The legal orders of almost all countries strive to create suitable conditions to ensure basic human need of housing. The aim of this work is to provide analysis and comparison of the protection of rights of members of housing cooperatives and owners in the homeowner asscoiation, both in relation to members of those bodies mutually and among members and the entity. At the beginning I briefly deal with the historical development of the legislation of both institutes, which shows the long tradition of co-operatives in the Czech Republic in comparison with modern regulation of homeowner associations. Subsequently I studied their legal status under current law. The main part of this thesis is contained in Chapter III which provides an overview and analysis of basic rights and their protection. Namely, Section 2 of the same chapter concerns with the rights associated with the creation and termination of membership in the legal entity, where the basic difference is that membership in the housing cooperative is voluntary, while in the homeowner association it is established by law. The issue of transfers of cooperative apartments to private ownership of former cooperative members is outlined. Section 3 is devoted to the method of forming entities will, therefore, the manner of appointment and...

Microcredit in developed countries behaves in a di erent way than in developing countries. Not only are there bigger obstacles to surpass, like regulation and heavy competition, but also the main driver for microcredit, peer pressure, is almost inexistent. Microcredit institutions turn to a di erent technique to ensure high repayment rates; they follow the loan using training and weekly meetings. However, this procedure has high costs and the institutions must plead for donations from public and private gures. Ensuring these donations come with higher repayment rates. Thus, we will observe which characteristic of a group loan has a positive or negative impact on the repayment rates using data from the Quebec institution of the RQCC. These variables range from gender to training hours and will be regressed using stata.

In this thesis new methods are presented to achieve performance enhancement in wireless cooperative networks. In particular, techniques to improve diversity gain, throughput and minimise the transmission delay are described. A buffer-aided amplify-and-forward max-link relay selection scheme for both symmetric and asymmetric channels is introduced. This approach shows that the max-link scheme is most effective over the traditional max-SNR scheme when the source-to-relay and relay-to-destination links are symmetric. The closed form expressions for the outage probability and average packet delay of the proposed scheme under both symmetric and asymmetric channel configurations is derived. The diversity order and the coding gain of the AF max-link scheme is analytically provided. Then a novel relay selection scheme with significantly reduced packet delay is proposed. Both the outage performance and average packet delay of the proposed scheme are analysed. The analysis shows that, besides the diversity and coding gains, the proposed scheme has average packet delay similar to that of a non buffer-aided relay system when the channel SNR is sufficiently high thereby. A novel buffer-aided link selection scheme based on network-coding in a multiple hop relay network is proposed. Compared with existing approaches, the proposed scheme significantly increases the system throughput. This is achieved by applying data buffers at the relays to decrease the outage probability and using network-coding to increase the data rate. The closed-form expressions of both the average throughput and packet delay are derived. The proposed scheme has not only significantly higher throughput than both the traditional and existing buffer-aided max-link scheme, but also smaller average packet delay than the max-link scheme. A decode-and-forward buffer-aided relay selection for the underlay cognitive relay networks in the presence of both primary transmitter and receiver is presented. A novel buffer aided relay selection scheme for the cognitive relay network is proposed, where the best relay is selected with the highest signal-to-interference-ratio among all available source-to-relay and relay-to-destination links while keeping the interference to the primary destination within a certain level. A closed-form expression for the outage probability of the proposed relay selection scheme is obtained. Finally, A novel security buffer-aided decode-and-forward cooperative wireless networks is considered. An eavesdropper which can intercept the data transmission from both the source and relay nodes is considered to threaten the security of transmission. Finite size data buffers are assumed to be available at every relay in order to avoid having to select concurrently the best source-to-relay and relay-to-destination links. A new max-ratio relay selection policy is proposed to optimise the secrecy transmission by considering all the possible source-to-relay and relay-to-destination links and selecting the relay having the link which maximises the signal to eavesdropper channel gain ratio. Two cases are considered in terms of knowledge of the eavesdropper channel strengths: exact and average gains, respectively. Closed-form expressions for the secrecy outage probability for both cases are obtained. The proposed max-ratio relay selection scheme is shown to outperform one based on max-min-ratio relay scheme.

Tout d'abord, nous traitons des jeux d'oligopole de Cournot sous forme caractéristique gamma. Nous montrons que ces jeux sont balancés lorsque les fonctions de profit individuel sont concave. Ensuite, lorsque les fonctions de coût individuel sont linéaires, la «valeur au prorata de Nash» appartient au cœur. Par la suite, nous étudions les jeux d'oligopole de Cournot sous forme d'intervalle gamma. Nous prouvons que le cœur intervalle (standard) est non-vide si et seulement si le jeu d'oligopole de Cournot sous forme caractéristique gamma associé à la meilleure (plus faible) capacité qu'obtient chaque coalition admet un cœur non vide. Ensuite, nous analysons les jeux d'oligopole de Stackelberg sous forme caractéristique gamma. Nous montrons que le cœur est égal à l'ensemble des imputations. Ensuite, nous donnons une condition nécessaire et suffisante, qui dépend de l'hétérogénéité des coûts marginaux, assurant la non-vacuité du cœur. Enfin, nous considérons les jeux d'oligopole de Bertrand. Nous prouvons que les jeux sous les formes caractéristiques alpha ou bêta satisfont à la propriété de convexité. Ensuite, nous prouvons que la valeur de partage égalitaire appartient au cœur des jeux sous forme caractéristique gamma et nous donnons une condition suffisante qui assure que ces jeux satisfont à la propriété de convexité. Nous prolongeons cette analyse en supposant que les coûts marginaux sont distincts. Si la constante de la demande est suffisamment petite, alors les jeux sous forme caractéristique bêta satisfont à la propriété de balancement total. Autrement, ces jeux satisfont à la propriété de convexité. / In the first essay, we study Cournot oligopoly TU-games in gamma-characteristic function form. First, we prove that if any individual profit function is concave, such games are balanced. Then, when the individual cost functions are linear, we provide a solution in the core, called NP(Nash Prorata) value. The second essay considers Cournot oligopoly interval game in gamma-set function form. The first (second) result states that the interval (standard) core is non empty if and only if the Cournot oligopoly TU-game associated with the best (worst) worth of every coalition in its worth interval admits a non-empty core. In the thirdessay, we focus on Stackelberg oligopoly TU-games in gamma-characteristic function form. First, we prove that the core is equal to the set of imputations. Th en, we provide a necessary and sufficient condition, depending on the heterogeneity of firms' marginal costs, under which the core is non-empty. In the fourth essay, we show that Bertrand oligopoly TU-games inalpha and beta-characteristic function forms are convex. Then, we prove that the equal division solution is in the core of Bertrand oligopoly TU-games in gamma-characteristic function form and we give a sufficient condition under which such games are convex. The fifth essay studies the case where the marginal costs are distinct. If the intercept of demand is sufficiently small then games in _beta-characteristic function form are totally balanced. Otherwise, these games are convex.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1959 S91

In this thesis, we present research on synthesizing autonomous driving with shared autonomy using Unity Engine. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is considered as level 1 autonomous vehicle, which has been studied by academia and commercialized by industry. Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (CACC) system is an expansion of ACC, in which communication is set up between members to share driving information. Shared autonomy is a subject about human-computer interactivities. In our research, we developed a highly customizable 3D environment. We can simulate various driving scenarios and analyze the performance of different driving methods from human driving to CACC. The result of simulation proves the safety and efficiency of CACC, and the project also provides a potential of assisting the improvement of autonomous vehicles.

Submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Master of Science in Development Planning in the Department of Town and Regional Planning in the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Witwatersrand. Johannesburg, October 1991. / Co-operative development had been reestablished in newly independent African countries in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The failure of many co-operatives especially the production co-operatives, has resulted in a decreasing interest. The less spectacular forms like rural service co-operatives or credit and savings co-operatives did not attract the same research initiatives and interests as producer co-operatives despite the fact that rural service co-operatives have played a considerable economic, social and political role in many African countries (Hedlund, 1988). Rural service co-operatives in South Africa have been initiated by the farmers and/or government. All too often they ended up, both cases alike, being run by the government. Direct state control is unlikey to facilitate a creative environment in the local community or in a local community institution. / AC2017

Por ser o cooperativismo um modelo de organização que promove desenvolvimento econômico e social, estudos de soluções que levem ao aumento de seu desempenho e a redução de seus problemas são cada vez mais importantes. Estas passam não só por melhorias na gestão e finanças das cooperativas, mas principalmente pelo incentivo à educação e a participação dos cooperados. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi observar a relação entre educação cooperativista, participação e satisfação dos sócios de uma cooperativa de forma a contribuir para a elaboração de propostas e medidas que promovam o aumento do desempenho da cooperativa. Para tanto, realizou-se um estudo exploratório no qual foi desenvolvido um questionário próprio e lançou-se mão de um estudo de caso, escolhendo uma cooperativa do ramo agropecuário como objeto de análise. Os resultados apontam que apenas a escolaridade não garante a educação cooperativa, a qual, por sua vez, está relacionada com a participação de forma positiva. Também se constatou que a maior participação não está relacionada com a menor satisfação, como se esperava, e sim com o maior poder econômico. Tudo isso reforça a idéia de que se deve investir em ações específicas para a educação cooperativista como forma de aumentar a participação de todos, bem como o desempenho da cooperativa. Apesar de suas limitações, a pesquisa é ponto de partida para outros estudos nesta área além de contribuir para a construção de um modelo de análise. / Because cooperatives are a model of organization that promotes economic and social development, studies of solutions that increase its performance and reduce its problems are very important. Those solutions involve not only improvement in managing and financing areas, but mostly the participation and the cooperative education. Thus, the objective of this work was to observe the relation between cooperative education, participation, and satisfaction of the members of a cooperative, as a way to contribute for the creation of proposals and plans that improve the performance of the cooperatives. To achieve this aim, it was done an exploratory study, using a questionnaire in a case study of an agricultural cooperative. The results show that high level of formal education does not implies high level of cooperative education, which is related with participation in a positive way. It also turned out that the higher participation is not connected with lower satisfaction, as imagined, but with higher economic power. All this reinforce the idea that is necessary investments in cooperative education to improve participation and cooperative performance. Despite its limits, the research is a start to others in the same area and contributes to the development of an analysis model.

The implementation of Horizontal Monitoring (HM) in Austria represents a shift in the prevailing command-and-control paradigm towards enhanced cooperation between taxpayers and tax authorities. In the present paper, we assess how HM is perceived by different stakeholder groups when it was introduced as a pilot project embedded in the "Fair Play Initiative" launched by the Austrian Ministry of Finance. We collected quantitative and qualitative data from tax auditors and staff of tax offices responsible for large-scale enterprises who were either directly involved or not involved in the HM pilot project, from employees of participating enterprises as well as from employees of enterprises which did not participate in the project. Results show that representations of HM were most positive among employees from HM companies and tax officials directly involved, whereas participants from the tax administration who did not take part in the project were skeptical at the beginning and remained skeptical over time. As shown in organizational change studies, the acceptance or resistance regarding the paradigm change represented by HM may originate from uncertainty and misperceptions of its goals and strategies and from speculations, particularly by poorly informed members.

Desde o início da década de setenta, a discussão a respeito das formas de organização e da efetividade das atividades didáticas pautadas nos princípios da aprendizagem cooperativa vem se destacando em vários países europeus e na América do Norte, entretanto no Brasil são ainda escassas as pesquisas dedicadas à temática, especialmente no ensino de Química.<br /> A aprendizagem cooperativa apresenta como característica chave a sua natureza social, pois os estudantes interagem e compartilham suas ideias melhorando sua compreensão individual e mútua. Nesse contexto, aplicamos uma atividade didática de caráter cooperativo (formato jigsaw), em disciplina de comunicação científica oferecida a graduandos em Química, na qual investigamos a dinâmica das interações estabelecidas entre os alunos, dentro dos seus respectivos grupos, a partir da análise das seguintes dimensões: funções da fala, processamento cognitivo e processamento social. Para tanto, nos baseamos no Modelo Analítico proposto por Kumpulainen e Mutanen. De forma complementar, analisamos as percepções dos alunos com relação à atividade.<br /> As interações foram realizadas apresentando como predominante o processamento social do tipo colaborativo e os alunos fizeram uso das funções de fala de forma igualitária. Estas foram também marcadas pela presença do processamento cognitivo exploratório, que somado ao uso de funções de fala do tipo críticas, indicam que a atividade foi rica em possibilidades cognitivas.<br /> Desta forma, as três dimensões analisadas sugerem que a atividade se mostrou efetiva, no que diz respeito ao desenvolvimento de condições para aprendizagem cooperativa com foco no desenvolvimento de habilidades sociais, sem, no entanto, comprometer o aprendizado de conteúdos da disciplina. As percepções dos alunos com relação à atividade indicaram a sua boa receptividade. Ademais, os alunos destacaram a importância da sua realização para uma melhor resolução dos problemas propostos. Assim, acreditamos que atividades cooperativas, especialmente aquelas no formato jigsaw, podem ser realizadas com sucesso no ensino superior de Química, sendo relevantes para a formação dos graduandos. / Since the beginning of the 70s, the discussion about ways of organization and effectiveness of learning activities based on cooperative learning has been growing in many European countries and in North America; however in Brazil, there is a dearth of studies on this topic, especially in chemistry teaching.<br /> One of the key characteristics of cooperative learning is social nature since students interact and share their ideas increasing their individual and mutual comprehension. In this context, we applied a didactic activity based on cooperative learning principles (jigsaw format) in a scientific communication course offered to undergraduate chemistry students. Based on the analytic framework proposed by Kumpulainen and Mutanen, we investigated the dynamic of interactions among the students within the groups focusing on the following dimensions: cognitive processing, social processing, and verbal interactions. We also analyzed the students\' perceptions related to this activity.<br /> The major cognitive processing observed was interpretative, whereas the social processing was collaborative, which indicate that the activity was rich of cognitive possibilities. Therefore, the dimensions analyzed suggest that the activity was effective in cooperative learning perspective without compromising the learning of the course contents.<br /> The students\' perceptions indicated the success of the activity. Moreover, the students highlighted its importance to solve the problems proposed. In sum, we believe that cooperative activities, especially in the jigsaw format, can be effectively used in undergraduate chemistry teaching.