Two standard invariants used to study the fundamental group of the complement X of a hyperplane arrangement are the Malcev completion of its fundamental group G and the cohomology groups of X with coefficients in rank one local systems. In this thesis, we develop a tool that unifies these two approaches. This tool is the Malcev completion S_p of G relative to a homomorphism p from G into (C^*)^N. The relative completion S_p is a prosolvable group that generalizes the classical Malcev completion; when p is the trivial representation, S_p is the Malcev completion of G. The group S_p is tightly controlled by the cohomology groups H^1(X,L_{p^k}) with coefficients in the irreducible local systems L_{p^k} associated to the representation p.The pronilpotent Lie algebra u_p of the prounipotent radical U_p of S_p has been described by Hain. If p is the trivial representation, then u_p is the holonomy Lie algebra, which is well-known to be quadratically presented. In contrast, we show that when X is the complement of the braid arrangement in complex two-space, there are infinitely many representations p from G into (C^*)^2 for which u_p is not quadratically presented.We show that if Y is a subtorus of the character torus T containing the trivial character, then S_p is combinatorially determined for general p in Y. We do not know whether S_p is always combinatorially determined. If S_p is combinatorially determined for all characters p of G, then the characteristic varieties of the arrangement X are combinatorially determined.When Y is an irreducible subvariety of T^N, we examine the behavior of S_p as p varies in Y. We define an affine group scheme S_Y over Y such that if Y = {p}, then S_Y is the relative Malcev completion S_p. For each p in Y, there is a canonical homomorphism of affine group schemes from S_p into the affine group scheme which is the restriction of S_Y to p. This is often an isomorphism. For example, if there exists p in Y whose image is Zariski dense in G_m^N, then this homomorphism is an isomorphism for general p in Y. / Dissertation

<p>A GL(2,R)-structure on a smooth manifold of dimension n+1 corresponds to a distribution of non-degenerate rational normal cones over the manifold. Such a structure is called k-integrable if there exist many foliations by submanifolds of dimension k whose tangent spaces are spanned by vectors in the cones.</p><p>This structure was first studied by Bryant for n=3 and k=2. The work included here (n=4 and k=2,3) was suggested by Ferapontov, et al., who showed that the cases (n=4,k=2) and (n=4, k=3) can arise from integrability of second-order PDEs via hydrodynamic reductions.</p><p>Cartan--Kahler analysis for n=4 and k=3 leads to a complete classification of local structures into 54 equivalence classes determined by the value of an essential 9-dimensional representation of torsion for the GL(2,R)-structure. These classes are described by the factorization root-types of real binary octic polynomials. Each of these classes must arise from a PDE, but the PDEs remain to be identified. </p><p>Also, we study the local problem for n >= 5 and k=2,3 and conjecture that similar classifications exist for these cases; however, the interesting integrability results are essentially unique to degree 4. The approach is that of moving frames, using Cartan's method of equivalence, the Cartan--Kahler theorem, and Cartan's structure theorem.</p> / Dissertation

<p>Traditional approaches to the empirical research of human action, rational choice theory dominant amongst them, have implicitly adopted philosophical pre-suppositions about human action that are untenable and in need of correction. In this project, I seek to both (a) diagnose these problems by showing that rational choice theory is insufficiently attentive to both the question of what agents are and of what kind of world they occupy, and (b) overcome these problems by offering a conception of practical reason that is more "realistic" in that it incorporates a philosophically convincing account of world and of the practical agent's relation with it. To that end, I develop a conception of praxis that is centered on the idea that practical agents act within and toward practical horizons rather than exercising a faculty of choice within stable decision spaces.</p> / Dissertation

Composed of a left mold and a right one, an open and close molding mechanism is widely used in various plastic industries. The aim of this study is to design cam-link mechanisms whose right mold motions can rapidly synchronize with their left mold motions so that the mechanisms have higher stiffness for reducing residual vibration. In structural design of a molding mechanism, the device is actuated by a planar cam mechanism. And a set of cam actuated links is synthesized to drive the left mold. Then, another set of links connected to one of the left mold links is used to synchronously actuate the right mold together with the left mold. This study first is to synthesize the B-Spline curves for the left mold motion. Subsequently, the linkage sizes are modified base on the mechanical advantages. Then, the motion curves of the right mold and the cam follower device can be analytically determined. And the rigid body dynamic behavior of the mechanism is analyzed. Finally, the geometry of the cam is analyzed and the size of the cam follower rollers are selected to achieve the longer life time at the working speeds. This research presents eight different design cases to investigate the kinematic and dynamic characteristics of the molding mechanism. As a result, a case with improved kinematic and dynamic performance is selected.

We propose an algebraic construction of $(d+1)$-point $D$-optimal designs for $d$th degree polynomial regression with weight function $omega(x)ge 0$ on the interval $[a,b]$. Suppose that $omega'(x)/omega(x)$ is a rational function and the information of whether the optimal support contains the boundary points $a$ and $b$ is available. Then the problem of constructing $(d+1)$-point $D$-optimal designs can be transformed into a differential equation problem leading us to a certain matrix including a finite number of auxiliary unknown constants, which can be solved from a system of polynomial equations in those constants. Moreover, the $(d+1)$-point $D$-optimal interior support points are the zeros of a certain polynomial which the coefficients can be computed from a linear system. In most cases the $(d+1)$-point $D$-optimal designs are also the approximate $D$-optimal designs.

In 1719, Daniel Defoe wrote his first fiction The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe without knowing that the protagonist of the novel, Robinson Crusoe, would be liberated from his cultural matrix and deployed as a dominant economic metaphor with the advent of the so-called marginalist revolution in the second half of the nineteenth century. This thesis intends to: i) with reference to an habits of thought approach, unearth the institutional nature of the metamorphosis of Crusoe from a figure of the literary realm to the economic man of neoclassical economics, and ii) based on a rereading of Defoe&rsquo / s original text, offer an alternative reinterpretation which would turn upside down the prevalent presuppositions of neoclassical economics portraying an isolated, universal and axiomatically rational Crusoe. Accordingly, in this study, Crusoe is presented as a specific time- and space-bound human being preserving and perpetuating his institutionally forged character traits even during his sojourn on the &lsquo / institution-free&rsquo / uninhabited island / a methodological and expeditious man, whose rationality was based not on the fulfillment of axioms but on reasoning / and an entrepreneur aiming at economic development through innovation.

This study investigates the relationship between upward influence tactics and job satisfaction from the Kaoshong city bus, According to the results of analyses conducted on data collected from 282 employees. The six individual difference variables examined were gender, age, marriage, tenure, position, and education. Results indicated the importance of upward influence tactics and individual differences on assessments of job satisfaction as follows: Dimensionality of Organizational Politics Behaviors The responses to the upward influence of organizational politics behaviors were subjected to principal components analysis with Varimax rotation. A three-factor solution was found to be most interpretable, with loadings of .50 and above used as an item retention criterion, resulting in a total of 21items being retained across the three tactical importances. It is comprised three subscales: (1)Rational Persuasion,(2)association,(3)Political tactics. Relationship between individual difference and Upward Influence of Organizational Politics Behaviors 1.Male¡¦s ¡§Association¡¨ behavior is stronger than female. 2.Clerk¡¦s ¡§Rational persuasion¡¨ behavior is stronger than driver and employee, and employee¡¦s ¡§rational persuasion¡¨ behavior is greater than driver. 3.Clerk¡¦s ¡§Political tactics¡¨ behavior is stringent than driver and employee. 4.Bachelor¡¦s level of education¡¦s ¡§Rational persuasion¡¨ behavior is stronger than the other¡¦s level of education. Relationship between Upward Influence Behavior and Job Satisfaction Except the association political behavior of upward influence There is no any relation to the job satisfaction. Control some personal characteristics variable, reported special relationships 1.Reported positively correlations between ¡§Political tactics¡¨ and ¡§Special job satisfy¡¨ with male. 2.Reported positively correlations between ¡§Association¡¨ and ¡§Internal job motive¡¨ with junior. 3.Reported positively correlations between ¡§Political tactics¡¨ and ¡§Special job satisfy¡¨ with junior.

Abstract The traditional industry of Taiwan boiler manufacturers¡¦ compensation system design is now facing the challenge of gradually improving working conditions and decreasing employees work hours to 84 hours (two week); in accordance with government regulations. These changes deeply affect organizations¡¦ development and cause a sense of uncertainty among employees. In addition, enterprises are becoming more concerned with improving employees¡¦ performance in order to enhance the performance of the organization as a whole. That is the reason to choose compensation system and performance as researching objective for this study. How does the compensation system affect performance? Which variables of compensation system may affect performance? This research refers to a cause and effect model of the organizational commitment to show the relationship between the compensation system, organizational commitment, performance, and how they influence each other. This study assumes that the compensation system affects performance via organizational commitment, which acts as the medium actor. Boiler manufacture industry employees are the object of this study; and there are 232 effective questionnaires in this survey. After statistic analysis, the study finds that: 1. The higher organizational commitment employees undertake, the higher performance they show; these two variables show positive correlation and influence. 2. The higher perceptions employees have toward the compensation system, the higher they expect to perform; these two variables show positive correlation and influence. 3. The higher perceptions employees have toward the compensation system, the higher commitment they undertake; these two variables show positive correlation and influence. 4. The compensation system either directly or indirectly affects performance via organizational commitment. 5. Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to set up the integral pattern , and run on LISREL 8.2 to analyze data. The variable structure¡¦s appropriateness of this study is appropriate, and also able to prove that, organizational commitment is the medium factor between the compensation system and employee performance.

During the past two decades, community-based hazard mitigation (CBHM) has been newly proposed and implemented as an alternative conceptual model for emergency management to deal with disasters comprehensively in order to curtail skyrocketing disaster losses. Local community members have been growingly required to share information and responsibilities for reducing community vulnerabilities to natural and technological hazards and building a safer community. Consequently they are encouraged to join local mitigation programs and volunteer for collective mitigation action, but their contributions vary. This research examined factors associated with Tulsa Project Impact partners?? contributions to collective mitigation action. In the literature review, self-interest and social norms were identified and briefly discussed as two determinants to guide partners?? behavior by reviewing game theoretic frameworks and individual decision-making models. Partners?? collective interest in building a safer community and feelings of obligation to participate in collective mitigation action were also considered for this study. Thus, the major factors considered are: (1) collective interests, (2) selective benefits, (3) participation costs, (4) norms of cooperation, and (5) internalized norms of participation. Research findings showed that selective benefits and internalized norms of participation were the two best predictors for partners?? contributions to collective mitigation action. However, collective interests, participation costs, and norms of cooperation did not significantly influence partners?? contributions.

This thesis analyzes the timing issue related to informed trades under two different market frameworks. Firstly, the issue under the competitive market framework is analyzed. In financial market, a widely accepted assumption that competitive informed traders elect to trade immediately upon receiving their private information is now questioned. We propose a competitive rational expectations model to demonstrate that under some situations informed traders tend to trade late on their information because of the fear of adverse effect on prices from their informed trades. This phenomenon from delayed informed trades leads to the following: Price volatility will increase and adjacent price changes may exhibit positive serial correlation. Secondly, we turn to the alternative framework, i.e., a market microstructure framework. A large number of market microstructure models had already investigated the timing issue of informed trades. Most of them found that the competition among informed traders will make the informed traders incline to trade early than late on their information and the market therefore becomes more efficient. We develop a market microstructure model with competitive, risk averse informed traders and uninformed market makers. It is found that when the mass of informed traders is larger or the precision of private information is higher, the market becomes less efficient, that is, prices will delay revealing the private information and the market will postpone becoming liquid. Our results stand in contrast to those of other market microstructure models simply because informed traders in our model choose to trade late on their information. In conclusion, the thesis has proved that the timing to trade on their information is an important consideration for informed traders to determine their trading strategy maximizing their expected utility. Since this issue is seldom discussed in the previous literature, I deeply believe that there are many works to be done followed this work.