Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Dept. of Physics, March 1999. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 1998. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 324-331). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

No description available.

Realizar el diagnóstico financiero de una empresa implica indagar sobre las principales cuentas y su comportamiento, la mejor manera de realizar dicho diagnóstico es a partir de relacionar las cuentas y analizar los resultados relativos, es decir, obtener como resultado un indicador que muestre relación entre cuentas de los Estados financieros.

The purpose of diploma thesis is economic analysis of company Choceňská mlékárna s.r.o. The analysis has two parts: the first part is analysis of company environtement, the second part is fynancial analysis. At the and the comapny is compared with other companies in sector. Used methods are: PEST analysis, Porter's Five Forces, ratio analysis, pyramidal decomposition, value and bankruptcy indexes, intercompany comparison models.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the current ratio and the cash conversion cycle in evaluating working capital cash flows from a diagnostic and a predictive aspect.The author analyzed two case studies. Each company was reviewed over a five-year period. For each company the writer calculated the annual current ratio and the cash conversion cycle and examined the trends over the five-year periods under review.Results of these analyses indicated that the cash conversion cycle was more effective than the current ratio in diagnosing the health of each company’s working capital cash flows. The cash conversion cycle also signaled a change in liquidity earlier than the current ratio, suggesting that the former had more effective predictive capabilities than the latter. The central implication of these findings is that the cash conversion cycle might be a more useful diagnostic and predictive tool than the current ratio in liquidity analysis.The research findings were also consistent with improvement or deterioration in each company’s underlying strategic performance as measured by critical changes in its competitive position at the same point in time as the cash conversion cycle trend shifted.These results suggest that the cash conversion cycle may provide insights into the impact of planned product-market strategy on shareholder value.

The issue of dividends and what role it plays, has been the subject of discussion for decades. The main reason for this is that the chosen dividend policy for a company affects several different stakeholders, with shareholders being the most affected party. Determining dividend policy is influenced by multiple factors such as capital structure, potential stakeholder signaling and corporate culture concerning payouts. This study will investigate how the relationship between firm performance and stock price is affected by the level of dividends a firm pays. To explore this relationship, the authors will conduct a correlation and regression analysis that is performed on data collected on middle and large capitalization firms listed on the Stockholm stock exchange. The chosen time frame for this study is year 2007-2017. Several variables are included in the regression model in order to explore a potential relationship.  The findings of this study indicate that the stock price of high dividend yield firms are more dependent on financial performance compared to low dividend yield firms. However, an overall positive correlation is found between financial performance and stock price for both samples.

A osteoartrite de joelho caracteriza-se por um processo degenerativo da cartilagem articular e do osso subcondral, com a presença de processo inflamatório, dor, rigidez, fraqueza muscular, e que leva a uma incapacidade funcional. É uma doença degenerativa e incapacitante, e que necessita de reabilitação funcional para a melhora do indivíduo. Nos casos mais avançados, pode ser realizada a substituição da articulação degenerada por uma prótese. A cirurgia de artroplastia total de joelho pode levar o indivíduo a uma melhora funcional (redução da dor, com conseqüente melhora da capacidade de ativação do quadríceps por redução da inibição muscular reflexa, e possivelmente aumento na capacidade de produção de força do músculo) e a uma melhora da qualidade de vida. Em função disso o objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar as razões de torque e de ativação muscular dos flexores e extensores do joelho e a qualidade de vida e a dor entre indivíduos com osteoartrite de joelho (n=20) e indivíduos com artroplastia total de joelho (n=13). As razões de torque e de ativação dos músculos flexores e extensores de joelho foram avaliados durante contrações isométricas voluntárias máximas no ângulo de 60º, e contrações isocinéticas concêntricas e excêntricas nas velocidades de 60º/s e 180º/s. As razões de torque foram calculas a partir da divisão do valor do pico de torque flexor pelo extensor, e as razões de ativação da mesma forma, porém pela divisão do valor RMS do sinal EMG do músculo BF pelo valor RMS (Root Mean Square) dos músculos VL, RF e VM. As razões musculares foram comparadas entre os grupos e correlacionadas com o questionário Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Os escores do WOMAC e a dor (obtida através da escala visual analógica de dor) foram comparados entre os dois grupos. O grupo artroplastia obteve menores escores no WOMAC quando comparado ao grupo osteoartrite (p=0,022), o que indica melhora da qualidade de vida após a artroplastia total de joelho. O grupo artroplastia também apresentou menor intensidade de dor que o grupo osteoartrite (p=0,014). Tanto as razões de torque quanto as de ativação foram semelhantes entre os grupos. Uma correlação positiva foi encontrada entre as razões de torque isocinético convencional e o WOMAC para o grupo osteoartrite, nas velocidades de 60º/s (r=0,501 p=0,025) e 180º/s (r=0,863 p=0,0001). Isso demonstra que indivíduos com aumento das razões de torque, ou seja, maiores desequilíbrios musculares, apresentaram piora da qualidade de vida. Os resultados deste estudo apoiam a hipótese de que a técnica cirúrgica de artroplastia total de joelho propicia uma redução da dor e uma melhora da qualidade de vida. No entanto, não produz uma melhora na funcionalidade do sistema neuromuscular conforme demonstrou a análise das razões de torque e de ativação dos músculos flexores e extensores do joelho. / The knee osteoarthritis is characterized by a degenerative process of the joint cartilage and of the subcondral bone, with an inflammatory process, pain, joint stiffness, muscular weakness, leading to functional incapacity. It is a degenerative disease, which incapacitates the individual and needs functional rehabilitation. In the most advanced cases, the replacement of the joint is accomplished by the surgical implantation of a prosthesis. The total knee replacement surgery leads the patient to functional improvement (reduction of the pain, increasing muscle force production capacity, and possibly improvement the muscle unbalance) and an improvement of the quality of life. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the muscle torque ratios and the activation ratios of the knee flexor and extensor muscles, as well as the quality of life and the pain intensity amongst patients with knee osteoarthritis (n =20) and patients with total knee replacement (n =13). The torque and activation ratios of the flexor and extensor muscles were evaluated during maximal voluntary isometric contractions at a knee joint angle of 60º, and during maximal voluntary isokinetic contractions (concentric and eccentric) at the angular velocities of 60º/s and 180º/s. The torque ratios were calculated by dividing the maximal peak torque value of the knee flexor muscles by the corresponding knee extensors torque value. The activation ratios were calculated in a similar way, by dividing the RMS values of the biceps femoris muscle by the RMS (Root Mean Square) values of the knee extensor muscles (i.e. vastus lateralis, rectus femoris and vastus medialis). All ratios (torque and activation) were compared between the two groups and correlated with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire. The activation ratios showed a similar behavior as the torque ratios for all four muscles studied, and there was no difference for these ratios between the two groups. The WOMAC scores and the pain scores (obtained by the pain visual analog scale) were compared between the two groups. The total knee replacement group obtained smaller scores in WOMAC when compared to the osteoarthritis group (p =0,022). This indicates improvement in the quality of life after the total knee replacement surgery. Patients from the total knee replacement group also presented smaller pain than the osteoarthritis group (p =0,014). A positive correlation was observed between the conventional isokinetic torque ratios and the WOMAC for the osteoarthritis group at the angular velocities of 60º/s (r=0,501 p =0,025) and 180º/s (r =0,863 p =0,0001). This indicates that patients with increased torque ratios, or in other words larger muscular unbalances, also present worsening of the quality of life. The results here presented support the idea that the total knee replacement produces a reduction in pain and an improvement in the quality of life. However, it does not improve the knee functionality as the torque and activation ratios of the knee flexor and extensor muscles was similar between the two groups.

A osteoartrite de joelho caracteriza-se por um processo degenerativo da cartilagem articular e do osso subcondral, com a presença de processo inflamatório, dor, rigidez, fraqueza muscular, e que leva a uma incapacidade funcional. É uma doença degenerativa e incapacitante, e que necessita de reabilitação funcional para a melhora do indivíduo. Nos casos mais avançados, pode ser realizada a substituição da articulação degenerada por uma prótese. A cirurgia de artroplastia total de joelho pode levar o indivíduo a uma melhora funcional (redução da dor, com conseqüente melhora da capacidade de ativação do quadríceps por redução da inibição muscular reflexa, e possivelmente aumento na capacidade de produção de força do músculo) e a uma melhora da qualidade de vida. Em função disso o objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar as razões de torque e de ativação muscular dos flexores e extensores do joelho e a qualidade de vida e a dor entre indivíduos com osteoartrite de joelho (n=20) e indivíduos com artroplastia total de joelho (n=13). As razões de torque e de ativação dos músculos flexores e extensores de joelho foram avaliados durante contrações isométricas voluntárias máximas no ângulo de 60º, e contrações isocinéticas concêntricas e excêntricas nas velocidades de 60º/s e 180º/s. As razões de torque foram calculas a partir da divisão do valor do pico de torque flexor pelo extensor, e as razões de ativação da mesma forma, porém pela divisão do valor RMS do sinal EMG do músculo BF pelo valor RMS (Root Mean Square) dos músculos VL, RF e VM. As razões musculares foram comparadas entre os grupos e correlacionadas com o questionário Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Os escores do WOMAC e a dor (obtida através da escala visual analógica de dor) foram comparados entre os dois grupos. O grupo artroplastia obteve menores escores no WOMAC quando comparado ao grupo osteoartrite (p=0,022), o que indica melhora da qualidade de vida após a artroplastia total de joelho. O grupo artroplastia também apresentou menor intensidade de dor que o grupo osteoartrite (p=0,014). Tanto as razões de torque quanto as de ativação foram semelhantes entre os grupos. Uma correlação positiva foi encontrada entre as razões de torque isocinético convencional e o WOMAC para o grupo osteoartrite, nas velocidades de 60º/s (r=0,501 p=0,025) e 180º/s (r=0,863 p=0,0001). Isso demonstra que indivíduos com aumento das razões de torque, ou seja, maiores desequilíbrios musculares, apresentaram piora da qualidade de vida. Os resultados deste estudo apoiam a hipótese de que a técnica cirúrgica de artroplastia total de joelho propicia uma redução da dor e uma melhora da qualidade de vida. No entanto, não produz uma melhora na funcionalidade do sistema neuromuscular conforme demonstrou a análise das razões de torque e de ativação dos músculos flexores e extensores do joelho. / The knee osteoarthritis is characterized by a degenerative process of the joint cartilage and of the subcondral bone, with an inflammatory process, pain, joint stiffness, muscular weakness, leading to functional incapacity. It is a degenerative disease, which incapacitates the individual and needs functional rehabilitation. In the most advanced cases, the replacement of the joint is accomplished by the surgical implantation of a prosthesis. The total knee replacement surgery leads the patient to functional improvement (reduction of the pain, increasing muscle force production capacity, and possibly improvement the muscle unbalance) and an improvement of the quality of life. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the muscle torque ratios and the activation ratios of the knee flexor and extensor muscles, as well as the quality of life and the pain intensity amongst patients with knee osteoarthritis (n =20) and patients with total knee replacement (n =13). The torque and activation ratios of the flexor and extensor muscles were evaluated during maximal voluntary isometric contractions at a knee joint angle of 60º, and during maximal voluntary isokinetic contractions (concentric and eccentric) at the angular velocities of 60º/s and 180º/s. The torque ratios were calculated by dividing the maximal peak torque value of the knee flexor muscles by the corresponding knee extensors torque value. The activation ratios were calculated in a similar way, by dividing the RMS values of the biceps femoris muscle by the RMS (Root Mean Square) values of the knee extensor muscles (i.e. vastus lateralis, rectus femoris and vastus medialis). All ratios (torque and activation) were compared between the two groups and correlated with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire. The activation ratios showed a similar behavior as the torque ratios for all four muscles studied, and there was no difference for these ratios between the two groups. The WOMAC scores and the pain scores (obtained by the pain visual analog scale) were compared between the two groups. The total knee replacement group obtained smaller scores in WOMAC when compared to the osteoarthritis group (p =0,022). This indicates improvement in the quality of life after the total knee replacement surgery. Patients from the total knee replacement group also presented smaller pain than the osteoarthritis group (p =0,014). A positive correlation was observed between the conventional isokinetic torque ratios and the WOMAC for the osteoarthritis group at the angular velocities of 60º/s (r=0,501 p =0,025) and 180º/s (r =0,863 p =0,0001). This indicates that patients with increased torque ratios, or in other words larger muscular unbalances, also present worsening of the quality of life. The results here presented support the idea that the total knee replacement produces a reduction in pain and an improvement in the quality of life. However, it does not improve the knee functionality as the torque and activation ratios of the knee flexor and extensor muscles was similar between the two groups.