The master´s thesis deals with performance measurement of the company FEDEDAL-MOGUL Friction Production, a.s. This valuation of efficiency is performed on EFQM Excellence model. Theoretical part of thesis is focused on description of selected models of valuation of efficiency with more detailed orientation to EFQM Excellence model. In the second part the company is characterized and company´s current situation is described.The last part contains an application of START PLUS model based on the principles of The EFQM Excellence Model. At the end are series of recommendations for increase efficiency.

[pt] Esta tese apresenta o regime de aprendizado de arte marcial chinesa na Escola Chenjiagou de Taijiquan Brasil, localizada na Santa Cecília (São Paulo/SP). A realização do trabalho de campo, entre 2020-2022, partiu da noção de etnografia em performance: investigando na condição de aprendiz na comunidade de prática cujo epicentro é a figura de Gil Rodrigues, professor fundador e diretor da Escola. Como resultado desse campo, apresento uma etnografia da aprendizagem do Chen Shi Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan da Família Chen). Tendo como referencial teórico as obras de Jean Lave, Tim Ingold e Gregory Bateson, a tese tem como foco de análise a organização social da técnica em seus modos de distribuição do acesso às atividades conceituadas contextualmente como taijiquan e cultura chinesa. Para conhecer o mundo do kungfu paulistano dos anos 90 até o presente, componho uma perspectiva etnobiográfica, apresentando a recepção e desenvolvimento das artes marciais chinesas no Brasil a partir da busca pelo taijiquan de Gil. Argumento que sua vivência da arte marcial, partilhada em sua Escola e no Shaosheng Centro de Cultura Oriental que a integra, pode ser compreendida como uma atividade contígua com a diáspora chinesa na capital paulistana. Mobilizando as conceituações de Yuk Hui, François Jullien, Anne Cheng e Stephan Feuchtwang, retomo as noções maussianas de técnicas do corpo e civilização para pensar os conceitos de cultura chinesa, conectando-a aos debates antropológicos sobre cultura, estética e ontologia. Concluo que a aprendizagem desse taijiquan se dirige para gênese de um aprendiz cuja ação se dê na manutenção dos princípios e fundamentos – entendidos duplamente como virtudes em sua vida social e como padrões manifestos em seus movimentos, em uma via de conhecimento e sabedoria própria da cosmotécnica chinesa. / [en] The thesis presents the apprenticeship of a Chinese Martial Arts in the Chenjiagou Brasil School of Taijiquan, located in the Santa Cecília neighborhood (São Paulo/SP). Fieldwork was undertaken between 2020-2022 and dwells on the notion of performance ethnography, as it investigates, from the position of the apprentice, the community of practice centered on the figure of Gil Rodrigues–the school s teacher, founder, and director. Results are presented in an ethnography of on learning Chen Shi Taijiquan (Chen Family Tai Chi Chuan). Departing from the theories of Jean Lave, Tim Ingold, and Gregory Bateson, the thesis explores the analysis of the social organization of technique in its modes of distribution of access to activities conceptualized in context as taijiquan and Chinese culture. To introduce the kung fu world of São Paulo city from the 90s to the present day, I develop an ethnobiographic perspective to present the reception and spread of Chinese Martial Arts in Brasil through Gil s personal pursuit of taijiquan. I argue that his experience of Martial Arts–one that is shared in his school and in the Shaosheng Oriental Cultural Centre–may be conceived as a contiguous activity to the Chinese diaspora in the capital of São Paulo. Using concepts of Yuk Hui, François Jullien, Anne Cheng, and Stephan Feuchtwang, I go back to Mauss techniques of the body and civilization to analyze the concept of Chinese culture, connecting it to the anthropological debate about culture, aesthetics, and ontology. In conclusion, I suggest that this apprentice of taijiquan moves towards the genesis of an apprentice whose action relies upon the maintenance of principles and fundamentals–understood both as virtues in their social lives and as patterns expressed in their movements, in a knowledge and wisdom path characteristic of the Chinese cosmotechnics.

Låg självkänsla och hög maladaptiv perfektionism har visat sig öka risken för tidig debut och vidare utveckling av ångest- och depressionssyndrom hos studenter. Studien syftade till att undersöka relationen mellan faktorerna självkänsla, perfektionism och kognitiv ångest, fysiologisk ångest och ångestreglering hos studenter. Detta genomfördes genom tre frågeställningar med tillhörande hypoteser. Studiens enkät besvarades av 141 deltagare; 89 kvinnor och 52 män, med varierande huvudämnen. Resultatet visade att kvinnor uppgav högre grad av kognitiv- och fysiologisk ångest än män, medan män erhöll högre grad av ångestreglering än kvinnor. Vidare påvisades en negativ korrelation mellan självkänsla och kognitiv- och fysiologisk ångest. Dessutom erhölls positiva korrelationer mellan rigid- och självkritisk perfektionism och kognitiv- och fysiologisk ångest. Självkritisk perfektionism kunde förklara störst varians hos både kognitiv- och fysiologisk ångest, medan självkänsla förklarade störst varians hos ångestreglering. Ett intressant resultat var att inneha hög självkänsla bidrar till en ökad upplevd förmåga att hantera prestationsångest.

The primary aim of the research has been to determine whether there is a relationship between personality variables as measured by the Occupational Personality Questionnaire (OPQ32i) and the work performance of credit controllers in a bank. Work performance was measured by means of internal company data sources. A literature review was used to verify whether there is a theoretical relationship between personality and work performance and strong evidence was found. The sample consisted of 89 credit controllers. The relationship between personality variables and work performance was determined by means of correlation studies and multiple regression analyses. Results are reported both in terms of statistical significance and effect sizes. Key terms: personality, work performance, credit control, personality trait theory, Sixteen Personality Factors questionnaire (16PF), Occupational Personality Questionnaire (OPQ). / Industrial and Organizational Psychology / M.Com. (Industrial Psychology)

According to the national Education Policy Act of 1996 and the norms and standards regarding Language policy, the promotion of multilingualism was stated as a prime objective, together with strong support of either home language or dual-medium education. Although the right to choose the language of learning and teaching (LoLT) which had to be an official language(or languages) lay with the individual. Hence the study is to persuade the department of Education in KZN to include isiXhosa and Sesotho languages as home language in KZN schools curriculum. The province of KZN is attracting many people especially Xhosas and Sotho’s from Eastern Cape and from other provinces such as Free State to mention few. These people come to KZN basically to seek jobs and stay in KZN under a vast ray of reasons. The city of Durban is like Johannesburg to them-‘’eGoli’’ in old days. However, in Gauteng almost two or more official languages are accommodated in schools, either being done as home language, first additional, second additional or even a third additional language. The choice lay with the individual. The Language Policy promoting multilingualism is implemented in Gauteng, why not in KZN- because the KZN total population of 9 426 014 based on census 2001 data indicate that there is no one speaking Sesotho in KZN but only 80% of isiZulu and 2.3% isiXhosa not mentioning English and Afrikaans1. Currently according to 2011 census, isiZulu is the mother tongue of 22.7% of South Africa’s population2. Furthermore, what is indicated by these census statistics starts in KZN schools where by the curriculum is designed in more convenient manner where by all Africans in KZN do IsiZulu as home language putting aside English and Afrikaans. The importance of mother-tongue, culture as well as multilingualism as the key concepts in diverse inclusive curriculum is not manifested in KZN school curriculum. The significant of 1976 Soweto up-raising lays in the right to choose the language of learning and teaching and it is part of democracy in South Africa. There should be options of languages to choose in schools most importantly giving a mother-tongue the first choice. Unfortunately there is no choice in KZN schools with regard to Africans group. More interestingly, there is a choice to listen to radio stations namely Umhlobowenene FM which broadcast in isiXhosa and Lesedi FM broadcasting in Sesotho. Nobody can say to another why one is listening to that Xhosa or Sotho radio in KZN, simply because is one’s choice. In the same manner that SABC enabled the broadcasting Xhosa and Sotho radios in KZN, so the department of Education in KZN can include isiXhosa and Sesotho as home languages and the choice of isiZulu as an additional language not as a home language. The results of the study do not reveal the poor academic performance of Xhosas and Sotho learners in the subject of isiZulu home language in KZN. But reveal the loss of identity, culture, and one’s roots. Hence language is a primary tool to enhance self-identity, it forms a fundamental part of culture and enables one to stick to own roots and embraces the sense of origin like being a proudly South African- a rainbow nation. / Educational Studies / M.A. (Inclusive Education)

In the last 20 years, various investigators have contributed valuable insights that shed light on the interconnected matrix of self-efficacy and attribution theories of motivation in instilling confidence and desire for academic achievement. However, these two areas of beliefs and their effects on students‟ achievement have rarely been researched together with writing performance here in Ethiopia. Both quantitative and qualitative methodologies have been integrated in the analysis of the data gathered from two secondary schools. The quantitative method was employed where participants were involved in taking composition test, filling out the self-efficacy scale and a questionnaire on attribution so as to investigate the relationships among the variables. The qualitative method was also used to examine the teachers‟ role in boosting students‟ motivation towards effecting goal-oriented striving at success in English writing performance The findings of this study indicated that there is a positive and strong relationship between writing self-efficacy beliefs and awareness and effective performance in writing tasks. It was also found that the learners who attributed their success to their ability and effort rather than to external causes achieved better results. Moreover, the findings of the qualitative data indicated that teachers‟ interest and motivation to teach writing can play a crucial role so as to raise the learners‟ feelings of self-worth and self-efficacy to do the writing activity. In other words, teachers need to capitalise on their learners‟ fervent desire for success and achievement in whatever line of endeavour, and the vital role effective writing skills play in the realisation of life goals. / English Studies / M.A. (Specialisation in TESOL)

L’importance de la problématique des vaches laitières non gestantes avec multiples inséminations (› 3) communément appelées « Repeat Breeder » (RB), au Québec, repose sur deux facteurs: son incidence et son impact économique. Actuellement, l’incidence du syndrome RB au Québec est de ± 25% (Rapport annuel, juin 2008, www.dsahr.ca). Les pertes monétaires associées à ce problème proviennent des frais vétérinaires et d’insémination, de la diminution de productivité ainsi que des pertes en lien avec la réforme involontaire. Afin d’avoir de meilleures connaissances sur ce syndrome, nous devons connaître les facteurs de risques généraux impliqués et ensuite explorer la condition individuelle de ces vaches problèmes. Dans la première partie de ce mémoire, une banque de données informatisées répertoriant 418 383 lactations fut analysée. L’objectif de ce projet de recherche était d’évaluer l’impact des problèmes reproducteurs post-partum et l’effet du nombre de lactations comme facteurs de risques de la vache Repeat Breeder. L’analyse a permis d’établir la dystocie comme étant la condition ayant le plus de conséquences sur la fertilité future. D’autres facteurs de risques à savoir le nombre de lactations influencent le pronostic reproducteur. La deuxième partie de ce mémoire consistait à explorer, à l’aide d’outils cliniques, la condition individuelle des vaches RB. Une étude cohorte fut menée sur des vaches Holstein en fin de période d’attente volontaire au jour 7 du cycle oestral. Les tests cliniques étudiés furent la vaginoscopie, l’examen transrectal, l’ultrasonographie du système reproducteur, la présence d’estérases leucocytaires, la bactériologie et la biochimie du liquide utérin, la cytologie endométriale et le profil de progestérone sérique. Les résultats de ces tests cliniques dévoilent que l’examen bactériologique du liquide utérin est révélateur du statut reproducteur futur. / Two factors underlie the Repeat Breeder (RB) concerns in Quebec: its incidence and economic impact. Currently RB incidence in Quebec is of ± 25% (yearly Report, June 2008, www.dsahr.ca). Monetary losses related to the RB are the result of veterinary expenses and insemination, loss of productivity and the involuntary culling. In order to have a better knowledge of this syndrome, one must understand the general risk factors involved and then explore the individual condition of these problem cows. The goal of the first part of the project was to assess the impact of the postpartum reproductive problems and the effect of the lactation number as risk factors of the Repeat Breeder cow. A computerized data bank listing 418 383 lactations was analyzed. The analysis established dystocia as being the condition with the most consequences on future fertility. Other risk factors namely the number of lactations influence the reproductive prognosis as well. The second part of the research was to explore the individual condition of the RB using clinical tools. A cohort study was conducted on Holstein cows at the end of the voluntary waiting period on day 7 of the oestrous cycle. The clinical tests studied were vaginoscopy, trans-rectal examination, ultrasonography of the reproductive system, presence of leukocyte esterase, bacteriology and biochemistry of uterine fluid, endometrial cytology and serum progesterone profile. The results of these clinical tests reveal that the bacteriological analysis of uterine fluid is indicative of future reproductive status.

According to the national Education Policy Act of 1996 and the norms and standards regarding Language policy, the promotion of multilingualism was stated as a prime objective, together with strong support of either home language or dual-medium education. Although the right to choose the language of learning and teaching (LoLT) which had to be an official language(or languages) lay with the individual. Hence the study is to persuade the department of Education in KZN to include isiXhosa and Sesotho languages as home language in KZN schools curriculum. The province of KZN is attracting many people especially Xhosas and Sotho’s from Eastern Cape and from other provinces such as Free State to mention few. These people come to KZN basically to seek jobs and stay in KZN under a vast ray of reasons. The city of Durban is like Johannesburg to them-‘’eGoli’’ in old days. However, in Gauteng almost two or more official languages are accommodated in schools, either being done as home language, first additional, second additional or even a third additional language. The choice lay with the individual. The Language Policy promoting multilingualism is implemented in Gauteng, why not in KZN- because the KZN total population of 9 426 014 based on census 2001 data indicate that there is no one speaking Sesotho in KZN but only 80% of isiZulu and 2.3% isiXhosa not mentioning English and Afrikaans1. Currently according to 2011 census, isiZulu is the mother tongue of 22.7% of South Africa’s population2. Furthermore, what is indicated by these census statistics starts in KZN schools where by the curriculum is designed in more convenient manner where by all Africans in KZN do IsiZulu as home language putting aside English and Afrikaans. The importance of mother-tongue, culture as well as multilingualism as the key concepts in diverse inclusive curriculum is not manifested in KZN school curriculum. The significant of 1976 Soweto up-raising lays in the right to choose the language of learning and teaching and it is part of democracy in South Africa. There should be options of languages to choose in schools most importantly giving a mother-tongue the first choice. Unfortunately there is no choice in KZN schools with regard to Africans group. More interestingly, there is a choice to listen to radio stations namely Umhlobowenene FM which broadcast in isiXhosa and Lesedi FM broadcasting in Sesotho. Nobody can say to another why one is listening to that Xhosa or Sotho radio in KZN, simply because is one’s choice. In the same manner that SABC enabled the broadcasting Xhosa and Sotho radios in KZN, so the department of Education in KZN can include isiXhosa and Sesotho as home languages and the choice of isiZulu as an additional language not as a home language. The results of the study do not reveal the poor academic performance of Xhosas and Sotho learners in the subject of isiZulu home language in KZN. But reveal the loss of identity, culture, and one’s roots. Hence language is a primary tool to enhance self-identity, it forms a fundamental part of culture and enables one to stick to own roots and embraces the sense of origin like being a proudly South African- a rainbow nation. / Educational Studies / M. A. (Inclusive Education)

Les systèmes électro-hydrauliques sont largement utilisés dans l’industrie pour des contrôles de position ou d’effort. Cependant, à cause des non-linéarités du système électro-hydraulique, il est difficile d’établir un modèle précis valable sur une large bande de fréquences et de grands mouvements. Le travail de cette thèse concerne un banc d’essai électro-hydraulique qui comporte trois composants hydrauliques principaux, à savoir deux servovalves haute performance, un vérin à double tige, et une embase spécifique qui relie les servovalves et le vérin. Ce banc d’essai a été conçu pour tester des composants aéronautique et automobile dans des conditions réelles (par exemple, tests d'usure ou de vieillissement). Le premier objectif principal de cette thèse concerne la mise en œuvre d’un prototype virtuel basé sur un modèle précis issu de considérations physiques et d'un travail expérimental afin d'identifier les paramètres et de valider le réalisme du prototype virtuel. Le deuxième objectif est d'élaborer des lois de commande non-linéaires sophistiquées avec une large plage de fonctionnement et une bonne robustesse aux perturbations. Le modèle proposé basé sur le Bond Graph montre une très bonne adéquation entre les résultats de simulation et les résultats expérimentaux non seulement en basses fréquences, mais également en fréquences élevées. En particulier, les performances en hautes fréquences sont nettement améliorées par l'introduction des effets dynamiques liés à l’embase. En outre, des lois de commande, respectivement basées sur le backstepping et sur la commande sans modèle, ont été élaborées et mises en œuvre sur le banc d’essai. Toutes les lois de commande proposées ont été validées à la fois en simulation et expérimentalement. Les résultats montrent qu’ils conduisent à de meilleures performances en suivi de position et en robustesse par rapport aux lois de commande classiques. / Hydraulic systems are widely applied in industry for position or force control. However, due to hydraulic system nonlinearities, it is difficult to achieve a precise model valid over a large range of frequencies and movements. The work in this dissertation focuses on a high performance hydraulic test bench which involves three main hydraulic components, i.e. two high performance servovalves, a double rod actuator, and a specific intermediate block connecting the servovalves and actuator. This rig has been designed for testing aerospace or automotive components in real conditions (e.g. wear and ageing effects). The main objectives of this dissertation are first the development of a virtual prototype based on a precise model which is derived from the physical principles and experimental works, and then second the synthesis of several nonlinear control laws of this actuation system in a large operating range with a good robustness to the perturbations. The proposed model based on Bond Graph shows a very good agreement with experimental results not only at low frequencies, but also at high frequencies. Moreover, its performances are improved at high frequencies by introducing the dynamic effects due to the intermediate block. Besides, multivariable and monovariable control strategies, based on respectively the backstepping and the model-free method, are developed and implemented on the test bench. All the control strategies proposed have been validated by simulations and experiments. Results show they lead to better tracking precision and robustness performance compared to the conventional control techniques.

Cette thèse porte sur l'étude numérique des écoulements fluide-particules rencontrés dans l'industrie. Ces travaux se situent dans le cadre de la compréhension des phénomènes qui se déroulent dans des tambours tournants et réacteurs à lit fixe en présence de particules de forme non convexe. En effet, la forme des particules influence de manière importante la dynamique de ces milieux. A cet effet, nous nous sommes servis de la plateforme numérique parallèle Grans3D pour la dynamique des milieux granulaires et PeliGRIFF pour les écoulements multiphasiques. Dans la première partie de cette thèse, nous avons développé une nouvelle stratégie numérique qui permet de prendre en compte des particules de forme arbitrairement non convexe dans le solveur Grains3D. Elle consiste à décomposer une forme non convexe en plusieurs formes convexes quelconques. Nous avons nommé cette méthode « glued-convex ». Le modèle a été validé avec succès sur des résultats théoriques et expérimentaux de tambours tournants en présence de particules en forme de croix. Nous avons aussi utilisé le modèle pour simuler le chargement de réacteurs à lits fixes puis des lois de corrélation sur les taux de vide ont été déduites de nos résultats numériques. Dans ces travaux, nous avons aussi testé les performances parallèles de nos outils sur des simulations numériques à grande échelle de divers systèmes de particules convexes. La deuxième partie de cette thèse a été consacrée à l'extension du solveur PeliGRIFF à pouvoir prendre en compte la présence de particules multilobées (non convexes) dans des écoulements monophasiques. Une approche du type Simulation Numérique Directe, basée sur les Multiplicateurs de Lagrange Distribués / Domaine Fictif (DLM/FD), a alors été adoptée pour résoudre l'écoulement autour des particules. Une série d'études de convergence spatiale a été faite basée sur diverses configurations et divers régimes. Enfin, ces outils ont été utilisés pour simuler des écoulements au travers de lits fixes de particules de forme multi-lobée dans le but d'étudier l'influence de la forme des particules sur l'hydrodynamique dans ces lits. Les résultats ont montré une consistance avec les résultats expérimentaux disponibles dans la littérature. / Non convex granular media are involved in many industrial processes as, e.g., particle calcination/drying in rotating drums or solid catalyst particles in chemical reactors. In the case of optimizing the shape of catalysts, the experimental discrimination of new shapes based on packing density and pressure drop proved to be difficult due to the limited control of size distribution and loading procedure. There is therefore a strong interest in developing numerical tools to predict the dynamics of granular media made of particles of arbitrary shape and to simulate the flow of a fluid (either liquid or gas) around these particles. Non-convex particles are even more challenging than convex particles due to the potential multiplicity of contact points between two solid bodies. In this work, we implement new numerical strategies in our home made high-fidelity parallel numerical tools: Grains3D for granular dynamics of solid particles and PeliGRIFF for reactive fluid/solid flows. The first part of this work consists in extending the modelling capabilities of Grains3D from convex to non-convex particles based on the decomposition of a non-convex shape into a set of convex particles. We validate our numerical model with existing analytical solutions and experimental data on a rotating drum filled with 2D cross particle shapes. We also use Grains3D to study the loading of semi-periodic small size reactors with trilobic and quadralobic particles. The second part of this work consists in extending the modelling capabilities of PeliGRIFF to handle poly-lobed (and hence non-convex) particles. Our Particle Resolved Simulation (PRS) method is based on a Distributed Lagrange Multiplier / Fictitious Domain (DLM/FD) formulation combined with a Finite Volume / Staggered Grid (FV/SG) discretization scheme. Due to the lack of analytical solutions and experimental data, we assess the accuracy of our PRS method by examining the space convergence of the computed solution in assorted flow configurations such as the flow through a periodic array of poly-lobed particles and the flow in a small size packed bed reactor. Our simulation results are overall consistent with previous experimental work.