本研究根據行為財務學中反應不足的理論針對台灣上市股票進行動能策略的研究。首先根據台股1992到2005年之上市股票為樣本進行單純動能策略研究，發現台股具有中期及長期動能現象(長期在此定義為持有期三年)，接著以Fama and French 三因子模型進行風險調整，結果發現動能策略具有顯著的可行性，其報酬不受三因子調整而損失。並再加入公司特徵變數，發現大規模公司具有較大之動能效果，且低帳面市值比公司也具較大之動能效果，而大型股具有較大的動能效果與一般認知的反應不足理論不符，而由後續之研究針對規模及帳面市值比做相關分析發現兩者間具有高度的負相關，因此大型股子樣本與低帳面市值比子樣本可能具高度的雷同，因此大型股的動能策略報酬較高，其實可能反應的是成長股所具有的反應不足現象。 接著根據單純動能表現結果，結合前期兩期表現為條件，組合成中長期動能策略之構想。結果發現，中長期動能策略在大型股與成長股此兩個子樣本集中有較高的可行性。由於中長期動能策略的基礎是建立在運用兩股單純動能策略的力量，因此單純動能策略的顯著性是中長期動能策略能否成功的重要關鍵，也因此由實證結果發現，在不同的子樣本集中，受到其單純動能策略顯著性強弱的影響，使得中長期動能策略的報酬顯著性受到影響，其中尤以低帳面市值比（成長股）之中長期動能策略動能效果最為顯著。

This thesis is a case study that investigates the attitudes and behaviours of learners of a Preparatory English distance learning course (BEL 100 e-PJJ) offered at the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia, and whether those attitudes and behaviours are influenced by their prior educational experiences and whether cultural factors may also have influence in the attitudes and behaviours of these learners. The research adopts a mixed-method case study design combining quantitative and qualitative approaches to the data collection and analysis. Thematic analysis has been adopted as a tool to analyse the interview data qualitatively. The thematic analyses constructed thematic networks which Attride-Stirling (2001) stressed served as an organizing principle and an illustrative tool in interpreting the analysed interview data. Another major source of data collected for this study was the asynchronous forum discussion transcripts. To match the needs of this study, several categories and examples of Henri’s (1992) framework combined with elements from Garrison, Anderson and Archer (2000) CoI model and Hofstede’s (1991) cultural values tool were adapted in analysing the asynchronous forum discussion transcripts. This was to identify the factors which contributed to the attitude and behaviour of the BEL 100 e-PJJ learners. This study has highlighted that the process of learning and teaching of the UiTM Malay/Bumiputera learners depend on the support and training given to the distance learners and facilitators. Learners’ attitudes, behaviours, facilitators’ intervention and purposeful tasks were found to be important in supporting active participation and effective interaction within the course.

No description available.

This study mainly addresses the problem of estimating the prior earthquake damage on the response of reinforced concrete structures to future earthquakes. The motivation has arisen from the heavy damages or collapses that occurred in many reinforced concrete structures following two major earthquakes that recently occurred in the Marmara Region, Turkey. The analysis tool employed for this purpose is the package named IDARC2D. Deterioration parameters of IDARC&#039 / s hysteretic model have been calibrated using a search method. In the calibration process experimental data of a total of twenty-two beam and column specimens, tested under constant and variable amplitude displacement histories, has been used. Fine-tuning of deterioration parameters is essential for more realistic predictions about inelastic behavior and structural damage. In order to provide more realistic damage prediction, three ranges of parameters are proposed. Some damage controlling structural parameters have been assessed via a large number of two-dimensional section analyses, inelastic time history and damage analyses of SDOF systems and seismic vulnerability analyses of reinforced concrete buildings. Inelastic time history and damage analyses of numerous SDOF systems have been carried out to determine whether the loading history has an effect on damage and dissipated hysteretic energy. Then this emphasis is directed to the analyses of MDOF systems. In the analyses of the SDOF systems, various forms of constant and variable amplitude inelastic displacement reversals and synthetic ground motions composed of one of the four earthquake records preceded or followed by its modified records acted as a prior or successive earthquake, have been used. The analyses of two five-story R/C buildings have been caried out using synthetic accelerograms comprised of base input provided by the two recorded ground motions. It is shown that both damage progression and cumulative hysteretic energy dissipated along a path seem to depend on the number and amplitude of cycles constituting the path. However, final damage and accumulated hysteretic energy dissipated along a loading path are independent of the ordering of the same number and amplitude cycles along the path. There is a nonlinear relationship between the earthquake excitation intensity and final damage attained in the end. Increase in the acceleration amplitude leads to exponential increase in damage. As the prior earthquake intensity increases the damage from the succeding main earthquake decreases. A definite ground motion acting as prior and successive earthquake causes substantially different amount of damage. Prior earthquake damage does not substantially affect the maximum drift response in future larger earthquakes. A MDOF frame type structure with aprior damage suffers less overall damage in an earthquake in comparison with the one without a prior damage.

在臺灣學生人數減少及大學校院產能過剩，導致大學正規教育面臨相當大的衝擊，而產業創新條例提出我國必須訂定產業人才職能基準及核發能力鑑定證明，及東協－中國自由貿易區、東協－澳洲－紐西蘭自由貿易區（協定）強調區內自然人移動，若我國未積極建立與該自由貿易區銜接之國家資歷架構，將無法促成高等教育輸出、資歷對照及人才流動。 故為協助大學校院面對此項影響，有關建立前學習認證(Recognition of Prior Learning, RPL)、我國國家資歷架構(National Qualifications Framework, NQF)及生涯歷程檔案(Career Portfolio)之整合銜接體系，實為我國高等及技職教育發展及人才培育之迫切任務。本文藉由文獻分析探討香港、英國、澳洲及歐盟資歷架構相關之發展背景、政策分析、各級學校與高等及技職教育學制發展特色；透過瞭解香港、英國、澳洲及歐盟高等及技職教育之發展，除建構我國資歷架構(Taiwan Qualifications Framework, TQF)參考模式外，並可作為高等及技職教育發展之配套措施。 本研究將以「深度訪談法」(in-depth interview)為蒐集資料的主要方法；而在資料的分析部份，則採用「紮根理論」(grounded theory)，最後則歸納結論及提出建議。其中包括「建立國家資歷架構方法、程序及注意事項」、「實施資歷架構對國家發展可獲致之助益」、「實施資歷架構可能遭遇之困難」、「實施資歷架構應有之配套措施」、「先前學習認證之內涵定義及實施注意事項」、「實施先前學習認證對於教育及訓練之助益」、「政府實施先前學習認證應有之配套措施」、「實施生涯歷程檔案之關鍵成功因素及注意事項」、「生涯歷程檔案對於大學校院招生具有助益，對就業市場則助益不大」、「生涯歷程檔案有助於個人生涯發展」、「運用資歷架構進行大學校院評鑑仍有其限制」、「大學經營應該具備多元彈性、延後分流及橫向縱向策略聯盟」、「陸生來台招生政策無法解決高等教育招生困境，應朝向將高等教育資源運用至大陸辦學」、「大學應建立多元學生來源之彈性經營方式，並應從教育產業觀點，增進大學經營效益」等14項研究結論。 本研究並依據文獻探討、資料蒐集與研究分析歸納，提出國家歷程檔案參考模式，生涯歷程檔案通用模式，及前學習認證、國家資歷架構及生涯歷程檔案之交互整合模型。並提出中央政府機關、教育學術機關及大學校院推動實施國家資歷架構整合模型之建議。 / With the number of students on the wane in Taiwan and schools unable to fill their quotas, the educational system in universities and colleges on the island is facing a serious crisis. At the same time, the Industrial Innovation Act states that Taiwan needs to establish professional standards and determine verification standards for qualification even as free trade agreements between China and ASEAN and between China and Australia and New Zealand emphasize freer movement of people within those areas. In light of these developments, if Taiwan does not strive to set up a National Qualifications Network it will be impossible to carry out high level education exports, record checks and personnel exchanges as a result. In order to help universities and colleges cope with these factors, we hereby propose the establishment of a system for Recognition of Previous Learning (RPL) and National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and a Career Portfolio to consolidate and connect development of higher education and technical training in Taiwan. This article is based on analysis of written reports and in-depth studies of the backgrounds, policies, types of schools and special characteristics of higher education and technical training institutions in Hong Kong, England and Australia. Understanding the development of higher education and technical training in Hong Kong, England, Australia and the European Union is intended as a reference for setting up a Taiwan Qualifications Framework or TQF and can serve as a complement in the development of higher education and technical training in Taiwan. The principal method used to collect information in this study was the in-depth interview, and grounded theory was used to analyze the data. The final step was to reach conclusions and offer suggestions. There were a total of 14 such articles including “Methods, Procedures and Cautions in Setting Up a National Qualifications Framework”; “Setting Up a Qualifications Network Can Be an Aid to National Development”; “Potential Problems in Setting Up a Qualifications Framework”; “Complementary Measures Needed to Carry Out a Qualifications Framework”; “Inherent Definition of Recognition of Prior Learning and Points to be Noted in Implementing RPL”; “The Benefits of Recognition of Prior Learning in Education and Training”; “Points to Note when a Government Implements Recognition of Prior Learning”; “Keys to Success in Putting together a Career Portfolio Program and Related Concerns”; “Career Portfolios Are Helpful to Universities and Colleges in Attracting Students but Have Limited Use in Seeking Employment”; “Career Portfolios Can Be Useful in Personal Career Development”; “A Qualifications Framework Is of Limited Use in Evaluating Universities and Colleges”; “Universities Need Flexible Resources, Extended Interchanges and Both Lateral and Vertical Strategic Alliances in Their Operations”; “Failure to Devise a Policy for Students from China to Get into Universities and Colleges Is Causing Problems in Higher Education in Taiwan; Higher Education Assets Should Be Used More in China”; and “Universities Should Set Up Flexible Models to Draw Students from a Wider Variety of Sources and Should Pursue Their Operating Benefits from the Standpoint of Being an Educational Business”. This research is also based on a systematic analysis of other written reports and analyses gathered in the process of research and includes a model for a National Qualifications Framework, an applied model for a Career Portfolio, and interactive models for the RPL, NQF and Career Portfolio. Finally, there are suggestions and a comprehensive model for use by Central Government agencies, educational agencies and universities and colleges.

Esta tesis se ocupa de los problemas de la estimación econométrica con muestras pequeñas, en los contextos del los VARs monetarios y de la investigación empírica del crecimiento. Primero, demuestra cómo mejorar el análisis con VAR estructural en presencia de muestra pequeña. El primer capítulo adapta la especificación con prior intercambiable (exchangeable prior) al contexto del VAR y obtiene nuevos resultados sobre la transmisión monetaria en nuevos miembros de la Unión Europea. El segundo capítulo propone un prior sobre las tasas de crecimiento iniciales de las variables modeladas. Este prior resulta en la corrección del sesgo clásico de la muestra pequeña en series temporales y reconcilia puntos de vista Bayesiano y clásico sobre la estimación de modelos de series temporales. El tercer capítulo estudia el efecto del error de medición de la renta nacional sobre resultados empíricos de crecimiento económico, y demuestra que los procedimientos econométricos robustos a incertidumbre acerca del modelo son muy sensibles al error de medición en los datos. / This thesis deals with the problems of econometric estimation with small samples, in the contexts of monetary VARs and growth empirics. First, it shows how to improve structural VAR analysis on short datasets. The first chapter adapts the exchangeable prior specification to the VAR context, and obtains new findings about monetary transmission in New Member States. The second chapter proposes a prior on initial growth rates of modeled variables, which tackles the Classical small-sample bias in time series, and reconciles Bayesian and Classical points of view on time series estimation. The third chapter studies the effect of measurement error in income data on growth empirics, and shows that econometric procedures which are robust to model uncertainty are very sensitive to measurement error of the plausible size and properties.

In this article, the authors describe how the International Financial Corporation of the World Bank, and the 77 global financial institutions that have signed on to the Equator Principles, have come to the conclusion that social conflict with indigenous communities needs to be resolved through the application of free, prior, informed and consent. While the requirement to obtain consent of an indigenous people would appear to make it more difficult for extractive industry projects to proceed, theories of dispute resolution developed by the Harvard Negotiation Project suggest that where consent is obtained, it is more likely thatc onflicts will be reduced.

Dans un contexte industriel compétitif, une prévision fiable du rendement est une information primordiale pour déterminer avec précision les coûts de production et donc assurer la rentabilité d'un projet. La quantification des risques en amont du démarrage d'un processus de fabrication permet des prises de décision efficaces. Durant la phase de conception d'un produit, les efforts de développement peuvent être alors identifiés et ordonnés par priorité. Afin de mesurer l'impact des fluctuations des procédés industriels sur les performances d'un produit donné, la construction de la probabilité du risque défaillance est développée dans cette thèse. La relation complexe entre le processus de fabrication et le produit conçu (non linéaire, caractéristiques multi-modales...) est assurée par une méthode de régression bayésienne. Un champ aléatoire représente ainsi, pour chaque configuration du produit, l'information disponible concernant la probabilité de défaillance. Après une présentation du modèle gaussien, nous décrivons un raisonnement bayésien évitant le choix a priori des paramètres de position et d'échelle. Dans notre modèle, le mélange gaussien a priori, conditionné par des données mesurées (ou calculées), conduit à un posterior caractérisé par une distribution de Student multivariée. La nature probabiliste du modèle est alors exploitée pour construire une probabilité de risque de défaillance, définie comme une variable aléatoire. Pour ce faire, notre approche consiste à considérer comme aléatoire toutes les données inconnues, inaccessibles ou fluctuantes. Afin de propager les incertitudes, une approche basée sur les ensembles flous fournit un cadre approprié pour la mise en œuvre d'un modèle bayésien imitant le raisonnement d'expert. L'idée sous-jacente est d'ajouter un minimum d'information a priori dans le modèle du risque de défaillance. Notre méthodologie a été mise en œuvre dans un logiciel nommé GoNoGo. La pertinence de cette approche est illustrée par des exemples théoriques ainsi que sur un exemple réel provenant de la société STMicroelectronics. / In competitive industries, a reliable yield forecasting is a prime factor to accurately determine the production costs and therefore ensure profitability. Indeed, quantifying the risks long before the effective manufacturing process enables fact-based decision-making. From the development stage, improvement efforts can be early identified and prioritized. In order to measure the impact of industrial process fluctuations on the product performances, the construction of a failure risk probability estimator is developed in this thesis. The complex relationship between the process technology and the product design (non linearities, multi-modal features...) is handled via random process regression. A random field encodes, for each product configuration, the available information regarding the risk of non-compliance. After a presentation of the Gaussian model approach, we describe a Bayesian reasoning avoiding a priori choices of location and scale parameters. The Gaussian mixture prior, conditioned by measured (or calculated) data, yields a posterior characterized by a multivariate Student distribution. The probabilistic nature of the model is then operated to derive a failure risk probability, defined as a random variable. To do this, our approach is to consider as random all unknown, inaccessible or fluctuating data. In order to propagate uncertainties, a fuzzy set approach provides an appropriate framework for the implementation of a Bayesian model mimicking expert elicitation. The underlying leitmotiv is to insert minimal a priori information in the failure risk model. Our reasoning has been implemented in a software called GoNoGo. The relevancy of this concept is illustrated with theoretical examples and on real-data example coming from the company STMicroelectronics.

This thesis investigates the role of prior use in common and statutory trade mark law. In the United States a pertinent requirement is priority of use. In the United Kingdom and South Africa, a reputation must be present. In the United Kingdom a plaintiff is required to have goodwill in the country, but in the United States and South Africa it is not required. The conception of a mark does not qualify for protection. It is not required that a business must have actually entered the market. In the United States the general approach is that a plaintiff will not receive protection in a remote area, but regard must be had to zones of natural expansion. British and South African law is the same, and protection may be obtained in areas where there is no trading. Where a dual reputation exists, neither party will be able to act against the other. The mere fact that the user of a mark was aware of the use thereof by another person, does not exclude protection. A trade mark application can be opposed on the basis of another application, combined with use of a mark, or on the ground of prior use. In some instances the fact that a mark has been filed will influence the burden of proof. In general, a registration can be expunged on the same grounds as would constitute grounds of opposition. The concurrent use of a mark can form the basis for the registration of a mark. In the United States, the use must have taken place prior to the filing date of the other party, but in the United Kingdom and South Africa, prior to the own filing date. In the latter two countries, knowledge of a mark is not necessarily exclusionary. Prior use is generally accepted as a defence to an infringement action. It is, however, noted that in various countries, it is only use prior to the relevant date that will be protected, and there is not necessarily a right to extend the scope of use concerned. / Mercantile Law / LL.D. (Mercantile Law)

The present study examines whether recognition of prior learning (RPL) is being implemented in the workplace, its effectiveness and impact on improving the lives of the previously disadvantaged groups and its contribution towards enhancing a culture of lifelong learning in South Africa. The main aim of this research is to explore the implementation of RPL and the extent of its effectiveness in the workplace, with particular focus on Northern Region of the Eskom Distribution. This was hoped to be addressed through the following objectives: The first objective was to determine the extent to which Eskom employees are aware of the RPL practices and to ascertain the level of awareness among employees. The second objective was to explore the current trends and practices on RPL at the workplace. The third objective was to determine and identify if there are any gaps. The last objective was to suggest ways that can be used to strengthen the RPL practice in the workplace. To this end, a questionnaire was administered to a randomly selected sample of 242 employees. In addition, interviews were conducted with three purposively selected (information rich) participants. The findings reveal that Eskom has policies and guidelines on RPL and a clearly stipulated purpose which is in line with the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), however, the current RPL policies and procedures have not been piloted within the Northern Region, the information has not yet reached everyone in the business, and employees’ level of awareness is still low. Findings also reveal that RPL does exist in Distribution and efforts to implement it are visible/traceable. A number of milestones and achievements are noted in the business as a whole as well as in the region, although a lot still needs to be done to ensure full and effective implementation. The last finding shows that there are a number of gaps and challenges impeding the success of RPL. These range from capacity building to quality assurance. On the basis of the findings, a number of recommendations to strengthen the RPL practice in the workplace are proposed and suggested. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)