Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1999. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 162-169). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1999. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 162-169). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Akron, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2008. / "December, 2008." Title from electronic thesis title page (viewed 12/9/2009) Advisor, Jiang John Zhe; Faculty Readers, Joan Carletta, Dane Quinn; Department Chair, Celal Batur; Dean of the College, George K. Haritos; Dean of the Graduate School, George R. Newkome. Includes bibliographical references.

Understand the behavior of queueing networks in heavy tra c is very important due to its importance in evaluating the network performance in related applications. However, in many cases, the stationary distributions of such networks are intractable. Based on di usion limits of queueing networks, we can use Re ected Brownian Motion (RBM) processes as reasonable approximations. As such, we are interested in obtaining the stationary distribution of RBM. Unfortunately, these distributions are also in most cases intractable. However, the tail behavior (large deviations) of RBM may give insight into the stationary distribution. Assuming that a large deviations principle holds, we need only solve the corresponding variational problem to obtain the rate function. Our research is mainly focused on how to solve variational problems in the case of rotationally symmetric (RS) data. The contribution of this dissertation primarily consists of three parts. In the rst part we give out the speci c stability condition for the RBM in the octant in the RS vi case. Although the general stability conditions for RBM in the octant has been derived previously, we simplify these conditions for the case we consider. In the second part we prove that there are only two types of possible solutions for the variational problem. In the last part, we provide a simple computational method. Also we give an example under which a spiral path is the optimal solution. / text

This thesis is concerned with promoting better environmental protection through the application of the precautionary principle in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. The last four decades have brought a new awareness of the environmental risks of upstream oil and gas exploration and production in the Nigerian Niger Delta region. The enviro'nmental risks can be classified into certain (identified) and uncertain environmentaI risks. Uncertainties "associated with oil and gas pollution are manifested "in uncertainty as to probability of occurrence and uncertainty as to the magnitude of the environmental risk. For instance, there exist uncertainties as to impact of atmospheric emissions, uncertainty as to the full impact on biodiversity, uncertainty as to the impact on marine environment. The realisation that there are uncertain environmental risks in the oil and gas industry which cannot be completely ignored without consequence ne~essitated this research. In view of the uncertainties surrounding oil and gas environmental risks, this thesis argues that the best approach to deal with these uncertainties is through the adoption and application of the precautionary principle in the Nigerian oil and gas environmental regulatory framework. Through a comparative analysis of the UK and the Nigerian upstream oil and gas environmental laws the thesis shows that the precautionary principle has not been incorporated into the Nigerian laws. The research shows that the UK's upstream oil and gas environmental laws are more disposed to the application of the precautionary principle in the face of uncertainties than the Nigeria laws. The research recommends different ways through which the precautionary principle can be integrated into the Nigerian upstream oil and gas environmental legal framework. The recommendations made in this research do not arise solely from the positive sides of the UK experience. Measures that will promote the application of the precautionary principle which have not been implemented in the UK but are deemed to be beneficial to Nigeria are also recommended.

This dissertation develops a Kantian philosophical framework for understanding our individual obligations under public law. Because we have a right to do anything that is not wrong, the best interpretation of Immanuel Kant's Universal Principle of Right tracks the two ways--material and formal--in which actions can be wrong. This interpretation yields surprising insights, most notably a novel formulation of Kant's standard for formal wrongdoing. Because the wrong-making property of a formally wrong action does not depend on whether or not the action in question has been prohibited by statute, Kant's legal philosophy is consistent with a natural law theory of public crime. Moreover, because the law can obligate us only by establishing a universal external incentive to obey its commands, statutes that impose only fines on nominal violators do not constrain our lawful options. Instead, if they are otherwise just, such statutes must be regarded as rightful permissive laws, according to which we may incur liabilities through our voluntary choices.

This thesis is based on the regulations found in the OECD model and the OECD TP guidelines concerning the arm’s length principle. The core of the arm’s length principle is that transactions between associated enterprises should be treated the same as transactions between independent enterprises. This principle can be found in Article 9 of the OECD model. One transaction that may fall within the scope of Article 9 of the OECD model is business restructuring. Business restructuring was previously an unregulated TP area but with the new OECD TP guidelines, from 2010, regulations have been formulated. The aim with thesis is therefore to examine how the arm’s length principle should be applied to the new guidelines for business restructurings of intangibles with an uncertain value at the time of the restructuring. In order to answer the question set out in this thesis some of the factors that affect the application of the arm’s length principle have been examined separately. Firstly the arm’s length principle that is the generally accepted TP method used by both taxpayers and tax administrations in order to find a fair price for transactions between associated enterprises. The principle seeks to identify the controlled transaction and thereafter find a comparable uncontrolled transaction that is similar to the transaction performed between the associated enterprises. The second part examined the meaning of the term business restructuring according to the new guidelines since there is no other legal or general definition. Business restructurings are defined as cross-border redeployments of functions assets and risks, performed by MNEs. As long as a transaction falls within this definition it will be subjected to the arm’s length principle for tax purposes. The third part examined intangibles since that also lack a general definition. The identification and valuation of intangibles is a complex and uncertain thing to do for both taxpayers and tax administrations. When applying the arm’s length principle it is however found that the issue of identification of what constitutes and intangible may be unnecessary. The aspect that should be considered is instead the value of the intangible or more precise, the value that independent enterprises would have agreed upon in a similar situation. The applicability of the arm’s length principle to business restructurings of intangibles with an uncertain value at the time of the restructuring should be found by performing a comparability analysis. In order to perform a comparability analysis, the controlled transaction firstly has to be identified. Thereafter, a comparable uncontrolled transaction needs to be found. An equivalent uncontrolled transaction may not be found in all cases and it should in those cases be examined what independent enterprises would have done if they had been in a comparable situation. The arm’s length principle should be applied to business restructurings of intangibles with an uncertain value in the same manner as for any other uncontrolled transaction. The issues for this type of a transaction become the identification of what constitutes a business restructuring and also how to determine a fair value for the intangibles. The OECD TP guidelines lack some guidance as to the issues that can occur when a comparable uncontrolled transaction cannot be found. This creates an unsatisfactory guesswork for both taxpayers and tax administrations when trying to determine what independent enterprises would have done if they had been in a similar situation. This creates an unnecessary uncertainty when trying to apply the arm’s length principle.

The reaction-diffusion master equation (RDME) is a stochastic model for spatially heterogeneous chemical systems. Stochastic models have proved to be useful for problems from molecular biology since copy numbers of participating chemical species often are small, which gives a stochastic behaviour. The RDME is a discrete space model, in contrast to spatially continuous models based on Brownian motion. In this thesis two accuracy issues of the RDME on unstructured meshes are studied. The first concerns the rates of diffusion events. Errors due to previously used rates are evaluated, and a second order accurate finite volume method, not previously used in this context, is implemented. The new discretisation improves the accuracy considerably, but unfortunately it puts constraints on the mesh, limiting its current usability. The second issue concerns the rates of bimolecular reactions. Using the macroscopic reaction coefficients these rates become too low when the spatial resolution is high. Recently, two methods to overcome this problem by calculating mesoscopic reaction rates for Cartesian meshes have been proposed. The methods are compared and evaluated, and are found to work remarkably well. Their possible extension to unstructured meshes is discussed.

Michael Della Rocca has provided an influential interpretation of Spinoza relying heavily on the principle of sufficient reason. In order to challenge this interpretation, I identify three assumptions Della Rocca makes about the PSR and demonstrate that it is not clear Spinoza shares them. First, Della Rocca contends that the PSR is unlimited in scope. I show that the scope of Spinoza’s version of the PSR is ambiguous. While it is clear that substances and modes are included, it is unclear just how widely the scope extends. Second, Della Rocca argues that the PSR demands there are no illegitimate bifurcations. I argue that Della Rocca’s account of illegitimate bifurcations is too strong. I show that Spinoza offers a distinction in explanatory types that should be considered illegitimate and inexplicable according to Della Rocca’s definition of illegitimate bifurcations. Third, Della Rocca argues that explanations which satisfy the demands of the PSR must be in terms of the concepts involved. I show that Spinoza does not use conceptual explanations. Instead, in almost all cases, the explanations Spinoza relies on to satisfy the demands of the PSR are in terms of a thing’s cause. / Thesis (Master, Philosophy) -- Queen's University, 2014-03-28 11:35:29.035

Relevance of the subject. A learning organization is one of learning society cells, therefore the diagnostics of learning organization features expression in organizations is of different a types (including development institution) is an important factor while developing concrete organization towards learning organization model and influencing creation and development processes of the learning society. It is obvious that in such organizations heads take the main role. In the contemporary learning society attitude to head is changing cardinally, as the leaders of theses organizations should be obvious team leaders, taking a decisive role, ensuring work efficiency of all organization; and new attitude to leadership in educational institutions is based on more subtle and more important tasks. Applying leadership as one of the most efficient leadership ways, organization becomes more harmonious, inter-relationships are created among the workers, which encourages improving of learning. Consequently, in this context a scientific problem raises: what are heads-leader’s expression opportunities in contemporary school, as a learning organization? The object of the work: leader’s expression opportunities in contemporary learning organization. The aim of work: to analyze and evaluate leaders’ expression opportunities in contemporary organization. The objectives: 1. To ground theoretically heads-leaders’ expression opportunities in contemporary learning organization. 2. To research... [to full text]