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Multi-agent systems are employed for a group of agents to achieve coordinated tasks, in which distributed sensing, computing, communication and control are usually integrated with shared resources. Efficient usage of these resources is therefore an important issue. In addition, in applications such as robotics, a group of agents may encounter the request of a sequence of tasks and deadline constraint on the completion of each task is a common requirement. Thus, the integration of multi-agent task scheduling and control synthesis is of great practical interest. In this thesis, we study control of multi-agent systems under a networked control system framework. The first purpose is to design resource-efficient communication and control strategies to solve consensus problem for multi-agent systems.The second purpose is to jointly schedule task sequence and design controllers for multiagent systems that are subject to a sequence of deadline-constrained tasks. In the first part, a distributed asynchronous event-triggered communication and control strategy is proposed to tackle multi-agent consensus. It is shown that the proposed event-triggered communication and control strategy fulfils the reduction of both the rates of sensor-controller communication and controller-actuator communication as well as excluding Zeno behavior. To further relax the requirement of continuous sensing and computing, a periodic event-triggered communication and control strategy is proposed in the second part. In addition, an observer-based encoder-decoder with finite-level quantizeris designed to deal with the constraint of limited data rate. An explicit formula for the maximum allowable sampling period is derived first. Then, it is proven that exponential consensus can be achieved in the presence of data rate constraint. Finally, in the third part, the problem of deadline-constrained multi-agent task scheduling and control synthesis is addressed. A dynamic scheduling strategy is proposed and a distributed hybrid control law is designed for each agent that guarantees the completion and deadline satisfaction of each task. The effectiveness of the theoretical results in the thesis is verified by several simulation examples. / <p>QC 20180918</p>

Los sistemas de comunicaciones con múltiples antenas o sistemas MIMO (multiple-input multiple-output) se presentan como una de las tecnologías más prometedoras en el campo de las comunicaciones inalámbricas, ya que permiten aprovechar la dimensión espacial además de las dimensiones de frecuencia y tiempo. De esta forma, se pueden obtener tasas de transmisión más elevadas usando el mismo ancho de banda, que es un recurso escaso, y manteniendo una potencia de transmisión baja, lo cual es crucial para dispositivos alimentados por baterías. Por estas razones, la tecnología MIMO ha sido adoptada en muchos estándares como Long-Term Evolution (LTE), LTE Advanced y Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX). Las técnicas MIMO también pueden se pueden emplear en un escenario multiusuario, donde varios usuarios comparten la dimensión espacial provocando una interferencia multiusuario. A través de la precodificación y del uso de múltiples antenas en el transmisor, la señal de los diferentes usuarios puede ser multiplexada espacialmente de forma que se mitigue la interferencia multiusuario incluso con usuarios de una sola antena. Estos sistemas, conocidos como sistemas MU-MISO (multiuser multiple-input single-output), han atraído mucho la atención en los últimos años ya que permiten el desarrollo de terminales pequeños y baratos, manteniendo así el equipamiento más caro en el transmisor. Sin embargo, estos beneficios conllevan un sistema más complejo. Por una parte, el multiplexado espacial requiere una carga de procesado considerable, que depende del tamaño del sistema: número de antenas transmisoras, número de receptores y ancho de banda. Por otra parte, las técnicas MIMO requieren un conocimiento del canal en transmisión o CSIT (channel state information at the transmitter) preciso. En sistemas con duplexación por división en frecuencia o FDD (frequency-division duplex), la información de canal o CSI (channel state information) debe ser estimada en el receptor y proporcionada al transmisor a través del enlace de realimentación, reduciendo así la eficiencia del sistema. Por lo tanto, esta tesis se centra en la mejora de la eficiencia de las implementaciones de precodificación y en el rendimiento de los esquemas de realimentación de canal en sistemas MU-MISO. El problema de la precodificación se aborda en primer lugar. Se ha llevado a cabo un análisis de algunas de las técnicas de precodificación más usadas, prestando especial atención a su rendimiento y a su complejidad. Este análisis revela que aquellas técnicas que hacen uso de lattice reduction (LR) obtienen un mejor rendimiento. Sin embargo, la complejidad computacional de la técnica LR dificulta su implementación en la práctica. El análisis también revela que las técnicas zero-forcing (ZF), Tomlinson-Harashima precoding (THP) y LR-THP son las técnicas más adecuadas para cubrir todo el rango de rendimiento y complejidad computacional. Asimismo, se ha llevado a cabo un análisis de estas técnicas bajo CSIT imperfecto. Dicho análisis ha demostrado que LR es una técnica muy importante también para el caso de CSIT imperfecto. A continuación, se han presentado implementaciones paralelas de técnicas de precodificación sobre unidades de procesamiento gráfico o GPUs (graphic processing unit), comparándose con implementaciones en unidades de procesamiento central o CPU (central processing unit). Dado que las implementaciones de THP y LR-THP han demostrado ser las que mejor se adaptan a la arquitectura de la GPU y ya que tienen muchas operaciones comunes, se ha propuesto una implementación sobre GPU de un esquema THP reconfigurable combinado con LR. La reconfigurabilidad de las GPUs permite desactivar la etapa de LR cuando los requisitos de los usuarios están garantizados por el esquema THP, combinando complejidad computacional con rendimiento. Aunque esta implementación consigue una mejora significativa respecto a la implementación sobre CPU, su paralelismo viene limitado por la naturaleza secuencial del problema LR. Por ello, se han propuesto varias estrategias para la paralelización del problema LR que han sido evaluadas en distintas plataformas: CPU multi-núcleo, GPU y plataforma heterogénea que consiste en CPU+GPU. Los resultados revelan que la arquitectura GPU permite reducir considerablemente el tiempo de computación del problema LR, especialmente en la plataforma heterogénea. La segunda parte de la tesis trata el problema de la realimentación de canal en sistemas FDD. En estos sistemas, los receptores normalmente proporcionan una versión cuantificada del canal a través del canal de realimentación. Con el objetivo de mantener una eficiencia alta, el canal debe ser cuantificado con los mínimos bits posibles. En primer lugar, se explora el uso de la correlación en frecuencia para reducir el volumen de información de realimentación. Se han presentado dos esquemas diferentes basados en cuantificación vectorial o VQ (vector quantization) y en la transformación Karhunen-Loève, respectivamente, y se han comparado con esquemas existentes en términos de rendimiento y complejidad computacional. Los resultados muestran que ambas técnicas son capaces de reducir significativamente el volumen de información de realimentación aprovechando la correlación en frecuencia. Finalmente, la correlación espacial también se aprovecha para reducir la información de realimentación. Se ha presentado una caracterización espacial estadística del modelo de canal SCM (spatial channel model) del 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) para un entorno de alta correlación. Basado en esta caracterización, se propone un esquema de cuantificación de canal para entornos de alta correlación. Con el objetivo de obtener una caracterización para alta y baja correlación, se considera un modelo de correlación más sencillo como el modelo de Kronecker. Basado en esta caracterización, se proponen dos esquemas de cuantificación y se evalúan con un modelo de canal realista como el SCM. Los resultados muestran que ambos esquemas son capaces de reducir la información de realimentación en ambientes con correlación alta y moderada. / Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication systems have emerged as one of the most promising technologies in the field of wireless communications, allowing to exploit the spatial dimension as well as the time and frequency dimensions. Thus, higher rates can be obtained by using the same bandwidth, which is a scarce resource, and keeping a low transmit power, which is crucial in battery-operated devices. For these reasons, MIMO technologies have been adopted by many standards such as Long-Term Evolution (LTE), LTE advanced (LTE-A) and Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX). MIMO techniques can also be used in a multiuser scenario, where several usersshare the spatial dimension causing multiuser interference. By means of precoding and the use of multiple antennas at the transmitter, the signal of the different users can be spatially multiplexed so that multiuser interference is mitigated even for single-antenna users. These systems, known as multiuser multiple-input singular-output (MU-MISO) systems, have attracted much attention in recent years since they allow the development of small and inexpensive terminals, keeping the most expensive hardware at the transmitter. However, these benefits come at the cost of having a more complex system. On the one hand, spatial multiplexing requires a considerable processing load that depends on the size of the system: number of transmit antennas, number of receivers and bandwidth. On the other hand, MIMO techniques require accurate channel state information at the transmitter (CSIT). In frequency-division duplex (FDD) systems, channel state information (CSI) has to be estimated at the receiver and provided to the transmitter through the feedback link, hence reducing the efficiency of the system. Therefore, this thesis is primarily focused on improving the efficiency of precoding implementations and the performance of feedback schemes in MU-MISO systems. First, the problem of precoding is addressed. An analysis of some of the most utilized precoding techniques is conducted, paying special attention to their performance and computational complexity. The analysis reveals that those techniques that make use of lattice reduction (LR) achieve the best performance. However, the computational complexity of LR makes its implementation difficult for practical systems. The analysis reveals that zero-forcing (ZF), Tomlinson-Harashima precoding (THP) and lattice reduction Tomlinson-Harashima precoding (LR-THP) are the most suitable techniques for covering the entire range of performance and computational complexity. An analysis of these techniques with imperfect CSIT has also been performed. In this analysis, LR has proven to be a key technique also when imperfect CSIT is available. Next, parallel implementations of the precoding techniques on a graphic processing unit (GPU) are presented and compared to implementations that use a central processing unit (CPU). Since the implementations of THP and LR-THP have shown to best fit the GPU architecture and since they also share many operations, a GPU implementation of a reconfigurable THP scheme combined with LR has been proposed. The reconfigurable nature of GPUs allows gating the LR stage off when the user requirements are sufficiently guaranteed by the THP scheme, trading computational cost and performance. Although this implementation achieves a significant speed-up compared to its CPU implementation, its parallelism is limited by the sequential nature of LR. Therefore, several strategies for the parallelization of the LR problem are proposed and evaluated on different platforms: multicore CPU, GPU and a heterogeneous platform consisting of CPU+GPU. Results reveal that a GPU architecture allows a considerable reduction of the computational time of the LR problem, especially in the heterogeneous platform. The second part of this thesis addresses the problem of feedback in FDD systems. In these systems, a quantized version of the channel is usually provided by the receivers through the feedback link. In order to keep a high efficiency, the channel must be quantized using as few bits as possible. First, the use of the frequency correlation to reduce the feedback information is explored. Two different schemes based on vector quantization (VQ) and the Karhunen-Loève (KL) transform, respectively, are presented and compared with existing schemes in terms of performance and complexity. Results show that both techniques are able to significantly reduce the feedback overhead by taking advantage of the frequency correlation. Finally, the spatial correlation is leveraged to reduce the feedback information. A spatial statistical characterization of the spatial channel model (SCM) from the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) for a highly correlated environment is presented. Based on this characterization, a channel quantization scheme for highly correlated environments is proposed. In order to obtain a statistical characterization for both high and low correlations, a simpler model such as the Kronecker correlation model is considered. Based on this characterization, two quantization schemes have been presented and evaluated using a realistic channel model such as the SCM. Results show that both schemes are able to reduce the feedback overhead in highly and moderately correlated scenarios. / Domene Oltra, F. (2015). Evaluation of precoding and feedback quantization schemes for multiuser communications systems [Tesis doctoral]. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/46971

In the United States (U.S.), up to 40% of the entire food supply is lost or wasted, which contributes to negative environmental, economic, and social outcomes, with the majority of food waste occurring in the retail and consumer sectors of the food supply chain. Concurrently, 10.5% of U.S. households experienced food insecurity in 2019. Food insecurity rates are higher among individuals with low income and disproportionately affects ethically and racially diverse people living in poverty. Diverting excess food from retail and institutional settings to people in need is one method to reduce food waste and enhance individual, household, and community food security. This PhD dissertation describes four studies that explored food waste management in the U.S. among households with low-income and within U.S. food pantries, which are a critical component of the emergency food system. Study 1 consisted of a systematic review that examined differences in food waste attitudes and practices among consumers of across income levels. Study 2 was a quantitative research methods approach to examine food waste attitudes and practices of SNAP-eligible households (n=17). Study 3 was a cross-sectional quantitative approach to examine the impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on food waste management within U.S. food pantries (n=290). Study 4 assessed the feasibility of food pantries in Virginia (n=68) to implement marketing-mix and choice-architecture (MMCA) strategies within their food pantries given the changes they had to make in their food distribution models in response to COVID-19 physical distancing requirements. Collectively, the studies described in this PhD dissertation address knowledge gaps and may be used to inform policies and initiatives to increase food security and decrease food waste among households with low-income and organizations aimed at serving them. / Doctor of Philosophy / Food waste in the U.S. is a major challenge that impacts the environment, economy, and society. The largest amounts of food waste are generated within food retail and consumer household settings. Concurrently, food insecurity, which is defined as obtaining and having access to enough food for an adequate, nutritious diet, is also another complex food systems challenge in the U.S. Food insecurity rates are higher among people with low income and disproportionately affects ethnically and racially diverse people. The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic placed further pressure on these two food systems challenges. Diverting excess, wholesome food from retail and institutional settings to people with hunger is a preferred method to mitigate both food waste levels and food insecurity rates. The U.S. emergency food system, which is a network of food recovery organizations that aim to receive excess food from retail settings and redistribute the food to people with hunger, play a pivotal role in addressing these two challenges. This PhD dissertation described four studies that address these two challenges. While this dissertation examined food waste management, the first half of the dissertation explored this topic within households and the second half explored food waste management within food pantries, which are a critical component to the U.S. emergency food system. Study 1 utilized a systematic procedure to review previously published consumer food waste research. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in food waste attitudes and practices among consumers of various income levels. Study 2 used a survey to examine food waste attitudes and practices of households eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Study 3 explored the impact of COVID-19 physical distancing requirements on food waste management within U.S. food pantries. Lastly, study 4 explored the feasibility of food pantry staff/volunteers on implementing behavioral economics strategies, which are changes to a setting that can promote selection of a certain food item, within their food pantry. Collectively, the studies described in this PhD dissertation address knowledge gaps and may inform policies and initiatives to mutually increase food security and decrease food waste among households with low-income and organizations aimed at serving them.

In Miranda v. Arizona (1966), the Supreme Court of the United States required that custodial arrestees be informed of their constitutional and continuous rights to silence and to legal counsel. Moreover, the ruling mandated that waivers be considered valid only if they were made knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily. However, in the decades that followed, evidence from both caselaw and empirical scholarship clarified that, for many vulnerable populations, these rights are in jeopardy. Among these vulnerable populations, those with limited cognitive capacities (LCCs) have been functionally excluded from research which primarily focused on persons with intellectual disabilities. This thesis offers a novel exploration of the role of specific cognitive impairments on Miranda comprehension and reasoning, with a focus on verbal intelligence (VIQ). Using a large archival sample of pretrial defendants (N = 820), current results suggest that defendants struggled with Miranda abilities regardless of other, individual characteristics. However, verbal intelligence emerged as a very strong predictor of Miranda comprehension such that those with lower VIQ were considerably more vulnerable to impaired comprehension. More so, data suggest that several compounded vulnerabilities (i.e., minoritized racial/ethnic identity status, limited academic achievement, illiteracy) are essential to understanding the extent of vulnerability in the criminal legal system in addition to the negative impacts of cognitive impairments. Several crucial implications for clinical practice and legal decision-making are explored. Finally, essential areas for future research are presented.

Organic-inorganic metal halides represent a versatile platform for optoelectronic applications such as solar cells, LEDs, and photodetectors due to their tunable structures and properties. The ability to achieve broadband white-light emission through exciton self-trapping, tunable by controlling dimensionality with organic-metal halide combinations, makes them particularly exciting for light emission applications. This study explores a 1D cadmium halide hybrid system with the luminescent A-site ion, 1,2-bis(pyridine)butane, to achieve broadband white light emission. Further, this study investigates halide replacement effects, structural distortions, and dopant influences on the emission characteristics to achieve enhanced performance. Additionally, the synthesis and characterization of Mn and Sb-based metal halides using the same luminescent A-site ion are discussed to highlight their potential for advancing optoelectronic applications. Finally, this study demonstrates the importance of the space charge limited current (SCLC) method in studying the charge carrier density and mobilities using 1D copper halides.

Nordic Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) play an important role in providing sustainable development for Africa which accordance with their mandates.  By investing in private equity Funds in Africa, investee companies have covered various sectors inAfricawhich may not only improve economic development but also increase employment. Additionally, investing in a Fund can spread risk through diversifications and help DFIs to share knowledge with Fund manager in local presence.   This study analyzes the management control systems (MCS) of DFIs’ investing in private equity Funds, wherein we mainly focus on output control and behavior control which are two types of control widely discussed in previous research and literature. Hereby we set three hypotheses based on our research and get findings to support the research questions, which are: 1.      DFIs use output control mechanism with contractual framework to secure their investment. Output control sets standards as to targets. It plays a fundamental role in the control process, as the contractual framework is short of standardized in private equity industry and Fund managers are selected strictly during screening process.   2.      DFIs use behavior control to interact with Fund managers. Behavior control means appropriate instruction and guidelines imposed as results become foreseeable during the monitoring process. It becomes a central element where DFIs have to interact with Fund managers to track the investment progress &amp; development effect, including investment decision making.   3.      DFIs’ syndicated investment affects their control activities. Nordic DFIs’ investment strategy is making co-investment in Funds. When more parties are involved, the monitoring and control process become different compared with only one investor and it is affected by syndicated investment. While we did not deeply explore the control mechanism and process under syndication investment by either quantitative &amp; qualitative method or case studying approach, we conclude that it does exist based on communication with interviewees.   The word “Control” looks like a bureaucratic word. However, we found that Alignment is essential in control process for each partners while behavior control helps to assure the alignment. We think that control process become less difficult when previous strict selection of trust partner is successful. We suggest that the alignment between DFIs and other investors as well as Funds should be strengthened in the control process, so that investment objectives can be well realized.   Besides Nordic DFIs, Africa also benefits from others such asChina’s “going global” strategy to encourage outward FDI. China-Africa Development Fund (CADFund) is the first Fund focused specially on large scale investment in Africa among Private Equity Funds inChina. China Development Bank (CDB) is the shareholder of CADFund, who provide resources and support to CADFund. By briefly comparing Nordic DFIs and CADFund, we found they use similar investment instruments and also similar strategies, such as investment in less developed countries inAfricato improve economic conditions, support home companies investing in Africa etc. Including an analysis on CAD as well as the comparison with Nordic DFIs not only strengthen the understanding of DFIs’ activities in Africa, but also clarify the different investment characteristics of Western and Eastern investors in Africa. We also suggest that Nordic DFIs and CADFund can share experience and knowledge to promote sustainable development for Africa. / Nordic Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) spelar en viktig roll för att skapa en hållbar utveckling för Afrika i linje med dess mandat. Genom att investera i private Equity-fonder i Afrika har investeringsföretagen täckt olika sektorer i Afrika, något som inte bara kan förbättra den ekonomiska utvecklingen, utan även öka sysselsättningen. Dessutom kan investering i fonder sprida risker genom diversifiering och hjälpa instituten för DFI att sprida kunskaper från fondförvaltare på lokal närvaro. Denna studie analyserar ledningskontrollsystemet för DFIs’ investeringar i private Equity-fonder och vi fokuserar främst på produktions- och beteendekontroll, Dessa är de två typer av styrning som allmänt diskuteras i tidigare forskning och litteratur. Härmed ställer vi upp följande tre hypoteser som är baserade på relevant forskning och slutsats för att stödja nedslående hypoteserna: 1. DFIs använder en produktionskontrollmekanism med avtalsram för att säkerställa sina investeringar. Produktionskontroll-mekanismen är en metod som sätter standard enligt målet. Denna metod fungerar som den mest grundläggande i kontrollprocessen, eftersom avtalsramarna redan är standardiserade i privata Equity-fonder och fondförvaltaren är omsorsgsfullt valda i den initiala urvalsprocessen. 2. DFIs använder kontroll av beteende för att interagera med fondförvaltare. Beteendekontroll används beroende på utfall av investesteringen, och i denna kontrollprocess verkställs lämpliga instruktioner och riktlinjer efter resultat. DFI och fondförvaltaren samarbetar här för att följa investeringsprocessen och utvecklingseffekten, däribland också att fatta investeringsbeslut. 3. DFIs' saminvesteringar i fonder kommer att påverka dess kontrollverksamhet. DFI investeringsstrategier är att göra saminvesteringar i fonder. När flera partier är inblandade blir spårande- och kontrollprocessen annorlunda jämfört med endast en investerare och detta är påverkad av sammarbetsinvesteringar. Även om vi inte gjorde en djup undersökning av kontrollmekanism och processen under sammarbetsinvestering gällande kvantitativ och kvalitativ metoder eller fältstudier. Men vi sammanfattar detta att det existerar via kommunikation med intervjuer i föreliggande studie kan vi sammanfattningsvis slå fast att styrningen via fonder påverkas av att en DFI inte ensamt investerar i en fond. Ordet "kontroll" (på svenska snarare ”styrning”) kan låta byråkratiskt, men vi kommer fram till att kontrollprocessen huvudsakligen sker i samförstånd för varje part, medan beteendekontroll underlättar samförståndet. Vi tror att kontrollprocessen blir mindre komplicerad när val av godtrogna parter lyckas. Vi föreslår ett utökat samarbete mellan DFIs och andra investerare och fonder under kontrollprocessen, så att investeringsmålen kan uppnås. Förutom investeringar från nordiska DFIer drar Afrika också fördel av andra initiativ, såsom Kinas "going global"-strategi för att uppmuntra direkta utlandsinvesteringar. Den Kinesisk-Afrikanska Utvecklingsfonden (CADFund) är den första fonden som fokuserar speciellt på strategiska investeringar, med det största antalet private Equity-fonder i Kina, medan Kinesiska utvecklingsbanken (CDB) är aktieägare till CADFund, och förser fonden med resurser och stöd. Genom en kort jämförelse av Nordic DFIs och CADfund fann vi att liknande investeringsinstrument med samma strategi används, såsom investering i mindre utvecklade länder i Afrika för att förbättra de ekonomiska villkoren, hjälpa företag från respektive hemland att investera i Afrika etc. Detta kan också stärka förståelsen för DFIs verksamhet i Afrika. Vi har valt att även analysera CADFund samt göra en jämförelse med de nordiska DFIs, vilket inte bara stärkt vår förståelse av DFIernas aktiviteter i Afrika, men också hjälpt till att förstå och klargöra skillnader mellan investerare från väst respektive öst när det gäller investeringar i Afrika. Vi föreslår även att nordiska DFIs och CADfond kan dela erfarenhet och kunskap för främjande av den hållbara utvecklingen i Afrika. / 摘  要      北欧发展金融组织构成了为非洲提供可持续发展的重要组成部分，这也符合其运作的使命。通过投资在非洲的私募股权基金，受资公司覆盖非洲的各行业，这不仅促进了当地经济的发展，而且也增加了就业机会。与此同时，投资于基金能够分散风险，并且北欧金融组织能够和当地的基金经理分享投资经验与知识。 本文分析了北欧发展金融组织投资私募股权基金采用的管理控制流程，我们重点研究产出控制和行为控制，这两种控制方法在以前的研究和文献中也被广泛提及。同时我们基于相关理论提出三种假设并得出结论来支持研究问题，它们是：   1.北欧发展金融组织采用产出控制方法及一系列合同及框架条款来保证他们的投资.    产出控制指的是一种根据目标设立标准的控制方法，它在控制控制中起着基础性的作用，因为合同条在这个行业已经基本标准化，而且它们在筛选基金经理时有严格的条件。    2.北欧发展金融组织采用行为控制方法来影响制约基金经理。     行为控制指当结果可以预知时，在控制过程中采用适当的规范和准则.当北欧发展金融组织与基金经理互动来跟踪投资进展，发展效应，以及做投资决定时，它就变得至关重要。   3.北欧发展金融组织的联合投资将会影响到他们的控制行为。      北欧发展金融组织的投资策略是与其他组织共同投资于基金。当多方参与时，跟踪和控制流程就与只有一个投资者参与时不一样，而且其受联合投资的影响。虽然我们没有用定性和定量的方法甚至案例来深入研究在联合投资下的控制机制和流程，但是根据多方面的采访我们认为这个影响确实存在。       “控制”一词虽然听起来官僚，但是我们发现在控制流程中各方的精诚合作至关重要，同时行为控制也能加强这种合作。在这种情况下，我们认为在前期选择好合作伙伴后控制流程就变得相对简单。我们的建议是北欧发展金融组织和其他投资者以及其与基金的合作应该加强，从而实现更好的投资目标。       除了北欧发展金融组织外，非洲也受益于中国的“走出去”对外投资战略。中非发展基金是第一只也是中国最大的专注于非洲投资的私募股权基金。国家开发银行（国开行）是中非发展基金的股东,它可以为该基金提供项目资源与支持。通过对北欧发展金融组织和中非发展基金的简单对比，我们发现他们采用类似的投资工具和策略, 比如投资于非洲的不发达国家来改变当地的经济状况,支持本国企业在非洲投资等.这也将加强读者对北欧发展金融组织在非洲的认识。我们同时也建议北欧发展金融组织和中非发展基金之间能交流投资经验和知识来更好地推动非洲的可持续发展。

專門職業過去向以其負擔無限責任豎立專業形象，然英美等大型訴訟的發生反使得專業人士成了求償的「深口袋」，這正是英美有限責任合夥制度產生的濫觴。 英美的有限責任合夥立法初衷，係為律師、會計師等專業人士承擔無限責任尋求解套的途徑，而面對我國專門職業者如律師、會計師等，亦遭遇大案，面臨無限責任沈重負擔之際，本論文嘗試從英美法制，尤其是以美國法制為著眼點，尋求制度引進的可行性。事實上令專業負有限責任，在美國尚可組成專業公司或有限責任企業，然此兩種制度除了稅制考量外，也較偏向公司經營管理，甚至因為可以公開招募而容易觸動聯邦證券交易法的干預，也因此，有限責任合夥延續舊有合夥法律關係的組織特性，廣受傳統上以合夥成立的專業組織所青睞。 以美國有限責任合夥法制而言，其本質為合夥，因此其優勢為保有合夥諸多彈性自由的管理規則，賦予合夥人廣大的協議空間，另一方面使合夥人僅負有限責任，免除無限責任的負累，然反面觀之，其最爭議者在於債權人保護的疑慮，美國於2001年爆發恩隆弊案，涉案的安達信會計師事務所正是於伊利諾州註冊登記為有限責任合夥，有限責任合夥在恩隆案中於是受到前所未有的考驗，事實上在美國各州，也透過保險、獨立基金的設置甚至揭開面紗法則適用不同程度保障債權人。 相較之下，英國的有限責任合夥法制，則以公司法為其內涵，因此有限責任合夥法受到更多的管理與限制，除了內部管理沿襲合夥的規定外，在事務執行及破產清算等，均需依循公司法規的管制，在債權人保護上英國法則直接在其有限責任合夥法規定成員擔保及資產取回的機制。 本文認為在立法走向上，得借鏡美國法制，另立新法，使有限責任合夥維持其合夥本質，並賦予法人格，且加強債權人保護之配套措施，期能提供專業組織架構的另一選擇。 / Professionals such as accountants and lawyers used to keep its reputation by taking unlimited liability. However, such unlimited liability makes these professionals to be deep pockets, as the result of the frequent lawsuits in recent years. Due to this reason, adopting limited liability partnership (LLP) seems to be the solution. LLP is a form of doing business, combining the feature of a limited corporation and the flexibility of a general partnership. LLP in United Kingdom and United States all granted the privilege of limited liability to the innocent partners, also keeping their personal assets apart from the creditors’ claim. LLP is available to all types of business in UK; however, in some US states, the LLP is only available to specific licensed professionals. Because of the character of the limited liability, protecting the interest of the creditors would be the most significant problem. To solve this dilemma, US adopt several methods such as using the insurance, doctrine of piercing the veil and creating the asset segregation to balance the interest between the professionals and the creditors. In UK, the company law and insolvency law all tried to cover LLP, in order to keep the LLP’s assets as a guarantee to creditors; such laws also request to disclose important business information of prospective risks to the public. Besides, both UK and US laws require the word “LLP” must be specified in the name of any LLP organizations. In 2001, the Enron scandal was a shock to the world. Arthur Andersen, a well known LLP accounting firm which provides dishonest service for Enron, has triggered the debate of whether LLP is still appropriate. Therefore, my study is going to analyze the pros and cons of LLP in the following chapter. Because of the unlimited liability is the only choice for professionals in Taiwan, we are going to learn from the UK and US laws. As for my conclusion, it is necessary enact an LLP Act to provide an alternative to the professionals.