In the following thesis we will be mostly concerned with questions related to the regularity of solutions to non-linear elasticity models in the calculus of variations. An important step in this is question is the approximation of Sobolev homeomorphisms by diffeomorphisms. We refine an approximation result of Hencl and Pratelli's which, for a given planar Sobolev (or Sobolev-Orlicz) homeomorphism, constructs a diffeomorphism arbitrarily close to the original map in uniform convergence and in terms of the Sobolev-Orlicz norm. Further we show, in dimension 4 or higher, that such an approximation result cannot hold in Sobolev spaces W1,p where p is too small by constructing a sense-preserving homeomorphism with Jacobian negative on a set of positive measure. The class of mappings referred to as mappings of finite distortion have been proposed as possible models for deformations of bodies in non-linear elasticity. In this context a key property is their continuity. We show, by counter-example, the surprising sharpness of the modulus of continuity with respect to the integrability of the distortion function. Also we prove an optimal regularity result for the inverse of a bi-Lipschitz Sobolev map in Wk,p and composition of Lipschitz maps in Wk,p comparable with the classical inverse mapping theorem. As a...

The theme of this diploma thesis are public procurement below - threshold to delivery. The aim of the work is to evaluate the relation between openess of competition and savings of public sources. The openess of competition is measured in quantity of tenders, savings is established at the price differention, which is defined as ratio of final to original price of order. A data file containt 882 orders was good base for regress analysis, which proved the negative relation between quantity of tenders and the price differention. With every additional tender is savings of public sources higher. In the end of the thesis is assessed the analysis and according to that is there a suggestion.

Coincidence as the animator of the independent Czech art of the 1960s We are currently progressing to viewing coincidence as a phenomenon. While coincidence cannot be explained, it needs to be understood. It may be an important program principle of the universe, where coincidence may give life and matters a different direction, and it is undoubtedly part of all of our creative and resourceful efforts. Therefore, we treasure coincidence and in art, we even intentionally call for it frequently. Naturally, the history of art gives us many examples, where coincidence helped an artist to revive their imagination and strengthened their ability to improvise. Dealing with coincidence and activating coincidence intentionally or unintentionally have always been one of the most tantalising moments of many creative endeavours. It is interesting to observe how the role of coincidence and its impact in art, as well as in a human life intermittently diminishes only to resurface again as if in connection with measuring the powers of the acting individual and the current being. It is exciting to follow the complex movement of coincidence in the wide field of potential meanings and understanding, somewhere between Freedom, Necessity, Fate, Fortune, Higher Power or perhaps Providence, and examine the complexity of...

本文探討外人直接投資對於俄羅斯貧窮問題之影響。透過質性研究說明俄羅斯外人直接投資趨勢與貧窮分布，並輔以量化研究解釋兩者間的關係；在變數選取部分，除主要之各地區外人直接投資流量、絕對貧窮率外，本文還納入人力資本、國內投資、公部門角色、貿易開放程度與總體經濟環境等變數進行研究。樣本資料根據俄羅斯國家統計局，選擇資料完整的71個聯邦主體作為研究對象，分析期間為2000至2008年，共639個觀察值。 　　實證結果發現，外人直接投資與貧窮率之間，並未存在顯著的負向關係；然而，若不考慮各聯邦主體間變異存在與否，甚至得出外人直接投資將惡化貧窮情形的結果；在其餘變數的部分，發現除了政府支出的結論與預期相反、人力資本不顯著外，其餘變數均符合預期，顯示貿易越為開放、總體經濟穩定且經濟成長的地區，貧窮問題較為和緩，在國內投資部分，雖未達統計顯著標準，但結果也傾向國內投資的提升有助於降低貧窮率。此外，若將外人直接投資視為依變數，再結合原先以貧窮為依變數之實證結果，可發現貿易開放程度為唯一同時對吸引外人直接投資與降低貧窮率皆達統計顯著水準的變數，即開放貿易助於提升外人直接投資與降低貧窮水準。

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The aim of this work is to perform a theoretical and empirical research on the relationships between: i) financial openness, capital flows and accumulation of capital, and; ii) financial openness, capital flows and total factor productivity. The Chapter 1 does a presentation and discussion of the theoretical literature and shows that there is no consensus within the conventional approach that financial openness and capital flows stimulate the accumulation of capital and the growth of total factor productivity of developing economies. The Chapter 2, in turn, presents and discusses the empirical literature on: i) financial openness, capital flows and economic growth, and; ii) financial openness, capital flows, capital accumulation and total factor productivity. Furthermore, the chapter analyzes, using descriptive statistics, some stylized facts associated with the behavior of financial openness, capital flows, capital accumulation and total factor productivity for a set of up to 81 countries, 22 developed and 59 in development. The Chapter 3, finally, conducts an econometric research on the relationships between: i) financial openness, capital accumulation and total factor productivity, and; ii) capital flows, capital accumulation and total factor productivity. The sample includes 59 developing countries. The results suggest, in general, that: i) there is no evidence that financial openness stimulates capital accumulation or productivity growth; ii) there is no systematic evidence that the effect of financial openness on capital accumulation and productivity depends on the institutional and financial levels of development of economies; iii) there is no systematic evidence that capital flows stimulates the accumulation of capital and the productivity growth, and; iv) there are quite flimsy evidence that the effect of capital flows on capital accumulation and productivity depends on the institutional and financial development level of the countries, so that a higher level of institutional and financial development reduces the positive effect of capital flows. / O objetivo desta dissertação é realizar uma investigação teórica e empírica acerca das relações entre: i) abertura financeira, fluxos de capitais e acumulação de capital, e; ii) abertura financeira, fluxos de capitais e produtividade total dos fatores. O Capítulo 1 faz uma apresentação e discussão da literatura teórica e mostra que não há consenso, dentro da abordagem convencional, de que a abertura financeira e os fluxos de capitais estimulam a acumulação de capital e o crescimento da produtividade total dos fatores das economias em desenvolvimento. O Capítulo 2, por sua vez, apresenta e discute a literatura empírica sobre: i) abertura financeira, fluxos de capital e crescimento econômico, e; ii) abertura financeira, fluxos de capitais, acumulação de capital e produtividade total dos fatores. Ademais, o capítulo analisa, por meio de estatística descritiva, alguns fatos estilizados associados ao comportamento da abertura financeira, dos fluxos de capitais, da acumulação de capital e da produtividade total dos fatores para um conjunto de até 81 países, 22 desenvolvidos e 59 em desenvolvimento. O Capítulo 3, por fim, realiza uma investigação econométrica acerca das relações entre: i) abertura financeira, acumulação de capital e produtividade total dos fatores, e; ii) fluxos de capitais, acumulação de capital e produtividade total dos fatores. A amostra contempla 59 países em desenvolvimento. Os resultados encontrados sugerem, em geral, que: i) não há evidências de que a abertura financeira estimula a acumulação de capital nem o crescimento da produtividade; ii) não há evidências sistemáticas de que o efeito da abertura financeira sobre a acumulação de capital e produtividade depende dos níveis de desenvolvimento institucional e financeiro das economias; iii) não há evidências sistemáticas de que os fluxos de capitais estimulam a acumulação de capital e a produtividade, e; iv) há evidências bastante frágeis de que o efeito dos fluxos de capitais sobre a acumulação de capital e produtividade depende do nível de desenvolvimento institucional e financeiro dos países, de maneira que um maior nível de desenvolvimento institucional e financeiro atenua o efeito positivo dos fluxos de capitais. / Mestre em Economia

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The main aim in this study was to investigate how the active participants of a self-organized and socially mobilizing operation called Santa Croce/Spin Time Labs in Rome, Italy described their work regarding creating an alternative and inclusive common cityspace. Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with active participants in the Spin Time Labs-part of the organization that is designated to cultural-and service aligned activities. The study uses a primary theoretical framework based on Henri Lefevbre’s ideas regarding ‘The right to the city’ and the production of social space, together with the concept of ‘Parity of participation’, developed by Nancy Fraser, concerning the creation and fulfillment of social justice principles. Furthermore, scientific research regarding commons spaces and self-organization were used to analyze the phenomenon known as "Squatting” through the perspective of occupation as a form of producing alternative cityspaces.  The results pointed at a few experiences that could be seen as crucial both connected to participants current work-situation and also concerning the future of the operation. Mainly, it showed that the participants, through their active participation, have managed to create a useful balance of meeting the needs of both the occupations inhabitants and the surrounding neighborhood. At the same time, this very balance has served as a functional alternative strategy for managing to create an inclusive and open common cityspace. Altogether, it shows that with their combined effort, they could create something that potentially could have a long-lasting impact. Both on an individual level, creating a solidary sustainable resource allocation and improving the mental health for the people involved in the operation, as well as for urban society at a broader perspective. Additional research could be focused on finding possible pathways for the operations further management and development in the neoliberal society of today.

Text in Afrikaans / Die doel van die studie is om krities te besin oor die noodsaaklikheid van Fundamentele Andragogiek in die opleiding van onderwysers in 'n kontemporer-moderne wereld, ten einde aan te toon dat dosente beter toegerus vir hulle begeleidingstaak sal wees indien hulle oor kennis van Fundamentele Andragogiek beskik. HOOFSTUK EEN Die tema word ingelei deur titel- en begripsverheldering, probleemstelling, doelformulering, metodologiese verantwoording en programaankondiging. HOOFSTUK TWEE Fundamentele Andragogiek word antropologies-ontologies begrond, enkele grondvorme van menswees word beskryf en uitgele en aandag word gegee aan die hunkeringe van die onderwysstudent-in-opleiding as ageinsgebeure. HOOFSTUK DRIE 'n Snel veranderende wereld waarin onderwysersopleiding voltrek word, word ondersoek om vas te stel in watter mate snelle verandering 'n bedreiging vir die grondvorme van menswees inhou. HOOFSTUK VIER Die opleiding van onderwysers in 'n kontemporer-moderne RSA word ondersoek, om vas te stel watter eise en verwagtinge die Ministerie van Onderwys en Opleiding het. HOOFSTUK VYF 'n Terugskou word op die studie gedoen en en enkele toekomstake word ge'identifiseer. / The study aimed at reflecting critically on the need for Fundamental Andragogics in the training of teachers in a contemporary modern world. CHAPTER ONE The theme is introduced through clarification of the title and concepts, stating problems, goal setting, methodological justification and exposition of further programme. CHAPTER TWO Fundamental Andragogics is anthropologic-ontologically grounded. Some basic forms of being human are described and attention is given to the yearnings of the teacher trainee. CHAPTER THREE The rapidly changing world is researched in order to ascertain to what extent rapid change poses a threat to the basic forms of being human. CHAPTER FOUR The training of teachers in a contemporary modern RSA is researched in order to ascertain what the demands and expectations of the Ministry of Education and Training are. CHAPTER FIVE The study is viewed in retrospect and some future objectives for teacher training are identified. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Philosophy of Education)

Cette thèse porte sur les représentations sociales de la pharmacogénomique (PGx) chez deux groupes d’acteurs centraux du développement et des applications en PGx au Québec. L’objectif est de comprendre comment les chercheurs en PGx et les étudiants en médecine se positionnent à l’égard des découvertes en PGx et de leurs éventuelles applications en pratique médicale. Cette étude a aussi pour objectifs de mieux comprendre comment il est possible d’anticiper l’arrivée de la PGx dans la pratique médicale par le contraste des représentations des chercheurs et des étudiants et de concevoir comment les informations circulent entre les deux groupes. Pour atteindre ces objectifs, l’utilisation du cadre théorique des représentations sociales, et plus particulièrement des représentations sociales dites professionnelles, est retenue. Une démarche multiméthodologique est déterminée pour cerner les représentations des deux groupes. En effet, une approche qualitative par entretiens semi-dirigés est réalisée dans un premier temps auprès des chercheurs et, ensuite, une enquête par questionnaire est effectuée auprès des étudiants en médecine. Les positionnements des deux groupes sont contrastés au sujet de trois concepts clés : les médicaments, la génomique et la PGx. Les principes organisateurs des représentations sociales des étudiants en médecine et des chercheurs, eu égard à ces trois concepts, permet de positionner le niveau des représentations sociales des étudiants en médecine vers leur professionnalisation dans un schéma proposé par Bataille (2000). Ainsi, les étudiants en médecine fournissent des représentations des médicaments assez près de celles des chercheurs. Leurs représentations des avancées en génomique sont beaucoup moins professionnalisées, tandis que l’on remarque une organisation restreinte pour ce qui est de leur représentation de la PGx. Le contexte de formation médicale est interrogé dans cette thèse puisqu’il laisse peu de place aux découvertes et aux recherches de pointe. Les chercheurs autant que les étudiants affirment que la solution pour améliorer leurs connaissances dans le domaine de la PGx est d’ajouter ces connaissances dans leur cadre de leur formation médicale. / This thesis pertains to social representations of pharmacogenomics (PGx) in two groups of central actors in PGx development and application in Québec. The objective is to understand how PGx researchers and medical students stand with regard to PGx discoveries and their potential medical practice applications. This study also aims at better understanding how the arrival of PGx in medical practice can be anticipated, by contrasting researchers’ and students’ representations, and at grasping how the information flows between these two groups. To meet these objectives, the theoretical framework of social representations, and more particularly the so-called professional social representations, is used. The two groups’ representations are identified through a multi method approach. Indeed, a qualitative method consisting of semi-structured interviews with the researchers is used, followed by a questionnaire survey of the medical students. The two groups’ positions are compared with respect to three key concepts: medication, genomics and PGx. The organizing principles of the medical students’ and researchers’ social representations, in consideration of these three concepts, enables us to position the social representation levels of the medical students relative to their professionalization in a chart proposed by Bataille (2000). The medical students’ representations of medication are thus similar to those of the researchers. Their representations of advances in genomics are far less professionalized, while there is an absence of organization in their representation of PGx. The medical training context is questioned in this thesis since it leaves little room for discovery and advanced research. Researchers and students both say that the solution for improving their knowledge in the field of PGx is to make it part of their medical training.

Ο σκοπός αυτής της εργασίας είναι να εξετάσει σε ποιό βαθμό τα δώδεκα νέα κράτη μέλη (ΝΚΜ)της ΕΕ είναι έτοιμα να ενταχθούν στην ΟΝΕ. Αρχικά, αναφέρονται γενικά τα κριτήρια των άριστων νομισματικών περιόχών (ΑΝΠ) και έπειτα η σχετική βιβλιογραφία για τα ΝΚΜ. Έπειτα, ακολουθεί μια περιγραφική ανάλυση της ανοιχτότητας του εμπορίου και της διαχρονικής πορείας του κατα κεφαλήν προϊόντος των ΝΚΜ. Τέλος,εξετάζεται ο βαθμός σύγκλισης των οικονομικών κύκλων των 12 ΝΚΜ με της Ευρωζώνης και ελέγχονται οι υποθέσεις της ενδογένειας και της β-σύγκλισης αυτών των χωρών. / The aim of this study is to examine in what extent the twelve new member states (NMS)of EU are ready to join the EMU. Firstly, it is refered to the optimum currency area (OCA) criteria in general and to the relative bibliography for the NMS. Secondly, it is presented a descriptive analysis of the openness of the trade and of the time path of the per capita product of NMS. Finally, it is examined the extend of convergence of business cycles of the 12 NMS to the Eurozone and the hypotheses of endogeneity and beta-convergence for these countries.