L'objet de cette thèse est de tester la pertinence de l'hypothèse du piège du sous développement, en montrant à travers les performances économiques, que la politique de désinflation a installé l'économie marocaine dans un équilibre bas. L'objectif est de mettre en évidence les effets restrictifs sur la croissance et l'emploi, de l'orientation de la politique monétaire et budgétaire. Le cadre conceptuel proposé découle des débats afférents à la règle versus discrétion, à l'indépendance et la crédibilité de la Banque centrale, à la soutenabilité budgétaire et un policy mix coopératif. L'évaluation du policy mix mis en œuvre avec rigueur depuis 1998, s'appuie sur l'articulation de cadres d'analyse issus des théories de la politique économique, de l'économie de la croissance endogène et de l'analyse en termes de capacités d'Amartya Sen. Deux axes de réflexion ont été élaborés. Le premier concerne le rattachement du concept de piège du sous développement à celui de la croissance molle constituant ainsi, les principales caractéristiques du régime de croissance en présentant les contraintes qui pèsent sur l'économie. Le second met l'accent sur l'évaluation du bien-être à partir des opportunités et des libertés offertes par les politiques publiques. Dans ce sens, il est question d'analyser les recoupements qui existent entre la politique économique, le bien-être social et les capacités. Ainsi, le premier des cinq chapitres de la thèse, traite des soubassements théoriques et des mécanismes sous-jacents qui ont guidé le décideur public dans le choix de sa politique économique. Les règles fixes en matière d'inflation et de limitation du déficit public, la coordination du réglage monétaire et de la gestion des finances publiques, l'indépendance de Banque centrale, les réformes structurelles entreprises ainsi que la priorité accordée à la stabilité macroéconomique, attestent et cautionnent les fondements néoclassiques de la politique économique. La recherche de la crédibilité monétaire à travers la règle fixe d'inflation de 2% a conduit à un renchérissement du coût du crédit. Le maintien des taux d'intérêt élevés est à l'encontre des intérêts des PME qui se trouvent pénalisées par le rationnement du crédit dont elles font l'objet. En matière budgétaire, la réduction du déficit public à 3% constitue une règle qui assure la maîtrise des finances publiques et soutient l'Institut d'émission dans sa lutte contre l'inflation. Le respect impératif de cette règle, quels que soient les chocs qui affectent l'économie, entretient les facteurs de blocage liés à la baisse de la demande et du revenu globaux. Le décideur public se prive ainsi, d'actions de redistribution et de régulation de la conjoncture susceptibles de limiter les disparités sociales. La politique de rigueur, de par le coût social qu'elle induit, limite la garantie des droits et des libertés. Le chômage des jeunes, les difficultés d'accès aux biens et services de base, la pauvreté, le sous emploi et l'analphabétisme constituent un manque de libertés et de droits qui restreint l'étendue des choix et des réalisations effectives. Il apparaît, en définitive, que le choix de la politique de rigueur axée sur des règles inflexibles, atteint assurément l'objectif de stabilité macroéconomique, mais au prix d'un déficit de croissance et de bien-être social. Les effets de la crise financière sur l'économie viennent confirmer la fragilité du système de croissance. Celle-ci a transité par des effets de revenus liés à la baisse de la demande externe à travers quatre canaux de transmission: le tourisme, les exportations, les transferts des résidents marocains à l'étranger et les IDE. Les taux de croissance enregistrés entre 2008 et 2010 restent faibles et l'emploi recule. L'impact de la crise met fin à l'illusion de résilience de l'économie et attire l'attention sur le fait qu'il existe une politique alternative axée sur la croissance et l'emploi.

La coactivation est un phénomène musculaire fondamental pour la stabilisation et la protection des articulations lors de contractions volontaires et joue un rôle essentiel dans le contrôle du mouvement. De nombreuses études ont montré que des mécanismes supraspinaux et spinaux contribuent à la régulation de la coactivation musculaire, mais l'implication du cortex moteur primaire (M1) est encore mal connue. Les modulations des oscillations corticales et des interactions cortico-musculaires ont été étudiées lors de contractions isométriques à différents niveaux de forces chez des participants présentant différents niveaux de coactivation musculaire en raison de leur spécialité sportive (entraînement en force (ST) vs. en endurance (ED)). Chez les ST, une moindre coactivation musculaire est associée à une plus grande activation du M1, ce qui pourrait s'expliquer par le contrôle d'un plus grand nombre de muscles, notamment des muscles antagonistes. Grâce à une méthode novatrice pour analyser les interactions cortico-musculaires, nous montrons qu'il existe un couplage entre le M1 est les muscles antagonistes chez l'ensemble des participants et dans toutes les directions de contraction. Cependant, la magnitude des interactions cortico-musculaires avec les muscles antagonistes est plus faible qu'avec les muscles agonistes, ce qui pourrait s'expliquer par une plus grande implication des mécanismes spinaux dans la régulation de la coactivation musculaire. L'estimation des moments musculaires agoniste et antagoniste à l'aide d'un modèle biomécanique EMG-assisté ouvre la perspective d'étudier directement les corrélats cérébraux des moments musculaires. Dans leur ensemble, nos résultats, obtenus à l'aide d'une approche combinant biomécanique et neurosciences, ont mis en évidence l'implication directe du M1 dans la régulation de la coactivation musculaire lors de contractions isométriques volontaires.

A novel localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) sensor that differentiates between background refractive index changes and surface-binding of a target analyte (e.g. a target molecule, protein, or bacterium) is presented. Standard, single channel LSPR sensors cannot differentiate these two effects as their design allows only one mode to be coupled. This novel technique uses two surface plasmon modes to simultaneously measure surface binding and solution refractive index changes. This increases the sensitivity of the sensor. Different channels or modes can be created in sensors with the introduction of gold nanospheres or gold nanorods that act as receptor mechanisms. Once immobilization was achieved on gold nanospheres, the technique was optimized to achieve the same immobilization for gold nanorods to get the expected dual mode spectrum. Intricate fabrication methods are illustrated with using chemically terminated self assembled monolayers. Then the fabrication process advances from chemically silanized nanoparticles, on to specific and systematic patterns generated with the use of Electron Beam Lithography. Comparisons are made within the different methods used, and guidelines are set to create possible room for improvement. Some methods implemented failed, but there was a lot to learn from these unsuccessful outcomes. Finally, the applications of the dual mode sensor are introduced, and current venues where the sensors can be used in chemical and biological settings are discussed.

Historically, research on Aboriginal education issues has ignored the needs of Aboriginal people and disempowered the Aboriginal community. This thesis seeks to offer a corrective to that trend. The intent of the thesis research was to establish a process for conducting educational research with one Aboriginal community - the Dakota People of Wahpeton which would enable this community to have a legitimate voice and control over future research that will be conducted on their behalf. A methodology called community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) was utilized because it provided the means for community input and direction. Through the use of CBPR, collaborative relationships were established with 20 Dakota People of Wahpeton, who were identified as the research participants. The interview was used as the primary research method. The thesis discusses how the conflict between two cultural world views - the Aboriginal view of the Dakota, Nakota, and Lakota People, generally referred to as "Sioux", and the contemporary Western view - was resolved within the process of implementing the Community-Based Participatory Research methodology. This resolution of differences was accomplished by bridging, then mirroring, the methodologies and ways of gaining knowledge unique to these two respective cultural world views. Additionally, theoretical and practical suggestions are offered so that the thesis might serve as a model for Dakota-Nakota-Lakota Community-Based Participatory Research in the future. In keeping with Community-Based Participatory Research, the voice of the people will be emphasized in this thesis, through extensive use of quotes. Furthermore, the voice of the researcher will be clearly identified so that he may be held accountable for his input.

Despite the Family Code of 2000 that raised the legal age at marriage to 18 for both sexes; early family formation is still a common practice which affect many children in Ethiopia. Previous research has shown that girls in rural areas are more disadvantaged and suffer the consequences of early marriage the most. The purpose of this thesis is to study the risk factors for early marriage for both girls and boys in an urban area, Shashemene. Also, using longitudinal data, trends in early family formation between 1973 and 2008 have been analyzed with an event history approach. The data were collected as part of the project “Changing Ethiopia: Urban livelihood, gender, and ethnicity in Shashemene after 35 years: A case study”. The discrete-time complementary log-log regression estimates have provided evidence of gender inequality in early marriage formations, showing that girls are more prone to experience early marriage than boys. While area of birth (rural-urban) has no direct impact on the risk of early marriage, it is found that living in an urban area offsets the effect of area of birth, suggesting a selection process into migration. It is also found that school attendance decreases the likelihood of early marriage, while literacy has little effect. Moreover, among people living in Shashemene, religious affiliation has more impact on early marriage risks than ethnic identity and the first language. Finally, there was little evidence on period and cohort effects for early family formation.

The application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as supportive tool in teaching and learning within the framework of the radical change that Outcomes Based Education (OBE) has created, pervades and consequently alters the pedagogy and methodology of Geography teaching. Geography Is a subject in which ICT can make a definite and worthwhile contribution and it is, therefore, important that Geography educators know how to harness the benefits of ICT for their learners. Apart from the general availability of ICT to fulfil the requirements of the curricula, there are pressures from the world outside the classroom in the form of professionals who utilize Geography in their profession, such as town planners and meteorologists, who utilise new technology such as GIs, GPS, satellite images, radar summaries, air charts and meteograms as an integral part of their work. The Internet, the World Wide Web and CD-Rom are used progressively as resource-based and communication tools in teaching and learning throughout the world. The challenge to utilise ICT in Geography teaching and learning occurs in a world experiencing increasing disparities between the rich and poor, among and within nations. For example, while 72.7% of Americans currently use the Internet, only 6.4% of South Africans have access to and use the Internet. A solution for sufficient ICT support in teaching and learning for developing countries is to focus on ICT variants that are affordable and that will sustain movement toward fulfilling development objectives. Developing countries (such as the RSA) need to consider alternatives to ICT that maximise the Impact of ICT and that entail balancing investment in computers with investment in other technologies that might be cheaper and equally effective. The use of alternative ICT variants must, however, be globally competitive, but at the same time be cost-effective. The ability, versatility and low cost of an ICT variant such as the Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) suggest that it can serve this purpose. ICT supports teaching and learning in Geography in many ways and has an impact on the quality of learners' learning experience and the depth of their learning. It can be a tool for inquiry learning, a resource for obtaining secondary source material, an aid in measuring physical events and situations, models real-world situations, helps to communicate and present information, improves efficiency and pace of workload, provides resources and structure to support learning independently of the educator and improves the quality of task outcomes for learners. The introduction of OBE in South Africa since 1994 has also encouraged learner-centred teaching and learning and has required a paradigm shift away from the traditional content-based transmission model of teaching and learning. The purpose of this study is to: • determine whether or not the DVD method can support the teaching and learning of Geography teacher students effectively; • determine how the DVD alters the format, structure and number of traditional formal Geography lectures; • determine what the nature of the information on the DVD must be in order to be perceived by the students effectively; • Investigate the effect of the utilisation of the DVD on the academic performance of Geography teacher students; and • develop a model for the effective integration and utilisation of the DVD in fulltime Geography teaching and learning. An action research method constituted the backbone of this study. The action research included a combined qualitative and quantitative research method in the form of a cross-sectional study as part of a developmental research method, in order to develop and evaluate a proposed model for the effective integration and utilisation of the DVD in Geography teaching and learning. The participants in this study included the entire population of the full-time, second-year students of the Economic Geography module, GEOH251 of 2004, 2005 and 2006 of the B.Ed (teaching degree) of the North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus). The results of the study can be summarised as follows: This study indicated that the majority of the GEOH251 students were positive regarding the integration of the DVD in Geography teaching and learning. The DVD-method teaching approach challenges lecturers and students to fulfil new roles within the teaching and learning environment. The results of this study indicate the following: The integration of the DVD method can support the teaching and learning of Geography teacher students effectively. The utilisation of the DVD, together with a seminar format with a specific procedure, enhances the teaching and learning of Geography. The DVD with all the different types of information included thereon was well received by the Geography students and was deemed effective. The integration of the DVD into Geography teaching and learning evidently did not result in poorer academic performances of students in the GEOH251 module. The proposed model provides clear guidelines on how to integrate the DVD In Geography teaching and learning. It explains how the DVD should be compiled, what to include and how to employ it effectively in conjunction with seminars. It also describes the transition of formal contact sessions to seminars, which occur less frequently than traditional contact sessions, but with regular weekly intervals, as well as explains the seminar proceedings, interactions and timeframes. The DVD can be integrated into Geography teaching and learning effectively if the procedures, steps, and actions, as expounded in the proposed model, are applied. The advantages of the DVD as ICT variant in Geography teaching and learning can be clearly seen, especially if it can be implemented in developing countries. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Education))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Electricity availability and the costs thereof in South Africa were traditionally considered an abundant and low cost commodity, but in recent years this situation has changed altogether. Industries are challenged by a strained national electricity grid and tariff increases more than four times the national inflation rate over the past two years, with further tariff increases expected in subsequent years; thus, exposing industries to significant business risks that may jeopardise the sustainability of industries. With the majority of the national electricity supply derived from coal, South Africa's push to reduce carbon emissions exerts even more pressure on industries as electricity usage is inextricably linked to its carbon footprint. In addition, South Africa's reliance on cogeneration from industries for its 2010 - 2030 electricity capacity plan further promotes industries to become more self–sufficient concerning electricity generation. In view of the above, there is a need in the South African integrated iron and steel industry for a framework that collectively addresses the governing factors pertaining to electricity generation in this industry, technical and economical quantification of available technologies and implementation of these technologies. This dissertation researches the current driving/governing and the remediating factors to become more self–sufficient in terms of electricity generation. A framework for electricity generation opportunities in the integrated iron and steel industry is developed from the literature study and the researcher's own experience. The framework embodies four building blocks into a single and all–encompassing framework, which provides the necessary governing factors that quantify the potential need to pursue electricity generation/cogeneration, the technical and economical implications and, inevitably, the implementation requirements and guidelines. Validating the framework against case studies pertaining to ArcelorMittal Newcastle realised a correlation of between 84.6% to 97.6% concerning the technical parameters. In addition, the validation process also indicated that the framework is aligned with current practices applied by ArcelorMittal South Africa. The framework will enable South African integrated iron and steel industries to expand and adapt their own procedures to be specific to their operational requirements. The implementation of the framework should be tailored to address the specific needs concerning cogeneration in industry. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Development and Management Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Electricity availability and the costs thereof in South Africa were traditionally considered an abundant and low cost commodity, but in recent years this situation has changed altogether. Industries are challenged by a strained national electricity grid and tariff increases more than four times the national inflation rate over the past two years, with further tariff increases expected in subsequent years; thus, exposing industries to significant business risks that may jeopardise the sustainability of industries. With the majority of the national electricity supply derived from coal, South Africa's push to reduce carbon emissions exerts even more pressure on industries as electricity usage is inextricably linked to its carbon footprint. In addition, South Africa's reliance on cogeneration from industries for its 2010 - 2030 electricity capacity plan further promotes industries to become more self–sufficient concerning electricity generation. In view of the above, there is a need in the South African integrated iron and steel industry for a framework that collectively addresses the governing factors pertaining to electricity generation in this industry, technical and economical quantification of available technologies and implementation of these technologies. This dissertation researches the current driving/governing and the remediating factors to become more self–sufficient in terms of electricity generation. A framework for electricity generation opportunities in the integrated iron and steel industry is developed from the literature study and the researcher's own experience. The framework embodies four building blocks into a single and all–encompassing framework, which provides the necessary governing factors that quantify the potential need to pursue electricity generation/cogeneration, the technical and economical implications and, inevitably, the implementation requirements and guidelines. Validating the framework against case studies pertaining to ArcelorMittal Newcastle realised a correlation of between 84.6% to 97.6% concerning the technical parameters. In addition, the validation process also indicated that the framework is aligned with current practices applied by ArcelorMittal South Africa. The framework will enable South African integrated iron and steel industries to expand and adapt their own procedures to be specific to their operational requirements. The implementation of the framework should be tailored to address the specific needs concerning cogeneration in industry. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Development and Management Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

The Catalyst 6500 is a modern commercial switch, capable of processing millions of packets per second through the utilization of specialized hardware. One of the main hardware components aiding the switch in performing its task is the Ternary Content Addressable Memory (TCAM). TCAMs update themselves with data relevant to routing and switching based on the traffic flowing through the switch. This enables the switch to forward future packets destined to a location that has already been previously discovered - at a very high speed. The problem is TCAMs have a limited size, and once they reach their capacity, the switch has to rely on software to perform the switching and routing - a much slower process than performing Hardware Switching that utilizes the TCAM. A framework has been developed to analyze the switch’s performance once the TCAM has reached its capacity, as well as measure the penalty associated with a cache miss. This thesis concludes with some recommendations and future work.

This thesis seeks to trace the process of Germany&rsquo / becoming a multicultural society through the politico-historical analysis of the matter of immigration to Germany. The working assumption while projecting this study is as follows / there is a close relation between the policies and implementations of Germany in practice and becoming a multicultural society during the process in question. Germany became a multinational society with its composition of different ethnic, religious and cultural groups / but it is clearly seen that Germany is not moving toward becoming a multicultural society, at least in the near future, considering its policies and implementations in practice. At the same time, considering the main arguments and effects of these new immigration and citizenship laws concerning immigrants will provide an essential ground for recognizing whether Germany is a multicultural society or not.