If a programme which intends to measure performance is to work successfully in an organisation, it is necessary to understand the contingent factors that need to be in place regardless of philosophical beliefs. It must be integrated with the overall strategy of the business; all approaches to performance measurement emphasise the alignment of objectives, measures, strategic decision making and rewards. This is crucial, as it is not possible to measure performance unless it is clear what an organisation is trying to achieve. Value-based management (VBM) is a powerful management framework with the aim to focus all managerial processes on shareholder wealth creation. It therefore encourages all staff levels within the organisation to focus on value creation. Various metrics have been developed to measure the value creation process within the organisation. The application of VBM principles at the lower levels within the organisation is critical to ensure that lower level staff applies value-creating principles in their daily jobs. Anglo Platinum has also adopted VBM, which will help the organisation to enhance decision-making and ensure pursuing strategies that maximise value. Anglo VBM is a management system which will enable the company to significantly improve the quality and speed of decision-making and to drive performance and profitable growth. It requires a detailed understanding of where and why value is created or consumed within the businesses through assembling a comprehensive fact base. A quantitative study was done to collect primary data through the use of standardised questionnaires that were distributed to respondents at Bleskop and Brakspruit shafts as well all the accountants at Rustenburg Platinum Mine, which forms part of Anglo Platinum. The results from this study indicate that there is a low understanding of VBM as well as a strong focus on business unit objectives and on short-term goals. A key recommendation would be to use incentive mechanisms to be aligned to VBM. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

If a programme which intends to measure performance is to work successfully in an organisation, it is necessary to understand the contingent factors that need to be in place regardless of philosophical beliefs. It must be integrated with the overall strategy of the business; all approaches to performance measurement emphasise the alignment of objectives, measures, strategic decision making and rewards. This is crucial, as it is not possible to measure performance unless it is clear what an organisation is trying to achieve. Value-based management (VBM) is a powerful management framework with the aim to focus all managerial processes on shareholder wealth creation. It therefore encourages all staff levels within the organisation to focus on value creation. Various metrics have been developed to measure the value creation process within the organisation. The application of VBM principles at the lower levels within the organisation is critical to ensure that lower level staff applies value-creating principles in their daily jobs. Anglo Platinum has also adopted VBM, which will help the organisation to enhance decision-making and ensure pursuing strategies that maximise value. Anglo VBM is a management system which will enable the company to significantly improve the quality and speed of decision-making and to drive performance and profitable growth. It requires a detailed understanding of where and why value is created or consumed within the businesses through assembling a comprehensive fact base. A quantitative study was done to collect primary data through the use of standardised questionnaires that were distributed to respondents at Bleskop and Brakspruit shafts as well all the accountants at Rustenburg Platinum Mine, which forms part of Anglo Platinum. The results from this study indicate that there is a low understanding of VBM as well as a strong focus on business unit objectives and on short-term goals. A key recommendation would be to use incentive mechanisms to be aligned to VBM. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

This practice-led research was initiated in response to a series of violent encounters that occurred between my fragile installations and viewers. The central focus of this study was to recuperate my installation practice in the wake of such events. This led to the development of a ‘responsive practice’ methodology, which reframed the installation process through an ethical lens developed from Emmanuel Levinas’ ethical phenomenology. The central propositions of this research are the reconceptualisation of ‘violent encounters’ in terms of difference whereby I accept viewers responses, even those which are violent, destructive or damaging, and secondly that the process operates as a generative excess for practice through which recuperative strategies can be found and implemented. By re-examining this process as it unfolded in the three phases of the practical component, I developed strategies whereby violated, destroyed or damaged works could be recuperated through the processes of reconfiguration, reparation and regeneration. Therefore my installations embody and articulate vulnerability but also demonstrate resilience and renewal.

Zugl.: Berlin, Univ. der Künste, Diss., 2007

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Letras, Departamento de Teoria Literária e Literaturas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Literatura, 2015. / Submitted by Guimaraes Jacqueline (jacqueline.guimaraes@bce.unb.br) on 2015-10-28T10:54:18Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2015_LucianaMedeirosTeixeira.pdf: 3312314 bytes, checksum: edcb29a3ccb58e2cf8e47f85f5aef2e8 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Raquel Viana(raquelviana@bce.unb.br) on 2015-10-28T17:41:09Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2015_LucianaMedeirosTeixeira.pdf: 3312314 bytes, checksum: edcb29a3ccb58e2cf8e47f85f5aef2e8 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-10-28T17:41:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2015_LucianaMedeirosTeixeira.pdf: 3312314 bytes, checksum: edcb29a3ccb58e2cf8e47f85f5aef2e8 (MD5) / O propósito desta dissertação foi analisar, a partir de uma narrativa ficcional, como um cadáver pode despertar uma onda de fanatismo e violência e simbolizar o destino de uma nação. Igualmente buscamos refletir sobre os resquícios do período ditatorial nas primeiras décadas do século XXI por meio do cruzamento entre ficção, história e discurso político. Para tanto, analisamos o romance Santa Evita, do jornalista e escritor argentino Tomás Eloy Martínez. Partimos, primeiramente, do estudo do contexto histórico no qual se insere a narrativa para, assim, considerar a violência do período, o tratamento dado à memória, os resquícios do estado de exceção que sobrevivem na contemporaneidade e seu cruzamento com a literatura latino-americana. Logo, passamos para o estudo das representações de Eva Perón presentes na narrativa e suas utilizações na política, assim como sua relação com o mito fundador argentino, para chegarmos, enfim, à análise da violência infligida a seu corpo morto. Percebemos, na narrativa de Santa Evita, seu corpo roubado como um lugar de violência e de resistência ao regime ditatorial. Evita como vítima e desaparecida prefigura, dessa forma, a repressão posterior dos anos 60, 70 e 80. Ela é a primeira dos 30 mil mortos e desaparecidos políticos da última ditadura argentina. Na obra, Evita é a metáfora do poder, mas também da resistência contra seus abusos. / This dissertation’s purpose was to analyze, from a fiction narrative, how a corpse can arouse a wave of fanaticism and violence and symbolize a nation’s destiny. We also sought to reflect on the remnants of the dictatorial period in the first decades of the twenty-first century through the crossing between fiction, history and political discourse. Therefore, we analyzed the novel Santa Evita, from the Argentine journalist and writer Tomás Eloy Martínez. First we set out the study of the historical context in which the narrative is inserted to thus consider the period’s violence, the treatment given to memory, the state of exception’s vestiges that survive in contemporary times and its intersection with Latin American literature. Then we moved on to the study of Eva Perón’s representations present in the narrative and its uses in politics as well as its relationship with the Argentine myth founder to reach, finally, the analysis of violence towards her dead body. We realize, in Santa Evita’s narrative, her stolen body as a place of violence and resistance to the dictatorial regime. Evita as a victim and missing prefigures, thereby, the subsequent repression of the 60s, 70s and 80s. She’s the first of 30.000 political dead and missing of the last Argentine dictatorship. In the book, Evita is the power’s metaphor, but also resistance against its abuses.

In my dissertation, I deal in detail with the opera Jenufa from the composer Leos Janacek and the librettist Gabriela Preissova. In the chapter the fourth and the fifth, I aim my interest to elaboration of this opera in the Theatre J. K. Tyl in Pilsen and in the National Theatre in Prague. In next chapters, I reworked my personal interview with one of the czech leading opera singer Eva Urbanová, which performed in many productions as main character Kostelnicka. I would like to convey deep experience of Urbanova's understanding of the character and of Janacek at all for the readers of this dissertation. At the end of my dissertation, I summarize Pilsen and Prague production with the conclusion that Prague production is much better not only in directing treatment but also in the music cast.

The diploma thesis deals with elaboration of financial analysis of the business, specialised in production of electroinstalation material. For this reason following companies were chosen: Kopos Kolín Ltd and Spel Ltd. The aim of thesis is, with help of methods and techniques of financial analysis, to evaluate financial situation and economy of both companies during the years 2010-2014. Based on the received results possible measurements for keeping or improving the situation of both companies in future with be suggested. The theoretical part is focused of problems of financial analysis, basic methods and technique according to studying of special literature. The second part deals with application and evaluation of selected parametres in both companies, based on data receivend from accounting document. The thesis conclusion sums up the obtained results. Possible recommendations for keeping or improving of the recent situation of the companies are added.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:31:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-08-14Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:42:35Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 simoes_rd_dr_bauru.pdf: 3657789 bytes, checksum: 0f75cbf5a9ed07aa12a486e70e6189f6 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Filmes auto-sustentáveis de polifluoreto de vinilideno (PVDF) e de polifluoreto de vinilideno com trifluoretileno (P(VDF-TrFE)) contendo amido de milho e/ou látex da borracha natural foram produzidos visando à obtenção de blendas biocompátiveis. Estas blendas foram produzidas pela técnica de prensagem a quente a qual não necessita fazer uso de solventes orgânicos para dissolver os polímeros sintéticos (PVDF e P(TrFE)). Tal processamento, além de não utilizar solventes tóxicos, possibilita a fabricação de filmes auto-sustentáveis com propriedades físicas e químicas apropriadas para aplicações como um material biocompatível. Os filmes de PVDF ou P(VDF-TrFE) com os polímeros naturais (amido e/ou látex de borracha natural) foram caracterizados através das técnicas de espectroscopia vibracional (absorção no infravermelho com transformada de Fourier (FTIR) e espalhamento Raman), análise termogravimétrico (TG), calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC), análise dinâmico-mecânica (DMA), microscopia ótica (MO), microscopia ótica (MO), microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), difração de raios-X, densidade, índice de fluidez (MFI), dureza e condutividade térmica. Os resultados que os polímeros naturais estão bem dispersos na matriz de PVDF ou P(VDF-TrFE) em nível micrométrico e não interagem quimicamente com os polímeros sintéticos. As blendas apresentaram elevada estabilidade térmica, cujo módulo de elasticidade está na mesma ordem de grandeza do osso humano. Entretanto, observou-se que a adesão dos polímeros naturais é melhor para as blendas com P(VDF-TrFe). Adicionalmente, as estruturas cristalinas do PVDF-α e do P(VDF-TrFE) ferroelétrico são mantidos em todas as blendas. A densidade, a dureza, o índice de fluidez e os valores de condutividade térmica das blendas seguiram o que deve se esperar de misturas físicas... / Films of poly(vinylidene fluoride), PVDF, and poly(vinylidene fluoride - trifluoroethylene), P(VDF-TrFE), containing corn starch and latex of natural rubber were produced visioning to obtain biocompatible blends. These blends were produced by compressing/annealing, which discards the necessity of using organic solvents to dissolve the synthetic polymers (PVDF and P(VDF-TrFE)). This process, besides discarding the use of toxic solvents, allows obtaining self-standing films with suitable physical and chemical properties considering their application as biocompatible materials. The PVDF or P(VDF-TrFe) films with different percentage of the natural polymers (starch and/or latex of natural rubber) were characterized using thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamicalmechanical analysis (DMA). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman scattering, optic microscopy, scanning electric microscopy, scanning electric microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction, density, melt flow index, hardness, and thermal conductivity. The results showed that the natural polymers are well dispersed within the matrix of PVDF or P(VDF-TrFE) at micrometer level and do not interact chemically with the synthetic polymers. The blends present high thermal stability with elasticity modulus at the same order of magnitude of the bone. However, it was observed that the adhesion of the natural polymers is better for the blends of P(VDF-TrFE). Besides, the crystalline structures of the α-PVDF and ferroelectric P(VDF-TrFE) are kept in the blends. The density, hardness, melt flow index and thermal conductivity values of the blends followed what shoud be expected from physical mixtures. The tests of biocompatibility for these materials were carried out implanting the films at the subcutaneous region of rats the results showed histological characteristics favorable to the compatibility in vivo...(Complete abstract click electronic access below)

abstract: Encapsulant is a key packaging component of photovoltaic (PV) modules, which protects the solar cell from physical, environmental and electrical damages. Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) is one of the major encapsulant materials used in the PV industry. This work focuses on indoor accelerated ultraviolet (UV) stress testing and characterization to investigate the EVA discoloration and delamination in PV modules by using various non-destructive characterization techniques, including current-voltage (IV) measurements, UV fluorescence (UVf) and colorimetry measurements. Mini-modules with glass/EVA/cell/EVA/backsheet construction were fabricated in the laboratory with two types of EVA, UV-cut EVA (UVC) and UV-pass EVA (UVP). The accelerated UV testing was performed in a UV chamber equipped with UV lights at an ambient temperature of 50°C, little or no humidity and total UV dosage of 400 kWh/m2. The mini-modules were maintained at three different temperatures through UV light heating by placing different thickness of thermal insulation sheets over the backsheet. Also, prior to thermal insulation sheet placement, the backsheet and laminate edges were fully covered with aluminum tape to prevent oxygen diffusion into the module and hence the photobleaching reaction. The characterization results showed that mini-modules with UV-cut EVA suffered from discoloration while the modules with UV-pass EVA suffered from delamination. UVf imaging technique has the capability to identify the discoloration region in the UVC modules in the very early stage when the discoloration is not visible to the naked eyes, whereas Isc measurement is unable to measure the performance loss until the color becomes visibly darker. YI also provides the direct evidence of yellowing in the encapsulant. As expected, the extent of degradation due to discoloration increases with the increase in module temperature. The Isc loss is dictated by both the regions – discolored area at the center and non-discolored area at the cell edges, whereas the YI is only determined at the discolored region due to low probe area. This led to the limited correlation between Isc and YI in UVC modules. In case of UVP modules, UV radiation has caused an adverse impact on the interfacial adhesion between the EVA and solar cell, which was detected from UVf images and severe Isc loss. No change in YI confirms that the reason for Isc loss is not due to yellowing but the delamination. Further, the activation energy of encapsulant discoloration was estimated by using Arrhenius model on two types of data, %Isc drop and ΔYI. The Ea determined from the change in YI data for the EVA encapsulant discoloration reaction without the influence of oxygen and humidity is 0.61 eV. Based on the activation energy determined in this work and hourly weather data of any site, the degradation rate for the encaspulant browning mode can be estimated. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Chemical Engineering 2018

Submitted by Viviane Lima da Cunha (viviane@biblioteca.ufpb.br) on 2016-01-26T14:21:45Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1043037 bytes, checksum: 92788ad999f4b08f8e2b154fa22c70b0 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-26T14:21:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1043037 bytes, checksum: 92788ad999f4b08f8e2b154fa22c70b0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-04-28 / Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the absence of a sound source. Occurring between 10-15% of the world population still needs better understanding of its pathophysiology, clinical comorbidities and more effective treatments. To this end, a better standardization of the use of evaluation methods in researches is required. This study aims the choice of most appropriate and easier use and interpretation methods. Initially an article in the form of a systematic review was performed in order to establish which evaluation methods of tinnitus are currently being used by scientific works. The aim of their uses was also identified. The THI, the EVA and the acuphenometry were the most used methods in 24 articles reviewed. The evaluation of therapy for tinnitus was the most frequent verified goal. A second article was performed to carry out a comparative analysis of these three methods. It was the THI, EVA (bother) and acuphenometry (loudness and pitch) in 44 patients with chronic tinnitus. A positive correlation of moderate intensity between them was found, being stronger between THI and VAS. It is concluded that the three evaluated tests keep moderate relation to each other. this should be taken into account when comparing with each other the results of different studies. The results of THI and EVA are be more strongly compared. Other future studies with more patients and more homogeneous sample can bring more contribution to the topic. / O zumbido é a percepção de um som na ausência de uma fonte sonora. Ocorre entre 10-15% da população mundial. Há a necessidade de melhor padronização do uso dos métodos avaliativos nas pesquisas, permitindo assim melhores comparações dos seus resultados. Este estudo visa contribuir na escolha dos métodos mais adequados e de mais fácil uso e interpretação. Inicialmente realizou-se um artigo de revisão sistemática, a fim de observar os métodos avaliativos do zumbido mais utilizados e o objetivo dos mesmos. Nos 24 artigos de revista analisados, o THI, a EVA e a acufenometria foram os métodos mais utilizados. A avaliação de terapia para o zumbido foi o mais frequente objetivo verificado. Um segundo artigo foi elaborado para analisar comparativamente estes 3 métodos. Aplicou-se o THI, EVA (incômodo) e acufenometria (loudness e pitch), em 44 pacientes com zumbido crônico. Encontrou-se uma correlação positiva de moderada intensidade entre eles, sendo mais forte entre o THI e a EVA. Concluiu-se que os 3 métodos avaliados guardam relação moderada entre si, devendo isso ser levado em consideração quando se comparam seus resultados entre si. Os escores do THI e da EVA podem mais fortemente serem comparados.