Shanghai is one of has been a city of high economic and social importance since the early 20th century. The form and historical background of cultural heritages in its downtown districts is different to those in other Chinese cities with protected historical areas such as for instance the Bund area. The text identifies the uniqueness of heritage management regulations in Shanghai, and put forward questions about the function of documentary heritage in urban development with a case study about the newly updated Shanghai Jewish Refugees Memorial Museum. The general urban development of Shanghai is reviewed in the context of the incorporation of heritage in urban planning and specifically the development plans for the Bund area where the museum is located. The history of the Jewish community in Shanghai and of the museum itself is analysed based on the museum exhibition and layout, as also the experience of museum visitors. The thesis builds on archive studies, peer interviews and survey investigation. 292 survey answers have been collected from visitors on the experience of the museum. The results of the survey together with the interviews, individual experience and policy studies, are drawn upon to discuss the role of the museum in urban planning and how it can be developed. It is stressed that the documentary heritage is helpful in minimizing conflict between the everyday experience of heritage and amore exclusive academically informed view on heritage. It is also recommended that multidirectional support will be constructed between document collection, historically reserved areas and the central business district in Shanghai.

Mean variance optimization has shortcomings making the strategy far from optimal from an investor’s perspective. The purpose of the study is to conduct an empirical investigation as to how modern methods of portfolio optimization address the shortcomings associated with mean variance optimization. Equal risk contribution, the Most diversified portfolioand a modification of the Minimum variance portfolio are considered as alternatives to the mean variance model. Portfolio optimization models introduced are explained in detail and solved using the optimization algorithms Cyclical coordinate descent and Alternating direction method of multipliers. Through implementation and backtesting using a diverse set of indices representing various asset classes, the study shows that the mean variance model suffers from high turnover and sensitivity to input parameters in comparison to the modern alternatives. The sophisticated asset allocation models equal risk contribution and the most diversified portfolio do not rely on expected return as an input parameter, which is seen as an advantage, and are not affected to the same extent by the shortcomings associated with mean variance optimization. The paper concludes by discussing the findings critically and suggesting ideas for further research. / Maximering av avkastning i samband med minimering av varians, på engelska kallat Mean variance optimization, är inte optimalt ur en investerares synpunkt. Syftet med denna uppsats är att genomföra en empirisk studie av hur moderna metoder för portföljallokering adresserar de problem som är förknippade med Mean variance optimization. Mer specifikt undersöks allokeringsstrategierna Equal risk contribution, Most diversified portfolio samt en variant av Minimum variance som ersättare till Mean variance optimization. Allokeringsmetoderna beskrivs detaljerat och löses med optimeringsalgoritmerna Cyclical coordinate descent och Alternating direction method of multipliers. Genom implementering och historisk simulering med ett antal index som representerar olika tillgångsslag visar studien att Mean variance optimization innebär hög portföljomsättning och har en större känslighet för ingångsparametrar i jämförelse med de moderna alternativen. De sofistikerade allokeringsmodellerna Equal risk contribution och Most diversified portfolio bygger inte på ingångsparametern förväntad avkastning, vilket ses som en fördel, och drabbas inte i samma utsträckning av problemen associerade med Mean variance optimization. Studien avslutas med att diskutera resultatet kritiskt och ge förslag på vidare studier som bygger på den teori och det resultat som har presenterats.

Soil erosion is a major issue that threatens to undermine our current system of agriculture. Due to the fact that this system is in turn the number one cause of erosion, agricultural practices in the United States need to be rethought. This study explores how traditional ideas of erosion risks are related to observed erosion on organic strawberry farms along California’s Central Coast. In addition, diversified farming systems are addressed as a possible solution for the current unsustainability of our farming practices. The data from this research suggest that diversity of crops on farms could be linked to less soil erosion. These results are promising for the future of diversification as a new framework for agriculture.

土地問題是中國歷史上統治者最大的難題，因為中國以農立國，而土地又是農業生產中，最重要的生產要素。農地利用受自然資源及人為制度的限制，由於土地的稀少性及不可移動性，使農地利用趨於集約化，科學化。而人為因素則成為影響農地生產力之主因。中共建立政權後，在北農村推動「土改」，「農業合作化」，「人民公社」，「生產責任制」等一連串的土地制度改革，不斷地在土地的所有制度，生產規模，經營管理等問題上輪迴，所有權由地主配為耕者有其到私有公用，公有私用，演變到集體所有，家庭經營的模式，生產規模則由小而大，再由大而小，經營管理則由個體的單獨計劃到個體的統一計劃，再集體的統一計劃，最後又回到集體的單獨計劃。每個改革的成效並不相同，也因此而形成了劇烈的農業週期性波動；而這種週期性波動又與中共的政治運動結合在一起，對農民造成極嚴重的傷害。整體而言，大陸的農地利用下列特點：1.農地不足，人均耕地狹小。2.農業資金與物資之投入長期處於不穩的狀態，時高時低。3.農地利用長期以種植業中的糧食生產為主，是一種求溫飽的發展模式。就目前言，中共農業投資不足，政策穩定度不夠，若要克服以往在農上大起大落的情況，中共必須加強農業投資，並在政策上導入市場機制，同時對土地進行「要素重組」的工作，才能作更有效、充分的利用。

有鑑於國內企業集團在經濟活動中所佔的地位越趨重要，本文嘗試由集團 對旗下關係事業間的控制與激勵的活動出發，研究集團特性、關係事業特 性與控制、激勵程度及績效之間的關係。研究結果顯示如下：1.集團擁有 的關係事業越多，其多角化程度越高。2.集團對關係事業最常用的財務控 制指標依序為「稅前淨利」、「營業淨利」及「稅後淨利」等會計利潤指 標，而非財務控制指標則為「銷售成長率」、「市場佔有率」及「顧客滿 意程度」。3.集團對隸屬於服務業的關係事業控制程度顯然較製造業的關 係事業為高，推究其原因，乃因為服務業需直接面對客戶，集團對其本質 上乃採取一種「過程導向」的控制，與傳統上對製造業採取「結果導向」 的控制程度相較為高。4.對關係事業的控制程度雖然無法充份解釋績效的 高低，但將關係事業劃分為製造業與服務業後，其解釋能力大有增進，兩 者績效與控制程度均成正相關，且服務業的控制程度對績效敏感的程度高 於製造業的關係事業。5.此外，關係事業若已上市，則因為業務關係穩固 、資金成本較低，對集團整體稅前純益的貢獻也大。6.多角化程度的高低 雖無法自本次實證結果證實是否影響集團整體績效；但擁有關係事業數目 越多的集團卻有較好的績效表現，顯示集團經營宜以擴大規模為要務，但 資源配置的方向（關連或非關連多角化）仍有待進一步驗證。

In this dissertation, the problem of learning from highly imbalanced data is studied. Imbalance data learning is of great importance and challenge in many real applications. Dealing with a minority class normally needs new concepts, observations and solutions in order to fully understand the underlying complicated models. We try to systematically review and solve this special learning task in this dissertation.We propose a new ensemble learning framework—Diversified Ensemble Classifiers for Imbal-anced Data Learning (DECIDL), based on the advantages of existing ensemble imbalanced learning strategies. Our framework combines three learning techniques: a) ensemble learning, b) artificial example generation, and c) diversity construction by reversely data re-labeling. As a meta-learner, DECIDL utilizes general supervised learning algorithms as base learners to build an ensemble committee. We create a standard benchmark data pool, which contains 30 highly skewed sets with diverse characteristics from different domains, in order to facilitate future research on imbalance data learning. We use this benchmark pool to evaluate and compare our DECIDL framework with several ensemble learning methods, namely under-bagging, over-bagging, SMOTE-bagging, and AdaBoost. Extensive experiments suggest that our DECIDL framework is comparable with other methods. The data sets, experiments and results provide a valuable knowledge base for future research on imbalance learning. We develop a simple but effective artificial example generation method for data balancing. Two new methods DBEG-ensemble and DECIDL-DBEG are then designed to improve the power of imbalance learning. Experiments show that these two methods are comparable to the state-of-the-art methods, e.g., GSVM-RU and SMOTE-bagging. Furthermore, we investigate learning on imbalanced data from a new angle—active learning. By combining active learning with the DECIDL framework, we show that the newly designed Active-DECIDL method is very effective for imbalance learning, suggesting the DECIDL framework is very robust and flexible.Lastly, we apply the proposed learning methods to a real-world bioinformatics problem—protein methylation prediction. Extensive computational results show that the DECIDL method does perform very well for the imbalanced data mining task. Importantly, the experimental results have confirmed our new contributions on this particular data learning problem.

Made available in DSpace on 2008-05-13T13:48:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2198.pdf: 307779 bytes, checksum: 8c8e01407b3636642a4278a44d141667 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-08-11 / We have presented in this paper the importance and effects of internal capital markets, and the consequences of its application. In order to do it, we applied a basic model of internal capital markets, a ssessing its successes and failures. As an example, the model was used in a scenario of application of resources among divisions of a small diversified company, and the damage it suffered due to the incorrect applications of these resources. Afterwards, we have identified models that, when applied to situations where internal capital markets did not work, were capable of showing the reasons, indicating possible interferences and constraints. Finally, we have applied a model that allows the identification of inefficient resource transfer when it goes to divisions with poor investment opportunities. / Procuramos apresentar neste trabalho a importância e os efeitos dos mercados internos de capitais, e as conseqüências quando da sua aplicação. Para isso, aplicamos inicialmente um modelo básico de mercados internos de capitais, avaliando os pontos atingidos e algumas idéias não abrangidas por ele. Exemplificamos com uma situação de aplicação de recursos entre divisões de uma pequena empresa diversificada e seu fracasso devido à má alocação desses recursos. Na seqüência, identificamos modelos que, quando aplicados às situações em que os mercados internos de capitais não funcionaram, foram capazes de apontar o porquê, indicando possíveis interferências e impedimentos. Por fim, aplicamos um modelo que permite comprovar a ineficiência na transferência de recursos quando esses vão na direção das divisões com as piores oportunidades de investimento.

This current study s general idea was to investigate what students from the first years of school were aware regarding Science and if such conceptions could differ among teachers and students. After, it was intended to develop pedagogical proposals to teach Science specially to these first years of school. They were meant to serve as models to create challenges in different subjects related to Science, with attractive activities, which would take the students and teachers to understand and assimilate Science topics, turning it into a Significant Learning Process through their pre-concepts. This thesis is presented as six articles, which focus three distinct areas connected to the investigation. The first two articles present a study about Science concepts and more properly the image of a scientist among first years students and graduate students. As a follow-up, a second article debates lice infestations taking into account the school community ideas about the issue. During the research, another target was aimed, which was to develop and propose methodological activities potentially significant. The third and fourth article bring such results, with tested activities and results obtained from first years pupils. Finally, the fifth and sixth article present activities and results acquired from graduate students. To conclude and integrate these articles, considerations and suggestions were made to help change the teaching of Science in the early years of school. / O presente trabalho teve como ideia geral investigar o que pensam os alunos de anos iniciais sobre a Ciência e se as concepções acerca da Ciência entre os educandos e os professores são semelhantes ou distintas. Após, buscou-se desenvolver propostas pedagógicas para o ensino de Ciências nos anos iniciais. Estas objetivaram servir como modelos para proposição de desafios em diferentes conteúdos ligados às Ciências, propondo atividades mais atraentes, capazes de levar os alunos de anos iniciais e professores em formação à compreensão e assimilação dos conteúdos propostos, acarretando numa Aprendizagem Significativa, utilizando-se das pré-concepções dos participantes. A tese é apresentada, sob a forma de seis artigos, que enfocam três áreas ligadas à investigação. Os dois primeiros artigos apresentam um estudo acerca de concepções sobre a Ciência e a imagem do cientista entre alunos de anos iniciais e professores em formação. Numa continuidade à investigação proposta, é apresentado o segundo artigo, sendo o assunto pediculose desenvolvido e levando em conta as concepções de toda a comunidade escolar. Após deu-se início a outro enfoque dentro na tese, que buscou a proposição de atividades metodológicas potencialmente significativas, onde no terceiro e no quarto artigo, são apresentados atividades e resultados obtidos com os alunos de anos iniciais. Em continuidade, o quinto e o sexto artigo apresentam as atividades e os resultados obtidos com os professores em formação docente. De modo a realizar um fechamento da tese e integração dos artigos, foram apresentadas algumas considerações e sugestões que possam sinalizar para mudanças no ensino de Ciências nos anos iniciais.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O trabalho O currículo diversificado em escolas de Boa Vista: na fronteira do conhecimento regional/local, tem como objetivo, analisar como o currículo diversificado vem sendo realizado nas escolas estaduais AL, AS e MDB, em relação aos conhecimentos regionais e locais da Amazônia, do Estado de Roraima, da cidade de Boa Vista e da própria realidade dos sujeitos das escolas. As prescrições oficiais curriculares nacionais e estaduais regem e orientam a organização e a estrutura curricular para o funcionamento processo de ensino e aprendizagem nas escolas. Todavia, dá primazia aos conhecimentos da base nacional comum, segundo o que define e compreende a ciência universal, e flexiona às regiões, estados e municípios a autonomia para complementar a parte diversificada, cujos conhecimentos, devem considerar os aspectos econômicos, sociais, políticos e culturais regionais/locais. De modo geral, observa-se que essa estrutura curricular é assumida na prática das três escolas e configura uma fronteira curricular distinguível, quando comparada aos conhecimentos das realidades e contextos das demais regiões e estados brasileiros. Todavia, a identificação do que seria um currículo nacional e um currículo regional/local nessa fronteira, apresenta complexidades, também percebidas nas experiências curriculares das três escolas, refletidas no dinamismo do desenvolvimento do currículo como um todo. Em relação ao currículo diversificado, fica evidente nas estratégias didáticas dos docentes, destacada valorização aos conhecimentos da realidade regional/local e um esforço árduo para a compreensão e realização desse currículo que, mesmo concebido nas prescrições e desenvolvido na prática das escolas estaduais em Boa Vista, não tem o justo tratamento político e pedagógico, quando da sua realização no processo de ensino e aprendizagem. Na prática curricular da três escolas, existe uma distância operacional entre as prescrições e a realidade do currículo diversificado sendo desenvolvido. As proposições indicam a necessidade de políticas educacionais pedagógicas efetivas que venham fundamentar as dimensões históricas e sociais do currículo diversificado e sustentação à prática docente com o aprimoramento sobre os conhecimentos regionais e locais, materialização logística e de recursos humanos para a articulação pedagógica das atividades desse o currículo. / The work The diversified curriculum in schools of Boa Vista: on the border of the regional / local knowledge", aims to analyze how diversified curriculum is being carried out in state schools: AL, AS and MDB, in relation with regional and local knowledge of the Amazon, state of Roraima, the city of Boa Vista and its own reality of the subjects of the schools. The national and state official curriculum regulations govern and guide the organization and the curricular structure for the operation of the teaching and learning process in schools. However, gives priority to the knowledge of the common national base, according to what define and understand the universal science and flexes to regions, states and municipalities autonomy to complement the diversified party, whose knowledges should consider the economic, social, political and regional cultural / local aspects. In general, it is observed that this curricular structure is assumed in practice of the three schools and set up a distinguished curricular border compared to the knowledge of the realities and contexts of other regions and states of Brazil. However, the identification of what would be a national curriculum and a regional / local curriculum in this border, presents complexities, also perceived in the curricular experiences of the three schools, reflected in the curriculum development dynamism as a whole. Regarding the diverse curriculum, is evident in the teaching strategies of teachers, outstanding value to the knowledge of the regional reality / local and a hard work for the understanding and realization of this curriculum that, even designed in the requirements and developed in the practice of state schools in Boa Vista, it does not have the right political and pedagogical treatment, when realized in the process of teaching and learning. In curricular practice of the three schools, there is an operating distance between the requirements and the reality of diversified curriculum being developed. The proposals indicate the need for effective pedagogical educational policies that will support the historical and social dimensions of diverse curriculum and support the teaching practice with the improvement of regional and local knowledge, materialization logistics and human resources for pedagogical coordination of the activities that the curriculum.

The purpose of this study was to determine if social interaction is associated with a higher work performance in developmentally disabled adults.