The aim of my diploma work is to present advantages of a flat tax system and compare its level of justice with progressive taxation system.In the first part I want to start with theoretical background and general economic mindset to the problem. The second part describes the real impact of the adoption of the system on public finance, a frequent subject of controversy, focusing on the economic environment of Slovakia and Czech republic. I will work with the official data from Czech Statistical Office using graphs and tables to show the trend of the general budget revenue before and after the adoption and the final impact on the general tax revenue. Adopting the system in 2008 and confronting the general tax revenue dropout during the financial crisis, the Czech data may not testify sufficiently. However, the flat tax adoption in Slovakia dated back in 2004 gives us four more years of statistics, which may adequately demonstrate what Czech numbers can't. The conclusion summarizes the total influence of the flat tax rate system on the economies of Czech republic and Slovakia

Following some incidents in high-rise buildings, such as Ronan Point London 1968, in which collapse of a limited number of structural elements progressed to a failure disproportionate to the initial cause, consideration of robustness was introduced in British Standard. The main method of preventing progressive collapse for providing robustness to steel framed buildings with precast concrete floor slabs focuses on the allowable tying forces that the reinforcement in between the slabs and in hollowcores should carry. However there are uncertainties about the basis of the practical rules associated with this method. This thesis presents the results of numerical and analytical studies of tie connection behaviour between precast concrete floor slabs (PCFS). It is shown that under current design regulations the tie connection is not able to resist the accidental load limit applied on the damaged floor slabs. By establishing the capability of a finite element model to depict and predict the behaviour of concrete members in situations such as arching and catenary action against several experimental tests, an extensive set of parametric studies was conducted in order to identify the effective parameters in enhancing the resistance of the tie connection between PCFSs. These parameters include: tie bar diameter, position, length, yield stress and ultimate strain; the slab’s height, length; and the compressive strength of the grouting concrete in between the slabs that encases the tie bar. Recommendations are made based on the findings of this parametric study in order to increase the resistance of the tie connection. Based on the identified effective parameters in the parametric study a predictive analytical relationship is derived which is capable of determining the maximum vertical displacement and load that the tie connection is able to undergo. This relationship can be used to enable the connection to capture the accidental limit load on a damaged slab. The identified parameters are examined in a three dimensional finite element model to assess their effect when columns of the structure are lost in different locations such as an edge, corner or internal column. Based on the findings of this study methods for improving the connections performance are presented. Also the effect of alternative transverse tying method is evaluated and it is concluded that although this kind of tie increases the load carrying capacity of the connection, its effect on the catenary action is not significant.

Ingeniero Civil Industrial / La minería, que alcanza hoy en día casi un 20% de participación en el PIB nacional, corresponde a la principal actividad económica que ha tenido Chile desde la revolución industrial. Dentro de este contexto destaca la empresa estatal CODELCO como la mayor productora de cobre a nivel mundial. Considerando el impacto que tiene la industria minera, los altísimos niveles de inversión involucrados, la larga vida útil de una mina y su complejidad, el apoyo a las decisiones mediante modelos de optimización matemáticos aparecen como altamente necesarios. Hoy en día estos modelos son capaces de planificar tanto la extracción como el procesamiento del mineral considerando sólo variables determinísticas. Una variable muy importante dentro de estos modelos corresponde al precio del cobre. Es por ello que actualmente se trabaja en la implementación de modelos de planificación de largo plazo que incorporen la estocasticidad de esta variable con el fin de evaluar proyectos mineros y así dar apoyo a las decisiones de inversión. Sin embargo, y debido a la complejidad y tamaño de los procesos, el problema estocástico es demasiado grande desde el punto de vista computacional. Para resolver esto se utiliza Progressive Hedging (PH), un algoritmo que reduce el problema estocástico en muchos sub-problemas determinísticos de menor tamaño. A pesar de esto, el tiempo necesario para su resolución puede llegar a ser del orden de días o incluso semanas. Una de las cualidades que entrega el algoritmo PH es la independencia en la resolución de los sub-problemas, lo cual puede ser aprovechado para su procesamiento en paralelo de modo de reducir los tiempos de procesamiento. En este trabajo se estudia la complejidad y factores críticos en la implementación de la paralelización, además de la ganancia esperada en súper-computadores tipo clúster. El anáĺisis algorítmico del problema da luces de que la paralelización es capaz de entregar ahorros en tiempo del orden de un 90%. Por otra parte una simulación en la escalabilidad de una pequeña implementación realizada entrega un ahorro de entre 93% y 98% dependiendo de la arquitectura de memoria del computador, compartida o distribuída, compuesto de 9 procesadores con 8 núcleos cada uno. Considerando todo lo anterior, y lo que se puede observar con más detalle en este trabajo, la utilización de PH en paralelo es un camino tentador a seguir si lo que se pretende es incluir la estocasticidad de una variable como el precio del cobre en el modelo de planificación minera de largo plazo.

Progressive Web Applications are becoming more advanced and have increased user activity year after year, especially on mobile platforms. But still the standard of performance does not in most cases meet what we expect in relation to the time it takes to load these. Technologies are evolving as an attempt to change this, and one that has gained a lot of attention in recent years is Google AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages). A technology that initially aimed at very simple content, but which has recently become more advanced but has its main focus on performance. An entire application does not need to be developed with this technology, but a noted method is to use it as an entry-point to another application as an attempt to reduce the initial load time for the user and enhance the experience in later navigations. This report investigates with an experiment how the AMP technology stands against another technology focused on speed, in this case the JavaScript framework Gatsby. This is done with the frameworks as a combination using AMP as an entry-point and also developed separately, all with enhanced Progressive Web App features. To make development easier and understand the difference of applications included in the study, a literature study was also done with focus on this aspect. At the point when the applications became published and available through Google search and measurements for the applications were made, it was discovered that their metrics load time, start render and speed index all had major performance improvements for the AMP applications on the first load with a mobile device utilizing Google cache CDN, but the effect was not as great on desktop. The implementation process differs some in the frameworks included, and turned out to be more restricted with AMP with the desired effect of increasing performance. While the second framework Gatsby is developed more flexible and could be seen as a more modern way of developing.  It shows a positive opportunity to combine technologies to serve content to a user faster on mobile devices, which could be an action to speed up the web and maintain the user experience.

English progressive rock band Gentle Giant is catalogued under the progressive (or “prog”) rock genre for a variety reasons, including unique instrumentation, virtuosity, and interesting/unconventional musical attributes. The complexity of their music is often warranted by the sophisticated concepts behind their albums and the deep messages of their songs. The Power and the Glory (TPatG), Gentle Giant’s sixth studio album, is a concept album that emphasizes the rise and corruption of power. What makes their music, especially TPatG, worthy of scholarly attention beyond the simple examination of the compositional techniques employed is the way in which the message of their compositions is conveyed, and how that message is interpreted. In this project, I investigate the elements that contribute to this album’s theme via semiotic analysis. I begin by exploring the discipline of semiotics as a method for analysis. Largely applied to language and literature, semiotic analysis has been recently adapted and applied to music study. Jean Molino’s method proposes a tripartite model for the analysis of music: analyses at poietic, neutral, and esthesic levels. A poietic level analysis examines the circumstances of the music’s creation, including origination, composition, production, and performance. Situating Gentle Giant among their contemporaries and TPatG among the band’s discography by outlining their history (both personal and professional) illuminates the conditions under which the album was generated and produced. An analysis of the neutral level defines the musical “trace,” or those quantifiable elements of the music (i.e., objective elements such as pitch, rhythm, etc.). These structures are explained in light of their usage throughout history and their impact on the album’s overarching theme of the corruption of power. An esthesic analysis describes the reception and interpretation of the music. I examine the socio-cultural impact the album has made and the influence it has had on musicians throughout the years. Molino’s tripartite method of analysis supports a comprehensive understanding of Gentle Giant’s TPatG, not solely musically by examining its structures, but socio-culturally as a part of the progressive-rock culture and, indeed, the broader music industry of the 1970s.

Les transformateurs piézoélectriques présentent de nombreux intérêts en électronique de puissance par rapport aux transformateurs magnétiques : gains en tension élevé, forte densité de puissance, compacité, rendements élevés, forte isolation galvanique et faibles rayonnement électromagnétiques. Toutefois, les structures classiques sont basées sur la génération d’une onde stationnaire qui limite le nombre d’électrodes et de tensions disponibles en sortie. Dans cette thèse, nous proposons une nouvelle topologie de transformateur piézoélectrique qui utilise une onde progressive au lieu d’une onde stationnaire. Avec cette solution, il est possible d’obtenir un système polyphasé de tensions en sortie du transformateur ce qui rend possible plusieurs types de conversion (DC-DC, DC-AC à fréquence variable).Dans un premier temps, nous avons développé un nouveau modèle analytique permettant de décrire le comportement du transformateur à partir de ses dimensions et des propriétés du matériau. Différents prototypes ont été développés pour valider le concept du transformateur et des séries de mesures ont permis de valider le modèle. Concernant les performances, un transformateur cylindrique basé sur une onde de volume a pu fournir un système quadriphasé avec une puissance maximale de 6 W et des rendements de 90%.Une autre approche visait à décrire le comportement d’un transformateur déjà réalisé par l’extraction de ses paramètres Y. A partir de cela, une représentation compatible avec les logiciels de simulation de type Spice a permis une simulation précise du transformateur et du convertisseur de puissance associé.Enfin, deux convertisseurs de puissances ont été conçus basés sur ce transformateur à onde progressive. Le premier est un convertisseur DC-DC basé sur un redresseur polyphasé pour l’alimentation de drivers isolés. Les différentes tensions disponibles à la sortie permettent l’alimentation de plusieurs drivers avec un seul transformateur. Le second convertisseur est un convertisseur DC-AC basé sur le principe d’un cycloconvertisseur. La recombinaison des phases à la sortie permet d’obtenir un signal AC. / Piezoelectric transformers propose several advantages over magnetic ones for power conversion : high voltage gain, compactness, high power density, high efficiency due to their high quality factor, strong galvanic isolation and low electro-magnetic emissions. However, in general, they are based on the generation of a standing wave that limits the number of electrodes at the surface of the transformer. In this PhD, we propose the use of a traveling wave instead of a standing wave. With this solution, it is possible to obtain a multi-phase system of voltages at the output which makes it suitable for different types of conversion (DC-DC, DC-AC with variable frequency).During this work, we developed a new analytical modelling of the transformer that describes its electrical behavior based on geometry and material properties. Different prototypes of TWPT were conceived to validate the concept and on which we perform measurements to validate the analytical modelling. Among them, cylinder-type TWTP based on longitudinal waves outputs a four-phase system with an output power of 6 W and efficiencies as high as 90%.A second approach developed consisted in the modelling of an already made transformer based on the experimental extraction of admittance parameters and its representation for simulation in Spice-type software. This approach allows for precise simulation of the transformer and the associated power converters.Finally, we designed two power converters based on this traveling wave piezoelectric transformers. The first one is a DC-DC converter that is based on a polyphase rectifier for isolated gate-drive power supply. The several phases available at the output allows for the generation of the supply for numerous drivers. The second one is a DC-AC converter similar to a matrix converter. The combination of the phases at the output of the TWPT allows for generation an AC signal at any frequency.

Purpose–The purpose of this thesis paper was to measure differences in the user experience provided by the Progressive Web App technology in comparison to native application in a context of social media. The study investigated users attitude towards different user interfaces implemented in the PWA and the native application. Method–This paper isqualitative research in the field of user experience. Usability tests paired with semi-structured interview were chosen as research methods for this study. The study has been conducted on Twitter's PWA and Android application. Ten participants took part in the study. Findings–The results have shown that most of the participants can identify differences in the user interfaces of both apps. Although both applications provided the same functionalities, the different UI solutions were the major factor influencing users feelings. On top of that, different user interfaces did not change the user's perception of the platform's consistency. As a result, more participants preferred the PWA over the native app. Moreover, results suggest that PWA can provide native-like experience in the context of social media. Implications–The main contribution of this bachelor thesis is a comparison of user experience on PWA and native app technology in the context of social media. This research opens a discussion about the need for companies to broader their digital presence by implementing PWA technology as it can bring benefit to users and businesses. Limitations–The main limitation of this study is a low number of participants caused by restrictions of social distancing inthe times of global pandemic. On top of that, the convenient sampling method has been used. Keywords–User Experience, Progressive Web Application,User Interface, Native Mobile Application, Attitude

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the themes and values represented in lyrics of progressive country music are significantly different from those of traditional country music. Content analytical techniques were used to determine, first, themes and, second, attitudes reflected in those themes in each type of song. The chi square test of independence was u-ilized, and a difference significant to the .05 level was found between themes and attitudes of lyrics in the two song types.

Relaxation procedures and anxiety relief were reviewed. Effects of cognitive and expectancy variables in reduction of avoidance behavior were also extensively reviewed. Various theoretical models for desensitization were presented. Use of symbolic control in classical conditioning and use of self-control methods in anxiety reduction were discussed. Special emphasis was given to self-desensitization and cue controlled relaxation. One goal of the experiment was to determine whether a musical stimulus associated with counter anxiety procedures could reduce or prevent subjects' phobic responses in the presence of the phobic situation. Another goal was to determine the relative efficacy of two counter anxiety procedures (anxiety relief and progressive muscle relaxation) in lowering muscle tension and in reducing or preventing speech anxiety. Several implications were drawn from the study. Relaxation alone may alleviate anxiety and phobic behavior without being paired with phobic stimuli. Cognitive variables such as expectancy and feedback of progress make a substantial contribution to treatment of situational anxiety. Progressive muscle relaxation may not be the technique of choice for producing low levels of muscle tension. Recommendations for future research were specified, including additional measures and control procedures.

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