The thesis investigates three selected issues pertaining to the Malaysian Manufacturing sector namely industries growth channels, imported inputs and intra-industry trade determinants. For each of this issue we have adopted a static and a dynamic estimation approach. In the static estimation the result presented are based on Ordinary Least Square, Fixed and Random Effect besides Generalized Least Square estimations. Meanwhile in the dynamic estimation, we focused on result of the difference and system GMM estimations. For industries growth channels, the findings suggest that at aggregate industry level, fixed capital formation and human capital channels are always statistically significant regardless of the test applied either in static or dynamic models estimation. The significance of fixed capital formation is consistent with the strong and cumulative saving and investment condition in Malaysia which has had a significant effect on the capital formation of the country. Our findings for foreign direct investment channel might suggest that Malaysian manufacturing industries has had problem to absorb the transfer of technology that had impede the growth of the sector. Meanwhile, a negative association between government consumption and economic growth might indicate that the government expenditures pattern might have distort the allocation of resources in the economy especially the manufacturing sector. Our findings suggest that the nature of the relationship between manufactured exports and economic growth is negative which might indicate that Malaysian manufactured exports were actually driven by the economy growth. Further analysis at individual export-oriented industry level shows that manufactured exports and government consumption channels have influence growth in both resource-based and non-resource based industries. Our analysis also include trade liberalization estimation which suggest that trade liberalization has a positive causality relationship with the growth of industries through all selected channels. Regarding the imported inputs analysis, the dynamic estimation results show that imported inputs have a positive relationship with industries owned by the non-Malaysian, but not for industries owned by the Malaysian. Our finding for industries owned by the Malaysian is consistent with the government actions that have strongly encouraged them to use domestic inputs through implementation of various incentives. This is because the implementation of the first round of the Import Substitution phase (1957-1967), had created an industrialization era which relied heavily on imported inputs and machines which resulted in distortions in domestic product prices, low value added, poor domestic economy linkages and inequalities in income and employment. On the contrary, our findings for all static and dynamic models suggest that imported input have a positive relationship with the growth of industries owned by non-Malaysian. This result might indicate that industries whose import their intermediate inputs have increased their growth performance and productivity. Meanwhile, at firms’ level, imported inputs suggest a positive relationship with firms owned by both Malaysian and non-Malaysian. Our analysis again include trade liberalization estimation which show that trade liberalization have a positive relationship with the imported inputs content in industries owned by Malaysia while at firms level, only non-tariff index shows a positive relationship. Last issue relates to the intra industry trade in Malaysian manufacturing sector. Our findings suggest that the gross domestic products variables which proxies the market size of a country, the similarity in income and the relative size effects between Malaysia and its trading partners has had influence the share of intra industry trade of the manufactured goods. As for the other country-characteristic determinants, we found a positive relationship between foreign direct investment and the share of intra-industry trade which support the theoretical framework proposed by Grubel and Lloyd (1975) and Greenaway and Milner (1986). Similarly, distance and trade imbalance also indicates a significant negative relationship with the trade share. Meanwhile at individual industry level, our findings suggest that a majority of the gross domestic product variables indicate a statistically significant relationship with the trade share in the dynamic estimation models for the wood, textiles and electrical and electronic industries. Contradictory, the maximum value of gross domestic products has a statistically significant relationship in the static estimation models for the rubber, textiles and electrical and electronic industries, respectively. Meanwhile, the other country-characteristic determinants such as foreign direct investment, trade imbalance and trade orientation have a statistically significant relationship in both static and dynamic estimations models in a majority of the Malaysian export-oriented industries. On the other hand distance, border and asean have a statistically significant relationship in only the static estimation models for the industries.

Over recent years, international trade flows of automotive products have experienced rising trends. Thus, the need to gain a better understanding of trade theories that could explain such trade flows. Until recently, the theoretical and empirical distinction of intra-industry trade (IIT) into patterns of horizontally differentiated (by variety) intra-industry trade (HIIT) and vertically differentiated (by quality) intra-industry trade (VIIT) has become crucial because each IIT pattern may potentially be influenced in different manners by country and industry factors (Greenaway, Hine&Milner, 1995). The objective of this thesis is twofold. Firstly, to measure the empirical significance of IIT in the automobile industry between South Africa and its bilateral trading partners and to decompose total IIT (TIIT) into VIIT and HIIT patterns. Secondly, to develop empirical models to investigate potential country- and industry-specific determinants of IIT patterns in the South African automobile industry. The empirical strategy adopted in this thesis is a gravity model spanning the period 2000 to 2007. The automobile industry is a principal industrial sector in the South African economy contributing notably to trade, investment, employment and national output. The structure and conduct of the industry is aligned with several elements of IIT theories and thus represents an important and fascinating case of IIT patterns to investigate. Therefore, the findings of this thesis will be valuable to trade policy analysts and manufacturers in the local and global automotive industries. According to the objectives, the significance of IIT is estimated using the trade overlap index and the empirical separation of total intra-industry trade (TIIT) into VIIT and HIIT is conducted using the threshold method. The empirical results reveal the presence of significant levels of IIT in automotive trade flows between South Africa and its bilateral trading partners. In accordance with theoretical expectations, the empirical investigation signifies the existence of high shares of VIIT dominating TIIT in the South African automobile industry. Moreover, the empirical analysis postulates that, within VIIT, the domestic automobile industry potentially produces and exports high quality automotive products proposing that such VIIT can be partly explained by fragmentation and international production processes. Next, gravity models are estimated to investigate the determinants of IIT patterns in the automobile industry. The econometric results of the gravity models of VIIT, HIIT and TIIT are statistically and economically significant in the context of the fixed effects method of estimation and in accordance with new trade theories. The empirical results reveal that relative difference in economic size, trade openness, foreign direct investment (FDI) and tariffs stimulates VIIT, whilst distance, economies of scale and automotive assistance negatively affect it. Conversely, relative difference in economic size, FDI and automotive assistance negatively affects HIIT, whereas trade openness and depreciation of the exchange rate positively influences it. Thus, the findings of the thesis assert that IIT patterns of VIIT and HIIT in the automobile industry are influenced differently by country and industry determinants, revealing that the theoretical and empirical distinction of TIIT is important. The thesis proposes advancing trade liberalisation and deregulation of the South African automobile industry that could attract greater efficiency-seeking FDI complementary to trade and as a consequence enhance IIT levels. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Economics / unrestricted

The number of new graduates greatly affects the existence of any profession and for the nursing profession this rings very true. However, in this caring and nurturing profession many undergraduate nursing students indicate that they consider leaving the profession due to exposure to intra-professional violence. Intra-professional violence may take many forms, is perpetrated by different individuals and have negative effects on patients, staff and institutions therefore it should be identified and managed. In South Africa it has, so far, been a topic which has not received much attention. Purpose Determine the presence of intra-professional violence experienced by undergraduate nursing students in South Africa and then create an awareness of intra-professional violence to eliminate the occurrence thereof. Design A quantitative, non-experimental, explorative and descriptive design was used. Methods The data was collected by means of a questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed to undergraduate nursing students at nine NEI in South Africa. Findings Although characteristics of oppressed group behaviour are present in undergraduate nursing students it to a low extent. Undergraduate nursing students are experiencing intra-professional violence in the clinical learning environment from different perpetrators. The most likely perpetrator is the registered nurse. The intra-professional violence does cause stress but are deemed controllable according to the undergraduate nursing students. Furthermore the results show that the presence of stress results in an increased control of intra-professional violence. The most likely coping mechanism for intra-professional violence is to do nothing. Conclusion The findings correlated with international results and indicate that intra-professional violence is experienced by undergraduate nursing students in South Africa. Oppressed group behaviour is a contributing factor, but is not the sole cause. Undergraduate nursing students do need education about intra-professional violence and engaging coping mechanisms. Clinical relevance If intra-professional violence is controlled, interpersonal relationships can improve. This would create an environment in which learning can be promoted and undergraduate nursing students will be able to develop their clinical skills with confidence. Furthermore, attrition will decline and nursing shortages can be countered. / Dissertation (MCur)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Nursing Science / unrestricted

Orientador: Wang Binseng / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia de Campinas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-15T11:51:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fossey_MarceloAndre_M.pdf: 1942478 bytes, checksum: be673589961b28b0f1ac699750d312aa (MD5) Previous issue date: 1985 / Resumo: Devido às graves implicações sociais do glaucoma, e ao fato dele ser relativamente imperceptível no início, é necessário a avaliação da pressão intra-ocular (PIO) toda vez que se efetua o "check-up"., pois pressões prolongadas acima de 21 mmHg podem causar alteração do campo visual e, se não tratado em tempo, cegueira ao paciente. Atualmente os tonômetros utilizados no Pais são importados, apresentando alto custo, baixa precisao (tonômetro de Goldmann) e pouca confiabilidade (tonômetros eletrônicos). Foi projetado e construido um tonômetro eletrônico, com materiais e componentes facilmente encontráveis no mercado nacional. A PIO é medida por uma ponta de prova, no centro da qual existe um pino rigidamente acoplado a uma cerâmica piezoelétrica, que ao ser deformada pela PIO produz uma tensão elétrica e, ao se detetar eletronicamente a condição de aplanação, é registrado o valor da PIO num display digital. Para aumentar a confiabilidade, o tonômetro foi montado num suporte com o formato de revólver, com dois suportes laterais. Este tonômetro pode ser utilizado com.o paciente na posição vertical ou reclinado, sem o auxílio da lâmpada de fenda. / Abstract: The grave social consequences of glaucoma and the fact its onset is relatively imperceptivable make evaluation of the intraocular pressure (IOP) essential at each Iredical examination. Prolonged IOPs above 21 nmHg may cause alterations in the visual field and, if not treated, blindness in the patient. At the present time, alI tonometers used in Brazil are irnported. 1n general, they present either high cost and low precision (Goldman tonometers) or little reliability (electronic tonometers). An electronic tonometers was designed and built using materiaIs and corrponents available in Brazil. The IOP is measured with a probe at the center of which exists a pin fixed rigidly onto a piezoelectric transducer, whose deforrnation by tpe IOP produces an electric signal. As the cornea is depressed by the probe, the applanation, condition is detected electronically and the value of IOP thus detected is displayed digitally. To provide reliable measurerrents, the tonometer was mounted in front of a pistol-like holder with two supports to be positioned on, the facial banes. The instrument may be used with the patient in any position without the need af a slit lamp. / Mestrado / Mestre em Engenharia Elétrica

No description available.

Pulmonary diseases are frequently associated with changes in lung anatomy. These diseases may change the airway, vessel and lung tissue properties. In order to evaluate the lung in a longitudinal study, a stable reference system is required to identify corresponding parts of the lung. The structure of the airway tree can be used to repeatedly identify the regions of interest. In this study, an improved method for matching of intra-patient airway trees was proposed and evaluated. The association graph method proposed by Pelillo et al. matches free and rooted trees by detecting the maximal sub-tree isomorphism. Tschirren et al. implemented this approach for labeling and matching of human airway trees and reported 92.9% matching accuracy which is the highest among existing methods. However we recognized a few shortcomings of this method. When we tested it on seven normal human cases, we observed that successful matching relies heavily on the accurate labeling of main branchpoints in the trees. Incorrect labeling of main branch points or failure in labeling results in failure to match that branch point. Such matching errors may eventually propagate to sub-trees. On our seven data samples, matching accuracy was found to be as low as 65%. To improve the matching performance, we propose to make matching independent of labeling as well as improve association graph by adding constraint of path-length along with the existing constraints. Furthermore, we would like to redefine the incorrect matches as those matches which are mismatched as well as those that are missed by the matching algorithm. Our results for a total of 27 cases show a significant improvement in accuracy. The accuracy calculated as per the convention without accounting for the branchpoint pairs missed by the algorithm is 92.19% whereas the accuracy calculated as per our definition is 73.98%, with runtime in the range of 0.01-262.81 sec (average runtime is 25.14 sec). We thus propose an improved association graph method which is efficient in matching intra-patient airway trees with good accuracy and within a reasonable time.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(理学) / 甲第22265号 / 理博第4579号 / 新制||理||1657(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院理学研究科地球惑星科学専攻 / (主査)教授 山路 敦, 教授 田上 高広, 教授 生形 貴男 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Science / Kyoto University / DGAM

Due to its three-dimensional, elastic and flexible properties the weft-knitted technique is especially functional within the realm of performance textiles. Within the knit one can create flexible and movement-specific structures fitting to the body without waste material. A capability which is valuable when creating costumes for dance performances. However, it is seldom that the material is the focus of the performance and even more so, that the material is equal to the dancer. This project aims to explore the intra-active relationship between knitted textiles and human, by designing flexible three-dimensional textiles with high kinetic and visual agency. A perspective that enables the designer to create new performative expressions together with the dancer. This exploration is conducted through technical and material explorations where the kinetic and visual potential of different knitted structures are developed. The intra-active potential is evaluated and developed through collaboration with a dancer. The three knitted structures with high kinetic and visual potential, are intra-acted with by a dancer in a filmed performance. This synergy of human and material is valuable as it is the result of a collaborative design process, where the material is the directing force both in the textile process as well as the dancer’s process. A result of a more homogeneous design process where human and material listens to each other, but also where different disciplines exchanges knowledge and perspectives in an intra-active relationship.

Regional integration continues to be a source of inspiration due to the economic benefits associated with a country belonging to a regional organisation. The African continent is no exception with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) taking note of such cooperation with exceeding attention. Its predecessor, the Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference (SADCC), was formed in 1980 and one of its most important goals was to economically integrate the Southern African region in order to improve the economic situation of its Member States. The transformation of the SADCC to the SADC in 1992 led to a much stronger SADC which was complimented further by the ratification of the SADC Protocol on Trade in 2000 and most importantly by the establishment of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) in 2001 through an Intergovernmental approach. The RISDP is seen as the most effective mechanism by the SADC to fully integrate the SADC effectively and is this study’s unit of analysis, as part of this study’s research strategy which is a case study methodology, under a qualitative research design which has been adopted for this study. However, this study notes that the RISDP is being poorly implemented by SADC Member States, as clearly stated in this study’s aim, and key examples include missing set milestones such as the formation of the SADC Customs Union in 2010. The focus on a customs union is essential as it will increase intraregional trade as this study believes that it will be the catalyst in truly economically integrating the SADC region. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2019. / Political Sciences / MA / Unrestricted

English: Common warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus) and bushpigs (Potamochoerus larvatus), were experimentally infected with classical swine fever virus (CSFv) following the diagnosis of classical swine fever (CSF) subtype 2.1 in 2005 in domestic pigs in South Africa. At that time, no data regarding their susceptibility or the potential lesions in these wild suids were available. Seven sub-adult warthogs and six bushpigs were captured, taken to the high containment facilities of the Transboundary Animal Diseases Programme of the Agriculture Research Council (ARC) - Onderstepoort Veterinary Research Institute, and infected intranasally with the South African isolate. In each experiment, two in-contact control animals of the same species verified intraspecies transmission, while two domestic pigs were used to demonstrate virus virulence and viability. Surviving animals were euthanized 44 days post infection. Formalin-fixed tissue samples collected from all experimental animals were evaluated for histological lesions. The warthogs, which remained clinically normal throughout the study, developed histological lesions that were inconsistently present and sometimes subtle. Three warthogs, including one in-contact control, developed distinct perivascular lymphoplasmacytic cuffing in their brains. Subtle lesions included scant lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of various organs, occasionally accompanied by perivascular cuffing. In contrast, the bushpigs developed overt clinical signs similar to CSF in domestic pigs. Four animals out of six, including two in-contact controls, died or were euthanized during the trial. On post mortem examination, intestinal necrosis and ulceration, purulent rhinitis and pneumonia were present. Acutely affected animals developed lymphoid necrosis and depletion whilst surviving individuals showed perivascular lymphoplasmacytic cuffing in multiple organs. Immunohistochemical demonstration of CSFv antigen using a commercially available mouse monoclonal antibody, WH303, revealed intense, widespread labelling in most tissues of all the warthogs and bushpigs as well as the four domestic pigs used as controls during the trial. A wide range of cell types and tissues reacted with the antibody. These included: mononuclear cells (monocyte-macrophages, lymphocytes and plasma cells), follicular reticular cells, epithelial cells, vascular endothelial cells, mesothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts. Tissues that were labelled included tonsil, lymph nodes, spleen, third eyelid, adrenal gland, urinary bladder, skin, liver, kidney, lung, certain cells within central nervous tissue like the choroid plexus, various parts of the gastro-intestinal tract as well as glandular tissue like the pancreas and salivary gland. The tonsils were the most consistently labelled tissue, while no labelling was noted in myocytes of skeletal or cardiac muscle. From the present work, it was concluded that these wild Suidae are susceptible to CSFv and intra-species transmission under experimental conditions can occur. / Afrikaans: Wilde Afrika varke, nl. vlakvarke (Phacocoerus africanus) en bosvarke (Potamochoerus larvatus) was eksperimenteel infekteer met europese varkpes virus nadat die siekte in kommersiële mak varke diagnoseer is in 2005 (dit was tipeer as subtipe 2.1). Geen inligiting oor die vatbaarheid of potensiële letsels weens europese varkpes infeksie in hierdie wilde varke was beskikbaar nie. Sewe wilde onvolwasse vlakvarke en ses bosvarke is gevang, na die isolasie eenheid van die Onderstepoort Veterinêre Instituut se oor-grens siekte afdeling geneem en intranasal geïnfekteer met die Suid-Afrikaanse isolaat van 2005. Twee in-kontak kontrole diere van dieselfde spesie is gebruik in elke eksperiment om intra-spesie oordraging vas te stel en twee mak varke om virus lewensvatbaarheid en virulensie te demonstreer. Oorlewende diere is uitgesit na 44 dae. Formalien gefikseerde weefsel monsters is versamel van hulle, sowel as van diere wat uitgesit is tydens die eksperiment. Die vlakvarke was klinies normal regdeur die eksperiment, maar het wel histologiese letsels ontwikkel wat subtiel was en ook nie altyd teenwoordig in alle gevalle nie. Drie vlakvarke, waarvan een ‘n in-kontak dier was, het prominente limfo-plasmasitiese perivaskulêre flensing in hul breine ontwikkel. Subtiele letsels het klein hoeveelhede limfoplasmasitiese infiltrasies in verskeie organe en somtyds perivaskulêre flensing ingesluit. In teenstelling, het die bosvarke uitgesproke kliniese tekens soortgelyk aan Europese varkpes in mak varke, ontwikkel. Vier uit die ses diere, insluitend twee in-kontak diere is dood of uitgesit tydens die eksperiment. Met nadoodse ondersoek is daar intestinale nekrose en ulserasie, purulente rinitis en pneumonie gevind. Diere wat dood is, het limfoïede nekrose en limfoïede uitputting getoon, terwyl die oorlewende bosvarke perivaskulêre flensing met limfo-plasma selle in verskeie organe ontwikkel het. Immunohistochemiese demonstrasie van Europese varkpes virus antigen deur gebruik van ‘n kommersieël beskikbare muis monoklonale teenligaam, WH303, het duidelike wydverspreide kleuring in meeste weefsel van die die vlakvarke, bosvarke en mak varke getoon. ‘n Wye reeks van weefsel en sel tipes het met die teenliggam reageer naamlik: mononukliêre selle (monosietmakrofage en limfo-plasma selle), follikulêre retikulêre selle, epiteel, vaskulêre endoteel, mesoteel, gladde spier selle en fibroblaste. Weefsel wat gemerk is met die teenliggaam het ingesluit: mangels, limfknope, milt, derde ooglid, adrenaal klier, urienblaas, vel, lewer, nier, long, sekere selle in die sentrale senuwee stelsel, soos die koroïed pleksus, verskeie dele van die gastro-intestinale stelsel sowel as klier weefsel soos die pankreas en speekselklier. Die mangels was die mees konsekwent gemerkte weefsel, terwyl geen kleuring gevind is in miosiete van skelet of hartspier nie. Uit hierdie werk kon daar afgelei word dat vlakvarke en bosvarke vatbaar is vir Europese varkpes en dat intra-spesie oordraging plaasvind onder eksperimentele omstandighede. / Dissertation (MMedVet)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Paraclinical Sciences / Unrestricted