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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
1

Narrative therapy : with a single case study

Todd, Sue, n/a January 1994 (has links)
A single case study using a narrative approach to therapy was undertaken to examine the process and outcomes of therapy with a case of a 12 year old boy who presented with what could be described as an "anxiety disorder". The results were contrasted with the possible process and outcomes should a cognitive-behavioural approach have been used. This aspect of the Study was necessarily a speculative endeavour. Specific behaviours of the client and significant others were measured pre, post and followup. Positive changes occurred in the following behaviours: absence from school, reports of victimization, positive and negative self statements and statements by significant others.
2

On the synthesis of passive networks without transformers

Hughes, Timothy Howard January 2014 (has links)
This thesis is concerned with the synthesis of passive networks, motivated by the recent invention of a new mechanical component, the inerter, which establishes a direct analogy between mechanical and electrical networks. We investigate the minimum numbers of inductors, capacitors and resistors required to synthesise a given impedance, with a particular focus on transformerless network synthesis. The conclusions of this thesis are relevant to the design of compact and cost-effective mechanical and electrical networks for a broad range of applications. In Part 1, we unify the Laplace-domain and phasor approach to the analysis of transformerless networks, using the framework of the behavioural approach. We show that the autonomous part of any driving-point trajectory of a transformerless network decays to zero as time passes. We then consider the trajectories of a transformerless network, which describe the permissible currents and voltages in the elements and at the driving-point terminals. We show that the autonomous part of any trajectory of a transformerless network is bounded into the future, but need not decay to zero. We then show that the value of the network's impedance at a particular point in the closed right half plane can be determined by finding a special type of network trajectory. In Part 2, we establish lower bounds on the numbers of inductors and capacitors required to realise a given impedance. These lower bounds are expressed in terms of the extended Cauchy index for the impedance, a property defined in that part. Explicit algebraic conditions are also stated in terms of a Sylvester and a Bezoutian matrix. The lower bounds are generalised to multi-port networks. Also, a connection is established with continued fraction expansions, with implications for network synthesis. In Part 3, we first present four procedures for the realisation of a general impedance with a transformerless network. These include two known procedures, the Bott-Duffin procedure and the Reza-Pantell-Fialkow-Gerst simplification, and two new procedures. We then show that the networks produced by the Bott-Duffin procedure, and one of our new alternatives, contain the least possible number of reactive elements (inductors and capacitors) and resistors, for the realisation of a certain type of impedance (called a biquadratic minimum function), among all series-parallel networks. Moreover, we show that these procedures produce the only series-parallel networks which contain exactly six reactive elements and two resistors and realise a biquadratic minimum function. We further show that the networks produced by the Reza-Pantell-Fialkow-Gerst simplification, and the second of our new alternatives, contain the least possible number of reactive elements and resistors for the realisation of almost all biquadratic minimum functions among the class of transformerless networks. We group the networks obtained by these two procedures into two quartets, and we show that these are the only quartets of transformerless networks which contain exactly five reactive elements and two resistors and realise all of the biquadratic minimum functions. Finally, we investigate the minimum number of reactive elements required to realise certain impedances, of greater complexity than the biquadratic minimum function, with series-parallel networks.
3

Cartel detection in the South African bread market : a review of the studies by the Competition Commission and National Agricultural Marketing Council

Keleme, Mamontshi G. January 2014 (has links)
The South African Competition Commission has analysed most levels of the food supply chain by investigation of alleged anti-competitive behaviour by producers, input suppliers, storage companies, processors and retailers. The numbers of these cases include cartels and, to a lesser extent, restrictive vertical constraints and abuse of dominance position. Sexton (2012) states that the recent development in the agricultural market, where large companies are vertically integrating, renders the perfect competition model inappropriate. This brings doubt that the law based on perfect competition will work in oligopolistic markets. Despite the identified number of detected cartels in the grain industry, it might be possible that some cartels in other food chains are still undetected. Through the application of the market screening approach, the aim of this study is to establish whether the National Agricultural Marketing Council (“NAMC”) and the Competition Commission could have detected the bread cartel using secondary data in the absence of the information from the whistle-blower. As the first step, the study carried out a structural assessment of the bread industry. This assessment indicated that the bread market has a number of factors that may facilitate collusive behaviour. The study found that the history of information sharing played a crucial role for bakeries to coordinate their conduct. The second step was to conduct an in-depth behavioural assessment that focused on bread prices to see whether there has been a structural break in the period under investigation. The idea was to estimate the price equation of brown bread as a function of the SAFEX wheat price, petrol price (cost shifters), and 1 kg of maize meal (demand shifters). The study used the OLS to estimate three regressions using the data for the whole period and two sub-breaks (before the break point, and after the break point) to perform a Chow test. The question that the Chow test asked is: was there a structural break in March 2007, after the Competition Commission received the information from the whistle-blower? In other words, had the price of bread increased or decreased at a certain period without any changes in the demand or cost variable. The Null hypothesis states that there was no structural break, while the alternative hypothesis states that there was a structural break in March 2007. The Chow test result shows that at a 5 per cent significant level, the F-critical value is F_5, 90 = 2.68 and the F test statistics is 20.59 with a p value of 0.00. This indicates that we cannot reject the null hypothesis and conclude that a structural break did not occur in March 2007. The screening approached failed to prove the existence of cartel in the bread industry. Therefore, the study concludes that in the absence of the whistle-blower, it would not have been easy for the Competition Commission and the NAMC (2009) to detect a cartel by just using secondary data. This proves that screening alone cannot prove the existence of cartel without prior knowledge of the conduct and of the industry as a whole. Nevertheless, a market screening approach is important as it can be used as a warning mechanism to detect an emerging cartel, since it can flag potentially suspicious behaviour. Nevertheless, this calls for the policy makers to combine the scoping study by the Competition Commission and the monitoring of food prices by the NAMC, as this will provide the best enforcement tool in detecting cartel behaviour in the food industry. / Dissertation (MInst Agrar)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / tm2015 / Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development / MInst Agrar / Unrestricted
4

An investigation into the effects of different types of exercise on the maintenance of approach motivation levels using a population analogous to individuals with bipolar disorder

Lowenstein, Joseph Aaron Socrates January 2013 (has links)
Background: Research into the benefits of exercise for individuals with Bipolar Disorder (BD) is limited and no current guidelines exist around recommending exercise during a hypomanic/manic state. The Behavioural Activation System (BAS) dysregulation theory is a popular model that attempts to explain the link between approach motivation (AM) and the difficulties that individuals with BD experience. It may offer an explanation for the ‘upward spiral’ reported by individuals with a diagnosis of BD in response to certain types and intensities of exercise. This study looked to investigate the impact of different intensities of exercise on the maintenance of AM levels. The presence of hypomanic traits and how these interacted between AM and exercise was also of interest. Method: Participants filled out an online pre-screening questionnaire identifying hypomanic traits. 61 then completed a computer task designed to induce higher levels of AM before taking part in one of three 15 minute activities (sedentary, moderate exercise or vigorous exercise). Various measures linked to hypomanic symptoms were taken during testing. Results The main findings indicated that vigorous exercise significantly increased individuals AM levels in comparison to moderate or no exercise. This relationship was not however found to be moderated by the presence of hypomanic traits. Conclusions: Vigorous exercise seems to have a greater impact on AM levels regardless of an individual’s levels of hypomanic traits. This has implications in terms of the type of exercise should engage in when experiencing hypomania. Any recommendations however within this study should be taken in light of the limitations identified. Further research replicating these results with a larger sample or using a BD population are recommended.
5

Cinéphilies contemporaines : éléments de conceptualisation et proposition de typologie à partir des expériences de cinéphiles de Tunis et de Paris / Contemporary cinephilias : conceptualization and proposed typology through cinephiles experiences in Tunis and Paris

Ghariani, Ghofrane 17 March 2014 (has links)
La présente thèse s'inscrit dans une démarche de conceptualisation de la cinéphilie grâce à la mobilisation de différentes disciplines telles que l'économie du cinéma, la sociologie des loisirs, les études culturelles ou la recherche en comportement du consommateur, dans le but de développer la compréhension du phénomène dans un contexte contemporain. Contrairement aux propositions théoriques adoptant une posture de rupture, en opposant cinéphilie populaire d'hier et cinéphilie d'aujourd'hui, ou encore cinéphilie savante et cinéphilie populaire, cette thèse fait prévaloir une approche évolutive du concept, à travers l'hypothèse d'une transition vers des cinéphilies multiples : quel que soit le contexte culturel qui les abrite, les formes de cinéphilies contemporaines ne sont pas substituées à une cinéphilie unique, construite sur un modèle idéalisé de l'amour irraisonné du cinéma. Une méthodologie qualitative reposant sur la "Grounded Theory" dans sa version "Glaserienne" est privilégiée. L'analyse par théorisation des perceptions et expériences de cinéphiles interrogés à Tunis et à Paris a permis d'identifier différents niveaux d'engagement cinéphile, caractérisé par quatre dimensions (cognitive, affective, conative et sociale) et défini par des facteurs individuels et externes. La cinéphilie s'est démultipliée et a transgressé à la fois les dispositifs de consommation et les frontières géographiques, en s'imprégnant de spécificités, tant individuelles que sociales. / This dissertation is based on a conceptualization approach of cinephilia, thanks to different reserach disciplines such as cinema economics, sociology of leisure, cultural studies or consumer behaviour, in order to better understand this phenomenon in the contemporary context. Unlike the theoritical propositions adopting a break-up posture, opposing yesterday’s cinephilia to today’s one or scholary to popular cinephilia, this dissertation makes the evolutive approach of the concept prevail, through the transition hypothesis to multiple cinephilias : regardless of the cultural context, contemporary cinephilias did not substitute a unique cinephilia, built on an idealized model of excessive love of cinema. A qualitative methodology based on the glaserian version of Grounded Theory is adopted. Theorization analysis of cinephiles perceptions and experiences in Tunis and Paris, led to the identification of different levels of the cinephile commitment, characterized by four dimensions (cognitive, affective, conative and social), and defined by individual and external factors. Cinephilia has multiplied and gone beyond consumption facilities and geographical boarders, being impregnated with individual and social specificities.
6

A study of democratic transition in south Africa : democratic through compromise and institutional choice

Seo, Sang-Hyun 11 1900 (has links)
The focus of this study is on South Africa's transition to democracy. It is argued in this thesis, that an analysis of the transition to democracy in South Africa and the transformation of the con ict that prevailed in this divided society could generate new avenues for theorising about transitions to democracy in divided societies amidst con ict. The aim with this thesis is to contribute towards a more comprehensive understanding of the complex nature of the process of transition to democracy, and the relevant theory involved, particularly with regard to transitions in divided societies. One consequence of the deep divisions within South African society has been the increase in violence, which followed liberalisation. The transition to democracy in South Africa, as a result, was characterised by continuing and escalating violence. In South Africa, the authoritarian regime deteriorated mainly because of internal factors, but external factors also played an important role. The analysis of the transition has been guided by the hypothesis that the democratisation of South Africa was accomplished through a compromise that was negotiated between the major political actors and which re ected the intra-, as well as the inter-dynamics in the domains of, state - political society - civil society. Thus, the main theme of this thesis is, that in the analysis of the dynamics of the tran- sition to democracy in South Africa, a basic framework in which the domains of, state - political society - civil society, are the domains where structural variables (such as culture, economic development, class structures, increased education and the international environ- ment) and behavioural variables (such as major political actors, elite factions, organisations from civil society) interact. Thus, in the diachronic analysis of South Africa's transition, an interactive approach, that seeks to relate structural constraints to the shaping of contingent choice, is followed. At the same time, the institutional substitution of a new democratic political dispensation is examined. In conclusion, democracies are complex phenomena, and they are caused by many di er- ent forces and synthesizing the relevant theoretical approaches to political change provides a more cogent and comprehensive explanation of democratic transition in South Africa. / (D. Litt. et Phil. (International Politics))
7

A study on democratic transition in south Africa : democratic through compromise and institutional choice

Seo, Sang-Hyun 11 1900 (has links)
The focus of this study is on South Africa's transition to democracy. It is argued in this thesis, that an analysis of the transition to democracy in South Africa and the transformation of the con ict that prevailed in this divided society could generate new avenues for theorising about transitions to democracy in divided societies amidst con ict. The aim with this thesis is to contribute towards a more comprehensive understanding of the complex nature of the process of transition to democracy, and the relevant theory involved, particularly with regard to transitions in divided societies. One consequence of the deep divisions within South African society has been the increase in violence, which followed liberalisation. The transition to democracy in South Africa, as a result, was characterised by continuing and escalating violence. In South Africa, the authoritarian regime deteriorated mainly because of internal factors, but external factors also played an important role. The analysis of the transition has been guided by the hypothesis that the democratisation of South Africa was accomplished through a compromise that was negotiated between the major political actors and which re ected the intra-, as well as the inter-dynamics in the domains of, state - political society - civil society. Thus, the main theme of this thesis is, that in the analysis of the dynamics of the tran- sition to democracy in South Africa, a basic framework in which the domains of, state - political society - civil society, are the domains where structural variables (such as culture, economic development, class structures, increased education and the international environ- ment) and behavioural variables (such as major political actors, elite factions, organisations from civil society) interact. Thus, in the diachronic analysis of South Africa's transition, an interactive approach, that seeks to relate structural constraints to the shaping of contingent choice, is followed. At the same time, the institutional substitution of a new democratic political dispensation is examined. In conclusion, democracies are complex phenomena, and they are caused by many di er- ent forces and synthesizing the relevant theoretical approaches to political change provides a more cogent and comprehensive explanation of democratic transition in South Africa. / (D. Litt. et Phil. (International Politics))

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