Abstract The main purpose of this article is to explore the policy influence of cable TV franchise combination. In order to break the local monopoly of Taiwan¡¦s cable TV as well as considering the advance technological convergence proposed, Government Information Office (GIO) proposed the adjustment of the existing 47 franchise districts to a single franchise area in three phases in its Jan. 2003 report. The re-arrangement of the franchise region will cause a revolution in the industry. How will it influence those system operators? Is it possible to develop into another cable TV war by cutting prices to gain benefits of audiences? Do system operators have any action plans for the change? Can this policy benefit the industry¡¦s development? This article will provide detailed discussions on these major issues. There are two ways to go about the research. The first is by the means of questionnaire; distribution of questionnaires to 62-system owners in Taiwan results in 54 effective samples gathered. The second is by means of in-depth interview; conducting interviews with industrial, legislative, and academic experts. After statistical analysis and content analysis, the research findings from these interviews are as follow: 1. The re-arrangement of cable TV franchise regions might cause significant competition between system operators. In the long run, it is unlikely that the cable TV industries will apply vicious competition tactics as previously done. It is believed that strategic alliance, stock exchange, and multiple service strategies will be implemented instead. 2. Under the influence of re-arranging franchise region policy and increasing new entry competitions, most system operators will focus on strengthening their network upgrade, customer service, and professional employee training. They are also likely to develop new business opportunities and to engage in cost-saving activities. 3. Most system operators support the policy with positive anticipation. The regulatory authority expects tremendous benefits for both audiences and cable industry. The scholars project an improvement in operators¡¦ customer service quality. In summary, the policy is expected to have a positive influence on cable industry¡¦s overall development. Since the policy has a major impact on the industry¡¦s future, it is essential to meet all development needs of the cable industry. As research suggests that the authorities should communicate with all related parties before rolling out the franchise regional adjustment policy.

A simple theoretical method for calculating electronic band structure of wurtzite materials based on the linear combination of orbital model is presented. To abtain better description of the conduction band structures, second-nearest-neighbor s and p state interaction are included. We suggest that the zinc-blende InN has a direct band gap of ~2 eV and an indirect band gap of ~0.7 eV located at L-points. Due to band folding effect, the wurtzite InN thus has a direct band gap of ~0.7 eV located at £F3-point.

Thesis (M. Ed.), Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1999. / Bibliography: p. 66-69.

This dissertation examines the forecast model selection problem in economics in both theoretical and empirical settings. The forecast model selection problem is that there often exists a menu of different suitable models to forecast the same economic variable of interest. The theoretical portion of this dissertation considers agents who face this problem in two distinct scenarios. The first scenario considers the case where agents possess a menu of different forecast techniques which includes rational expectations but where the selection of rational expectations is costly. The assumptions that are necessary to include rational expectations as a choice are characterized and the equilibrium dynamics of a model under the appropriate assumptions is studied and shown to exhibit chaotic dynamics. The second scenario considers agents who possess a menu of econometric forecast models and examines the equilibrium outcomes when agents combine the different forecasts using strategies suggested by the forecasting literature. The equilibrium outcomes under these forecasting assumptions are shown to exhibit time-varying volatility and endogenous structural breaks, which are common features of macroeconomic data. The empirical portion of the dissertation proposes a new dynamic combination strategy for the forecast model selection problem to forecast inflation. The procedure builds on recent research on inflation persistence in the U.S. and on explanations for the efficacy of simple combination strategies, often referred to as the forecast combination puzzle. The new combination strategy is shown to forecast well in real-time out-of-sample forecasting exercises.

Die tesis is voorgelê ter verwerwing van die graad: Magister in Opvoedkunde in die Fakulteit Onderwys en Sosiale Wetenskappe aan die Kaapse Skiereiland Universiteit van Tegnologie 2014 / This study attempted to address the extremely poor results for Mathematics and total lack of relevant teaching and learning material in multi-grade schools. In the case of multi-grade classes, the teacher has to cope with a large variety of development levels, grades and subjects in one classroom. Challenges that arise as a result of multi-grade teaching require instructional materials with unique characteristics and learners and teachers who develop the skills to put this material to use successfully. During the study of the relevant literature, evidence was found that proved that the learner–material approach offers the best outcomes within the unique circumstances of multi-grade teaching. This approach shifts the focus to the teaching materials and the learners while the teacher facilitates the process. In both multi-grade teaching and Mathematics teaching, this method holds benefits for learners and teachers. It teaches the learners to accept responsibility for their own learning and to know at all times what to do because the material provides clear guidance, giving the teacher more time in class to help those who need it. After a literature study and a context analysis, design principles were established with which the above material should comply. By this means, scientific criteria can be developed against which future materials would be measured. The Centre for Multigrade Education (CMGE) has undertaken to develop the necessary prototype Mathematics material. Using this material, the researcher could put the validity of the design principles and the expected usefulness of the material to the test. This brings together the theory and practice in a remarkable manner. The primary objective of the study was to improve quality, not only of the prototype, but also of future teaching and learning material.

The objective of the thesis is a merger in czech business environment. The first chapter focuses on the history of mergers and motives of mergers. The next part concentrates on the characteristics of the transformation of the companies. The thesis includes description of mergers according to the international accepted standards, mainly IFRS 3 (IAS 22). There is a description of mergers from the legal, accounting and tax point of view. After the theoretical part the thesis describes a real case of a merger of two companies combined with the transformation of legal form.

Balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) is a fast, SNR-efficient magnetic resonance (MR) imaging sequence suffering from dark banding artifacts due to its off-resonance dependence. These banding artifacts are difficult to mitigate at high field strengths and in the presence of metallic implants. Recent developments in parametric modelling of bSSFP have led to advances in banding removal and parameter estimation using multiple phase-cycled bSSFP. With increasing number of coils in receivers, more storage and processing is required. Coil combination is used to reduce dimensionality of these datasets which otherwise might be prohibitively large or computationally intractable for clinical applications. However, our recent work demonstrates that some combination methods are problematic in conjunction with elliptical phase-cycled bSSFP.This thesis will present a method for phase estimation of coil-combined multiple phase-cycled bSSFP to reduce storage and computational requirements for elliptical models. This method is general and works across many coil combination techniques popular in MR reconstruction including the geometric coil combine and adaptive coil combine algorithms. A viable phase estimate for the sum-of-squares is also demonstrated for computationally efficient dimension reduction. Simulations, phantom experiments, and in vivo MR imaging is performed to validate the proposed phase estimates.Compressed sensing (CS) is an increasingly important acquisition and reconstruction framework. CS MR allows for reconstruction of datasets sampled well-under the Nyquist rate and its application is natural in MR where images are often sparse under common linear transforms. An extension of this framework is the ordering problem for CS, first introduced in 2008. Although the assumption is made in CS that images are sparse in some specified transform domain, it might not be maximally sparse. For example, a signal ordered such that it is monotonic is maximally sparse in the finite differences domain. Knowledge of the correct ordering of an image's pixels can lead to much more sparse and powerful regularizers for the CS inverse problem. However, this problem has met with little interest due to the strong dependence on initial image estimates.This thesis will also present an algorithm for estimating the optimal order of a signal such that it is maximally sparse under an arbitrary linear transformation without relying on any prior image estimate. The algorithm is combinatoric in nature and feasible for small signals of interest such as T1 mapping time curves. Proof of concept simulations are performed that validate performance of the algorithm. Computationally feasible modifications for in vivo cardiac T1 mapping are also demonstrated.

Doctor Scientiae / Achieving blood pressure and glycaemic treatment targets remain a major public health challenge in individuals with hypertension and diabetes mellitus (DM). This research project was, therefore, designed to investigate the socio-demographic, clinical and genetic factors associated with blood pressure and glycaemic control among indigenous South African adult patients. The main aims of the project were as follows: (1) To assess the prevalence and socio-demographic factors associated with uncontrolled hypertension, in individuals receiving chronic care in primary healthcare facilities, based in the rural areas of Mkhondo Municipality (Study 1). (2) To investigate the association of nineteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with blood pressure control among adult patients treated with hydrochlorothiazide (Study 2). (3) To assess the level of association between twelve SNPs with uncontrolled blood pressure for adult patients treated with amlodipine (Study 3). (4) To examine the association of five SNPs in selected genes (ABO, VEGFA, BDKRB2, NOS3 and ADRB2) with blood pressure response to enalapril treatment, and further assess interaction patterns that influence blood pressure response (Study 4). (5) To determine the prevalence of poor glycaemic control and its influencing factors among adult patients from Mkhondo Municipality attending chronic care for DM (Study 5). (6) To evaluate the level of association between polymorphisms found in the SLC22A1, SP1, PRPF31, NBEA, SCNN1B, CPA6 and CAPN10 genes, and glycaemic response to metformin and Sulphonylureas (SU) combination therapy among South African adults with DM. Also, to investigate interaction patterns that influence glycaemic control in response to metformin and SU combination therapy (Study 6).

Complex training (CT; alternating between heavy and lighter load resistance exercises with similar movement patterns within an exercise session) is a form of training that may potentially bring about a state of postactivation potentiation, resulting in increased dynamic power (P max) and rate of force development during the lighter load exercise. Such a method may be more effective than either modality, independently for developing strength. The purpose of this research was to compare the effects of resistance training (RT), plyometric training (PT), and CT on lower body strength and anthropometrics. Thirty recreationally trained college-aged men were trained using 1 of 3 methods: resistance, plyometric, or complex twice weekly for 6 weeks. The participants were tested pre, mid, and post to assess back squat strength, Romanian dead lift (RDL) strength, standing calf raise (SCR) strength, quadriceps girth, triceps surae girth, body mass, and body fat percentage. Diet was not controlled during this study. Statistical measures revealed a significant increase for squat strength (p = 0.000), RDL strength (p = 0.000), and SCR strength (p = 0.000) for all groups pre to post, with no differences between groups. There was also a main effect for time for girth measures of the quadricepsmuscle group (p = 0.001), the triceps surae muscle group (p = 0.001), and body mass (p = 0.001; post hoc revealed no significant difference). There were main effects for time and group × time interactions for fat-free mass % (RT: p = 0.031; PT: p = 0.000). The results suggest that CT mirrors benefits seen with traditional RT or PT. Moreover, CT revealed no decrement in strength and anthropometric values and appears to be a viable training modality.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / We have previously demonstrated that disabling the transcription factor Nuclear Matrix Protein 4 (NMP4) improved parathyroid hormone (PTH)-induced trabecular bone gain in ovariectomized (OVX) and healthy mice. Here we evaluated whether loss of Nmp4 enhanced bone restoration in OVX mice under concurrent PTH combination therapies and anti-catabolic mono-therapies. Wild type (WT) and Nmp4-/- mice were OVX at 12wks of age followed by therapy regimens, administered from 16wks-24wks, and included individually or combined PTH, alendronate (ALN), zoledronate (ZOL), and raloxifene (RAL). Generally the PTH+RAL and PTH+ZOL therapies were more effective in restoring bone than the PTH mono-therapy. Loss of Nmp4 further improved the restoration of femoral trabecular bone under these treatments. RAL and ZOL mono-therapies moderately increased bone volume but unexpectedly the Nmp4-/- mice showed an enhanced RAL-induced increase in femoral trabecular bone. Immunohistochemical and flow cytometry analyses of the bone marrow and serum profiling for markers of bone formation and resorption indicated that the heightened osteoanabolism of the Nmp4-/- mice under these diverse osteoporosis treatments was partially attributed to an expansion of the osteoprogenitor pool. To address whether the enhanced bone formation observed in Nmp4-/- mice produced structurally sound tissue, mechanical testing was conducted on the femurs of healthy mice treated with intermittent PTH, RAL mono-therapy, or PTH+RAL. Nmp4-/- femurs showed modestly improved mechanical and material properties. At the cellular level, loss of Nmp4 accelerated mineralization in differentiating mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells (MSPCs). Transcriptomic and biochemical analyses indicated that loss of Nmp4 elevated ribosome biogenesis and expanded the capacity of the endoplasmic reticulum for processing protein. Preliminary data showed that disabling Nmp4 increased both aerobic glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation in osteoprogenitors, which is an emerging hallmark of anabolic osteogenic cells. Transcriptomic analysis also suggested NMP4 targeted pathways driving bone formation. These included but not limited to BMP, IGF1, TGFβ and Wnt signaling pathways. Finally, transcriptomic profiling revealed that Nmp4-/- MSPCs showed a significant perturbation in numerous immunomodulatory pathways, particularly in the interleukin system. The heightened osteoanabolism of the Nmp4-/- skeleton enhances the effectiveness of diverse osteoporosis treatments, providing a promising target pathway for identifying barriers to pharmacologically-induced bone formation.