Input-output systems with time periodic parameters are commonly found in nature (e.g., oceanic movements) and engineered systems (e.g., vibrations due to gyroscopic forces in vehicles). In a broader sense, periodic behaviors can arise when there is a dynamic equi- librium between inertia and various balancing forces. A classic example is a structure in a steady wind or current that undergoes large oscillations due to vortex shedding or flutter. Such phenomena can have either positive or negative outcomes, like the efficient operation of wind turbines or the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. While the systems mentioned here are typically all modeled as systems of nonlinear partial differential equations, the pe- riodic behaviors of interest typically form part of a stable "center manifold," the analysis of which prompts linearization around periodic solutions. The linearization produces linear, time periodic partial differential equations. Discretization in the spatial dimension typically produces large scale linear time-periodic systems of ordinary differential equations. The need to simulate responses to a variety of inputs motivates the development of effective model re- duction tools. We seek to address this need by investigating partial Floquet transformations, which serve to simultaneously remove the time dependence of the system and produce effec- tive reduced order models. In this thesis we describe the time-periodic analogs of important concepts for time invariant model reduction such as the transfer function and the H2 norm. Building on these concepts we present an algorithm which converges to the dominant poles of an infinite dimensional operator. These poles may then be used to produce the partial Floquet transform. / Master of Science / Systems that exhibit time periodic behavior are commonly found both in nature and in human-made structures. Often, these system behaviors are a result of periodic forces, such as the Earth's rotation, which leads to tidal forces and daily temperature changes affecting atmospheric and oceanic movements. Similarly, gyroscopic forces in vehicles can cause no- ticeable vibrations and noise. In a broader sense, periodic behaviors can arise when there's a dynamic equilibrium between inertia and various balancing forces. A classic example is a structure in a steady wind or current that undergoes large oscillations due to vortex shedding or flutter. Such phenomena can have either positive or negative outcomes, like the efficient operation of wind turbines or the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Linear Time-Periodic (LTP) systems are crucial in understanding, simulating, and control- ling such phenomena, even in situations where the fundamental dynamics are non-linear. This importance stems from the fact that the periodic behaviors of interest typically form part of a stable "center manifold," especially under minor disturbances. In natural systems, the absence of this stability would mean these oscillatory patterns would not be commonly observed, and in engineered systems, they would not be desirable. Additionally, the process of deriving periodic solutions from nonlinear systems often involves solving large scale linear periodic systems, raising the question of how to effectively reduce the complexity of these models, a question we address in this thesis.

Acculturation is a phenomenon which results when groups of individuals with different cultures come into continuous first-hand contact with each other, with subsequent changes in the original culture patterns of either or both groups. What an individual does when he or she comes into contact with a second culture is assumed to have an effect on his or her sense of emotional well-being. It has been hypothesized that how one copes with that contact will affect such socio-emotional factors such as self-esteem, social adjustment and academic performance and mental health. Furthermore, it has been hypothesized that the strategies an individual uses to cope with second culture contact will have an effect on that individual's academic or job performance, sense of social competence, and psychological well-being. From the available literature, various models are used in acculturation studies, namely the Unidimensional model, Bidimensional model and Interactive Acculturation Model. It is from the latter models that three groups of variables were addressed in this study: at the group level, acculturation context variables include characteristics of the society of settlement (work) and characteristics of the society of origin, at the individual level, acculturation conditions include characteristics or factors that act as moderators prior to acculturation and during acculturation and acculturation outcomes refers to the consequences of the frequent contact between people from different cultural backgrounds in terms of how well they function (do) and feel. The general objective of this research is to analyse the acculturation process and to determine the impact of acculturation context and individual variables on acculturation outcomes of members of the SAPS. A cross-sectional survey design was used. A random sample (n = 153) was taken of members of the SAPS in the Pretora Arca. Instruments used in previous acculturation research were adapted to measure Mainstream Domain, Ethnocultural Domain, Individual variable and Socio Cultural Acculturation Outcomes. The results indicated that acculturation context and individual coping styles of members of the SAPS did impact on acculturation outcomes variables explaining 29% and 35% of the variance in physical and psychological (ill) health respectively and 26% and 33% of the variance in perceived (work success) effectiveness and efficiency at work and perceived status and recognition that you receive at work (for being successful) respectively. Although 14% and 13% of the variance in perceived commitment from the organisation to its employees and perceived commitment of the individual to its organisation, only one of the models used in the hierurchicul regressions were found to be statistically significant, with none of the predictors being statistically significant contributors. Limitation for the present study and recommendations for the organisation and future research are also provided. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Reference 1 1 Abstract - Abuse of a dominant position and the concept of relevant market The main aim of this thesis was firstly to describe the definition of abuse of dominant position constitute as one of the pillars of competition law (except for agreements distorting competition and illegal merger) and secondly to define the concept of the relevant market in accordance with the interpretation of rules on competition and the case law of the European Commission, the Court of First Instance, European Court Justice and the Office for Protection of the Competition. The introductory chapters I have tried to acquaint potential readers especially with the interpretation of key concepts, facilitating global orientation through the issue of competition and its distortion or restriction. Mainly to work with concepts such as competition, competition law, cartel law, undertaking, company, etc. Without explanation and interpretation of these key concepts could seldom be properly grasp the issue of abuse of dominant position. In the next section, I focus on issues describe the subject of my thesis and a dominant market position and its forms of abuse. A comprehensive interpretation of the issue greatly assists the Community case-law for this purpose I chose the most significant cases clarifying fundamental questions...

Register and pitch are two distinct perceptual entities of the human voice. Without clear evidence for the use of the terminology, sources have begun to refer to lighter, or "falsetto", register as being "cricothyroid dominant" and heavier, or "chest", register as being "thyroarytenoid dominant" (Hirano, 1987; Miller, 1996; McCoy, 2004; Henrich, 2006; Spivey, 2008; Edwin, 2008; Phillips, Williams, & Edwin, 2012). The same intrinsic laryngeal musculature (i.e. the cricothyroid, CT, and thyroarytenoid, TA, muscles) play a role in the control of both register and pitch. Higher-pitched phonation, typically used to produce falsetto register, is mediated primarily by the cricothyroid (CT) muscle. The thyroarytenoid (TA) muscle plays a larger role in controlling lower-pitched voicing, the pitch range in which chest register tends to be used (Titze, 1989b; Shipp and McGlone, 1971). Despite their frequent co-occurrence, high and low pitched phonation are not controlled in the same way as light and heavy register productions. The purpose of this study was to examine the ratio of CT and TA muscular activity in the control of chest and falsetto registers. Data were collected from untrained voice users: four females and one male. Hooked-wire electrodes were inserted into both the CT and TA muscles of each participant in order to collect electromyographic (EMG) data during glissando from low to high pitch on the vowel /i/ twice per subject, and tasks eliciting maximal activation of CT and TA muscles. A trained singing instructor with 17 years of experience determined and recorded the occurrence of register transition during each glissando. CT and TA EMG activity data from the glissando were normalized relative to maximum elicited CT and TA EMG activity, and were then retrospectively analyzed. CT muscular dominance was defined as a ratio of percentage of maximum CT EMG activity to percentage of maximum TA EMG activity greater than 1 (i.e. CT:TA greater than 1). TA dominance is a ratio of CT:TA activity less than 1 (i.e. CT:TA less than 1). During glissando, all subjects experienced register transition from chest to falsetto register. In all subjects, the majority of chest register, and all of falsetto register, was produced with CT muscular dominance. Only the 3-4 lowest semitones, on average, in chest register were TA dominant. The transition from chest to falsetto register consistently did occur when the CT muscle was dominant, however, register transition did not occur as CT muscle activity began to dominate TA muscle activity. Results of the study showed that CT muscular dominance did not define falsetto register, nor was chest register defined by the TA muscular dominance.

Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Acculturation is a phenomenon which results when groups of individuals with different cultures come into continuous first-hand contact with each other, with subsequent changes in the original culture patterns of either or both groups. What an individual does when he or she comes into contact with a second culture is assumed to have an effect on his or her sense of emotional well-being. It has been hypothesized that how one copes with that contact will affect such socio-emotional factors such as self-esteem, social adjustment and academic performance and mental health. Furthermore, it has been hypothesized that the strategies an individual uses to cope with second culture contact will have an effect on that individual's academic or job performance, sense of social competence, and psychological well-being. From the available literature, various models are used in acculturation studies, namely the Unidimensional model, Bidimensional model and Interactive Acculturation Model. It is from the latter models that three groups of variables were addressed in this study: at the group level, acculturation context variables include characteristics of the society of settlement (work) and characteristics of the society of origin, at the individual level, acculturation conditions include characteristics or factors that act as moderators prior to acculturation and during acculturation and acculturation outcomes refers to the consequences of the frequent contact between people from different cultural backgrounds in terms of how well they function (do) and feel. The general objective of this research is to analyse the acculturation process and to determine the impact of acculturation context and individual variables on acculturation outcomes of members of the SAPS. A cross-sectional survey design was used. A random sample (n = 153) was taken of members of the SAPS in the Pretora Arca. Instruments used in previous acculturation research were adapted to measure Mainstream Domain, Ethnocultural Domain, Individual variable and Socio Cultural Acculturation Outcomes. The results indicated that acculturation context and individual coping styles of members of the SAPS did impact on acculturation outcomes variables explaining 29% and 35% of the variance in physical and psychological (ill) health respectively and 26% and 33% of the variance in perceived (work success) effectiveness and efficiency at work and perceived status and recognition that you receive at work (for being successful) respectively. Although 14% and 13% of the variance in perceived commitment from the organisation to its employees and perceived commitment of the individual to its organisation, only one of the models used in the hierurchicul regressions were found to be statistically significant, with none of the predictors being statistically significant contributors. Limitation for the present study and recommendations for the organisation and future research are also provided. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

This project analyses the acculturation process in a specific context, in order to predict the perceived work success and health (both psychological and physical) of mineworkers in a mine in the North-West Province.1 Success is evaluated in terms of meeting deadlines at work, reputation and respect at work, and training and development opportunities at work. Employees' success and health is considered from an acculturation perspective and thus viewed as a result of the acculturation process. This hypothesis was investigated by examining the affect of the acculturation context and individual intervening factors, which are translated into variables, on perceived work success and health (acculturation outcomes). A random convenience sample of participants from the mine under investigated was taken (n = 288 the majority of the participants are male, married, Black, and Afrikaans-speaking). English questionnaires using a cross-sectional survey design were administered to these participants. The questions were derived from adapted measuring scales and scales developed for the project, which follow a five-point Likert format ('strongly agree' to 'strongly disagree'). Four categories of instruments were used: those examining the mainstream domain (multiculturalism, tolerance of other cultures by the mainstream, multicultural practices, relationships with host culture members at work), individual intervening factors (individual integration acculturation strategy and perceived self-efficacy), acculturation outcomes (health and work success), and the ethnocultural domain (ethnic integration demands, ethnic solidarity and social support, relationship with co-ethnics, and ethnic vitality at work). The data was captured in a spreadsheet, quality controlled, and statistically analysed using multivariate analysis of variance, one-way analysis of variance, and T-tests in SAS, SPSS, and AMOS (regression using structural equation modelling). Descriptive statistics, Cronbach alpha coefficients, and Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were examined. Effect sizes were used to determine the practical significance of the findings. Perceived self-efficacy is a statistically significant predictor of work success in terms of meeting deadlines. Multicultural practices, ethnic integration demands at work, relationship with co-ethnics individual integration acculturation strategy, and perceived self-efficacy statistically significant predictors of work success in terms of reputation and respect at work. Multicultural practices and ethnic solidarity and social support are statistically significant predictors of work success in terms of training and development opportunities at work. Relationships with host culture members at work, ethnic solidarity and social support, ethnic vitality at work, and individual integration acculturation strategy are statistically significant predictors of psychological health. Multiculturalism, multicultural practices, and tolerance of other cultures by the mainstream are statistically significant predictors of physical health. This project concludes that success and health can be considered from an acculturation perspective and these acculturation outcomes can be predicted based on the acculturation context and individual intervening factors. / Thesis (M.Com. (Human Resource Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

This project analyses the acculturation process in a specific context, in order to predict the perceived work success and health (both psychological and physical) of mineworkers in a mine in the North-West Province.1 Success is evaluated in terms of meeting deadlines at work, reputation and respect at work, and training and development opportunities at work. Employees' success and health is considered from an acculturation perspective and thus viewed as a result of the acculturation process. This hypothesis was investigated by examining the affect of the acculturation context and individual intervening factors, which are translated into variables, on perceived work success and health (acculturation outcomes). A random convenience sample of participants from the mine under investigated was taken (n = 288 the majority of the participants are male, married, Black, and Afrikaans-speaking). English questionnaires using a cross-sectional survey design were administered to these participants. The questions were derived from adapted measuring scales and scales developed for the project, which follow a five-point Likert format ('strongly agree' to 'strongly disagree'). Four categories of instruments were used: those examining the mainstream domain (multiculturalism, tolerance of other cultures by the mainstream, multicultural practices, relationships with host culture members at work), individual intervening factors (individual integration acculturation strategy and perceived self-efficacy), acculturation outcomes (health and work success), and the ethnocultural domain (ethnic integration demands, ethnic solidarity and social support, relationship with co-ethnics, and ethnic vitality at work). The data was captured in a spreadsheet, quality controlled, and statistically analysed using multivariate analysis of variance, one-way analysis of variance, and T-tests in SAS, SPSS, and AMOS (regression using structural equation modelling). Descriptive statistics, Cronbach alpha coefficients, and Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were examined. Effect sizes were used to determine the practical significance of the findings. Perceived self-efficacy is a statistically significant predictor of work success in terms of meeting deadlines. Multicultural practices, ethnic integration demands at work, relationship with co-ethnics individual integration acculturation strategy, and perceived self-efficacy statistically significant predictors of work success in terms of reputation and respect at work. Multicultural practices and ethnic solidarity and social support are statistically significant predictors of work success in terms of training and development opportunities at work. Relationships with host culture members at work, ethnic solidarity and social support, ethnic vitality at work, and individual integration acculturation strategy are statistically significant predictors of psychological health. Multiculturalism, multicultural practices, and tolerance of other cultures by the mainstream are statistically significant predictors of physical health. This project concludes that success and health can be considered from an acculturation perspective and these acculturation outcomes can be predicted based on the acculturation context and individual intervening factors. / Thesis (M.Com. (Human Resource Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Titel: DART- en modell för värdesamskapande - En studie i hur fastighetsmäklare och kunder samskapar värde Nivå: C-uppsats i ämnet företagsekonomi Författare: Lizbet Brittsten och Sanna Pickelner Handledare: Jens Eklinder - Frick och Jonas Molin Datum: 2015 – Maj Syfte: Att kunder intresserar sig för ett värdeskapande tillsammans med företagen och vill delta allt mer i affärsprocesser, framför allt i tjänstesektorn, ligger i tiden. Då vi båda kommer arbeta i en tjänstebransch där det krävs samarbete med kunder, väcktes vårt intresse att fördjupa oss i ämnet. Syftet med den här studien är att utifrån ett företags- och kundperspektiv öka förståelsen för hur delarna dialog, access, riskbedömning och transparens påverkar värdesamskapandet i en säljprocess mellan tjänsteföretag och kunder. Metod: I studien har vi använt oss av en kvalitativ metod. Underlaget till studien samlades in genom semistrukturerade djupintervjuer med både fastighetsmäklare och kunder (säljare). Från intervjuerna har vi tagit ut nyckeltermer och presenterat dem i empirikapitlet. Utifrån ett deduktiv angreppssätt har det empiriska underlaget analyserats mot teorin och respondenternas svar har även jämförts sinsemellan.   Resultat & slutsats: Av de faktorer vi undersökte visade sig dialog och transparens ha ett starkare samband och vara mer framträdande vid värdesamskapande än access. Dessutom låg riskbedömning snarare till grund för de tre andra faktorerna vilket vi anser borde revideras och tydliggöras i modellen. Ett annat resultat från vår studie är att ett värdesamskapande snabbt kan övergå till ett värdeförstörande om det inte hanteras på rätt sätt igenom hela affärsprocessen.   Förslag till fortsatt forskning: Det vore intressant att prova våra två omarbetade DART-modeller i en studie med fler respondenter då vårt urval varit begränsat i storlek. Vi finner det också intressant att se om den befintliga DART-modellen är applicerbar i en studie där  utgångspunkten är en annan tjänstebransch där risktagandet inte är av samma betydelse. Vi föreslår även att utföra studier på området med ett induktivt angreppssätt, då vår studie varit begränsad till en befintlig teoretisk modell.   Uppsatsens bidrag: Ett teoretiskt bidrag från vår studie är att DART-modellen borde omformas. Den visade sig inte applicerbar fullt ut i vår studie. Vi har därför vidareutvecklat två modeller baserat på ursprungsmodellen. Dialog och transparens visade sig vara starkt sammankopplade och viktiga verktyg för mäklarna för att få kundernas förtroende. Det ser vi som ett praktiskt bidrag då vi anser att kombinationen av dialog och transparens är central och kan vara kopplad till förtroendeskapande även i andra tjänstebranscher. Kunders helhetsupplevelse, såväl monetärt som relationsmässigt, har i vår studie visat sig vara avgörande för det upplevda värdet.

P53 est un gène suppresseur de tumeur ubiquitaire qui empêche la prolifération de cellules malignes chez l’humain. En réponse à des dommages à l’ADN ou à des stress cellulaires, p53 entraine l’arrêt du cycle cellulaire et initie la réparation des lésions du génome. Si ces réparations échouent, p53 déclenche alors la mort de la cellule endommagée par apoptose. De plus, p53 présente une forte homologie avec deux autres gènes suppresseurs de tumeur : p63 et p73. Ces trois protéines forment une famille de facteurs de transcription qui protège l’organisme contre le développement de tumeurs. Ce système de défense est enrichi par les multiples isoformes de p53, p63 et p73 dont les rôles sont encore mal décrits. La neutralisation de la fonction de suppression de tumeur de p53, p63 et p73 est un mécanisme clef du développement tumoral auquel participent les mutants hotspots de p53 ainsi que certaines isoformes de p53, p63 et p73 par un effet dominant-négatif. Toutefois, de nombreuses zones d’ombre limitent notre compréhension de ce phénomène. Tout d’abord, l’identification des membres de la famille de p53 impliqués dans l’effet dominant-négatif reste incomplète. Ensuite, les mécanismes responsables de l’effet dominant-négatif sont débattus, suite notamment à l’émergence d’une nouvelle hypothèse impliquant un mécanisme de type prion. Enfin, l’effet dominant-négatif de la famille de p53 pourrait également être mis en cause dans d’autres types de pathologies comme les syndromes développementaux associés à des mutations de p63. Au cours de cette thèse, j’ai étudié l’impact fonctionnel des mutations hotspots de p53 ainsi que celui des principales isoformes de la famille de p53 sur l’activité transcriptionnelle des isoformes actives de p53, p63 et p73. En utilisant comme modèle d’étude un eucaryote simple, la levure S. cerevisiae, nous avons pu démontrer que l’effet dominant-négatif des mutants et isoformes de la famille de p53 repose sur la formation d’hétéro-tétramères entre formes actives et inactives de ces protéines et n’implique pas de mécanisme de type prion. De plus nos travaux ont montré que certains mutants de p53 interfèrent avec les isoformes actives de p63 et p73 par un mécanisme partiellement basé sur la tétramérisation. En outre, nos résultats préliminaires suggèrent que les mutants de p63 impliqués dans les syndromes développementaux EEC, ADULT et NSCL1 exercent également un effet dominant-négatif similaire à celui des mutants de p53. L’identification des mécanismes de l’effet dominant-négatif observé au sein de la famille de p53 permet d’envisager de nouvelles cibles thérapeutiques tant dans les cancers que dans certaines maladies rares du développement humain. / P53 is a ubiquitous tumor suppressor gene that prevents damaged cells from proliferating. Following DNA damage or cellular stress, p53 induces a cell cycle arrest and initiates an attempt to repair the lesions. If the repair fails, p53 triggers the apoptosis of the cell. p53 shares a high homology with two other tumor suppressor genes: p63 and p73. Together they form a family of transcription factors, which are actively protecting the organism from tumor development. This defense network is enriched by multiple N-terminal and C-terminal isoforms of p53, p63 and p73. The loss of p53, p63 and p73 tumor suppression function is a key step of cancer progression. Mutants of p53 and isoforms of p53, p63 and p73 often exhibit a dominant-negative behavior resulting in the loss of p53 tumor suppression activity. However, the extent of the dominant-negative effect within p53 family remains unclear. The mechanisms behind the dominant-negative effect are also debated due to the recent emergence of a prion-like hypothesis. Finally, the dominant-negative effect of p53 family members could be involved in other pathologies such as p63-related developmental syndromes During this PhD, I studied the functional consequences of hotspot mutations of p53 and of the main isoforms of the p53 family on the transcriptional activity of p53, p63 and p73. Using the naïve eukaryotic model S. cerevisiae we have demonstrated that the dominant-negative effect of mutants and isoforms of the p53 family relies on the formation of hetero-tetramers between functional and non-functional members of the family but not on a prion-like mechanism. In addition, certain p53 mutants are able to interfere with p63 and p73 isoforms though a mechanism that is only partially based on tetramerization. Of note, we obtained preliminary results suggesting that mutants of p63, which are involved in EEC, ADULT and NSCL1 developmental syndromes, behave like dominant-negative hotspot mutants of p53. The identification of the mechanisms of the dominant-negative effect occurring within p53 family could lead to new therapeutic targets both in cancer and in rare developmental syndromes.1 EEC : ectrodactyly, ectodermal dysplasia and cleft lip/palate syndrome, ADULT : acro-dermato-ungual-lacrimal-tooth syndrome, NSCL : non-syndromic cleft lip