In this work, wet deposition samples were collected at Middle East Technical University campus, Ankara, between December 2000 and May 2002. Snow samples were collected from 50 grids in January, 2001 in Ankara to investigate dry deposition of PAHs. The collected samples were preconcentrated by Solid Phase Extraction and ultrasonic extraction tecniques. Extraction methodologies were improved prior to analysis of samples. Extracted samples were analyzed by Gas Chromotography-Mass Spectrometry for 14 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons. Selected Ion Monitoring mode was used throughout the analysis. Phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene and benzo (b+k) fluoranthene were found to be dominant PAHs in wet deposition samples. Seasonal variation of PAHs were observed having higher concentrations in winter period. Meterological parameters were also examined together with PAH concentrations. Contribution of PAHs coming from North East and South West direction were found to be dominant. Wet deposition fluxes were calculated and compared with other urban sites. Wet deposition fluxes are lower than industrial sites and comparable with urban sites in Europe. PAH ratios and factor analysis results demostrated combustion and traffic emissions are major sources of pollutants in the city. Dry deposition of PAHs were invesigated using snow as a natural collecting surface. Dry deposition fluxes calculated using snow surface are compareble with other similar sites. Dry deposition pollution maps of PAHs were drawn by MapInfo software and it was observed that the major pollution regions are the localities where low income families live and low quality coal used for heating purpose. Ratio calculations showed that the central parts of the city is mostly affected from traffic emissions while coal emissions are dominating at the other parts of the city. Factor analysis applied to data set and 6 factors distinquished as coal, soil, traffic, oil combustion, mixed combustion and road dust.

This thesis investigates the use of hedonic pricing models to value intangible assets that are owned by firms. This novel approach falls within the neoclassical methodology for the valuation of financial assets, and extends the framework by ordering an alternative methods by which assets may be compared. The firms performance, as measured by reported financial data and embodied in the DuPont ratios of the firm, is used to derive the characteristics of intangible assets. The shadow prices of these characteristics are estimated and used to derive a market-related value for the intangible assets. The empirical results support using this approach to value intangible assets.

This research employs a deterministic seismic risk assessment methodology to assess the potential damage and loss at meshblock level in the Christchurch CBD and Mount Pleasant primarily due to building damage caused by earthquake ground shaking. Expected losses in terms of dollar value and casualties are calculated for two earthquake scenarios. Findings are based on: (1) data describing the earthquake ground shaking and microzonation effects; (2) an inventory of buildings by value, floor area, replacement value, occupancy and age; (3) damage ratios defining the performance of buildings as a function of earthquake intensity; (4) daytime and night-time population distribution data and (5) casualty functions defining casualty risk as a function of building damage. A GIS serves as a platform for collecting, storing and analyzing the original and the derived data. It also allows for easy display of input and output data, providing a critical functionality for communication of outcomes. The results of this study suggest that economic losses due to building damage in the Christchurch CBD and Mount Pleasant will possibly be in the order of $5.6 and $35.3 million in a magnitude 8.0 Alpine fault earthquake and a magnitude 7.0 Ashley fault earthquake respectively. Damage to non-residential buildings constitutes the vast majority of the economic loss. Casualty numbers are expected to be between 0 and 10.

BACKGROUND: The long-term decline in cohort fertility in highly developed countries has been widely documented. However, no systematic analysis has investigated which parity contributed most to the fertility decline to low and very low levels. Objective: We examine how the contribution of changing parity progression ratios varied across cohorts, countries, and broader regions in Europe, North America, Australia, and East Asia. We pay special attention to countries that reached very low completed cohort fertility, below 1.75 children per woman. Methods: Using population censuses and large-scale surveys for 32 low fertility countries, we decompose the change in completed cohort fertility among women born between 1940 and 1970. The decomposition method takes into account the sequential nature of childbearing as a chain of transitions from lower to higher parities. Results: Among women born between 1940 and 1955, the fertility decline was mostly driven by reductions in the progression ratios to third and higher-order births. By contrast, among women born between 1955 and 1970, changes in fertility showed distinct regional patterns: In Central and Eastern Europe they were fuelled by falling second-birth rates, whereas in the German-speaking countries, Southern Europe, and East Asia decreases in first-birth rates played the major role. Conclusions: Pathways to low and very low fertility show distinct geographical patterns, which reflect the diversity of the cultural, socioeconomic, and institutional settings of low fertility countries. Contribution: Our study highlights the importance of analysing parity-specific components of fertility in order to understand fertility change and variation. We demonstrate that similar low levels of completed cohort fertility can result from different combinations of parity-specific fertility rates.

Correlated ordinal data typically arises from multiple measurements on a collection of subjects. Motivated by an application in credit risk, where multiple credit rating agencies assess the creditworthiness of a firm on an ordinal scale, we consider multivariate ordinal regression models with a latent variable specification and correlated error terms. Two different link functions are employed, by assuming a multivariate normal and a multivariate logistic distribution for the latent variables underlying the ordinal outcomes. Composite likelihood methods, more specifically the pairwise and tripletwise likelihood approach, are applied for estimating the model parameters. Using simulated data sets with varying number of subjects, we investigate the performance of the pairwise likelihood estimates and find them to be robust for both link functions and reasonable sample size. The empirical application consists of an analysis of corporate credit ratings from the big three credit rating agencies (Standard & Poor's, Moody's and Fitch). Firm-level and stock price data for publicly traded US firms as well as an unbalanced panel of issuer credit ratings are collected and analyzed to illustrate the proposed framework.

This thesis deals with systems of financial indicators. The theoretical part contains the individual systems which are described and explained on the basis of literature. The practical part is divide into three parts. First part contains individual analyses of indicators. The second part deals with a pyramid decomposition of return on equity which is compared in time and space. The last part is the practical application of the rating and default models to the selected firm. There are summarized and evaluated results of the practical part in conclusion.

The main objective of this diploma thesis is to ascertain the level of profitability from fish processing (canning) using the company MYROC Food Processing Company as a case study from 2005 to 2008. The results of the work were done using some financial statements from the company. The diploma thesis consists of two parts. The first part is the theoretical part which describes the fishing industry in Ghana and the benefits of fish processing, concept of cost and benefit analysis, sensitivity analysis and concept of financial analysis. The second part is the practical part where, the cost-benefit analysis, sensitivity analysis and some financial ratios were used. There is also the bankruptcy model that is used in predicting financial distress. In the conclusion, there are some recommendations for improving the financial situation of the company.

This thesis aims to analyze innovation activities of a company with both cost calculations and business performance. First part of the thesis is theoretical and helps for deeper understanding of chosen subject. Practical part uses theoretical data and aims at the chosen company where the innovations are done. Mainly the thesis is focused on the innovated product and it's economical impact on the company.

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Sujan Shrestha, for the Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering, presented on March 3, 2015, at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. TITLE: POST BUCKLING RESPONSE OF SWAY COLUMNS UNDER MECHANICAL AND THERMAL (FIRE) LOADS MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Aslam Kassimali, Ph.D. The post-buckling response of sway columns under mechanical and thermal loadings are presented by using the geometrical nonlinear analysis. For thermal analysis, the columns are assumed to be fully restrained in their axial directions. The method of analysis uses Beam-Column theory which is based on an Eulerian (corotational) formulation. Numerical solutions are shown for the post-buckling response of sway columns. The numerical investigations of the geometrically nonlinear analysis of sway columns were carried out with three different boundary conditions of sway columns as suggested by AISC, under mechanical loading and temperature changes. The sway columns considered are the cases `c', `e' and `f' in Table C-A-7.1 of AISC Manual (2011). These were modeled and analyzed to predict the post-buckling response under the mechanical and thermal loads. Furthermore, for each of these support conditions, the effects of slenderness ratios on the post-buckling response were analyzed by considering the slenderness ratios of 50,125 and 200. Also, the effects on post-buckling strength were observed keeping the same slenderness ratios but varying rotational end conditions of sway columns. Many useful conclusions can be drawn from this study. The more important conclusions are: 1) As all unrestrained sway columns undergo excessive deformation under mechanical loading, they do not possess significant post-buckling strength once the loading reaches the buckling load. 2) All restrained sway columns undergo much smaller deformations under thermal loading as compared to mechanical loading; thus significant post-buckling strength is achieved even after reaching the buckling temperature. This post-buckling strength can be considered during the design of structures which will aid in safe and economical structures. 3) Slenderness ratios play an important role on post-buckling strength only in thermal analysis but not in mechanical analysis. Increase in slenderness ratio tends to decrease the post-buckling relative deformation of the columns under thermal loading but has no such effect under mechanical loading. 4) Rotational end conditions also play significant role on post-buckling strength during thermal analysis but not during mechanical analysis. Keeping the slenderness ratio constant and varying the rotational end conditions, the post-buckling strength of all sway columns remains same under mechanical loading but is different under thermal loading.

Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2016-07-26T12:44:17Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Dissertação Versão Biblioteca - ImprimirOK.pdf: 2780004 bytes, checksum: 26f8b7cae86c9fabc567061fe899162f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-26T12:44:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Dissertação Versão Biblioteca - ImprimirOK.pdf: 2780004 bytes, checksum: 26f8b7cae86c9fabc567061fe899162f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-01-18 / CAPEs / A pesquisa foi realizada no estuário do rio Goiana - PE (7º20’S/34º50’W) e objetivou compreender a influência dos processos naturais e antrópicos na sedimentação atual e biogeoquímica na área. Foram coletadas 23 amostras de sedimentos superficiais em Fevereiro/2012 (região do baixo e médio estuário) e realizadas análises granulométricas, de matéria orgânica total (MOT), carbono orgânico total (COT), nitrogênio total (NT), Carbonato de cálcio (CaCO3), razão C/N e razões isotópicas de δ¹³C e δ¹⁵N. Como análises complementares foram realizadas as análises da fração arenosa e o índice BPN (Bio Production Number) para a determinação do estado trófico do ambiente. Foram executadas também análises de correlação (Spearman), componentes principais e agrupamento (Cluster). Os sedimentos foram classificados como heterogêneos com predomínio de areias-sílticas siliciclásticas, pobremente selecionadas com baixos a médios teores orgânicos e de origem mista. As análises de correlação indicaram significância entre os teores de CaCO3 e MOT (rs=0,67; p<0,05), ao contrário dos dados de MOT e COT (rs=0,06; p>0,05). A distribuição destes parâmetros não estabeleceu variações diretas com a granulometria. Concomitantemente a isso, o cálculo BPN evidenciou a condição predominante de hipertrofia, com os maiores índices nas estações de coleta adjacentes às áreas de carcinocultura, indicando que a presente distribuição sedimentar apresenta anomalias diretamente relacionadas ao aporte externo de contaminantes, evidenciando assim, a ocorrência de influências resultantes de atividades agrícolas, agropecuárias e/ou atividades cimenteiras exercidas na região, comportamento já reportado na literatura em outras regiões. / The study site is the Goiana River estuary–PE (7º20’S/34º50’W) and this research aims to understand the influence of natural and anthropogenic processes on modern sedimentation and biogeochemistry in the area. Twenty-three sediment samples were collected in Feb/2012 (in middle and lower estuary) and analyses of grain size, total organic matter (TOM), total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), C/N ratio, CaCO3 and δ¹³C-δ¹⁵N isotopic ratios. Were performed the coarse fraction analisys and the BPN index to determine the environmental trophic state. The collection data were treated by mean of the correlation analysis (Spearman), main components and groups (Cluster). The sediments were classified as heterogeneous, with mainly siliciclastic siltic-sand, poorly sorted varying from low to medium organic contents and presenting mixed origin. There was significant correlation between levels of CaCO3 and TOM (rs=0.67; p<0.05), unlike the data TOM and TOC (rs=0.06; p> 0.05). The distribution of these parameters does not establish direct variations with the grain size. Concurrently, the BPN index showed the predominant hypertrophy condition, with higher values located in sampling stations adjacent to shrimp farming areas. This indicates that this sediment distribution presents anomalies directly related to the allochthonous input of contaminants, thus evidencing the influences from agricultural activities, aquaculture and/or cement activities in the surrounding area. This behavior were already reported in the literature in other regions.