This thesis investigates language variation among a group of young adults in Beijing, China, with an aim to advance our understanding of social meaning in a language and a society where the topic is understudied. In this thesis, I examine the use of Beijing Mandarin among Beijingborn university students in Beijing in relation to social factors including gender, social class, career plan, and future aspiration. Language variation in this context can further our understanding of Chinese culture in a newlyreformed society while exploring important constructs such as gender and aspiration in China, in part by establishing the social meaning of the local vernacular and its role in identity construction among speakers. The study presents data from both sociolinguistic interviews, conducted with 21 Beijingers who have di erent class backgrounds, career plans, and future aspiration, and self-recordings, from a subset of 10 Beijingers in conversation with their family and/or friends. I focus on three thus far under-examined linguistic variables { neutral tone, classi er omission, and intensi er te { while incorporating an additional variable { erhua (word- nal rhotacisation) in the discussion of stylistic variation in Beijing Mandarin. The results rst provide an overview of language variation in Beijing Mandarin, as shown in the use of di erent features and their linguistic and social constraints. We observe familiar patterns often found in sociolinguistic literature for some social factors (e.g. gender), while more complex interactions exist for others (e.g. aspiration and career path). The ndings suggest that Beijing Mandarin conveys localness and masculinity which is expected for a vernacular variety. Finer distinctions in the social meanings of these variables are found in sub-groups of Beijingers with di erent gender, future career path and/or aspiration. Moreover, speakers are seen to utilise these variables and their meanings in the construction of personae.

A presente pesquisa busca verificar empiricamente o impacto da lei do dividendo obrigatório sobre o investimento das empresas de capital aberto. Para alcançar este objetivo três hipóteses foram criadas. A primeira objetiva testar se o valor marginal do caixa diminui com o pagamento de dividendos acima do mínimo obrigatório, testando assim o pagamento de dividendos no Brasil como proxy para restrição financeira, visto que esta classificação é importante em modelos de investimento. A segunda busca mensurar o impacto do dividendo obrigatório no investimento de empresas brasileiras de capital aberto que distribuem apenas o dividendo mínimo. A última hipótese avalia a influência deste mecanismo legal em uma amostra multi-países. Os resultados obtidos indicam que o dividendo obrigatório impacta direta e indiretamente no investimento das companhias. E, este efeito é ainda maior e mais relevante para as empresas restritas financeiramente. Considerando o contexto nacional, onde as fontes de financiamentos são caras e escassas, esta evidência obtida pela presente pesquisa possui grande relevância para o mercado financeiro. / The present research seeks to empirically verify the impact of the mandatory dividend on publicly traded companies’ investment. To achieve this goal, three hypotheses were created. The first one aims to test if the marginal value of cash decreases with the payment of dividends above the mandatory minimum, thus testing the distribution of dividends in Brazil as proxy for financial constraint, since this classification is important in investment models. The second seeks to measure the impact of the mandatory dividend on the investment of Brazilian publicly traded companies that distributed only the minimum dividend. The last hypothesis evaluates the influence of this legal mechanism on a multicountry sample. The results indicate that the mandatory dividend has a direct and indirect impact on the companies’ investment. And, this effect is even greater and more relevant for financially constrained companies. Considering the national context, where the sources of financing are expensive and scarce, this evidence obtained by the present research has great relevance for the financial market.

Dans cette thèse, nous considérons une famille des problèmes d’ordonnancement avec machine parallèle identique et contraintes de précédences. Ce champ de recherche fait l’objet de nombreuses études. Malgré tout, la complexité de ces problèmes varie selon de nombreux paramètres,notamment le type de graphe de précédence ou le critère retenu. De plus, il existe encore de nombreux problèmes ouverts. Nous étudions certains de ces problèmes dans cette thèse. Nous montrons notamment que le problème ouvert avec tâches de durée unitaires et graphe de précédence de type intree est NP-complet. Puis, nous prouvons que le problème avec graphe de précédence de type level order est NP-complet aussi. La preuve est ensuite étendue à des problèmes connexes. Par la suite, on améliore un algorithme exponentiel pour un problème spécifique qui est NP-complet. Enfin, nous proposons un modèle linéaire pour le problème avec contraintes de précédence quelconque, améliorant aussi les résultats de littérature. / The main problem studied in this thesis is that of parallel machine scheduling with precedence constraints. The complexity depends on the shape that the precedence graph takes and the objective function. We prove that one minimum-open problem of scheduling equal-processing-time jobs which subject to in-tree precedence constrains is NP complete while minimizing the total competition time.Then, we prove that the open problem of scheduling level-order precedence constrains is NP-complete too. We adapted the second proof to other scheduling problems as well.On the other hand, we improved an exponential algorithm designed for a specific NP-hard problem. At the end, we propose a linear programming model for the general scheduling problem with arbitrary precedence constraints and processing-time. We adapt the existing models which are originally designed for other scheduling problems to parallel scheduling problem and compare these models with ours.

What is the nature and processes of creativity in small businesses? My fine-grained qualitative study of a small UK software business, GoTravel, suggests that such businesses often show tremendous creativity in the everyday processes they use to negotiate complex problems that their internal and external limitations induce. The empirical findings that I use to support this view are in three main parts. First, internal organisational problems, which seemed to restrict employee engagement in creative actions, provoked novel and appropriate — i.e. creative —actions by the small business in pursuing opportunities to access inputs they needed to build competitive software. Second, these actions entailed the tactical creation of fertile sites within collaborations held with product users in line with principles of agile software development, to enable activities relevant for accessing required inputs for building improved software. Third, within these sites, GoTravel advanced its creative actions by leading product users in ‘play’ activities with the purpose of accessing their inputs, which included their time, money, autonomy and actions, and ameliorating the disadvantaged position the small business occupied in the agile-inspired collaborations. To explicate my findings, I draw on the entrepreneurship literature, particularly work conducted to study processes that entrepreneurs use to orient themselves amid problems, while creating opportunities for establishing new ventures. Here, I focus specifically on spatial concepts Hjorth used to study how entrepreneurial processes unfold under constraining managerial orders, as well as insights from critical perspectives from the co-creation literature. I use these lenses to illuminate the tactical and creative actions that GoTravel manifested in the ways they reassigned ‘managerial orders’ in their software industry, which threatened their ability to access inputs from their product users into other uses — i.e. ‘spaces of play’. Here, they seemed to have ‘lured’ their product users into co-creation activities to accomplish goals for developing new products and, indeed, ‘conquer’ managerial orders in their external environments, even if temporarily. This study contributes to current research on organisational creativity by drawing attention to creativity inherent in the processes that small businesses use to negotiate problems they often confront in the journey to building novel and impactful solutions. In addition, I bring conceptual lenses from entrepreneurship, a field that is sympathetic to the characteristics of small businesses, particularly their constraints and limitations, to expand current knowledge we have of creativity by such businesses. My research also contributes to current valuable work on co-creation, especially in how organisations may use various forms of co-creation as a tactical and creative tool to address their own limitations.

This thesis addresses and identifies outstanding challenges associated with the Multi user massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MU massive MIMO) transmission, whereby various system scenarios have been considered to tackle these challenges. First, for a single cell scenario, the uplink effective capacity under statistical exponent constraints, the asymptotic error and outage probabilities in a multi user massive MIMO system are provided. The proposed approach establishes closed form expressions for the aforementioned metrics under both perfect and imperfect channel state information (CSI) scenarios. In addition, expressions for the asymptotically high signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) regimes are established. Second, the statistical queueing constraints, pilot contamination phenomenon and fractional power control in random or irregular cellular massive MIMO system are investigated, where base station locations are modelled based on the Poisson point process. Specifically, tractable analytical expressions are developed for the asymptotic SIR coverage, rate coverage and the effective capacity under the quality of service statistical exponent constraint. Laplace transform of interference is derived with the aid of mathematical tools from stochastic geometry. Simulation outcomes demonstrate that pilot reuse impairments can be alleviated by employing a cellular frequency reuse scheme. For example, with unity frequency reuse factor, we see that 40% of the total users have SIR above −10.5dB, whereas, with a reuse factor of 7, the same fraction of users have SIR above 20.5dB. In addition, for a certain parameters setting, the coverage probability in the lower 50th percentile can be maximized by adjusting power compensation fraction between 0.2 and 0.5. Also, for SIR threshold of 0dB, allocating 0.25 fraction of uplink transmit power can achieve approximately 6% improvement in coverage probability in the cell edge area compared to constant power policy and about 14% improvement compared to the full channel-inversion policy. Third and last, motivated by the powerful gains of incorporating small cells with macro cells, a massive MIMO aided heterogeneous cloud radio access network (H-CRAN) is investigated. More specific, based on Toeplitz matrix tool, tractable formulas for the link reliability and rate coverage of a typical user in H-CRAN are derived. Numerical outcomes confirm the powerful gain of the massive MIMO for enhancing the throughput of the H-CRAN while small remote radio heads (RRH cells) are capable of achieving higher energy efficiency.

The thesis focuses on the process analysis of the ECDL concept, the so-called driver's license for a computer. The theoretical section provides the definition of the terms "process" and "process analysis", and describes the standards for process modelling and the methods for evaluating the effectiveness of processes. The theoretical section concludes with a description and comparison of the four options for testing computer skills in the Czech Republic - Microsoft Office Specialist, Atom, Prometric, ECDL. The practical section describes and graphically demonstrates the selected processes (Registration, Testing, Evaluation) and evaluates the effectiveness and financial demands of the ECDL concept processes. In its conclusion the practical section evaluates the feasibility of implementation of the proposed changes.

A análise do chute através de técnicas biomecânicas pode auxiliar na compreensão do comportamento e organização do sistema motor. Ao identificar a predominância, emergência ou variabilidade de um padrão de movimento, deve-se considerar a interação de elementos internos e externos ao indivíduo, seja o ambiente onde está sendo executada a ação, as características que envolvem a tarefa ou as particularidades do organismo do executante. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar e comparar o padrão de movimento e o desempenho da habilidade motora chutar, a um alvo, em duas condições: bola parada e bola em movimento. Com o propósito de detectar a influência da faixa etária na execução desta tarefa, participaram deste estudo 10 crianças divididas em dois grupos: G1 (8 a 9 anos) e o G2 (12 a 13 anos). Cada criança realizou 10 chutes a um alvo em ambas as condições. As tentativas foram capturadas por duas câmeras de alta velocidade e foram obtidos dados referentes ao desempenho, variabilidade, coordenação e amplitude do movimento. A análise estatística detectou ajustes na coordenação e amplitude do movimento além de um aumento da variabilidade na condição da bola em movimento. Em relação à idade, foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significantes na velocidade do pé. Os resultados demonstraram que os grupos etários estudados apresentaram ajustes similares na coodenação do movimento. A condição da bola provocou adaptações no padrão de movimento, entretanto, apesar do aumento nos níveis de variabilidade, não exerceu influência no desempenho do chutar / The analysis of kicking through biomechanics techniques can help the comprehension of behavior and motor system organization. In order to identify the predominance, emergence, or variability of a moving pattern, is imperative to consider the interactions between internal and external elements to the individual, such as the environment where the action is executed, characteristics that are intrinsic to the task or any individual particularity. The aim of the present work was to analyze and compare the performance and movement pattern of the kick realized by children to a target, in two different conditions: stationary and moving ball. To enable us to detect the age influence on the execution of the given task, the experimental group comprised 10 children from different ages: group 1 (G1) children from 8 to 9 years old and group 2 (G2) children from 12 to 13 years old. Each participant performed 10 kicks to the target in both conditions. Attempts were captured by two high speed cameras and were obtained data to analyze performance, variability, coordination and range of motion. Statistical analysis showed adjustments in coordination and range of motion, besides an increase of variability in the condition of moving ball in relation to the stationary ball condition. Regarding the age, it was found differences statistically significant only in the foot velocity. The results showed that the age groups studied had similar adjustments in movement coordination. The moving ball condition led to adjustments in the movement pattern, however, despite the increase in the variability, the performance was not different in relation to the stationary ball condition

A path π = (v1, v2,...vk+1) in a graph G = (V,E) is a downhill path if for every i, 1 < i < k, deg(vi) > deg(vi+1), where deg(vi) denotes the degree of vertex vi ∊ V. The downhill domination number equals the minimum cardinality of a set S ⊂ V having the property that every vertex v ∊ V lies on a downhill path originating from some vertex in S. We investigate downhill domination numbers of graphs and give upper bounds. In particular, we show that the downhill domination number of a graph is at most half its order, and that the downhill domination number of a tree is at most one third its order. We characterize the graphs obtaining each of these bounds.

Antiretroviral treatment pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective daily prevention medicine to reduce risks of HIV infections in high-risk populations. The current study examined PrEP uptake among gay men using the integrative model of behavioral prediction (IMBP) as the theoretical framework. Briefly, the IMBP states that attitude, norms, and behavioral control predict intention, which then predicts behavior. The intention-behavior relationship is moderated by actual control variables: skills and environmental constraints. To examine how IMBP variables affect PrEP uptake among gay men, I first conducted formative elicitation interviews with gay men; then I used the results from the interviews to construct the main survey. Then, the project recruited 500 gay men to participate in the survey, half of whom were PrEP takers and half of whom were not. The results of path modeling showed that attitudes and norms predicted behavioral intention, and intention predicted PrEP uptake among gay men. Results of moderation analyses testing the influence of skills and environmental constraints showed that HIV knowledge, lack of access to a doctor(s), and lack of health care system knowledge were significant moderators between intention and PrEP uptake. The practical implications, theoretical contributions, and empirical advancements were discussed.

In this dissertation, I examine the impact of uncertainty and information processing restrictions on standard economic models. Chapter 1 examines a reevaluation of the excess volatility puzzle in asset prices by assessing the impact of a shift in the agent's focus from minimizing average loss to minimizing maximum loss. Chapters 2 and 3 extend and clarify the newly developing arena of economic models in which the agent's capacity for information processing is systematically limited, as in the recent rational inattention literature. Chapter 1, which represents joint work with Charles Whiteman, studies the consequences changing the present value formula for stock prices. In place of the squared-error-loss minimizing expected present value of future dividends, we use a predictor optimal for the min-max preference relationship appropriate in cases of ambiguity. With ``robust" predictions, the well-known variance bound is reversed in that prices are predicted to be far more volatile than what is observed. We also investigate an intermediate ``partially robust'' case in which the degree of ambiguity is limited, and discover that such an intermediate model cannot be rejected in favor of an unrestricted time series model. Chapter 2 demonstrates the properties and solutions for the more general two-period rational inattention model. We show that the problem is convex, can be solved in seconds, and highlights several important features of information-processing-capacity-constrained models. Additionally, we show the importance of deriving, rather than assuming, the form of the final solution in rational inattention models. Chapter 3 extends the work of Chapter 2 to a finite-horizon dynamic setting by creating a structure in which distributional state and control variables interact under information-processing constraints. Limited information processing capacity is used optimally, and agents have the opportunity to trade processing capacity for higher expected future income. The framework is applied to the canonical life-cycle model of consumption and saving, and an analysis of the impact of preference parameters on optimal attention allocation is conducted. The model produces a distinct hump-shaped profile in expected consumption.