Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Departamento de Economia, 2007. / Submitted by Bárbara Gomes (barbara.lrg@gmail.com) on 2010-02-04T18:00:28Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2007_PauloRodrigodeSantanaeCaruso.pdf: 638385 bytes, checksum: 240e1864303f1f2f28e2a70b317d523b (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marília Freitas(marilia@bce.unb.br) on 2010-02-04T18:54:40Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2007_PauloRodrigodeSantanaeCaruso.pdf: 638385 bytes, checksum: 240e1864303f1f2f28e2a70b317d523b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2010-02-04T18:54:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2007_PauloRodrigodeSantanaeCaruso.pdf: 638385 bytes, checksum: 240e1864303f1f2f28e2a70b317d523b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Desde o colapso do acordo de Bretton Woods e a subseqüente livre flutuação do dólar, a economia mundial tem experimentado períodos de maior volatilidade e passado por um crescente processo de financeirização, onde a conta de capitais vem ganhando terreno sobre as transações correntes e provocando ciclos de elevação e contração da liquidez internacional. Nesse contexto, busca-se avaliar como se tem comportado a vulnerabilidade externa da economia brasileira nesta segunda fase do Plano Real, o período de câmbio flutuante, que se inicia em janeiro de 1999. Para tanto, é feita uma análise econômica à luz da hipótese de fragilidade financeira de Hyman Minsky. _______________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT / Since the collapse of the Bretton Woods agreement and the subsequent free floatation of the dollar, the world economy has been experiencing times of greater volatility amid an escalating financing process, where capital account movements have prevailed over trade account, fostering cycles of expansion and contraction of international liquidity. Under such scenario, our aim is to evaluate how the external vulnerability of the Brazilian economy has behaved during this second stage of the Real Plan, the period of free flotation of the exchange rate, which began early in 1999. This analysis is done in light of Minsky´s Financial Instability Hypothesis.

Sistemas em tempo real caracterizam-se como tal quando seu correto funcionamento depende não apenas do correto processamento lógico de entradas e saídas, mas também da observância de restrições temporais na geração dos sinais de saída. Assim sendo, uma das características principais de dispositivos usados em aplicações em tempo real é seu determinismo, ou seja, sua capacidade de responder, em qualquer circunstância, dentro de limites de tempo previamente determinados. Sendo esta característica um requisito básico, percebe-se a vantagem de dispor de um hardware que a incorpore. Facilitando o desenvolvimento de aplicações para esse tipo de controle, com um melhor desempenho. Visando atender esta necessidade, este trabalho apresenta uma arquitetura de hardware de baixo custo para desenvolvimento de aplicações com requisitos de tempo-real para sistemas de controle distribuído. Cada unidade de processamento da arquitetura distribuída é formada pelos seguintes elementos: • Processador principal: • Gerenciador de timer e de tarefas: responsável pela gerência de timer e interrupções, bem como pela gerência dos instantes de ativação das tarefas concorrentes e sincronização com outras unidades de processamento do sistema distribuído de automação. • Processador de comunicação: responsável pela comunicação entre tarefas, incluindo o mapeamento para o protocolo de comunicação usado no barramento industrial (como por exemplo o Profibus). • Periféricos, tais como memórias, co-processadores aritméticos, unidades de disco, etc. A principal novidade proposta é o aproveitamento do baixo custo dos microcontroladores comerciais, atribuindo funções específicas para cada um, deixando o peso computacional do sistema operacional, na sua maior parte, em processadores diferentes do responsável pelo processamento das tarefas da aplicação. Dentre as vantagens da arquitetura proposta cabe aqui mencionar: • Aumento do poder de processamento de uma Unidade de Processamento das tarefas da aplicação do usuário. • Maior facilidade em obter o determinismo temporal, característica fundamental em sistemas tempo-real distribuídos. • Possibilidade de utilização de algoritmos de escalonamento mais complexos e especializados, sem uma sobrecarga proibitiva no desempenho do sistema. Os primeiros resultados obtidos com esta arquitetura, quando comparados com o exemplo industrial utilizado, são promissores. A recepção da comunidade científica também foi positiva, fato que pode ser medido pela aceitação dos diversos artigos apresentados e/ou publicados que basearam-se na arquitetura proposta nesta dissertação, quais sejam o 4th IFAC Workshop on Algorithms and Architectures for Real-Time Control [PoPe97b], Special Section of IFAC Control Engineering Practice Journal [PoPe97c], Tercer Taller Iberoamericano de Microeletrónica y sus Aplicaciones [Souza97], Euromicro'97 Workshop on Real-Time Systems [Parisoto97], Seminário Interno do DELET e IEE [PoPe96], Revista Egatea [PoPe97a] e o XII Congresso Brasileiro de Automática [PPS98]. / This work presents a low-cost hardware architecture that enhances the performance and increases the predictability of real-time distributed systems. The proposed architecture overcomes one of the major drawbacks of conventional architectures based on a single processar: the overload imposed by operating system activities. The architecture makes use of dedicated hardware units based on low cost microcontrollers. One microcontroller takes care of functions involving the management of task scheduling and time-dependent activation. Since scheduling algorithm tasks do not compete with application tasks anymore, they can be even more sophisticated and specialized. Another microcontroller is responsible for all activities related to inter-process communication, including the execution of communication drivers. It uses the processing capability to exchange data with the network, allowing the last microcontroller to expend more time in operations associated with the user's application. Not only the overall system performance is increased but the system behavior tends to be more deterministic, a very important characteristic when developing real-time applications.

Si bien estos dos términos no fueron acuñados por los críticos y estudiosos de la narrativa hispanoamericana contemporánea, sino por M.A. Asturias y A. Carpentier respectivamente, han sido aquéllos los que han fijado su uso en el ámbito de sus estudios. Sin embargo, el contenido y el alcance de estos términos no ha sido siempre el que estos novelistas propusieron. El "realismo mágico", especialmente, es, hoy por hoy, una confusión de conceptos. Algunos plantean su proximidad a la narrativa fantástica y otros, en cambio, su oposición. Por esta razón, este trabajo no se inicia con una introducción a las reflexiones de A. Carpentier o M.A. Asturias, sino con el análisis crítico de los conceptos de "real-maravilloso" y "realismo mágico" tal como se han utilizado hasta el momento. Como posible vía para solucionar la confusión y redefinir lo "real maravilloso" y/o "realismo mágico" volveremos sobre esos autores.

Orientador: Mauricio Ferreira Magalhães / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Eletrica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-21T13:46:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Vieira_SibeliusLellis_D.pdf: 10404645 bytes, checksum: 16d3cc620d9d7a89700ad99ff249c84e (MD5) Previous issue date: 1994 / Resumo: Atualmente, uma abordagem metodológica formal é fundamental para se construir sistemas computacionais de caráter crítico. Estes sistemas, denominados SIstemas de Tempo-Real Crítico(STRC), baseiam-se no fato de que as restrições temporais quantitativas devem ser obedecidas. Tal característica se deve ao fato de que STRCs são, em geral, sistemas dedicados integrados em sistemas maiores que monitoram e controlam um ambiente físico. Este trabalho está inserido dentro do paradigma de flexibilidade e previsibilidade para STRCs que consistem, respectivamente, na capacidade de adaptação do sistema a um ambiente variável e, ao mesmo tempo, na capacidade de prever que determinados comportamentos, que comprometam a operação do sistema, nunca irão ocorrer. Vamos nos concentar na busca de soluções para testes de escalonabilidade que sejam apropriados para STRCs em ambientes dinâmicos. Portanto, estaremos lidando com sistemas onde as tarefas computacionais têm parâmetros que variam no tempo. Serão abordados vários modelos de escalonamento de tarefas, tanto periódicas quanto esporádicas, partindo-se de situações mais simples, onde as tarefas são independentes e, portanto, completamente preemptíveis, até situações onde as tarefas podem apresentar relações de precedência. Inicialmente, investigamos a escalonabilidade de um conjunto de tarefas periódicas com prazo arbitrário, através do fator de utilização. Propomos um teste de escalonabilidade adequado aos propósitos de um escalonamento on-line eficiente, A ,partir daí, verificamos que um servidor esporádico dinâmico pode ser empregado para o teste de escalonabilidade de tarefas em tempo de execução, e apresentamos uma condição suficiente para o escalonamento de tarefas esporádicas em tempo de execução, bem como, reformulamos uma condição necessária e suficiente, de tal forma a atender os requisitos de teste rápido. Através de simulações, analisamos o nível de eficiência das condições suficientes e da condição exata proposta. Para garantir que as tarefas esporádicas essenciais possam cumprir seus prazos, mesmo em situações de sobrecarga, propomos um algoritmo de escalonamento que garanta que tarefas mais importantes possam ser escalonadas com sucesso. Verificamos que o algoritmo proposto, embora seja computacionalmente rápido, tem uma eficiência muito próxima à eficiência de um algoritmo ótimo para o problema referido. Por fim, tratamos o caso em que algumas tarefas periódicas mantêm relações de interdependência, de tal forma a produzir um teste global de escalonabilidade para tarefas periódicas que possuem relações de precedência e tarefas esporádicas com grau de funcionalidade diferente, procurando maximizar a utilização da UCP e garantir a escalonabilidade de tarefas essenciais / Abstract: Nowadays, the design and implementation of Hard Real-Time(HRT) Systems can only be accomplished through a formal methodological approach. These HRT systems are based upon the fact that the quantitative temporal behaviour must be meto Otherwise, severe negative consequences may occur and be spread in the environment. Such behaviour is due to the fact that HRT systems are, generally, embebbed in larger systems that control physical processes. This work is closely tied to the fiexibility and predictability paradigm. This paradigm requires that the HRT system must be fiexible enough to adapt to its environment, and, at the same time, that the desired behaviour will be guaranteed to occur, insuring a safe system. Flexibility relates itself to dynamic reconfiguration( on-line), while predictability will guarantee that the behaviour is according to what is expected. In this way, these aspects may confiict with each other. In this work, we search for schedulability tests that are suitable when dealing with dynamic environment HRT systems. Thus, we allow systems whose comimtational tasks might have varying parameters, for example, variable worst case execution time. The research core contributes to the scheduling theory of periodic and sporadic tasks, particularly when on-line tests are necessary. It will be seen several scheduling models of periodic and sporadic tasks, from the very simple assumptions, where tasks are independent and completely preemptible, up to cases where precedence relations occurs. Initially, we investigate the schedulability of a periodic task set with arbitrary deadlines, through the utilization factor. We propose a schedulability test that is suitable to online scheduling. Then, we drift to a dynamic sporadic server, that can be used as a schedulability test at execution time, and we provide a suflicient condition for sporadic test scheduling as well as redesign an exact condition in order to fullfill the timetable. Through the simulations, we analyse how accurate our condition is working. In order to guarantee that the most important sporadic tasks will met their temporal constraints, even operating at overload, we propose a scheduling algorithm that will try to guarantee important tasks and not to jeopardize urgent tasks. We show that our algorithm is computationally fast and has a great eflicient average. Finally, we deal with periodic tasks that present precedence relations, such that they can be embebbed in a system with sporadic and independent periodic tasks and the overall schedulability may be tested on-line. So, our thesis is very concerned about fiexible environments, as we employ on-line tests, as well as predictable issues, dictated by the applications / Doutorado / Automação / Doutor em Engenharia Elétrica

M.Comm. / The for-profit business must maximise owners' wealth over the long term. It is accomplished by legally structuring the lease to minimise tax liability. Accounting profits and tax liability arising from the lease are determined in different ways: different lease structures could result in similar accounting profits, but different tax liability. A lease's accounting profits may be preestimated with relative certainty, but it's difficult to pre-estimate its tax liability. It's especially difficult with long-term leases that stretch over a number of accounting periods and tax years. There isn't a specific framework with which tax liability arising from the lease of immovable property may be determined and minimised. This study focuses on determining and minimising income tax liability within the context of the leasing of immovable property in South Africa. The workings of the factors that give rise to the tax liability are distinguished. Different types oflease agreements, reflecting the commercial objectives, are identified. A framework is then constructed from these factors to simplizy determination of the tax liability, and to structure the lease so that tax liability may be reduced. The different types of lease agreements are imposed on the framework to subordinate the reduction of tax liability to the parties' commercial objectives.

M.Ing. / This dissertation proposes to develop a procedure for effective property management that ensures sustainable social housing institutions. The social housing institution is a relatively new concept in South Africa. This industry experiences many problems that include poor relationship management and the lack of tenant participation. This research has shown that effective property management practices alleviate certain of these restrictions of social housing. The solution of the dissertation is based on a procedure that follows five stages. This dissertation recommends that end-user education be investigated in further detail.

The rise of globalisation has led to more and more companies expanding beyond their borders. Gray (2002) sees this rise as a direct result of technology. He feels that technology has been the main factor leading to internationalisation. Desai (2003) feels that it is a combination of both market forces and technology giving rise to greater cross-border trade. The flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) around the world increased by up to seven times between 1992 and 2006 (Hill, 2007). This led to a 150 percent increase in world trade value and a 45 percent increase in output (2007). According to Hill by 2005 stock of global FDI exceeded $10 trillion. The objective of this research is to understand the intricacies of the strategic decisions of multinational property companies that expand beyond their borders, with a focus on investment property. The research uses the internationalisation theory known as the eclectic paradigm as a lens through which to view the subject. The paradigm is made up of three sub-paradigms – ownership, location and internalisation - and focuses on how multinational companies internationalise their operations. Multinational property companies (MNPCs) are increasingly looking to increase their foreign direct investments into investment property outside their borders where the yields may be better, or perhaps to spread their risk (de Rauville, 2008). Using the case study methodology the research aims to understand not only how these companies achieve their fdi ends, but why they chose particular modes of entry; their specific country choices; and what led them to believe that they had the capability to ensure success. Of added interest is the application of the eclectic paradigm within this context. The research proved successful in that the intricacies of the strategic decisions made by the multinational investment properties in the study were revealed. These led to further insights for current and future work on the topic. In addition the eclectic paradigm proved a most useful lens with which to view the topic. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

There are several different investment opportunities for the private investor in South Africa in the asset class of immovable property. The purpose of this study is to identify the category of investment within this asset class that produces the most wealth creation. Four broad property investment categories exist. There are speculative investments involving short-term high profit returns. There are also long term income producing investment options. Property development is another category although there are often limitations in terms of financial accessibility for private investors. Finally there is the category of investing in listed property through property shares or unit trusts. Each category can be further segmented into property types such as residential, commercial, industrial, or undeveloped land. Each property type produces different returns and levels of profitability but is also affected by specific risks and externalities. Recent growth in the South African property market has caused a flood of private investors to enter the property market. Many of these investors lack knowledge of their asset purchase. This may be in terms of the potential financial return of their particular asset choice, or the variables and risks involved. Many potential investors feel that property investment is inaccessible to them and that it is reserved exclusively for the wealthy. This study undertakes to evaluate the category and type of property investment that offers the greatest potential for wealth creation for the private investor through research and calculation. It also serves to establish the profile and perceptions of potential private investors with respect to the different property investment options available to them. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

Housing is currently a topical issue in South Africa which has a housing backlog estimated to exceed 2,5 million households. Banks are a critical component of the housing value chain. They have been struggling to facilitate the reduction of the backlog, citing a lack of market liquidity of townships relative to the suburbs as a primary reason for the failure to reduce the backlog. The aim of this research study is to determine the extent to which information asymmetry is a factor in the liquidity of the township property market, with a view to understanding the impediments to liquidity in the township real estate market, and make recommendations for parsimonious interventions. Quantitative analysis was performed by examining data obtained on Estate Agents, Properties Registered and Demographics. Descriptive statistics were employed to understand the structure of the market. Thereafter factor analysis was used to identify relationships and narrow the number of variables for further exploration. Finally, multiple regression was applied in order to understand how the variables identified interacted with one another. The findings revealed that estate agents and the type of housing product had a direct impact on market liquidity. Market liquidity in the township market could be improved by making practical and parsimonious interventions centred on the estate agents, and property developers. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

The phenomenal growth of residential property prices when compared to other asset classes has resulted in property prices being the subject of significant debate in South Africa in the recent past. The reasons for the price increases are the subject of as much debate and uncertainty. This research attempts to determine whether there is a statistically significant relationship between the economic indicators selected and residential property prices, which could provide some indication of the factors influencing residential property prices in South Africa. The economic indicators selected were interest rates, real gross domestic product, average income, bond affordability levels, rand to US dollar exchange rates and inflation. Residential property prices in South Africa were measured using two data bases, the ABSA database, which comprised average residential property prices split into affordable, middle and luxury segments, as well as the Standard Bank database comprising median residential property prices in South Africa. The sample period was determined by reference to the period when data in respect of all the variables was available. Autocorrelation was removed from the data and thereafter a stepwise regression was performed to determine which economic indicators had a statistically significant relationship to each category of residential property price. It was found that quarterly lagged disposable income per capita (average income) had a statistically significant relationship to affordable and luxury property segments, as well as the median property prices. No economic indicator was found to have a statistically significant relationship to middle segment property prices. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted