Etelä- ja Itä-Kiinan meret aluekiistojen ja valtakamppailun näyttämönä

Etelä- ja Itä-Kiinan meret ovat maailman liikennöidyimpiä – ja kiistellyimpiä – merialueita. Merialueita ympäröivät valtiot ovat ajautuneet kiistelemään jopa pinnanalaisista karikoista, mutta miksi? Aluekiistojen taustalta löytyy useita geo-poliittisia tekijöitä ja valtioiden intressien ristiriitaisuus tekee kiistoista hankalia ratkaista. Alueen suurvalta Kiina on modernisoinut asevoimiaan ja Yhdysvallat pyrkii yhteistyöhön Kiinaa ympäröivien maiden kanssa sekoittaen entisestään alueen voimasuhteita.

Issues in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership: A critical discourse analysis

Negotiating trade agreements is an important part of government trade policies, economic planning and part of the globally operating trading system of today. European Union and the United States have been active in the formation of trade agreements in global comparison. Now these two economic giants are engaged in negotiations to form their own trade agreement, the so called Transnational Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The purpose of this thesis is to understand the reasons for making a trade agreement between two economic areas and understanding the issues it may include in the case of the TTIP. The TTIP has received a great deal of attention in the media. The opinions towards the partnership have been extreme, and the debate has been heated. The purpose of this study is to introduce the nature of the public discussion regarding the TTIP from Spring 2013 until 2014. The research problem is to find out what are the main issues in the agreement and what are the values influencing them. The study was conducted applying methods of critical discourse analysis to the chosen data. This includes gathering the issues from the data based on the attention each has received in the discussion. The underlying motives for raising different issues were analysed by investigating the authors’ position in the political, economic and social circuits. The perceived economic impacts of the TTIP are also under analysis with the same criteria. Some of the most respected economic newspapers globally were included in the research material as well as papers or reports published by the EU and global organisations. The analysis indicates a clear dichotomy of the attitudes towards the TTIP. Key problems include lack of transparency in the negotiations, the misunderstood investor-state dispute settlement, the constantly expanding regulatory issues and the risk of protectionism. The theory and data does suggest that the removal of tariffs is an effective tool for reaching economic gains in the TTIP and even more effective would be the reducing of non-tariff barriers, such as protectionism. Critics are worried over the rising influence of corporations over governments. The discourse analysis reveals that the supporters of the TTIP have values related to increasing welfare through economic growth. Critics do not deny the economic benefits but raise the question of inequality as a consequence. Overall they represent softer values such as sustainable development and democracy as a counter-attack to the corporate values of efficiency and the maximising of profits.

The TTIP, ISDS and the shift towards transparency in investor-state arbitration

The negotiations between the EU and the US over the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) have generated a lot of discussion about investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS). This discussion provided the inspiration for this thesis, with the TTIP in the background, setting the scene. In this thesis I study the nature of ISDS and the principle of transparency within investor-state arbitration. I aim to determine whether the use of ISDS is restricted to international arbitration and whether ISDS can be considered to constitute a system or regime. Furthermore, I consider whether the introduction of the UNCITRAL Rules on Transparency in Treaty-based Investor-State Arbitration (2014, the UNCITRAL Transparency Rules) changes investor-state arbitration in relation to transparency. To achieve this, I examine ISDS provisions in several different international investment agreements (IIAs) and evaluate the ways in which transparency is incorporated into investment law. Moreover, I compare the provisions on transparency and confidentiality in institutional arbitration rules with the UNCITRAL Transparency Rules. I have formed several conclusions, including that the ISDS provisions may contain methods other than international arbitration and that ISDS does not constitute a system. Furthermore, the UNCITRAL Transparency Rules do change – theoretically, at least – investor-state arbitration to become more transparent. Whether the UNCITRAL Transparency Rules will make investor-state arbitration fully transparent depends on the actions of the contracting state parties when negotiating new IIAs and whether they choose to incorporate the UNCITRAL Transparency Rules in the IIAs already concluded.

Calibration of a desktop scanner and digital image analysis procedure for quantification of a root morphology

Selostus: Tasoskannerin ja digitaalisen kuva-analyysimenetelmän kalibrointi juurten morfologian kvantifioimiseksi

Optimization of the procedure for removing iron deposits on ceramic filter media

In this thesis, cleaning of ceramic filter media was studied. Mechanisms of fouling and dissolution of iron compounds, as well as methods for cleaning ceramic membranes fouled by iron deposits were studied in the literature part. Cleaning agents and different methods were closer examined in the experimental part of the thesis. Pyrite is found in the geologic strata. It is oxidized to form ferrous ions Fe(II) and ferric ions Fe(III). Fe(III) is further oxidized in the hydrolysis to form ferric hydroxide. Hematite and goethite, for instance, are naturally occurring iron oxidesand hydroxides. In contact with filter media, they can cause severe fouling, which common cleaning techniques competent enough to remove. Mechanisms for the dissolution of iron oxides include the ligand-promoted pathway and the proton-promoted pathway. The dissolution can also be reductive or non-reductive. The most efficient mechanism is the ligand-promoted reductive mechanism that comprises two stages: the induction period and the autocatalytic dissolution.Reducing agents(such as hydroquinone and hydroxylamine hydrochloride), chelating agents (such as EDTA) and organic acids are used for the removal of iron compounds. Oxalic acid is the most effective known cleaning agent for iron deposits. Since formulations are often more effective than organic acids, reducing agents or chelating agents alone, the citrate¿bicarbonate¿dithionite system among others is well studied in the literature. The cleaning is also enhanced with ultrasound and backpulsing.In the experimental part, oxalic acid and nitric acid were studied alone andin combinations. Also citric acid and ascorbic acid among other chemicals were tested. Soaking experiments, experiments with ultrasound and experiments for alternative methods to apply the cleaning solution on the filter samples were carried out. Permeability and ISO Brightness measurements were performed to examine the influence of the cleaning methods on the samples. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) analysis of the solutions was carried out to determine the dissolved metals.

A novel procedure for establishing clinching parameters for high strength steel sheet

The building industry has a particular interest in using clinching as a joining method for frame constructions of light-frame housing. Normally many clinch joints are required in joining of frames.In order to maximise the strength of the complete assembly, each clinch joint must be as sound as possible. Experimental testing is the main means of optimising a particular clinch joint. This includes shear strength testing and visual observation of joint cross-sections. The manufacturers of clinching equipment normally perform such experimental trials. Finite element analysis can also be used to optimise the tool geometry and the process parameter, X, which represents the thickness of the base of the joint. However, such procedures require dedicated software, a skilled operator, and test specimens in order to verify the finite element model. In addition, when using current technology several hours' computing time may be necessary. The objective of the study was to develop a simple calculation procedure for rapidly establishing an optimum value for the parameter X for a given tool combination. It should be possible to use the procedure on a daily basis, without stringent demands on the skill of the operator or the equipment. It is also desirable that the procedure would significantly decrease thenumber of shear strength tests required for verification. The experimental workinvolved tests in order to obtain an understanding of the behaviour of the sheets during clinching. The most notable observation concerned the stage of the process in which the upper sheet was initially bent, after which the deformation mechanism changed to shearing and elongation. The amount of deformation was measured relative to the original location of the upper sheet, and characterised as the C-measure. By understanding in detail the behaviour of the upper sheet, it waspossible to estimate a bending line function for the surface of the upper sheet. A procedure was developed, which makes it possible to estimate the process parameter X for each tool combination with a fixed die. The procedure is based on equating the volume of material on the punch side with the volume of the die. Detailed information concerning the behaviour of material on the punch side is required, assuming that the volume of die does not change during the process. The procedure was applied to shear strength testing of a sample material. The sample material was continuously hot-dip zinc-coated high-strength constructional steel,with a nominal thickness of 1.0 mm. The minimum Rp0.2 proof stress was 637 N/mm2. Such material has not yet been used extensively in light-frame housing, and little has been published on clinching of the material. The performance of the material is therefore of particular interest. Companies that use clinching on a daily basis stand to gain the greatest benefit from the procedure. By understanding the behaviour of sheets in different cases, it is possible to use data at an early stage for adjusting and optimising the process. In particular, the functionality of common tools can be increased since it is possible to characterise the complete range of existing tools. The study increases and broadens the amount ofbasic information concerning the clinching process. New approaches and points of view are presented and used for generating new knowledge.

Development of a project control procedure

The aim of this study is to develop a suitable project control procedure for a target company that can be used in engineering, procurement, and construction or con-struction management contracts. This procedure contains suitable project control software and a model for the use of the software in practice. This study is divided into two main sections. Theoretical part deals with project management, focusing on cost and time dimensions in projects. Empirical part deals with the development of the project control procedure for the target compa-ny. This development takes place in two parts. In the first part, semi-structured interviews are used to find out the company’s employees’ demands and desires for the project control software which will then be used in the developed procedure. These demands and desires are compared to available software in the market and the most suitable one will be chosen. Interview results show that important factors are cost tracking, integration with other software, English language availability, references, helpdesk, and no need for regular updates. The most suitable one is CMPro5 cost control software. The chosen software is used in a pilot project, where its functions and use are analyzed. Project control procedure which will be used in the future is developed based on these procedures. The five steps in developed procedure include employment of a cost engineer, whose task is to maintain the procedure in the target company.