No description available.

After the reformation and opening-up of the ecomonic system in Mainland China, the first special economic zone was established in 1979. Because the first special economic zone was very successful, the first series of Economic - Technological Development Areas were approved by the State Council in May, 1984. So far many companies have chosen the Technological Development Areas as their manufacturing bases. This study sampled 15 companies which had taken Technological Development Areas into their considerations. This study is based on three Development Areas:Tianjin Economic - Technological Development Area, Qingdao Economic - Technological Development Area, and Hangzhou Economic - Technological Development. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to analyze the selection strategies of Investing in the Economic & Technology Development Areas in China. According to the result of AHP¡Athe conclusions are as follows¡G 1.The most important factor in the second level is ¡§Government Management¡¨. 2.The top one criteria in the third level is ¡§the supply, quality, and price of local energy¡¨¡Athe second is ¡§ the convenience of obtaining materials¡¨¡Aand the third is ¡§the convenience of obtaining professional workers¡¨. 3.The best alternative is Hangzhou Economic - Technological Development Area.

Title: Selection of Local and Expatriate Managers of MNEs in the Post-Entry Phase Authors: Rebecka Nilsson and Tilda Nithenius Level: Master thesis, 30 HP Keywords: Post-Entry Phase, Managerial Selection Strategy, Foreign Activities, Multinational Enterprises, Local Manager, Expatriate Manager     Background: The internationalization of companies contributes to competitive advantage as well as challenges for the companies. In foreign activities enterprises exist in different phases, which might have an impact on the management requirements. This makes the strategy of managerial selection relevant because it will ease the overall foreign activities.     Research Question: Which are the underlying factors that influence the selection of host-country managers in the post-entry phase?   Purpose:The purpose of this study is to develop the understanding for companies’ managerial selection strategies in the post-entry phase. In addition, the purpose of this study is to develop a model that will work as a theoretical guideline for managerial selections.   Theoretical Framework:Theories of firms’ internationalization process, different phases for companies that operate internationally and challenges for companies operating abroad, are presented. Further theories of managerial selection, international human resource management and management of international companies are discussed.     Methodology:This study is made with a qualitative research method and a multiple case-study design, with an abductive approach. Eight Swedish companies operating in China were interviewed through semi-structured and low standardized interviews. The respondents from the companies are top managers operating in China.   Findings:There are three underlying factors; trust, knowledge gap and legitimacy, that influence the managerial selection of host-country managers in the post entry-phase. Each underlying factor is indirect influenced by different factors. The underlying factors are also all influenced by an overall factor, social capital. This study implies that the selection of managers, except top managers, changes in the post-entry phase compared to the entry-phase as they recruit host-country nationals.

The download duration of peer-to-peer overlay networks is highly dependent upon the client's selection of candidate node-servers and the algorithms used in that process. Recent findings suggest that as node-server network capacity increases the deviation from the average total download time can vary as much as 300 percent between selection algorithms. This work investigated the current selection algorithms based upon chunk size, parallel connections, permanent connection, and time based switching. The time based switching algorithm is a variation of the chunk based algorithm. Time based switching enables a client to randomly select a new node-server regardless of connection speed at predetermined time slots. Simulations indicate a 41% percent decrease in download time when compared to chunk based switching. The effects of inserting chokepoints in the time based switching algorithm were investigated. This work investigated improving a client's download performance by preemptively releasing a client from a poor performing node-server. To achieve this, the client will gather a peer-to-peer network overlay capacity from a global catalog. This information will be used to seed a client choke algorithm. Clients will then be able to continually update a local capacity average based upon past download sessions. This local average will be used to make a comparison between the current download session and the previously calculated average. A margin has been introduced to allow the client to vary from the average calculated capacity. The client will perform comparisons against chokepoints and make performance decisions to depart a node-server that does not meet minimum capacity standards. Experimental results in this research demonstrated the effectiveness of applying a choking algorithm to improve upon client download duration as well as increasing the accuracy of download duration estimates. In the single downloader scenario, the choke based algorithm improved performance up to 44% in extreme congestion and a more modest 13% under normal conditions. The multiple client scenarios yielded on average a 1% decrease in client download duration along with a 44% increase download homogeneity. Furthermore, the results indicate that a client based choking algorithm can decrease overall peer-to-peer network congestion buy improving upon client selection of node-servers.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T20:25:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 5583.pdf: 2165924 bytes, checksum: 9508776d3397fc5a516393218f88c50f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-08-30 / Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais / The multi-document human summarization (MHS), which is the production of a manual summary from a collection of texts from different sources on the same subject, is a little explored linguistic task. Considering the fact that single document summaries comprise information that present recurrent features which are able to reveal summarization strategies, we aimed to investigate multi-document summaries in order to identify MHS strategies. For the identification of MHS strategies, the source texts sentences from the CSTNews corpus (CARDOSO et al., 2011) were manually aligned to their human summaries. The corpus has 50 clusters of news texts and their multi-document summaries in Portuguese. Thus, the alignment revealed the origin of the selected information to compose the summaries. In order to identify whether the selected information show recurrent features, the aligned (and nonaligned) sentences were semi automatically characterized considering a set of linguistic attributes identified in some related works. These attributes translate the content selection strategies from the single document summarization and the clues about MHS. Through the manual analysis of the characterizations of the aligned and non-aligned sentences, we identified that the selected sentences commonly have certain attributes such as sentence location in the text and redundancy. This observation was confirmed by a set of formal rules learned by a Machine Learning (ML) algorithm from the same characterizations. Thus, these rules translate MHS strategies. When the rules were learned and tested in CSTNews by ML, the precision rate was 71.25%. To assess the relevance of the rules, we performed 3 different kinds of intrinsic evaluations: (i) verification of the occurrence of the same strategies in another corpus, and (ii) comparison of the quality of summaries produced by the HMS strategies with the quality of summaries produced by different strategies. Regarding the evaluation (i), which was automatically performed by ML, the rules learned from the CSTNews were tested in a different newspaper corpus and its precision was 70%, which is very close to the precision obtained in the training corpus (CSTNews). Concerning the evaluating (ii), the quality, which was manually evaluated by 10 computational linguists, was considered better than the quality of other summaries. Besides describing features concerning multi-document summaries, this work has the potential to support the multi-document automatic summarization, which may help it to become more linguistically motivated. This task consists of automatically generating multi-document summaries and, therefore, it has been based on the adjustment of strategies identified in single document summarization or only on not confirmed clues about MHS. Based on this work, the automatic process of content selection in multi-document summarization methods may be performed based on strategies systematically identified in MHS. / A sumarização humana multidocumento (SHM), que consiste na produção manual de um sumário a partir de uma coleção de textos, provenientes de fontes-distintas, que abordam um mesmo assunto, é uma tarefa linguística até então pouco explorada. Tomando-se como motivação o fato de que sumários monodocumento são compostos por informações que apresentam características recorrentes, a ponto de revelar estratégias de sumarização, objetivou-se investigar sumários multidocumento com o objetivo de identificar estratégias de SHM. Para a identificação das estratégias de SHM, os textos-fonte (isto é, notícias) das 50 coleções do corpus multidocumento em português CSTNews (CARDOSO et al., 2011) foram manualmente alinhados em nível sentencial aos seus respectivos sumários humanos, relevando, assim, a origem das informações selecionadas para compor os sumários. Com o intuito de identificar se as informações selecionadas para compor os sumários apresentam características recorrentes, as sentenças alinhadas (e não-alinhadas) foram caracterizadas de forma semiautomática em função de um conjunto de atributos linguísticos identificados na literatura. Esses atributos traduzem as estratégias de seleção de conteúdo da sumarização monodocumento e os indícios sobre a SHM. Por meio da análise manual das caracterizações das sentenças alinhadas e não-alinhadas, identificou-se que as sentenças selecionadas para compor os sumários multidocumento comumente apresentam certos atributos, como localização das sentenças no texto e redundância. Essa constatação foi confirmada pelo conjunto de regras formais aprendidas por um algoritmo de Aprendizado de Máquina (AM) a partir das mesmas caracterizações. Tais regras traduzem, assim, estratégias de SHM. Quando aprendidas e testadas no CSTNews pelo AM, as regras obtiveram precisão de 71,25%. Para avaliar a pertinência das regras, 2 avaliações intrínsecas foram realizadas, a saber: (i) verificação da ocorrência das estratégias em outro corpus, e (ii) comparação da qualidade de sumários produzidos pelas estratégias de SHM com a qualidade de sumários produzidos por estratégias diferentes. Na avaliação (i), realizada automaticamente por AM, as regras aprendidas a partir do CSTNews foram testadas em um corpus jornalístico distinto e obtiveram a precisão de 70%, muito próxima da obtida no corpus de treinamento (CSTNews). Na avaliação (ii), a qualidade, avaliada de forma manual por 10 linguistas computacionais, foi considerada superior à qualidade dos demais sumários de comparação. Além de descrever características relativas aos sumários multidocumento, este trabalho, uma vez que gera regras formais (ou seja, explícitas e não-ambíguas), tem potencial de subsidiar a Sumarização Automática Multidocumento (SAM), tornando-a mais linguisticamente motivada. A SAM consiste em gerar sumários multidocumento de forma automática e, para tanto, baseava-se na adaptação das estratégias identificadas na sumarização monodocumento ou apenas em indícios, não comprovados sistematicamente, sobre a SHM. Com base neste trabalho, a seleção de conteúdo em métodos de SAM poderá ser feita com base em estratégias identificadas de forma sistemática na SHM.

This thesis presents and evaluates how to select the data to be logged in an embedded realtime system so as to be able to give confidence that it is possible to perform an accurate identification of the fault(s) that caused any runtime errors. Several log-selection strategies were evaluated by injecting random faults into a simulated real-time system. An instrument was created to perform accurate detection and identification of these faults by evaluating log data. The instrument’s output was compared to ground truth to determine the accuracy of the instrument. Three strategies for selecting the log entries to keep in limited permanent memory were created. The strategies were evaluated using log data from the simulated real-time system. One of the log-selection strategies performed much better than the other two: it minimized processing time and stored the maximum amount of useful log data in the available storage space. / Denna uppsats illustrerar hur det blev fastställt vad som ska loggas i ett inbäddat realtidssystem för att kunna ge förtroende för att det är möjligt att utföra en korrekt identifiering av fel(en) som orsakat körningsfel. Ett antal strategier utvärderades för loggval genom att injicera slumpmässiga fel i ett simulerat realtidssystem. Ett instrument konstruerades för att utföra en korrekt upptäckt och identifiering av dessa fel genom att utvärdera loggdata. Instrumentets utdata jämfördes med ett kontrollvärde för att bestämma riktigheten av instrumentet. Tre strategier skapades för att avgöra vilka loggposter som skulle behållas i det begränsade permanenta lagringsutrymmet. Strategierna utvärderades med hjälp av loggdata från det simulerade realtidssystemet. En av strategierna för val av loggdata presterade klart bättre än de andra två: den minimerade tiden för bearbetning och lagrade maximal mängd användbar loggdata i det permanenta lagringsutrymmet.

Covid-19 has impacted the international business environment on a large scale. Nonetheless, the pandemic has brought shutdowns and lockdowns, which has caused disruption and a decline in supplies. Implementing risk management in supplier selection strategy has been argued to be critical in managing disruption during Covid-19. Henceforth, the research purpose is to explore In order to provide a profound foundation for the topic, the thesis will be utilised with a qualitative approach. The data collection is derived from semi- structured interviews, which enables comprehensive data and is further used based on the literature review. The analysis of the thesis presents the vital changes necessary in the supplier selection strategy derived from the disruption caused by Covid-19. Conclusively, the thesis finalises how a risk- oriented supplier selection strategy has emerged for the company to meet future challenges. Thus, the authors interpreted it to align with the statement, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade".

The aim of this study has been to develop a model from the attributes of existing management teams within a financial organisation, which can be used as a selection strategy to select more effective management teams in future. The observed attributes were linked to the managers’ work performance and behaviour. It is imperative to continuously search for valid and reliable methods to establish and improve effective combinations of selection instruments and criteria for best employment practices. Systems theory is used as a framework for this study to analyse and describe middle management teams as sub-systems of the financial organisation as a larger system. The identification of effective management teams is an attempt to combat entropy in a search for order, and to support the organisation’s survival during a period of transformation and disorder. The independent variables for the purpose of this study are divided in three themes, namely demographic attributes (job experience and academic qualifications), work performance, and personality and competencies. Work performance is described as the outcome of two measurements, namely the performance management evaluation, as well as an evaluation of their behaviour by their superiors using the Inventory of Management Competencies. Their personality and competencies were evaluated by means of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Occupational Personality Questionnaire Concept Model 4.2. Their team role preferences, as identified by Belbin, were calculated using the results of the Occupational Personality Questionnaire. The requirements of the managers’ positions were obtained by means of the Work Profiling System. The match of the profiles of the managers to the requirements of their positions was obtained by means of a computerized fit between their Occupational Personality Questionnaire profiles and the desired personality profiles as a product of the Work Profiling System. The success criteria of the research design are based on the employee-client-profit-chain model. The amount of job satisfaction experienced by employees, the satisfaction which clients experience with regard to the service they received, as well as the extent of financial growth, is identified as the dependent variables. Descriptive statistics revealed certain patterns in the data. Principal component analysis was used to condense the number of independent variables in the study. Canonical correlations were executed to determine which combinations of independent variables were associated with the dependent variables, but the correlations tended to be low. Multiple regression analysis was then utilised with respect to the three distinct dependent variables. The results culminated in the four selection models for the four manager positions in the team. / Thesis (PhD (Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Psychology / unrestricted

Le genre bactérien Salmonella regroupe plus de 2500 sérovars, mais peu sont responsables de pathologies humaines. Salmonella enterica sérovar Typhi (S. Typhi) est reconnu pour son importance médicale à travers le globe. S. Typhi cause la fièvre typhoïde chez l’Homme, une maladie infectieuse létale caractérisée par la dissémination systémique de la bactérie vers des organes du système réticulo-endothélial. La fièvre typhoïde représente un fardeau pour la santé mondiale, notamment auprès des pays en développement où les conditions sanitaires sont désuètes. La situation se complique davantage par l’apparition de souches résistantes aux antibiotiques. De plus, les deux vaccins licenciés sont d’efficacité modérée, présentent certaines contraintes techniques et ne sont pas appropriés pour les jeunes enfants et nourrissons. La phase systémique de l’infection par Salmonella repose sur sa survie dans les macrophages du système immunitaire. Dans ce compartiment intracellulaire, la bactérie module les défenses antimicrobiennes grâce à de multiples facteurs de virulence encodés dans son génome. Les mécanismes moléculaires sollicités sont complexes et finement régulés. Malgré les progrès scientifiques réalisés précédemment, plusieurs incompréhensions persistent au sujet de l’adaptation de ce pathogène dans les macrophages de l’hôte. Pour mieux concevoir les déterminants génétiques de S. Typhi impliqués dans l’interaction avec ces cellules, une stratégie de sélection négative a été appliquée afin de vérifier systématiquement l’effet direct des gènes pendant l’infection. En premier temps, une librairie de mutants par transposon chez S. Typhi a été créée pour l’infection de macrophages humains en culture. Après 24 heures d’infection, la présence des mutants fut évaluée simultanément par analyse sur des biopuces de Salmonella. Au total, 130 gènes ont été sélectionnés pour leur contribution potentielle auprès des macrophages infectés. Ces gènes comptaient des composantes d’enveloppe bactérienne, des éléments fimbriaires, des portions du flagelle, des régulateurs, des facteurs de pathogenèse et plusieurs protéines sans fonction connue. En deuxième temps, cette collection de gènes a dirigé la création de 28 mutants de délétion définie chez S. Typhi. Les capacités d’entrée et de réplication intracellulaire de ces mutants au sein des macrophages humains ont été caractérisées. D’abord, les macrophages ont été co-infectés avec les mutants en présence de la souche sauvage, pour vérifier la compétitivité de chacun d’eux envers cette dernière. Ensuite, les mutants ont été inoculés individuellement chez les macrophages et leur infectivité fut mesurée comparativement à celle de la souche sauvage. Sommairement, 26 mutants ont présenté des défauts lorsqu’en compétition, tandis que 14 mutants se sont montrés défectueux lorsque testés seuls. Par ailleurs, 12 mutants ont exposé une déficience lors de l’infection mixte et individuelle, incluant les mutants acrA, exbDB, flhCD, fliC, gppA, mlc, pgtE, typA, waaQGP, STY1867-68, STY2346 et SPI-4. Notamment, 35 nouveaux phénotypes défectueux d’entrée ou de survie intracellulaire chez Salmonella ont été révélés par cette étude. Les données générées ici offrent plusieurs nouvelles pistes pour élucider comment S. Typhi manipule sa niche intracellulaire, menant à l’infection systémique. Les gènes décrits représentent des cibles potentielles pour atténuer la bactérie chez l’humain et pourraient contribuer au développement de meilleures souches vaccinales pour immuniser contre la fièvre typhoïde. / The bacterial genus Salmonella holds over 2500 serovars, but few are responsible for human pathologies. Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) is recognized across the globe for its medical importance. S. Typhi causes typhoid fever in humans, a lethal infectious disease characterized by systemic dissemination of the bacteria to organs of the reticulo-endothelial system. Typhoid fever represents a burden for public health, notably in developing countries where sanitary conditions are obsolete. The situation is further complicated by the appearance of strains resistant to antibiotics. Moreover, both of the licensed vaccines are of moderate efficiency, present certain technical constraints and are not appropriate for young children and newborns. The systemic phase of infection by Salmonella relies on its survival within macrophages of the immune system. In this intracellular compartment, the bacterium modulates antimicrobial defenses thanks to multiple virulence factors encoded within its genome. Molecular mechanisms taking place are complex and finely regulated. Despite scientific advances made previously, many misunderstandings persist concerning the adaptation of this pathogen within host macrophages. To better conceive the genetic determinants of S. Typhi involved in interaction with these cells, a negative selection strategy was applied to systematically verify the direct effect of genes during infection. Firstly, a library of transposon insertion mutants in S. Typhi was created for infection of cultured human macrophages. After 24 hours of infection, the presence of mutants was evaluated simultaneously by analysis on Salmonella microarrays. In total, 130 genes were selected for their potential contribution within infected macrophages. These genes included bacterial envelope components, fimbrial elements, portions of the flagellum, regulators, pathogenesis factors, and many proteins of unknown function. Secondly, this collection of genes led to the creation of 28 defined deletion mutants in S. Typhi. The ability of entry and intracellular replication of these mutants within human macrophages were characterized. To start, macrophages were coinfected with mutants in the presence of the wild-type strain, in order to verify the competitiveness of each of them against the latter. Then, mutants were inoculated individually into macrophages and their infectiveness was measured in comparison with the wild-type strain. In summary, 26 mutants presented defects when in competition, whereas 14 mutants were shown defective when tested alone. Furthermore, 12 mutants exposed a deficiency during mixed and individual infection experiments, including mutants acrA, exbDB, flhCD, fliC, gppA, mlc, pgtE, typA, waaQGP, STY1867-68, STY2346, and SPI-4. In particular, 35 new defective phenotypes of Salmonella entry or intracellular survival were revealed in this study. Data generated here provides significant novel insight for elucidating how S. Typhi manipulates its intracellular niche, leading to systemic infection. Genes described represent potential targets for attenuating the bacteria in the human host and could contribute to the development of better vaccine strains to immunize against typhoid fever.

No description available.