The objective of this study is to investigate land-use changes and water quality trends within the headwaters of the Alafia River watershed. Water quality data were obtained from the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County (EPCHC). Eleven water quality parameters selected for analysis included: temperature (˚C), dissolved oxygen (DO), percent saturation of DO, conductivity, pH, total phosphorous (TP), total nitrogen (TN), ammonium, chlorophyll-a (uncorrected), fecal coliforms, and enterococci. ArcMap® & SWFWMD data were used to map EPCHC sampling stations, calculate contributing watershed size, and determine land-use changes over the course of the sampling period; 17 stations were chosen for this study. The annual average for each of the water quality parameters was calculated along with a Mann-Kendall Trend Analysis in order to determine if any of the observed trends were statistically significant. A non-parametric Kendall’s tau-b correlation and stepwise multiple linear regression tests were conducted in SPSS to determine if any statistically significant relationships between water quality data, land-use and basin size exist. The land-use results showed every basin consisted of some percentage of Low Density Residential, Cropland & Pastureland, Reservoirs, and Streams & Lake Swamps. In addition, no basin comprised of more than 20% wetlands and often it appears urbanization was at the sacrifice of agricultural lands, as opposed to wetlands. The trends in water quality showed eight of the 17 basins had at least one statistically significant trend. Analysis of the data used for this study has shown instances where water quality measurements were in violation of state standards. Changes in water quality can be statistically related to changes in land-use and basin size as both the correlation and the regression showed consistent relationships between several LULC types and water quality parameters: increases in Commercial & Services causes increased nutrients (TP and TN); Cropland & Pastureland causes decreased DO and DO% Saturation; increases in Tree Crops causes a decrease in pH; increasing Other Open Lands Rural causes a decrease in temperature; and increases in Shrub & Brushland cause decreases in conductivity and pH. As these relationships are based on the results from both analyses, it would seem that these relationships are the most reliable, and are key results of the study. These key relationships might be areas that future water resource managers may want to focus on in order to more efficiently improve or regulate water quality within headwater streams.

Dans un contexte où la consommation de viande bovine est en constante diminution, en partie à cause de sa composition lipidique, il apparaît important pour l'ensemble de la filière de pouvoir communiquer sur l’intérêt nutritionnel de cette viande et plus particulièrement sur sa composition en acides gras (AG). Pour que cette communication soit « efficiente » à tous les niveaux de la filière, il faut disposer de moyens analytiques fiables mais aussi faciles de mise en œuvre et de surcroît peu coûteux. La méthode analytique que nous avons choisi de tester est la spectrométrie proche infrarouge (SPIR) qui présente l’avantage d’être peu coûteuse, peu invasive et qui pourrait ainsi être utilisée à grande échelle et en routine en abattoir. Nous avons montré que la SPIR est performante pour déterminer les teneurs en AG saturés (AGS) et monoinsaturés (AGMI) (R2>0,9). Dans les meilleures conditions pour la prédiction des AGPI (échantillons comportant des teneurs élevées en AGPI et/ou une grande variabilité), les performances de prédiction restent encore insuffisantes (R2 <0,75). Pour pallier cette faiblesse de la SPIR, des équations de prédiction indirectes des AGPI ont été mises en place à partir des teneurs en AGS et AGMI, teneurs correctement déterminées par SPIR, et les informations disponibles en abattoir. Ces équations élaborées par régression linéaire multiple ont permis de prédire correctement les AGPI totaux et les AGPI n-6 (R2 >0,8). Elles restent perfectibles pour la détermination des AGPI n-3 totaux (R2=0,64) mais surtout pour le 18:3 n-3, le 20:5 n-3 et le 22:6 n-3 (R2 <0,55). L’objectif final de ce travail étant d'utiliser les équations en complément des mesures réalisées par SPIR à des fins industrielles afin de déterminer rapidement la composition en AG de la viande bovine, des études complémentaires seront nécessaires pour tester l'ensemble de notre démarche associant SPIR et équations de prédiction. / In a context where the consumption of beef is declining in part because of its lipid composition, an opportunity to revive the beef industry is to communicate with consumers on nutritional quality of beef, especially its fatty acids (FA) composition. To ensure this communication is “efficient” at all levels of the industry, we must have reliable analytical resources but also easy to implement and also inexpensive. The analytical method proposed for determining the beef FA composition is the near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) which is inexpensive, minimally invasive and could thus be widely used in routine in slaughterhouse. We showed that NIRS was effective to determine the concentrations of saturated (SFA) and monounsaturated (MUFA) FA (R2> 0.9). Under the best conditions for the prediction of PUFA (samples containing high levels of PUFA and / or with a high variability), PUFA predictions were still not enough (R2 <0.75). So, to overcome this weakness of NIRS, indirect prediction equations of PUFA were performed from the SFA and MUFA contents correctly determined by NIRS and information available in slaughterhouses. These equations, developed by multiple linear regression, were used to correctly predict total and n-6 PUFA (R2> 0.8). These equations are still to be improved for the determination of the total n-3 PUFA (R2 = 0.64) and of the 18:3 n-3, the 20:5 n-3 and the 22:6 n-3 (R2 <0.55). Given that the ultimate aim of this research is to use the equations as a complementary tool in tandem with NIRS measurements to serve industry as a way to rapidly determine the FA content of beef, further studies will be needed to trial and test our novel coupled NIRS–prediction equations approach.

Text in English / Scrum is the most adopted and under-researched Agile methodology. The research conducted on Scrum adoption is mainly qualitative. Therefore, there was a need for a quantitative study to investigate Scrum adoption challenges. The general objective of this study was to investigate the factors that have a significant relationship with Scrum adoption as perceived by Scrum practitioners working within South African organisations. To achieve this objective a narrative review to synthesise the existing challenges was conducted, followed by the use of these challenges in the development of a conceptual framework. After that, a survey questionnaire was used to test and evaluate the developed framework. The research findings indicate that relative advantage, complexity, and sprint management are factors that have a significant linear relationship with Scrum adoption. The findings are generalisable to the population, and the author recommends that organisations review the findings during their adoption phase of Scrum. / Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) / University of South Africa (UNISA) / School of Computing / M.Sc. (Computing)

<p>In the field of the construction industry, the research work has been widely focused on identifying key performance indicators and critical success factors without assessing the impact of conflict environment factors. This study focusses on the impact of post-conflict environment factors on local construction organization performance. This research presents a performance prediction model comprising the effect of post-conflict environment factors on construction organization performance. The proposed framework of this study has four stages: identify key performance indicators (KPIs), identify post-conflict environment impacting factors, determine critical success factors (CSFs), and formulate success strategy to improve performance. Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and multiple linear regression (MLR) techniques are applied to analyze the data.</p> <p>The study finding indicates that there is a significant relationship between the post-conflict condition impacting factors and local construction organization performance, which is insufficiently studied in previous research work. Thus, the developed framework will benefit academic scholars and industry practitioners to analyze and evaluate challenges and opportunities caused by different external environment conditions in the post-conflict construction industry. </p>

Magister Commercii (Industrial Psychology) - MCom(IPS) / The present study investigated the relationship between the Sense Of Coherence and Satisfaction With Life amongst the unemployed. The study attempted to test the following hypotheses. 1. People with a high Sense Of Coherence tend to be satisfied with their lives in general. 2. Demographic variables such as age, gender, race and level of education have an influence on the subjects' scores on the Sense Of Coherence and Satisfaction With Life scales. 3. Length of unemployment has an impact on the subjects' Sense Of Coherence and Satisfaction With Life. In this study, subjects were drawn from the Department of Manpower in the Western Cape region. The data were obtained from a sample of 100 participants. Of this 100, 52 were males. Subjects were asked to complete the Sense Of Coherence and the Satisfaction With Life scales. Statistical procedures that were used are Multiple Linear Regression analysis, Product Moment Correlational Co-efficients, Analysis of Variance test (ANOVA) and the Cronbach Alphas of the various scales. It was found that Sense Of Coherence correlated significantly with Satisfaction With Life, thus supporting the first hypothesis. This led to the conclusion that a person with a strong Sense Of Coherence tends to be more satisfied with his/her life. However, a person with a weaker Sense Of Coherence finds it difficult to make sense out of his/her life. It was also found that most of the demographic variables did not reach any statistical significance. The general trend in this sample was that younger people had higher education and had been unemployed for fewer years. In comparison, older people were found to have less education and had been unemployed for more years. It was concluded that formal and informal education system will be necessary to develop and equip both young and older people with the experience and skills to use at work. This study was concluded by the discussion of the implications of the findings and suggestions for future research.

No description available.

El presente estudio tiene como objetivo identificar la calidad demandada, el precio internacional y el desarrollo agrícola como principales factores que favorecieron el crecimiento de las exportaciones peruanas de cacao tostado al mercado de los Estados Unidos de América en los años 2013 - 2020. Al iniciar la investigación, se presentó la hipótesis general de que la calidad demandada, el precio internacional y el desarrollo agrícola son factores que favorecieron el crecimiento de las exportaciones peruanas de cacao tostado al mercado de los Estados Unidos de América en los años 2013 - 2020.  Para comprobar la hipótesis y objetivos estructurados, se aplicó el modelo de análisis de regresión lineal múltiple, donde se pudo comprobar que la calidad demandada si cumplía con lo planteado. El precio internacional no cumple dado al valor agregado que presenta el cacao peruano, permitiendo vender por encima del precio base. Asimismo, se puede debatir el desarrollo agrícola, dado a que expertos y empresas afirman que la implementación de nuevas tecnologías y técnicas de cultivo permiten mayor producción de cacao; sin embargo, el análisis indica que no cumple con la data histórica analizada.  Finalmente, se puede concluir que el desarrollo agrícola permite un mejor desarrollo para la producción; sin embargo, el cacao presenta distintas versiones de exportación, tales como la manteca, licor, polvo, grano, etc. / The objective of this study is to identify the quality demanded, the international price and agricultural development as the main factors that favored the growth of Peruvian exports of roasted cocoa to the United States of America market in the years 2013-2020. At the beginning of the investigation, the general hypothesis was presented that the quality demanded, the international price and agricultural development are factors that favored the growth of Peruvian exports of roasted cocoa to the market of the United States of America in the years 2013 - 2020. To verify the hypothesis and structured objectives, the multiple regression analysis model was applied, where it was possible to verify that the quality demanded did comply with what was proposed. The international price does not comply given the added value that Peruvian cocoa presents, allowing it to be sold above the base price. Likewise, agricultural development can be debated, given that experts and companies affirm that the implementation of new technologies and cultivation techniques allow greater cocoa production; however, the analysis indicates that it does not comply with the historical data analyzed. Finally, it can be concluded that agricultural development allows better development for production; However, cocoa presents different versions for export, such as butter, liquor, powder, grain, etc. / Tesis

Orientador: Rodrigo Braga Moruzzi / Resumo: A falha humana é um evento indesejado para os engenheiros, e a população que se vê refém destes empreendimentos, (visto os diversos incidentes que ocorrem no Brasil) por fatores como omissão de informações, medições equivocadas ou mesmo erros técnicos, passam despercebidos durante as vistorias. Na área de Saneamento, em se tratando de esgoto sanitário, os riscos não são menores e também devem ser evitados considerando o número de doenças que são proliferadas por falhas no saneamento de esgoto. A partir deste pressuposto, a presente pesquisa visou desenvolver um modelo preditor, usando ferramentas matemáticas que viabilizassem identificar e corrigir erros técnicos no registro e medições realizadas em parâmetros físicos, químicos e biológicos de dois reatores UASB da Estação Candeia da cidade de Bauru- SP. Para isto, após uma revisão sobre a tecnologia de reatores UASB e de estudos probabilísticos baseados no conceito de confiabilidade aplicado a ETEs (Estações de Tratamento de Esgotos), definiu-se, por meio de análise de regressão, um modelo multilinear, acoplado a um algoritmo de otimização, capaz de prever e corrigir parâmetros de entrada e saídas (inconsistentes ou ausentes) no registro do monitoramento da estação referentes ao tratamento de reatores UASB. Com este procedimento matemático, através de uma análise estatística conceitual de confiabilidade do sistema, foi possível corrigir dados e estimar informações de parâmetros ausentes, em 22% das coletas de medidas e regis... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Human failure is an unwanted event for engineers, and the population that is hostage to these endeavors, (due to the various incidents that occur in Brazil) due to factors such as omission of information, wrong measurements or even technical errors, go unnoticed during surveys. . In the Sanitation area, when it comes to sanitary sewage, the risks are no less and should also be avoided considering the number of diseases that are proliferated by sewage sanitation failures. From this assumption, the present research aimed to develop a predictor model, using mathematical tools that could identify and correct technical errors in the recording and measurements performed on physical, chemical and biological parameters of two UASB reactors at Candeia Station of Bauru- SP. For this, after a review of UASB reactor technology and probabilistic studies based on the concept of reliability applied to sewage treatment plants (SEP), a multilinear model coupled to a optimization algorithm, capable of predicting and correcting input and output parameters (inconsistent or absent) in the station monitoring register for the treatment of UASB reactors. With this mathematical procedure, through a conceptual statistical analysis of system reliability, it was possible to correct data and estimate missing parameter information in 22% of the measurement collections and records in the technical reports that were made available for this study. / Mestre

Dentro del sector no tradicional agrícola, el mango fresco es la quinta fruta peruana más exportada, con un crecimiento promedio anual de 12.92 por ciento desde el 2002 al 2019. Estados Unidos es el segundo destino de las exportaciones peruanas de mango, abarcando un promedio del 24% por ciento de las ventas totales en el 2019. Ante ello, la presente investigación busca determinar los factores que influyeron en la exportación de mango fresco del Perú hacia Estados Unidos durante el periodo 2002 – 2019. El estudio tuvo un enfoque mixto, con un alcance descriptivo, correlacional y causal; con un diseño no experimental longitudinal, donde se analizaron las variables Producción, Precio FOB, Tipo de Cambio, Demanda EE.UU y PBI de EE.UU. Además, de carácter descriptivo se analizaron las variables Gestión empresarial, Apoyo del Estado y Clima. Para el análisis cuantitativo se obtuvo información de fuentes secundarias como Adex Data Trade, BCRP, Banco Mundial, MINAGRI y Bureau of Economic donde se procesaron los datos a través de un modelo de regresión lineal múltiple. Mientras que, para el análisis cualitativo, se usó la técnica de entrevistas semi estructuradas en el cual se entrevistaron a trece actores clave pertenecientes a entidades del sector privado, sector público y gremios relacionados donde se procesó la información a través de la herramienta Atlas Ti. Sobre los resultados de la investigación se concluyeron que las variables producción nacional y demanda de Estados Unidos influyeron en la exportación de mango fresco peruano hacia Estados Unidos. / Within the non-traditional agricultural sector, fresh mango is the fifth most exported Peruvian fruit, with an average annual growth of 12.92 percent from 2002 to 2019. The United States is the second destination for Peruvian mango exports, covering an average of 24% percent of total sales in 2019. Given this, this research seeks to determine the factors that influenced the export of fresh mango from Peru to the United States during the period 2002 - 2019. The study had a mixed approach, with a descriptive, correlational and causal scope; With a non-experimental longitudinal design, where the variables Production, FOB Price, Exchange Rate, US Demand and US GDP were analyzed. In addition, of a descriptive nature, the variables Business Management, State Support and Climate were analyzed. For the quantitative analysis, information was obtained from secondary sources such as Adex Data Trade, BCRP, World Bank, MINAGRI and Bureau of Economic, where the data was processed through a multiple linear regression model. While, for the qualitative analysis, the semi-structured interview technique was used in which thirteen key actors belonging to entities of the private sector, public sector and related unions were interviewed where the information was processed through the Atlas Ti tool. Regarding the results of the investigation, it was concluded that the variables national production and demand from the United States influenced the export of fresh Peruvian mango to the United States. / Tesis

No description available.