Traffic signals typically produce vehicle stops and thus increase vehicle fuel consumption levels. Vehicle stops produced by traffic signals, decrease vehicle fuel economy on arterial roads making it significantly lower than that on freeways. Eco-Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (Eco-CACC) systems can improve vehicle fuel efficiency by receiving Signal Phasing and Timing (SPaT) data form downstream signalized intersections via vehicle-to-infrastructure communication. The algorithm that was developed in an earlier study provides advisory speed recommendations to drivers to reduce vehicle fuel consumption levels in the vicinity of traffic signalized intersections. The research presented in this thesis enhances the algorithm by adding a queue length estimation component and incorporates the algorithm in the INTEGRATION microscopic traffic simulation software to test the system under varying conditions. The enhanced Eco-CACC algorithm is then tested in a simulation environment considering different levels of connected vehicle (CV) market penetration levels. The simulation analysis demonstrates that the algorithm is able to reduce the vehicle fuel consumption level by as high as 40%. Moreover, the overall benefits of the proposed algorithm is evaluated for different intersection configurations and CV market penetration rates (MPRs). The results demonstrate that for single lane approaches, the algorithm can reduce the overall fuel consumption levels and that higher MPRs result in larger savings. While for multilane approaches, lower MPRs produce negative impacts on fuel efficiency; only when MPRs are greater than 30%, can the algorithm work effectively in reducing fuel consumption levels. Subsequently a sensitivity analysis is conducted. The sensitivity analysis demonstrates that higher market penetration rates of Eco-CACC enabled vehicles can improve the environmental benefits of the algorithm, and the overall savings in fuel consumption are as high as 19% when all vehicles are equipped with the system. While, on multi-lane approaches, the algorithm has negative impacts on fuel consumption levels when the market penetration rate is lower than 30 percent. The analysis also indicates that the length of control segments, the SPaT plan, and the traffic demand levels affect the algorithm performance significantly. The study further demonstrates that the algorithm has negative impacts on fuel consumption levels when the network is over-saturated. / Master of Science

A theoretical analysis of marketing cooperatives indicates that in imperfect markets where cooperative members possess the resources to expand production to levels where their marginal costs equal their marginal returns, both producers and consumers are better off than if the producers sell smaller output quantities to investor-oriented firms at a lower market price. Although the United States government has supported the formation and operation of many small-scale marketing cooperatives in the southeast, their success has been low. This thesis describes one approach used to increase the viability of small-scale vegetable marketing cooperatives through a federated cooperative, the Horticultural Producers Federation (HPF). The HPF provides marketing and management services that address specific market failures and intra-firm inefficiencies encountered by its member cooperatives. HPF services include record keeping, market information, financial planning and management, accounting and payroll, educational and technical support. centralized marketing, and a newsletter. The development and implementation of these services is described in this thesis as is the cooperatives' evaluation of these services through the five year duration of the study. The cooperatives' final evaluation of the services and the HPF indicated that on average they were more than satisfied with the individual HPF services and the impact of the HPF on them and their members. Future challenges for the HPF include the development of more services by the HPF or other agencies to address a few remaining problems. Services which would target areas of concern include centralized computer support; public relations and promotion activities; as well as member, director, and management training. The large majority of cooperative members which are part-time farmers also poses a significant challenge. Until these farmers gain the resources and expertise to intensively manage their operations, the individual cooperatives and the HPF centralized marketing service will face problems of under production and poor quality. / Master of Science

This thesis deals with transfers of flats from housing cooperative to their members. The thesis tries to describe the process of tranfers of cooperative owneship especially regarding is specific aspects which feature and follow these transfers. The thesis is devided into seven chapters. First chapter summarizes basic periods of historical development of flat cooperative. This historical excursion, particularly period after 1945, is important also due to using of some of the terms in following chapters and it is also important for its infuence on following property relationships. Sources of law reflecting issue of transfers of flats from housing cooperative is listed in second chapter. It is not a complete list. It mentiones only the most important ones that regard to flat ownership, rights and obligations necessary fort he transfers, relationship between previous and present legulation. Chapter three contents characteristic of individual subjects of this civil relationship. Most of this chapter dedicated to a member - tenant of housing kooperative. Also this chapter compares previous and present regislation. Specification of housing cooperatives is given in the forth chapter. As well as two previous chapters also this one gives comparison between previous and present legislation. It says the...

Although the need for and importance of self-directed learning are well documented, studies reporting on the influence of teaching–learning strategies, fostering self-directed learning skills, are limited. The aim of this investigation was to determine and understand the impact of the implementation of cooperative base groups on the self-directed learning readiness of first-year Life Sciences students. In order to achieve the research aim, a mixed method approach was followed. During the quantitative phase, the Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale, a cooperative base group perception questionnaire, a checklist for social skills, and the academic achievement of first-year Life Sciences students at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University were analysed. In the qualitative phase of the investigation, semi-structured interviews were conducted with randomly selected first-year Life Sciences students of the experimental group. The questions in the interviews were aimed at determining the students‟ perception of cooperative base groups, how this perception contributed to their self-directed learning competencies, as well as the role that active involvement, the cooperative base group folder and personal support play in the development of self-directed learning competencies. The results of the investigation contribute to the body of knowledge on cooperative learning as it provides insight into how students experience cooperative base groups. The implementation of cooperative base groups contributes to the development of the following characteristics and skills, which are vital for becoming self-directed in one‟s learning: viewing peers as resources; being able to give and receive help; developing good social skills; being motivated to learn; and taking initiative and responsibility for learning. / MEd (Natural Sciences Education), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Although the need for and importance of self-directed learning are well documented, studies reporting on the influence of teaching–learning strategies, fostering self-directed learning skills, are limited. The aim of this investigation was to determine and understand the impact of the implementation of cooperative base groups on the self-directed learning readiness of first-year Life Sciences students. In order to achieve the research aim, a mixed method approach was followed. During the quantitative phase, the Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale, a cooperative base group perception questionnaire, a checklist for social skills, and the academic achievement of first-year Life Sciences students at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University were analysed. In the qualitative phase of the investigation, semi-structured interviews were conducted with randomly selected first-year Life Sciences students of the experimental group. The questions in the interviews were aimed at determining the students‟ perception of cooperative base groups, how this perception contributed to their self-directed learning competencies, as well as the role that active involvement, the cooperative base group folder and personal support play in the development of self-directed learning competencies. The results of the investigation contribute to the body of knowledge on cooperative learning as it provides insight into how students experience cooperative base groups. The implementation of cooperative base groups contributes to the development of the following characteristics and skills, which are vital for becoming self-directed in one‟s learning: viewing peers as resources; being able to give and receive help; developing good social skills; being motivated to learn; and taking initiative and responsibility for learning. / MEd (Natural Sciences Education), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The goal of this thesis is to describe the effective legislation of the cooperatives. Where appropriate this thesis compares the effective legislation to the previous legislation. The thesis tries to locate the problematic areas and to find solution to the given problems. This thesis is divided into 5 main chapters. The first chapter describes the history of cooperatives, because I think that without understanding the historic development no topic can be properly understood. Also this chapter describes the cooperative at a general level. The second chapter is formed of a general description of the membership in a cooperative with comparison to the previous legislation. This chapter covers also the basic principles of the membership in cooperative, as well as the content of the membership in cooperative. The third chapter describes the individual methods of the formation of the membership in cooperative pursuant to the effective legislation and where appropriate compares it to the previous legislation. It describes formation of the membership in the moment of formation of the cooperative and the procedure that needs to be followed. Also it describes the joint membership of the spouses in the housing cooperative. The fourth chapter deals with the alteration of the membership in the cooperative, which...

In this thesis, we investigate cooperation by applying OFDM signals to cooperative relay networks. We consider the single path relay network and the multiple path relay network. Using the amplify-and-forward relay algorithm, we derive the input-output relations and mutual informations of both networks. Using a power constraint at each relay, we consider two relay power allocation schemes. The first is constant gain allocation, where the amplifying gain used in the amplify-and-forward algorithm is constant for all subcarriers. The second is equal power allocation, where each subcarrier transmits the same power. The former scheme does not require CSI (channel state information), while the latter one does. We simulate the mutual informations using the two relay power allocation schemes. Results indicate that equal power allocation gives a slightly higher mutual information for the single path relay network. For the multiple path network, the mutual information is practically the same for both schemes. Using the decode-and-forward relay algorithm, we derive the input-output relations for both networks. The transmitter and each relay are assumed to have uniform power distributions in this case. We simulate the BER (bit error rate) and WER (word error rate) performance for the two networks using both the amplify-and-forward and decode-and-forward relay algorithms. For the single path relay network, amplify-and-forward gives very poor performance, because as we increase the distance between the transmitter and receiver (and thus, add more relays), more noise and channel distortion enter the system. Decode-and-forward gives significantly better performance because noise and channel distortion are eliminated at each relay. For the multiple path relay network, decode-and-forward again gives better performance than amplify-and-forward. However, the performance gains are small compared to the single path relay network case. Therefore, amplify-and-forward may be a more attractive choice due to its lower complexity.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2002. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 327-346). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2002. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 327-346). Also available on the Internet.

The aim of this qualitative study is to explore the perspectives of current members of the cooperative regarding the role of social capital in the success of the Heiveld Cooperative on the Suid Bokkeveld in the Northern Cape, South Africa (SA). This cooperative has been cited by several researchers as being successful for various reasons, including the existence of a marketable resource, a steady increase in production, and certification through Fairtrade, resulting in an export market. Social capital, as a contributing factor to the success of the cooperative, has not however previously been investigated in depth. In light of the unique success of this cooperative, it is important to obtain an in-depth understanding of the role of social capital, if any, in its success, particularly in the formation and day-to-day operation of the cooperative. With a particular focus on the members’ perspectives of the cooperative, this qualitative research adopted a case study approach to explore and to gain multiple and subjective understanding of the role played by social capital in the success of the Heiveld Cooperative. This may assist the organisation under study, as well as similar initiatives, in strategically harnessing the benefits of social capital as a resource in future. This report has three interrelated sections. The first part is an academic paper, which includes a condensed literature review, research methods, results and discussions. The second part is an expanded literature review, while the third section details the research methods. It is vital to note that these sections are separate, but interrelated. Convenience sampling was used to identify current members of the cooperative who participated in this exploratory qualitative study. Four heterogeneous focus group discussions, with a total of 44 members of the Heiveld Cooperative in the Suid Bokkeveld, were conducted. The focus groups were heterogeneous, as they included ordinary members, founding members and committee members. A guideline with questions based on the theory of social capital was developed, and used to initiate or stimulate discussion among the members of the cooperative in order to address the key research question, namely: What was the role of social capital, if any, in the success of the Heiveld Cooperative in the Northern Cape as perceived by current cooperative members? The primary source of data was collected through focus group discussions, while secondary data was obtained from documents in a form of internal reports and papers written for the Heiveld Cooperative. Data was analysed using open coding and constant comparison techniques in order to induce emerging themes from the data. Findings of this study revealed that social capital played a major and influential role during the inception and also in the successful operation of the Heiveld Cooperative, by bonding and bridging not just between individual members, but also between communities, trading partners and other collaborators. Another key finding of this study is that social capital was also critical in enhancing supportive knowledge sharing, and the promotion of pride and shared identity, which the study identifies as aspects of cognitive social capital. Interestingly, the cognitive dimension of social capital in the Heiveld Cooperative has contributed to the weakening of social capital, as evident in claims related to lack of transparency and procedural injustice. Last, but not least, leveraging the sense of community has also been useful in promoting collective efficacy, strengthening familial togetherness, and enhanced democratisation of decision-making. Diminished trust, based on perceived oligarchy and nepotism is gradually weakening relational social capital. Findings in this study are illuminated using the social capital theory described by Nahapiet and Ghoshal (1998) to depict the social, cognitive and relational aspect of social capital that are at work at Heiveld Cooperative. Additionally, the social network theory by Hoppe and Reinelt (2010) is used to highlight the systemic view of social capital, which embraces the structural, relational and cognitive nature not only internal to but also between networks of the cooperative. Recommendations are provided to ensure social capital is harnessed, rather than undermined. These include the need to promote the processes of learning, monitoring and discussion that have been implemented; harnessing the benefits of bonding and bridging social capital; leveraging the sense of community and applying a more systemic view of social capital; and addressing perverse aspects of social capital such as nepotism and oligarchy that have been identified.