p. 1 - 192 / Submitted by Santiago Fabio (fabio.ssantiago@hotmail.com) on 2013-01-23T17:35:25Z No. of bitstreams: 1 111.pdf: 1558517 bytes, checksum: fafa435db628e41e94be436d2ea5b4be (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-01-23T17:35:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 111.pdf: 1558517 bytes, checksum: fafa435db628e41e94be436d2ea5b4be (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / O presente trabalho teve por propósito investigar a concessão diferenciada de remuneração e benefícios a dois grupos de funcionários e suas implicações sobre a percepção de justiça distributiva e sobre o comprometimento afetivo, instrumental e normativo. O fato auspicioso, do ponto de vista do estudo, mas inusitado em termos de mercado de trabalho, é que os empregados pesquisados, porque foram contratados em períodos distintos, recebiam remuneração e benefícios diferenciados, embora trabalhassem na mesma empresa, ocupavam função idêntica, desenvolviam atividades iguais e compartilhavam o mesmo ambiente de trabalho. À guisa de embasamento teórico, foram explorados os conceitos de comprometimento organizacional, percepção de justiça organizacional e sistema de recompensa. O estudo empírico foi efetuado em uma organização da indústria bancária e teve por objeto os dados de uma survey realizada junto a um grupo amostral de 679 indivíduos. Para fins de estudos comparativos, esta amostra foi cindida em dois subgrupos: o pré-98, formado por funcionários contratados antes de 1998 com benefícios e remuneração superiores; e o pós-98, constituído de empregados contratados a partir de 1998 com benefícios e remuneração inferiores. A diversidade dos dois grupos, com perfis bem distintos, se revelou bastante profícua para análises comparativas. O grupo pré-98 tinha como características mais marcantes: maior longevidade, predominância de casados, menor nível educacional, maior antiguidade de empresa e remuneração e benefícios mais amplos. Noutro pólo, o subgrupo pós-98 foi caracterizado por: menor longevidade, predominância de solteiros, maior nível educacional, menor tempo de empresa, remuneração e benefícios mais restritos. Como similaridade, os dois grupos apresentavam: mesmo nível na ascensão interna, exercício das mesmas atividades e compartilhamento do mesmo ambiente, portanto suscetível às mesmas condições culturais, de cobrança por resultados e de estresse. O subgrupo pré-98 registrou 304 respondentes e pós- 98 computou 379 funcionários. Como instrumento de levantamento de dados primários, foi utilizado um questionário com trinta e uma variáveis, composto de perguntas sobre questões sócio-funcionais, sobre as três dimensões de comprometimento organizacional, escala de autoria de Meyer e Allen (1997), validada por diversos autores brasileiros, e sobre percepção de justiça distributiva, cuja escala foi validada por Mendonça e outros (2003). Os procedimentos de análise estatística realizados foram os seguintes: estatística descritiva; análise fatorial confirmatória; avaliação de consistência alpha de crombach, análise de correlação e regressões múltiplas. Os resultados das interações das variáveis demográficas, funcionais, remuneração e benefícios com as dimensões de comprometimento e de percepção de justiça distributiva, nos grupos pré e pós-98, foram: a) a variável gênero, nas relações com comprometimento e de justiça distributiva, manifestou correlação neutra; b) as correlações com tempo de empresa foram positivas, sendo as relações mais sensíveis com as dimensões normativa e afetiva e as menos intensas com a instrumental e justiça distributiva; c) as correlações com estado civil, registraram, de forma consistente, tendência de médias crescentes na seqüência dos segmentos de solteiro, casado, separado e viúvo, em todas as dimensões e com notável diferença entre os grupos de solteiro e casado; d) As dimensões de comprometimento e de justiça distributiva registraram correlações significativas com escolaridade, porém de natureza inversa; e) das correlações positivas entre tempo de empresa e comprometimento, a mais intensa se processou com a dimensão afetiva. Menor expressão sucedeu com as dimensões normativa e de justiça distributiva. Em relação à dimensão instrumental, a variável se mostrou neutra; f) os efeitos de remuneração e benefícios sobre percepção de justiça distributiva ficaram evidentes na comparação entre os grupos pré e pós-98, onde o primeiro, que percebe remuneração e benefícios superiores, alcançou média significativamente mais elevada; g) as correlações entre justiça distributiva e comprometimento se revelaram positivas com as dimensões normativa e afetiva e neutra com a instrumental. Sinteticamente a amostra do grupo pré-98, em comparação com o pós- 98, registrou médias superiores nas dimensões afetiva, normativa e instrumental e de justiça distributiva. De modo elucidativo, em razão das características de cada grupo, as interações diretas das variáveis antecedentes (idade, estado civil, remuneração e justiça distributiva) com as dimensões de comprometimento registraram tendência ascendente, pressionando para cima as médias do grupo pré- 98, acentuando a diferença em relação ao pós-98. O mesmo ocorreu em relação à escolaridade, porém com relação inversa. A variável antiguidade, apesar de sensibilizar positivamente as dimensões afetiva e normativa, se mostrou indiferente à instrumental. No conjunto, as diferenças das médias verificadas foram congruentes com as peculiaridades de cada grupo. As hipóteses de número um, dois e três, restaram todas comprovadas, pois ficou demonstrado o poder de influência de remuneração e benefícios sobre as médias de comprometimento e de justiça distributiva que, segundo correlação positiva e de proporcionalidade direta, gerou médias comparativamente inferiores no grupo pós-98 e superiores no pré-98. A hipótese quatro não foi confirmada, pois a correlação mais intensa entre justiça distributiva e comprometimento, se verificou com a faceta normativa, dissentindo da hipótese que apontava, com base em estudos anteriores, a dimensão afetiva. Este resultado também divergiu do quadro de relações tendenciais, construído por Meyer e outros (2002, p. 31), que registrou correlação positiva mais forte com a base afetiva e nula com a instrumental. / Salvador

With the growing demand for information in various domains, sharing of information from heterogeneous data sources is now a necessity. Data integration approaches promise to combine data from these different sources and present to the user a single, unified view of these data. However, although these approaches offer high quality services for the managing and integrating of data, they come with a high cost. This is because a great amount of manual effort to form relationships across data sources is needed to set up the data integration system. A newer variant of data integration, known as dataspaces, aims to spread the large manual effort spent at the start of the data integration system to the rest of the system's phases. This is achieved by soliciting from the user their feedback on a chosen artefact of a dataspace, either by explicit ways or implicitly. This practice is known as pay-as-you-go, where a user continuously pays to the data integration system, by providing feedback, to gain improvements in the quality of data integration. This PhD addresses two challenges in data integration by using pay-as-you-go approaches. The first is to identify instances relevant to a user's information need, calling for semantic mappings to be closely considered. Our contribution is a technique that ranks mappings with the help of implicit user feedback (i.e., terms found in query logs). Our evaluation shows that to produce stable rankings, our technique does not require large-sized query logs, and that our generated ranking is able to respond satisfactorily to the amount of terms inclined towards a particular data source, where we describe it as skew. The second challenge that we address is the identification of duplicate instances from disparate data sources. We contribute a strategy that uses explicitly-obtained user feedback to drive an evolutionary search algorithm to find suitable parameters for an underlying clustering algorithm. Our experiments show that optimising the algorithm's parameters and introducing attribute weights produces fitter clusters than clustering alone. However, our strategy to improve on integration quality can be quite expensive. Therefore, we propose a pruning technique to select from a dataset any records that are informative. Our experiment shows that on most of the datasets, our pruner produce comparably fit clusters with more feedback received.

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF ANDISIWE STUURMAN, for the Master of Science degree in Geography and Environmental Resources, presented on APRIL 10, 2015, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: AN ASSESSMENT OF ABANDONED MINE RECLAMATION IN SOUTH AFRICA USING A SURVEY OF ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERTS MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Silvia Secchi Abandoned mines are those in which mining activity has ceased and there is no entity or company that can be traced to take responsibility for their maintenance or reclamation. It has been reported that there are approximately 6,150 abandoned mines in South Africa and it is estimated that it will cost $US4.2 billion to rehabilitate these mines over a very long period of time. The South African Department of Mineral Resources has set a reclamation target of 12 abandoned mines per year. This low target is what led to the interest in understanding the dynamics of abandoned mine reclamation in South Africa. An online survey of environmental experts in South Africa was conducted from December 2014 to January 2015 to elicit their opinions on the public's perception of abandoned mine reclamation and to assess whether their views are aligned in terms the cost of reclamation, sources of funding, how to accelerate the process of reclamation and credible sources of information for environmental issues. A total of 54 responses were collected, with good representation of respondents from each province in South Africa although the majority came from Gauteng, Western Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal. The results of the survey revealed that there are several challenges that are slowing down the process of reclamation in South Africa including limited sources of funding, water resources at risk, and disproportionate ratio of experts between the private and public sector. About 80% of the respondents in the survey said that the public would not be willing to contribute towards a reclamation fund. A majority of the respondents who consider themselves experts in reclamation were of the opinion that the government and the mining industry should be primarily responsible for reclamation. After careful review of the results and other government reports related to reclamation in South Africa, it appears that the establishment of an abandoned mine reclamation fund would be a good policy for South Africa, as would be conducting studies to explore possible funding options, ring-fencing tax money for special purposes such as reclamation of abandoned mines, and developing guidelines and standards for abandoned mine reclamation or land reclamation.

Wilderness areas provide a wide array of quality nature experiences including primitive recreational opportunities in a primeval condition. However, a lot of these ecological and pristine sites suffer from disturbance and environmental degradation by the exhaustive human recreational use on campsites. Most of the impacts associated with camping gradually become a critical concern since they can be devastating to a wilderness environment and the affiliated experience. This study employed the contingent valuation method to determine peoples' willingness to pay for the preservation of the Panther Den Wilderness if campsites were restricted /limited, and to estimate an economic value of non-market goods and services affiliated to the preservation and use values of the Panther Den Wilderness. A Contingent valuation questionnaire was administered to gather information on the respondent's intentions and to determine what they would be willing to pay under a hypothetical scenario. Moon's WTP model estimated the willingness to pay relationship with a set of explanatory and socio-demographic variables including bid sizes, miles traveled, recreation times, campsite impacts observed, age, gender, and education. Results revealed that there was a clear relationship between the respondents' willingness to pay, the pre-determined bid-size/fee level, and the distance traveled to the Panther Den Wilderness, hence; the correlation between the variables was highly significant. The estimated mean willingness to pay value for the preservation of the Panther Den Wilderness was $9.56 per visitor. Overall, the estimated results and mean willingness to pay value served as the interpretation of an assessment which clearly revealed that outdoor recreation users were willing to pay a user fee for the preservation of the Panther Den Wilderness regardless of campsite limitations or restrictions.

xii, 150 p. : ill. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / Environmental regulations are increasingly subjected to benefit-cost analysis as an aid to decision-making in policy. Economic benefits are most appropriately measured by the tradeoffs of other goods and services that people are willing to make to obtain reductions in risks to their lives and health. The measure of willingness to pay ( WTP ) allows for this comparison. These benefits from risk reductions are likely to vary systematically by characteristics of the individual, including the number and ages of children present in the household, and by the type of health threat under consideration. In chapter one of this dissertation, I write a brief introduction. In the second chapter, I examine an important methodological issue--the extent of "scenario adjustment" in a Stated Preference ( SP ) conjoint choice experiment in the context of a household survey concerning health risk reductions. Scenario adjustment occurs when respondents assume that a substantive alternative in a choice set, in their own particular case, will be different than the survey instrument describes. This is a potential source of bias in SP research similar to scenario rejection, but harder to detect. I analyze the impact of scenario adjustment on WTP and suggest a possible correction. In the third chapter, I address the empirical question of patterns in adults' WTP for health risk reductions. I find that demand is influenced by the presence of children, the numbers of children in different age brackets currently in the household, and, for health risks with latency periods, by the prospect of children still being present when a parent's ill health begins or death occurs. In chapter four, I find systematic differences in WTP for health risk reductions across different types of major health threats, such as Alzheimer's disease versus heart attacks. I also look for evidence of a cancer premium due to the dread factor associated with the prospect of cancer. The health threats considered include chronic heart disease, sudden heart attacks, five types of cancers, respiratory disease, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and traffic accidents. In chapter five, I conclude. This dissertation includes previously unpublished co-authored material. / Committee in charge: Trudy Cameron, Chairperson, Economics; William Harbaugh, Member, Economics; Robin McKnight, Member, Economics; Ronald Mitchell, Outside Member, Political Science

O presente trabalho busca examinar o conteúdo normativo de regras e limites de dedutibilidade do imposto de renda no ordenamento jurídico brasileiro. Pretende-se analisar a sua relevância como um instrumento de proteção de direitos fundamentais e de realização da igualdade tributária por meio da simplificação que proporciona. Com base nessa premissa, pretende-se, primeiro, afastar o entendimento de que regras e limites de dedutibilidade são fruto da discricionariedade legislativa e, segundo, apresentar parâmetros de controle que permitam o seu controle jurisdicional. / The presente study aims to examine the normative content of deductions in the context of income tax in brazilian law. Its purpose is to analyze the relevance of deductions as an instrument of protection of fundamental rights and achieving equality through tax simplification. Based on this premise, it seeks, first, overcome the understanding that deductibility rules and limits are the result of legislative discretion and, second, provide control parameters that allow its jurisdictional control.

This diploma thesis compares the difference between the inequality of men and women on labour market. This inequality is mainly specify by the difference in salaries. Theoretical part is paying attention to difference in salary, legislative measure of equal pay, gender pay gap index, theories and studies in economics. Practical part of my diploma thesis deals with employment of men and women, analyzes particular factors which affects these salaries differences. Additionally, I focus on position of women in leading and political functions. The last chapter considers differences in salaries between men and women in coun-tries of Visegrad group.

Jonsson och Mattsson (2011) pratar om vikten av fyllnadsgrad och att ett företag kan minimera sina kostnader genom att öka fyllnadsgraden. Företag X, som är ett globalt heminredningsföretag, valde att införa wellpapp-pall för att öka fyllnadsgraden vilket i sin tur värnar om både miljön och ekonomin. Ställagen i distributionslagret hos Företag X är idag inte anpassade efter wellpapp-pallen, vilket medför att ompallning måste ske av wellpapp- pallen på träpall. Detta genomförs för att pallarna ska kunna ställas in i ställagen. I studien har Företag Xs ställagegodsprocess har kartlagts och elva olika slöserier har identifierats i processen. Med hjälp av en tidsstudie, över de sekvenser som kan elimineras vid en investering, har en pay-off kalkyl upprättats. Detta för att Företag X ska inneha ett beslutsunderlag gällande investeringen i stålprofiler. Studien har, med underlag från processkartläggningen och pay-off-kalkylen, resulterat i att en investering i stålprofiler skulle spara Företag X pengar samt kunna eliminera olika slöserier i ställagegodsprocessen. Möjlighet för eliminering av slöserierna baseras på att grundorsaken till de elva olika identifierade slöserierna direkt eller indirekt var ompallningsprocessen.

A bacia hidrográfica do Mogi Guaçu é um importante sistema de sustento para diversas atividades econômicas regionalizadas. Em decorrência de atividades antrópicas como, uso e ocupação inadequada do solo, utilização de pesticidas e fertilizantes nas lavouras, lançamento de efluentes domésticos (in natura) e industriais, sem tratamento; dentre outras, verificou-se que o rio Mogi Guaçu é acometido por diferentes graus de degradação ao longo do seu curso; e, por conseguinte, as lagoas de piscicultura da área de drenagem. Este trabalho objetiva analisar a concentração de metais na água, sedimentos e rações de lagoas de pesque-pagues, no intuito de avaliar o nível de impacto dos metais sobre o ambiente. Foram feitas coletas de água e sedimentos, em quatro épocas diferentes, duas no período seco e duas no chuvoso, precisamente em dez pontos, distribuídos desde a nascente até a foz. As rações foram coletadas em cada um dos pesque-pagues. Análises das percentagens de matéria orgânica e inorgânica foram executadas, bem como análise granulométrica dos sedimentos. A análise quantitativa dos metais foi efetuada pela técnica espectroscópica de absorção atômica, tanto em água, sedimentos e ração. Os resultados demonstram que as percentagens de matéria orgânica são elevadas, ocorrendo em todos os períodos de amostragem. A elevada fração de argila e areia, na grande maioria dos pontos de amostragem, indica que os sedimentos têm mérito considerável na redistribuição dos metais na coluna d\'água. A concentração de metais em água excedeu os limites da resolução CONAMA 20/86 para águas de classe 2, com destaque para Cd (P1: Inconfidentes; 0,049 mg/kg), Cr (P9: Jacutinga; 0,190 mg/kg) e Fe (P8: Itapira; 9,60 mg/kg). Em sedimentos na totalidade dos pontos e, pelo menos, em um período, houve indicativo de contaminação. Para a análise das rações, segundo a IFOAM, níveis abaixo para Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn e Zn, considerados metais essenciais. Portanto, as análises indicam ambientes impactados negativamente, com grau elevado de interferência antrópica. / The hydrographic basin of Mogi Guaçu is an important sustenance system for a lot of local economic activities. In result of human activities as use and inadequate occupation of the ground, pesticides and fertilizers in the farmings, launching of domestic and industrials effluent servants, without treatment; amongst others, it was verified that the Mogi Guaçu river must be submitted by different degrees of degradation to the long on its course; and, therefore, the fish culture on draining area. This work\'s purpose is to analyse the metal concentration in the water, sediments and rations on fish & pay lagoons, in intention to evaluate the level of impact of metals on the environment. There was water collect and sediments, at four different times, two in dry period and two in the rainy one, necessarily in ten points, distributed since the spring until the estuary. The rations had been collected in each one of fish & pay. Analyses of the percentages of organic and inorganic substance had been executed, as well as grain sized analyses of the sediments. The quantitative analysis of the metals was effected by atomic absorption spectroscopic technique, as much in water, sediments and ration. The results demonstrate that the percentages of organic substance are been raised, occurring in all the periods of sampling. The raised fraction of clay and sand, in the great majority of the sampling points, suggesting that the sediments have considerable importance in the redistribution of the metals in the water\'column. The metal concentration in water exceeded the limits of CONAMA, 20/86, with prominence to Cd (P1: Inconfidentes; 0.049 mg/kg), Cr (P9: Jacutinga; 0.190 mg/kg) and Fe (P8: Itapira; 9.60 mg/kg). In sediments on totality of the points, at least in a period, indicative contamination. For rations anylises, by IFOAM, low levels to Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn and Zn, considered essential metals. Therefore, the analysis indicate negative environmental impacts, with high degree of human interference.

This paper analyses the pay-performance relationship in the English Premier League in order to isolate the determinants of success by regressing individual player salaries, and salaries relative to team-mates on the individual performance measures of goals and assists. A weighted OLS and fixed effects model is utilized alongside various control variables to conclude that the positive pay-performance relationship found at the team-level is not reflected at the individual level. The paper also determines that relative income position and various team-effects do not significantly impact individual performance.