The aim of the study was to establish the possible causes of poor Grade 12 results in physical science in South Africa and to apply a total quality management (TQM) approach to suggest a solution. The literature study indicates that resources, preparation or subject knowledge, commitment and support affect the quality of performance. The research was done in one school district (cluster). Following the literature study a questionnaire was distributed to 150 science teachers from 31 schools and the response rate was 73% (113 responses). The questionnaire tested the respondents' perception on the availability of resources and the support received by them, the support given to learners and their level of preparation and subject knowledge. From this, as well as from the biographical information from the questionnaire, certain conclusions were made about the reasons for poor performance of learners in science examinations. It could be concluded from the analysis of the results that limited support to teachers and support to learners are important factors contributing to a poor Grade 12 pass rate. The pass rate also correlates positively with experience levels of teachers. Although 39% of teachers are unqualified or under-qualified, no significant correlation could be found between pass rate and level of qualification. Analysis of the effect of commitment on pass rate was inconclusive. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

開放經濟中，匯率可以透過競爭效果及進口型的通貨膨脹抬升價格，或藉由資產負債效果造成通貨緊縮。本文依循 Carranza et al. (2009) 的實證模型，控制美元化程度的影響，並使用Lin (2010) 的動態分量迴歸方法，針對1974Q1-2010Q4期間80個國家，檢驗不同通貨膨脹水準下的匯率轉嫁效果。總體而言，通膨愈高的時候，匯率貶值的擴張效果愈強；但當通膨降低，其強度也隨之減弱。此結果在考慮其他解釋變數或不同貶值情形後仍維持穩健。而當進一步檢視不同國家或期間的匯率轉嫁效果，匯率對通貨膨脹的正向效果，在中低所得國家中普遍較強，但在1995年後減弱，甚至轉為負向。Taylor（2000）的假說，得以在本文大部分的實證結果中證實。 / In an open economy, exchange rate could either increase prices by competitiveness effect and imported inflation, or be disinflationary through the balance-sheet effect. Controlling for the impact induced by the degree of dollarization, I follow the empirical model of Carranza et al. (2009) with a wide panel of 80 countries over 1974Q1-2010Q4. The exchange rate pass-through is investigated at various inflation levels in a dynamic panel quantile analysis suggested by Lin (2010). In general, exchange rate depreciation is more inflationary the higher inflation levels, but the magnitude of pass-through is reduced as inflation become lower. Also, the results are robust with respect to add other explanatory variables or take the depreciation cases into account. Furthermore, to investigate the pass-through across countries or periods, the positive impact of exchange rate on inflation is greater in middle- and low-income countries, but declines and even becomes negative after 1995. The hypothesis in Taylor (2000) is thus confirmed in most part of our empirical results.

How should central banks react to movements in the exchange rate? Can social welfare be improved if the policy maker is giving explicit or implicit consideration to fluctuations in the exchange rate? These are some of the principal questions addressed in this thesis, which analyzes the influence of exchange rates on prices and monetary policy, from an empirical as well as a theoretical perspective. The thesis consists of four self-contained papers, and sets off by providing some empirical evidence for incomplete exchange rate pass-through. Incomplete exchange rate pass-through is subsequently incorporated into a theoretical model of a small open economy, to study how exchange rate fluctuations affect monetary policy. The first chapter is an empirical paper studying the relation between exchange rates and prices, using data on Swedish exports of automobiles and kraft paper. A price determining error correction model indicates results consistent with price discrimination and incomplete exchange rate pass-through. In the second chapter, a small open economy aggregate supply-aggregate demand model, allowing for incomplete exchange rate pass-through, is developed to analyze the effects of limited pass-through on monetary policy. The results suggest that the optimal policy reaction, both to foreign and domestic shocks, is dependent on the degree of exchange rate pass-through. The third chapter studies what the delegated monetary policy should be in an open economy with limited pass-through. In particular, the question of whether to delegate an exchange rate-stabilization objective to the policy maker is investigated. The results show that incorporation of an explicit nominal, or real, exchange-rate term in the (optimized) objective function only improves social welfare marginally. The fourth chapter assumes, in contrast, that monetary policy is implemented through a simple instrument rule. It is examined whether the policy maker’s performance, in terms of social welfare, can be improved by also responding to the exchange rate. The results indicate that the exchange rate-augmented policy rules do not outperform an optimized rule without the exchange rate, irrespective of the degree of pass-through. Social welfare is, however, improved by an indirect exchange rate response, which is reached using a policy rule based on Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation, rather than on domestic inflation. / Diss. Stockholm : Handelshögsk., 2001

Calif., Univ., Diss.--Berkeley, 2004. / Kopie, ersch. im Verl. UMI, Ann Arbor, Mich. - Enth. 3 Beitr.

Calif., Univ. of California, Diss.--Berkeley, 2002. / Kopie, ersch. im Verl. UMI, Ann Arbor, Mich. - Enth. 3 Beitr.

Η παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία, πραγματεύεται την εύρεση της κυματομορφής της μεταβολής της φωτεινότητας φωτονίων που διέρχονται από το χέρι ανθρώπου και δίνουν πληροφορία για την αρτηριακή πίεση και κατ’ επέκταση τον υπολογισμό του καρδιακού ρυθμού ενός ατόμου με τη χρήση τεχνικών επεξεργασίας εικόνας. Χρησιμοποιώντας μια σειρά από διόδους εκπομπής, στο ορατό και υπέρυθρο φάσμα, κατευθύνουμε το φως προς ένα δίκτυο ιστών όπου αυτό είναι λεπτό και το διαπερνά (δάκτυλο, λοβίο αυτιού κλπ). Στη συνέχεια, μέσω μιας βιντεοκάμερας παίρνουμε τα υπό εξέταση δεδομένα. Συγκρίνοντας την απορρόφηση του φωτός στις διαδοχικές εικόνες και ύστερα από κατάλληλη επεξεργασία των εικόνων με τη βοήθεια του Matlab οδηγούμαστε στην εύρεση του καρδιακού ρυθμού. / The present thesis deals with the determination of the waveform that depicts the fluctuation of the brightness of photons which pass through the hand of a person and provides information for the arterial pressure. Exploiting the results through digital image processing techniques, subject’s cardiac rhythm can be conclusively calculated. Using a series of diodes emitting in the visible spectrum along with a second series of diodes emitting in the infrared spectrum, we direct their light to a part of the human tissue which is thin (finger, earlobe etc) and can be easily penetrated. Afterwards via a CCD video camera we capture picture data of the light that is not absorbed. Cardiac rhythm can be calculated by comparing the absorption of light in successive pictures processed by digital imaging processing tools of Matlab.

Submitted by Johnny Rodrigues (johnnyrodrigues@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-08-06T15:14:18Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ROMILDO NASCIMENTO DE LIMA - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGMAT 2013..pdf: 632336 bytes, checksum: 5661cad2fea6b9bb474c05bca0983c4b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-06T15:14:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ROMILDO NASCIMENTO DE LIMA - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGMAT 2013..pdf: 632336 bytes, checksum: 5661cad2fea6b9bb474c05bca0983c4b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02 / Capes / Neste trabalho estaremos interessados em estudar resultados de existência e não existência de solução, comportamento do funcional energia e condição de Palais-Smale para sistemas de equações do tipo Schrödinger-Poisson; usaremos o método variacional. E, as soluções são pontos críticos do funcional energia associado ao problema. Para alcançar nossos objetivos, será fundamental o estudo das variedades de Ruiz e de Nehari, o Princípio Variacional de Ekeland, o teorema do Passo da Montanha, e o lema Concentração de Compacidade. / In this work we are interested in studying the results of existence and nonexistence of solution, behavior of the energy functional and Palais-Smale condition for systems of equations of the type Schrödinger-Poisson; by using variational approach. In fact the solutions are critical points of the energy functional associated with the problem. To achieve our goals, it is essential to study the Manifolds of Ruiz and Nehari, the Ekeland Variational Principle, the Mountain Pass theorem, and the Concentration-Compactness argument.

Submitted by Lara Oliveira (lara@ufersa.edu.br) on 2018-01-17T21:17:50Z No. of bitstreams: 1 IsaúMB_DISSERT.pdf: 2720241 bytes, checksum: 6f834d2d4c55c17ad70d6fca472fbb7a (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vanessa Christiane (referencia@ufersa.edu.br) on 2018-02-20T14:29:04Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 IsaúMB_DISSERT.pdf: 2720241 bytes, checksum: 6f834d2d4c55c17ad70d6fca472fbb7a (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vanessa Christiane (referencia@ufersa.edu.br) on 2018-02-20T14:31:25Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 IsaúMB_DISSERT.pdf: 2720241 bytes, checksum: 6f834d2d4c55c17ad70d6fca472fbb7a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-02-20T14:31:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 IsaúMB_DISSERT.pdf: 2720241 bytes, checksum: 6f834d2d4c55c17ad70d6fca472fbb7a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-08-29 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Environmental problems, like global warming and pollution, together with the rising fossil fuels prices in recent years have increased search for alternative energy sources, that are clean and sustainable at the same time. Among the main sources, it is possible to highlight the photovoltaic solar energy. For being a source of clean renewable energy with a low maintenance rate, photovoltaic solar energy has been gaining attention worldwide, and with this the Grid-Connected Photovoltaic System (GCPV) has grown in the last decades. Despite the benefits from the GCPV, for being a relatively new technology when compared with other energy sources, the same is not yet fully consolidated, and its installation requires care in regard to quality of electrical power. Problems such as production of harmonics, overvoltage and low power factor are common to these types of systems. Several researches are conducted every year and regulations are created, in order to reconcile the photovoltaic generation with the power distribution network. Therefore, the present work aims to identify, measure and analyze the behavior of GCPV of 3 kWp of UFERSA, in the city of Mossoró-RN, in order to verify the possible impacts to the quality of the electric energy associated with GCPV. In this research it was noticed that all the parameters are within the current standard regulations, however the high indexes of harmonic distortion rate made necessary the elaboration of a low-pass filter to attenuate the unwanted frequencies. With the simulation of the filter in Simulink, an attenuation of up to more than 60% was verified, thus improving the quality of the energy generated by the system / Os problemas ambientais, como o aquecimento global e a poluição, juntamente com o crescente preço dos combustíveis fósseis nos últimos anos, elevaram a procura por fontes alternativas de energia, que ao mesmo tempo fossem limpas e sustentáveis. Dentre as principais fontes, pode-se destacar a energia solar fotovoltaica. Por ser uma fonte de energia limpa, renovável e com baixo índice de manutenção, a energia solar fotovoltaica vem ganhando destaque no mundo inteiro, e com isso os Sistemas Fotovoltaicos Conectados à Rede (SFCR) cresceu nas últimas décadas. Apesar dos benefícios oriundos dos SFCR, por ser uma tecnologia relativamente nova quando comparada com outras fontes de energia, a mesma ainda não está totalmente consolidada, e sua instalação requer cuidados no que diz respeito à qualidade de energia elétrica. Problemas como produção de harmônicos, sobretensão e baixo fator de potência são comuns a estes tipos de sistemas. Várias pesquisas são realizadas todos os anos, e normas e regulamentos são criados, a fim de conciliar a geração fotovoltaica com a rede elétrica de distribuição. Portanto, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo identificar, medir e analisar o comportamento do SFCR de 3 kWp da UFERSA, na cidade de Mossoró-RN, a fim de se verificar os possíveis impactos à qualidade da energia elétrica associados aos SFCR’s. Nesta pesquisa percebeu-se que todos os parâmetros estão dentro das normas vigentes, porém os altos índices de taxa de distorção harmônica fizeram necessário a elaboração de um filtro passa-baixa para atenuar as frequências indesejadas. Com a simulação do filtro no Simulink, constatou-se uma atenuação de até mais de 60%, melhorando assim a qualidade da energia gerada pelo sistema / 2018-01-17

Submitted by JOAO BARROSO (joao.barroso@bcb.gov.br) on 2010-08-03T20:13:37Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE.pdf: 1045913 bytes, checksum: 1c6912b208fc1e79faee0ef3e07a6198 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Andrea Virginio Machado(andrea.machado@fgv.br) on 2010-08-04T12:22:02Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE.pdf: 1045913 bytes, checksum: 1c6912b208fc1e79faee0ef3e07a6198 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2010-08-04T17:23:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE.pdf: 1045913 bytes, checksum: 1c6912b208fc1e79faee0ef3e07a6198 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-02-05 / The thesis uses international price data to identify parameters of trade models with imperfect competition, therefore allowing inference on exchange rate behavior, gains from trade and variety of domestic goods. First, we investigate Brazilian exporters pricing behavior over the long-run following destination specific exchange rate shocks. We find evidence of incomplete exchange-rate pass-through in the long-run, which supports the market structure explanations over short-run sticky-price explanations. Second, we calculate import price indexes and the implied welfare gains from new varieties of imported goods, based on disaggregated estimates of elasticity of substitution parameters. Finally, we qualify standard results in the literature that point to a reduction in domestic varieties after trade liberalization; domestic varieties may expand if we introduce an additional margin in firms‟ technology, such as intermediate goods or high skilled labor. / Esta tese utiliza a informação contida em preços internacionais para identificar parâmetros de modelos de comércio sob competição imperfeita, desta forma permitindo inferência sobre o comportamento das exportações, sobre os ganhos de troca da abertura comercial e sobre a variedade de bens produzidos domesticamente. Em primeiro lugar, investigamos o repasse cambial, no longo prazo, para os preços praticados por exportadores brasileiros. O foco no longo prazo permite controlar os efeitos da rigidez de preço no curto prazo, de maneira que o repasse incompleto evidencie competição imperfeita com preços flexíveis. Em segundo lugar, calculamos os ganhos de troca de novas variedades de bens importados baseando-nos em estimativas para as elasticidades de substituição desagregadas. Finalmente, qualificamos a ênfase da literatura de comércio em ganhos de eficiência no lugar de ganhos de variedade, demonstrando que a variedade de bens produzidos domesticamente se amplia após aberturas comerciais desde que as firmas tenham uma margem de decisão em bens intermediários ou na qualificação da mão de obra.

Summaries in English and Afrikkans / The aim of this thesis is to investigate the labour law position of South African farm workers. For three and a half centuries farm workers constituted the most neglected group in the South African labour force. Consequently, an understanding of their present position can only be obtained by investigating their labour history. As in other parts of the world, farm workers in South Africa held a subordinate position to agricultural employers. Discrimination against black persons added to the inferior socio-economic and political position of South African farm workers. White farmers occupied a strong political position during most of the time under investigation, which enabled them to institute and apply discriminatory legislation and informal methods to overcome labour shortages. The freedom of movement of black people and their access to land were restricted to create a cheap immobile labour force. During the 20th century farmers prevented the inclusion of farm workers in labour legislation by exercising their political influence. Pressure by industrial trade unions and encouragement by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) resulted in the adoption of the Agricultural Labour Act which made labour legislation applicable to farm workers, but precluded them from striking and made allowance for longer working hours than for industrial workers. The new political dispensation facilitated the inclusion of farm workers in general labour legislation without any discriminatory exceptions and land reform legislation now protects farm workers against arbitrary evictions. A bill of rights furthermore guarantees the rights of farm workers which were previously violated. It would superficially seem that farm workers' problems are something of the past. Farm workers, however, remain handicapped in exercising their new rights by historical factors and circumstances peculiar to the agricultural sector. Legal comparison with Ontario and California confirms that legislation alone is insufficient to empower farm workers. It is recommended that the government amend existing legislation to accommodate the special needs of farm workers and that relevant ILO conventions, especially Convention 141 of 1975, be ratified to aid the development of unions for farm workers. This will contribute to the empowerment of and social justice for farm workers. / Die doel van hierdie tesis is om die arbeidsregtelike posisie van Suid-Afrikaanse plaaswerkers te ondersoek. Plaaswerkers was vir drie en 'n half eeue die mees afgeskeepte groep in die Suid-Afrikaanse werksmag. Om die huidige posisie van plaaswerkers te begryp is dus slegs moontlik deur 'n bestudering van die regsgeskiedenis van plaaswerkers. Soos in ander werelddele beklee plaaswerkers in Suid-Afrika 'n minderwaardige posisie teenoor landbouwerkgewers. Diskriminasie teenoor swartpersonehet bygedra tot die sosio-ekonomiese en polities minderwaardige posisie van Suid-Afrikaanse plaaswerkers. Blanke boere het gedurende die grootste deel van die tydperk onder bespreking 'n sterk politiese posisie beklee wat hulle in staat gestel het om diskriminerende wetgewing en informele metodes aan te wend om arbeidstekorte te bowe te kom. Swart persone se bewegingsvryheid en toegang tot grond is beperk om 'n goedkoop immobiele werksmag te vorm. Gedurende die 20ste eeu het boere se sterk politiese posisie hulle in staat gestel om te verhoed dat plaaswerkers by arbeidswetgewing ingesluit word. Druk deur industriele vakbonde en aanmoediging deur die Intemasionale Arbeidsorganisasie (IAO) het gelei tot die Wet op Landbou-arbeid waardeur arbeidswetgewing op plaaswerkers van toepassing gemaak is, maar wat plaaswerkers verbied het om te staak en wat voorsiening gemaak het vir langer werkure as vir industriele werkers. 'n Nuwe politieke bedeling het gelei tot die insluiting van plaaswerkers in algemene arbeidswetgewing sonder enige diskriminerende uitsonderings en grondhervormingswetgewing beskerm plaaswerkers nou teen arbitrere uitsettings. 'n Handves van menseregte waarborg verder die regte van plaaswerkers wat voorheen misken is. Oenskynlik is die probleme van plaaswerkers nou iets van die verlede. Plaaswerkers word egter steeds in die uitoefening van hulle nuwe regte gestrem deur historiese faktore en die eiesoortige omstandighede van die landbousektor. Regsvergelyking met Kalifomie en Ontario het aangetoon <lat wetgewing alleen nie voldoende is om plaaswerkers te bemagtig nie. Daar word aanbeveel dat die regering bestaande wetgewing wysig om voorsiening te maak vir die spesiale behoeftes van plaaswerkers en dat relevante IA0 konvensies, veral Konvensie 141 van 197 5 geratifiseer word om die ontwikkeling van vakbonde vir plaaswerkers te bevorder. Dit sal bydra tot die bemagtiging van en tot sosiale geregtigheid vir plaaswerkers / Law / LL.D.