterization as a function of co-monomer content, of the thermomechanical response in relation to the existing local macromolecular arrangements in the amorphous phase The second goal was the study of the structural evolution of an industrial PLA copolymer uniaxially stretched at T>Tg. Combined in situ SAXS and WAXS experiments using a synchrotron radiation have provided clear insights into the structure-property relationships of the material. It has been shown that a mesomorphic phase was induced for some drawing conditions and its origin has been related to some features of the macromolecular chain dynamics.Particular interest has been paid to the study on the one hand, of the influence of initial crystallinity of the material on its mechanical response, and on the other hand, of the structural evolution induced during stretching. Finally it has been shown that PLA deformation at below Tg was governed by a competition between two deformation mechanisms namely crazing and shear banding, the latter becoming predominant as the temperature is increased.

This thesis presents a process and tool that generates representative preliminary ship models and arrangements for use in vulnerability analysis in the Concept and Requirements Exploration (CandRE) process used at Virginia Tech. CandRE uses a Multi-Objective Genetic Optimization (MOGO) to explore the design space for non-dominated ship design solutions based on design effectiveness, risk, and cost. Vulnerability is assessed as part of the CandRE using a Preliminary Arrangements and Vulnerability (PAandV) model. Representative ship arrangements for specified combinations of ship system options are created based on operability needs, ship mission needs, and improved vulnerability. These are then analyzed for vulnerability and are used to calculate a representative Overall Measure of Vulnerability (OMOV) which is used to calculate the Overall Measure of Effectiveness (OMOE) in the MOGO. / Master of Science

We are studying the Tutte Polynomial of hyperplane arrangements. We discuss some previous work done to compute these polynomials. Then we explain our method to calculate the Tutte Polynomial of some arrangements more efficiently. We next discuss the details of the program used to do the calculation. We use this program and present the actual Tutte Polynomials calculated for the arrangements E6, E7, and E8. / text

It is important for corporation to maintain ¡§flexibility¡¨ in order to enhance core competitive edge and to respond to market change quickly. So to have flexible human resource measures is an important organization strategy. Since high-tech industry is going to be the trend for Taiwan, the research will begin with the high-tech industry and explore the relations between ¡§financial performance resulted from flexible work arrangement¡¨ and ¡§overall organization performance¡¨. In addition, the research will also discuss, with different organizational characteristics and various extent of manpower allocation measures, whether the financial outcome resulted from flexible human resource measures would have an impact on the overall organization financial performance outcome. Therefore, 344 questionnaires were distributed in Hsinchu Science District and high-tech companies in greater Taipei area. 69 valid questionnaires and 3 not valid questionnaires were collected in Hsinchu while 43 valid questionnaires were collected in northern Taiwan. There were in total 112 valid questionnaires. The research will analyze organization characteristics and conditions (such as the scale of business, total month of existence of the company since it was founded, capital structure, number of departments and number of rankings) with frequency distribution, descriptive statistics, and matrix. In addition, the research will also use ¡§linear association¡¨ to examine the influence ¡§the interrelations among organization background, measures¡¦ extent of flexibility, flexible measures and the extent of flexibility¡¨ has toward ¡§organization overall finance performance¡¨. On the other hand, we use ¡§related analysis¡¨ to explore the association between ¡§flexible measures¡¦ financial performance of job capacity, quantity and salary¡¨ and ¡§overall flexible finance performance¡¨. The findings are as below: 1. In the various flexible high-tech industry human resource measures, it is correlated from both the profit performance resulted from developing multi-task staff, and the overall organization profit performance. 2. It is negatively correlated between the performance resulted from non-typical employee or the fluctuated salary, and the overall organization profit performance. It can be found in the interviews that depending on the industry characteristics, the outcome of high-tech companies to out-source non-core operation and to adopt fluctuate salary is not as good as the outcome of conventional industries. 3. The more the number of departments is, the more detailed job specification is. So, by assigning these non-core operations to the non-typical employee, the cost of time and manpower can be saved and the effectiveness and efficiency can be increased. 4. The cost of hiring a foreign employee is way lower than that of hiring a native employee with similar work experience. Therefore, it can lower the human resource cost for high-tech industry to adopt high proportion of foreign employees. 5. The human resource cost here refers to ¡§salary cost, welfare cost, training cost, dismissal fee and retirement fee¡¨. In high-tech industry, it is highly emphasized on the employees¡¦ welfare and training. Employees¡¦ salary is pretty good, too. So, it should be carefully evaluated the cost of downsizing and retaining extra employees. From this we can see the significant influence of downsizing on the decrease of human resource cost. Although downsizing might jeopardize the morale, it is still a form of warning in certain way. 6. The more the number of departments is, the larger the scale of organization is. Many training cost or welfare measures can be cost-effective under the situation of larger economic scale. 7. On the other hand, from the valid questionnaire collected, we found that most non-typical staff is in the position of non-professional operations. This is different from what we found in the literature review ¡§to react to environment with flexibility, we should simplify organization design and manpower allocation, or outsource those non-core operations¡¨. Further exploration on this is required for future researchers to explore.

Networked arrangements have moved from the periphery to the centre of public policy making and now occupy a position alongside of government as key mechanisms for social and organisational integration. Despite the current prominence of networked arrangements, little is known about how networks are actually formed and what explains their structure, operation and management strategies. Moreover, despite the pivotal position as the architects, administrators and facilitators of the network reform process, the role of central agencies of government in networked environments has yet to be fully determined. The purpose of this thesis was to examine the variation in networked arrangements and its effect on design and management and, in doing so, uncover the emergent role of central agencies of government. Using a mixed research design of case study and network analysis, this thesis 'unpacked' three exemplars of cross-sector networked arrangements within the Queensland human services arena. The research produced a number of findings. First, it provided empirical evidence to support the previously largely descriptive proposition that networked arrangements are differentiated. Second, through the synthesis of two parallel integration literatures, a framework to guide the design of networked arrangements was produced. Third, it identified a set of network management strategies and demonstrated that these horizontally oriented strategies were different to those currently utilised within government. Finally, the research developed a set of general and specific roles to guide central agencies' operation within the current networked environment.