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).

[ES] Los tratamientos en los que se utilizan Polímeros Terapéuticos ofrecen numerosas ventajas en comparación con los tratamientos convencionales y otros enfoques de nanomedicina. Entre estas ventajas se puede destacar la especificidad para cruzar ciertas barreras biológicas y su capacidad de acumulación pasiva en tumores. Además, la conjugación de fármacos a polímeros ofrece ventajas adicionales tales como una farmacocinética mejorada, multivalencia, co-entrega de fármacos en la proporción deseada y liberación/activación específica en el sitio de acción requerido a través de la aplicación de enlaces polímero-fármaco que responden a estímulos fisiológicos. Uno de los tipos más importantes de polímeros que se utiliza para la administración de fármacos pertenecen a los polielectrolitos polipeptídicos. Su uso se debe principalmente, a su biocompatibilidad, biodegradabilidad, multivalencia y versatilidad estructural, así como a la plasticidad sintética en la modificación de cadenas laterales. La aplicación conjunta de ciencia de polielectrolitos con otras ramas de la química es muy prometedora; sin embargo, aún permanece en un estadío temparano en su desarrollo. Esto es debido a que, el control del autoensamblaje de polielectrolitos sigue siendo una tarea complicada y la investigación en esta área puede resultar muy laboriosa a la hora de encontrar sistemas biocompatibles más avanzados con un único perfil de acción y por supuesto, se abre un nuevo campo de estudio sobre las nuevas propiedades desconocidas de estos. Este tema es novedoso por la posibilidad de realizar diferentes estudios de combinación de polielectrolitos con residuos supramoleculares y representa el estudio de nuevas arquitecturas potencialmente mas complicadas. En la presente tesis doctoral se estudiarán el desarrollo de sistemas de administración de fármacos basados en polielectrolitos supramoleculares con un alto grado de control sobre las propiedades fisicoquímicas, centrándose principalmente en el control de la forma y el tamaño. Se han estudiado en profundidad varias familias de poliglutamatos de forma estrella con núcleos de diferente hidrofobicidad para determinar cómo la estructura del núcleo y la longitud de la cadena de polielectrolitos afectan el mecanismo de autoensamblaje. Una vez que se definieron estas correlaciones, se seleccionaron los candidatos más prometedores para la preparación de dos sistemas de transportede fármacos que consisten en partículas esféricas o en forma de cilindro. Finalmente, también se realizó la conjugación de varios fármacos (fasudil y dinaciclib) como agentes únicos o en combinación a través de diferentes enlaces biodegradables. Las propiedades fisicoquímicas y la actividad in vitro de los conjugados se estudiaron en profundidad y actualmente se están llevando a cabo experimentos in vivo en un modelo de cáncer de mama metastásico triple negativo ortotópico preclínicamente relevante, con los conjugados previamente seleccionados. / [CAT] Els tractaments en els quals s'utilitzen Polímers Terapèutics ofereixen nombrosos avantatges en comparació amb els tractaments convencionals i altres enfocaments amb nanomedicina. Entre aquests avantatges es pot destacar l'especificitat per creuar certes barreres biològiques i la seva capacitat d'acumulació passiva en tumors. A més, la conjugació de fàrmacs a polímers ofereix avantatges addicionals com ara una farmacocinètica millorada, multivalència, co-lliurament de fàrmacs en la proporció desitjada i alliberament / activació específica en el lloc d'acció requerit a través de l'aplicació d'enllaços polímer-fàrmac que responen a estímuls fisiològics. Un dels tipus més importants de polímers que s'utilitza per a l'administració de fàrmacs pertanyen als polielectròlits polipeptídics. El seu ús es deu principalment, ala seua biocompatibilitat, biodegradabilitat, multivalència i versatilitat estructural, així com a la plasticitat sintètica en la modificació de cadenes laterals. L'aplicació conjunta de ciència de polielectròlits amb altres branques de la química és molt prometedora; però, encara roman en un estadi primerenc en el seu desenvolupament. Això és degut al fet que, el control de l'autoensamblatge de polielectròlits segueix sent una tasca complicada i la investigació en aquesta àrea pot resultar molt laboriosa a l'hora de trobar sistemes biocompatibles més avançats amb un únic perfil d'acció i per descomptat, s'obre un nou camp d'estudi sobre les noves propietats desconegudes d'aquests. Aquest tema és nou j que ofereix la possibilitat de realitzar diferents estudis de combinació de polielectròlits amb residus supramoleculars i representa l'estudi de noves arquitectures potencialment més complicades. En la present tesi doctoral s'estudiaran el desenvolupament de sistemes d'administració de fàrmacs basats en polielectròlits supramoleculars amb un alt grau de control sobre les propietats fisicoquímiques, centrant-se principalment en el control de la forma i la mida. S'han estudiat en profunditat diverses famílies de poliglutamatos de forma estrella amb nuclis de diferent hidrofobicitat per determinar com l'estructura delnucli i la longitud de la cadena de polielectròlits afecten el mecanisme de autoensamblatge. Una vegada que es van definir aquestes correlacions, es van seleccionar els candidats més prometedors per a la preparació de dos sistemes de transport de fàrmacs que consisteixen en partícules esfèriques o en forma de cilindre. Finalment, també es va realitzar la conjugació de diversos fàrmacs (fasudil i dinaciclib) com a agents únics o en combinació a través de diferents enllaços biodegradables. Les propietats fisicoquímiques i l'activitat in vitro dels conjugats es van estudiar en profunditat i actualment s'estan duent a terme experiments in vivo en un model ortotòpic de càncer de mama metastàtic triple negatiu preclínicament rellevant, amb els conjugats prèviament seleccionats. / [EN] Treatments based on polymer therapeutics offer numerous advantages when compared to conventional treatments and other nanomedicine approaches. These include passive tumor accumulation and the ability to cross specific biological barriers. Furthermore, polymer conjugation of drugs offers additional advantages such as improved pharmacokinetics, multivalency, co-delivery of drugs at the desired ratio, and specific release/activation at the required site of action via the application of polymer-drug linkers that respond to physiological stimuli. One of the most important types of polymers suitable for drug delivery belong to polypeptide polyelectrolytes, mainly due to their biocompatibility and synthetic plasticity of side chain modification. The merging of polyelectrolyte science with other branches of chemistry seems very promising; however, it still remains in an embryonic state. While the control of polyelectrolyte self-assembly remains a complicated task, research in this area may provide more advanced biocompatible systems with unique profiles of action and new materials with yet unknown properties. The combination of polyelectrolytes with supramolecular moieties represents an especially interesting research topic, with the potential to derived more complicated architectures. This thesis is focused on the development of supramolecular-polyelectrolyte-based drug delivery systems with high degree of control over physicochemical properties, focusing mainly on shape and size. Several families of star-polyglutamates with cores of different hydrophobicity have been studied in depth in order to determine how the core structure and polyelectrolyte chain length affect self-assembly mechanism. Once these correlations were defined, the most promising candidates were selected for preparation of two drug delivery systems consisting of either spherical or rod-like particles. Finally, conjugation of several drugs (fasudil and dinaciclib) as single agents or in combination through different responsive linkers were also performed; physicochemical properties and in vitro activity of the conjugates were studied in depth and in vivo experiments with selected conjugates are currently ongoing in a preclinically relevant orthotopic Triple Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer Model. / Zagorodko, O. (2020). CONFORMATIONALLY SWITCHABLE POLYGLUTAMATES AS A PROSPECTIVE MATERIAL FOR POLYMER THERAPEUTICS DESIGN [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/146228 / TESIS

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.