Although inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is generally considered a reliable analytical technique, increasing demands on its capabilities require continued research and improvements. ICP-MS is susceptible to both matrix effects and drift, leading to a decline in accuracy and precision. A number of techniques are routinely used to compensate for these issues. Internal standardization is one such solution that requires relatively simple sample preparation and yet offers the possibility of improving both accuracy and precision. In order to be effective, an optimal analyte/internal standard pair must be chosen. Traditionally, analyte/internal standard pairs are chosen based on similarities in mass and/or ionization potential. The present studies sought to develop a program that determined standards based on the minimization of analytical error. 102 masses were monitored over 27 perturbations, i.e., changes to sample matrix and operating parameters. The standard deviations of the analyte/internal standard ratios were then used as a measure of internal standard performance. A thorough statistical analysis was conducted to determine trends between a good analyte/internal standard pair and similarities in chemical property. Similarities in mass offered the strongest relationship to a good internal standard choice, although many exceptions existed. The program was then tested over time and multiple instrument optimizations as well as on a completely different ICP-MS instrument. Results of these tests suggest that the data originally collected for the prediction program is not instrument-specific and thus provided a broader base of useful applications. Due to its unmatched sensitivity and multielement capabilities, ICP-MS is frequently utilized for biological samples. A more recent application, however, seeks to use ICPMS for the purpose of determining specific associations between metals and proteins. Such speciation requires a high resolution and reproducible separation prior to ICPMS analysis. Gel electrophoresis offers good separation and is well matched with the scanning properties of laser ablation sample introduction. The present study utilized native gel electrophoresis coupled with a uniquely modified electroblot system to improve sensitivity and to elucidate additional information. Chemically modified quartz fiber filters were successfully used as the transfer membrane to improve protein and metal capture efficiency. / text

This thesis deals with the modelling of applying techniques of ordinary least squares method and geographically weighted regression for all administrative divisions of the Czech Republic using ArcGIS software. In general this thesis introduces a GWR method which partially solves the problems associated with the analysis of spatial data. The research compares benefits of using geographically weighted regression with spatial data compared with linear regression in thesis conclusion.

Submitted by joao barbosa campbell penna (joao.penna@vale.com) on 2015-02-20T19:44:37Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TESEFINAL_20022015.pdf: 1480842 bytes, checksum: 11e3f73bc5b243b7ed4a73b63fe90c59 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by GILSON ROCHA MIRANDA (gilson.miranda@fgv.br) on 2015-06-08T18:42:08Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 TESEFINAL_20022015.pdf: 1480842 bytes, checksum: 11e3f73bc5b243b7ed4a73b63fe90c59 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marcia Bacha (marcia.bacha@fgv.br) on 2015-06-12T17:55:33Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 TESEFINAL_20022015.pdf: 1480842 bytes, checksum: 11e3f73bc5b243b7ed4a73b63fe90c59 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-06-12T17:56:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TESEFINAL_20022015.pdf: 1480842 bytes, checksum: 11e3f73bc5b243b7ed4a73b63fe90c59 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-12-20 / Medimos a validade da paridade descoberta de juros – PDJ - para o mercado brasileiro no período de janeiro de 2010 a julho de 2014. Testamos a equação clássica da PDJ usando o Método dos Mínimos Quadrados Ordinários. Após a estimação dos parâmetros, aplicamos o Teste de Wald e verificamos que a paridade descoberta de juros não foi validada. Estendemos a equação tradicional da PDJ para uma especificação alternativa que captura medidas de risco Brasil e de alteração na liquidez internacional. Especificamente, acrescentamos três variáveis de controle: duas variáveis dummy que capturam condições de liquidez externa e o índice de commoditie CRB, que captura o risco Brasil. Com a especificação alternativa, a hipótese de que os retornos das taxas de juros em Real, dolarizadas, são iguais aos retornos da taxas de juros contratadas em dólares, ambas sujeitas ao risco Brasil, não foi rejeitada. Em complemento à análise das taxas representativas do mercado brasileiro, procurou-se avaliar a predominância da PDJ nas operações de swap cambial realizadas pela Vale S.A.. Para tanto, a série de taxa de juros em dólares do mercado brasileiro foi substituída pela taxa em dólar dos swaps contratados pela Vale. Os resultados encontrados demonstram que, quando comparado ao comportamento do mercado, as taxas em dólares da VALE são mais sensíveis às variações das taxas em Reais. / We measure the validity of uncovered interest parity - UIP - for the Brazilian market from January, 2010 to July, 2014. We tested the classical equation of UIP using the ordinary least squares method. After the estimation, we apply the Wald test and we verify that the uncovered interest parity has not been validated. We extend the traditional UIP equation for an alternative specification that captures Brazil risk and changes in liquidity of the international market. Specifically, we add three control variables: two dummy variables that capture external liquidity conditions and the commodity index CRB, which captures Brazil risk. With the alternative specification, the hypothesis that the returns in interest rates in Real, dollarized, are equal to the return of interest rate contracted in dollars, both subject to Brazil risk, was not rejected. To complement the analysis using the interest rates existing in the Brazilian market, we tried to evaluate the prevalence of UIP in cross currency interest rate swaps carried out by Vale SA. The interest rate in dollar of the Brazilian market was replaced by the dollar rate of swaps contracted by Vale. The results show that, when compared to market behavior, the dollar rates of Vale SA. are more sensitive to changes in Reais interest rates.

Submitted by Juliana Shimote (shimote.juliana@gmail.com) on 2015-03-07T22:15:06Z No. of bitstreams: 1 UMA ANÁLISE DO GASTO FAMILIAR COM EDUCAÇÃO NO BRASIL E DA PARTICIPAÇÃO DO CRÉDITO EM SEU FINANCIAMENTO.pdf: 916706 bytes, checksum: 52f881c098819b4dcd22372255dcc654 (MD5) / Rejected by Renata de Souza Nascimento (renata.souza@fgv.br), reason: Juliana, boa tarde Para que possamos aceitar seu trabalho junto à biblioteca, por gentileza, realize as alterações abaixo solicitadas: - Os títulos AGRADECIMENTOS/RESUMO/ABSTRACT devem estar CENTRALIZADO. - O texto dos agradecimentos, deve estar justificado igual ao texto do Resumo. Aguardo as alterações e uma nova submissão. Att Renata on 2015-03-09T17:38:09Z (GMT) / Submitted by Juliana Shimote (shimote.juliana@gmail.com) on 2015-03-09T18:03:07Z No. of bitstreams: 1 UMA ANÁLISE DO GASTO FAMILIAR COM EDUCAÇÃO NO BRASIL E DA PARTICIPAÇÃO DO CRÉDITO EM SEU FINANCIAMENTO.pdf: 915983 bytes, checksum: f5370a8d744e59b71b4483860d8f2d7d (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Renata de Souza Nascimento (renata.souza@fgv.br) on 2015-03-09T18:21:45Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 UMA ANÁLISE DO GASTO FAMILIAR COM EDUCAÇÃO NO BRASIL E DA PARTICIPAÇÃO DO CRÉDITO EM SEU FINANCIAMENTO.pdf: 915983 bytes, checksum: f5370a8d744e59b71b4483860d8f2d7d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-10T12:10:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 UMA ANÁLISE DO GASTO FAMILIAR COM EDUCAÇÃO NO BRASIL E DA PARTICIPAÇÃO DO CRÉDITO EM SEU FINANCIAMENTO.pdf: 915983 bytes, checksum: f5370a8d744e59b71b4483860d8f2d7d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-10 / In the context of the release of the microcredit package and of the payday loan law in 2003, and facing the emergence of credit offers being made to the lower income population, this study aims to evaluate the impact on consumption preferences, specifically those related to educational expenditures. More precisely, it assesses whether the higher credit offer led to a higher investment in education. The data used is drawn from the 2002 and 2008 Consumer Expenditure Survey, or Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares (POF), from IBGE, over which were adjusted ordinary least squares regressions. The results show that there was a large expansion in the percentage of families with loans expenditures, as well as a corresponding increase in the amount of these expenditures between the two editions of the survey. Lastly, it was possible to verify that a correlation exists between loan and educational expenditures. / No contexto do lançamento do pacote do microcrédito e da Lei do consignado em 2003, e diante de um novo cenário de oferta de crédito destinada à população de baixa renda, o presente estudo busca avaliar o impacto nas preferências de consumo, especificamente com relação a despesas com educação. A reflexão feita nesse estudo é se esse crédito é utilizado também para garantir investimentos em educação. Os dados utilizados são da Pesquisa de Orçamento Familiar (POF) do IBGE dos anos 2002 e 2008 sobre os quais foram ajustadas regressões de mínimos quadrados ordinários. Os resultados mostram que houve uma grande expansão ao acesso, no que se refere ao percentual de famílias com gastos com empréstimos, e uma correspondente ampliação do valor dessas despesas entre as duas edições da pesquisa analisadas. Por fim, foi possível verificar que existe correlação entre as despesas com empréstimos e com educação.

Submitted by Marcelo Braga Covo (mcovo@ibiunainvest.com.br) on 2015-03-17T16:48:46Z No. of bitstreams: 1 tesecovo.pdf: 385739 bytes, checksum: 253e4c0b5c2b22775f64b6e31b4c0cea (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by GILSON ROCHA MIRANDA (gilson.miranda@fgv.br) on 2015-04-07T14:13:51Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 tesecovo.pdf: 385739 bytes, checksum: 253e4c0b5c2b22775f64b6e31b4c0cea (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marcia Bacha (marcia.bacha@fgv.br) on 2015-04-08T17:19:58Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 tesecovo.pdf: 385739 bytes, checksum: 253e4c0b5c2b22775f64b6e31b4c0cea (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-08T17:20:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 tesecovo.pdf: 385739 bytes, checksum: 253e4c0b5c2b22775f64b6e31b4c0cea (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-06-01 / Este trabalho demonstra como podemos usar opções sobre o Índice de Taxa Média de Depósitos Interfinanceiros de Um Dia (IDI) para extrair a função densidade de probabilidade (FDP) para os próximos passos do Comitê de Política Monetária (COPOM). Como a decisão do COPOM tem uma natureza discreta, podemos estimar a FDP usando Mínimo Quadrados Ordinários (MQO). Esta técnica permite incluir restrições sobre as probabilidades estimadas. As probabilidades calculadas usando opções sobre IDI são então comparadas com as probabilidades encontradas usando o Futuro de DI e as probabilidades calculadas através de pesquisas. / This paper demonstrates how options on the One-day Brazilian Interfinancial Deposits Index (IDI) can be used to recover the implied probability density function (PDF) for futures Monetary Policy Committee (COPOM) outcomes. The discrete nature of the choices made by the COPOM allows recovering the PDF using ordinary least squares (OLS) estimation. This method also allows the imposition of restrictions on the recovered probabilities. Recovered probabilities using options on IDI are then compared to the probabilities obtained using the futures on DI and the probabilities recovered by surveys.

O Protocolo de Adesão à Organização Mundial do Comércio da China, assinado em dezembro de 2001, permitiu a outros países membros considerarem a China como uma economia \"não de mercado\" até o final de 2016. O objetivo deste trabalho é responder a seguinte pergunta: Pode o Reconhecimento de Economia de Mercado (REM) ser medido em seu compliance? O proxy utilizado parra o compliance foi o número de investigações antidumping iniciadas por país. A expectativa é que os países que reconhecem o status de economia de mercado da China iniciem menos investigações antidumping do que aqueles que ainda tratam a China como uma economia \"não de mercado\". Isso explicaria por que o governo chinês tem feito campanha desde 2001 para ganhar REM entre seus parceiros econômicos. A utilização de modelos de contagem demonstra que o REM teve um impacto positivo na redução do número de investigações antidumping contra produtos chineses. O atual desenvolvimento econômico da China depende muito de seu acesso a recursos energéticos, o que cada vez mais influencía mudanças nos Investimento Direto Estrangeiro (IDE) chinês com a finalidade de possibilitar o acesso a recursos que estão localizados no exterior. O objetivo deste trabalho é responder às seguintes perguntas: Em que medida a procura por recursos energéticos afetou os IDE entre 2005 e 2012? Essa procura foi sensível à locação geográfica dos recursos? Os dados sobre IDE chineses foram obtidos do China Global Investment Tracker, e utilizaram-se determinantes domésticos de IDE, testados empiricamente na literatura existente, para medir o impacto da produção de energia do país anfitrião na alocação de investimentos. Ao aplicar MCO e um modelo com lag espacial em uma amostra de 92 países demostrou-se que os recursos energéticos do país anfitrião foram o principal motor da IDE chinesa, e que não houve sensibilidade geográfica aos recursos. / China´s Protocol of Accession to the World Trade Organization, signed on December 2001, allowed other country members to consider China as a Non Market Economy (NME) until the end of 2016. The aim of this paper is to answer the following question: Can the Market Economy Status (MES) Recognition be measured in its compliance? The proxy used for that compliance was the number of antidumping investigations initiated per country. The expectation is that countries recognizing Chinese MES would initiate fewer antidumping investigations than countries still treating China as a Non Market Economy. This would explain why the Chinese Government has been campaigning vigorously since 2001 to gain MES among its economic partners. Using count-models we demonstrate that MES had a positive impact in reducing the number of antidumping investigations against Chinese products. China´s current economic development depends heavily on its access to energetic resources, and it is increasingly shaping Chinese Outward Foreign Direct Investment (OFDI) in a quest for gaining access to resources that are located abroad. The aim of this paper is to answer the two following questions: How much did the Chinese global quest for energy drive its OFDI between 2005 and 2012? Has the quest for energy been sensitive to the geographical location of the resources? Data on Chinese OFDI was retrieved from the China Global Investment Tracker, and we used diverse Host-Countries determinants of OFDI tested before in the literature and measured the impact of Host-Country energy production in the allocation of investments. Using OLS and a Spatial Lagged Model we demonstrate that energetic resources were the main driver of Chinese OFDI in 92 host countries during the studied period, and that there was no sensitivity to the geographical location of the resources.

La réflexion sur l‟utilisation de la politique budgétaire comme outil de stabilisation et de relance connaît un net regain d‟intérêt ces dernières années. Après près de trois décennies qui ont vu la dominance des idées néo-Classique, la récente crise financière des années 2008 a consacré le retour aux idées keynésiennes sur l‟efficacité de l‟outil budgétaire. Cette thèse s‟intéresse à ce thème et essaie de caractériser la politique budgétaire dans le contexte des pays en développement et son objectif final est de préciser dans quelle mesure cet outil de politique économique serait efficace pour ces pays. Le chapitre 2 traite de la question des effets des politiques budgétaires surprises. Autrement dit, et à partir d‟une modélisation en VAR structurels, cette partie se pose la question de savoir si le budget peut être utilisé de façon surprise pour relancer une économie et quels sont les défis que pose une telle mesure dans le contexte d‟une économie en développement. Le troisième chapitre à partir d‟un modèle de gravité analyse les relations entre la situation budgétaire dans les économies avancées ainsi que celle des pays émergents et les flux d‟investissement vers les économies à revenu intermédiaire. Cette étude montre qu‟un effet d‟éviction entre pays (développés et émergents) existe mais aussi que l‟économie mondiale tend vers un nouveau paradigme. Le dernier chapitre quant à lui étudie la cyclicité des politiques budgétaires pour un échantillon de pays d‟Afrique subsaharienne et d‟Amérique latine. La méthode choisie a permis de suivre l‟évolution de la procyclicité des politiques budgétaires d‟année en année et de montrer que les pays en développement surtout africains progressivement adoptent des politiques de plus en plus disciplinées et prudentes / The use of fiscal policy as a stabilization and stimulus tool face a renewed interest from analyst and policy makers. After almost three decades where neo-Classical ideas were dominant, the recent financial crisis (late 2007) marked the reborn of Keynesian ideas on the importance of the State budget during economic downturns. This dissertation focuses on this issue and provides with stylized facts of fiscal policies in developing economies, and the main aim being to be able to say whether fiscal policy is an efficient political economy tool. Chapter 2 focuses on the issue of unanticipated fiscal measures on the economy. Using a structural VAR approach it investigates whether unanticipated budget measures can be used to stimulate a declining economy and what kind of challenges and threats this strategy imposes to public authorities. Chapter 3, relying on a gravity model, analyses the relationship between emerging and advanced economies fiscal aggregates and capital flows. It shows that there exists a “global” crowding out effect of investment towards emerging markets and, most important is that world economy is entering into a new paradigm. The last chapter from a panel of Sub-Saharan African and Latin American economies studies the issue of fiscal procyclicality. The empirical strategy has allowed us on a yearly basis to characterise the cyclical behaviour of fiscal policies in both set of countries. It has been shown that developing countries especially African ones are adopting progressively more prudent and disciplined policies.

Thesis(M. Com.(Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / This study examined the determinants of learner performance by employing an education production function approach using the descriptive statistics, ordinary least squares (OLS) and quantile regression techniques in 2016. The study utilised the data obtained from SA-SAMS of Bankfontein combined school at Mpumalanga province. In the education production function, learner performance was estimated against variables such as age, gender, days absent and socio-economic status. The results of this study indicated that in the rural combined school, learner performance is strongly influenced by age, absenteeism and socio economic status. For instance, results revealed that absenteeism had a negative effect on learners‟ educational performance. An increase in absenteeism by 1 day led to a reduction in learner‟s examination score by approximately 0.1 percentage points during the chosen period. The “socioeconomic status” variable revealed a statistically significant and negative impact on learners‟ educational performance. The results demonstrate that poverty leads to poor educational performance as measured by examination scores. It is recommended that schools should manage learner diversity (age, gender and socio-economic factors), introduce learner motivation programmes, teacher performance improvement interventions, and improve organisational planning and development, parental involvement among others to retain learners at school. Furthermore, schools should enforce education policies that stipulate entry and exit age at different levels of schooling.

There is no clear consensus about whether green investments perform better, worse orequal to conventional brown investments. With the rising popularity of socialinvestments, it becomes increasingly important to understand these investments. Therecent launch of the MSCI Climate Paris Aligned Indices (CPAI) aim to illustrate thedevelopment of an economy that is in line with the requirements and goals of the ParisAgreement from 2015. In this research we aim to find out whether the MSCI Europe,USA and EM Climate Paris Aligned Indices outperform their parent indices. We do thisby comparing performance measures such as the net return, standard deviation of netreturns and Sharpe ratio. We further conduct an ordinary least squares regression to testwhether the betas and Jensen´s alphas of the CPAI differ significantly from their parentindices.The results show that only the USA CPAI clearly outperforms its parent index. This isdue to it having a higher Sharpe Ratio and Jensen’s alpha as well as higher monthly netreturns and a lower standard deviation compared to its parent index. The regressionshows that it does perform better than the parent index. The results for the EM CPAIshow that it performs in a similar way as its parent index. It has a higher monthly netreturn but also slightly higher standard deviation which leads to an equally large Sharperatio. Neither the estimated Jensen’s alpha nor the beta are significantly different fromthose of its parent index and thus the hypothesis of it performing equally as well as itsparent index cannot not be rejected. Lastly, the Europe CPAI has a higher Sharpe ratio,Jensen’s alpha and monthly net returns than its parent index, but it also exhibits a higherstandard deviation. The regression indicated that it performs in a similar way as itsparent index, no difference could be proven. In conclusion, this means that all CPAIperform at least equally as well as their parent indices, if not better.

This diploma thesis examines various linear regression methods and their use to establish regression relationships between the compressive strength of concrete determined by the indirect method and by the crushing of the specimens in the press. It deals mainly with the uncertainty of values measured by the indirect method, which is neglected by the usually used ordinary least squares regression method. It also deals with the weighted least squares method, suitable for so-called heteroskedastic data. It compares different regression methods on several sets of previously measured data. The final part of the work examines the effect of removing too influential points identified by Cook's distance, which may skew the regression results.