Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:32:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Luis Fernando Salles Moraes.pdf: 926577 bytes, checksum: 167e10d14baae4f409fdf302c7e5eefe (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-08-15 / The current economic scenery, with high competition level among market players, easy access to economic and financial information and increasing number of companies that went bankrupt in recent years, changed the investors behavior and the decisive factors of investment targets. Nowadays, to mitigate these risks, shareholders became more concerned to long-term analysis and in this context arise the new concept of socially responsible companies, those that are sustainable and profitable to shareholders, even though this idea is also shared by BM&FBovespa it is not supported by current researches. This research aims to compare the probability of insolvency of corporations that make up the Corporate Sustainability Index (ISE) and others traded on BM&FBovespa. The research was done in two different moments: model creation and model application to a controlled group. The model used the insolvent and solvent companies from 2006 up to 2011 and established annual equations to calculate the probability of insolvency. Applying the model it was possible to identify the corporations probability of insolvency that belong to the ISE. The results of this study allowed to confirm based on the average probability of insolvency that ISE´s companies have less default chances if compared with sector correspondents traded in the stock market. / A conjuntura econômica atual, com alto nível de competição entre os agentes mercadológicos, a facilidade ao acesso às informações econômico-financeiro e o aumento do número de casos de falência empresarial, alteraram o comportamento dos investidores e o critério de seleção de empresas para investimento. Atualmente, visando mitigar os riscos de suas aplicações, os acionistas tornaram-se mais críticos e conscientes na análise de longo prazo e neste contexto, surge o conceito de empresas socialmente responsáveis. Estas empresas são caracterizadas por possuírem um negócio sustentável e rentável para os acionistas, porém este discurso, também adotado pela BM&FBovespa, não está comprovado pelas pesquisas atuais. Esta dissertação objetivou comparar a probabilidade de insolvência entre as empresas que compõem o Índice de Sustentabilidade Empresarial (ISE) e as demais transacionadas na BM&FBovespa. Foram realizadas duas etapas na pesquisa: construção do modelo e aplicação no grupo de controle. O modelo utilizou as empresas insolventes e solventes no período de 2006 a 2011 e estabeleceu equações anuais para o cálculo da probabilidade de insolvência. A aplicação do modelo identificou a probabilidade de insolvência entre as empresas pertencentes ao Índice de Sustentabilidade Empresarial (ISE) da BM&FBovespa e nas demais transacionadas. Os resultados obtidos permitiram confirmar através das médias da probabilidade de insolvência que as empresas pertencentes ao Índice de Sustentabilidade Empresarial possuem menor probabilidade ao default se comparadas com suas correspondentes setoriais comercializadas na bolsa.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:32:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marcos Paulo Conde Ivo.pdf: 943018 bytes, checksum: afb11b1edde5d7ff1a6dc5333348143e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-08-15 / The relationship between corporate financial performance and social and environmental responsibility(RSA) has being studied by many researchers, however, until now, the results are contradictory. Based on Stakeholders and Stockholders theories, in a positivist framework (quantitative), this exploratory and descriptive study evaluates the correlation between RSA and the corporate financial performance of non-financial Brazilian Companies listed in BM&FBOVESPA. The sample used was non-probabilistic, composed by 112 companies, among them, 28 belongs to RSA group and 84 are part of a comparison group (N_RSA). The financial and market data related to the years 2008, 2009 and 2010 were obtained from Economatica data base. Applying the statistical method repeated measures variance analysis and the linear mixed models, it was analised the relationship between RSA and the financials indicators ROE (return on equity), ROA (return on assets), P/E (Price/Earnings), MV /BV (market value/book value) and Sales Growing. The results obtained by analysis of variance suggest that RSA influences on the sales growing, but it wasn t possible to identify if the signal of that influence (positive or negative). For the others variable, the results suggest a neutral influence. The linear mixed models suggest that RSA influences positively ROE and is neutral for the others variables. / A relação entre responsabilidade social e ambiental (RSA) e o desempenho financeiro das empresas tem sido objeto de estudo de diversos pesquisadores, porém, os resultados obtidos até o momento são contraditórios. Fundamentado nas teorias dos Stakeholders e Stockholders, este trabalho exploratório e descritivo, com abordagem positivista (quantitativo), buscou avaliar a relação entre RSA e o desempenho financeiro das empresas brasileiras não financeiras de capital aberto com ações negociadas na BM&FBOVESPA. A amostra escolhida de forma não probabilística foi composta por 112 empresas, das quais 28 do grupo RSA e 84 do grupo de comparação (N_RSA). Os dados econômico-financeiros e de mercado dos anos de 2008, 2009 e 2010 das empresas da amostra foram obtidos da base de dados Economatica. Utilizando-se das técnicas estatísticas análise de variância com medidas repetidas e modelo linear de efeitos mistos, avaliou-se a relação entre RSA e os indicadores de desempenho financeiro ROE (retorno sobre o patrimônio líquido RPL), ROA (retorno sobre ativos RAT), P/L (preço/lucro P_L), VM/VL (valor de mercado/valor de livro) e Crescimento nas Vendas (+Vend). A análise de variância encontrou evidências que permitem inferir que RSA influencia a variável Crescimento nas Vendas, mas não foi possível identificar se positiva ou negativamente. Para as demais variáveis a influência RSA mostrouse neutra. O resultado do modelo linear de efeitos mistos obteve evidências que RSA influencia positivamente a variável ROE e é neutra para as demais variáveis estudadas.

This work examines an electrochemical determination of mixed nitric and sulphuric acid solution that is formed during calorimetric determination of gross calorific value of coal carried out under the ISO 1928:1995 standard. Knowing the amount of these acids is necessary for calculating net calorific value. The named standard only allows use of volumetric methods which are time-consuming. Conductivity and ion-selective measurements were used here which significantly shortened analysis time. Overall conductivity measurement was taken with a 4-electrode meter while nitric acid was measured with a nitrate ISE by known addition method. Sulphuric acid was then calculated according to actual temperature. This research has defined the calibration relations and temperature effect. Several simulated and real-world samples were analysed and the method was evaluated for a possible use in a future automated analyser.

<p>In this thesis, a computer program that in a simple way can calculate the performance of control loops at the refinery Preemraff Lysekil has been created. The computer program has been adapted to the environment at Preemraff Lysekil. Theories for evaluation has been studied in aspect of reliability and of automatic implementation. The evaluation has been carried out from data collected directly from control loops at the refinery and from simulated control loops with implemented errors. </p><p>Among the studied methods are Harris index and Stattin´s oscillation index. According to the literature the Harris index is the most used for measure of control performance, but the results show that it does not work as a single measure at Preemraff Lysekil. However Stattin´s oscillation index works well and can be used for detection of oscillations. Statistic measures like variance, IAE, ISE and a method based on histogram are also studied. All the statistical measures are simple to implement and are rather accurate. Several tests on control loops has been carried out and it has been shown that it ís enough to use the method based on histograms and Stattins oscillation index to get a good picture of the performace of the control loops at Preemraff Lysekil. </p><p>The work has resulted in a MATLAB tool that evaluates the control loops and can be run at any time. The tool first calculates Stattin´s oscillation index. The loops that are oscillating are marked. In the next step, the method based on histograms is used and a list with the worst performing loops at the top is created.</p>

In this thesis, a computer program that in a simple way can calculate the performance of control loops at the refinery Preemraff Lysekil has been created. The computer program has been adapted to the environment at Preemraff Lysekil. Theories for evaluation has been studied in aspect of reliability and of automatic implementation. The evaluation has been carried out from data collected directly from control loops at the refinery and from simulated control loops with implemented errors. Among the studied methods are Harris index and Stattin´s oscillation index. According to the literature the Harris index is the most used for measure of control performance, but the results show that it does not work as a single measure at Preemraff Lysekil. However Stattin´s oscillation index works well and can be used for detection of oscillations. Statistic measures like variance, IAE, ISE and a method based on histogram are also studied. All the statistical measures are simple to implement and are rather accurate. Several tests on control loops has been carried out and it has been shown that it ís enough to use the method based on histograms and Stattins oscillation index to get a good picture of the performace of the control loops at Preemraff Lysekil. The work has resulted in a MATLAB tool that evaluates the control loops and can be run at any time. The tool first calculates Stattin´s oscillation index. The loops that are oscillating are marked. In the next step, the method based on histograms is used and a list with the worst performing loops at the top is created.

During the maturation of pre-mRNA introns are removed and exons are spliced together, to form a primary transcript, a reaction that is catalyzed by the spliceosome. Alternative splicing is a complex reaction that mainly utilizes one of four mechanisms; exon skipping, 5’ splice site choice, 3’ splice site choice and intron retention. To achieve accurate splicing four sequence elements are essential, two of which are located in the splice sites themselves; 5’ splice sites and 3’ splice sites, but also the polypyrimidine tract and the branch point sequence. Alternative splicing can be regulated by histone or chromatin modulations, siRNA, transcription efficiency and various proteins, many of which belong to either the SR protein family or the hnRNP family of proteins. SR proteins usually promote exon inclusion, while hnRNP proteins usually promote exon skipping. There are also regulatory elements that are called exonic splicing enhancers or silencers depending on if they promote or inhibit the inclusion of the exon they reside in. These elements also exist in introns and are then called intronic splicing enhancers or silencers. The enhancer elements are most commonly targeted by SR proteins and the silencer elements are usually targeted by hnRNP proteins. This paper will mainly focus on the regulation of alternative splicing and the role of alternative splicing under abnormal conditions, such as when mutations cause disease.

The aim of this master&rsquo / s thesis is to estimate the return performance of insiders (persons or firms liable for announcing their transactions to the public in accordance with the Capital Markets Board decrees) from their transactions and assess whether outsiders can earn abnormal returns by following reported insider transactions. In the study, Rolling Portfolio Approach has been implemented. As a result of the analysis made, when the purchases and sales of insiders are considered together, it has been observed that they, generally, cannot earn abnormal positive returns from their transactions or that they earn positive abnormal returns in the short periods that follow their transactions. When the returns of the portfolios consisting of stocks of which the insiders are the net purchasers or net sellers are taken into consideration, it has been perceived that the portfolios made up of stocks of which the insiders are net buyers cannot earn daily positive abnormal returns or that they earn daily positive abnormal returns in the short periods following their transactions. In the meantime, net sale portfolios earn statistically significant abnormal negative returns over longer holding periods. On the other hand, it has been perceived that investors replicating insider transactions, in general, cannot earn abnormal returns by employing an investment strategy founded on following the purchases and sales of insiders together. Moreover, it has been observed that an investment strategy based on buying the stocks of which the insiders are the net purchasers does not bring abnormal positive returns or that it can bring abnormal positive returns in the brief periods after the transactions. In contrast, it has been observed that, generally, in the sample period analyzed in the study, by avoiding buying or selling stocks of which the insiders are the net sellers, outsiders can evade daily negative abnormal returns. Findings of this thesis have important implications for the efficiency of the Istanbul Stock Exchange. Results indicate that the Istanbul Stock Exchange is not Semi Strong or Strong Form Efficient.

In the contemporary global world, corporate governance is one of the most frequently referred business term. This study examines the corporate governance compliance reports submitted to Capital Markets Board (CMB) by the publicly traded companies on Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE). In the analysis, relation among corporate governance compliance and size and ownership structure is investigated. Corporate governance compliance scores of the companies are obtained from Corporate Governance Index constructed based on CMB&rsquo / s Corporate Governance Principles. The results indicate that size for the entire sample of companies has positive effect on total corporate governance score and all sub index scores / in addition, under different sector categories, size affects total and sub index scores positively except service sector. The public ownership percentage singly measures ownership concentration and it affects corporate governance scores positively except stakeholders and board of directors sub indices scores for all companies. For sector categories, ownership concentration has positive effect on only general corporate governance compliance and shareholders sub index scores for finance companies. Foreign ownership percentage has positive effect on shareholders sub index score derived for all and manufacturing sector companies while its effect is negative for all other scores measured. The findings of this study contribute to the relevant literature and welcome new research initiatives within the same area in Turkey.

Die vorliegende Arbeit befasst sich mit der Synthese und Charakterisierung von amid- und esterfunktionalisierten Aminen. Dabei steht vor allem die Verwendung dieser Verbindungsklasse als Ionophore in der chemischen Sensorik im Vordergrund. Durch geeignete Voruntersuchungen, wie die Bestimmung der Lipophilie und UV/Vis-Spektroskopie, war es möglich, eine Selektion der Vielzahl von synthetisierten Ionophoren durchzuführen. Dennoch war es nur durch systematische Untersuchungen erreichbar, die für den Einsatz in der ISE am besten geeigneten Ionophore zu bestimmen. Die Anwendung als Katalysatorträgermoleküle für die Suzuki-Miyaura-Reaktion wurde nur von den ferrocenfunktionalisierten Molekülen in Betracht gezogen. Diese wurden an Palladiumallylchlorid koordiniert und auf ihr katalytisches Verhalten untersucht. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass mit Zunahme der funktionellen Endgruppen im Molekül ein negativer dendritischer Effekt auftritt.

Šiuolaikiniai IS inžinerijos metodai yra nuolat vystomi ir tobulinami, tačiau iš esmės jie yra grindžiami empiriniais procesais. Empiriškai išgautų žinių kokybė gali būti nepakankama sėkmingam projekto įgyvendinimui, nes netikslus vartotojo reikalavimų specifikavimas neigiamai įtakoja visus programinės įrangos kūrimo etapus, o tai didina projekto įgyvendinimo riziką. Disertacinis darbas skirtas sukurti IS inžinerijos metodą, kuris įgalintų empiriniais būdais surinktas dalykinės srities žinias patikrinti formalių kriterijų atžvilgiu. Metodui sukurti buvo apjungti žiniomis grindžiamos ir modeliais grindžiamos IS inžinerijos principai. Šiuo tikslu klasikinis MDA procesas buvo papildytas pagrindiniu žiniomis grindžiamos IS inžinerijos komponentu – veiklos modeliu. Darbo metu buvo sukurtas žiniomis grindžiamo MDA metodo dalykinės programos prototipas, kuris iš dalies automatizuoja siūlomo metodo procesą. Žiniomis grindžiamo MDA metodo efektyvumas buvo patikrintas jį taikant eksperimentinio tyrimo atlikimui, kurio metu buvo sukurta pašto siuntų stebėjimo programėlė. Tyrimo metu nustatyta, kad tikslinga taikyti žiniomis grindžiamą MDA metodą PĮ kūrime nes: 1) detaliau dokumentuojami vartotojo reikalavimai (tikrinami formalių kriterijų atžvilgiu); 2) sumažinama loginių trūkių atsiradimo galimybė (tarp programinės įrangos kūrimo dalyvių); 3) daugiaplatforminiuose sprendimuose sumažinamos projekto įgyvendinimo laiko sąnaudos (dėka automatinio kodo generavimo iš patikrintų modelių). / Although new methods of information systems engineering are being researched and developed, they are empirical in nature. The problem domain knowledge acquisition process relies heavily on the system analyst and user; therefore it is not clear whether the knowledge of the problem domain is comprehensive. This may lead to occurrence of logical gaps, misinterpretation of system requirements, thus causing issues for project. The research work is meant to develop new IS engineering method that will allow validation of the problem domain knowledge against formal criteria. In order to create such method basic principles of Knowledge Based ISE and Model Driven ISE were combined. By combining the two approaches Knowledge Based MDA method was created that extends traditional MDA with Enterprise Model. During the research Knowledge Based MDA tool’s prototype, that is capable of partly automating Knowledge Based MDA process, was created. The efficiency of Knowledge Based MDA method was validated by creating real life application for mobile devices. During the empirical research it was established that by using developed method software requirements quality is improved and comprehensive documentation is created (due to Enterprise Model based validation), occurrence of logical gaps between software development stakeholders is reduced, time consumption needed for creation of application for multiplatform systems is reduced (due to automated code generation and shorter testing stage).