International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 27-30, 1997 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / A target missile is a unique piece of test hardware. This test tool must be highly reliable, low cost and simple and must perform any task that the developing interceptor missile planners require. The target missile must have ample power and guidance resources to put the target in a specified place in the sky at a desired time. The telemetry and measurement system for the target missile must have the same requirements as its interceptor missile but must be flexible enough to accept new requirements as they are applied to the target and its interceptor. The United States Army has tasked Coleman Aerospace to design and build this type of target missile. This paper describes and analyzes the telemetry and instrumentation system that a Hera target missile carries. This system has been flying for the past two years, has completed seven out of seven successful test flights and has accomplished all test objectives to date. The telemetry and instrumentation system is an integral part of the missile self-test system. All preflight checks and flight simulations are made with the on-board three-link telemetry system through a radio frequency (RF) link directly through the missile antenna system to a ground station antenna. If an RF transmission path is not available due to test range restrictions, a fiber-optic cable links the pulse code modulator (PCM) encoder to the receiving ground stations which include the bitsync, decommutator and recorders. With this capability, alternative testing is not limited by RF test range availability. The ground stations include two mobile stations and a factory station for all testing including preflight testing of the missile system prior to flight test launches. These three ground stations are built in a single configuration with additional equipment in the mobile units for use at remote locations. The design, fabrication, testing and utilization of these ground stations are reviewed. The telemetry system is a modification of the classical PCM system and will operate with its interceptor missile at least into the first decade from the year 2000.

The use of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as the primary measure of economic progress has arguably led to unintended consequences of environmental degradation and socially skewed outcomes. The Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) was designed to reveal the trade offs associated with conventional economic growth and to assess the broader impact of economic benefits and costs on sustainable human welfare. Although originally designed for use at the national scale, an interest has developed in the United States in a state-level uptake of the GPI to inform and guide policy. However, questions exist about the quality and legitimacy of the GPI as a composite indicator. These questions include concerns about the underlying assumptions, the monetary weights and variables used, statistical rigor, magnitude of data collection required, and lack of a transparent governance mechanism for the metric. This study aims to address these issues and explore the GPI through a design-thinking lens as both a design artifact and intervention. The leading paper in this dissertation offers the first GPI accounting for all 50 U.S. states. State GPI results are introduced and compared to Gross State Product (GSP). Then an analysis of the components to GPI reveals which drive the differences in outcomes, including examining the sustainability aspects of the state-level results. The second paper investigates the quality of the GPI as a composite indicator by testing its sensitivity to numerical assumptions and relative magnitudes of components, with particular attention to the possible unintended policy consequences of the design. The third paper seeks to answer the question of both efficiency (data parsimony) and effectiveness (comparatively to other indicators) by analysis of correlations between GPI components and with other state-level indicators such as the Gallup Well-Being Indicator, Ecological Footprint, and UN Human Development Index. To garner insight about possible GPI improvements, goals, and governance gaps in the informal U.S GPI network, the final paper dives into processes, outputs, and outcomes from the community of practice as revealed through a facilitated U.S. GPI workshop.

In this thesis, we propose an investment strategy for the world mutual funds. We first define the global trend indicator (GTI) for evaluating the price change trend of the funds in the future. Then, based on GTI, we derive the monitoring indicator (MI) to measure whether the fund market is in the bull or bear state. MI decides the buying or selling signal. The goodness of a fund is determined by some weighted combination of short-term performance and long-term performance. The weights of various performances are decided by the genetic algorithm, which can dynamically adjusted with priorities of interested funds according to their past performances (profitability). When a buying signal is triggered by MI, the funds with high performance are more likely to be picked than those with low performance. In our experimental results from January 1999 to December 2008 (10 years in total), we achieve the annual profit higher than 10%, which is a significant improvement to other existing methods.

This thesis uses the United Nations Human Development Index as a model for comparing a selected set of socioeconomic indicators across Florida’s sixty-seven counties. Whether for urban planning, hazards mitigation, transportation forecasting, or other county-level and state-level functions, information and understanding of socioeconomic conditions are keys to efficient planning and policy making, both in the early development stages as well as during implementation. A summary overview of socioeconomic well-being and its distribution across a given area offers a distinct advantage in terms of deciding where planning or policy changes are most needed and where they will prove most beneficial. This thesis takes a well-established and well documented index used for examining and comparing human development in nations across the globe, and modifies it for comparing county-level socioeconomic conditions across Florida. The results from this modified index are then displayed using choropleth maps as an aid to location interpretation of the ranked socioeconomic values, thereby providing a spatial context for the indexing. In the end, this thesis seeks to answer whether or not the modified index model is a suitable one for normalizing, aggregating, and ranking county-level socioeconomic data for Florida, and whether the use of choropleth mapping to display the rankings is a viable choice.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2003. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

I examine whether sales news and cash flow news are more informative in valuation when they are consistent with earnings news. Prior studies show that earnings response coefficient (ERC) is larger when the earnings surprise is consistent in sign with the sales surprise or the cash flow surprise because the consistency suggests higher earnings persistence. I provide new evidence that indicator consistency increases sales response coefficient and cash flow response coefficient as well as ERC. This consistency effect for sales and cash flow cannot be explained by the standard persistence argument from prior studies. I propose a new argument that can explain the consistency effects for all three indicators. I posit that investors perceive consistent indicators to each be more precise and thus rely more on each indicator. Under this precision argument, I predict and show that indicator consistency is particularly useful when there is high uncertainty about indicator precision. / Business Administration/Accounting

Este trabalho verificou o tema de segurança de processos no segmento de plataformas de produção de petróleo e gás no mar de forma a propor um modelo de indicadores globais a fim de facilitar a identificação de fragilidades no gerenciamento de riscos de processos da indústria de produção de petróleo e gás natural no mar. O resultado esperado é o fornecimento de dados para a otimização de recursos regulatórios na busca da melhoria da segurança operacional. Para tal, buscando conhecer a postura das empresas no cumprimento da necessidade regulamentar da implementação de um Sistema de Gestão de Segurança de Processos (SGSP), foram identificadas as principais práticas preventivas para a o gerenciamento de riscos. Por conseguinte, mensurou-se o esforço na implementação deste SGSP como correlação direta para a prevenção de acidentes (foco preventivo). Já a análise dos resultados deste gerenciamento de riscos (foco reativo) foi obtido através incidentes operacionais classificados de acordo com sua respectiva importância/impacto, dentro de linhas de corte pré-estabelecidas. Assim, o indicador Global preventivo (IGPRV) e o Indicador Global reativo (IGRTV) foram elaborados agregando diferentes indicadores específicos de cada segmento para simplificar a análise e incluir a articulação de conceitos de segurança de processos à atuação regulatória. Os indicadores globais propostos quantificam conceitos subjetivos e complexos para o estabelecimento de metas e permitem aferir o desempenho das ações e projetos da regulação da indústria. Também permitem a identificação e a disseminação das melhores práticas de gerenciamento de riscos, comparando-as em diferente níveis de gerenciamento. Na análise dos resultados, pôde-se perceber que a utilização dos indicadores globais propostos pode responder com sucesso às necessidades regulatórias identificadas

Este trabalho verificou o tema de segurança de processos no segmento de plataformas de produção de petróleo e gás no mar de forma a propor um modelo de indicadores globais a fim de facilitar a identificação de fragilidades no gerenciamento de riscos de processos da indústria de produção de petróleo e gás natural no mar. O resultado esperado é o fornecimento de dados para a otimização de recursos regulatórios na busca da melhoria da segurança operacional. Para tal, buscando conhecer a postura das empresas no cumprimento da necessidade regulamentar da implementação de um Sistema de Gestão de Segurança de Processos (SGSP), foram identificadas as principais práticas preventivas para a o gerenciamento de riscos. Por conseguinte, mensurou-se o esforço na implementação deste SGSP como correlação direta para a prevenção de acidentes (foco preventivo). Já a análise dos resultados deste gerenciamento de riscos (foco reativo) foi obtido através incidentes operacionais classificados de acordo com sua respectiva importância/impacto, dentro de linhas de corte pré-estabelecidas. Assim, o indicador Global preventivo (IGPRV) e o Indicador Global reativo (IGRTV) foram elaborados agregando diferentes indicadores específicos de cada segmento para simplificar a análise e incluir a articulação de conceitos de segurança de processos à atuação regulatória. Os indicadores globais propostos quantificam conceitos subjetivos e complexos para o estabelecimento de metas e permitem aferir o desempenho das ações e projetos da regulação da indústria. Também permitem a identificação e a disseminação das melhores práticas de gerenciamento de riscos, comparando-as em diferente níveis de gerenciamento. Na análise dos resultados, pôde-se perceber que a utilização dos indicadores globais propostos pode responder com sucesso às necessidades regulatórias identificadas

Niobium and rare earth elements (REE) are considered as strategic metals in industrialised countries, and are mainly derived from carbonatite-related deposits. Indicator mineral methods for carbonatites using of portable XRF and Quantitative Evaluation of Materials by Scanning Electron Microscopy (QEMSCAN®), shows promise in exploration for Nb and REE. Portable XRF analysis of stream sediments from the Aley, Lonnie, and Wicheeda carbonatites identified 125-250 μm as the ideal size fraction for indicator mineral studies. QEMSCAN® provides (with no additional processing) detection and characterisation of indicator minerals (when found in high concentrations) from carbonatite deposits. Preconcentration by Mozley C800 separator is recommended for sediment samples with low concentrations of indicator minerals. Discrimination diagrams for pyrochlore supergroup and columbite-tantalite series minerals show that minerals from carbonatites occupy the pyrochlore field and extend slightly into the betafite field. Columbite-tantalite series minerals from carbonatites have Mn/(Mn+Fe) atomic ratios ≤0.25 and Ta/(Ta+Nb) ≤0.20. The compositional fields for pyrochlore supergroup and colubmite-tanatlite series minerals from different deposit types partially overlap. / Graduate / 0996 / 0411 / 0372

Thesis (MEd)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In South Africa effective leadership is an important priority in all walks of life. With the implementation of Curriculum 2005, greater emphasis is placed on the development of leadership skills to prepare learners for leadership demands in adult life. In order to do this one must firstly create leadership opportunities. Secondly it is important to convey the knowledge and skills necessary for the optimum fulfillment of their roles as leaders. Personality types and preferences as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the leader and other group members can be utilized to enhance teamwork and improve leadership. The empirical investigation comprised the determination of the personality types of the research group as well as leadership positions held by them during their school careers, and the leadership skills perceived as important by them. Fifty youth leaders, representative of head boys and head girls in former model C schools, who attended the conference for youth leaders annually hosted by Die Burger, were used as the investigation group. For the purpose of this research the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI®), Form G, was used. The MBTI® is based on Carl Jung's theory of personality types. The most important findings of the study are that trends exist in the personality types that were reported by the youth leaders. The dominant personality type preference of the youth leaders was ESTJ. This shows a preference for extroversion (E), sensing (S), thinking (T) and judging (J). Good interpersonal relationships, listening skills and high moral values were identified as the most important characteristics for effective leadership. The implications for leadership development, emanating from the knowledge of the personality types and preferences of the youth leaders, are discussed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In Suid-Afrika is effektiewe leierskap op alle vlakke van die samelewing 'n belangrike prioriteit. Ook in die opvoedingsituasie word daar met die implementering van Kurrikulum 2005 groter klem geplaas op die ontwikkeling van leierskapsvaardighede om leerders voor te berei vir leierskapseise wat in hulle volwasse leeftyd gestel gaan word. Om dit te kan doen moet daar in die eerste plek geleenthede geskep word waartydens die leerders leierskap kan beoefen en tweedens is dit belangrik dat kennis en vaardighede wat die leerder kan help om sy rol as leier so suksesvol moontlik te vervul, aan hom oorgedra word. Kennis oor die leier en ander groeplede se persoonlikheidstipes en voorkeure asook elkeen se sterkpunte en leemtes kan suksesvol benut word om groepsamewerking te verbeter en sodoende suksesvolle leierskap te bevorder. Die empiriese gedeelte van die ondersoek het die vasstelling van die ondersoekgroep se persoonlikheidstipes, die leierskapsposisies wat deur hulle beklee is gedurende hulle skoolloopbaan asook die leierskapseienskappe wat deur die betrokke leerders as belangrik geag is, behels. 'n Ondersoekgroep van 50 jeugleiers, bestaande uit 'n seleksie van hoofseuns en -meisies in die vorige Model C skole wat Die Burger se jaarlikse jeugleierskonferensie bygewoon het, word by hierdie navorsing betrek. Vir die doel van hierdie ondersoek word gebruik gemaak van die Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI®), vorm G. Die MBTI® is gebaseer op Carl Jung se persoonlikheidsteorie. Die belangrikste bevindinge van die ondersoek is dat daar tendense bestaan in die persoonlikheidstipes wat meer algemeen by jeugleiers voorkom. Die oorwegende persoonlikheidstipevoorkeur wat by die jeugleiers voorgekom het, was ESTJ. Dit dui 'n voorkeur vir ekstroversie(E); sintuiglike waarneming (S); denke (T) en beoordeling (J) aan. Goeie luistervaardighede en hoë morele waardes is as die belangrikste eienskappe vir effektiewe leierskap geïdentifiseer. Die implikasies vir die leierskapsontwikkeling van leerders wat voortspruit uit die kennis van leiers se persoonlikheidstipe en -voorkeure, word bespreek.