The research was conducted as a result of the researcher‟s concern that the possibility exists that members of the different law enforcement agencies in South Africa might have a misconception about the mandate and functions of the Financial Intelligence Centre. If such a misconception in fact exists, it poses a huge challenge towards fruitful co-operation among the Centre and the different law enforcement agencies. The researcher identified certain practical problems, namely, that investigators are not aware of the types of intelligence that the Centre could provide them with, and that investigators might not be informed about the specific procedures to follow when they need to request intelligence from the Centre. The research has shown that, in the past, the Centre has been a useful source of crime intelligence concerning a range of predicate offences including narcotics, fraud and tax related crimes. The research has further found that, although the majority of participants gained a lot of experience in law enforcement and investigations, they had limited awareness about the Financial Intelligence Centre and its functions. This research project studied the utilisation of the Financial Intelligence Centre as a crime intelligence source. / Police Practice / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Chemistry / Takashi Ito / Self-organized nanoporous materials have drawn a lot of attention because the uniform, highly dense, and ordered cylindrical nanopores in these materials provide a unique platform for chemical separations and chemical sensing applications. Here, we explore self-organized nanopores of PS-b-PMMA diblock copolymer thin films and anodic gallium oxide for chemical separations and sensing applications. In the first study, cyclic voltammograms of cytochrome c on recessed nanodisk-array electrodes (RNEs) based on nanoporous films (11, 14 or 24 nm in average pore diameter; 30 nm thick) derived from polystyrene-poly(methylmethacrylate) diblock copolymers were measured. The faradic current of cytochrome c was observed on RNEs, indicating the penetration of cytochrome c (hydrodynamic diameter ≈ 4 nm) through the nanopores to the underlying electrodes. Compared to the 24-nm pores, the diffusion of cytochrome c molecules through the 11- and 14-nm pores suffered significantly larger hindrance. The results reported in this study will provide guidance in designing RNEs for size-based chemical sensing and also for controlled immobilization of biomolecules within nanoporous media for biosensors and bioreactors. In another study, conditions for the formation of self-organized nanopores of a metal oxide film were investigated. Self-organized nanopores aligned perpendicular to the film surface were obtained upon anodization of gallium films in ice-cooled 4 and 6 M aqueous H2SO4 at 10 V and 15 V. The average pore diameter was in the range of 18 ~ 40 nm, and the anodic gallium oxide was ca. 2 µm thick. In addition, anodic formation of self-organized nanopores was demonstrated for a solid gallium monolith incorporated at the end of a glass capillary. Nanoporous anodic oxide monoliths formed from a fusible metal will lead to future development of unique devices for chemical sensing and catalysis. In the final study, surface chemical property of self-organized nanoporous anodic gallium oxide is explored through potentiometric measurements. The nanoporous anodic and barrier layer gallium oxide structures showed slow potentiometric response only at acidic pH (≤ 4), in contrast to metallic gallium substrates that exhibited a positive potentiometric response to H⁺ over the pH range examined (3-10). The potentiometric response at acidic pH probably reflects some chemical processes between gallium oxide and HCl.

Résumé : Introduction : Les infrastructures récréatives telles que les parcs et les pistes cyclables peuvent fournir des opportunités pour pratiquer l’activité physique (AP). Comme les déterminants de l’AP organisée et non-organisée (APO et APNO) pourraient différer, nous avons investigués si la proximité à des infrastructures récréatives est associée avec le maintien de la participation à l’APO et à l’APNO sur une durée de trois ans lors de la transition entre l’enfance et l’adolescence. Méthodes : 187 jeunes, initialement âgées de 10 à 12 ans, ont rapporté leur participation à l’APO et l’APNO trois fois par an pendant trois ans pour un total de neuf cycles d’observations. Les données sur la proximité des infrastructures récréatives ont été obtenues par le biais de questionnaires téléphoniques auprès des parents. Les scores de proximité ont été divisés en tertiles. Des analyses Kaplan-Meier et des modèles de risques proportionnels de Cox ont été utilisés pour estimer les associations univariées et multivariées entre la proximité aux infrastructures récréatives et le nombre de cycles moyen dans lequel l’APO et l’APNO a été maintenu. Résultats : Aucune différence, brute ou ajustée, de la durée moyenne du maintien de la participation à l’APO [nombre de cycles d’observation moyen (intervalle de confiance 95%) était 6.6 (5.7, 7.5), 6.3 (5.5, 7.1), et 5.8 (5.1, 6.6)] et à l’APNO [6.8 (6.2, 7.4), 5.9 (5.3, 6.5), 6.6 (5.9, 7.3)] a été observée entre les tertiles de proximités bas, moyen et haut, respectivement. Conclusion : Les résultats suggèrent que la proximité aux infrastructures récréatives n’influence pas le maintien de l’APO et de l’APNO lors de la transition entre l’enfance et l’adolescence. D’autres aspects de l’environnement physique pourraient avoir un effet sur le maintien de l’APO et de l’APNO. / Abstract : Background: Physical activity (PA) infrastructures such as parks and cycle lanes can provide youth opportunities to engage in physical activity. As the determinants of organized and unorganized PA (OPA and UPA) are likely to differ, we investigated if proximity to PA infrastructure was associated with maintenance of participation in OPA and UPA over 3 years during the transition from childhood to adolescence. Methods: Youth (n=187) initially 10-12 years self-reported participation in OPA and UPA at 4 month intervals over 3 years for a total of nine survey cycles. Data on proximity to PA infrastructures was obtained from parents through phone-based questionnaires. Proximity scores were divided into tertiles. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess univariate and multivariate associations between proximity to PA infrastructure and number of cycles in which OPA and UPA were maintained. Results: There were no crude or adjusted differences in average duration of maintenance of participation in OPA [mean number of survey cycle participation (95% confidence interval) was 6.6 (5.7, 7.5), 6.3 (5.5, 7.1), and 5.8 (5.1, 6.6)] and UPA [6.8 (6.2, 7.4), 5.9 (5.3, 6.5), 6.6 (5.9, 7.3)] across low, moderate and high tertiles of proximity to PA infrastructure scores, respectively. Conclusion: Findings are suggestive that proximity to PA infrastructure alone does not affect maintenance of participation in OPA or UPA during adolescence. Other aspects of the environment may have a greater effect. Thus, further research is needed on these aspects before firm conclusions can be drawn.

Les nanoparticules métalliques et bimétalliques supportées par des oxydes sont de plus en plus utilisées comme catalyseur modèle. Cependant, leur potentiel en vue des applications en catalyse n’est pas complètement exploité à cause d’un manque de connaissance de leurs propriétés fondamentales. Ainsi, pour comprendre les mécanismes de la catalyse hétérogène, il est important d’élaborer ces catalyseurs en contrôlant différents paramètres comme la taille, la distribution spatiale et la composition chimique des agrégats supportés. Nous avons montré qu’en utilisant un film ultramince d’alumine nanostructurée comme gabarit, il était possible d’élaborer des réseaux réguliers d’agrégats mono ou bimétalliques en contrôlant indépendamment leur taille et leur composition chimique. Ces réseaux de particules sont obtenus, sous ultravide, par condensation successive des deux métaux (Au, Pd) sur un film ultramince d’alumine nanostructurée. / Metallic and bimetallic nanoparticles supported on oxides become increasingly used as model catalysts. However, their potential toward applications is not fully achieved because of a lack of knowledge of the nanoparticles properties. In order to understand the mechanisms of heterogeneous catalysis it is important to elaborate these model catalysts in controlling simultaneously the size, spatial distribution and chemical composition of these particles. Recently, we have shown that by using nanostructured ultrathin alumina film as a template, it was possible to obtain regular arrays of metallic and bimetallic nanoparticles with independent control of size and chemical composition. These arrays of clusters are prepared by successive atomic deposition of two metals (Au, Pd), under UHV, on a nanostructured ultrathin alumina film

This study investigated the self-concepts of five, six, and seven year old children after participation in organized and nonorganized play programs. The subjects were sixty boys and girls participating in Little League Tee-Ball programs and sixty boys and girls participating in the City Playground Program in the Fort Worth, Texas, area during the 1979 spring and summer season. The instrument used to measure self-concept was the Purdue Self-Concept Scale, Results indicated that the type of organization has little effect upon the self-concept of the children in this study.

In this thesis, I attempt to apply the network perspective to the study of corruption. First, I deal with current state of theory and research on corruption, which I find to be ignoring relations and interactions among offenders themselves. Then I review literature in the field of covert and criminal networks. The theoretical part of this thesis ends with brief descriptions of two major cases of political corruption in the Czech Republic - so called Nagy case and Rath case. In the methodological part, I introduce basic concepts of social network analysis as well as methods for positional analysis, especially the blockmodelling. In my research, I deal with exploratory analysis of both the aforementioned networks. Using proxy data, I analyse cohesion, centralization, centrality measures and cliques in these networks. Then I use conventional blockmodeling to search for roles and positions within these networks. My results suggest that both networks are dense and centralized with overlapping cliques contrary to other covert networks possibly accounting for their eventual disruption and failure. Positional analysis using varius methods such as CONCOR or different types of cluster analysis reveals a structure resembling the core-periphery model, which is supported by measuring coreness and finding a good...

O objetivo central da dissertação é o de estudar a atuação e a mobilização dos interesses organizados nacionais no cenário internacional, um tema ainda incipiente de estudos na ciência política brasileira. Para tanto, analisaremos o processo de internacionalização conduzido pela maior associação representativa do setor sucroalcooleiro: a União da Indústria da Cana de Açúcar (UNICA). Desde 2006, a UNICA vem empreendendo um importante processo de atuação no exterior com a abertura de escritórios especializados em Washington (2007) e Bruxelas (2008), além da celebração de um convênio com a agência governamental Apex-Brasil (também em 2008). Nesse sentido, acreditamos que estas iniciativas estão ligadas a uma presença crescente da agroindústria canavieira do Brasil no mundo, a qual tem demandado cada vez mais ações de representação e defesa de interesses no plano internacional. Neste estudo adotaremos uma perspectiva teórica ancorada na literatura acerca da análise dos grupos de interesse, principalmente em suas abordagens de foreign lobbying, que compreendem os mecanismos de penetração nos mercados-alvo e de atuação desses grupos nas instituições políticas destes respectivos estados, encarregadas da regulação desta atividade. Ademais, faremos uso, de maneira subsidiária, da literatura que discute os fundamentos e desdobramentos atuais do mercado de etanol de cana no Brasil e no mundo. Esta análise possibilitará um mapeamento das atividades da organização, permitindo a aferição de um conhecimento mais acurado para nossa pesquisa acerca de tal objeto. Para tanto, o trabalho será conduzido essencialmente por meio do exame de marcos regulatórios do setor no Brasil e nos principais mercados de etanol, notícias, artigos acadêmicos e não-acadêmicos, documentos internos da UNICA acerca do processo e declarações dos principais atores do processo. / The objective of the thesis is to study the performance and mobilization of national organized interests on the international arena, a still incipient theme in Brazilian political science studies. Thus, we will analyze the internalization process conducted by the largest representative association of the sugarcane sector: UNICA Union of Sugarcane Industry. Since 2006, UNICA has been undertaking a great process of performance abroad with the opening of specialized offices in Washington (2007) and Brussels (2008) in addition to the signature of an agreement with Apex-Brasil (also in 2008). We therefore believe that these initiatives are linked to an increased presence of agribusiness Brazils sugarcane in the world, which has increasingly demanded representation and advocacy actions toward the international level. In this study, we will adopt a theoretical perspective grounded in the literature about interest groups analysis, specifically in foreign lobbying approach which seeks to understand the mechanisms of penetration in target markets and the performance of those groups in these states political institutions, engaged on this activities regulation. Furthermore, we will utilize, on a subsidiary way, the literature that discusses the sugarcane ethanol fundaments and current market developments in Brazil and all over the world. This analysis will allow mapping the organization activities in the last years, leading us to a more accurate knowledge about our object research. For this intent, the work will be conducted primarily by through the examination of: i) regulatory frameworks governing the sugarcane sector in Brazil and in the main markets, ii) news, iii) academic articles and books, iv) non-academic literature, v) UNICA documents and organization officers declarations.

Neste trabalho estudamos o modelo Olami-Feder-Christensen (OFC). Fortes correlações espaciais e temporais dificultam a obtenção de resultados analíticos para este modelo. Assim, nossas investigações foram realizadas através de simulações computacionais. A fim de identificar o regime estacionário de forma eficiente e econômica desenvolvemos algumas estatrégias. Também percebemos que a escolha adequada da configuração inicial pode antecipar ou retardar o início do regime estacionário. Por fim, a criticalidade do modelo foi estudada através de uma abordagem totalmente nova. Em vez de tentarmos identificar o comportamento crítico do sistema por meio da distribuição de avalanches, definimos uma grandeza , que em um processo ramificado simples seria a taxa de ramificação do sistema. Analisando o comportamento dessa variável em um espaço de fases verificamos que o modelo OFC e sua versão aleatória (que de antemão sabemos que só apresenta criticalidade no regime conservativo) tem um comportamento bastante similar. Obtivemos, ao contrário do que se acreditava, fortes evidências de que o modelo OFC apenas exibe criticalidade no regime conservativo. / We have investigated the Olami-Feder-Christensen model. The model presents strong temporal and spatial correlations what makes it very difficult to perform analytical calculations. So our treatment was numerical. We developed strategies to identify the regime with high level of accuracy. We noticed that depending on the initial configurations, the statistical stationary state can be reached faster. Finally we have investigated the criticality of the model through new strategy. Instead of looking for powers laws, we defined a quantity , very similar to the branching ratio in a simple branching process. We were able to show the behavior of the Olami-Feder-Christensen and the random version of this model are similar. We got strong numerical evidences that, in opposition to previous results, the Olami-Fedel-Christensen model is critical only in the conservative regime.

O crescente fluxo de bens e de pessoas iniciado nos anos de 1980 e expandido ao longo dos anos de 1990 gerou a utópica ideia de que as fronteiras do Estado-Nação e as questões de soberania nacional acabariam por desaparecer. Este contexto e os acontecimentos crescentes envolvendo atores não estatais no cenário internacional criaram uma visão imaginária onde o Estado era tão fraco que seria incapaz de enfrentar organizações criminosas ou terroristas transnacionais. No entanto, como este estudo vai apresentar, não só o Estado está longe de estar fraco, de facto, tem vindo a utilizar essas organizações para expandir seu poder, manter sua soberania e conduzir operações clandestinas contra nações rivais. Para tanto foi usada extensa bibliografia baseada em documentos e livros, documentos vazados, entrevistas com pessoas relacionadas ao tema ao redor do mundo além de observação pessoal de campo. Demonstrando que o uso de atores irregulares, especialmente o Crime Organizado, é apenas mais um passo na evolução da guerra e uma importante ferramenta de procuração na geopolítica internacional. / The increasing process flow of goods and people started in the 1980s and expanded over the years of 1990 generated the utopic idea that the Nation-State borders and national sovereignty issues would eventually disappear. This context and the growing events surrounding non-state actors in the international scenario created an imaginary view where the State was so weak that would be incapable to face transnational criminal or terrorist organizations. However, as this study will present, not only the State is far from being a weak in fact it has been using such organizations to expand its power, maintain its sovereignty and conduct clandestine operation against rival nations, for that it was covered an extensive bibliography based on papers and books, leaked documents, interviews with people related to the area across the world and field observation. It demonstrated that the use of irregular actors, especially Organized Crime, is just another step in the evolution of warfare and an important proxy tool in international geopolitics.

O presente estudo trata acerca do Tráfico de Seres Humanos. Analisando a realidade por trás desse mercado ilícito através de seu desenvolvimento histórico, sua evolução passada até os dias de hoje; sua territorialidade e geografia, demonstrando que o tema é um problema de territorialização, com fluxos e fontes bem definidas; seu mercado e economia, para entender seu processo operacional. Objetivo será então o aprofundamento do tema para entender seu funcionamento geral e a desmistificação de problemáticas que giram em torno do assunto. / The study focuses on Trafficking in Human Beings. Looking at the reality behind this illicit market through its historical development, the evolution until today; its territoriality and geography, demonstrating that theme is a territorial problem, with well-defined streams and sources; its market and economy, to understand the operational process. Then the main goal will be to deepen the theme to understanding the general functioning and the demystification of issues that revolve around the subject.