The study analyses four of Elsa Beskow´s picture books from a gender perspective and with character analyis as the method. The aim is to find out how gender is presented in the picture books and how the books reflect their time. The study also discusses how the books can be used in today´s school. The result shows that the men in the four works have the greatest power. They are portrayed as deciding and dominating everything. The character analysis also shows that they are portrayed as being surly rather than cheerful. The women and the girls in the works are portrayed as capable, caring and cautious. The school curriculum states that school should aim to ensure that all pupils are treated equally regardless for sex. Beskow´s works reflect the gender roles that prevailed around 1900, and teachers need to be aware of this when the works are used in school today.

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Having the ability to perform large automatic software changes in a code base gives new possibilities for software restructuring and cost savings. The possibility of replacing software libraries in a semi-automatic way has been studied. String metrics are used to find equivalents between two libraries by looking at class- and method names. Rules based on the equivalents are then used to describe how to apply the transformation to the code base. Using the abstract syntax tree, locations for replacements are found and transformations are performed. After the transformations have been performed, an evaluation of the saved effort of doing the replacement automatically versus manually is made. It shows that a large part of the cost can be saved. An additional evaluation calculating the maintenance cost saved annually by changing libraries is also performed in order to prove the claim that an exchange can reduce the annual cost for the project.

Technological advances have led to the generation of large databases of organizational data recognized as an information-rich, strategic asset for internal analysis and sharing with trading partners. Data mining techniques can discover patterns in large databases including relationships considered strategically relevant to the owner of the data. The frequent item set hiding problem is an area of active research to study approaches for hiding the sensitive knowledge patterns before disclosing the data outside the organization. Several methods address hiding sensitive item sets including an exact approach that generates an extension to the original database that, when combined with the original database, limits the discovery of sensitive association rules without impacting other non-sensitive information. To generate the database extension, this method formulates a constraint optimization problem (COP). Solving the COP formulation is the dominant factor in the computational resource requirements of the exact approach. This dissertation developed heuristics that address the scalability of the exact hiding method. The heuristics are directed at improving the performance of COP solver by reducing the size of the COP formulation without significantly affecting the quality of the solutions generated. The first heuristic decomposes the COP formulation into multiple smaller problem instances that are processed separately by the COP solver to generate partial extensions of the database. The smaller database extensions are then combined to form a database extension that is close to the database extension generated with the original, larger COP formulation. The second heuristic evaluates the revised border used to formulate the COP and reduces the number of variables and constraints by selectively substituting multiple item sets with composite variables. Solving the COP with fewer variables and constraints reduces the computational cost of the processing. Results of heuristic processing were compared with an existing exact approach based on the size of the database extension, the ability to hide sensitive data, and the impact on nonsensitive data.

Thesis (MScEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Supercritical extraction is being investigated as a possible alternative to the processes currently used in the fractionation of paraffinic waxes. By removing the lighter carbon fractions from the wax, the wax hardness will be improved and its melting temperature range reduced, hence improving the performance of the wax product in certain applications. In order to evaluate and operate such an extraction process optimally, it is necessary to have a thermodynamic model that accurately represents the process system. There are, however, currently no predictive models available for these systems. In order to fit present models to the systems, accurate phase equilibrium data of the supercritical solvent - n-alkane systems are needed. Unfortunately, the amount of reliable published data on these systems in the required operating range is very limited. A view cell was designed and developed with which these high pressure equilibria could be studied. The binary phase equilibria of supercritical CO2 with n-CI2, n-CI6, n-C20, n-C24, n-C28 and n-C36 and of supercritical ethane with n-CI6, n-C24 and n-C28 were measured in the temperature range 313 - 367 K. It was found that the systems with these two solvents have very different types of phase behaviour. The n-alkane solubility is much higher in ethane, but supercritical CO2 will provide a much better degree of control over the selectivity achieved in an extraction process. Of the various equations of state investigated, it was found that the Patel Teja equation of state provided the best fit of the CO2 - n-alkane systems and that the Soave-Redlich- Kwong equation fitted the ethane - n-alkane systems the best. The interaction parameters of both these equations of state display a functional relationship with temperature and nalkane acentric factor, making it possible to determine parameter values for application at other operating temperatures and with other n-alkane systems. It was found that the current equations of state were not able to represent the phase equilibria accurately over the entire range of operating conditions. The poor performance of the equations of state can be attributed to inherent flaws in the existing equations of state. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Superkritiese ekstraksie word tans ondersoek as 'n moontlike altematief vir die prosesse wat huidiglik gebruik word om paraffiese wasse te fraksioneer. Die Iigter koolstofwasse word verwyder om die washardheid te verhoog en die temperatuurgebied waaroor die was smelt te verklein. Dit verbeter dan die was se kwaliteit en werkverrigting. Modelle wat die superkritiese ekstraksie proses akkuraat kan voorstel word egter benodig om die ekstraksie proses te kan evalueer en optimaal te bedryf. Daar is tans geen modelle beskikbaar wat die proses direk kan voorstel nie. Akkurate fase-ewewigsdata word benodig om bestaande modelle aan te pas vir gebruik in hierdie sisteme. Daar is egter baie min betroubare faseewewigsdata vir die superkritiese oplosmiddel - n-alkaan sisteme beskikbaar in die literatuur. 'n Sig-sel, waarrnee hierdie hoe druk data gemeet kan word, is ontwerp en ontwikkel. Die volgende binere fase ewewigte is in die temperatuur gebied 313 - 367 K gemeet: superkritiese CO2 met n-CI2, n-CI6, n-C20, n-C24, n-C28 en n-C36, en superkritiese Etaan met n-CI6, n-C24 en n-C28. Daar is gevind dat hierdie twee superkritiese oplosmiddelsisteme verskillende tipes fase-ewewigsgedragte openbaar. Die n-alkane het 'n baie boer oplosbaarheid in Etaan, maar deur superkritiese C02 in 'n ekstraksie kolom te gebruik, sal tot beheer oor die selektiwiteit van die ekstraksieproses lei. Uit die verskillende toestandsvergelykings wat ondersoek is, is daar gevind dat die Patel- Teja vergelyking die CO2 sisteme die beste kon beskryf en dat die Soave-Redlich-Kwong vergelyking die beste vergelyking was om die Etaan sisteme mee te modelleer. Beide die toestandsvergelykings se interaksie parameters het 'n funksionele verband met temperatuur en die n-alkaan asentrise faktor getoon. Dit is dus moontlik om waardes vir die parameters vir sisteme by ander temperature en met ander n-alkaan tipes te bepaal. Daar was gevind dat die bestaande toestandsvergelykings nie die die fase-ewewigte oor die hele eksperimenele gebied akkuraat kon voorstel nie. Dit kan toegeskryf word aan foute wat inherent is aan die vergelykings.

This dissertation spans topics related to global trade, oil prices, optimum currency areas, the eurozone, monetary independence, capital controls and the international monetary policy trilemma. It consists of four chapters and three essays. Chapter one provides a brief summary of all three essays. Chapter two investigates the impact of oil prices on global trade. It is concluded that when oil prices increase, countries start trading relatively more with their neighbors. As an application this chapter provides a new estimate of the eurozone effect on trade. Chapter three continues to study the eurozone and asks whether it is an optimum currency area using the member countries’ desired monetary policies. It is concluded that Greece, Spain, and Ireland have desired policies that are the least compatible with the common euro policy and are therefore the least likely to have formed an optimum currency area with the euro. Chapter four provides a new methodology in testing the international trilemma hypothesis. It is concluded that the trilemma holds in the context of the Asian countries.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Delineating the relevant product and geographic market is an important first step in competition inquiries, as it permits an assessment of market power and substitutability. Critics often argue that market definition is arbitrary and increasingly unnecessary, as modern econometric models can directly predict the competitive effects of a merger or anti-competitive practice. Yet practical constraints (such as limited data) and legal considerations (such as case law precedence) continue to support a formal definition of the relevant market. Within this context, this dissertation develops three tools to improve market definition: two empirical tools for cases with limited data and one conceptual decision-making tool to elucidate important factors and risks in market definition. The first tool for market definition involves a systematic analysis of consumer characteristics (i.e. the demographic and income profiles of consumers). Consumer characteristics can assist in defining markets as consumers with similar characteristics tend to switch to similar products following a price rise. Econometric models therefore incorporate consumer characteristics data to improve price elasticity estimates. Even though data constraints often prevent the use of econometric models, a systematic analysis of consumer characteristics can still be useful for market definition. Cluster analysis offers a statistical technique to group products on the basis of the similarity of their consumers. characteristics. A recently concluded partial radio station merger in South Africa offers a case study for the use of consumer characteristics in defining markets. The second tool, or set of tools, for defining markets involves using tests for price co-movement. Critics argue that price tests are not appropriate for defining markets, as these tests are based on the law of one price - which tests only for price linkages and not for the ability to raise prices. Price tests, however, are complements for existing market definition tools, rather than substitutes. Critics also argue that price tests suffer from low statistical power in discriminating close and less close substitutes. But these criticisms ignore inter alia the role of price tests as tools for gathering information and the range of price tests with better size and power properties that are available, including new stationarity tests and autoregressive models. A recently concluded investigation in the South African dairy industry offers price data to evaluate the market definition insights of various price tests. The third tool is conceptual in nature and involves a decision rule for defining markets. If market definition is a binary classification problem (a product is either 'in' or 'out' of the market), it faces risks of misclassification (incorrectly including or excluding a product). Analysts can manage these risks using a Bayesian decision rule that balances (1) the weight of evidence in favour of and against substitutability, (2) prior probabilities determined by previous cases and economic research, and (3) the loss function of the decision maker. The market definition approach adopted by the South African Competition Tribunal in the Primedia / Kaya FM merger investigation offers a useful case study to illustrate the implementation of such a rule in practice. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Mededingingsake neem gewoonlik 'n aanvang met die afbakening van die relevante produk- en geografiese mark. Die markdefinisie-proses werp dikwels lig op markmag en substitusie-moontlikhede, en ondersteun dus die beoordeling van 'n mededingingsaak. Markdefinisie word egter deur kritici as arbitrer en selfs onnodig geag, veral aangesien ekonometriese modelle die uitwerking van 'n samesmelting of 'n teen-mededingende praktyk op mededinging direk kan voorspel. Tog verkies praktisyns steeds om markte formeel af te baken op grond van sowel praktiese oorwegings (insluitend databeperkings wat ekonometriese modellering bemoeilik) as regsoorwegings (insluitend die rol van presedentereg). Hierdie proefskrif ontwikkel dus drie hulpmiddels vir die definisie van markte: twee empiriese hulpmiddels vir gevalle waar data beperk is sowel as 'n denkhulpmiddel om o.a. risiko's rondom markdefinisie te bestuur. Die eerste hulpmiddel vir die definisie van markte behels die sistematiese analise van verbruikerseienskappe, insluitend die demografiese en inkomste-profiel van verbruikers. Verbruikerseienskappe werp lig op substitusie, aangesien soortgelyke verbruikers neig om na soortgelyke produkte te verwissel na aanleiding van 'n prysstyging. Ekonometriese modelle maak derhalwe van data omtrent verbruikerseienskappe gebruik om beramings van pryselastisiteit te verbeter. Hoewel databeperkings dikwels ekonometriese modellering beperk, kan verbruikerseienskappe op sigself steeds nuttig wees vir die afbakening van die mark. Trosanalise bied 'n statistiese metode vir 'n stelselmatige ondersoek van verbruikerseienskappe vir markdefinisie, deurdat dit produkte op grond van gelyksoortige verbruikerseienskappe groepeer. 'n Onlangse ondersoek in Suid-Afrika rakende die gedeeltelike samesmelting van Primedia and Kaya FM radiostasies bied data om die gebruik van trosanalise en verbruikerseienskappe vir markdefinisie-doeleindes te illustreer. Die tweede hulpmiddel vir markdefinisie behels statistiese toetse vir verwantskappe tussen prystydreekse van verskillende produkte of streke. Hierdie prystoetse is gebaseer op die wet van een prys en beklemtoon prysverwantskappe eerder as die vermoë om pryse te verhoog (wat die uiteindelike fokus in mededingingsbeleid is). Hierdie klem verminder egter nie noodwendig die insigte wat prystoetse bied nie, aangesien markdefinisie dikwels 'n omvattende analise verg. Prystoetse se statistiese onderskeidingsvermoe word ook dikwels deur kritici as swak beskryf. Hierdie tegniese kritiek beskou prystoetse as eng-gedefinieerde hipotesetoetse eerder as hulpmiddels vir die verkenning van substitusiepatrone. Voorts ignoreer hierdie tegniese kritiek 'n verskeidenheid nuwe prystoetse met beter onderskeidingsvermoë, insluitend nuwe toetse vir stasioneriteit en nuwe autoregressiewe modelle. 'n Onlangse mededingingsondersoek in die Suid-Afrikaanse melkindustrie verskaf prysdata om die verrigting van verskillende prystoetse vir geografiese markdefinisie te ondersoek. Die derde hulpmiddel vir die definisie van markte behels 'n besluitnemingsreël. Hiervolgens word markdefinisie as 'n binêre klassifikasieprobleem beskou, waar 'n produk of streek 'binne' of 'buite' die mark geplaas moet word. Gegewe dat hierdie klassifikasie onder toestande van onsekerheid geskied, is markdefinisie blootgestel aan risiko's van wanklassifikasie. Praktisyns kan hierdie risiko‟s bestuur deur gebruik te maak van 'n Bayesiaanse besluitnemingsreël. Sodanige reël balanseer (1) die gewig van getuienis ten gunste van en teen substitusie, (2) a priori waarskynlikhede soos bepaal deur vorige mededingingsake en akademiese navorsing, en (3) die verliesfunksie van die besluitnemer. Die benadering van die Suid-Afrikaanse Mededingingstribunaal in die saak rakende die gedeeltelike samesmelting van Primedia en Kaya FM bied 'n nuttige gevallestudie om hierdie beginsels te demonstreer.

Reducing firms’ financial constraints can be an important element for economic growth. Previous scholars have documented various factors that affect firms’ ability to access finance (e.g. Lambert et al., 2007, p. 385). In this study, we investigate the impact of financial reporting credibility in reducing firms’ financial constraints. In addition, we study the role that rule of law at a country level have on the above stated association. We hypothesize that financial reporting credibility decreases firms’ financial constraints. Then, we propose that the ability of financial reporting credibility to reduce financial constraints weakens when rule of law (at a country level) decreases. This is the first study to investigate how the association between financial reporting credibility and financial constraints are affected by rule of law on a country level, to the authors’ knowledge. The study uses 52,381 firms operating in 98 countries that responded to the World Bank’s Enterprise Surveys between the time period 2006 to 2015. Financial constraints are measured through a variable that takes into consideration the perceived amount of obstacles firms are facing in their current operations and the proxy for financial credibility is whether firms have been audited or not. Our moderating term is the World Bank’s rule of law index. By using both regression and matching analysis, we find a significant negative association between financial credibility and financial constraints. This indicates that increased financial reporting credibility leads to less financial constraints for firms. For the moderating effect of the rule of law, the results are insignificant. However, we observe that when the level of rule of law is high, increased financial credibility leads to minor improvements in access to external finance.

This thesis work is mainly focused on the processes involved in manufacturing of aircraft engine components. The processes are especially about welding and welding methods. The basics of welding and the thesis support has been taken from the GKN Aerospace Sweden AB, a global aerospace product supplier.  The basic objective of this thesis work is to improve the usability of an automation system which is developed for evaluating the weldability of a part. A long run maintainability aspect of this automation system has been considered. The thesis work addresses the problems arising during the usage of a computerised automated system such as process transparency, recognisability, details traceability and other maintenance aspects such as maintainability and upgradability of the system in the course of time. The action research methodology has been used to address these problems.  Different approaches have been tried to finding the solution to those problems. A rule based manufacturability analysis system has been attempted to analyse the weldability of a component in terms of different welding technics. The software “Howtomation” has been used to improve the transparency of this analysis system. User recognisability and details tractability have been taken into account during the usage of a ruled based analysis system. The system attributes such as maintainability, upgradability, adaptiveness to modern welding methods has been addressed. The system suitability for large scale analysis has been considered.

Ill-posed inverse problems have wide applications in many fields such as oceanography, signal processing, machine learning, biomedical imaging, remote sensing, geophysics, and others. In this dissertation, we address the problem of solving unstable operator equations with iteratively regularized Newton-type algorithms. Important practical questions such as selection of regularization parameters, construction of generating (filtering) functions based on a priori information available for different models, algorithms for stopping rules and error estimates are investigated with equal attention given to theoretical study and numerical experiments.