A research report submitted to the Faculty of Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partlal fulfillment of the requirements for-tne degree of Master of Management (in the field of Public and Development Management). / This research report develops a review framework for metropolitan local government in Greater Johannesburg and South Africa, through the extrapolation of the key aspects of three generic models of metropolitan local government. These models are classified as confederal. tow-tier and unicity type of city government. The need for the review of local government in Greater Johannesburg is illustrated through an historical overview or events in the transformation of local government since 1990, The crucial clements or the generic models arc also described in terms of metropolitan evaluation criteria and area variables. Evaluation criteria are defined as essential strategic indicators of performance, whilst area variables are seen as those factors which contribute to the specific structure and nature of metropolises in South Africa. Tile generic models are compiled in the format of a review matrix. which take the crucial elements thereof, as well as the evaluation criteria and area variables into account. Compatibility with the evaluation criteria are measured as being either low, medium or high. The conclusion is made that either an integrating two-tier system or metropolitan government or an unicity with limited delegation to community councils represent the optimal alternative for Greater Johannesburg. / AC2017

The surest way to increase the capacity of a wireless system is by getting the transmitters and receivers closer to each other, which creates the dual bene¯ts of higher quality links and more spatial reuse. In a network with nomadic users, this inevitably involves deploying more infrastructure, typically in the form of microcells, hotspots, distributed antennas, or relays. Compared to these deployments, a less expensive alternative for cellular operators is the recent concept of femtocells { also called home base-stations { which are end consumer installed data access points in the desire to get better indoor voice and data coverage. A two-tier network consisting of a conventional macrocell overlaid with shorter range wireless hotspots o®ers poten- tial capacity bene¯ts with low upfront costs to cellular operators. This dissertation addresses the key technical challenges inherent to a femtocell-aided cellular network, speci¯cally managing radio interference and providing reliable coverage at either tier, for di®erent physical layer technologies. Speci¯c contributions include 1) an uplink capacity analysis and interference avoidance in two-tier networks employing Code Di- vision Multiple Access (CDMA), 2) a decentralized power control scheme in two-tier networks with universal frequency reuse, 3) a coverage analysis of multi-antenna two- tier networks, and 4) spectrum allocation in two-tier networks employing Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA). The goal of this research is to inspire and motivate the use of decentralized interference management techniques requir- ing minimal network overhead in ongoing and future deployments of tiered cellular architectures. / text

This study is to research the ¡§Corruption Prevention and Profits Promotion of Corporate Governance in our country¡¨. Recently, companies have encountered the corporate governance problems globally and indicate that corporate governance have not been fulfilled exactly. It not only failed to maximize the profit of shareholders and stakeholders, and even worse, unable to make the investment money get back. Furthermore, it will also cause bad effects that associate with the social instability and weaken the economic development. In view of the reasons that contribute to the occurrence of company scandals, most of people will think it¡¦s due to lack of monitoring and supervision of companies. But this should be merely the direct reasons. Apart form this, it has to be added with indirect causes of inability of company strategy leadership and cause financial problems to occur consequently. It¡¦s obvious that monitoring with corruption prevention and leadership work to profit promotion are two essential features of corporate governance. In the aspect of monitoring system enhancement, this paper has investigated the current supervision problems of corporate governance and provided improvement suggestions accordingly. To the issue of evaluating these two systems regarding independent directors and existing supervisors, several fundamental but important points have been reviewed and recommendations have been provided. In consideration of increasing leadership management performance and building a multi-purposes board, we recommend taking British mode of a balancing board as a good reference example. It¡¦s recommended that both characteristics of independent monitoring and excellent ability of promoting company¡¦s profit should be taken into account simultaneously when choosing directors. It¡¦s expected that the board can fulfill the duties of monitoring the company efficiently and playing the role as excellent navigator successfully to lead the company going forward continuously. It¡¦s all wish that owing to these dual functions have been stressed and developed; it can bring a new era to our corporate governance.

This study examines the potential effects of categorical increases in production expenditures on farm income performance according to farm standing. The objective of this study is to expose differences in anticipated net farm income return from production expenditure investments and the optimal expense allocation strategy for each performance level. Studying farm performance through segregation by utilizing a two-tier analysis and quantile regression acknowledges the possibility that managerial strategy can differ based on managerial ability. Study outcomes are useful to farm managers because they offer more prescription style results and interpretations than found in other farm performance studies. Study findings show that as managerial proficiency increases so does a manager’s ability to extract higher returns from additional expenditures in certain input categories. Additionally, better managers are able to produce higher returns from more investment sources than their lower performing peers. Overall, study results and interpretations point to the importance of farm management ability as the key input for improving farm performance.

This thesis examines School Generated Funding (SGF) within the Toronto District School (TDSB) to see if SGF is reinforcing a two-tier education system. Five sources of data were analyzed: The SGF Record of the TDSB from 2008-2009, The Preliminary School Budget from 2010-2011, EQAO test results from 2008 to 2009, The Learning Opportunity Index (LOI) from 2009, and three socio-economic status factors (income, education and occupation) using the Toronto Wards Profiles. Using the SGF record, twenty green schools (schools that raised the most SGF, amounting to $4,043,837) were compared, using the five sources of data against twenty red schools (schools that raised the least amount of SGF, amounting to $109,885). Two recommendations have been suggested: SGF be capped at a median amount throughout the TDSB and extra funding be put into a funding account for the TDSB to disperse to schools that need it.

Yes / • This article discusses the current situation in the market of cryptocurrencies and joins the debate about the regulation of these financial innovations. • It argues that the appearance of cryptocurrencies was a response to market demand for more affordable and more inclusive banking. • It also argues that distributed ledger technology (DLT) which supports cryptocurrencies and has different characteristics than the technology used by traditional banking could help to create with cryptocurrencies a new, lower cost, more inclusive financial ecosystem separate from the traditional one. • The two ecosystems (traditional and new one) would form a larger two-tier financial ecosystem, which, overall would be more inclusive and more affordable. Also, it would be more effective in containing contagion and major economic disruption during future financial crises. • The current reliance on a single, ever growing, and immensely complex financial ecosystem is not sustainable longer term as systemic risks grow with the system and there are no mechanisms available to fully eliminate these risks. The costs of regulating the current market architecture are also excessively high.

The purpose of the research investigation is to consider the potential opportunities through which corporate governance may be developed to better suit the developing commercial culture within Poland. In order to do this, I formulate the following research questions: ‘What are the weaknesses of the Polish corporate governance system?’, ‘What changes should be made to corporate governance in Poland?’, and ‘Is a hybrid corporate governance model a choice for Poland?’ The concept of hybridisation is fairly new, and involves combining different approaches to corporate governance, eg it embraces combining elements of the board management and monitoring models. I examine several changes to corporate governance that can be called hybrid. They were implemented in South Africa, Japan, Malaysia, the UK and the US. The main focus, however, is put on Polish corporate governance, which I investigate from the angle of those changes. Doctrinal research is combined with a set of interviews conducted with business practitioners in Poland. Interviewees are asked to express their opinion about corporate governance in Poland. Questions are asked in the context of changes that were made to corporate governance in countries mentioned above. The interviews produce results that overlap with the doctrinal research. Polish companies have a highly consolidated share ownership structure, which has a negative influence on the allocation of power between corporate organs. The supervisory board is an organ through which the controlling shareholders extend their power. Under the Company Code 2000, the supervisory board usually appoints and removes members of the management board, and instructs them in the decision making process. The statutes might give a broader scope of powers to the supervisory board. All this results in various forms of expropriation in companies, such as, for example, stealing of profits by governing bodies, overpaying executives, or installing unqualified family members in managerial positions. In general, interviewees are pleased with the currently binding corporate governance in Poland. The majority of them are pessimistic about implementing such large changes in Poland as, for example, a one-tier board system. A significant number of interviewees propose minor changes to the Polish system of corporate governance. It should be highlighted that several non-managerial interviewees turn out to have more liberal approaches to potential changes to corporate governance in Poland. The research fills a gap in knowledge on hybrid corporate governance, as this issue has hardly been touched by the Polish legal doctrine. It also systematises and develops knowledge on hybrid corporate governance worldwide, and develops knowledge on legal transplant.

The purpose of this research was to develop an on-line two-tier diagnostic instrument that could be used to identify alternative scientific conceptions held by students and to ascertain the conceptual level at which students are functioning. The instrument was designed to identify alternative conceptions held in relation to concepts that underpin the objectives listed in each of the four content strands of the New Zealand Science Curriculum. The stem questions of the first tier were designed around the curriculum objectives for Levels 4, 5 and 6. Distracters for the second tier were developed from alternative conceptions identified from surveys, teacher predictions and telephone interviews. A 52 item instrument was built into a Microsoft Word format with drop down menu functionality, and then transferred into an on-line format on a web site. The instrument link was sent by email to a student sample in the age range of Year 9 to 11. The student responses were analysed by answer selection and alternative conceptions were identified and classified. The instrument proved to be an economical rapid response tool for identification of student alternative conceptions to inform the design and development of student science learning programmes. The instrument and the component two-tier items have the potential to be used as part of an item bank for formative assessment tests to enhance student learning in science. The on-line functionality of the instrument has the potential to provide the 21st century learner with formative self assessment opportunities to enhance personalized self-directed learning programmes.

Esta dissertação analisa o recurso ordinário constitucional, espécie recursal autônoma e heterogênea, em Processo Civil. Apenas dois tribunais superiores, o Supremo Tribunal Federal e o Superior Tribunal de Justiça, possuem competência para julgar esse recurso. Inicia conceituando recurso e duplo grau de jurisdição, bem como apontando as semelhanças e as diferenças entre esses dois institutos jurídicos processuais. Em seguida, define o critério de classificação dos recursos entre ordinários em sentido amplo e extraordinários em sentido amplo no ordenamento jurídico brasileiro, para apontar em qual categoria se enquadra o recurso ordinário constitucional. Verifica a origem histórica do recurso ordinário constitucional, com enfoque na sua disciplina pelas Constituições Federais do Brasil republicano, para que identifique quais são os motivos pelos quais essa espécie recursal existe e deve ou não ser mantida atualmente. Define cada uma das hipóteses de cabimento do recurso ordinário constitucional, priorizando a definição daquelas interessantes para o Processo Civil. Delineia os aspectos procedimentais desse recurso (requisitos de admissibilidade, efeitos devolutivo e suspensivo, procedimento perante o juízo a quo e perante o juízo ad quem, possibilidade da sua interposição adesiva e cabimento de embargos infringentes e de embargos de divergência). Aponta as funções dos tribunais superiores brasileiros, comparando-as com as funções e com os recursos de competência de Cortes Constitucionais e de tribunais superiores estrangeiros. Conclui pela necessidade de manutenção do recurso ordinário constitucional no ordenamento jurídico brasileiro, com algumas alterações das hipóteses de cabimento. / This dissertation analyses the recurso ordinário constitucional, a heterogenic and autonomous kind of appeal, in its Civil Procedure forms. Only two superior courts, the Supremo Tribunal Federal (the Brazilian Supreme Court) and the Superior Tribunal de Justiça (the Brazilian Federal Court of Appeals) can judge that kind of appeal. It starts conceptualizing what is an appeal and what is a two-tier judicial exam, as well as their resemblances and differences. It follows defining the standard on how to classify the appeals between ordinary and extraordinary in the Brazilian law, so the recurso ordinário constitucional can be appointed to a category. It verifies the historical origin of that kind of appeal, with special focus on its constitutional discipline, since Brazil has being a republic, so it is possible to identify the reasons why that kind of appeal exists and should or should not be maintained nowadays. It defines each one of the cases that the recurso ordinário constitucional can be interposed, prioritizing the ones regarding Civil Procedure. It outlines the procedural aspects of that kind of appeal (its admissibility requirements, its staying and non-staying effects, its procedure before the judex a quo and the judex ad quem, the possibility of that kind of appeal being adhesive, and the acceptance of the embargos infringentes and the embargos de divergência, two different kinds of appeal). It points out the scopes of the Brazilian superior courts, comparing them to the scopes and the appeals judged by foreign Constitutional Courts and superior courts. It concludes that the recurso ordinário constitucional should remain on the Brazilian law, with some modifications regarding the cases it can be interposed.

<p>Glavni cilj ove disertacije bio je da&nbsp;se ispita u kojoj meri će nastavni&nbsp;pristup zasnovan na interkorelaciji&nbsp;makroskopskog, submikroskopskog&nbsp;i simboličkog nivoa &nbsp;reprezentacije&nbsp;znanja uticati na performanse&nbsp;učenika u oblasti neorganskih&nbsp;reakcija, a takođe i kakav će biti&nbsp;njen uticaj na samoprocenu&nbsp;uloženog mentalnog napora.&nbsp;</p><p>Ukupan uzorak ovog istraživanja&nbsp;sačinjavalo je 313 učenika iz dve&nbsp;gimnazije, a &nbsp;istraživanje je&nbsp;sprovedeno u toku &scaron;kolske&nbsp;2012/13. &scaron;kolske godine. Kao&nbsp;merni instrument za merenje&nbsp;performansi kori&scaron;ćen je dvoslojni&nbsp;test znanja sa zadacima&nbsp;<br />vi&scaron;estrukog izbora, a svaki zadatakje praćen sedmostepenom skalom&nbsp;Likertovog tipa za samoprocenu&nbsp;uloženog mentalnog napora.&nbsp;</p><p>Dobijeni rezultati pokazuju da&nbsp;primenjena instrukciona strategija,&nbsp;koja se oslanja na primenu&nbsp;vi&scaron;estrukih nivoa reprezentacije&nbsp;znanja vodi povećanju učeničkih&nbsp;performansi, a istovremeno i&nbsp;smanjenju kognitivnog opterećenja.&nbsp;Rezultati dobijeni za procenu&nbsp;instrukcione efikasnosti sugeri&scaron;u&nbsp;da primenjeni model predstavlja&nbsp;efikasan nastavni model.</p><p>Dalje istraživanja performansi&nbsp;pokazala su da&nbsp; primenjena&nbsp;instrukciona strategija ima&nbsp;<br />podjednako pozitivan uticaj kako&nbsp;na performanse, tako i na&nbsp;procenjeni mentalni napor&nbsp;ispitanika oba pola. Ispitivana&nbsp;strategija takođe se pokazala&nbsp;efikasnom u obuci svih ispitivanih&nbsp;grupa učenika (najmanje uspe&scaron;nih,&nbsp;srednje uspe&scaron;nih i najuspe&scaron;nijih).&nbsp;<br />Pored toga&nbsp; rezultati&nbsp; su ukazali i na&nbsp;postojanje velikog broja&nbsp;miskoncepcija u K grupi ispitanika,&nbsp;dok su u E grupi, koja je&nbsp;učestvovala u eksperimentalnoj&nbsp;nastavi, veliki broj &nbsp;miskoncepcija&nbsp;bio eliminisan.</p><p>Na kraju, rezultati analize&nbsp;kognitivne kompleksnosti ukazali&nbsp;su na postojanje značajnih&nbsp;korelacija između svih ispitivanih&nbsp;parova varijabli (performanse-kognitivna kompleksnost;&nbsp;performanse-mentalni napor i&nbsp;mentalni napor-kognitivna&nbsp;kompleksnost).</p> / <p>The central goal of this disserta-tion&nbsp; was to examine the extent to&nbsp;which a teaching approach fo-cused on the interaction&nbsp; among&nbsp;macroscopic, submicroscopic and&nbsp;<br />symbolic levels of chemistry representations could affect high&nbsp;school students&rsquo; performance in&nbsp;the field of inorganic reactions, as&nbsp;well as to examine how the appli-ed &nbsp;instruction influences stu-dents&rsquo; assessment of invested&nbsp;mental effort.</p><p>The total sample of this research&nbsp;included 313 high school stu-dents. The survey was conducted&nbsp;in the 2012-2013 school year. As&nbsp;a measuring instrument for stu-dent &nbsp;performance a&nbsp; two-tier mu-ltiple-choice test&nbsp; of knowledge&nbsp;was used.&nbsp; Each task in the test&nbsp;was followed by a seven point&nbsp;Likert-type scale for evaluation of&nbsp;invested mental effort.&nbsp;</p><p>Obtained results indicate that a&nbsp;teaching strategy relying on the&nbsp;interplay between three levels of&nbsp;knowledge representation leads&nbsp;to an increase in students&rsquo; performance and also contributes to&nbsp;the reduction of cognitive load.&nbsp;The obtained results for calcula-ted mental efficiency suggest that&nbsp;the applied instructional model&nbsp;represents an effective teaching&nbsp;model. Further performance te-sting have shown that applied&nbsp;instructional strategy have simi-lar positive impact in terms of&nbsp;both performance and mental&nbsp;effort on the subjects of both&nbsp;genders. This strategy has also&nbsp;<br />proved to be effective in training&nbsp;all examined groups of students&nbsp;(low achievers, &nbsp;middle achievers&nbsp;and high achievers). In addition,&nbsp;results indicated the existence of&nbsp;a large number of misconceptions&nbsp;in the K group, while in the group&nbsp;E, that was subjected to experi-mental teaching, a great deal of&nbsp;misconceptions was eliminated.</p><p>Last but not least, the results of&nbsp;cognitive complexity analysis&nbsp;indicated the existence of signifi-cant correlations between all the&nbsp;examined pairs of variables (pe-rformance-cognitive complexity;&nbsp;performance-mental effort; me-ntal effort-cognitive complexity).</p>