Univ., Habil.-Schr.--Düsseldorf, 2001. / Literaturverz. S. [267] - 280.

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An analog to intrinsic linking, intrinsic even linking, is explored in the first half of this paper. Four graphs are established to be minor minimal intrinsically even linked, and it is conjectured that they form a complete minor minimal set. Some characterizations are given, using the simplest of the four graphs as an integral part of the arguments, that may be useful in proving the conjecture. The second half of this paper investigates a new approach to intrinsic knotting. By adapting knot energy to graphs, it is hoped that intrinsic knotting can be detected through direct computation. However, graph energies are difficult to compute, and it is unclear whether they can be used to determine whether a graph is intrinsically knotted.

Tese (doutorado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Departamento de Matemática, 2013. / Submitted by Flávia Renata Santos Gasparotto (flavia.gasparotto@gmail.com) on 2014-08-19T19:44:07Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2014_ReinaldodeMarchi.pdf: 506898 bytes, checksum: 8dcd606614c71227c05c144a84942216 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Guimaraes Jacqueline(jacqueline.guimaraes@bce.unb.br) on 2014-08-20T12:57:51Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2014_ReinaldodeMarchi.pdf: 506898 bytes, checksum: 8dcd606614c71227c05c144a84942216 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T12:57:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2014_ReinaldodeMarchi.pdf: 506898 bytes, checksum: 8dcd606614c71227c05c144a84942216 (MD5) / Nesse trabalho, estabelecemos resultados de existência e multiplicidade de soluções para algumas classes de problemas elípticos semilineares periódicos e assintoticamente periódicos. Consideramos três tipos de problemas: a equação de Schroedinger, caso positivo definido; a equação de Schroedinger, caso indefinido, e uma classe de sistemas hamiltonianos. As principais ferramentas utilizadas são métodos variacionais, tais como Teorema do Passo da Montanha, Teoremas de Linking, Variedade de Nehari Generalizada e o Princípio de Concentração de Compacidade de Lions. _____________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT / In this work, we establish some results on the existence and multiplicity of solutions for some classes of semilinear elliptic periodic and asymptotically periodic problems. Weconsider three types of problems: the Schrodinger equation, positive definite case; the Schrodinger equation, indefinite case, and a class of Hamiltonian systems. The main tools used are variational methods, such as the Mountain Pass Theorem, Linking Theorems,Generalized Nehari Manifold and Concentration Compactness Principle of Lions.

Under the Common Core State Standard (CCSS) initiative, states that voluntarily adopt the common core standards work together to develop a common assessment in order to supplement and replace existing state assessments. However, the common assessment may not cover all state standards, so states within the consortium can augment the assessment using locally developed items that align with state-specific standards to ensure that all necessary standards are measured. The purpose of this dissertation was to evaluate the linking accuracy of the augmented tests using the common-item nonequivalent groups design. Pseudo-test analyses were conducted by splitting a large-scale math assessment in half, creating two parallel common assessments, and by augmenting two sets of state-specific items from a large-scale science assessment. Based upon some modifications of the pseudo-data, a simulated study was also conducted. For the pseudo-test analyses, three factors were investigated: (1) the difference in ability between the new and old test groups, (2) the differential effect size for the common assessment and state-specific item set, and (3) the number of common items. For the simulation analyses, the latent-trait correlations between the common assessment and state-specific item set as well as the differential latent-trait correlations between the common assessment and state-specific item set were used in addition to the three factors considered for the pseudo-test analyses. For each of the analyses, four equating methods were used: the frequency estimation, chained equipercentile, item response theory (IRT) true score, and IRT observed score methods. The main findings of this dissertation were as follows: (1) as the group ability difference increased, bias also increased; (2) when the effect sizes differed for the common assessment and state-specific item set, larger bias was observed; (3) increasing the number of common items resulted in less bias, especially for the frequency estimation method when the group ability differed; (4) the frequency estimation method was more sensitive to the group ability difference than the differential effect size, while the IRT equating methods were more sensitive to the differential effect size than the group ability difference; (5) higher latent-trait correlation between the common assessment and state-specific item set was associated with smaller bias, and if the latent-trait correlation exceeded 0.8, the four equating methods provided adequate linking unless the group ability difference was large; (6) differential latent-trait correlations for the old and new tests resulted in larger bias than the same latent-trait correlations for the old and new tests, and (7) when the old and new test groups were equivalent, the frequency estimation method provided the least bias, but IRT true score and observed score equating resulted in smaller bias than the frequency estimation and chained equipercentile methods when group ability differed.

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The National Development Plan (NDP) of South Africa stipulates that the higher education sector should be an agent for change in a country that is facing a plurality of socio-economic challenges. Achieving this is difficult as the amount of resources being made available to the higher educational sector is limited and steadily decreasing. Given this context, it is of the utmost importance that funding allocated to the higher education sector be utilised in an optimal manner. An efficient budget is one tool that can assist in optimising the allocation of limited resources. The study investigated the critical factors that might play a role in creating an environment where efficient budgets could be produced, specifically in the higher educational sector. Two critical factors were identified in the study: firstly, giving budgets a strategic focus and secondly, the role the human element plays as part of an effective budget. An empirical study was conducted to investigate whether the existence or nonexistence of the abovementioned factors influenced the perceived effectiveness of budgets in an institution. It was found that communication of strategic and budgetary goals, as well as managerial involvement, can play an important role in creating a budgetary environment where employees are motivated to prepare effective budgets. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The National Development Plan (NDP) of South Africa stipulates that the higher education sector should be an agent for change in a country that is facing a plurality of socio-economic challenges. Achieving this is difficult as the amount of resources being made available to the higher educational sector is limited and steadily decreasing. Given this context, it is of the utmost importance that funding allocated to the higher education sector be utilised in an optimal manner. An efficient budget is one tool that can assist in optimising the allocation of limited resources. The study investigated the critical factors that might play a role in creating an environment where efficient budgets could be produced, specifically in the higher educational sector. Two critical factors were identified in the study: firstly, giving budgets a strategic focus and secondly, the role the human element plays as part of an effective budget. An empirical study was conducted to investigate whether the existence or nonexistence of the abovementioned factors influenced the perceived effectiveness of budgets in an institution. It was found that communication of strategic and budgetary goals, as well as managerial involvement, can play an important role in creating a budgetary environment where employees are motivated to prepare effective budgets. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015