The aim of the study is to determine effects of passive warming up on muscle contraction force while performing maximum intensity short veloergometric test and vertical jumps. Untrained healthy males took part in both experiments within the study. Subjects (n=13) had to perform maximal veloergometric effort with different resistance (3% and 10% of their own weight) for 5 seconds during first test. Then they performed passive warming up and repeated the test. Maximal motion frequency and power output were determined. Other subjects (n=14) had to perform maximal single jumps (one with squat and one without) during second test. Then they performed passive warming up and repeated the test. Maximal set off speed, strength, power output and jump height were determined. Maximal motion frequency and maximal power output after passive warming up in veloergometric test were significantly (p<0, 05) greater than before it. Maximal set off speed after passive warming up in jumping test was significantly (p<0, 05) greater, but maximal set off strength did not differ significantly performing both types of jumps. However jump height significantly increased in both cases. In conclusion, the results indicate that in untrained subjects, passive warming up improves muscles’ power output in both experiments. Another conclusion is that passive warming up has much greater effect on contraction speed than on muscles’ strength.

Mining operations exploit mineral deposits, processing a portion of the extracted material to produce salable products. The concentration of valuable commodities within these deposits, or the grade, is heterogeneous. Not all material has sufficiently high grades to economically justify processing. Cut-off grade is the lowest grade at which material is considered ore and is processed to create a concentrated commodity product. The choice of cut-off grade at a mining project can be varied over time and dramatically impacts both the operation of the mine and the economics of the project. The majority of literature and the accepted industry practices focus on optimizing cut-off grade under known commodity prices. However, most mining operations sell their products into highly competitive global markets, which exhibit volatile commodity prices. Making planning decisions assuming that a given commodity price prediction is accurate can lead to sub-optimal cut-off grade strategies and inaccurate valuations. Some academic investigations have been conducted to optimize cut-off grade under stochastic or uncertain price conditions. These works made large simplifications in order to facilitate the computation of a solution. These simplifications mean that detailed mine planning data cannot be used and the complexities involved in many real world projects cannot be considered. A new method for optimizing cut-off grade under stochastic or uncertain prices is outlined and demonstrated. The model presented makes use of theory from the field of Real Options and is designed to incorporate real mine planning data. The model introduces two key innovations. The first is the method in which it handles the cut-off grade determination. The second innovation is the use of a stochastic price model of the entire futures curve and not simply a stocastic spot price model. The model is applied to two cases. The first uses public data from a National Instrument 43-101 report. The second case uses highly detailed, confidential data, provided by a mining company from one of their operating mines. / Thesis (Master, Mining Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2012-04-30 22:36:51.257

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Ce travail est un défrichement qui cherche à explorer les usages de la voix-over dans le cinéma documentaire. Questionnant sa nature éminemment hétérogène, cette étude de la voix dans le registre over portera d'abord sur sa matérialité dans le champ du sonore, avant de s'attarder à ses fonctions dans l'élaboration du discours documentaire. Comme il s'agit d'une entreprise nouvelle, il y aura de nombreux aller-retours entre les très rares études menées sur la voix-over–presque exclusivement circonscrites au cinéma de fiction (Kozloff, Châteauvert, Boillat)–et différents travaux théoriques et critiques traitant des enjeux de la représentation du réel dans le cinéma documentaire (Nichols, Niney, Gauthier). Cela permettra de mettre en lumière le cas du cinéma documentaire où la voix-over occupe des fonctions beaucoup moins narratives que discursives. Il sera vu comment cette parole (comme occurrence sonore et comme productrice de sens) est posée par-dessus (over) les images, entretenant avec elles des rapports d'interdépendance parfois convergents, mais parfois divergents. On comprendra aussi que dans son usage spécifiquement documentaire, la voix-over contribue à rendre plus manifeste la prise de parole d'un sujet sensible et pensant qui offre ni plus ni moins une interprétation du monde. Aussi, ce mémoire est un diptyque. Le présent texte doit donc être considéré en correspondance avec le film documentaire D'où, chose étonnante, rien ne s'en suit, qui constitue le deuxième volet de l'ouvrage. Mots clés : cinéma, documentaire, voix-over, parole, son. / This exploratory thesis examines the various practices of voice-over in documentary film. Questioning the highly heterogeneous nature of voice in the over register, I first discuss it with respect to the material aspects of sound before examining it’s functions in the elaboration of documentary discourse. Because this is a new undertaking, I will travel back- and-forth between the rare studies concerning voice-over–almost exclusively confined to fiction film (Kozloff, Châteauvert, Boillat)–and works proposing different theoretical and critical views on the representation of reality in documentary films (Nichols, Niney, Gauthier). This will help bring to light the specificities of documentay cinema where voice- over is used less towards the production of a narrative and more towards the articulation of discourse. With the help of examples from a range of documentary films, I will show how speech (both as an occurrence of sound and as a means of producing meaning) is placed over the images, in a sometimes converging, but sometimes diverging, interdependent relationship. This will help demonstrate that the specific use of voice-over in documentary film makes manifest the act of speech of the sensitive, thinking subject who offers, no more no less, than an interpretation of the world. Also, this thesis is a diptych and needs to be considered in correspondence with the documentary film D'où, chose étonnante, rien ne s'en suit that constitutes second part of the work. Keywords : cinema, documentary, voice-over, speech, sound. / Il s'agit d'une maîtrise-création donc le texte s'accompagne du film en fichier complémentaire.

Zur Versorgung ausländischer Märkte bedienen sich Unternehmen unterschiedlicher Versorgungsformen. Die proximity-concentration trade-off-Literatur betrachtet die Wahl zwischen Export und Auslandsproduktion und erklärt die Entstehung von internationalem Handel und horizontalen ausländischen Direktinvestitionen. Das Standardmodell von Brainard (1993) integriert die Auslandsproduktion als alternative Versorgungsform zum Handel in ein allgemeines Gleichgewichtsmodell mit zwei Ländern, monopolistischer Konkurrenz, steigenden Skalenerträgen und Transportkosten. Im Gleichgewicht versorgen Unternehmen ausländische Märkte entweder durch Exporte oder eine Auslandsproduktion. Die real zu beobachtende Ko-Existenz von internationalem Handel und ausländischen Direktinvestitionen auf der Unternehmensebene kann mit diesem Modell nicht erklärt werden. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wird die Exportplattform (EP) als mögliche Antwort auf dieses Phänomen herangezogen. Eine Exportplattform ist eine Auslandsproduktion, durch die nicht nur der lokale Auslandsmarkt, sondern auch Drittländer versorgt werden. Im modelltheoretischen Teil dieser Arbeit wird ein partialanalytisches EP-Modell formuliert, dass auf Brainard (1993) aufbaut. Dabei wird ihr Modell um eine Mehr-Länder-Welt mit heterogener Verteilungsstruktur erweitert und die Versorgungsalternative der EP-Exporte nach dem Beispiel von Neary (2002) integriert. Durch die analytische Lösung des partiellen Gleichgewichts lässt sich die substitutive Beziehung zwischen Heimatexporten, Auslandsproduktion und EP-Exporten aufzeigen. Ferner kann die Wirkung der Versorgungskosten auf die Versorgungswahl analysiert werden. Dabei wird neben der analytischen Modellbeschreibung besonders auf die Gleichgewichtsbestimmung und die Existenz der Gleichgewichte eingegangen. Aufbauend auf den analytisch abzuleitenden Hypothesen wird das EP-Modell ferner einem empirischen Signifikanztest unterzogen. Unter Anwendung von nicht-linearen Regressionsverfahren wird die Wahl zwischen EP-Exporten und Auslandsproduktion, zwischen EP- und Heimatexporten sowie zwischen EP-Exporten und der EP-Produktion separat geschätzt. Hierfür wird auf Daten der Automobilindustrie zurückgegriffen, welche die regionalen PKW-Produktions- und -Absatzdaten sämtlicher Automobilhersteller in Osteuropa, Asien und Ozeanien umfassen. / The proximity-concentration trade-off literature explains the choice between international trade and foreign direct investments. In this book, the co-existence of international trade and foreign direct investments is explained by analyzing the choice of export platforms. First, a partial equilibrium model with monopolistic competition, increasing economies of scale, trade costs and fixed costs is developed and enhanced with a heterogeneous, spatial distribution of regions. Second, hypothesis are tested with international trade and production data from the automotive industry.

Abstract Background Todays guidelines for advanced CPR emphasize chest compressions with good quality and early defibrillation. Prehospital CPR performed by ambulance crew, an automated external defibrillator (AED) is used. The AED analyzes the heart rhythm and the performer is following the advice to chock the heart or not, given by the AED. During on-going CPR there are sequences when no chest compression is performed known as hands-off time. Hands-off time includes the time for the AED to analyze the heart rhythm and the time when advice is given to the crew. Studies show that prolonged hands-off time has a negative impact on survival after a sudden cardiac arrest. Purpose The purpose with this study was to look into if the hands-off time could decrease with use of manual mode on the defibrillator by the ambulance crew. The crew had to analyze, make a decision to chock or not, charge the defibrillator and give the chock if appropriate. Furthermore, the crews’ knowledge in analyzing heart rhythms that can be defibrillate was investigated.  Method A quasi-experimental method was used. 38 participants, all ambulance crew, were included in the study. The participants were randomized into two groups. One group performed CPR with an AED, the second group used the manual mode on the defibrillator. The study data were processed in SPSS. Results The time preceding the first defibrillation was significant shorter in the group using manual mode. There was no difference in total hands-off time between the two groups. All heart rhythms were interpreted right and all defibrillation were done correctly. Conclusions Time from establish cardiac arrest to first defibrillation was significant shorter in manual mode. Furthermore, all heart rhythms were interpreted right and all defibrillation were done correctly. Time from first defibrillation to start of chest compressions was equal in the two groups. There were no significant differences in hands-off time between the two groups.   Keyword: ambulance, cardiac arrest, automatic external defibrillator, manual defibrillator, manual rhythm analyze, hands-off time

Off-policy reinforcement learning is useful in many contexts. Maei, Sutton, Szepesvari, and others, have recently introduced a new class of algorithms, the most advanced of which is GQ(lambda), for off-policy reinforcement learning. These algorithms are the first stable methods for general off-policy learning whose computational complexity scales linearly with the number of parameters, thereby making them potentially applicable to large applications involving function approximation. Despite these promising theoretical properties, these algorithms have received no significant empirical test of their effectiveness in off-policy settings prior to the current work. Here, GQ(lambda) is applied to a variety of prediction and control domains, including on a mobile robot, where it is able to learn multiple optimal policies in parallel from random actions. Overall, we find GQ(lambda) to be a promising algorithm for use with large real-world continuous learning tasks. We believe it could be the base algorithm of an autonomous sensorimotor robot.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In a minerals processing environment, stable production processes, cost minimisation and energy efficiency are key to operational excellence, safety and profitability. At an ilmenite smelter, typically found in the heavy minerals industry, it is no different. Management of an ilmenite smelting process is a complex, multi-variable challenge with high costs and safety risks at stake. A by-product of ilmenite smelting is superheated carbon monoxide (CO) gas, or furnace off-gas. This gas is inflammable and extremely poisonous to humans. At the same time the gas is a potential energy source for various on-site heating applications. Re-using furnace off-gas can increase the energy efficiency of the energy intensive smelting process and can save on the cost of procuring other gas for heating purposes. In this research project, the management of CO gas from the Tronox KZN Sands ilmenite smelter in South Africa was studied with the aim of optimising the current utilisation of the gas. In the absence of any buffer capacity in the form of a pressure vessel, the stability of the available CO gas is directly dependent on the stability of the furnaces. The CO gas has been identified as a partial replacement for methane gas which is currently purchased for drying and heating of feed material and pre-heating of certain smelter equipment. With no buffer capacity between the furnaces and the gas consuming plants, a dynamic prioritisation approach had to be found if the CO was to replace the methane. The dynamics of this supply-demand problem, which has been termed the “CO gas problem”, needed to be studied. A discrete-event simulation model was developed to match the variable supply of CO gas to the variable demand for gas over time – the demand being a function of the availability of the plants requesting the gas, and the feed rates and types of feed material processed at those plants. The problem was formulated as a multi-objective optimisation problem with the two main, conflicting objectives, identified as: 1) the average production time lost per plant per day due to CO-methane switchovers; and 2) the average monthly saving on methane gas costs due to lower consumption thereof. A metaheuristic, namely multi-objective optimisation using the cross-entropy method, or MOO CEM, was applied as optimisation algorithm to solve the CO gas problem. The performance of the MOO CEM algorithm was compared with that of a recognised benchmark algorithm for multi-objective optimisation, the NSGA II, when both were applied to the CO gas problem. The background of multi-objective optimisation, metaheuristics and the usage of furnace off-gas, particularly CO gas, were investigated in the literature review. The simulation model was then developed and the optimisation algorithm applied. The research aimed to comment on the merit of the MOO CEM algorithm for solving the dynamic, stochastic CO gas problem and on the algorithm’s performance compared to the benchmark algorithm. The results served as a basis for recommendations to Tronox KZN Sands in order to implement a project to optimise usage and management of the CO gas. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In mineraalprosessering is stabiele produksieprosesse, kostebeperking en energie-effektiwiteit sleuteldrywers tot bedryfsprestasie, veiligheid en wins. ‘n Ilmenietsmelter, tipies aangetref in swaarmineraleprosessering, is geen uitsondering nie. Die bestuur van ‘n ilmenietsmelter is ‘n komplekse, multi-doelwit uitdaging waar hoë kostes en veiligheidsrisiko’s ter sprake is. ‘n Neweproduk van die ilmenietsmeltproses is superverhitte koolstofmonoksiedgas (CO gas). Hierdie gas is ontvlambaar en uiters giftig vir die mens. Terselfdertyd kan hierdie gas benut word as energiebron vir allerlei verhittingstoepassings. Die herbenutting van CO gas vanaf die smelter kan die energie-effektiwiteit van die energie-intensiewe smeltproses verhoog en kan verder kostes bespaar op die aankoop van ‘n ander gas vir verhittingsdoeleindes. In hierdie navorsingsprojek is die bestuur van die CO gasstroom wat deur die ilmenietsmelter van Tronox KZN Sands in Suid-Afrika geproduseer word, ondersoek met die doel om die huidige benuttingsvlak daarvan te verbeter. Weens die afwesigheid van enige bufferkapasiteit in die vorm van ‘n drukbestande tenk, is die stabiliteit van CO gas beskikbaar vir hergebruik direk afhanklik van die stabiliteit van die twee hoogoonde wat die gas produseer. Die CO gas kan gedeeltelik metaangas, wat tans aangekoop word vir die droog en verhitting van voermateriaal en vir die voorverhitting van sekere smeltertoerusting, vervang. Met geen bufferkapasiteit tussen die hoogoonde en die aanlegte waar die gas verbruik word nie, was die ondersoek van ‘n dinamiese prioritiseringsbenadering nodig om te kon vasstel of die CO die metaangas kon vervang. Die dinamika van hierdie vraag-aanbod probleem, getiteld die “CO gasprobleem”, moes bestudeer word. ‘n Diskrete-element simulasiemodel is ontwikkel as probleemoplossingshulpmiddel om die vraag-aanbodproses te modelleer en die prioritiseringsbenadering te ondersoek. Die doel van die model was om oor tyd die veranderlike hoeveelhede van geproduseerde CO teenoor die veranderlike gasaanvraag te vergelyk. Die vlak van gasaanvraag is afhanklik van die beskikbaarheidsvlak van die aanlegte waar die gas verbruik word, sowel as die voertempo’s en tipes voermateriaal in laasgenoemde aanlegte. Die probleem is geformuleer as ‘n multi-doelwit optimeringsprobleem met twee hoof, teenstrydige doelwitte: 1) die gemiddelde verlies aan produksietyd per aanleg per dag weens oorgeskakelings tussen CO en metaangas; 2) die gemiddelde maandelikse besparing op metaangaskoste weens laer verbruik van dié gas. ‘n Metaheuristiek, genaamd MOO CEM (multi-objective optimisation using the cross-entropy method), is ingespan as optimeringsalgoritme om die CO gasprobleem op te los. Die prestasie van die MOO CEM algoritme is vergelyk met dié van ‘n algemeen aanvaarde riglynalgoritme, die NSGA II, met beide toepas op die CO gasprobleem. The agtergrond van multi-doelwit optimering, metaheuristieke en die benutting van hoogoond af-gas, spesifiek CO gas, is ondersoek in die literatuurstudie. Die simulasiemodel is daarna ontwikkel en die optimeringsalgoritme is toegepas.

The problem of this study was to determine through a review of the literature the reliability and validity of using student, alumni and faculty perceptions of program quality as criteria in the evaluation of off-campus programs, developing data gathering instruments to obtain these perceptions, administering the instruments, and determining if there were significant differences in the ratings within and between the three groups.

Bakgrund Forskningen kring kapitalstrukturens påverkan på lönsamhet har fått vitt skilda resultat, en del resultat pekar på att en högre andel lån är fördelaktigt och andra resultat tyder på det motsatta. Orsaker till detta kan bero på exempelvis olika förutsättningar i olika länder, branscher och företagsstorlekar. Medelstora företag har ofta ingått i undersökningar tillsammans med små, men forskning har sällan skett koncentrerat på medelstora företag. Studien har valt att göra en undersökning fokuserat på medelstora företag eftersom de är relativt outforskade. Syfte Syftet med denna studie är att dels beskriva sambandet mellan kapitalstruktur och lönsamhet bland svenska medelstora kapitalintensiva företag och dels förklara sambandet utifrån pecking order och trade off theory. Metod En kapitalintensiv bransch valdes ut dels för att göra företagen i urvalet mer jämförbara med varandra och dels för att kapitalintensiva företag möter finansieringsfrågor i större grad. Metallindustri valdes ut som en representant för kapitalintensiva företag. Årsredovisningar från samtliga företag som uppfyllde kriterierna kring företagsstorlek undersöktes. Linjär regressionsanalys användes för att studera sambanden mellan kapitalstruktur och lönsamhet. Resultat och Slutsats Resultatet av studien visade att ROA är negativt korrelerat med total skuldandel och kortfristig skuldandel, dock kunde inget samband påvisas mellan ROA och långfristig skuldandel. Det kunde inte påvisas något samband mellan ROE och total skuldandel, kortfristig skuldandel eller långfristig skuldandel. Studiens resultat visar att företag med högre andel lån tenderar prestera sämre mätt i ROA, men ROE påverkas inte. / Background Research on the impact of capital structure on profitability has shown very different results, some results show that a higher ratio of debt is beneficial and other results suggests the opposite. The reasons for this may be due, for example, to different conditions in different countries, industries and company sizes. Medium-sized companies have often been involved in surveys together with small ones, but research has rarely been concentrated on medium-sized companies. The study focused on medium-sized companies because they are relatively unexplored. Purpose The purpose of the study is to describe the relationship between capital structure and profitability among Swedish medium-sized capital-intensive companies and explain the relationship with pecking order and trade off theory. Method A capital intensive industry was chosen partly to make the companies in the sample more comparable to each other and partly because capital intensive companies encounters more financing decisions. Metal-industry was chosen as a representative of capital intensive companies. Annual reports from all companies that met the criteria for company size were examined. Linear regression analysis was used to study relationships between capital structure and profitability. Result and Conclusion The result of the study showed that ROA is negatively correlated with total debt ratio and shortterm debt ratio, but no correlation between ROA and long-term debt ratio could be found. There was no correlation between ROE and long-term debt ratio, short-term debt ratio or long-term debt ratio. The results show that companies with higher debt ratio tend to perform worse when measured in ROA. However, ROE was not affected by debt ratio.