The purpose of this study was to develop an instrument to measure high school students’ perceptions of global awareness and attitudes towards global issues. The research questions that guided this study were: (a) Can acceptable validity and reliability estimates be established for an instrument developed to measure high schools students' global awareness? (b) Can acceptable validity and reliability estimates be established for an instrument developed to measure high schools students' attitudes towards global issues? (c) What is the relationship between high school students’ GPA, race/ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, parents’ education, reading and listening habits, the number of classes taken in the social sciences, whether they speak a second language, and have experienced living in or visiting other countries, and their perception of global awareness and attitudes toward global issues? An ex post facto research design was used and the data were collected using a 4-point Likert-type survey. It was administered in 14 schools in the Miami-Dade County area to 704 students. A factor analysis with an orthogonal varimax rotation was used to identify the underlying constructs that were being measured by the instrument – global education, global citizenship, and global workforce. This was done to estimate construct validity. However, the findings indicated two different factors that included the content of the three constructs but had to be labeled differently. They were: factor 1 – self- perception of global awareness and factor 2 – attitudes towards global social issues. Cronbach’s alpha was used to estimate the reliability of the instrument. These findings helped answer the first two research questions. A hierarchical multiple regression was also used. The findings helped determine the relationship of the two factors to the demographics. The overall model indicated that the demographic variables accounted for significant amounts of variance of each of the factor constructs identified. Among the findings, the independent variables, ethnicity and parents’ education were statistically significant for self-perception of global awareness (factor 1). Gender and SES were statistically significant for attitude toward global social issues (factor 2).

Orientador: Jose Roberto da França Arruda / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Mecanica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-19T14:06:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Duarte_MarcusAntonioViana_D.pdf: 34396358 bytes, checksum: a9aca4a09bed3a940f47a334b8e05a75 (MD5) Previous issue date: 1994 / Resumo: Neste trabalho é apresentada uma técnica robusta e flexível para o ajuste de parâmetros de sistemas dinâmicos compostos por subsistemas lineares interconectados por juntas não lineares. As técnicas usuais de ajuste de parâmetros são estudadas, sendo proposta a utilização de uma abordagem de otimização com uma função objetivo baseada na máxima correlação entre curvas de resposta medidas e simuladas. É apresentada uma metodologia para a utilização de síntese modal de componentes, com o objetivo de obter modelos reduzidos de sistemas com não linearidades concentradas. Para a simulação de respostas periódicas de modelos não lineares foi utilizado o método Híbrido Tempo/Freqüência, sendo desenvolvidos procedimentos para melhorar sua estabilidade. Resultados de várias simulações são utilizados para análise de desempenho dos procedimentos desenvolvidos, dando-se especial atenção para os problemas de identificabilidade e a confiabilidade dos valores ajustados. Finalmente, dois modelos experimentais são utilizados para validação da metodologia proposta. Todos os procedimentos computacionais desenvolvidos foram implementados em microcomputador / Abstract: A robust and flexible parameter estimation technique for the identification of mechanical nonlinear joints in dynamic systems consisting of linear subsystems is presented. The usual parameter estimation techniques' are investigated and an objective function based on a maximum correlation criterion (between experimental and simulated response curves) is proposed. A methodology to obtain reduced models with concentrated nonlinearities based on component modal synthesis is presented. A time/frequency domain hybrid method for the simulation of periodic responses of nonlinear models was used. The stability of the hybrid method was enhanced. Various simulated results were used to analyze the performances of the developed procedures. Emphasis was given to problems of identifiability and reliability of the estimated parameter. Finally, two experimental models were used to verify the proposed methodology. The computational procedures were implemented in a microcomputer / Doutorado / Doutor em Engenharia Mecânica

Thesis: S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT Global Studies and Languages, 2019 / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. "February 2019." Vita. / Includes bibliographical references (pages 67-69). / This thesis concerns the question of the relationship that women of African origin have with their hair. Based on an analysis of the perceptions and attitudes of these women towards their hair, the thesis attempts to answer the question: what standards do they hold for their hair, and what factors contribute to that? To respond to these questions, I analyze two media sources created by African women, for a female, African audience -- postcolonial-era magazine, AWA: la revue de lafemme noire, and the modern-day YouTube channel of a young Franco-Senegalese woman, Aïcha Danso. The analysis raises questions about identity and its construction, and the meanings hair holds for black women. It leads to the hypothesis I propose: that natural, kinky hair is fundamentally racialized, and that the ways in which black women choose to style it -- although imbued with meanings that are multidimensional, profound, and personal -- come under structural factors such as the ideals of feminine beauty. / by Sefa A. Yakpo. / S.B. / S.B. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT Global Studies and Languages

Background: Catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) and impoverishing health expenditure (IHE) are significant barriers to surgical care. Worldwide, 3.7 billion people risk financial catastrophe if they require surgery, mostly affecting the poorest populations in LMICs. Surgical CHE and IHE are not described in the South African context. The objectives of this study were: 1) to determine the proportion of surgical participants at New Somerset Hospital (NSH) ), a second-level public sector South African hospital, who experienced CHE and IHE and 2) to determine the risk factors associated with out-of-pocket (OOP) payments. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional retrospective questionnaire administered to participants admitted to any department of surgery (obstetrics, gynaecology, general surgery, urology, otorhinolaryngology, or orthopaedics) for a surgical procedure at NSH. Direct healthcare expenditure for the surgical admission was defined to be catastrophic according to three definitions: 1) OOP payments 10% or more of annual household expenditure (HHE) (CHE10); 2) OOP payments 25% or more of annual HHE (CHE25); 3) OOP payments 40% or more of capacity to pay (CHE40). IHE was based on the national poverty lines and was defined according to new impoverishment or worsening impoverishment, as a result of OOP expenditure on the surgical admission. Multivariate regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between OOP payments and per capita HHE, age, type of procedure, department to which participant was admitted, distance from NSH, and length of stay. Results: Out of the 274 participants interviewed: 263 were included in the analysis (4% attrition rate). Two (0.8%), five (1.9%), and three (1.1%) participants experienced CHE according to the CHE40, CHE10, and CHE25 definitions, respectively. About 98.5% of participants spent less than 10% of their annual HHE, while 95.4% spent less than 10% of their annual non-food expenditure OOP. Median OOP expenditure was R100 (IQR R15 – R350). About 23% of the participants (n=62) were not charged for their surgical admission. Low per capita HHE (p=0.02), cancer (p=0.001), having a non-generous health insurance plan (p=0.002), and the hospital bill amount (p<0.001) correlated positively with OOP expenditure on healthcare. Linear regression revealed that there was no correlation between the proportion of OOP payments and LOS or distance. One in five patients (n=50, 19%) experienced new or worsening impoverishment and were pushed below the poverty line for receiving surgical care at a public hospital. Furthermore, 65 (25%) patients reported their household was unable to cope or household still recovering from the financial burden of the surgical admission. Discussion: Surgical CHE was not common among this study population, however IHE was substantial and the majority of participants incurred OOP for surgical care, with the main drivers of OOP costs being the hospital bill and transport. Financial catastrophe might have been low because: 1) most participants were protected by the uniform patient fee schedule and therefore did not incur a medical bill and 2) direct non-medical costs did not account for a significant proportion of OOP payments. Understanding the financial impacts of OOP health care expenditure is essential in the planning of the impending National Health Insurance in South Africa.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 110-115). / The propagation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) signal from the satellite to the receiver is affected by, among other factors, the atmosphere through which it passes and, whereas the affects of the ionosphere can be eliminated by the differencing of two transmitted frequencies, the affects of the troposphere remain one of the major sources of noise in traditional geodetic and positioning applications of GPS. This noise can, however, be turned into a signal for the meteorologist and, by applying suitable constraints and processing strategies, it is possible to estimate the amount of precipitable water vapour (PWV) in the atmosphere. The application of the GPS data for the estimation of PWV in the atmosphere is not a new concept and has been described in numerous publications and reports since the early 1990's (Bevis et al., 1992, Rocken et al., 1993). This project is, however, an attempt to test the technique using the South African network of permanent GPS base stations. This thesis sets out to answer four fundamental questions: i. In theory, can GPS observations be used to estimate the amount of precipitable water vapour (PWV) in the atmosphere? ii. What permanent GPS networks are being used in other countries around the world for similar applications and how successful are these applications? iii. Can data derived from the South African network of permanent GPS base stations, TrigNet, be used to estimate PWV with sufficient accuracy to be able to supplement the radiosonde upper air measurements of the South African Weather Service (SAWS)? iv. Is the estimation of PWV as derived from the GPS observations a true reflection of reality using the radiosonde ascent measurements and numerical weather model (NWM) data as a method of independent verification? The primary data sets used to estimate atmospheric PWV at hourly intervals for March 2004 were; i. GPS data derived from the South African network of permanent GPS base stations provided by the Chief Directorate of Surveys and Mapping (CDSM); and ii. Surface meteorological measurements supplied by the South African Weather Service (SAWS). The two independent data sets used to verify and test the technique were; i. Upper air measurements derived from radiosonde ascents provided by the SAWS. These measurements were used to compute Integrated Water Vapour (IWV) and then converted to PWV; and ii. PWV estimates derived from a Numerical Weather Model provided by the Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences of UCT. By the comparing the estimates of PWV from the three techniques, viz. GPS, radiosonde and NWM, it was found that GPS will meet the accuracy requirements of the meteorologist and could be used to supplement radiosonde measurements for use in numerical weather models.

[pt] Esta dissertação identificou os fatores que afetam o Global Mindset de líderes globais e o seu efeito nos seus comportamentos da liderança. Para tanto, foi aplicado um questionário on-line baseado no modelo Global Mindset e Comportamento da Liderança de Konyu-Fogel (2011) para uma amostra de 163 líderes que atuam em atividades com escopo internacional de organizações multinacionais ou nacionais, em vinte e duas indústrias na África, Asia, América do Sul, América do Norte, Europa e no Oriente Médio. Concluímos que fatores demográficos tais como idade, gênero e número de línguas estrangeiras faladas não afetam significantemente o Global Mindset, embora líderes com idade superior a 60 anos ou que falem três ou mais línguas possuam maiores escores de Global Mindset. Identificamos também que o local de trabalho é um fator que afeta com significância o escore Global Mindset, confirmando estudos que evidenciam que a sensibilidade entre culturas é altamente dependente do histórico pessoal e da inteligência cultural do indivíduo. Concluindo a análise dos fatores demográficos, identificamos que o fator posição afeta o Global Mindset, tendo sido identificado que as posições Recruitment Partner e CEO apresentam os maiores escores para Global Mindset. Na avaliação do efeito dos fatores organizacionais sobre o Global Mindset, identificamos uma fraca relação em itens como: número total de empregados, número de países que a empresa opera, o percentual de empregados no exterior e local da matriz. Por outro lado, linha de produto (indústria), e o percentual de receita oriunda de operação no exterior impactam significativamente no Global Mindset dos líderes de negócio. Por fim, observamos que o Global Mindset é responsável por até 39,1 por cento de variabilidade no comportamento da liderança, confirmando estudos prévios de que líderes globais com alto Global Mindset são mais prováveis de ter comportamentos de liderança que mostram um entendimento das diferenças entre culturas e países em resposta ao ambiente global. / [en] This dissertation identified factors which affect the Global Mindset of global leaders and its effects on their leadership behaviors. To achieve this objective, an on-line survey based on the Global Mindset and Leadership Behavior instrument developed by Konyu-Fogel (2011) was applied to a sample of 163 leaders which work in positions which require international activities in multinational and national organizations in twenty two product lines (industries) in Africa, Asia, America do Sul, South America, Europe and Middle East. We conclude that demographic factors such as age, gender and number of foreign languages spoken do not significant affect Global Mindset, although leaders older than 60 or who speak at least three foreign languages have higher global mindset scores. We also identified that local of employment is a factor which significantly affect the Global Mindset score, confirming studies which identified that sensitivity across cultures is highly dependent on individual s personal background and cultural intelligence. Concluding the demographic factors analysis, we identified that the factor position affects the Global Mindset, presenting that positions Recruitment Partner and CEO have the higher Global Mindset scores. On assessment of organizational factors effects on Global Mindset, we identified a weak relationship under total number of employees, percentage of employees working overseas, location/country of headquarter s and Global Mindset. On the other hand, product line and number of percentage of revenue from foreign operations significantly affect business leaders Global Mindset. Finally, we noticed that Global Mindset is responsible for 39,1 percent of variability on leadership behavior, confirming previous studies which identified that global leaders with high Global Mindset are more likely to exhibit leadership behaviors which present understanding on differences across cultures and countries in response to the global environment.

Conferencia "Conscious Leadership for Responsible Organizations: Rules for the Road" a cargo del Sr. Ignacio Quintanilla.

The purpose of this study was to inform global citizenship practice as a higher education (HE) agenda by comparing retrospective experiences of a range of community engagement (CE) partners, including the often silent voices of non-researcher partners. HE-CE aims to contribute to social justice as it constructs and transfers new knowledge from the perspectives of a wide range of CE-partners. This qualitative secondary analysis study was framed theoretically by the transformative-emancipatory paradigm and meta-theoretically by phenomenology. Existing case data, generated on retrospective experiences of CE-partners in a long-term CE-partnership, were conveniently sampled to analyse and compare a range of CE-experiences (parents of student-clients (n = 12: females 10, males 2), teachers from the partner rural school (n = 18: females 12, males 6), student-educational psychology clients (n = 31: females 14, males 17), academic service learning (ASL) students (n = 20: females 17, males 3), and researchers (n = 12: females 11, males 1). Existing data sources included verbatim transcriptions of (i) audio-recorded Participatory Reflection and Action (PRA)-directed group sessions (parents, teachers, student-clients), (ii) telephonic interviews (ASL-students, researchers) and semi-structured interviews (ASL-students); as well as rural school context observation data documented textually (audio-visual recordings and photographs) and textually (field notes). A significant insight from this study is that a range of CE-partners experience similar benefits and challenges when a university and rural school partner. Whereas all CE-partners experience HE-CE as beneficial for human capital development, they all experience that HE-CE is challenged by the structural disparity between a rural context and operational miscommunication. CE-partners with higher education levels experienced that the HE partner is an agent that facilitates knowledge generation. These CE-partners indicated that both academic researchers and non-researchers should be valued as equal knowledge co-generator partners. CE-partners within a rural school had expectations of material gain as part of their experience of participating in this CE-partnership. CE-partners involved in educational psychology (ASL) experienced connectedness and support as a result of participating in the FLY intervention. These CE-partners also experienced FLY relationships as a great platform for establishing bonds, whilst learning from peers. I theorise the Progressive Global Citizenship conceptual framework as a guide that points towards boundless engagement in the era of globalisation. This suggests that HE-CE should focus on innovative interventions that have support structures aimed at establishing connections across socio-economic, cultural, racial and academic backgrounds. Therefore, I propose that HE should make a concerted effort to enhance insight, awareness, reflection, exploration and develop critical consciousness among global citizens. In my view, this calls for innovation that moves away from traditional practices in global citizenship. HE should strive to partner with many role-players as an alternative way of broadening the scope towards understanding and enriching CE interventions. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / National Research Foundation (Grant number: 82620 CEC12091412827) University of Pretoria / Educational Psychology / PhD / Unrestricted

Memoria para optar al Título Profesional de Ingeniero en Recursos Naturales Renovables / Los bosques templados de la región de Aysén presentan un alto grado de naturalidad y abarcan más del 30% de los bosques de Chile, concentrando la mayor superficie de bosques templados del hemisferio sur. Estudios previos sobre el efecto del calentamiento global en los bosques de esta región, han sido realizados con datos espacialmente restringidos. Para disminuir la brecha de información en relación a la evaluación espacio-temporal del efecto del calentamiento global en los bosques dela región, se hace uso de variables claves en la interacción con el ambiente. Este estudio se enfoca en analizar la variación de la temperatura superficial de la tierra (LST) y el índice de vegetación de diferencia normalizada (NDVI) de los bosques a escala regional, en el contexto del presente calentamiento global. Para esto se utilizaron imágenes medias mensuales de LST y NDVI derivadas del sensor MODIS. Con estas imágenes se estimó la tasa de cambio a partir del análisis no paramétrico en el período 2001-2015. Además, se calculó la anomalía anual, estacional, mensual para ambos productos, así como las anomalías máximas y mínimas de las zonificaciones de la región: zona oriental, zona occidental, zona con bosque siempreverde y zona con bosque caducifolio (Nothofagus pumilio). Los resultados mostraron una tendencia positiva para la temperatura de 0.42 K por década (p≤0.05) en los bosques. Además, para NDVI se detectó una tendencia de 0.008 por década, con significancia estadística en la zona occidental (p≤0.05). Durante los años con máximos de temperatura, hubo cambios en el comportamiento del NDVI. Las anomalías mínimas de temperatura mostraron un incremento en todas las zonas, mientras las anomalías de NDVI presentaron una mayor disminución en la zona de bosques caducifolio. Esta investigación da un contexto para la gestión y el estudio de los bosques a escala regional, relacionada con los efectos del calentamiento global y los posibles impactos en la vulnerabilidad de los bosques templados del sur Chile.

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