Communication protocols, a class of critical systems, play an important role in industry. These protocols are critical because the tolerance for faults in these systems is low and it is highly desirable that these systems work correctly. Therefore, an effective methodology for describing and verifying that these systems behave according to their specifications is vitally important. Model checking is a verification technique in which a mathematically precise model of the system, either concrete or with abstraction, is built and a specification of how the system should behave is given. Then the system is considered correct if its model satisfies its specification. However, due to their size and complexity, critical systems, such as communication systems, are notoriously resistant to formal modelling and verification. In this thesis, we propose using graph transformation systems (GTSs), a visual semantic modelling approach, to model the behaviour of dynamically evolving communication protocols. Then, we show how a GTS model can facilitate verification of invariant properties of potentially unbounded communication systems. Finally, due to the use of similar isomorphic components in communication systems, we show how to exploit symmetries of these dynamically evolving models described by GTSs, to reduce the size of the model under verification. We use graph transformation systems to provide an expressive and intuitive visual description of the system state as a graph and for the computations of the system as a finite set of rules that transform the state graphs. Our model is well-suited for describing the behaviour of individual components, error-free communication channels amongst the components, and dynamic component creation and elimination. Thus, the structure of the generated model closely resembles the way in which communication protocols are typically separated into three levels: the first describing local features or components, the second characterizing interactions among components, and the third showing the evolution of the component set. The graph transformation semantics follows this scheme, enabling a clean separation of concerns when describing a protocol. This separation of concerns is a necessity for formal analysis of system behaviour. We prove that the finite set of graph transformation rules that describe behaviour of the system can be used to perform verification for invariant properties of the system. We show that if a property is preserved by the finite set of transformation rules describing the system model, and if the initial state satisfies the property, then the property is an invariant of the system model. Therefore, our verification method may avoid the explicit analysis of the potentially enormous state space that the transformation rules encode. In this thesis, we also develop symmetry reduction techniques applicable to dynamically evolving GTS models. The necessity to extend the existing symmetry reduction techniques arises because these techniques are not applicable to dynamic models such as those described by GTSs, and, in addition, these existing techniques may offer only limited reduction to systems that are not fully symmetric. We present an algorithm for generating a symmetry-reduced quotient model directly from a set of graph transformation rules. The generated quotient model is bisimilar to the model under verification and may be exponentially smaller than that model.

Hot-pressed BaTiO3 ceramics are prepared from commercial nano-size powder supplied by Cabot. Samples have been thoroughly analysed for the crystalline phases, microstructure, including stacking faults and dislocations, by X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. This research consists of three major endeavours: (a) the analysis of stacking faults, (b) the hexagonal

Ambergris, a secretion from the large intestine of the sperm whale, is one of the most important animal perfumes. It is abundant in steroid lipids, the tricyclic triterpene ambrein, a fatty compound bearing some resemblance to cholesterin on considered as one of the main constituents. Ambrein has been used as a stimulant to the circulatory and nervous systems. It has likewise been employed in low grades of fevers and the folk use of this drug as an aphrodisiac is well known. It is more generally used in the preparation of perfumes. (E)-Ambrein (1) was used as starting material for allylic oxidation with SeO2 / dioxane to yield 15£\-hydroxy-(E)-ambrein (2), 15£]-hydroxy-(E)-ambrein (3), 27- hydroxy-(E)-ambrein (4) and 15-oxo-(E)-ambrein (5). Compounds 2, 3 and 4 were modified by benzoylation with benzoyl chloride / pyridine to afford 15£\-benzoyl- (E)-ambrein (6), 15£]-benzoyl-(E)-ambrein (7) and 27-benzoyl-(E)-ambrein (8). On the other hand, compound 3 was modified by cyclization with PPTS to give 8£\,13- epoxy-(E)-ambrein (9) and 8£\,15-epoxy-(E)-ambrein (10) which were crystallized from CH2Cl2 / MeOH ( 1:10 ). A mixture of compounds 3 and 4 was subjected to oxidation by PCC to produce compound 5. In addition, the absolute configurations of compounds 3 and 4 were determined by Mosher¡¦s method. Moreover, 8£],13- Epoxy-14-hydroxy-(E)-ambrein (11) and 4-(2,2-dimethyl-6-methylene-cyclohexyl) -butan-2-one (12) were obtained from photoreaction of 1. The structures of these modified compounds were determined on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR techniques including 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, DEPT, COSY, HMQC, HMBC and NOESY experiments and single-crystal X-ray structural analysis. The cytotoxic activities of all the synthetic compounds were determined against Hepa59T / VGH, WiDr, A-549 and MCF-7 cells using the MTT assay. Among the tested compounds, 2 and 5 showed moderate cytotoxic activity against tumor cells. Compound 3 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against A-549 cells selectively.

Since Taiwan¡¦s building industry started declining in 1994, the government tried several times to save the industry by laws or policies, but the effect was not obvious. There have been hundreds of relative firms closing or downsizing by now. Under this severe recession, how the firms of building industry in Taiwan run business for continuous operation is just the topic of our research. This thesis studies the strategies by theories and industrial-cases collection. After analyzing the building industry in Taiwan (life-cycle, value-chain, and development trend), we develop theoretical strategies for the industry, and then we collect industrial cases to compare. We find that the real strategies of the firms match the theoretical ones we develop very well. Basically, the strategies of the firms of building industry in Taiwan can classify into four types: 1.Market-penetration strategy 2.Product-development strategy 3.Market-development strategy 4.Diversification strategy. Besides, we provide the experience of Tonyan building Ltd. Co.for case study. By studying its target-marketing and win-win system, we share the precious experience with everyone. As a member of Taiwan¡¦s building industry, we hope to contribute ourselves to the continuous survival of Taiwan¡¦s building industry by theory and practical experience.

Abstract High quality powering systems have become the requirements for computers and electronic devices users. Uninterruptible power systems (UPS) are needed in office automation, home and small and medium enterprise computers and governmental network projects. In 2006, total UPSs sold in PRC exceeded 1,279 thousand units, with a sales value exceeding 2.61 billion RMB. The UPS industry experienced an 8% stable growth backed by economy growth of PRC. This research served theoretical basis and the understanding of industry practices as the base, describing the business model of UPS industry in PRC. This thesis also contains an in-depth interview with the leader of Powercom Co., an UPS manufacturer in PRC, on topics such as channel structure (length, width and density), relation control, channel motivation (strategy in effect and methods used) and conflict management (reasons, forms and solutions), trying to combine theories and practices. This study found that Powercom experienced three channel transformations in PRC market. Phase 1: instead of touching the market directly, they entered PRC via an agent, plays only the role of manufacturer ¡V a longer, narrower channel structure, with a traditional marketing relation aims at short-term profits, and price is the incentive. When the relation went down, Powercom took destructive solutions. Phase 2: Retailing channels were established in provinces in PRC, and the PRC market was divided in to four independent geographic marketing sectors, no intersection selling were allowed ¡V allowing the four sections to have their own storage and selling systems and compete with each other, resulting horizontal conflicts between section sellers. Phase 3: the marketing efforts are directed by a Great China concept, although the four offices still in charge of dealing orders and selling, no geographical restrictions exist. The channel structure was turned from density to selective distribution. Their relation with distributors are thus turned in to vertical systems, thus common objective, instead of price alone is the incentive to motivate firm members. Keywords: Uninterruptible power systems, cannel transformation

Worin bestehen die Bedingungen für einen erfolgreichen Systemtransformationsprozess post-sozialistischer Staaten in demokratisch-marktwirtschaftliche Systeme nach 1990? Die Schwierigkeit einer Untersuchung dieser Frage liegt in der Verlaufs- und Ergebnisoffenheit von Systemtransformationsprozessen, die ihre Prognostizierbarkeit und Gestaltbarkeit einschränkt. Dieser Beitrag stellt hierzu ein methodisches Analysekonzept vor, das aus zwei komplementären Ansätzen aus der evolutorischen Ökonomik besteht: dem Kontingenzansatz und dem Strukturähnlichkeitsansatz. Der Beitrag zeigt, dass erfolgreiche Industrialisierungs- und Wachstumsprozesse einer langen Vorbereitungsphase bedürfen und nicht kurzfristig durch wirtschaftspolitische Maßnahmen bewirkt werden können, wobei technischem Fortschritt und Innovationen eine besondere Bedeutung zukommen. / What are the conditions for successful system transformation into democratic market economies for the post-socialist countries after 1990? The main problem lies in the fact that a system transformation process displays the characteristics of a self-organised economic evolution, which is at least partially open-loop and consequently cannot be predicted and designed perfectly. Our study develops a combined method comprising two approaches compatible with the concepts of evolutionary economics: the contingency approach and the structural similarity approach. Applying this combined method, our analysis shows that successful industrialisation and growth processes require foundations to be laid over a long-term period and that this cannot be substituted by shortterm political intervention. Moreover, a sufficiently high rate of technical progress and innovation is a necessary factor.

Universiẗat, Diss.--Rostock, 2005. / Literaturverz. S. 399 - 407.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--York University, 2004. Graduate Programme in Biology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 169-215). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:NQ99230

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.

A biological reaction diusion model has gained much attention recently. This model is formulated as a system of nonlinear partial dierential equations that contains an unknown function of one dependent variable. How to determine this unknown function is complicated but also useful. This model is considered in this master thesis. The generators of the equivalence groups and invariant solutions are calculated.