abstract: As technology enhances our communication capabilities, the number of distributed teams has risen in both public and private sectors. There is no doubt that these technological advancements have addressed a need for communication and collaboration of distributed teams. However, is all technology useful for effective collaboration? Are some methods (modalities) of communication more conducive than others to effective performance and collaboration of distributed teams? Although previous literature identifies some differences in modalities, there is little research on geographically distributed mobile teams (DMTs) performing a collaborative task. To investigate communication and performance in this context, I developed the GeoCog system. This system is a mobile communications and collaboration platform enabling small, distributed teams of three to participate in a variant of the military-inspired game, "Capture the Flag". Within the task, teams were given one hour to complete as many "captures" as possible while utilizing resources to the advantage of the team. In this experiment, I manipulated the modality of communication across three conditions with text-based messaging only, vocal communication only, and a combination of the two conditions. It was hypothesized that bi-modal communication would yield superior performance compared to either single modality conditions. Results indicated that performance was not affected by modality. Further results, including communication analysis, are discussed within this paper. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Applied Psychology 2012

Alexander A. Razborov (2007) developed the theory of flag algebras to compute the minimum asymptotic density of triangles in a graph as a function of its edge density. The theory of flag algebras, however, can be used to study the asymptotic density of several combinatorial objects. In this dissertation, we present two original results obtained in the theory of tournaments through application of flag algebra proof techniques. The first result concerns minimization of the asymptotic density of transitive tournaments in a sequence of tournaments, which we prove to occur if and only if the sequence is quasi-random. As a byproduct, we also obtain new quasi-random characterizations and several other flag algebra elements whose density is minimized if and only if the sequence is quasi-random. The second result concerns a class of equivalent properties of a sequence of tournaments that we call quasi-carousel properties and that, in a similar fashion as quasi-random properties, force the sequence to converge to a specific limit homomorphism. Several quasi-carousel properties, when compared to quasi-random properties, suggest that quasi-random sequences and quasi-carousel sequences are the furthest possible from each other within the class of almost balanced sequences. / Alexander A. Razborov (2007) desenvolveu a teoria de álgebras de flags para calcular a densidade assintótica mínima de triângulos em um grafo em função de sua densidade de arestas. A teoria das álgebras de flags, contudo, pode ser usada para estudar densidades assintóticas de diversos objetos combinatórios. Nesta dissertação, apresentamos dois resultados originais obtidos na teoria de torneios através de técnicas de demonstração de álgebras de flags. O primeiro resultado compreende a minimização da densidade assintótica de torneios transitivos em uma sequência de torneios, a qual provamos ocorrer se e somente se a sequência é quase aleatória. Como subprodutos, obtemos também novas caracterizações de quase aleatoriedade e diversos outros elementos da álgebra de flags cuja densidade é minimizada se e somente se a sequência é quase aleatória. O segundo resultado compreende uma classe de propriedades equivalentes sobre uma sequência de torneios que chamamos de propriedades quase carrossel e que, de uma forma similar às propriedades quase aleatórias, forçam que a sequência convirja para um homomorfismo limite específico. Várias propriedades quase carrossel, quando comparadas às propriedades quase aleatórias, sugerem que sequências quase aleatórias e sequências quase carrossel estão o mais distantes possível umas das outras na classe de sequências quase balanceadas.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T13:44:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 tese_joao_carlos_pinto_oliveira.pdf: 519065 bytes, checksum: ed0bffd2827af753d977a5131f02d16b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-04-08 / The objective of this work was to evaluate the quality and the yield compounds of seed of rice when different levels of phosphorus are applied to the soil. The utilization of rock phosphates as source of phosphorus on rice crop has been a growing recommendation, considering the low availability of phosphorus in the system. Besides the majority of bibliographies do not report any effect on grain yield with higher levels of phosphorus in the soil, there is no information on how the seeds of flooding rice behave with respect to the quality and components of production under these conditions. The soil was prepared in the conventional method and fertilized before sowing according the analysis recommendation of soil (55kg.ha-1 of K2O in form of KCl) and phosphorus in form of rock phosphate in the levels: zero, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90kg.ha-1 of P2O5 and 90kg.ha-1 of nitrogen in surface dressing in form of urea in two times. It was used cv. BRS Querência in sowing density of 90kg.ha-1 of viable seeds, sowed on November, 23, 2007. The experiment was carried out in Estação de Terras Baixas of Embrapa Clima Temperado and at the Laboratory of Seed Analysis Flávio Farias Rocha of Agronomy College at the Universidade Federal de Pelotas. The analysis of flag leaf was carried out in Plant Nutrition Laboratory of Embrapa Clima Temperado. The experimental design was with randomized complete blocks design with four repetitions. The seeds were harvest on April, 2, 2008 and presented 23% of moisture, and they dried in a forced-air stationary dryer at 40oC until 15% of moisture. It was evaluated for seed yield per hectare, yield compounds and the levels of phosphorus in a flag leaf, collected at the flowering stage. Two germination tests were carried out 90 and 450 days after the harvest. The last one was considered as a vigor test in seeds harvested and stored. The seed yield per hectare and the percent of germination in vigor test showed fit quadratic regression models. The percent of perfect grains and the levels of phosphorus and magnesium in flag leaves fit linear regression models. A significant correlation was found (P<0.05%) between phosphorus and magnesium levels in flag leaves and the percentage of germination in vigor test. The use of Arad rock phosphate affected the yield and quality of rice seeds on Planossoil of Coastal Plain of Rio Grande do Sul. / O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade e a produção de sementes de arroz irrigado, quando diferentes doses de fósforo são aplicadas ao solo. A utilização de fosfato natural como fonte de fósforo na cultura do arroz irrigado vem sendo uma recomendação crescente, considerando a baixa disponibilidade do fósforo no sistema. Além da maioria das bibliografias não relatarem algum efeito sobre a produção de grãos quando se elevam os níveis de fósforo no solo, não se têm informações sobre como se comportam as sementes de arroz irrigado com relação a sua qualidade e aos componentes da produção nestas condições. O preparo do solo foi convencional, adubado antes da semeadura conforme recomendação da análise de solo (55kg.ha-1 de K2O na forma de KCl) e fósforo na forma de fosfato natural variando segundo os tratamentos: zero, 30, 45, 60, 75 e 90kg.ha-1 de P2O5 e 90kg.ha-1 de nitrogênio na forma de ureia em cobertura, em duas vezes. Utilizou-se a cv. BRS Querência na densidade de 90kg.ha-1 de sementes viáveis, semeada em 23 de novembro de 2007. O experimento foi conduzido na Estação de Terras Baixas da Embrapa Clima Temperado e no Laboratório de Análise de Sementes Flávio Farias Rocha, da Faculdade de Agronomia Eliseu Maciel da Universidade Federal de Pelotas. As análises das folhas bandeira foram realizadas no Laboratório de Nutrição Vegetal da Embrapa Clima Temperado. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos completos ao acaso, com quatro repetições. As sementes foram colhidas em dois de abril de 2008 quando apresentavam 23% de umidade, sendo secadas em secador estacionário com ar forçado a 40oC até 13% de umidade. Foi avaliado o rendimento de sementes por hectare, os componentes da produção de sementes e os teores de fósforo na folha bandeira coletada na fase do florescimento. Foram realizados dois testes de germinação. O primeiro, 90 dias após a colheita das sementes, e o segundo, 450 dias após a colheita. Este último foi considerado como avaliação do vigor nas sementes colhidas e armazenadas. O rendimento de sementes por hectare e a percentagem de germinação no teste de vigor apresentaram respostas que se ajustaram a modelos de regressão quadráticos. Já a percentagem de grãos inteiros e quebrados e os teores de fósforo e de magnésio nas folhas bandeira se ajustam a modelos de regressão linear. Também se encontrou uma correlação significativa e positiva (P<0,05%) entre os teores de fósforo e de magnésio nas folhas bandeira e a percentagem de germinação no teste de vigor. O uso do fosfato natural de Arad teve influência na produção e qualidade de sementes de arroz irrigado em Planossolos da Planície Costeira do Rio grande do Sul.

Le navire possède une nationalité lui permettant d'être identifié partout où il se trouve. Il est le moyen de transport préféré des échanges commerciaux internationaux de marchandises, et/ou des personnes, d'un port à un autre, d'un pays à un autre. Avoir une flotte marchande nationale est primordial pour le pays ; mais diverses contraintes entravent son expansion et son développement. Les contraintes sont aussi bien internes qu'externes (hégémonie des grands armateurs, domination des grandes nations maritimes). Au niveau national, l'immatriculation d'un navire obéit à certaines conditions. Les procédures sont lourdes et longues ; les textes sont très anciens et nécessitent d'être modifiés afin de répondre aux besoins des armateurs désirant de créer ou de renforcer leurs flottes. Au niveau international , les contraintes datent depuis toujours. L'histoire du commerce maritime a toujours montré l'envie de domination des grandes nations sur les autres. Dans un certain temps par le colonialisme pur et simple, lequel a connu des protestations et des soulèvements des peuples colonisés dans le but de retrouver leur indépendance. Ensuite s'est instaurée la domination économique et commerciale, toujours par les mêmes nations, dites développées et industrialisées ; cette fois ci à travers les accords commerciaux bilatéraux ou multilatéraux, et des organismes internationaux (O.N.U., C.N.U.C.E.D., O.M.I., O.M.C., ...). Une grande partie de ces accords et ces conventions a été élaborée sur mesure, sous le lobbying des nations dominantes, de telle sorte que leurs intérêts soient préservés / Ship has a nationality (a flag) allowing her to be identified wherever she is. It's preferred means of transport for international trade of goods, and/or passengers, from a port to port or a country to another. To have a national merchant fleet is vital for the country (or the state), but various constraints hinder its expansion and development. The constraints are both internal and external (hegemony of the major shipping companies, domination of the major maritime nations). Nationally, the registration of a vessel is subject to certain terms. The procedures are cumbersome and complicated ; the legal texts are very old and need to be modified to meet the needs of owners to establish or strengthen their fleets. At the international level, the constraints have always existed. The history of maritime trade has always shown the desire of the great nations to dominate others. First, in a period of pure and simple colonialism, in which protests and uprisings of the colonized peoples occured, in order to regain their independence. Then, the commercial and economic domination has been established, still with the same nations, so-called developed and industrialized ; this time through bilateral or multilateral trade agreements, and international agencies (United Nations, U.N.C.T.A.D., I.M.O., W.T.O., ...). Much of these agreements and conventions were developed and personalized, under the lobbyong of the dominant nations, so that their interests are constantly safeguarded

Cette thèse s'intéresse aux constantes d'Hermite généralisées associées au groupe linéaire adèlique. A l'image de la théorie de Voronoï classique, on y définit deux propriétés, la perfection et l'eutaxie qui caractérisent les maxima locaux de l'invariant d'Hermite. Des inégalités et liens connus dans le cas classique sont étendus au cas général et fournissent la valeur de la constante dans certains cas. Par une théorie des designs définie pour la variété drapeau et semblable à celle des designs sphériques et grassmaniens, on fournit également de nombreux exemples d'objets atteignant l'extrémum. / This thesis studies generalised Hermite constants associated with the adelic general linear group. Like for the classical Voronoi theory, we define two properties, perfection and eutaxy, which characterise the local maxima of the Hermite invariant. Upper bounds and links known in the classical case are extended to the general case and provide the value of the constant in some cases. Through a theory of designs defined for the flag variety and similar to spherical or grassmanian design, we give also many examples of objects reaching locally the extremum.

Magister Economicae - MEcon / The study looked particularly at the operations of national carriers and governments' efforts to sustain the airlines' operations. Evidence has shown that many countries struggle to maintain operations of their flag carriers, but few countries are willing to completely leave the airlines in the hands of the private sector because of national pride. On the other hand, many of those airlines that get into private hands fail and end up being closed down or go back into state hands. These airlines are also perceived to be development tools, in particular for tourism development which is a predominant economic activity in many developing countries. For this reason, many states do not favour privatisation, even though the perception is that the airline industry is better handled by private businesses. The main conclusion of the study for Botswana is therefore that neither full state ownership nor full privatisation is the solution to addressing the problem of ailing flag carriers. There is no single solution, but a combination of several. A broader global view of national airline operations clearly shows that approaches adopted by many successful national airlines, in both developed and developing countries, is some form of partial privatisation. / South Africa

A circular cylinder is a geometrically simple bluff body that occurs in various practical applications. As with any bluff body, it exhibits large drag forces and a strong fluctuating lift force, both related to the strong shedding of vortices from the body, which is commonly referred to as the Karman Street. Rigid splitter plates in the wake of the cylinder are known to suppress shedding from the body, and thereby result in reduced drag and fluctuating lift forces, the latter being important to reduce flow-induced vibrations of the body. In the present work, the flow past a cylinder with a downstream flexible splitter plate/flap is studied, the length (L) and flexural rigidity (EI) of the flap being the main parameters besides the flow speed (U). Two flaps length to cylinder diameter ratios (L/D), namely, a short (L/D = 2) and a long (L/D = 5) flaps have been studied, the shorter one being smaller than the recirculation zone, while the larger is longer than the recirculation zone. In both these cases, the flexural rigidity (EI) and the flow speed are systematically varied. In all cases, the flaps motion are directly visualized, the lift and drag forces are measured with a force balance, and the wake velocity field is measured using PIV. In both the long and short flaps cases, the flexural rigidity (EI) of the flexible flap has been varied over a large range of values, and it has been found that the results for flaps tip motion and forces collapse well when plotted with a non-dimensional bending stiffness (K∗), which is defined as K∗ = EI/(1/2ρU2L3). This collapse occurs across flexible flaps with different values of EI, as long as Re > 5000. The collapse is not found to be good for Re < 5000. This difference appears to be related to the large reduction in fluctuating lift for a bare cylinder in the Re range between approximately 1600 and 5000 discussed by Norberg[41]. In the long flap case, the existence of two types of periodic modes is found within the range of K∗ values from 5 × 10−6 to 1 × 10−1 studied. The first one corresponds to a local peak in amplitude at K∗ ≈ 1.5 × 10−3 that is referred to as mode I, and the second that occurs at low values of K∗ (K∗ < 3 × 10−5) that is referred to as mode II. The fluctuating lift is found to be minimum for the mode I oscillation. The mean drag is also found to reach a broad minimum that starts at K∗ corresponding to mode I and continues to be at the same low level of approximately 65% of the bare cylinder drag for all higher K∗ values, representing an approximately 35% decrease in mean drag of the cylinder. The wake measurements also show significant changes with K∗. The formation length (lf /D) obtained from the closure point of the mean separation bubble is found to continuously increase with K∗, reaching values of approximately 2.6 at mode I and thereafter only small increases are seen as K∗ is increased to large values corresponding to the rigid splitter plate case, consistent with the observed variations in the mean drag. The stream wise and cross-stream turbulent intensities and the Reynolds shear stress are all found to be strikingly lower in the mode I case compared to the bare cylinder case, and more importantly, these values are even lower than the rigid splitter plate case. This is consistent with the shedding of weaker vortices and with the minimum in fluctuating lift found in the mode I case. The results for this flap length show that the mode I flap oscillation, corresponding to K∗ ≈ 1.5 × 10−3, may be useful to reduce lift, drag, velocity fluctuations in the wake and the strength of the shed vortices. In particular, the wake fluctuations corresponding to this mode are found to be significantly lower than the rigid splitter plate case. In the short flap case (L/D = 2), it is found that there exists a richer set of flapping modes compared to the long flap, with these modes being dependent on K∗. At low K∗ values, the flap exhibits large amplitude symmetric flap motion that is referred to as mode A, while clearly asymmetric flaps motion are seen at higher K∗ values corresponding to modes B and C. Mode B corresponds to asymmetric large amplitude flapping motion, while mode C is also asymmetric with the flap clearly deflected off to one side, but having small oscillation amplitudes. At even higher K∗ values, corresponding to mode D, symmetric flaps motion are again seen with the amplitudes being smaller than in mode A. Apart from the flap tip amplitude, the non-dimensional frequency of flap tip motion also changes as the flap changes modes. In this case, there is a minimum in the fluctuating lift corresponding to mode B and C oscillation. The mean drag is found to reach a minimum again corresponding to mode C, which corresponds to an approximately 35% decrease in mean drag of the cylinder. In this case, there is a large increase in fluctuating lift (approximately 150% of the bare cylinder case) at higher values of K∗ that appears to correspond to a “resonant” condition between the structural natural frequency of the flexible splitter plate/flap and the wake shedding frequency of the bare cylinder. The wake measurements show that the formation length (lf /D) is the largest for mode C (deflected flap state), which is consistent with the observed minimum in mean drag observed for this mode. The stream wise and cross-stream turbulent intensities and the Reynolds shear stress are all found to be strikingly lower in the mode C case compared to the bare cylinder case, with the values for the Reynolds shear stress being lower than the rigid splitter plate case. This is again consistent with the minimum in fluctuating lift found in the mode C case. The results for this flap length show that the mode C flap oscillation, corresponding to K∗ ≈ 5 × 10−2 that correspond to a deflected flap state with very small oscillation may be useful to reduce lift, drag, velocity fluctuations in the wake and the strength of the shed vortices. The results from the present study show that the flexible flap/splitter plate down-stream of the cylinder exhibits a variety of mode shapes depending on the effective bending rigidity of the flap K∗ for both the long and short flaps cases. The forces and the wake are also found to be strongly dependent on this parameter K∗ with the wake fluctuations, lift fluctuations and the drag being very effectively suppressed at an intermediate value of K∗ that is found to be dependent on the plate/flap length.

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The outlook for Nile crocodiles in the Olifants River does not look optimistic. Since the increase in capacity of the Loskop and Flag Boshielo Dams, the crocodile population was left with no basking or nesting sites and has declined over the past 30 years. Shortly after the Massingire Dam in Moçambique filled to full capacity an estimated 160 crocodiles died in the Olifants River Gorge, a couple of kilometres upstream from the dam. The Olifants River is acknowledged by many experts as one of the most polluted rivers in South Africa and acid mine drainage, industrial pollution and untreated sewage in the river are all contributing to the poor water quality of the river. Further, the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry acknowledge that water demand already exceeds their capacity to supply and that the situation will worsen considerably in the near future. Aerial surveys of Nile crocodiles in the Olifants River was carried out during December 2005 and November 2009. An average total population of 714 Nile crocodiles were counted and corrected to an estimated 1140 individual crocodiles to eliminate the effects of undercounting. The Kruger National Park and specifically the area of the Olifants River Gorge was found to be one of the preferred habitat areas for crocodiles in the Olifants River as was the Flag Boshielo Dam, the area between the Blyde River and the western boundary of the Kruger National Park and the Olifants River between the Loskop Dam and the Flag Boshielo Dam. Repeated nesting in areas such as the Kruger National Park, the Flag Boshielo Dam and the Olifants River between the Loskop Dam and the Flag Boshielo Dam confirmed that these areas are critically important to the nesting success of Nile crocodiles in the Olifants River. The Elands River was confirmed as an important refuge area for Nile crocodiles in the Groblersdal-Flag Boshielo Dam area of the Olifants River. Surveys revealed an estimated total of only 15 crocodiles in the Loskop Dam and confirmed that no crocodiles in the large (2.1 - 4.0m TL) and very large size class (>4.0m TL) are currently present in the population. Blood biochemistry results indicate that the Olifants River Nile crocodile population probably suffers from chronic inflammation (especially in the Loskop Dam and Olifants River Gorge populations), infectious disease (particularly in the Loskop Dam population but all other sites also showed elevated values), possible inadequate diet and malnutrition (especially during the pansteatitis outbreak of August/September 2008) and are suffering serious immune problems in the Olifants River Gorge. A conservation and management plan is suggested which identifies threats to the continued existence of a viable Nile crocodile population in the Olifants River. Finally, it is suggested that the conservation status and risk of extinction of Nile crocodiles in the Olifants River be upgraded to the Endangered category since it currently complies to the following criteria; EN A2abce; C2a(i) published in the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria Version 3.1 (IUCN, 2001). / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Centre for Wildlife Management / unrestricted

[pt] Esta dissertação tem como objetivo exibir uma fórmula para cálcular o anel de cohomologia de um fibrado flag homogêneo de um grupo de Lie G compacto e conexo. Para concluir o resultado é usado a cohomologia equivariante, em particular, sua abordagem mais algébrica. Isto implica introduzir G- módulos e sua teoria equivariante, o que passa também por introduzir a álgebra de Weil, o modelo de Cartan e o homomorfismo característico. A demonstração do resultado também está fortemente baseada nas propriedades algébricas dos toros maximais de G. / [en] The purpose of this dissertation is to present a formula for calculating the cohomology ring of a homogeneous flag bundles of a compact and connected Lie G group. To conclude the result, the equivalent cohomology is used, in particular, its more algebraic approach. This implies introducing G modules and their equivalent theory, which also involves introducing Weil algebra, Cartans model and characteristic homomorphism. The income statement is also strongly based on the algebraic properties of the maximal torus of G.