This thesis describes the developments of new models and toolkits for the orbit determination codes to support and improve the precise radio tracking experiments of the Cassini-Huygens mission, an interplanetary mission to study the Saturn system. The core of the orbit determination process is the comparison between observed observables and computed observables. Disturbances in either the observed or computed observables degrades the orbit determination process. Chapter 2 describes a detailed study of the numerical errors in the Doppler observables computed by NASA's ODP and MONTE, and ESA's AMFIN. A mathematical model of the numerical noise was developed and successfully validated analyzing against the Doppler observables computed by the ODP and MONTE, with typical relative errors smaller than 10%. The numerical noise proved to be, in general, an important source of noise in the orbit determination process and, in some conditions, it may becomes the dominant noise source. Three different approaches to reduce the numerical noise were proposed. Chapter 3 describes the development of the multiarc library, which allows to perform a multi-arc orbit determination with MONTE. The library was developed during the analysis of the Cassini radio science gravity experiments of the Saturn's satellite Rhea. Chapter 4 presents the estimation of the Rhea's gravity field obtained from a joint multi-arc analysis of Cassini R1 and R4 fly-bys, describing in details the spacecraft dynamical model used, the data selection and calibration procedure, and the analysis method followed. In particular, the approach of estimating the full unconstrained quadrupole gravity field was followed, obtaining a solution statistically not compatible with the condition of hydrostatic equilibrium. The solution proved to be stable and reliable. The normalized moment of inertia is in the range 0.37-0.4 indicating that Rhea's may be almost homogeneous, or at least characterized by a small degree of differentiation.

A flexure hinge is a flexible connector that can provide a limited rotational motion between two rigid parts by means of material deformation. These connectors can be used to substitute traditional kinematic pairs (like bearing couplings) in rigid-body mechanisms. When compared to their rigid-body counterpart, flexure hinges are characterized by reduced weight, absence of backlash and friction, part-count reduction, but restricted range of motion. There are several types of flexure hinges in the literature that have been studied and characterized for different applications. In our study, we have introduced new types of flexures with curved structures i.e. circularly curved-beam flexures and spherical flexures. These flexures have been utilized for both planar applications (e.g. articulated robotic fingers) and spatial applications (e.g. spherical compliant mechanisms). We have derived closed-form compliance equations for both circularly curved-beam flexures and spherical flexures. Each element of the spatial compliance matrix is analytically computed as a function of hinge dimensions and employed material. The theoretical model is then validated by comparing analytical data with the results obtained through Finite Element Analysis. A case study is also presented for each class of flexures, concerning the potential applications in the optimal design of planar and spatial compliant mechanisms. Each case study is followed by comparing the performance of these novel flexures with the performance of commonly used geometries in terms of principle compliance factors, parasitic motions and maximum stress demands. Furthermore, we have extended our study to the design and analysis of serial and parallel compliant mechanisms, where the proposed flexures have been employed to achieve spatial motions e.g. compliant spherical joints.

The safety systems of nuclear power plants rely on low-voltage power, instrumentation and control cables. Inside the containment area, cables operate in harsh environments, characterized by relatively high temperature and gamma-irradiation. As these cables are related to fundamental safety systems, they must be able to withstand unexpected accident conditions and, therefore, their condition assessment is of utmost importance as plants age and lifetime extensions are required. Nowadays, the integrity and functionality of these cables are monitored mainly through destructive test which requires specific laboratory. The investigation of electrical aging markers which can provide information about the state of the cable by non-destructive testing methods would improve significantly the present diagnostic techniques. This work has been made within the framework of the ADVANCE (Aging Diagnostic and Prognostics of Low-Voltage I\&C Cables) project, a FP7 European program. This Ph.D. thesis aims at studying the impact of aging on cable electrical parameters, in order to understand the evolution of the electrical properties associated with cable degradation. The identification of suitable aging markers requires the comparison of the electrical property variation with the physical/chemical degradation mechanisms of polymers for different insulating materials and compositions. The feasibility of non-destructive electrical condition monitoring techniques as potential substitutes for destructive methods will be finally discussed studying the correlation between electrical and mechanical properties. In this work, the electrical properties of cable insulators are monitored and characterized mainly by dielectric spectroscopy, polarization/depolarization current analysis and space charge distribution. Among these techniques, dielectric spectroscopy showed the most promising results; by means of dielectric spectroscopy it is possible to identify the frequency range where the properties are more sensitive to aging. In particular, the imaginary part of permittivity at high frequency, which is related to oxidation, has been identified as the most suitable aging marker based on electrical quantities.

This study focuses on the processes of change that firms undertake to overcome conditions of organizational rigidity and develop new dynamic capabilities, thanks to the contribution of external knowledge. When external contingencies highlight firms’ core rigidities, external actors can intervene in change projects, providing new competences to firms’ managers. Knowledge transfer and organizational learning processes can lead to the development of new dynamic capabilities. Existing literature does not completely explain how these processes develop and how external knowledge providers, as management consultants, influence them. Dynamic capabilities literature has become very rich in the last years; however, the models that explain how dynamic capabilities evolve are not particularly investigated. Adopting a qualitative approach, this research proposes four relevant case studies in which external actors introduce new knowledge within organizations, activating processes of change. Each case study consists of a management consulting project. Data are collected through in-depth interviews with consultants and managers. A large amount of documents supports evidences from interviews. A narrative approach is adopted to account for change processes and a synthetic approach is proposed to compare case studies along relevant dimensions. This study presents a model of capabilities evolution, supported by empirical evidence, to explain how external knowledge intervenes in capabilities evolution processes: first, external actors solve gaps between environmental demands and firms’ capabilities, changing organizational structures and routines; second, a knowledge transfer between consultants and managers leads to the creation of new ordinary capabilities; third, managers can develop new dynamic capabilities through a deliberate learning process that internalizes new tacit knowledge from consultants. After the end of the consulting project, two elements can influence the deliberate learning process: new external contingencies and changes in the perceptions about external actors.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Nazarene Theological Seminary, 1989. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 141-143).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Abilene Christian University, 1995. / Includes abstract. Includes a draft copy of the author's "The work of witness" designed for teaching small groups and Bible classes (leaves 97-217). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 218-226).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Columbia University, 1941. / Reproduced from type-written copy. Vita. "Selected sources": p. 121-126.

Teilw. zugl.: Purdue, Ind., Univ., Diss., 1998

Thesis (Doctor of Philosophy)--University of Cincinnati, 2005. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 245-285).

Η Θεωρία Διαστάσεων είναι από τους παλαιότερους κλάδους της Γενικής Τοπολογίας και μελετά, εκτός των άλλων, τη μικρή επαγωγική διάσταση ind, τη μεγάλη διάσταση Ind και την επονομαζόμενη διάσταση της κάλυψης dim. Οι πρώτοι που έδωσαν αποτελέσματα στη θεωρία διαστάσεων είναι οι Poincare, Brouwer και Lebesgue. Κατά την κατασκευή από τον Ρeano, μιας συνεχούς απεικόνισης από ένα τμήμα επί ενός τετραγώνου, προέκυψε το πρόβλημα: «το κατά πόσον ένα τμήμα και ένα τετράγωνο είναι ομοιόμορφα» και γενικότερα «εάν ο n- κύβος I^n είναι ομοιόμορφος με τον m-κύβο I^m για n διφορετικό του m». Το πρόβλημα αυτό λύθηκε από τον Brouwer [1911] αποδεικνύοντας ότι αν n διαφορετικό του m τότε οι I^n και I^m δεν είναι ομοιόμορφοι. Οι Urysohn [1922, 1925, 1926] και Menger [1923,1924] απέδειξαν με τις εργασίες τους, ότι η θεωρία διαστάσεων είναι μία ανεξάρτητη περιοχή της Γενικής Τοπολογίας. Αυτοί ανέπτυξαν και διατύπωσαν ανεξάρτητα τη θεωρία της μικρής επαγωγικής διάστασης ind για την κλάση των συμπαγών μετρικών χώρων. Αυτή η θεωρία αργότερα επεκτάθηκε για την κλάση των διαχωρίσιμων μετρικών χώρων από τους Tumarkin [1925, 1926] και Hurewicz [1927]. Σήμερα, οι διαστάσεις ορίζονται για οποιονδήποτε τοπολογικό χώρο. Σημειώνουμε ότι, στην κλάση των διαχωρίσιμων μετρικών χώρων, οι τρείς διαστάσεις συμπίπτουν. Δηλαδή: ind(X)=Ind(X)=dim(X), όπου X διαχωρίσιμος μετρικός χώρος. Σε μεγαλύτερη κλάση τοπολογικών χώρων αυτό δεν ισχύει, δηλαδή οι τρείς διαστάσεις διαφέρουν. Στην κλάση των μετρικών χώρων οι διαστάσεις Ind και dim συμπίπτουν. Δηλαδή, αν X μετρικός χώρος: Ind(X)=dim(X). Στην εργασία αυτή δίνουμε τον ορισμό της διάστασης κάλυψης dim, ισοδύναμες εκφράσεις των ορισμών των διαστάσεων και θεωρήματα υποχώρου – αθροίσματος και γινομένου, που αφορούν τη διάσταση αυτή. / The theory of Dimensions is one of the oldest branch of General Topology and studies, among the other, the small inductive dimension ind, the large inductive dimension Ind and the covering dimension dim. Poincare, Brouwer and Lebesgue were the first who gave results in the theory of dimensions. Peano, trying to make a continuous function from a line segment on a square, became the problem: “if a line segment and a square must be uniform” and more generally “if the n- cube I^n can be uniform with the m-cube I^m for n different of m”. Brouwer [1911] gave an answer to this problem by proving that if n different of m then I^n and I^m can not be uniform. Urysohn [1922, 1925, 1926] and Menger [1923,1924] proved that the theory of dimensions is a independent region of General Topology. These developed and formulated independent the theory of the small inductive dimension ind for the class of compact metric spaces. Later, Tumarkin [1925, 1926] and Hurewicz [1927], extended this theory for the class of separable metric spaces. Today, the dimensions are fixed for any topological space. We mention that the three dimensions coincide, in the class of separable metric spaces, that is: ind(X) =Ind (X) =dim (X), where X is a separable metric space. In a bigger class of topological spaces this is not true, that is the three dimensions are different. In the class of metric spaces the dimensions Ind and dim coincide. That is, if X is a metric space then: Ind (X) =dim (X). In this work we give the definition of covering dimension dim, equivalence expressions of the definition of dimensions and also theorems of subspace, addition and product theorems that concern the covering dimension dim.