Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 97-103). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1957.

Στη παρούσα εργασία θα εξετάσουμε το ζήτημα των επενδύσεων κάτω από καθεστώς αβεβαιότητας, καθώς επίσης και το πώς η μη αναστρεψιμότητα του κεφαλαίου επιδρά πάνω στη σχέση αυτή. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, θα εξετάσουμε πως η αβεβαιότητα επιδρά στην επένδυση ξεχωριστών τύπων κεφαλαίου, οι οποίοι χαρακτηρίζονται από διαφορετικό βαθμό μη αναστρεψιμότητας. / We examine the question of investment under conditions of uncertainty, and how the heterogeneity of capital affects this relationship. In particular, we will examine the impact of uncertainty on investment across types of capital, which are characterized by varying degree of irreversibility.

Generating and stabilizing periodic motions in nonlinear systems is a challenging task. In the control system community this topic is also known as limit cycle control. In recent years a framework known as Virtual Holonomic Constraints (VHC) has been developed as one of the solutions to this problem. The aim of this thesis is to give an insight into this approach and its practical application. The contribution of this work is primarily the experimental validation of the theory. A step by step procedure of this methodology is given for motion planning, as well as for controller design. Three particular setups were chosen for experiments: the inertia wheel pendulum, the Furuta pendulum and the two-link planar pendulum. These under-actuated mechanical systems are well known benchmarking setups for testing advanced control design methods. Further application is intended for cases such as biped robot walking/running, human and animal locomotion analysis, etc.

abstract: This dissertation examines associations between religious affiliation, religious community context and health of women and their children in Mozambique focusing on the following issues: (1) attending prenatal consultations and delivering children in a health facility; (2) women's symptoms of STDs; and (3) under-five mortality. Estimation of random intercept Poisson regression for the outcome about attending prenatal consultations demonstrated a favorable effect of affiliation to Catholic or Mainline Protestant and Apostolic religious groups. The concentration of Zionist churches in the community had a negative influence. Random intercept logistic regression was used to estimate the relationship between religion and institutional child delivery. Affiliation to Catholic or Mainline Protestant denominations as well as concentration of Catholic or Mainline Protestant churches in the community had some beneficial effect on giving birth in health clinics. The presence of Zionist churches in the community had some negative effect and that of other groups no significant influence. Random intercept logistic regression was also employed for investigating the influence of religion on women's symptoms of STDs. Belonging to the Catholic or Mainline Protestant church had some protective effect on reporting symptoms of STDs. There was no effect of religious context, except that the concentration of Other Pentecostal churches had a positive effect on reporting symptoms of SDTs. Event-history analysis was conducted for examining relationships between maternal religious affiliation with under-five mortality. Affiliation to Catholic or Mainline Protestant churches and to Apostolic denominations increased the odds of child survival, although, the influence of having a mother belonging to Catholic or Mainline Protestant churches lost statistical significance after accounting particularly for the average level of education in the community, for the period of 5 years preceding the survey date. Taken together, the results in this dissertation show some protective effect of religion that varies primarily by denominational group to which women are affiliated. They also indicate that religious community context may have some negative effect on health of women and children. The nature of the effect of religious community context varies with the type of outcome considered and the type of religious mixture in the community. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Social Science and Health 2011

Atualmente é bem conhecido que o uso de dispositivos passivos de dissipação de energia, tais como amortecedores por atrito, reduzem consideravelmente a resposta dinâmica de estruturas. Entretanto, os melhores parâmetros de cada amortecedor e também a melhor posição para instalá-los dentro da estrutura permanecem difíceis de serem estabelecidas. Assim, a otimização de amortecedores é uma área que vem sendo estudada de forma crescente nos últimos anos, tendo grande impacto no projeto ótimo de dispositivos para o controle de vibrações de estruturas, possibilitando obter soluções seguras e ao mesmo tempo econômicas. Contudo, apesar dos amortecedores de vibração por atrito possuírem algumas vantagens em relação a outros dispositivos passivos, poucos trabalhos são encontrados sobre a otimização de seus parâmetros ou sobre a sua melhor posição dentro de uma estrutura, devido à maior dificuldade de se calcular sistemas que envolvem atrito, por este ser não-linear. Entretanto, é interessante se levar em conta as incertezas presentes nas propriedades estruturais e/ou na excitação dinâmica no processo de otimização, o que leva a um problema de otimização sob incerteza, como otimização robusta e otimização baseada em confiabilidade. Assim, nesta Tese é proposta uma metodologia para a otimização simultânea dos parâmetros e das posições de amortecedores de vibração por atrito a serem instalados em edifícios submetidos à excitação sísmica levando em conta as incertezas presentes tanto nas propriedades estruturais quanto no carregamento sísmico, assim como nas forças de atrito dos amortecedores. A fim de ilustrar a metodologia, dois exemplos de aplicação são apresentados, sendo o primeiro sobre otimização robusta e o segundo sobre otimização baseada em confiabilidade. Os resultados mostraram, em ambos os exemplos, que o método proposto obteve sucesso, melhorando consideravelmente o comportamento dinâmico dos edifícios estudados, mesmo para um número limitado de dispositivos instalados. Portanto, acredita-se que a metodologia de otimização desenvolvida constitui uma ferramenta eficaz para o projeto ótimo de amortecedores por atrito. / Nowadays it is well known that the use of passive energy dissipation devices, such as friction dampers, considerably reduces the dynamic response of structures. However, the best parameters of each damper and also the best position to install them within the structure remain difficult to be determined. Thus, optimization of dampers is an area that has been increasingly studied in recent years, having a big impact in the optimal design of devices for the vibration control of structures, allowing to obtain safe and at the same time economic solutions. However, although friction dampers have some advantages over other passive devices, few contributions are found on optimization of their parameters or on their optimal position within a structure. This fact can be explained due to the greater difficulty in determining the response of systems involving friction, because their nonlinear behavior. In addition to the lack of studies on optimization of friction dampers, the few studies found in the literature consider the problem in a deterministic way. However, the uncertainties present in the structural properties and/or in the dynamic excitation can alter the optimal solution. Thus, it is important to take into account these uncertainties in the optimization process, which leads to an optimization problem under uncertainty, such as robust optimization and reliability-based optimization. Thus, in this Thesis, a methodology is proposed for the simultaneous optimization of parameters and positions of friction dampers to be installed in buildings subjected to seismic excitation taking into account uncertainties present in both the structural properties and the seismic load, as well as in the friction forces of the dampers. In order to illustrate the approach, two examples are presented, the first one on robust optimization and the second on reliabilitybased optimization. The results show, in both examples, that the proposed method considerably improves the dynamic behavior of the studied buildings, even for a limited number of installed devices. Therefore, it was shown that the proposed procedure is an effective tool for the optimum design of friction dampers.

Inriktningen för det svenska försvaret är att uppnå ett flexibelt och rörligt insatsförsvar. Akut stress under krigsliknande situationer är något dagens officer kan komma att ställas inför, vilket ställer höga krav på officeren och de militära ledarskapsförmågorna. Med tanke på den nya inriktningen inom Försvarsmakten är det högst aktuellt att undersöka om det officeren lär sig under utbildning stämmer överens med verkligheten och om teorier kan anses som relevanta även under insats. Är teorier som lärs ut vid Försvarsmaktens ledarskapsutbildning tillämpbara i praktiken? Syftet med uppsatsen är att undersöka om teorier kring ledarskap under stress, som lärs ut inom Försvarsmakten, överensstämmer med officerens ledarskap vid internationella insatser. Genom en deduktiv logik genomförs en teoriprövande fallstudie på BA01, utifrån en kvalitativ metod och textanalys. Det utvalda fallet analyseras utifrån en svensk modell för ledarskap under akut stress. Slutsatserna för denna undersökning är: -          Vald teori fungerar i praktiken och är ytterst relevant för militärt ledarskap i internationella insatser. -          En stabil grund i det vardagliga ledarskapet, kopplat till ledaren och organisationen, gynnar beslutsfattande under akut stress. -          Det är viktigt att förstå vilka bakomliggande faktorer som kan påverka ledarskapet under akut stress och ämnet måste därför undersökas från flera perspektiv och ses som en del av ett större sammanhang. -          Ledarskap påverkas av förhållandet mellan chefen och dennes underställda, men även hur väl samarbetet fungerar inom organisationen såväl med likställda som högre chefer. Ledarskap bör därför analyseras utifrån olika nivåer. -          Ett situationsanpassat ledarskap, en förmåga att analysera vilket förhållningssätt är mest lämpligt vid tillfället, bör finnas hos varje ledare.

L’apport d’oxygène joue un rôle prépondérant dans le développement d’un incendie en milieu confiné. La quantité d’oxygène disponible pour la combustion va dépendre de son appauvrissement dû au feu mais aussi de l’apport d’air par le système de ventilation et / ou les ouvertures. Une baisse du niveau d’oxygène du mélange oxydant va conduire à une diminution du flux de chaleur provenant de la flamme vers la surface du combustible, ce qui, en retour, va entraîner une diminution du débit de pyrolyse. La présente étude expérimentale a un double objectif : comprendre les effets d’une atmosphère appauvrie en oxygène sur la combustion de matériaux solides et liquides et fournir des données nécessaires à la validation des outils de simulation numérique d’un incendie. Les essais expérimentaux ont été menés dans le calorimètre à atmosphère contrôlée CADUCEE de l’IRSN. Le poly méthacrylate de méthyle (PMMA) et l’heptane ont été utilisés comme combustibles, et pour chacun d’eux, différentes tailles de foyer ont été considérées. Les données collectées dans cette étude ont été comparées avec celles de la littérature pour divers matériaux et différentes échelles, révélant un bon accord. En supposant l’équilibre chimique, le calcul de la richesse du milieu réactionnel, à partir de la concentration de CO2 dans les fumées extraites, donne une richesse proche de l’unité, ce qui révèle une combustion incomplète faiblement réductrice. En fait, la flamme, et donc le débit de pyrolyse, s’adaptent à la concentration d’oxygène dans le mélange oxydant pour rester proche de la stœchiométrie. / Oxygen supply has a leading role in fire growth in confined spaces. The oxygen quantity available for combustion depends on the oxygen consumption by the fire and on the air supply from the mechanical ventilation system or openings. A decrease of oxygen concentration of the oxidant flow will lead to a decrease of the heat flux feedback from the flame to the fuel surface, which in turn will lead to a decrease in mass loss rate. The present experimental study has a dual objective: understand the effects of an under-oxygenated atmosphere on the combustion of solids and liquids and collect data for model validation. The Controlled Atmosphere Device for Unburnt and Carbon Emission Evaluation (CADUCEE) of IRSN has been used to conduct experiments at oxygen concentrations ranging from the limiting oxygen concentration for extinction to 21%vol. Fuels used are polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and heptane at different scales. A good agreement with literature data for various fuels and scales is found. Assuming chemical equilibrium, it is also found that the global equivalence ratio, deduced from the concentration of CO2 in the extracted gases, is close to unity, which reveals a weakly reductive incomplete combustion. This suggests that the flame, and thus the mass loss rate, adapt themselves to the available concentration of oxygen in the oxidant flow, to stay close to stoichiometry.

Este estudo trata dos processos de subjetivação de três grupos diversos de formandos de Psicologia, partindo da constatação de que o neoliberalismo vem fazendo com que haja um aumento da vulnerabilidade social, a partir do conceito de Castel, para indivíduos com terceiro grau completo, no que se incluem, evidentemente, os egressos dos cursos de Psicologia. Neste contexto acontece a emergência de um tipo de sujeito que sofre pela distância entre o ideal profissional (projeto identificatório) construído a partir de condições que não são mais vigentes e a realidade do mercado de trabalho que a eles se oferece e cuja dor se mostra diferente conforme a inserção social do estudante e as ênfases dadas nos diferentes cursos. Fundamentado metodologicamente na abordagem biográfica segundo os aportes de Cabanes e Bertaux, no aspecto teórico a discussão procura estabelecer o diálogo interdisciplinar a partir de conceitos oriundos da psicanálise, em sua vertente crítica, e do pensamento de Michel Foucault e de Robert Castel. O desenvolvimento do trabalho ocorre, portanto, dentro de uma permanente tensão epistemológica pelo esforço da criar um distanciamento crítico da filosofia do sujeito (recentrado após Freud e seu inconsciente, pela leitura de grupos hegemônicos de psicanalistas), através de uma ótica (des)disciplinarizada encontrada na abordagem foucaultiana , expressa na Arqueologia do saber e na noção de processos de subjetivação. Na discussão enfatiza-se a manutenção do ideal da clínica visto como um lugar de prestígio, apesar da ocorrência de trabalho aviltado neste terreno, assim como se ressalta a força individualizante do dispositivo “psi”. Este se apresenta como heterogêneo, a partir de seu acoplamento com determinados aspectos da formação acadêmica (dispositivo de pesquisa, dispositivo de clínica), com tratamentos psicoterápicos e analíticos e, principalmente, com a inserção social (dispositivo de ascensão social ou de manutenção do status quo) dos estudantes. / Understanding that Neoliberalism caused an increase in the social vulnerability of undergraduates, including the ones who have a Psychology’s degree, this study discusses the subjectification processes of three different groups of senior Psychology students. In this context, a sort of “suffering subject” emerges, produced by the distance between the “professional ideal” (identity project) built in conditions that no longer exist, and the reality of the labor market that they have to face. This “suffering subject” is the site of an affliction that seems to differ according to the student’s social insertion and to the psychological knowledge emphasized by their undergraduate formation. The interviews were based upon a biographical approach (R. Cabanes and D. Bertaux) and the theoretical frame searches to establish a dialogue between Psychoanalysis and the thought of Michel Foucault and Robert Castel. The development of this work was subject to constant epistemological tension caused by the effort to create critical distance from the subject’s philosophy and to establish a point of view free of disciplinary constrains, with the help of Foucault’s Archeology of knowledge and his concept of subjectification process. In the discussion we point out the excessively valued ideal of the private clinical practice (despite its gradual loss of ground) as well as the individualizing power of the psychological theoretical framing devices (dispositif in french). Being heterogeneous, this “framing” takes different forms according to the coupling determined by aspects related to the academic trajectory (research framing devices, private practice framing devices), psychotherapeutic and psychoanalytical treatments and, most of all, the social insertion of students (social rising or status quo maintenance possibilities related to a psychology degree).

The main objective of this research was to study the buckling and post-buckling response of axially restrained beam-columns under thermal loading. Also the effects of slenderness ratios on pre-buckling and post-buckling behavior which is neglected in AISC specification was examined. The results of this study indicate that: a) Both the deflection and end moment amplification factors are significantly smaller for the restrained beam-columns subjected to temperature increase than the corresponding unrestrained beam-columns subjected to (mechanical) axial loads. b) The deflection amplification factors tend to decrease with decreasing ratio of end moments. However, reverse seems to occur for the moment amplification factors and as the moment amplification factors tend to increase with decreasing moment ratio particularly in the pre-buckling and the initial post-buckling range (0.1 < T/Tcr < 1.5). c) The thermal amplification factors tend to be smaller than the AISC values even in the pre-buckling range with those for the slender beam-columns significantly smaller than those for the shorter beam-columns.