Student Number : 0500919V - MA research report - School of Social Sciences - Faculty of Humanities / Governance reform in Africa has attracted both local and international attention. African initiatives, such as NEPAD and African Union, have endorsed good governance as a precondition for Africa’s emancipation from poverty while the international community has appreciated the need for well-governed proactive states in Africa in place of minimalist view that donors promoted with structural adjustment programmes. Donors’ proactive view of states led to governance reform as a criterion for receiving aid. Thus, limiting corruption by creating anti-corruption agencies became one of the requirements for donors’ support. Though not concentrating on anti-corruption agencies exclusively, this research report captures the complexity of donor conditions in reforming governance in Kenya through anti-corruption initiatives. It concludes that conditions are inevitable in an aid dependent country but cannot be sustained by external actors if they work without local support. The central argument of this paper is that there is need for promotion of a convergence of approach in reforming governance. The donor community and indigenous Africans need to view and promote governance reform from a developmental perspective in order to make foreign aid count in meeting Africa’s objectives. The policies donors espouse will bear out on African development if electorates buttress them and these policies need to be consistence with the welfare of the populace especially economically marginalized groups of population as Millennium Development Goals seek to encourage.

Based on evidence of the success of data informed interventions in the literature, we undertook a qualitative case study investigation of how two public primary schools used the results of the two external assessments, the Gauteng Provincial Assessment (GPA) and the Annual National Assessment (ANA) in 2008, to improve teaching and learning. At the time of the study the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has not yet guided the schools officially how to use the results and the district participating in the study used innovative measures to assist the schools. During semi-structured interviews, the district coordinator and principal, head of department and Grade 3 Literacy and Numeracy teachers at each of the two schools helped us understand how they interacted with the results. Several reasons were given why neither of the two schools used the GPA results. The ANA results were more useful for the classroom and the district and both schools considered them in part for planning their intervention strategies for the following year. Both exercises were new to the schools and at the time of the study the DBE had not yet provided teachers with guidance on how to use the test results to improve teaching and learning. As a result the two schools studied made very little use of the ANA scores, while the GPA results were found by the teachers to be of no assistance. Instead both schools relied on their internal assessment practices. The DBE have started to address the lack of guidance on how to use the results in 2011.

Thesis advisor: Elida V. Laski / Use of base-10 decomposition strategy for addition in first grade is related to mathematics advantage in the later years (Geary et al., 2013), yet we know little about the strategy’s prevalence among first graders or factors contributing to its use. The present study sought to bridge this gap by testing 87 first graders in the greater Boston area. The results confirmed previous findings that showed that in the last 10 years first graders in the US have increased in frequency of base-10 decomposition. Children who had better knowledge of basic number facts used it more frequently, particularly on problems with smaller addends. Further, the study tested whether an instructional intervention would be effective in increasing reliance on base-10 decomposition. 61 of the original participants were selected to take part in an experimental intervention that taught them to execute the strategy while relying on external representations – sometimes known as manipulatives. Informed by two lines of research, the present study tested the hypothesis that the efficacy of the intervention may depend on whether one or multiple external representations are used for instruction. The results showed a dramatic increase in first graders’ mental base-10 decomposition use as a result of the intervention. Children grew in their use of the strategy at the same rates across genders, levels of basic arithmetic fluency, and working memory. Overall, the results showed that relying on multiple representations during instruction appears more beneficial to strategy use on mental arithmetic, but this benefit may be conditional on how well the children have mastered and abstracted the strategy. Implications to classroom interventions aimed to increase the use of advanced arithmetic strategies are discussed. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2016. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Counseling, Developmental and Educational Psychology.

The thesis seeks to analyze the current relations between the EU and China, with an emphasis on the area of economic co-operation. The thesis is divided into three chapters. The first chapter discusses the external relations of the two main actors implemented in South East Asia, with a focus on the economic and also the political dimension. The second chapter provides insights into EU-China relations from the '90s until today. The emphasis is put on trade and investment relations. The third chapter is an evaluation of the current EU-China partnership focusing on achievements but also the problematic issues that still hamper the further development of mutual relations.

The object of this thesis is the analysis of the external debt of countries which are members of the G-8. The external debt is researched through individual sectors of economy. Also there are described debt instruments and all the factors which can influence the external debt. The last part of this thesis analyses situation and development of individual debt instruments and the impact on total external debt.

Li, Wei. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 50-53). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / 摘要 --- p.ii / Acknowledgement --- p.iii / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 2. --- The Model --- p.8 / Chapter 2.1. --- Feature of the model --- p.8 / Chapter 2.2. --- Households --- p.9 / Chapter 2.3. --- Firms --- p.12 / Chapter 2.3.1. --- Firms in Non-traded Sector --- p.12 / Chapter 2.3.2. --- Firms in Traded Sector --- p.13 / Chapter 2.4. --- Monetary Policy Rules --- p.14 / Chapter Case I: --- Target the Inflation Rate in Non-Traded Sector (NPT) --- p.15 / Chapter Case II: --- Target the CPI Inflation Rate (CPI) --- p.15 / Chapter Case III: --- Target the Nominal Exchange Rate (FER) --- p.15 / Chapter 2.5. --- Equilibrium --- p.16 / Chapter 3. --- Calibration and Shocks --- p.17 / Chapter 3.1. --- Calibration --- p.17 / Chapter 3.2. --- Shocks --- p.20 / Chapter 4. --- Dynamics of the Model --- p.22 / Chapter 4.1. --- Impulse Response to Sector Technology Shocks --- p.23 / Chapter 4.1.1. --- Technology Shock in the Non-traded Sector --- p.23 / Chapter 4.1.2. --- Technology Shock in the Traded Sector --- p.25 / Chapter 4.2. --- Impulse Response to Foreign Interest Rate Shocks --- p.25 / Chapter 4.3. --- Impulse Response to Terms of Trade Shocks --- p.26 / Chapter 5. --- Welfare Comparison and Consumption Equivalent Analysis --- p.26 / Chapter 5.1. --- Welfare Comparison under Alternative Policy Rule and Debt Level --- p.27 / Chapter 5.2. --- Robustness Check --- p.30 / Chapter 5.3. --- Policy Implications of the findings --- p.34 / Chapter 6. --- Conclusion --- p.35 / Appendix I. Impulse Response to the Shocks --- p.36 / Appendix II. Technical Derivation of the Model --- p.43 / "Appendix III. Equilibrium, Steady State and Shocks" --- p.47

We review the evidence for existence of a magnetic field of the galaxy and whatever evidence there is of an intergalactic magnetoionic medium. We then consider the magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) of such a medium. The formation of galaxies through purely gravitational means in an expanding universe is then reviewed. Next the role of magnetohydrodynamics in such a universe is analyzed for their effects on galaxy formation. Finally, the importance of MED behavior in the early universe is emphasized from physical considerations and from present day evidence. Appendices discuss isotropic cosmologies, magnetic fields in such a background, the detailed MHD perturbations, and similar MHD studies.

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<p>Corporate storytelling är ett relativt nytt begrepp inom marknadsföring. Corporate Storytelling handlar om att använda berättelsen och berättelsetekniken för att beröra eller förändra i företaget eller organisationen. Man försöker att beröra kunderna emotionellt så att de kan ta till sig berättelsen och återberätta den via word of mouth. Beroende på målet kan man använda corporate storytelling som en metod, ett verktyg eller en strategi i marknadsföringsändamål. Corporate storytelling är ett bra sätt att särskilja sig från andra konkurrenter, då det är svårt att kopiera berättelserna, just därför att de är unika.</p><p>Syftet med denna studie är att definiera hur Arlanda express kunder påverkas av deras externa corporate storytelling. Vi vill undersöka om och hur det påverkar kunderna i och med att det idag inte finns mycket forskning om detta. En av de bakomliggande orsakerna till detta är att det finns svårigheter i att mäta själva påverkanseffekten. Man kan inte göra det i siffror och diagram utan man får analysera, beskriva via ord och föra en diskussion. Vår målsättning med studien är att väcka ett intresse för detta ämnesområde och försöka skapa en förståelse om corporate storytelling och dess påverkan.</p><p>För att uppfylla vårt syfte genomfördes en kvalitativ undersökningsmetod. Vi påbörjade studien med en intervju med Arlanda express marknadschef, Camilla Laaksonen, för att få en inblick i hur de arbetar med corporate storytelling och hur de hoppas att det skall påverka kunden. För att ta reda på hur deras kunder påverkas utfördes fokusgruppsundersökningar för att skapa en förståelse och för att föra en djupare diskussion för att i slutändan kunna urskilja ett beteendemönster och analysera svaren. Slutligen ska detta kunna besvara vår frågeställning där vi ska finna svaren på hur Arlanda express kunder påverkas utav deras externa corporate storytelling.</p><p>Studien påvisade att man är mer benägen att återberätta en berättelse ifall produkten eller tjänsten är utav högengagemang prioritet. Arlanda express är enligt studien en lågengagemangs tjänst där kunden endast är intresserad av att komma till eller från flygplatsen. Vår studie visade dock att respondenterna återberättade berättelserna de hört men på grund av fel orsak, inte för att berättelserna i sig var intressanta utan för att själva idén med corporate storytelling i väntehallen var innovativt. Arlanda express är först i Sverige med att använda ljudduschar som en marknadsföringsmetod. Frågan är när det inte längre anses vara nytt, kommer spridningen att stanna upp? Studien konstaterade att det förmodligen kommer se ut så i framtiden, att spridningen inte kommer att vara lika effektiv.</p>

Background: Unilateral transtibial amputees (TTAs) show subtle gait variations while using different prosthetic feet. These variations have not been detected consistently with previous experimental measures. In this research project a novel measure for quantifying kinetic gait differences among prosthetic feet, called Symmetry in External Work (SEW), was introduced. The reliability of the SEW measure was calculated and its correlation with selected clinical measures was determined. The SEW measure was then applied to determine gait differences among four categories of prosthetic feet during various functional activities. Methodology: The study was conducted in three phases. Phase I was a single subject Pilot study to determine the sensitivity of the SEW measure to different prosthetic feet and functional activities. In Phase II, test-retest reliability of the SEW measure was determined for 5 TTAs during the functional activities of level walking, incline walking, decline walking, ascending stairs, descending stairs, sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit. The agreement between SEW values obtained from F-scan and force plates was also calculated. In Phase III, 11 subjects underwent 6 testing sessions over a period of 10-12 weeks. In session 1 subjects were tested wearing their existing prostheses (Baseline session), were given specialized prosthetic training and were tested again after 2 weeks (Training session). For sessions 3 through session 6, subjects were tested with a study socket and one of four randomized test feet. The test feet were SACH, SAFE, Talux and Proprio foot, classified as K1_foot, K2_foot, K3_foot and MP_foot, based on Medicare Functional Classification Level. The Step Watch Activity Monitor (SAM) recorded their daily activities in the 10-14 day accommodation period between two sessions. At each testing session, subjects completed the Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire (PEQ-13) and Usability questionnaire, and were evaluated using the Amputee Mobility Predictor (AMP) and the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). Ground reaction forces were collected using F-scan in-sole sensors as subjects performed the above mentioned functional activities. SEW values between the intact limb and the prosthetic limb were computed by integrating vertical ground reaction forces. Intra-class Correlation Coefficients (ICCs) were calculated to determine test-retest reliability and a repeated measure ANOVA was used to establish differences between the prosthetic feet. Results: The ICC values for Test-Retest reliability ranged from 0.84-0.94 for the various functional activities. There was moderate agreement between the SEW values calculated with F-scan and force plates. The SEW values were significantly different between the K3_foot and other feet during level walking and decline walking. During stair ascent, the MP_foot had a significantly higher SEW value than the other feet. There were no differences between feet during incline walking and stair descent. Training resulted in a significant improvement in symmetry from the Baseline session during sit-to-stand, while for stand-to-sit there were no differences between sessions. The PEQ-13 score was not different between sessions, while the Usability scores were significantly different between the K3_foot/MP_foot and K1_foot/K2_foot. The AMP score had a significant increase following Training while the 6MWT score showed a significant increase in the distance walked with the K1_foot, K3_foot and MP_foot over Baseline. The output of SAM did not show any difference in the number of steps or activity level of subjects. There was good to excellent correlation between the SEW values for level walking and other clinical outcome measures. Discussion and Conclusion: The SEW measure had excellent test-retest reliability and the agreement between the F-scan and force plates values could not be established because of a small sample size. The variations in SEW values were the result of distinctive designs of prosthetic feet. The high SEW value of the K3_foot can be attributed to its heel-toe foot plate and "J" shaped ankle spring design, which allowed for greater late stance stability. The active dorsiflexion feature of the MP_foot caused a change in strategy, typically used during stair ascent, resulting in a greater inter-limb symmetry. The SEW measure is a viable method to detect kinetic gait differences among prosthetic feet and represents a resource-effective alternative to traditional gait laboratories. It has several advantages and with further development of in-sole sensor technology, the potential for clinical use due to its relatively low cost instrumentation and minimal subject intervention.