This study seeks to explore what conditions contribute to sexual violence against refugees in conflict-induced humanitarian settings by focusing particularly on whether the physical and social insecurity in refugee camps may affect the reported levels of sexual violence. This study uses the method of structured focused comparison to study and compare the two Jordanian refugee camps Zaatari and Azraq during the period of 2014–2019. In particular, this thesis argues that high physical and social insecurity in conflict-induced humanitarian settings will lead to higher levels of sexual violence against refugees. By borrowing from the literature on conflict-related sexual violence, this study seeks to contribute to the scarce literature on sexual violence in humanitarian settings and explore the possible links between the occurrence of and explanations for this violence. Albeit modestly, the main findings suggest that the hypothesis is supported as the levels of physical and social insecurity seem to correspond with the expected variation in levels of reported sexual violence. Nevertheless, data limitations and other challenges call for caution and future research is needed to establish a more profound basis for this phenomenon.

The theories of the law of one price and purchasing power parity are thought to hold almost exactly in financial market, but it seems less likely to occur in international trade where arbitrage opportunities take place. The purpose of this study is to test whether the purchasing power parity holds for commodities in various national markets, for which a quantitative method is followed. For identical goods, the prices should be equal across countries. In fact, the prices vary significantly across ‘truly homogenous’ goods within a product group. The finding suggests that differences in productivity and value-added tax do have significant positive impacts on price settings. As a consequence, purchasing power parity definitely does not prevail as well as law of one price does not. Further studies can use these findings to examine the extent and permanence of violations of the law of one price.

This study examines the impact of forewarning video game players about the difficulty level. The intention behind this is to ascertain whether or not there are effects from doing so and to explore what kind of implications they might have. The data collection was achieved by allowing participants to play three consecutive levels in a video game. The difficulty of the task was measured using the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) and the completion time of the levels. The data analysis showed that there is an effect on the players’ feeling of workload when forewarned about the difficulty level in a video game. We highlight implications that our data can have when designing games, things designers might have to keep in mind, and we compare our findings with what other studies have found relating to research into difficulty. / Den här studien undersöker effekten av att förvarna spelare av digitala spel om svårighetsgraden. Avsikten bakom detta är att ta reda på om det finns effekter av att göra det eller inte och att undersöka vilken typ av implikationer det kan ha. Datainsamlingen åstadkoms genom att låta varje deltagare spela tre konsekutiva banor i ett digitalt spel. Den upplevda svårighetsgraden mättes med hjälp av NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) och tiden det tog att klara banorna. Dataanalysen visade att det finns en effekt på spelarnas känsla av arbetsbelastning när de förvarnas om svårighetsgraden i ett digitalt spel. Vi lyfter fram implikationer som vår data kan ha när man designar spel, saker som designers kan behöva tänka på, och vi jämför våra resultat med vad andra studier har funnit rörande forskning om svårighetsgrad.

Rights and responsibilities are enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. These rights are the basic rights of every human being. This study focuses on the rights and responsibilities of Grade 3 learners across diverse school settings; I identified five significant aims. The main aim of this research was to use the findings gained to assist and guide educators and all adults working with children in all school contexts and in all grade levels to transform education related to rights and responsibilities to empower children. The aim of the study was to understand the experiences of Grade 3 learners regarding their rights and responsibilities across diverse settings. My objectives were firstly to investigate whether children were educated and informed about their rights and responsibilities as child citizens. Secondly, to explore possible gaps in the knowledge of children’s experience and understanding of their rights and responsibilities. Thirdly, to give children an opportunity to use their voices through participating in this study. Fourthly, to identify the similarities and differences through comparison of the of Grade 3 learners’ experiences of their rights and responsibilities across the three diverse school settings. The comparison of data sets highlighted challenges and gaps in children’s education and their experiences of rights and responsibilities. It enabled me to draw conclusions that assisted me in making recommendations to supplement and improve children’s understanding of their rights and responsibilities. I believe that the findings from my study contribute to the growing body of knowledge regarding rights and responsibilities education as a strong focus in the Life Skills programme – locally and globally _ and to improving the education of the young child. Through the comparison of the experiences of the participating children across the three school settings, similarities and differences arose that deepened insight into the main findings. The first finding is that education improves children’s understanding and experience of their rights and responsibilities. Secondly, basic needs have a substantial impact on children’s experience of their rights and responsibilities. Thirdly, the participating children understood that people have needs and rights, and that those rights must be acknowledged to ensure a good quality of life. I further found that children can be empowered through using their voices and in gaining positive experiences and understanding, which ultimately contributes to raising strong well-adjusted adults. This research was qualitative in nature using a multiple case study design. The themes and sub-themes that emerged from the data analysis of three diverse schools were then compared. Data gathering occurred through interviews, observation, documents, field notes and visual artefacts. The artefacts consisted of collages, drawings and writings made by the participating children and formed a large part of the data collection and analysis. Data collection took place in the Grade 3 classrooms and school venues made available by the diverse schools where data was collected. The ninety-six (n = 96) participating children contributed the data for this study and I analysed the data to understand how Grade 3 children understood their rights and responsibilities. Grade 3 learners were from three school settings where the participants had diverse backgrounds regarding language, capability, socio-economic circumstances, race, belief and religion. Children were typically between nine and ten years of age in Grade 3. An emerging conceptual framework created through combining existing theories was utilised for explaining children’s experiences of their rights and responsibilities across the diverse settings. The theories employed were the sociology of childhood, empowerment theory, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and the framework is the arch of human rights. To empower young children with their rights and responsibilities, adults should listen, educate, communicate, and encourage decision making, accountability and responsibility so that young children will understand their rights and responsibilities as active citizens in their country. This would benefit children to modify and adjust the world they live in. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2019. / Early Childhood Education / PhD / Unrestricted

No description available.

In this thesis, the results of microfossil, biofacies, and geochemical analyses (µXRF) of the Upper Cretaceous (Turonian) Ferron – Notom delta, Utah, USA are reported and discussed. The Notom delta is the oldest of three clastic deltas in the Ferron Sandstone Member, Mancos Shale Formation. Foraminifera and testate amoebae were recovered from ninety-eight mudstone samples among five well-exposed outcrops (Caineville North, Steamboat, Blue Hills, Neilson Wash, and Coalmine Wash). Detailed observations showed foraminifera, and testate amoebae tests have undergone post-burial compression (flattening), dissolution, and transport/reworking; therefore, identification of these assemblages to their species level is difficult. The micropaleontological analysis of the Ferron-Notom delta consists of three studies. Morphogroup analysis was applied on foraminifera and testate amoebae, where a relationship between the test morphology and habitat was established. Morphogroup analysis resulted in four main morphogroups and eleven morphotypes and were assigned to life mode, environment, and feeding strategies. Three foraminifera morphogroups and one testate amoebae morphogroup were established indicate a range of environments, from shallow shelf to shallow shelf to lagoon/estuary environments. Biofacies analysis using the morphotypes was applied on three outcrops (Caineville North, Steamboat, and Blue Hills). We use the morphotypes to define the four main biofacies using cluster analysis, and biodiversity indices. Four biofacies showed marine and fluvial (freshwater) influences. Salinity and OM indices were derived from the relationship of foraminifera morphotypes (BiS, TrS, TS) and testate amoebae morphotypes (Ta-F, Ta-D, Ta-S) that follows lithofacies trends. Because of the under-representation of calcareous foraminifera (due to taphonomic and/or diagenetic factors), the biodiversity indices are treated herein as relative measures. Despite this taphonomic bias, the agglutinated foraminifera and testate amoebae morphogroups show trends with salinity both among the outcrops and stratigraphically within the outcrops. The Blue Hills outcrop represents the most landward and lowest salinity environment (tidally-influenced backwater), Steamboat is more coast proximal with a higher salinity of the delta front and fluvial estuarine environments, and the Caineville North outcrop represents the most coast proximal (fluvial/estuarine to deltaic/prodeltaic) with salinities ranging from low to medium. It appears that the landward transport and coastward of tests was a significant source of taphonomic bias. Nonetheless, the assemblages provide useful depositional information that correlates with previously documented lithofacies data. A salinity index based on a ratio of trochospiral taxa versus testate amoebae was found to provide a useful measure of coastal proximity that matches lithofacies trends. The µXRF analysis was conducted on twenty-nine mudstone samples from the Caineville North outcrop to examine elemental proxies for paleo-salinity (Sr/Ba), organic matter (K/S), redox (V/Ni), and sediment sources (Zr/Rb, Ti/Fe, Ti/Ca). Twenty-nine surface mudstone samples collected from four lithofacies representing prodelta, delta front, fluvial valley fill and shelf environments. Fourteen elements (Ti, Fe, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ni, Rb, Zr, S, V, Cu, Mn, Si, and K) were used to calculate proxy ratios to detect variations in terrigenous sediments, carbonate production, salinity, grain size, and fluvial inputs in the Caineville North outcrop. Elemental data showed good correspondence between the elemental data and the lithofacies and microfossil indices. Sr/Ba and Ca/Fe showed relationships with carbonate content and proximity to the shoreline. The paleo-salinity proxy (Sr/Ba) did not respond to salinity, but was more responsive to lithological change of carbonate content. The microfossil salinity index seems to be a more accurate paleo-salinity indicator. The proxy for fluvial input of sediment (Zr/Rb and Ti/Fe) agree well with the lithofacies trends, and Zr/Rb and Ti/Fe showed highest values within the fluvial valley fill facies, with higher variability of Ti/Fe compared to the other lithofacies (prodelta, delta front, and shelf), corresponding to response to the proximity of the depositional sites to a fluvial sediment source. The redox proxy V/Ni matched the previously derived microfossil OM index ("bolivind-type" taxa) showing a strong relationship between eutrophication and redox trends. The study aims to establish important baseline geochemical compositions of sediment sources to establish patterns and trends with sediment succession in the deeper basin (offshore; i.e. Mancos Shale). Potentially, these nearshore to fluvial trends will provide important geochemical data to assess changes in paleoclimate, and sea-level in offshore sediment successions. / Dissertation / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

This composition is a single-movement work for three choirs and full orchestra, including celesta, piano, and four percussionists. Total duration is fifteen minutes. The music is divided into six sections, with the overall form being substantially influenced by the structure of the poem, War Is Kind, by Stephen Crane (1871-1900). Many devices are utilized to contrast tension and relaxation, as associated with ironic elements of the text, with repetition and development of musical elements and motives providing unity for the entire work.

At-risk students in a secondary alternative school program were asked to complete an open, subjective questionnaire that explored their perceptions regarding both regular and alternative schools' attitudes toward, and response to, them as individuals. There also were questions about how these attitudes and responses made them feel about themselves and their school experience. Grounded theory-methodology was used to structure the study. Their feelings seemed to focus on basic human values and adult caring. Results support Maslow's theory that both physical and psychological needs fulfillment drive human decision and activity. Students indicated that when basic issues of safety and support were provided for in the school environment, they had more energy and concentration for growth and self-actualization through learning. Results of this qualitative study indicated that educators and support personnel should consider this area important to explore before reaching conclusions regarding how to communicate effectively with, or further restructure programs to serve at-risk students.

No description available.

Automotive engines are becoming increasingly technically complex and associated legal emissions standards more restrictive, making the task of identifying optimum actuator settings to use significantly more difficult. Given these challenges, this research aims to develop a process for engine calibration optimisation by exploiting advanced mathematical methods. Validation of this work is based upon a case study describing a steady-state Diesel engine calibration problem. The calibration optimisation problem seeks an optimal combination of actuator settings that minimises fuel consumption, while simultaneously meeting or exceeding the legal emissions constraints over a specified drive cycle. As another engineering target, the engine control maps are required as smooth as possible. The Multidisciplinary Design Optimisation (MDO) Frameworks have been studied to develop the optimisation process for the steady state Diesel engine calibration optimisation problem. Two MDO strategies are proposed for formulating and addressing this optimisation problem, which are All At Once (AAO), Collaborative Optimisation. An innovative MDO formulation has been developed based on the Collaborative Optimisation application for Diesel engine calibration. Form the MDO implementations, the fuel consumption have been significantly improved, while keep the emission at same level compare with the bench mark solution provided by sponsoring company. More importantly, this research has shown the ability of MDO methodologies that manage and organize the Diesel engine calibration optimisation problem more effectively. / Jaguar Land Rover