Web 2.0 technologies such as blogs, Google Docs, and YouTube have become ubiquitous in today’s world of second and foreign language learning and have been the object of study (Wang & Vásquez, 2012), yet there is still a need to examine quantitatively and qualitatively how these tools impact the proficiency achievement levels of learners who use them. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact that blogs, Google Docs, and YouTube had on the achievement of college learners of Spanish as a foreign language. A mixed methods design was adopted. The quantitative data were collected from students (N=75) at the end of their intermediate class. The control had used traditional methods to develop the four basic skills, such as writing on paper with pencil, listening to audio files accompanying the text and work books, reading materials designed for language learners, and in class speaking activities, in pair or in group. The control group did not use the three selected technologies (N= 31), the two experimental groups had used the three selected technologies to produce and publish their output for 16 (N= 26) and 32 weeks (N=18). During this time, learners had to interact 1) among themselves through comments via the selected Web 2.0 technologies and 2) with more proficient users of the language in interviews recorded and published on YouTube. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the participants’ scores on the Spanish proficiency (STAMP) exam. Results yielded no significant differences between the control group and the treatment groups in the reading, listening, and speaking skills. However, there was a significant difference in the writing scores. The Post-hoc Sheffe test revealed a statistically significant difference between the control group and the group that used the used the three technologies for 16 weeks, but no significant difference between the control group and the group using the technologies for 32 weeks was found. Qualitative findings revealed that the participants perceived the three selected technologies impacted their writing, speaking, reading, and listening skills in that order. Writing was reported as the language skill that most benefited from using the three selected technologies. Participants claimed their vocabulary, grammar, writing styles, and fluency increased. Similarly, they reported their speaking fluency improved while their anxiety was lowered due to the use of the three technologies. Additionally, they reported gains in vocabulary and grammar structure from listening to and reading their peers’ contextualized output as well as incremental improvement in their ability to obtain the main idea and comprehend new vocabulary through constant reading and listening activities. Findings also established the value of peer feedback and its role in foreign language learning when using Web 2.0 technologies.

Abstract Efficient management of rather limited resources, including radio spectrum and mobile-terminal battery power, has been the fundamental design challenge of wireless networks and one of the most widespread research problems over the years. MAC (Medium Access Control) for packet access and CAC (Call Admission Control) for connection-oriented service domains are commonly used as effective tools to manage radio resources, capacity and performance of wireless networks while providing adequate QoS (Quality of Service) to mobile users. Hence, analysis and synthesis of efficient MAC and CAC schemes for advanced wireless networks have significant academic and practical values. This dissertation addresses that topic and presents seven separate contributions of the author: four on adaptive MAC schemes for centralized PRN (Packet Radio Networks), referred to as SPA (Smart Packet Access) and three on CAC schemes for cellular networks, referred to as SCA (Smart Call Admission). These contributions are published in eighteen original papers by the author, which are listed and referred to as Papers I–XVIII in this thesis. In SPA, the first contribution, reported in Papers II and IV, studies implementation losses of adaptive feedback-control MAC schemes for the uplink of DS-CDMA (Direct-Sequence Code Division Multiple Access) PRN in the presence of various system imperfections. The second contribution, reported in Papers XI, XII, XV and XVI, proposes a bit-rate adaptive MAC scheme for DS-CDMA PRN, referred to as SPR (Smart Packet Rate). The third contribution, reported in Papers III, XIII and XIV, develops two alternative MAC schemes with adaptive packet-length over correlated fading channels in DS-CDMA PRN, referred to as SPL (Smart Packet Length). The fourth contribution, reported in Papers XVII and XVIII, develops alternative adaptive MAC schemes for optimal trade-offs between throughput and energy consumption of TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) applications in advanced cellular networks. These include a so-called SPD (Smart Packet Dispatching) for HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) and, again, SPL for LSPA (Low Speed Packet Access). Moving on to SCA, the first contribution, reported in Papers V and VII, provides a simple and accurate analytical method for performance evaluation of a class of fixed-assignment CAC schemes with generic guard-channel policy and queuing priority handoffs in cellular networks. The second contribution, reported in Papers VI, IX and X, proposes a simple and effective SCAC (Soft-decision CAC) scheme for CDMA cellular networks. This is evaluated against fixed-assignment and measurement-based CAC schemes with a simple and reliable method provided as a part of the contribution. The third contribution, reported in Papers I and VIII, incorporates alternative QoS differentiation paradigms and resource partitioning into CAC, defines GoS (Grade of Service) for multimedia cellular networks, and provides an in-hand tool for efficient capacity and GoS management.

[pt] Este trabalho propõe um modelo de cálculo das probabilidades de mobilidade dinâmica e um modelo de mobilidade, que é aplicado a um método de controle de admissão de chamadas para sistemas móveis celulares, denominado shadows cluster. Este método busca priorizar chamadas que estejam em handoff em relação a novas chamadas. O objetivo desta técnica é uma melhor qualidade para uma chamada em andamento, evitando-se a queda da ligação. O objetivo do modelo proposto é reduzir a carga de sinalização do sistema celular, comparada à obtida na ausência desse modelo. Resultados de simulações mostram que este objetivo do método do shadow cluster pode ser atingido para vários cenários de mobildade. / [en] This work proposes a Dynamic Mobile Probability model and a mobility model, which is applied for a call admission control scheme for mobile cellular systems, called shadow cluster. This scheme gives priority to calls that are in handoff procedure. The objective of this scheme is a better call in progress quality, avoiding the call dropping. The objective of the proposed model is to reduce signalling load of cellular system. Simulation results show that indeed those objectives can be achived.

No description available.

Contact Centres (CCs) are at the forefront of interaction between an organisation and its customers. Currently, 17 percent of all inbound calls are not resolved on the first call by the first agent attending to that call. This is due to the inability of the contact centre agents (CCAs) to diagnose customer queries and find adequate solutions in an effective and efficient manner. The aim of this research is to develop an intelligent user interface (IUI) model to support and improve CC operations. A literature review of existing IUI architectures, modelbased design and existing CC software together with a field study of CCs has resulted in the design of an IUI model for CCs. The proposed IUI model is described in terms of its architecture, component-level design and interface design. An IUI prototype has been developed as a proof of concept of the proposed IUI model. The IUI prototype was evaluated in order to determine to what extent it supports problem identification and query resolution. User testing, incorporating the use of eye tracking and a post-test questionnaire, was used in order to determine the usability and usefulness of the prototype. The results of this evaluation show that the users were highly satisfied with the task support and query resolution assistance provided by the IUI prototype. This research resulted in the design of an IUI model for the domain of CCs. This model can be used to assist the development of CC applications incorporating IUIs. Use of the proposed IUI model is expected to support and enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of CC operations. Further research is needed to conduct a longitudinal study to determine the impact of IUIs in the CC domain.

Casual sexual relationships are common forms of modern sexual relationships. Researchers are paying increased attention to these relationship types, but have been remiss in ensuring that the definitions of the relationships under investigation match participants’ conceptualizations. Thus, the purpose of this dissertation is to determine whether definitions and behavioural scripts for casual sexual relationships can be identified. In Study 1, 23 young adults discussed initiation, maintenance, and termination components of various casual sexual relationships in focus groups and developed consensus definitions for each relationship. Each focus group independently identified four casual sexual relationships: One Night Stand, Booty Call, Fuck Buddies, and Friends with Benefits. These four relationships were the focus of subsequent exploration. Building on the qualitative descriptions created in the focus groups, an online survey was used to determine whether relationship definitions and associated script behaviours could be confirmed in a larger sample (N = 885). In Study 2, a restricted age subsample (i.e., 18-29 years) was used to determine if emerging adults endorsed the proposed definitions. A majority of the sample endorsed the definitions for One Night Stand (96%), Booty Call (93%), Fuck Buddies (83%), and Friends with Benefits (87%). A larger proportion of individuals with sexual intercourse experience endorsed the definitions compared to those without sexual intercourse experience, while previous casual sex experience did not affect definition endorsements. Women demonstrated greater precision in identifying the definitions. In Study 3, the full sample of 885 participants was used to identify the specific script behaviours associated with each relationship. Using behaviourally descriptive items (N = 62) derived from Study 1, participants identified 12 script items for One Night Stand, Booty Call, and Friends with Benefits and 10 script items for Fuck Buddies. Individuals with previous sexual intercourse experience were more adept at identifying the specific behavioural script items, while previous casual sex experience did not affect script endorsements. Again, women were particularly adept at identifying the specific script items. Overall, these findings suggest that specific definitions and respective scripts exist for the One Night Stand, Booty Call, Fuck Buddies, and Friends with Benefits relationships. This knowledge appears broad and may be considered as socio-cultural knowledge of young adults. Numerous implications flow from the understanding that young adults implicitly know what behaviours are associated with these popular forms of casual sexual relationships. Researchers need to ensure they use scientifically sound definitions in order to develop a more sophisticated lexicon of (casual sex) relationships and understand how modern sexual relationships fit within the scope of potential relationship options.

En raison de son cadre social et fiscal avantageux et de la qualité de sa main d’oeuvre, la Tunisie est aujourd’hui une destination privilégiée pour les entreprises occidentales. Depuis plusieurs années effectivement, ces dernières lui confient la réalisation de tout ou partie de leurs activités de services. Cela a entrainé le développement sur le territoire tunisien, d’un nombre important de centres d’appels externes offshore. Ces entreprises se proposent de réaliser depuis la Tunisie, des opérations d’acquisition et de fidélisation de clients, de recouvrement, d’assistance technique, d’enquêtes et de sondage, etc. pour le compte de donneurs d’ordres occidentaux. Elles leur promettent une qualité de service équivalente -voire meilleure- à celle pratiquée dans leurs pays d’origine. Inévitablement, cela les oblige à s’adapter aux particularités culturelles de ces derniers. De ce fait, leurs salariés doivent constamment composer avec les codes culturels de leurs clients étrangers. Ils doivent en réalité gérer simultanément leurs identités tunisiennes et celles de leurs clients, et apprendre à limiter les contradictions entre les unes et les autres. Pour y parvenir, ils développent généralement des stratégies identitaires, soient des mécanismes de défense permettant de minimiser les désaccords entre les deux identités. Cette thèse est le fruit d’une enquête qualitative conduite entre 2010 et 2012 auprès de 85 salariés de quatre centres d’appels sous-traitant en Tunisie pour des entreprises occidentales. Elle s’interroge sur l’existence d’une relation entre les stratégies identitaires de ces travailleurs et le management pratiqué par leurs entreprises. Nos résultats confirment l’existence de cette relation. Effectivement, ils révèlent que le modèle managérial choisi par un centre d’appels externe offshore est susceptible d’influencer les stratégies identitaires de ses salariés. Ils montrent de plus, que des modèles managériaux différents produisent des stratégies identitaires différentes. Ainsi, un management global est plus susceptible d’engendrer des stratégies de rejet de l’identité étrangère, tandis qu’un management paternaliste et un management mosaïque sont au contraire prédisposés à produire des stratégies favorables à cette dernière. Un management bureaucratique quant à lui, est susceptible de générer des stratégies mixtes, soient des stratégies favorables aussi bien à l’identité étrangère qu’à l’identité originelle. / Thanks to its social and fiscal advantages and the quality of its workforce, Tunisia has become a preferred destination for western companies. Indeed, in the last few years, the latter subcontracted Tunisia to perform part or all of its service activities. This has led to the development, on the Tunisian territory, of a large number of offshore call centres. From Tunisia, these companies perform activities to gain new customers, retain existing ones, provide technical support, perform debt collection, surveys and cold calling, etc... on behalf of Western companies. Those Tunisian companies agree to provide an equivalent – or better - service quality than to the one offered in their home country. Consequently, they inevitably need to adapt to the cultural characteristics of their western clients. Therefore, their employees must constantly adjust to the cultural codes of their foreign customers. In fact, they have to simultaneously handle their Tunisian identity and those of their customers, and limit the potential contradictions between the two. To manage these contradictions, they usually develop identity strategies, which are defence mechanisms to minimize divergence between the two cultures. This thesis is the result of a qualitative survey conducted between 2010 and 2012 with 85 employees from four call centres for Western companies off shored to Tunisia. It studied the potential existence of a relationship between identity strategies developed by these workers and the management style practiced by their companies. The existence of this relationship is confirmed by our results. Indeed, they reveal that an offshore call centre management model is likely to influence the identity strategies developed by its employees. They also show that different managerial models trigger different identity strategies. Hence, a global management style is more likely to generate strategies rejecting the foreign culture. However, paternalistic management and mosaic management styles are more likely to lead to identity strategy in favour of the foreign culture. Finally, a bureaucratic management style is likely to generate mixed strategies, in favour of either the foreign culture or of the local culture.

Cílem diplomové práce je nalezení daňově optimálních řešení při přemísťování obchodního majetku mezi členskými zeměmi Evropské unie z pohledu plátců DPH. Ačkoliv šestá směrnice definuje obecně samotný institut přemístění, prakticky neupravuje jednotlivé možnosti zjednodušení (konsignační sklad, ?call off stock?). Výsledkem mojí analýzy je zjištění, že více než třetina členských států možnost zjednodušení nepřipouští. Většina států umožňuje využít zjednodušeného režimu v rámci ?call of stock? dodávek. Pouze Lucembursko a Belgie pak připouští zjednodušený režim jak pro ?call of stock? dodávky tak i pro konsignační sklady. Na konkrétním modelovém příkladu fiktivní společnosti jsem dospěl k závěru, že optimální volba daňové struktury je sice významným faktorem, ale rozhodujícím prvkem pro stanovení obchodní struktury zůstává zvolená obchodní strategie.

The main objective of this thesis will be to propose a project to establish a new internal call centre of company PFP s.r.o., which mainly deals with insurance of motor vehicles and became the first website to compare products and prices in the insurance market . The thesis will describe operation of the company before establishment of the call centre and will identify key considerations which led the company to the idea of building an internal call centre. The thesis will focus on identifying and proposing appropriate processes that will led to improved quality of service while communicating with clients of PFP s.r.o. and also ensure a more efficient employees. The practical part will propose specific actions that will ensure smooth running of the new call centre.

In view of the overall dissatisfaction with the preaching of God’s Word in general, it is necessary to find a practical theological solution to the problem. The importance of a personal house call by the minister or preacher with a view to actual and topical preaching already seems to pose an answer. A visit by the preacher gives the member of his congregation an opportunity to make a contribution to the sermon/message. The preacher must not only give a thorough exergesis of the text, but it is imperative that he should also be familiar with his listeners. The text as well as its context is of cardinal importance for the actual preaching. Knowledge of the context creates space for the text to make the message topical under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The listeners want to hear the Lord in their own circumstances as well as to experience Him as their personal living redeemer. When either the context or the listeners’ participation in the preaching is underrated, the listeners remain untouched by the message and hardly experience a Word- or Spiritual event. The dialogical communication process requires personal contact between preacher and listeners during which not only the preacher hears the voice of God and delivers a message in the course of his visit, but so that the church member will also be able to share his experience with God with the preacher, and then with the congregation. Members of the congregation are also biblically tasked to uplift one another with the Word of God. It is a source of great concern that more and more preachers and church councils have come to regard personal home visits as old-fashioned or even obsolete. The empirical research has strongly supported the concern and needs of church members as regards fruitful home visits by officials of the church. Church councils and spiritual leaders should firmly establish the practice of house calls as one of the basic cornerstones of a healthy and constructive communication with the view to the practical and topical preaching of God’s Word. / Dissertation (MA (Theology) : Practical Theology)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Practical Theology / unrestricted