The aim with this master thesis is to analyze a scientific material concerning the context between learning and child/student development, and factors which controls process of learning, to create an image with quality account and teaching in mathematics, which then can raise the mathematical knowledge among students. The phenomena which stand in focus for the investigation is: why there is a negative tendency for development of knowledge in mathematics, among the Swedish students that TIMSSs investigations showed in intercultural comparison within the years 1993, 1999, 2003 and 2007. The method is the ethnographical method, which is based on: analyzing scientific theories about learning child/student development, factors which controls process of learning, and factors which controls process of learning the most and qualitative empiric investigation with qualitatively analyzes the questionnaires, which is about factors which are controlling the process of learning and factors which are controlling the process of learning the most. Result of the theoretical and empiric analyzes shows that factors as school environment, attitude for subjects and teaching, controls and influence the learning. To end a unenthusiastic tendency as a negative development of mathematical knowledge among students that is shown in TIMSS investigation and to elevate the students' performance in mathematics, an elevated qualitative account and teaching in mathematics, by the factors named. Safe school environments as the intercultural meeting place, the teachers influence part to the students' subjects' attitude in mathematics and goal related grading criteria in teaching, is all required for e qualitative teaching in mathematics.

There is a need for smaller and more economic transportation systems. Two-wheeled inverted-pendulum machines, such as the Segway, have been proposed to address this need. However, the Segway places the operator on top of a naturally unstable platform that is stabilized by means of a control system. The control stability of the Segway can be severely affected when minor disturbances or unanticipated conditions arise. In this thesis, a dynamic model of a Segway is developed and used in simulations of various conditions that can arise during normal use. The dynamic model of a general two-wheeled inverted pendulum and human rider is presented. Initial estimates of the parameters were calculated or obtained from other references. The results from numerous experiments are presented and used to develop a better understanding of the dynamics of the vehicle. The experimental data was then used to adjust the model parameters to match the dynamics of a real Segway Human Transporter. Finally, the model was used to simulate various failure conditions. The simulations provide a better understanding of how these conditions arise, and help identify which parameters play an important role in their outcome.

The 8-inch wafer Fab. landing China or not evoked highly concerned in the worldwide, and even evoked the misdoubt if Taiwan clash with Wassenar Agreements . On New Year¡¦s Day, President Chen Shei-Ben reiterated the Policy of Economy and Trade across the Taiwan Straits, ¡§Proactive liberalization with effective management¡¨, which also evoked controversy in the worldwide. While UMC (United Microelectronic Corporation) ¡¥s He-Jan investment was been debating hotly, we considered if it also had great effect of production race between Taiwan and China, besides business benefits. Moreover, we considered if it resulted in the technology illegal landing, and conflicted with Wassenar Agreements, by avoiding to threaten the national security. If Taiwan was a launching pad of America high tech to China, it would cause other high techs importing forbiddance from America. Because of that, Taiwan gets more a loss than gains. Suppose ¡§Economic globalization¡¨ is the lifeblood of Taiwan; The semiconductor industry is not only holding on the advantages of past , but also trying to approach to the market. Furthermore, it should create production competitiveness. The government should follow the market rules, develop the reciprocal relationship with business and reach the goal of looking after both sides, economic developing and national security. In this study, it expects to discuss the influence of The Sensitive Scientific Technology Draft Bill legislation of funding, technology, equipment, brain-import abridged in semiconductor production in Taiwan to the competitive advantage of production; (1) Understanding the status and meaning of The Sensitive Scientific Technology Draft Bill in Taiwan. (2) Does tech-import controlling of The Sensitive Scientific Technology Draft Bill in Taiwan has connecting to international relative laws? (3) Analyzing the impact of the protect mechanism of The Sensitive Scientific Technology Draft Bill to competitive advantage of semiconductor industry. The first study step is to comparing analyze the aims, effects, targets of international relative laws by documents study, especially according to the international relative laws of high-tech import controlling, for example, the administration rules and complement actions of COCOM and Wassenar Agreements, for understanding the reasonable and objective of The Scientific Technology Draft Bill (The Sensitive Scientific Technology Draft Bill). Moreover, base on profound interview with business to processing the situational analysis of business, production, people, society, government and the national security. This study conclusion and the suggestions from business experience can offer the reference resources for lawmaking and revising.

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the hazard identification, risk assessment and related determining controls aspects of occupational health and safety topic, within the framework of a safety management system, for the construction industry. To achieve this purpose, a literature survey is carried out with specific emphasis on the standards, guidelines, codes of practices and other documents published by authorized institutions and national legislation related with the subject. The Marmaray Project, which is considered as one of the major transportation infrastructure projects in Turkey, is chosen as the case study area. In the Marmaray Project, the case study is carried out at &Uuml / sk&uuml / dar Underground Station Construction Site as an example for the cut and coverunderground station construction and at Yedikule Tunnel Construction Site for the tunnel construction and achieved results are assessed within the context of this thesis.

Copper vapour laser (CVL) pumped high repetition rate narrow bandwidth dye laser is an important source of tunable radiation. It finds numerous applications in spectroscopic investigations and selective material processing like atomic vapour laser isotope separation (AVLIS). Being wavelength selective in these applications stability of the output wavelength and bandwidth are extremely important. The stability of these parameters depend upon the refractive index fluctuation of the dye medium, due to pump beam induced temperature gradients, dye solution flow, and mechanical stability of optical components. Precise measurement of wavelength and bandwidth of a dye laser and control over parameters governing the variations are important for any stable dye laser system. In this thesis, details of investigations carried out on a Rhodamine 6G dye laser for obtaining stable wavelength and output power are presented. Parameters that affect the stability were identified, monitored and put on close loop control to achieve the desired stability. Pump beam i.e. CVL optical power, dye flow rate and dye solution temperature are mainly these parameters. CVL power is mainly a function of input electrical power and pressure of the buffer gas inside the tube. To monitor and regulate these parameters, different sensors and actuators were selected and interfaced with a master slave topology based data acquisition and control system. The DAQ and control system is designed around a micro controller card based on advanced CPU P80552 and has on chip 8 channel 10 bit multiplexed analog input, 16 TTL digital inputs and 16 digital outputs. It works as slave and PC as master. Following closed loops were designed and incorporated to maintain a stable output: a. Average output of CVL was maintained constant by regulating the electric input power through closed loop control. b. The buffer gas pressure was monitored with a semiconductor pressure sensor and was regulated using pulse width modulation. c. Temperature of the dye solution was monitored with PT100 and was controlled using proportional controller. d. Flow rate of dye solution was controlled using a variable frequency drive (VFD) for the dye circulation pump. e. The dye laser wavelength was monitored by using a high resolution spectrograph and pixel position of the peak from CCD image obtained from spectrograph is used for feedback correction using a pico motor. In the present work with application of the above-mentioned input power and pressure loops, a stable output of CVL, is achieved. Variations in power and pulse width of CVL are got limited to within 2%, from 10% when CVL system was working unregulated. This control system does the line regulations and corrects the input electrical power if variations in discharge current occur due to pressure variation. Every dye cell has limits on flow rate because of its geometry. With flow and temperature control dye cell was characterized to work with lower linewidth. VFD (variable frequency drive) is used for flow regulation. Finally active control on set wavelength was also achieved with resolution of 0.01nm accuracy. Measurement of wavelength was done with 0.3 m, 0.054 nm resolution spectrograph. Closed loop pico motor with 30 nm per step linear resolution was used for wavelength control. The thesis is organized in four chapters. First chapter presents a brief introduction to high repetition rate CVL pumped dye laser, operation of a CVL and parameters affecting the dye laser stability and their control schemes. Literature survey in this chapter is focused on different control mechanisms used with such lasers. Second chapter describes the laser system and interfacing of data acquisition system used for experimental setup. Closed loop controls for different parameters are described in this chapter. It also describes the software algorithms developed for this work. Third chapter presents experimental results and analysis with discussion on performance of the control loops. Finally the conclusion is given and few suggestions are made for further work.

財務再保險係屬於新興的風險移轉方式之一，除了可以移轉傳統再保險之核保風險外，更可以將保險公司有很多無法以傳統再保險獲得分散的風險，如時間風險、投資風險等財務風險移轉出去。財務再保險可以增加保險公司的盈餘及提升經理人的績效，同時能減少潛在的危險暴露，避免準備金提存不足的問題，並且可以增加保險公司的承保能量，資助新契約的成長，兼具風險管理與財務規劃的新興工具。 相對的，財務再保險的實施，也延伸出相關的問題，如財務再保險係為融資借貸關係，而非實質危險轉移；因為準備金提存不足，無法支付未來重大的損失；為了掩飾盈虧，而誤導投資大眾。HIH與AIG集團涉及以財務再保險契約粉飾財務報表的行為，顯示財務再保險契約所造成的監理漏洞，另一方面，保險公司若不注重其企業本身營運的風險管理，而是以財務再保險契約尋求穩定公司收益的財務揭露，對於保險公司的長期經營並不是一件好事，同時對於投資人、監理機關的管理亦影響甚鉅。 除了監理機關對於財務再保險應加以規範外，保險公司內部之內部控制與內部稽核在企業中亦扮演重要角色。本研究就HIH與AIG集團兩個案之財務再保險問題，收集截至2005年HIH相關人員被澳洲保險監理機關起訴之起訴理由，與AIG被美國監理機關起訴人員的相關資料，分析這些被起訴原因之內部控制缺失，強調財務再保險內部控制與內部稽核的重要性，最後，針對保險公司實施財務再保險提出建議，同時對保險監理機關監管財務再保險也提出建議，希望對國內保險業者實施財務再保險有所助益，同時，也作為保險監理機關監管財務再保險的參考。 / Financial reinsurance is one of the alternative risk transfer arrangements. Unlike the traditional reinsurance arrangement where only the underwriting risk is transferred, other risks such as time risk and investment risk may also be transferred through such arrangement. Financial reinsurance increases an insurance company’s earning and the managers’ performance, and hence decreases the exposures of reserve inadequacy. Additionally, it is also a new tool for risk management and financial planning for its positive impact on new business growth through the enhancement on the company’s underwriting capability. On the other side, the use of financial reinsurance also leads to some problems. Specifically, when it is structured as a financial lease without any physical transfer of risks and used to window-dress poor financial performance in order to mislead the investors. Two international insurance companies, namely HIH (Health International Holdings) and AIG (American International Group), have tried to use the financial reinsurance arrangements to window-dress their financial statements in order to deceive the regulators. From a long term perspective, financial reinsurance arrangements used for stabilizing the financial results instead of enhancing risk management would certainly be detrimental to investors and insurance regulators. Besides the regulators who need to set up the regulations on financial reinsurance, the internal controls and internal auditing functions within insurance company also play an important role in terms of supervision. This thesis focused on two real life cases related to HIH and AIG by studying their problems with financial reinsurance and colleting the people being prosecuted by Australia regulator (APRA) and SEC as of the end of 2005, the internal control weaknesses caused by them and finally emphasizing the important of internal controls and internal audit function. Lastly, after studies these two cases, recommendations are made to insurance companies and local regulator on how to manage the use of financial reinsurance. Hopefully these suggestions would be helpful to them.

Originally presented as the author's Thesis (doctoral)--Technische Universität München. / "FGV-TUM." Includes bibliographical references (p. 147-156).

The Little Grand Wash normal fault near Green River, eastern Utah, hosts a series of naturally occurring CO₂ seeps in the form of active and extinct CO₂-charged springs distributed along the fault zone. I have studied the association of fault structure with CO₂-related alteration as an analogue for the long-term (1,000- to 10,000-year) effects of leakage through faults in CO₂ sequestration reservoirs. Structure and alteration in a portion of the Little Grand Wash fault zone were mapped at a 1:700 scale in order to determine the association of faulting with CO₂-related diagenesis. I combined structural and diagenetic mapping were combined with laboratory analyses of mineralogical, isotopic and textural changes in order to assess controls on the migration of CO₂ traveling up the fault and its effects on the fault itself. The fault zone is 200 m wide at its widest and contains 4-5 major subparallel fault segments that form multiple soft- and hard-linked relay ramps. The area includes a travertine deposit and related sandstone alteration: outcrop-visible coloration, porosity-occluding calcite cement and veins occasionally so abundant that they obliterate the rock fabric. Structural mapping shows that the travertine is located at an intersection of major fault segments constituting the hard link of a 450-meter-long relay ramp. Sandstone alteration is confirmed to be related to the CO₂ seep by mapping its distribution, which shows a decrease in concentration away from the travertine, and by the unique isotopic signature of calcite cement near the travertine. At distances greater than 25 m from the travertine intense alteration disappears, though scattered fault-subparallel veins and patchy, burial-related calcite cement remain. Intense alteration is limited to major fault overlaps and does not permeate the fault zone along its entire length, nor does it extend outside the zone. This indicates that rising CO₂-laden fluids do not flow uniformly through the entire fault zone, but that vertical flow is channeled at fault intersections. In thin section, porosity near the travertine has been extensively or completely occluded by calcite cement. Permeability in some conduit samples is less than 1 mD, three or four orders of magnitude lower than sandstone away from the travertine. In active CO₂ conduits, such reduction in porosity and permeability would occlude the preferred flow conduit and ultimately restrict upward flow of CO₂-charged water. X-ray diffraction detects small amounts of goethite and hematite and a decrease in chlorite-smectite in altered conduit sandstones. Calcite is abundant, but many authigenic minerals predicted by geochemical models of CO₂ influx into sandstone reservoirs are not observed, including kaolinite, aragonite, dolomite, siderite, ankerite or dawsonite. This difference between observed and predicted mineral occurrence likely results from differences in mineral kinetics between natural and laboratory systems. Prediction of leakage risk based on fault geometry improves the ability to assess the suitability of potential carbon sequestration reservoirs, many of which will be faulted. The point seep nature of leakage through a fault zone limits the amount of CO₂ that can escape over time and also enables targeted surface monitoring for CO₂ escape into the atmosphere--both critical for ensuring the effectiveness of injection projects and earning the trust necessary for carbon sequestration to gain public acceptance. The point seep nature of leakage also accelerates the rate at which conduits may seal through mineralization, since precipitation from a large volume of fluid is focused in a narrow conduit. The presence of multiple fossil and active seep locations along the Little Grand Wash fault, active at different times in the geologic past, indicates that cementation may be effective in sealing single conduits but that fault systems with complex geometry such as Little Grand Wash may continue to leak for a long period of time. / text

Following the Model-Based-Design (MBD) development process used presently by the automotive industry, the control systems for a new Series-Parallel Multiple-Regime Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), UVic EcoCAR2, have been developed, implemented and tested. Concurrent simulation platforms were used to achieve different developmental goals, with a simplified system power loss model serving as the low-overhead control strategy optimization platform, and a high fidelity Software-in-Loop (SIL) model serving as the vehicle control development and testing platform. These two platforms were used to develop a strategy-independent controls development tool which will allow deployment of new strategies for the vehicle irrespective of energy management strategy particulars. A rule-based energy management strategy was applied and calibrated using genetic algorithm (GA) optimization. The concurrent modeling approach was validated by comparing the vehicle equivalent fuel consumption between the simplified and SIL models. An equivalency factor (EF) of 1 was used in accounting for battery state of charge (SOC) discrepancies at cycle end. A recursively-defined subsystem efficiency-based EF was also applied to try to capture real-world equivalency impacts. Aggregate results between the two test platforms showed translation of the optimization benefits though absolute results varied for some cycles. Accuracy improvements to the simplified model to better capture dynamic effects are recommended to improve the utility of the newly introduced vehicle control system development method. Additional future work in redefining operation modes and mode transition threshold conditions to approximate optimal vehicle operation is recommended and readily supported by the control system platform developed. / Graduate / 0540 / 0548 / 0790 / d.e.prescott@gmail.com

Submerged Arc Welding (SAW) for fillet joints is one of the major applications in the shipbuilding industry. Due to the requirement for the weld size, a sufficient amount of metal must be deposited. In conventional SAW process, the heat input is proportional to the amount of metal melted and is thus determined by the required weld size. To meet this requirement, an excessive amount of heat is applied causing large distortions on the welded structures whose follow-up straightening is highly costly. In order to reduce the needed heat input, Double-Electrode (DE) technology has been practiced creating the Double-Electrode SAW (DE-SAW) method for fillet joints. The reduction in the heat input, however, also reduces the penetration capability of the process, and the ability to produce required weld beads has to be compromised. To eliminate the unwanted side effect after using DE-SAW, a root opening between the panel and the tee has been proposed in this dissertation to form a modified fillet joint design. Experimental results verified that the use of root opening improves the ability of DE-SAW to produce the required weld beads at reduced heat input and penetration capability. Unfortunately, the use of root opening decreases the stability of the process significantly. To control the heat input at a minimally necessary level that guarantees the weld size and meanwhile the process stability, a feedback is needed to control the currents at their desired levels. To this end, the fillet DE-SAW process is modeled and a multivariable predictive control algorithm is developed based on the process model. Major parameters including the root opening size, travel speed and heat input level have been selected/optimized/minimized to produce required fillet weld beads with a minimized heat input based on qualitative and quantitative analyses. At the end of this dissertation, a series of experiments validated the feasibility and repeatability of the predictive control based DE-SAW process for fillet joints with root opening.