Bc. & BcA. Eva Hadravová, Praha 2019 Hearing the Unspoken Materiality of the Voices of Literary Characters Annotation The aim of the thesis is to introduce the field of sound-imaginary perception and interpretaion of voices of literary characters. It is focused mostly on the analysis of "fictional physis" or "materiality" of the voice, which is realized by the implicit reader through inner listening to the literary dialogues. Mentally-acoustic aspect of character's speeches will be commented from the perspective of psycholinguistics, oral studies and related philosophical statements; later it will be confronted with the literary theory. The final part of the thesis is devoted to the interpretaion of direct speeches from the selected extracts from Czech literature of the 20th century.

Background and Objectives: South African businesses are feeling the brunt of HIV & AIDS and experiencing losses in productivity and profitability due to high levels employee absenteeism, sick leave and disability as well as the added costs of recruiting and retraining. These losses have had a negative impact on the national economy and in response some employers have agreed to recognize that HIV is a business issue and introduced HIV workplace programmes. It is not really known whether the employees that are most at risk are actually testing through these employer funded programmes in order for them as well as the employer to gain maximum benefit. There is a need to identify barriers to HIV testing so that workplace programmes can design better targeting strategies. Methods: This study was a retrospective review and analysis of the 2005 records of tested and untested employees in 8 companies registered on the Direct AIDS Intervention (DAI) Programme. Results: Overall there was very poor utilization of Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) services with an average uptake of 13%. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that race, sex, period of employment and sector were significantly associated with HIV testing while there was no association with age and marital status. In general, Blacks were more likely to be tested for HIV (OR(95%CI)1.47(1.24 – 1.74);p<0.0001) and so were Coloureds (OR(95%CI) 1.79;(1.48 – 2.18); p<0.0001) and Indians(OR(95%CI)1.35(1.04 – 1.76);p=0.03) when compared to Whites. Males were less likely to have an HIV test (OR 0.69;p<0.0001) compared to female employees. Those who had been employed for more than one year were more likely to test (OR(95%CI); 1.83(1.37 – 2.43);p<0.0001) than newer employees. Employees who worked within a manufacturing company were more likely to have an HIV test (OR(95%CI) 2.39(1.96 – 2.92);p<0.0001) and so were those employed by a health/research companies (OR(95%CI) 2.83(2.11 – 3.81);p<0.0001) compared to those that were employed by a services sector company. Conclusions: The low uptake of VCT in this study is attributed to stigma which if not addressed will to continue to have a negative impact on the success of workplace programmes. Employers need to develop specific education activities in order to protect employees from discrimination and thus build confidence in the independence of the programmes thereby encouraging utilization.

The liberalization of FDI is deepening, so have the incentive schemes put in place by a number of countries. Investment promotion agencies in these countries are seen to be actively promoting their countries as the best locations for foreign direct investment (FDI). With FDI emerging as a fovourite source of capital for most countries, profound questions about the true value of FDI to host countries are addressed in this study. While incentive packages may be justified on the basis of incomplete internalization of FDI benefits by foreign firms, it still remains critical to establish whether these benefits (spillovers) are substantive. As an attempt to answer these questions, this dissertation uses both firm level and country level data to investigate the effects of foreign direct investment (FDI) on productivity and economic growth. The first part of the study uses cross sectional firm level data to investigate whether foreign firms are more productive than domestic firms. We further examine whether there are any significant productivity spillovers from foreign to domestic firms or not. SIn the second part, focus is on country level analysis which uses both time series and panel data techniques. In the time series analysis we use the recent Toda-Yamamoto causality testing framework to determine the direction of causality between FDI and growth for three groups of countries: developing, emerging and developed countries. This is followed by fixed effects and dynamic panel data analyses for the 37 countries (9 developing, 12 emerging and 16 developed) where we test for absorptive capacity effects. Our findings show that results are determined to a great extent by the method of analysis. Interesting findings emerge from this study. The firm level data revealed the importance of multinational corporations in improving domestic firm productivity. With this finding, we anticipate these results to filter through the macro system and show up in the time series and panel data analyses. In the case of developing economies, productivity differences between domestic and foreign firms are confirmed only where the definition of FDI is below the full ownership level. Positive but statistically insignificant spillovers are found in the developing country sample. From the emerging economy sample, we iii find neither significant productivity differences nor related spillovers from foreign to domestic firms. With regards to developed economies, as in the case of emerging economies, there are no statistically significant productivity differences between domestic and foreign firms. Interestingly, for this sample, positive and highly significant spillovers from foreign to domestic firms are documented. The Toda Yamamoto Granger causality framework shows unidirectional causality from FDI to GDP in Colombia, Egypt and Zambia. These results suggest that in these three countries, we have a case of growth enhancing FDI. There is also evidence of causality which runs from GDP to FDI in China, Indonesia, France, Japan, Spain and the United Kingdom. This is a case where higher levels of economic activity attract foreign direct investment. We also find evidence of bi-directional causality for Argentina, Kenya and Thailand. No clear cut relationship between FDI and growth is established in the rest of the countries: Brazil, Chile, Ghana, India, Jordan, Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, South Africa and all but four of the developed economies. The dynamic panel data analysis for the developing economy sample reveals positive effects between FDI and economic growth. A key finding from this is the negative impact of financial development, an absorptive capacity measure. This unexpected result raises the possibility of international capital flows becoming more harmful to developing economies when extensive development of the domestic financial sector makes it difficult to regulate financial transactions of relatively esoteric financial contracts. This evidence there should be a nuanced embrace of financial globalization by developing economies. In the emerging economy analysis, the roles of openness of the economy and financial development as absorptive capacity indicators are elevated. Overall, the dynamic analysis shows a largely negative and statistically insignificant effect of FDI on economic growth. For developed economies, we find that negative effects of FDI on economic growth are encountered at both the minimum and mean levels of openness. This suggests that for developed economies, a level of openness above the mean value would be ideal for economic growth to be realized through FDI. iv Corroborating our findings with the work of other scholars, we conclude that our results are complementary. It appears that the contradictions inherent in the FDI-Growth literature could be partly due to methodological differences.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering, 2016 / The validity of the atmospheric correction method presented in the IEC 60060-1 (2010) standard is analysed and evaluated by means of theoretical and laboratory work. In order to understand the problem, the evolution of the atmospheric correction methods, from as early as 1914, has been presented. A procedure (Calva prediction method) for predicting the direct current (DC) breakdown voltage for an air gap at any altitude was discovered and was also analysed along with the IEC 60060-1 (2010). A critique of some of the atmospheric correction methods commonly used standards was also done. Experiments were carried out at altitudes of 1 740 m (Wits University), 130 m (UKZN HVDC centre) and at less than 2 m above sea level (Scottburgh beach, Clansthal). More tests were conducted using a pressure vessel where high altitude relative air density was simulated. All tests were conducted on rod-plane air gaps using a 15 mm diameter at tip rod. Test results from Scottburgh beach were used as the standard breakdown voltages of the air gaps tested since the environmental conditions were the closest to the conventional standard conditions (stp). The test results obtained were compared with predictions using the Calva method in order to validate the method. The test results were also corrected according to IEC 60060-1 (2010) and compared to the standard breakdown voltages obtained at Scottburgh beach. It was shown that the IEC 60060-1 (2010) is quite suitable for atmospheric correction for data obtained at low altitudes (about 130 m). When applied to high altitude (1 740 m) data, the correction method is accurate and suitable for very small air gaps less than 0.1 m. As the air gap length increased, the corrected results began to deviate from the expected standard voltage. The same trend was shown with the corrected results from the pressure chamber tests. The prediction method by Calva was accurate when compared to the experimental data from the high altitude and low altitude test results. When compared to the data from the pressure chamber, the prediction method had a linear error factor which was di erent for each gap length. It was concluded that the IEC 60060-1 (2010) is not only unsuitable for atmospheric correction for data at relative air densities below 0.8, but also that the correction method is prone to an increase in error as the air gap length increases when the relative air density is higher than 0.8. The Calva prediction method was found to be suitable to use after additional factors are added when applied to high altitude conditions. / GR2016

Countries with high levels of growth-fostering business deregulation for domestic small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) appear to attract more FDI inflows than countries with low levels of business deregulation. This may be because SMEs in such deregulated countries attract ample cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&As), which are a major conduit of FDI inflows. This study therefore investigates the relationship between FDI inflow and business deregulation. The study employs a triangulation of quantitative research methodologies and a panel data of 154 countries to analyze the relationship between FDI and deregulation. Results from the study generally show that there are statistically significant and inversely proportional relationships between inbound FDI and the deregulation of: (i) starting a business, (ii) paying taxes, and (iii) export trading, by a country‘s domestic SMEs. The study also documents positive correlations between cross-border M&As and inbound FDI. Thus, countries are likely to attract more FDI inflows, especially through cross-border M&As, as they deregulate the: starting of businesses, payment of taxes and exportation of products for their domestic SMEs. Therefore, on policy front, it is recommended that in order to enhance FDI inflows, countries ought to deregulate these areas of infringement to efficient running of SMEs; this finding provides a complementary and/or substitute policy to the popular outward-looking incentive programs for attracting FDIs.

Neste trabalho apresenta-se inicialmente algumas considerações sobre a difração de raios-X, suas principais leis, fatores de correção dos dados experimentais, uma revisão sobre os principais Métodos Diretos de resolução da estrutura, e considerações sobre o refinamento da estrutura obtida. A seguir descreve-se a determinação da estrutura cristalina do produto natural 5,4\'-Dihidroxi-3\', 5\' -dimetoxi- 6,7 -(2\",2\" -dimetilpirano) flavona de fórmula molecular C22H20O<sub<7, isolado de plantas da espécie Neoraputia paraensis, que cristaliza-se no sistema monoclínico, grupo espacial C2/c, com os seguintes parâmetros de cela unitária: a = 13,651(1), b= 23,428(2),c= 13,725(1) &#197; &#946= 119,528(4)&#176, V=3819,6(5)A&#9463 , Dc = 1,366g cm-3 e Z =8 moléculas por cela unitária. A estrutura foi resolvida através da aplicação de Métodos Diretos. Os índices de discordância finais são: R= 0,0509, Rw = 0,0530 para 1743 reflexões com I &#8805 3&#963(I) e Ra11=0,157. A estrutura foi refinada fazendo uso dos cálculos de Fourier Diferença e pelo método de mínimos quadrados usando matriz completa. A molécula apresenta duas ligações de hidrogênio intramoleculares, de força média (distâncias O-O 2,558(3) e 2,674(4) &#946). O empacotamento cristalino apresenta duas outras ligações de hidrogênio intermoleculares, mais fracas, sendo feitas com as moléculas geradas pelo espelho c (distâncias O-O 2,830(3) e 2,992(3) &#946). O efeito destas ligações intermoleculares é o da formação de cadeias ao longo da direção [101]. / Initially, some considerations about X-ray diffraction, its laws, the factors for the correction of experimental data, a revision of the main Direct Methods for structure resolution, and comments on the refinement of the resulting structure are presented. Next, the structure determination of the compound 5,4\' -dihydroxy-3\'-5\'- dimethoxy-6,7(2\",2\' \')dimethylpyran)flavone is described The compound is isolated from plants of the species Neuroputia paraenesis and has the molecular formula C22H20O<sub<7. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group C2/c, with the following unit cell parameters: a = 13.651(1), b= 23.428(2), c= 13.725(1) &#197; &#946= 119,528(4)&#176, V=3819,6(5)A&#9463 , Dc = 1,366g cm-3 e Z =8molecules per unit cell. The structure was solved applying Direct Methods. The final disagreement indices are: R= 0.0509, Rw= 0.0530 for 1743 reflections with &#8805 3&#963(I) and Ra11=0,157. The structure was refined applying Fourier difference calculations and full matrix least squares methods. The molecule shows two intramolecular hydrogen bonds of medium strength (distances O-O 2.558(3) and 2.674(4) &#946). The crystal packing shows also two weaker hydrogen bonds; these are formed between the molecules generated by the c mirror (distances O-O 2.830(3) and 2.992(3) &#946). The result of these intermolecular hydrogen bonds is the formation of chains in [10 1] direction.

Thesis advisor: Robert G. Murphy / Rule of law has recently emerged as a possible solution for the promotion of functioning market economies and economic growth in developing countries. It has been argued that an established legal system provides individuals with a clear understanding of the law and consequently, should be more influential on the behavior and decisions of those individuals. This study explores the effects of an established rule of law environment on the relationship between foreign direct investment and economic growth. Several previous studies have analyzed the direct relationship between foreign investment and economic growth. However, none of these studies control for varying levels of legal incentives and property protection. Established legal institutions provide the type of stability that makes investment in a given country more attractive to foreign companies. I also test whether the combination of rule of law and FDI affect the estimated rate of GDP growth. The combination of these two effects would imply that FDI is more likely to create positive economic growth when applied to an economy with established legal institutions. Although the analysis does not fully support the effect of this rule of law—FDI interaction on growth, my analysis does suggest that FDI inflows are most efficient at promoting growth in countries with less legal development. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2008. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Economics. / Discipline: College Honors Program. / Discipline: Economics Honors Program.

Thesis advisor: Lawrence T. Scott / The Scott lab is interested in the functionalization of corannulene as a building block for large polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and carbon nanotube end-cap precursors. Toward that end, a new approach to the direct five-fold borylation of corannulene with iridium (I) catalysts via C-H activation has been explored. It has been discovered that the addition of catalytic amounts of base to the reaction mixture promotes the formation of symmetrical penta-borylated corannulene in a good yield on a sizable scale. All byproducts can be easily removed with iterative methanol washes. The present work also provides proof of the reversibility of the direct borylation reaction under the conditions used. Furthermore, modified Suzuki-Miyaura conditions have been employed to synthesize pentakis(2,6-dichlorophenyl)corannulene, a precursor for a [5,5] carbon nanotube end-cap. The reported reactions provide good yields and are scalable. / Thesis (MS) — Boston College, 2011. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Chemistry.

Arraias da família Potamotrygonidae (Chondrichthyes: Myliobatoidei) são elasmobrânquios endêmicos dos sistemas fluviais da região Neotropical. Nestes hospedeiros residem uma diversa fauna parasitária que inclui vários gêneros de cestóideos. Tanto as arraias como seus cestóideos são derivados de ancestrais marinhos. A taxonomia e sistemática do sistema hospedeiro/parasita, no entanto, é pouco conhecida. Neste contexto, este estudo documenta, pela primeira vez a diversidade molecular das linhagens de Potamotrygonocestus empregando a otimização direta do genes 28S rDNA, ITS1 rDNA, Calmodulina e Citocromo Oxidase I. Objetiva-se avaliar o posicionamento filogenético de seus membros dentro de uma análise cladística. Os resultados corroboram a monofilia do gênero Potamotrygonocestus e recuperaram dois clados principais que correspondem a agrupamentos morfologicamente diagnosticados com base na morfologia do gancho. A hipótese filogenética apresentou indícios que P. chaoi e P. marajoara são sinônimos júnior de P. travassosi, e que P. orinoconoensis é uma espécie válida. Adicionalmente, os resultados indicam a existência de 14 novas linhagens que podem ser elevadas ao nível de espécie. Os membros Potamotrygonocestus revelaram ser mais especialistas aos seus hospedeiros do que se acreditava e, em relação à biogeografia, a hipótese filogenética apresentou padrões biogeográficos semelhantes a diversos membros da ictiofauna neotropical. A ampliação da representatividade biogeográfica bem como a inclusão de dados moleculares à sistemática do gênero possibilitou reconhecer padrões de distribuição e de infestação que antes eram desconhecidos. Esse refinamento pode contribuir de forma interessante para os outros gêneros parasitas de potamotrigonídeos / Stingrays of the Potamotrygonidae family (Chondrichthyes: Myliobatoidei) are endemic elasmobranchs of river systems in the Neotropics. In these hosts a reside diverse fauna of parasite which includes many genera of tapeworms (Cestoda). Both stingrays and their cestodes are derived from marine ancestors. However, the taxonomy and systematics of this host/parasite system is poorly known. This study documents, for the first time, the molecular diversity of Potamotrygonocestus lineages by employing the direct optimization of 28S rDNA, ITS1 rDNA, Calmodulin and Cytochrome Oxidase I genes. The goal of this study is to understand the phylogenetic position of its members within a cladistic analysis. The results support the monophyly of the genus Potamotrygonocestus and recovered two main clades morphologically diagnosed based on hook morphology hook. The phylogenetic hypothesis presented supports the contention that P. chaoi and P. marajoara are junior synonyms of P. travassosi, and P. orinoconoensis should be considered a valid specie. Additionally, the results suggest that there are 14 new lineages that can be raised to the level of species. Members of Potamotrygonocestus proved to be more host specific than previously thought and, in relation to its biogeography, the phylogenetic hypothesis presented mirrors similar patterns of area association reported for many members of the Neotropical ichthyofauna. The expansion of biogeographical representativeness and inclusion of the molecular data in systematics of the genus allowed the recognition of distribution and infestation patterns that were previously unknown. This refinement could be interesting for other potamotrigonids genus parasites

Objetivos: Analisar por meio da técnica de sequenciamento direto a presença de alterações moleculares nos genes SHH, SIX3, ZIC2 e TGIF1 em indivíduos com diagnóstico clínico de HPE. Analisar por meio da técnica de CGH-array a presença de alterações moleculares em indivíduos com diagnóstico clínico de HPE previamente submetidos à análise por sequenciamento direto. Local: Laboratório de Genética e Citogenética Humana HRAC/USP, Bauru-SP. Casuística e metodologia: Foram selecionados 50 indivíduos, de ambos os sexos com idades entre 03 meses a 50 anos com diagnóstico clínico para HPE. Todos foram analisados por meio da técnica de sequenciamento direto para os genes SHH e TGIF1 completamente e para os genes ZIC2 e SIX3 parcialmente. Dentre os indivíduos que não apresentaram alterações na técnica de sequenciamento oito indivíduos com fenótipo mais grave foram selecionados para a análise por CGH-array. Resultados e discussão: Foram analisados 50 indivíduos por meio da técnica de sequenciamento direto dos gene SHH e TGIF1, foram encontradas duas variantes patogênicas na análise do gene SHH, no caso 1 a variante p.24G>P foi identificada, e no caso 2 foi identificada a variante c.1031del C. No gene TGIF1 foram encontrados cinco polimorfismos já descritos na literatura. Foi identificada uma nova variante silenciosa no éxon 1 do gene ZIC2 p.Q46Q (c. 431 G>A) e um polimorfismo já descrito na literatura em dois indivíduos no gene SIX3. A análise por CGH-array revelou a presença de uma microdeleção no caso 37, de 1,5Mb no cromossomo 17p12 entre as posições genômicas 14,052,279-15,102,307. A mesma deleção foi encontrada na mãe, sendo que esta região nunca foi associada a HPE. Conclusão: A técnica de sequenciamento direto é uma ferramenta muito importante no diagnóstico molecular da HPE, a padronização do sequenciamento direto para os genes ZIC2 e SIX3 poderá auxiliar em diagnósticos mais precisos em estudos futuros dentro do HRAC/USP. O emprego de novas técnicas como CGH-array pode indicar novas relações entre regiões cromossômicas e os múltiplos fatores envolvidos na formação da HPE. / Objective: Analyze through direct sequencing technique the presence of molecular changes on the genes SHH, SIX3, ZIC2 and TGIF1 on individuals with clinical diagnosis of HPE. Analyze through array-CGH technique the presence of molecular changes on individuals with clinical diagnosis of HPE previously submitted to the direct sequencing analyzes. Local: Genetics and Human Cytogenetics Laboratory, HRAC/USP, Bauru-SP. Methods: Were selected 50 individuals from both genders with ages between 03 months and 50 years clinically diagnosed with HPE. Everyone was analyzed through the direct sequencing technique for the genes SHH and TGIF1 completely and for the genes ZIC2 and SIX3 partially. From those individuals which did not have shown changes on the direct sequencing technique, eight individuals with more severe phenotype were selected to the analysis through array-CGH. Results an Discussion: Were analyzed 50 individuals through the technique of direct sequencing of the genes SHH and TGIF1, were found two pathogenic variants in the analysis of SHH gene, in the case 1, the variant p.G24P was identified, and in the case 2 was identified the variant c.1031delC. On the TGIF1 gene were found five polymorphisms already described on the literature. Was identified a new silent variant on the exon 1 of the ZIC2 gene p. Q46Q(c.431G>A) and a polymorphism already described in the literature in two individuals on the gene SIX3. The analysis through array-CGH revealed the presence of one microdeletion in the case 37, of 1,5 Mb on the region 17p12 between the genomic positions 14,052,279-15,102,307. The same deletion was detected in the mother, though this region was never associated to the HPE. Conclusion: The direct sequencing technique is a very important tool for the molecular diagnosis of the HPE, and the direct sequencing standardization for the genes ZIC2 and SIX3 might help in more precise diagnostics on HRAC/USP future studies. The employ of new techniques such as array-CGH may indicate new relations between chromosomal regions and the multiple hit involved in the development of HPE.