Search

Identification of near-yrast states in the stable 91,92Zr isotopes has been carried out using the fusion evaporation reactions 82Se(13C,xn)95-xZr at an incident beam energy of 50 MeV from the Yale ESTU tandem accelerator. Gamma-ray spectroscopy of more than fifty previously unreported states up to ~ 20h and to excitation energies of more than 13 MeV are identified for the first time above the previously observed tau= 6 mus, Ipi = 21/2+ isomer in 91Zr. Angular Correlation and Linear Polarisation analyses were performed on these transitions. Ten new transitions were also observed in 92Zr. A modified effective interaction has been produced for the shell model code OXBASH which embeds the empirical matrix elements of the Ji-Wildenthal eta50j interaction into a new interaction developed by Hjorth-Jenson for N=50 nuclei. This interaction together with newly derived single particle energies allows calculations in the basis pi[1f5/2, 2p3/2, 2p1/2, (lg9/2)], nu[2p1/2,1d9/2, 2d5/2, 3s1/2, 1g7/2,1h11/2] limited only by the matrix sizes possible with the code. Results from the calculations performed aided in the assignment of spin and parity to the lower lying yrast levels above the Ipi = 21/2+isomer which were shown to result from the alignment of a single neutron in the nuh11/2 orbit coupled to two maximally aligned protons in g9/2.

A history of adversarial relationships, resulting in conflict between parties involved in building projects has raised levels of perceived risk for clients working with contractors. Therefore, traditional approaches to marketing management have been found to be inappropriate. The new development in relationship marketing may assist contractors in developing more appropriate marketing strategies. However, trust is essential to the development of positive on-going relationships and if future relationship marketing strategiesa re going to work, this must first be addressedW. ith calls for the development of trust, the thesis concentrateso n this, whilst taking into considerationt he complex exchangep rocessb etweenc lients and contractorse xisting over an extendedp eriod of time in any one project. This within what is calledt he TemporaryM ulti-organisation( TMO). From the client decision-maker's(C DNI) perspectivein the large private building sector of the UK construction industry, this thesis empirically examines client attitude and consequentiabl eliefs about, trusting contractors. It also examinesc ontractor behaviour affecting client willingness to trust them, whilst allowing for the influence other parties within the TMO have on CDM perspectiveo f the contractor. To do this, two models,t he 'ReasonedA ction Model' and 'Conditions of Trust InventorV were executed together through a carefully designedq uestionnaires urvey sent to key decision-makers'i n 590 leading large client organisationss uch as BAA, British Land, and major retail, hotel and leisure companies.D epth interviews with leading UK CDM's were used in conjunction with prescribedp racticet o aid in the designa nd contento f the questionnaire. Given the history of client-contractor relationships, results revealed some interesting findings. Third party influence from architects, colleagues within the CD"s firm, contractorsp ast clients and sub-contractorsw ere found to be the dominanti nfluenceo ver CDM trust of contractors. Results also show CDM's consider being able to trust contractors as important, reasonablea nd beneficial. This leads to fewer problemsw ith disclosureo f information, less monitoring of contractor performancei n terms of quality checksa nd greater likelihood of a successfupl roject. Also, all ten 'Conditions of Trust' relating to CDM's past experienceo f contractor behavioura re shown to be affecting the development of trust for future projects. The research makes an original contribution, providing insight into issues affecting client trust toward contractors during projects, whilst identifying areasf or action if trust is to be developed.I t also provides marketing theory with an insight into trust and relationshipm anagemenwt ith the TNIO, a forerunner to modem virtual organisations.

Between 1985 and 1990 consumption of low alcohol and alcohol free beer grew at an annual rate of 100%. Yet expectations of a large and expanding market into 1990's were not fulfilled, partly because of economic downturn. As the economy recovers some brewers are anticipating renewed growth. This paper reports an application of reasoned action theory to the roles of attitudes, norms, behavioural control and habit in predicting behavourial intention in respect of alcohol free beer, in the very different market environment of the 1990's. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire posted to 400 households, yielding 78 usable responses. Unexpectedly, not getting drunk was not found to be an important predictor of intention. instead, behavioural intention was chiefly determined by beliefs concerning taste and health. Normative influences, especailly friends for non-users, family for users, were secondary predictors. Neither perceived behavioural control or habit were found to add to the predicitive power of the model. Some suggestions for the practical application of the findings are made.