In this study, the behavior of pressure in the Rapid Distortion Limit, along with its concomitant modeling, are addressed. In the first part of the work, the role of pressure in the initiation, propagation and suppression of flow instabilities for quadratic flows is analyzed. The paradigm of analysis considers the Reynolds stress transport equations to govern the evolution of a dynamical system, in a state space composed of the Reynolds stress tensor components. This dynamical system is scrutinized via the identification of the invariant sets and the bifurcation analysis. The changing role of pressure in quadratic flows, viz. hyperbolic, shear and elliptic, is established mathematically and the underlying physics is explained. Along the maxim of "understanding before prediction", this allows for a deeper insight into the behavior of pressure, thus aiding in its modeling. The second part of this work deals with Rapid Pressure Strain Correlation modeling in earnest. Based on the comprehension developed in the preceding section, the classical pressure strain correlation modeling approaches are revisited. Their shortcomings, along with their successes, are articulated and explained, mathematically and from the viewpoint of the governing physics. Some of the salient issues addressed include, but are not limited to, the requisite nature of the model, viz. a linear or a nonlinear structure, the success of the extant models for hyperbolic flows, their inability to capture elliptic flows and the use of RDT simulations to validate models. Through this analysis, the schism between mathematical and physical guidelines and the engineering approach, at present, is substantiated. Subsequently, a model is developed that adheres to the classical modeling framework and shows excellent agreement with the RDT simulations. The performance of this model is compared to that of other nominations prevalent in engineering simulations. The work concludes with a summary, pertinent observations and recommendations for future research in the germane field.

The body of work presented in this Thesis document provides a comprehensive examination of final cover design for municipal solid waste landfills. Accompanying general design principals is the investigation and resulting recommendations for issues specific to the closure of the Vancouver Landfill. The first objective of the Thesis was to develop a set of physical characteristics for soil materials, which would allow for the construction of a lowpermeability barrier layer meeting British Columbia guidelines. The second objective was to then use the developed soil criteria to evaluate the suitability of Lower Mainland soils. The physical characteristic of soil material, originating from trench excavations in Vancouver, was closely examined and the material evaluated for use in all layers of final cover design. The last objective of the Thesis was to investigate the use of alternative cover materials, including geosynthetics, in final cover design. The combination of a comprehensive literature review and the implementation of a program of soil sample collection and analysis allowed for the completion of the above objectives. Testing of soil samples included the determination of the grain size distribution to the clay fraction level. The major findings of the work are that soil sources in the City of Vancouver are not suitable for use in the construction of a low-permeability barrier layer. Suitable soil sources however, can be found in areas of Surrey and Langley. Trench excavation soil is recommended for use in the foundation layer of the final cover. Lastly, geosynthetic materials are a viable alternative to the use of soil in final cover design. A polyvinyl chloride (PVC) geomembrane would be the most suitable geosynthetic based barrier layer for the requirements of the Vancouver Landfill.

由於社會經濟以及國際情勢的變遷，甚至無預警的採取關廠或歇業之情況屢見不鮮，導致勞工之生存權、工作權遭受到嚴重危害；同時現行的勞動法制保護不足，遂有「大量解僱勞工保護法」之制定。 本篇論文係以「大量解僱勞工保護法」為研究之對象。其論述之焦點集中於大量解僱勞工保護法之法律爭議問題，乃針對現行大量解僱勞工保護法法本身之規範內容，係以大量解僱之定義、解僱計畫書及通知義務、協商之時程及方式、提供就業輔導與再僱用優先權利、預警通報義務、以及限制出境之處分為研究之重點。除此之外，本文更藉由他山之石可以攻錯為之論述，比較研究我國與美國、德國、以及日本有關大量解僱保護法制，以供我國參考借鏡。 最後，法律的建構與運用，總是要求能夠越精確、越具體，而盡量避免空洞、歧異與含混為目標，否則喪失穩定性，各種因理解差異的衝突自然增加。本研究發現：其一，我國大量解僱勞工保護法之內容，其定義規範、法條的嚴謹性實在過於簡陋，協商程序過於簡單，且權利義務不明，致使大量解僱勞工保護法之執行與現況產生落差，導致象徵性意味大於實質效用。其二，本研究發現大量解僱事件中之勞工確實相較於一般解僱事件之勞工，受到更多程序及實體性規範之保障。本文認為實應一體地規範於一般性之個別解僱範圍中，以玆給予更周延之勞工保護。 / Because of the transformation of social economy status and international situation, and unnoticed closed-down and shutdown of businesses come up in everyday life, labors’ rights to live and work are endangered harshly. In addition, relevant provisions in labor laws are insufficient to protect such workers. For this reason, the ‘Protective Act for Mass Redundancy of Employees’ was promulgated. This dissertation focuses mainly on the debates of the ‘Protective Act for Mass Redundancy of Employees’. Among the controversies, we especially concentrate on the definition of ‘Mass Redundancy’, layoff project report and notice obligation, processes and means of negotiation between labor and capital, provisions of employment service and preferential right of re-employment, consulting systems, and disciplinary restrictions of exit permission. Besides, we attempt to acquire some useful experiences from comparative studies in related institutions in US, Germany, Japan and Taiwan. Eventually, it deserves to be mentioned, the conflicts of misunderstanding and instability may result from the inaccuracy and incoherence of the regulations, and the emptiness and divergence of its goals. Accordingly, we found that, for one thing, its regulations, definitions and precision are far too crude. Furthermore, the consulting procedures are simple and obligations are equivocal, and may lead to a gap between imagination and reality. In this way, the Act will be nothing but a slogan. For another thing, indeed, we found the labors that suffer from mass redundancy receive much more attention than those who are laid off in normal cases. We should point out, however, all should the government do is to focus on not only those who suffer from mass redundancy, but also reach workers in normal cases. Only in this way, labors would be well protected and regulations could be completed.

Area closures have been widely used in the management of migratory fish and conservation of endangered marine species, but very few economic models are available to assess the impacts of a closure because economists have paid little attention to complexities in fishery management, such as spatial heterogeneity in fish stocks and fleet dynamics. This study presents a spatial economic model that features (i) heterogeneously distributed stocks of multiple species, (ii) their movement across areas, (iii) travel costs depending on fishing location, and (iv) optimal allocation of fishing trips to areas and of the primary target in each fishing set. Because catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) diminishes with effort, trips are alternately allocated to several areas, where the expected crew's wages are equalized. While this optimal allocation of trips derives a demand for labor (DDL), fishermen's tradeoff between offshore days (labor) and onshore days (leisure) yields an upward-sloping labor supply curve, which determines, together with the DDL, the equilibrium level of wage and labor. Using catch and effort data summarized from the federally mandated commercial logbooks into 5° square monthly strata, auction price data, and survey data for longliner's cost structure, this model is applied to the Hawaii longline fishery to conduct policy simulations. While a near-shore area closure leads to fewer trips of longer duration, a closure of the North Pacific to protect sea turtles significantly reduces swordfish catch and significantly increases the catch of near-shore species, which may endanger the stocks of near-shore species or affect the harvests by other boats. The impacts of prohibiting swordfish sets on the industry could be more severe than the above closure for turtle conservation. A revenue tax is not effective in reducing fishing effort. A closure increases fish movement (FM) from the closed area to open, neighboring areas, resulting in higher levels of the stocks in those open areas. This FM effect benefits the fishery industry, and could reduce the fishermen's income loss from a closure--estimated by the model without FM--by half, if fish are mobile and the closed area(s) is a "source" in terms of the direction of movement.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Maryland, College Park, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 188-199) and abstract.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--George Mason University, 2008. / Vita: p. 183. Thesis director: Kathryn B. Laskey. Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Information Technology. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed July 7, 2008). Includes bibliographical references (p. 168-182). Also issued in print.

Thesis (M.A.P.S.)--Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 47-48).

Thesis (M.A. in National Security Affairs)--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2005. / Thesis Advisor(s): Donald Abenheim. Includes bibliographical references (p.57-60). Also available online.

Thesis (M.A.P.S.)--Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 47-48).

The body of work presented in this Thesis document provides a comprehensive examination of final cover design for municipal solid waste landfills. Accompanying general design principals is the investigation and resulting recommendations for issues specific to the closure of the Vancouver Landfill. The first objective of the Thesis was to develop a set of physical characteristics for soil materials, which would allow for the construction of a lowpermeability barrier layer meeting British Columbia guidelines. The second objective was to then use the developed soil criteria to evaluate the suitability of Lower Mainland soils. The physical characteristic of soil material, originating from trench excavations in Vancouver, was closely examined and the material evaluated for use in all layers of final cover design. The last objective of the Thesis was to investigate the use of alternative cover materials, including geosynthetics, in final cover design. The combination of a comprehensive literature review and the implementation of a program of soil sample collection and analysis allowed for the completion of the above objectives. Testing of soil samples included the determination of the grain size distribution to the clay fraction level. The major findings of the work are that soil sources in the City of Vancouver are not suitable for use in the construction of a low-permeability barrier layer. Suitable soil sources however, can be found in areas of Surrey and Langley. Trench excavation soil is recommended for use in the foundation layer of the final cover. Lastly, geosynthetic materials are a viable alternative to the use of soil in final cover design. A polyvinyl chloride (PVC) geomembrane would be the most suitable geosynthetic based barrier layer for the requirements of the Vancouver Landfill. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Civil Engineering, Department of / Graduate