Sensitivity analysis of finite element-based equilibrium problems using Padé approximants

Finite element analysis is commonly used to analyze structures. It is often desirable to use the solution of finite element problems as part of the objective function for structural optimization;Since finite element solutions can be quite demanding numerically, it is a common practice to approximate the finite element solution in the neighborhood of an original design for the purpose of simplifying the calculation of the objective function. This procedure is called sensitivity analysis. The range of validity of the approximation is very important. The range usually depends on whether high order terms are included in the expansion and, if they are included, on the convergence of the expansion;This thesis presents the sensitivity analysis of finite element-based equilibrium problems using Pade approximants. The goal is to provide an approximation valid for a large design change. The thesis lays the foundation for Pade approximants in a finite element context and illustrates their use through several examples

The Impact of the Shared Property Tax System on the Localities\u27 Fiscal Capacity

Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG), South Korea, introduced the Shared Property Tax System in 2008 in order to mitigate fiscal disparities among twenty five autonomous districts located in its jurisdiction. The new program, introduced at the end of a long controversy, was influenced by St. Paul-Minneapolis (Twin Cities) Metropolitan Area Fiscal Disparities Program in Minnesota. I examine two questions in my capstone project: (1) whether the program has increased fiscal capacity 1 of each district over the last five years as policy makers expected, and (2) whether the program of the SMG has contributed to relieve fiscal disparities among localities. To examine the research questions, I utilized the Standard Financial Needs Satisfaction Index (SNFSI) 2 , based upon the amount of property tax collections of twenty five localities and the impact over ten years from FY2003 to FY2012, measuring the program five years before and after introduction of the program, in order to assess the outcomes of the program. The data were collected from the Budget Office, the Administration Bureau, and the Finance Bureau of SMG via its official website or personal contact with officials in charge. I used Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) model. In the model, dependent variables are absolute values of the Z-scores of SFNSI and property tax revenue of each district in each year and explanatory variables are program, population, and total general fund. The results of my analysis indicate that the differences in amounts of property tax collections between twenty five localities have been reduced since the program was introduced in 2008. In addition, the index of financial capacity, SFNSI, was improved in poorer localities over the duration of the study. In respect to wealthier localities, net contributors to the pool sources, the SFNSIs have decreased by a minimal amount

Universities' academic research and knowledge-transfer activities in a catch-up country: the case of Korea

The main research topic of this study is universities’ academic research and knowledge-transfer activities in a catch-up country, particularly the relationship between the two activities, which has been rarely examined in previous research. In order to understand this issue against existing literature, a critical review of previous studies has been attempted, considering the idiosyncratic characteristics of the Korean national innovation system. As a result, at the three analysis levels (i.e. national, organisational and individual levels), we propose three conceptual elements respectively: a tentative historical path of universities in catch-up countries; critical factors influencing knowledge transfer activities of universities in catch-up countries; and academics operating in synergy mode. Thereafter, based on the methodology integrating not only the three analysis levels but also qualitative and quantitative approaches, we analyse the data collected from the interviews with Korean academics, survey responses from Korean academics and government White Papers on the activities of Korean universities. The results show a close and positive relationship between Korean universities’ academic research and knowledge-transfer activities across the three levels. Firstly, during the last several decades, the Korean government has strongly encouraged the development of teaching, academic research and knowledge-transfer activities of Korean universities in harmony with the different developmental stages of Korean industry. This has resulted in selective patterns of the universities’ three activities (e.g. concentration of scientific activities in certain fields). Secondly, organisational factors such as scientific capacity and industry funding are important for universities’ knowledge-transfer activities in a catch-up country, which corroborates the positive relationship between the two activities. Finally, in terms of the factors influencing the synergy mode (i.e. a positive relationship between academic research and knowledge-transfer activities), academics’ career stage and disciplines are important. This is related to the rapid expansion of the Korean academic system and the selectivity found in its activities. Based on these findings, it is tempting to conclude that universities in East Asian catch-up countries have developed their own academic system different from those in developed countries, which can be characterised as having strong government control and a high level of interaction with other actors in the national innovation system. Therefore, the application of the controversy over the direct economic contribution of universities in western countries to the context of catch-up countries is quite limited

Kumikomi Linux ni okeru Kaneru no riaru taimu seino ni kansuru mondai no bunseki

制度:新 ; 報告番号:甲3152号 ; 学位の種類:博士(工学) ; 授与年月日:2010/9/15 ; 早大学位記番号:新543

Synthetic and Mechanistic Studies of Coupling Reactions Involving C-H Bond Activation

Transition metal-catalyzed C-C bond forming reactions involving C-H bond activation have been shown to be effective methods for functionalization of unreactive compounds. Since Murai\u27s pioneering work on ruthenium-catalyzed regioselective arene-to-alkene coupling reactions, a number of well-defined, late transition metal catalysts have been shown to mediate regioseletive C-C bond forming reaction involving C-H bond activation. Recently, late transition metal complexes have also been found to catalyze the regioselective coupling reaction of nitrogen containing compounds with alkenes as well as sp3 bond insertions and oxidative coupling reaction of aimdes. The catalytic C-C bond forming reaction involving C-H bond activation would provide simple and atom economic pathways for making functionalized molecules. Although there are many examples of stoichiometric reaction of aromatic C-H bond activation with transition metal compounds, catalytic C-H bond activation reactions via catalytic system have been rarely employed in organic synthesis. An efficient catalytic conjugate addition reaction protocol has been developed for the synthesis of tetrasubstituted olefin products. The cationic ruthenium-hydride complex was found to be an effective catalyst for coupling reaction with á,â-unsaturated carbonyl compounds and simple alkenes. The kinetic and spectroscopic data are consistent with three different mechanistic pathways depending on substrate employed. The reaction of an á,â-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with simple olefins predominantly gave the tetrasubstituted olefin products. The mechanistic studies suggest that the olefin insertion into an á,â-unsaturated carbonyl substrate is the rate-limiting step for conjugate addition reaction. On the other hand, the coupling reaction of á-methyl á,â-unsaturated cinnamide with aromatic alkenes gave oxidative coupling products. The kinetic and spectroscopic studies support the different mechanistic pathway, which involves the rate-limiting vinyl C-H activation step, in comparison with the conjugate addition reaction. This synthetic methodology promises to provide a straightforward route to the valuable organic compounds such as tetrasubstituted olefins which are difficult to synthesize by using traditional synthetic methods

Aqueous Phase C-H Bond Oxidation Reaction of Arylalkanes Catalyzed by a Water-Soluble Cationic Ru(III) Complex [(pymox-Me\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e)\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3eRuCl\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e]\u3csup\u3e+\u3c/sup\u3eBF\u3csub\u3e4\u3c/sub\u3e\u3csup\u3e-\u3c/sup\u3e

The cationic complex [(pymox-Me2)RuCl2]+BF4− was found to be a highly effective catalyst for the C−H bond oxidation reaction of arylalkanes in water. For example, the treatment of ethylbenzene (1.0 mmol) with t-BuOOH (3.0 mmol) and 1.0 mol % of the Ru catalyst in water (3 mL) cleanly produced PhCOCH3 at room temperature. Both a large kinetic isotope effect (kH/kD = 14) and a relatively large Hammett value (ρ = −1.1) suggest a solvent-caged oxygen rebounding mechanism via a Ru(IV)-oxo intermediate species

Cooper-Pair Spin Current in a Strontium Ruthenate Heterostructure

It has been recognized that the condensation of spin-triplet Cooper pairs requires not only the broken gauge symmetry but also the spin ordering as well. One consequence of this is the possibility of the Cooper-pair spin current analogous to the magnon spin current in magnetic insulators, the analogy also extending to the existence of the Gilbert damping of the collective spin-triplet dynamics. The recently fabricated heterostructure of the thin film of the itinerant ferromagnet SrRuO3 on the bulk Sr2RuO4, the best-known candidate material for the spin-triplet superconductor, offers a promising platform for generating such spin current. We will show how such heterostructure allows us to not only realize the long-range spin valve but also electrically drive the collective spin mode of the spin-triplet order parameter. Our proposal represents both a new realization of the spin superfluidity and a transport signature of the spin-triplet superconductivity.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure