Atualmente, o ambiente industrial é caracterizado pela intensa globalização, competição entre cadeias de suprimentos, manutenção das competências centrais e terceirização dos demais serviços. Desta forma, a gestão das relações entre os agentes independentes da cadeia de suprimentos e do processo de aquisição são fatores potenciais para o aumento da competitividade empresarial. No contexto da construção civil, a seleção adequada dos parceiros de negócios é um elemento fundamental para o sucesso dos projetos, uma vez que uma grande proporção das atividades podem ser sub-contratadas e possuem relação de precedência entre si. Os suprimentos representam um percentual significativo dos custos das construções, 60%, dado que demonstra o potencial de lucratividade passível de ser atingida ao estruturar o processo de seleção de fornecedores na construção civil. Seleções baseadas no preço prejudicam os sub-empreiteiros e fornecedores mais responsáveis na concorrência, contribuindo para a queda do nível de desempenho e redução da eficiência global do projeto, uma vez que as ineficiências são somadas ao longo da cadeia. Através da estruturação do processo de seleção de fornecedores, é possível mitigar os riscos de suprimentos oriundos de falhas destes contratados ao longo da relação. O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver uma sistemática para seleção de fornecedores críticos, considerando diversos critérios além do preço, entre qualitativos e quantitativos. A abordagem visa também, a eliminação da subjetividade do processo e a extração do melhor fornecedor de forma objetiva. Para tanto, foram definidas dimensões competitivas para avaliar os fornecedores e posteriormente foram utilizados dois métodos quantitativos, Teoria dos Conjuntos Difusos (TCD) e Análise de Componentes Principais (ACP), para selecionar o melhor fornecedor dentre as alternativas, com base na avaliação de múltiplos agentes. / Currently, the industrial environment is characterized by intense globalization, competition between supply chains, maintenance of core competencies and outsourcing of other services. Thus, the management of relationships between independent agents of the supply chain and the procurement process are potential factors for increasing enterprise competitiveness. In the construction context, the proper selection of business partners is a key element for the success of projects, since a large proportion of the activities can be sub-contracted and have precedence relationship between them. Supplies represent a significant percentage of the cost of buildings, 60%, information that demonstrates the potential of profitability that can be achieved by structuring the process of supplier selection in the construction industry. Selection based on price take off from competition the sub-contractors and suppliers more responsible, contributing to the decline in the level of performance and reduction in the overall project efficiency, since inefficiencies are summed through the chain. By structuring the supplier selection process, it is possible to mitigate the supply risk arising from failures of these suppliers during the relationship. The objective of this study was to develop a systematic for selection of critical suppliers, considering several criteria other than price, among qualitative and quantitative. The approach also aims at eliminating the subjectivity of the process and the extraction of the best supplier in an objective way. In order to that, competitive dimensions were set to evaluate vendors and subsequently two quantitative methods, Fuzzy Sets Theory (FST) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were used to select the best supplier among the alternatives based on multiple agents evaluation.

Hiponimia ni uhusiano wa kifahiwa unaodhihirika baina ya leksimu ya jumla (hipanimu) na mahususi (hiponimu). Kama vile hipanimu mzazi hujumuisha hiponimu baba na mama. Uhusiano huu wa kihiponimia ulidhukuriwa na wanaisimu wa awali kuwa unahusisha leksimu nomino pekee. Hata hivyo, tafiti za hivi punde zinadhihirisha kuwa hiponimia huweza kudhihirika pia miongoni mwa kategoria za vivumishi, vielezi na vitenzi. Ingawa kuna midhihiriko ya hiponimia za vitenzi vya Kiswahili, wataalamu kadha wameelekea kushughulikia hiponimia za nomino na kutotilia maanani vitenzi. Hivyo basi, makala hii imechanganua uhusiano wa kihiponimia unaodhihirika miongoni mwa vitenzi teule vya Kiswahili. Katika kushughulikia suala hili, hipanimu vitenzi 24 kutoka kamusi za Kiswahili zimeteuli¬wa kimakusudi na hiponimu husika kutolewa. Nadharia ya Uchanganuzi Vijenzi kwa mujibu wa Katz na Fodor imezingatiwa katika uchanganuzi wa hiponimia hizi. Katika nadharia hii, sifa bainifu za hiponimu husika huonyeshwa kwa kutumia alama maalum za [+, -]. Data kuhusu hiponimia za vitenzi ilipekuliwa kutoka kamusi za Kiswahili kwa kuzingatia mwelekeo wa kiishara au kisintaksia kwa mujibu wa Hearst, na Snow na wenzake ili kuweza kutambua hipanimu na hiponimu husika katika sentensi. Hiponimia hizi zimechanganuliwa na kuwasilishwa kwa mtindo wa nadharia ya seti. / Hyponymy is a sense relation existing between general lexemes (hypernym) and the specific ones (hyponym). For instance, a hypernym parent includes hyponyms like father and mother. The hyponymy relation was regarded by earlier linguists that it could exist only amongst nouns. However, recent studies indicate that hyponymy can also be manifested in other categories such as adjectives, adverbs and verbs. Though there is hyponymy relation existing amongst Kiswahili verbs, various scho¬lars have tended to focus on nominal hyponymy and disregard verbal hyponymy. Therefore, this article has analyzed the hyponymy relation existing amongst selected Kiswahili verbs. In this regard, 24 verbal hypernyms from Kiswahili dictionaries were purposively sampled and their specific hyponyms indicated. Componential Analysis theory by Katz and Fodor has been used in the analysis of these hyponyms. The theory focuses on distinctive features of specific hyponyms that are normally shown by the use of specific signs [+, -]. The data on verbal hyponymy was observed from the Kiswahili dictionaries by the application of symbolic or syntactic approach propounded by Hearst, and Snow et al in order to identify the hypernyms and specific hyponyms in a sentence. These hyponymy relations are analyzed and presented using the set theory style.

The thesis follows on Petr Vopìnka's alternative theory of sets and semisets by extending notions of in nite closeness and monad for real spaces of several variables. It speci es and explains on examples the basic terminology of this theory, namely notions of sets, semisets and domains. It brings up two worlds | an ancient and a classical one | by which it shows a dual way of looking at real functions of several variables. That is used for examining local properties like continuity, limit or derivative of a function at a point. The peak of the thesis is an alternative formulation of the implicit function theorem and the inverse function theorem. The thesis also contains translation rules, which allow us to reformulate all these results from an alternative into a traditional formulation used in mathematical analysis.

There have been numerous studies on formal methods but little utilisation of formal methods in the commercial world. This can be attributed to many factors, such as that few specialists know how to use formal methods. Moreover, the use of mathematical notation leads to the perception that formal methods are difficult. Formal methods can be described as system design methods by which complex computer systems are built using mathematical notation and logic. Formal methods have been used in the software development world since 1940, that is to say, from the earliest stage of computer development. To date, there has been a slow adoption of formal methods, which are mostly used for mission-critical projects in, for example, the military and the aviation industry. Researchers worldwide are conducting studies on formal methods, but the research mostly deals with path planning and control and not the runtime verification of autonomous systems. The main focus of this dissertation is the question of how to increase the pace at which formal methods are adopted in the business or commercial world. As part of this dissertation, a framework was developed to facilitate the use of formal methods in the commercial world. The framework mainly focuses on education, support tools, buy-in and remuneration. The framework was validated using a case study to illustrate its practicality. This dissertation also focuses on different types of formal methods and how they are used, as well as the link between formal methods and other software development techniques. An ERP system specification is presented in both natural language (informal) and formal notation, which demonstrates how a formal specification can be derived from an informal specification using the enhanced established strategy for constructing a Z specification as a guideline. Success stories of companies that are applying formal methods in the commercial world are also presented. / School of Computing

: leaves 122-134 / There have been numerous studies on formal methods but little utilisation of formal methods in the commercial world. This can be attributed to many factors, such as that few specialists know how to use formal methods. Moreover, the use of mathematical notation leads to the perception that formal methods are difficult. Formal methods can be described as system design methods by which complex computer systems are built using mathematical notation and logic. Formal methods have been used in the software development world since 1940, that is to say, from the earliest stage of computer development. To date, there has been a slow adoption of formal methods, which are mostly used for mission-critical projects in, for example, the military and the aviation industry. Researchers worldwide are conducting studies on formal methods, but the research mostly deals with path planning and control and not the runtime verification of autonomous systems. The main focus of this dissertation is the question of how to increase the pace at which formal methods are adopted in the business or commercial world. As part of this dissertation, a framework was developed to facilitate the use of formal methods in the commercial world. The framework mainly focuses on education, support tools, buy-in and remuneration. The framework was validated using a case study to illustrate its practicality. This dissertation also focuses on different types of formal methods and how they are used, as well as the link between formal methods and other software development techniques. An ERP system specification is presented in both natural language (informal) and formal notation, which demonstrates how a formal specification can be derived from an informal specification using the enhanced established strategy for constructing a Z specification as a guideline. Success stories of companies that are applying formal methods in the commercial world are also presented. / School of Computing / M. Sc. (Computing)

<div>In this thesis, we present two main results in applied topology.</div><div> In our first result, we describe an algorithm for computing a semi-algebraic description of the quotient map of a proper semi-algebraic equivalence relation given as input. The complexity of the algorithm is doubly exponential in terms of the size of the polynomials describing the semi-algebraic set and equivalence relation.</div><div> In our second result, we use the fact that homology groups of a simplicial complex are isomorphic to the space of harmonic chains of that complex to obtain a representative cycle for each homology class. We then establish stability results on the harmonic chain groups.</div>

The dissertation thesis consists of two thematic parts. The first part, i.e. chapters 2, 3 and 4, contains results concerning the topic of a new book of the supervisor and coauthors V. Kanovei and M. Sabok "Canonical Ramsey Theory on Polish Spaces". In Chapter 2, there is proved a canonization of all equivalence relations Borel reducible to equivalences definable by analytic P-ideals for the Silver ideal. Moreover, it investigates and classifies sube- quivalences of the equivalence relation E0. In Chapter 3, there is proved a canonization of all equivalence relations Borel reducible to equivalences de- finable by Fσ P-ideals for the Laver ideal and in Chapter 4, we prove the canonization for all analytic equivalence relations for the ideal derived from the Carlson-Simpson (Dual Ramsey) theorem. The second part, consisting of Chapter 5, deals with the existence of universal and ultrahomogeneous Polish metric structures. For instance, we construct a universal Polish metric space which is moreover equipped with countably many closed relations or with a Lipschitz function to an arbitrarily chosen Polish metric space. This work can be considered as an extension of the result of P. Urysohn who constructed a universal and ultrahomogeneous Polish metric space.

Social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook and Flickr play an important role in disseminating breaking news about natural disasters, terrorist attacks and other events. They serve as sources of first-hand information to deliver instantaneous news to the masses, since millions of users visit these sites to post and read news items regularly. Hence, by exploring e fficient mathematical techniques like Dempster-Shafer theory and Modi ed Dempster's rule of combination, we can process large amounts of data from these sites to extract useful information in a timely manner. In surveillance related applications, the objective of processing voluminous social network data is to predict events like revolutions and terrorist attacks before they unfold. By fusing the soft and often unreliable data from these sites with hard and more reliable data from sensors like radar and the Automatic Identi cation System (AIS), we can improve our event prediction capability. In this paper, we present a class of algorithms to fuse hard sensor data with soft social network data (tweets) in an e ffective manner. Preliminary results using are also presented. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

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Outcomes Based Education (OBE), has been, since its inception, fraught with problems. OBE in its very nature is complex. To fully embrace this method and ensure its success, schools must be able to make the necessary paradigm shift. This can only be achieved when schools receive relevant and empowering training, support and development. In other words, organisational development must be the key words. The aim of this study is to explore the impact of organisational development interventions on the implementation of OBE. The case study method was employed where it was realised that schools that received organisational development interventions, together with Outcomes Based Education, were able to implement this method with greater understanding, skill, and confidence. The investigation recommends an organisational development design that could be used instead of the cascade model, and provides suggestions on what can be done to ensure a more successful implementation process. / Educational Studies / M. Ed (Education Management)