Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Vincent R. Amanor-Boadu / Over the last few years there have been many changes to the container export industry. There are a variety of reasons for these changes including exchange rate fluctuations, fuel and energy price fluctuations and their effects on bulk freight rates. The pressure to enhance and remain competitive has also increased amid these rapid changes. An effective strategy is for companies to focus attentions on costs they can control. In the container freight industry, one of these costs is reducing the “paper” aspects of operations and increasing its “electronic” aspects. This thesis focuses specifically on evaluating FileBound®, document management software, for the purpose of going “paperless” in a Container Freight, Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) and freight forwarding company. Going paperless has many advantages: increased efficiency, paper and printing cost savings, time savings, storage cost savings, environmental benefits, efficient file retrieval, and enhanced customer service. By adopting the FileBound® technology, the case study company hopes to achieve most of these benefits, allowing it to reduce overall costs, and especially, reduce the number of employees managing physical documents and move people into sales and marketing. The critical assumption of the study was that the electronic processes contributed to time savings and it is from these time savings that most of the other benefits emanated. Therefore, a time study was conducted to determine the time savings resulting from using FileBound® in comparison to the current method in the file completion process. The data collected was analyzed using regression analysis to determine the factors that influenced time savings, if any, and their statistical significance. There are three specific activities involved with the process of completing a transaction in the container freight business: booking, instruction and bill of lading. The analysis was conducted for each of these steps in the process. The results show that the different methods, FileBound® or manual, were not statistically significant on determining the time it took to complete the file. That being said, this thesis recommends that a mixture of both the FileBound® and manual method be used to take advantage of the potential cost savings.

This study seeks to show that a higher usage of debt instruments by consumers with limited available funds leads to the usage of savings tools to finance debt costs, which subsequently results in lower levels of savings. This was espoused by the literature on PFM and also proven by the test results from the research hypotheses that were computed by means of a logistic regression. The test results showed that there is a statistically significant relationship between the usage of debt instruments and the usage of savings tools. An emphasis is placed on the importance of savings as an integral component of the PFM concept: it is namely seen to be indispensable to good financial planning to ensure current and future consumer financial security. Therefore, this study concludes by highlighting the importance of consumers’ financial- management skills in minimising debt costs to increase levels of savings by controlling higher consumption expenditure through debt. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business management)

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Energy efficiency and the move to renewable energy resources are of vital importance in growing profitable and sustainable economies. In recent years, greater emphasis has been placed on institutions, companies and individuals to reduce their electrical energy demand through energy management. In an attempt to reduce the demand, the electrical power utility in South Africa, Eskom, has introduced Demand Side Management programs and substantial increases in electricity tariffs. In addition to these, tax incentives have been offered to help off-set the capital costs associated with the investments made in replacing old electrical equipment with new electrically efficient equipment. Thus the need for accurate Measurement and Verification of electrical energy demand reduction, to substantiate fiscal claims, has become imperative. The main purpose of Measurement and Verification is to investigate the actual monetary performance of an energy savings project. Energy savings assessments, based on purely deterministic baseline demand, do not adequately represent the statistical nature of the savings impacts of many practical load systems, as disclosed in a reporting period. This thesis presents the development of a generic probabilistic methodology to determine the demand profiles of preand post-Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) for practical load systems. The difference between the simulated demand of the pre- and post-ECMs for a particular set of variables represent the electrical demand impact. The electrical demand of the pre- and post-ECMs is defined in terms of Probability Density Functions, and derived using a multivariate kernel density estimation algorithm. The approach is tested using a simulation model of a waterheating geyser implemented in MATLAB. Three different ECMs are simulated using the geyser model and demand density estimation. The results of the demand impacts of the ECMs are presented and evaluated. With regards to possible future research this methodology could be applied to the evaluation of the demand impacts of heat pump technologies and solar water heaters. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: en die skuif na hernubare energiebronne is van deurslaggewende belang vir die ontwikkeling van winsgewende en volhoubare ekonomieë. Onlangs is meer klem geplaas op instansies, maatskappye en individue om hul aanvraag na energie te verminder met behulp van energiebestuur. In ‘n poging om die aanvraag te verlaag, het Eskom, Suid-Afrika se elektrisiteitsverskaffer, aansienlike elektrisiteitstariefverhogings ingelyf en Aanvraagbestuursprogramme van stapel gestuur. Bykomend hiertoe is belastingaansporings ook aangebied, waarteen kapitale kostes, geassosieer met die vervanging van ou elektriese toerusting met nuwe elektries doeltreffende toerusting, afgeset kan word. Derhalwe het die behoefte aan akkurate Meting en Verifikasie van elektriese energie aanvraagvermindering, om finansiële eise te staaf, noodsaaklik geword. Die hoofdoel van Meting en Verifikasie is om die werklike finansiële prestasie van energiebesparingsprojek te ondersoek soos bekend gemaak word tydens ’n verslagdoeningstydperk. Energiebesparingassesserings wat slegs gebaseer word op die suiwer deterministiese basislyn aanvraag na elektrisiteit, verteenwoordig nie die werklike statistiese aard van die besparingsimpakte van baie praktiese lasstelsels nie. Hierdie tesis stel die ontwikkeling van generiese waarskynlikheids-metodologie voor, om die voor- en na- Energiebesparings-maatreëls se aanvraagprofiele vir sulke praktiese lasstelsels, vas te stel. Die verskil tussen die gesimuleerde aanvraag van die voor- en na- Energiebesparings-maatreëls vir spesifieke stel veranderlikes verteenwoordig die elektriese aanvraag impak. Die voor- en na- Energiebesparings-maatreëls van die energieverbruik profieldata word gedefinieer in terme van Waarskynlikheidsdigtheidsfunksies en afgelei deur gebruik te maak van meerveranderlike kerndigtheidafskattingsalgoritme. Die benadering is getoets deur gebruik te maak van simuleringsmodel van warmwaterstelsel geïmplimenteer in MATLAB. Drie verskillende voor- en na- Energiebesparings-maatreëls is gesimuleer met behulp van die warmwaterstelselmodel en aanvraag digtheidafskatting. Die resultate van die elektriese aanvraag impakte van die voor- en na- Energiebesparings-maatreëls word vervolgens bespreek en geëvalueer. Met betrekking tot moontlike toekomstige navorsing kan hierdie metodologie toegepas word om die aanvraag impakte van hittepomp- en sonwaterverwarmingstegnologieë te evalueer.

High-pressure fog (HPF) systems have advantages for greenhouse cooling compared to traditional systems, such as pad and fan. Such advantages include the potential of improving climate uniformity. Water is distributed throughout the greenhouse space thus reducing water use and energy operation costs, especially if used within naturally ventilated greenhouses. Fog cooling in combination with natural ventilation is difficult to manage, primarily because accurate estimation of air exchange rates is required to determine the precise amount of fog required. This limitation on automated control has been the main reason restricting the widespread commercial use of HPF systems. The goal of this research was to develop and implement a control strategy for a naturally ventilated greenhouse with a variable HPF system. The strategy that was developed included variable rate of fog introduced into the greenhouse, a dynamic control of the air ventilation openings, and it considered the contribution of cooling and humidification from the crop by evapotranspiration. Three evapotranspiration models, including Penman-Monteith, Stanghellini and Takakura, were calibrated and evaluated in terms of prediction accuracy. The Stanghellini model provided the best overall performance for several growing seasons and under two different evaporative cooling systems (i.e. pad and fan and natural ventilation with HPF), and was selected and implemented in the cooling control strategy. The strategy utilized enthalpy and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) of the greenhouse atmosphere for the control parameters. Using a calibrated greenhouse mechanistic climate model, a computer algorithm was created to simulate the capabilities of the proposed. The control strategy that was developed was able to maintain the greenhouse climate closer to the pre-established set points while consuming less water and energy, compared to a constant HPF system based on VPD control. Finally, the strategy was implemented in a single span research greenhouse. A four-day validation study provided good agreement for measured and simulated greenhouse climate values, as well as for water and energy use. Moreover, the strategy was able to maintain VPD around its set point for all the experiments and temperature remained around its set point when outside enthalpy was lower than the enthalpy set point.

Network coding (NC) has gained much research attention as a potential candidate to solve the demand for higher spectral e ciency of modern wireless communications. Many research papers have investigated the performance of NC-aided networks such as throughput and outage capacity. However, the analysis of NC in practical systems where NC is combined with other techniques such as channel coding is still immature to fully understand its potential performance. In this thesis, we aim to design high performance receivers and analyze its performance for network-coded cooperative networks in practical scenarios. Firstly, we propose two Iterative Network/Channel Decoding (INCD) algorithms for the Multiple-Access Relay Channel (MARC) with two notable relaying schemes named Decode-and-Forward (DF) and Demodulate-and-Forward (DMF). The INCD algorithm operates based on turbo-like decoding methods and reduces the impact of the error propagation problem with the aid of a channel-aware receiver design. Both perfect Channel State Information (CSI) and imperfect CSI at the receiver side are investigated. We propose a practical method that forwards the quantized version of the relay decoding errors to the destination. It is shown that the proposed algorithms achieve full diversity gain and signi cantle outperforms solutions which do not take care of error propagation. We also show that the number of pilot symbols a ects only the coding gain but has a negligible impact on the diversity order, while the quantization level a cts both the diversity and coding gain. Secondly, we propose a Near Optimal Joint Network/Channel Decoding (NOJNCD) algorithm for the MARC that allows to analyze the system Bit Error Rate (BER). The NOJNCD algorithm performs network decoding and channel decoding in one decoding step of the super code, which comprises of all trellis states of individual code at the sources via NC. Furthermore, NC combined with Relay Selection (RS) is considered and the achievable diversity order is studied with the aid of outage analysis. We analytically show that Single Relay Selection (SRS) always achieves a diversity order two and Multiple Relay Selection (MRS) can achieve full diversity gain only when the number of selected relays exceeds the number of the sources. Last but not least, we propose a so-called partial relaying protocol to improve the spectral e ciency for channel coding assisted relay networks. Closed-form expression of the BER and the system diversity order are computed for partial relaying. We show, by analysis and simulations, that with a proper Convolutional Code (CC), partial relaying can achieve full diversity gain and same coding gain as the classical (full) relaying protocol in nite signal-to-noise ratio region while it obtains a better spectrum usage. Moreover, we propose a new protocol based on partial relaying in opportunistic relaying cooperative networks and show that this protocol signi cantly outperforms the NC-based cooperation in some circumstances.

In Sweden, there are about 0.5 million single-family houses that are heated by electricity alone, and rising electricity costs force the conversion to other heating sources such as heat pumps and wood pellet heating systems. Pellet heating systems for single-family houses are currently a strongly growing market. Future lack of wood fuels is possible even in Sweden, and combining wood pellet heating with solar heating will help to save the bio-fuel resources. The objectives of this thesis are to investigate how the electrically heated single-family houses can be converted to pellet and solar heating systems, and how the annual efficiency and solar gains can be increased in such systems. The possible reduction of CO-emissions by combining pellet heating with solar heating has also been investigated. Systems with pellet stoves (both with and without a water jacket), pellet boilers and solar heating have been simulated. Different system concepts have been compared in order to investigate the most promising solutions. Modifications in system design and control strategies have been carried out in order to increase the system efficiency and the solar gains. Possibilities for increasing the solar gains have been limited to investigation of DHW-units for hot water production and the use of hot water for heating of dishwashers and washing machines via a heat exchanger instead of electricity (heat-fed appliances). Computer models of pellet stoves, boilers, DHW-units and heat-fed appliances have been developed and the parameters for the models have been identified from measurements on real components. The conformity between the models and the measurements has been checked. The systems with wood pellet stoves have been simulated in three different multi-zone buildings, simulated in detail with heat distribution through door openings between the zones. For the other simulations, either a single-zone house model or a load file has been used. Simulations were carried out for Stockholm, Sweden, but for the simulations with heat-fed machines also for Miami, USA. The foremost result of this thesis is the increased understanding of the dynamic operation of combined pellet and solar heating systems for single-family houses. The results show that electricity savings and annual system efficiency is strongly affected by the system design and the control strategy. Large reductions in pellet consumption are possible by combining pellet boilers with solar heating (a reduction larger than the solar gains if the system is properly designed). In addition, large reductions in carbon monoxide emissions are possible. To achieve these reductions it is required that the hot water production and the connection of the radiator circuit is moved to a well insulated, solar heated buffer store so that the boiler can be turned off during the periods when the solar collectors cover the heating demand. The amount of electricity replaced using systems with pellet stoves is very dependant on the house plan, the system design, if internal doors are open or closed and the comfort requirements. Proper system design and control strategies are crucial to obtain high electricity savings and high comfort with pellet stove systems. The investigated technologies for increasing the solar gains (DHW-units and heat-fed appliances) significantly increase the solar gains, but for the heat-fed appliances the market introduction is difficult due to the limited financial savings and the need for a new heat distribution system. The applications closest to market introduction could be for communal laundries and for use in sunny climates where the dominating part of the heat can be covered by solar heating. The DHW-unit is economical but competes with the internal finned-tube heat exchanger which is the totally dominating technology for hot water preparation in solar combisystems for single-family houses. / <p>QC 20100916</p>

Building savings - legal and economical issues The aim of the thesis is the analysis of selected problematic issues - crucial to the functioning of building savings and also in relation to consumers and protection of its rights. The thesis is composed of six chapters which are dealing with legislation of building savings, especially with amendment in historical development with inheritance, with deposits of minors and valid way of terminating the contract of minors, with the bank charges in the context of preparatory transposition of 2014/17/ EU Directives on housing loans, and compares the economic aspects of both component of building savings with competitive products in the financial market. In the thesis I use the method of analysis, synthesis and induction in chapters in which I work with jurisprudence and in which I advocate a position of building savings in the banking market. In anticipation of the upcoming law on housing loans I require to include information obligation into the proposed legislation with emphasis not only on formal form but the content of communication. I confront the selected issues with valid jurisprudence and mention the original statutory framework and its new version after the recodification of private law and I pointed out the differences which the recodification...

This thesis deals with credit unions in the Czech Republic. The work describes historical development and current situation of the credit unions. Trend of recent years is compared with the situation in the bank sector. Two representatives of credit unions -- AKCENTA and Moravský peněžní ústav -- are analyzed closer. There is also a comparison of competitiveness in current and saving account between two mentioned credit unions and two banks -- Česká spořitelna and mBank.

<div>Class 8 trucks on average drive the most miles and consume the most fuel of any major vehicle category annually. Indiana specifically is the fifth busiest state for commercial freight traffic and moves $750 billion dollars of freight annually, and this number is expected to grow by 60% by 2040. Reducing fuel consumption for class 8 trucks would have a significant benefit on business and the proportional decrease in CO₂ would be exceptionally beneficial for the environment.</div><div><br></div><div>Platooning is one of the most important strategies for increasing class 8 truck fuel savings. Platooning alone can help trucks save upwards of 7% platoon average fuel savings on flat ground. However, it can be difficult for a platooning controller to maintain a desired truck separation during uncoordinated shifting events. Using a high-fidelity simulation model, it is shown that simultaneous shifting–having the follow truck shift whenever the lead truck shifts (unless shifting would cause its engine to overspeed or underspeed)–decreases maximum truck separation by 24% on a moderately challenging grade route and 40% on a heavy grade route.</div><div><br></div><div>Model Predictive Control (MPC) of the follow truck is considered as a means to reduce the distance the follow truck falls behind during uncoordinated shifting events. The result in simulation is a reduction in maximum truck separation of 1% on a moderately challenging grade route and 19% on a heavy grade route. However, simultaneous shifting largely alleviates the need for MPC for the sake of tracking for the follow truck.</div><div><br></div><div>A different MPC formulation is considered to dynamically change the desired set point for truck separation for routes through a strategy called Route Optimized Gap Growth (ROGG). The result in simulation is 1% greater fuel savings on a moderately challenging grade route and 7% greater fuel savings on a route with heavy grade for the follow truck.</div>

La complexité grandissante des produits financiers proposés aux ménages et les innovations financières récentes ont révélé la vulnérabilité et la difficulté des ménages `à prendre des décisions appropriées. Afin de mieux comprendre leur comportement, cette thèse se concentre sur les choix de portefeuille des ménages au cours de leur cycle de vie. Quatre chapitres ont ´été d´développés dans ce but. Les conseillers en patrimoine suggèrent aux ménages de de s’investir en actifs risqués à l’approche de la retraite. Le chapitre 1 apporte un éclairage sur cette recommandation. Nous montrons que le profil d’investissement fondé sur cette recommandation n’est pas préférable à un profil d’investissement constant en raison de la sensibilité de leur performance aux marchés et période d’investissement. Cela nous a amené à analyser la relation entre les choix financiers et l’inertie de portefeuille dans le chapitre 2. Il ressort que la part d’actifs risqués est sensible à la conjoncture boursière mais essentiellement à la date d’ouverture du contrat. Les ménages maintiennent le plus souvent leur décision d’investissement tout au long de la durée du contrat. En revanche, en cas de fortes variations boursières, ils réajustent leurs portefeuilles. Ils sont plus sensibles aux baisses qu’aux hausses boursières. L’inertie de portefeuille est influencée par l’ˆâge de l’´épargnant et la date d’ouverture du contrat. Nous approfondissons le résultat de l’effet de l’âge sur l’inertie. Le chapitre 3 étudie donc comment varie la part d’actifs risqués avec l’âge. Nous montrons que cette part décline de façon régulière. Enfin le chapitre 4 analyse la participation des ménages au marché financier ainsi que les incidences de l’environnement économique sur les choix de portefeuille. Nous montrons que les facteurs institutionnels encouragent l’investissement dans l’immobilier au détriment des actifs risqués. Les choix de portefeuille des ménages sont aussi influencés par des facteurs d´démographiques et sociaux. / The increasing complexity of financial products offered to households and the recent financial inno-vations have revealed households’ vulnerability and their difficulty in making appropriate decisions. Tounderstand their behaviour, this thesis deals with household portfolio choice over their life cycle. It consistsof four chapters. Professional financial planners often advise savers that the fraction of wealth held in riskyassets should decline with age or the distance to retirement. Chapter 1 sheds light on this recommendation.We show that the investment profile based on this recommendation is not preferable to an investment profilewhose share invested in risky assets remains constant over time, due to the sensitivity of their performance tomarket and investment length. This led us to analyse the relationship between financial decisions and portfolioinertia in Chapter 2. It appears that the risky share is sensitive to market conditions, but mainly at the dateof subscription. Once the initial share has been selected, inertia of portfolio choice is observed as investorsrarely revise their position subsequently. However, in case of large swings in financial markets, portfolio inertiafalls, and even more so when market go down. The propensity to inertia is influenced by savers’ age, the time,and the subscription date of the contract. Chapter 3 examines how household risky share vary with age. Weshow that the share of capital invested in unit-linked funds chosen by the investor declines steadily. Chapter 4analyses household participation in financial markets and the impact of the economic environment on portfoliochoice. We show that institutional factors encourage investment in real estate at the expense of risky assets.In addition to their economic environment, household portfolio choices are influenced by demographic andsocial factors.