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This dissertation consists of three essays on econometric analysis including both parametric and nonparametric econometrics. The first chapter outlines three topics involved and briefly discusses the motivations and methods, as well as some conclusions in each of the following chapters. Both chapter 2 and chapter 3 are in the field of kernel smoothed nonparametric econometrics. Chapter 2 conducts large volumes of simulations to explore the properties of various methods proposed in the literature to detect irrelevant variables in a fully nonparametric regression framework. We focus our attention to two broadly sets of methods, the least square cross-validated bandwidth selection procedure and the conventional nonparametric significance testing frameworks. In chapter 3, a bootstrap test statistic is proposed to test the validity of imposing some arbitrary restrictions on higher order derivatives of a regression function. We use data sharpening method to enforce the desired constraints on the shape of the conditional means and then measure the distance between the unrestricted and restricted models. The empirical distribution of the test statistic is generated by bootstrapping and the asymptotic distribution for the bootstrap test statistic is also provided. The last chapter examines the relationship between population health and income inequality in China. We use a multilevel dynamic panel model to test the absolute income hypothesis, various versions of relative income hypothesis, and health selection hypothesis empirically / Ph. D.

According to a report from McAfee, the global cost of cybercrime for 2020 was over one trillion dollars (Smith, Z. et al., 2020). Cybersecurity breaches and attacks have not only cost businesses and organizations millions of dollars but have also threatened national security and critical infrastructure. Examples include the Ransomware attack in May of 2021 on the largest fuel pipeline in the United States and the February 2021 remote access system breach of a Florida water treatment facility which raised sodium hydroxide to a lethal level. Improving cybersecurity requires a skilled workforce with relevant knowledge and skills. Academic degree programs, boot camps, and various certification programs provide education and training to assist this need. Cyber ranges are a more recent development to provide hands-on skill training. These ranges, often virtual, provide a safe and accessible environment to improve practical skills and experience through hands-on application. They provide a training environment to identify threats, apply countermeasures, and secure data from risks separately from the organization's actual network. More and more academic programs utilize cyber ranges due to the perceived benefit of integrating them into their cybersecurity-related programs. Academic cyber ranges offer virtualized environments that support cybersecurity educators' needs to provide students with a safe, separated, and engaging environment. The purpose of my research has two components: 1) to understand who the educators are using academic-facing cyber ranges and how they are using them to support their cybersecurity education efforts, and 2) to understand how cybersecurity educators and students are motivated by using them. Specifically, my research is comprised of three manuscripts: (1) a mixed-method exploratory study of who are the educators using cyber ranges for cybersecurity education and how they are using them to create significant cybersecurity learning experiences, (2) a mixed-method study exploring the motivation of educators using a cyber range for cybersecurity education, and (3) a mixed-method study exploring student motivation participating in cybersecurity CTF competitions. The three manuscripts contribute to understanding cyber ranges in cybersecurity education. The results from my research provided insight from the users of these cyber ranges, cybersecurity educators and students. Results from my first manuscript suggested that high school cybersecurity educators are the primary users. These educators have less formal cybersecurity education and experience compared to cybersecurity educators in higher education. The data also showed that cybersecurity educators primarily used cyber ranges for teaching and learning to meet learning goals and objectives. Results from my second manuscript suggested that educators were motivated mainly by the importance of using a cyber range for cybersecurity education and for the interest-enjoyment their students experience from cyber range usage. Educators found using the cyber range made their class more engaging and relevant to their students.These educators were also confident they could use a cyber range and learn how to use it. However, those without prior experience in cybersecurity or previous experience using a cyber range shared they needed instructor-facing resources, professional development opportunities, and time to learn. Results from my third manuscript suggested that students were motivated by the importance of participating in a cybersecurity CTF competition. Many reported that participating was useful for developing professional skills and readiness. Although CTF competitions were considered difficult and stressful, students did not consider the difficulty pejorative. Many shared that challenging CTFs contributed towards the enjoyment of participating, making them a rewarding and worthwhile experience. However, students also shared that academic and team support contributed towards their confidence in competing. In contrast, those who did not report confidence, stated they lacked a team strategy or support from their academic institution. Additionally, they did not know what to expect to prepare before the competition event. Overall, the results of this dissertation highlight the importance of prior preparation for educators and student CTF participants. For educators, this prior preparation includes curriculum supporting resources such as content mapping to learning objectives and professional development opportunities that do not assume any prior knowledge or experience. For students, prior preparation includes understanding what to expect and recommendations for academic and team support. / Doctor of Philosophy / The technology era has enabled a global connectedness to attend conferences and meetings via our laptop computers while working from home. The proliferation of smart devices has also provided a means to view and communicate with visitors who ring our smart doorbells while we are not home. This interconnected network, i.e., the Internet, has altered how we pay our bills, buy our groceries, and attend classes virtually. It has also enabled cyber attacks and breaches that have contributed to identity thefts, increasing financial costs, business collapses, job losses, and even threatened national security. A cybersecurity workforce has become increasingly vital to address the need for improving cybersecurity. Thus, there is a need for academic cybersecurity programs to prepare future professionals to fill this national workforce shortfall. Consequently, more and more organizations have integrated cyber ranges as the means to provide a simulated environment for applying and developing cybersecurity-related knowledge and skills. Similar to a driving range for a golfer to practice their golf swing or a shooting range for those in law enforcement to earn their firearms qualifications, a cyber range supports efforts to provide cybersecurity training with hands-on exercises and labs to practice skills in a safe, virtual environment. My research contributes to understanding who uses cyber ranges and how they are motivated to use them for cybersecurity education. The first purpose of my research was to understand the educators who were using cyber ranges and how they were using them for cybersecurity education. More specifically, I examined their usage for alignment with a learning taxonomy to verify the usage contributed to successful and significant student learning. This understanding contributed to my research's second purpose, which explored how educators were motivated using cyber ranges. The third purpose of my study explored student motivation using a cyber range. Due to varying cyber range resources and activities, my research focused on the cybersecurity competition activity, Capture the Flag (CTF). This study provided an understanding of how students who participated in a cybersecurity CTF competition were motivated. My research demonstrates that educators and students are interested in using cyber ranges and believe using them for cybersecurity education and professional readiness is important. However, both educators and students who lack prior knowledge or experience using a cyber range or participating in a CTF shared the concern of not knowing what they do not know. PD time and instructor-facing resources that do not assume any prior cybersecurity knowledge were recommended to support educators who did not have a background or experience in cybersecurity. Students shared that although not knowing was stressful and made participating difficult, the difficulty and stress were good attributes because if the CTF were easy, it wouldn't be worth their time and would be less rewarding. Students also reported that team strategies and academic support were motivational aspects of CTF participation. Overall, educators and students were motivated using cyber ranges for cybersecurity education, but professional development and preparation resources would contribute positively to their usage.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2017-11-07T11:51:33Z No. of bitstreams: 1 otaviobatistapereirapraca.pdf: 1403971 bytes, checksum: 7f04c31784bc23fbd3d0d3175b35c34f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2017-11-09T14:36:52Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 otaviobatistapereirapraca.pdf: 1403971 bytes, checksum: 7f04c31784bc23fbd3d0d3175b35c34f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-11-09T14:36:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 otaviobatistapereirapraca.pdf: 1403971 bytes, checksum: 7f04c31784bc23fbd3d0d3175b35c34f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-07-31 / A proposta deste trabalho é implementar uma metodologia que permita ao aluno vislumbrar uma física que se faça presente em seu dia a dia. Tal metodologia intitulada de Unidades de Ensino Potencialmente Significativas (UEPS), tem embasamento nas teorias de aprendizagem significativa de David Ausubel e de desenvolvimento cognitivo de Jean Piaget. Os aspectos sequenciais para desenvolvimento, aplicação e análise de resultados estão descritos ao longo de todo o trabalho. A UEPS aqui proposta tem como foco de ensino, grandezas físicas, unidades de medidas e suas relações e é dividida em 5 aulas descritas, aplicadas e analisadas para efeito de constatação de efetividade do método. Essa UEPS conta ainda com um aperfeiçoamento visando aumentar a capacidade de concentração, raciocínio lógico e consequentemente desenvolvimento cognitivo através dos módulos de aquecimento lógico. Através dessa metodologia foi possível permitir e constatar um aprendizado em nível bem considerável sobre o processo histórico, aplicação no dia a dia e apresentação de soluções para situações problemas referentes ao tema abordado. Todo o material utilizado se encontra de forma bem detalhada no apêndice A, com textos voltado ao professor e no apêndice B de forma pronta para aplicação em sala de aula. Juntos os apêndices A e B compõe o Produto Educacional ao qual se propõe esse trabalho e tem por finalidade auxiliar na aplicação e no desenvolvimento de novas UEPS no intuito de proporcionar um ensino de Física mais interessante, prazeroso e eficaz. / The proposal of this work is to implement a methodology that allows the student to glimpse a physics that will be present in their daily life. This methodology, entitled Potentially Significant Teaching Units (PSTU), is based on David Ausubel's significant learning theories and Jean Piaget's cognitive development. The sequential aspects for development, application and analysis of results are described throughout the work. The PSTU presented is focused on teaching, physical quantities, units of measures and their relationships and is divided into 5 classes described, applied and analyzed for effectiveness of the method. This PSTU also has an improvement in order to increase the capacity of concentration, logical reasoning and consequently cognitive development through the logical heating modules. Through this methodology it was possible to allow and verify a considerable learning about the historical process, application in the day to day and presentation of solutions to problems situations related to the topic subject. All the material used is detailed in Appendix A, with texts aimed at the teacher and in Appendix B, ready for application in the classroom. Together Appendices A and B compose the Educational Product to which this work is proposed and is intended in the implementation and development of new PSTU in order to provide a more interesting, pleasurable and effective Physics teaching.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa has historically benefited from its mineral wealth, building one of the leading mining industries in the world. South Africa holds the worlds largest known PGM (or precious group metals) resource base (in a geological formation known as the Bushveld Igneous Complex), with an estimated life of 230 years (at current mining rates). This precious commodity is a precious source of both the direct as well as indirect contributions into the South African economy, as well as a leading source of employment in the South African mining industry. PGMs are predominantly used in auto catalysts, with an estimated 60% of global demand emanating from this application, where the commodity is used in breaking down noxious compounds in exhaust emissions. Given the strong correlation between automotive production and platinum sales, it seems viable to assume that platinum sales will continue to grow as more stringent legislation is introduced globally to reduce automotive emissions. This can currently only be down by increasing the platinum loads in auto catalysts, as alternative technologies are not widely accepted or developed at present. Given the influence (and positive correlation between) demand and prices, it appears that PGM prices will be driven upwards as demand continues to grow. This effect may be exacerbated by the fact that the expansion in demand is likely to outgrow the expansion in supply, given that few significant platinum operations have been started in recent years. Following the strong rally of commodity prices, specifically PGM prices in mid-2008 that saw platinum at a record high of USD2276/oz, major automotive producers have indicated that they are investigating alternatives to the application of precious metals in catalytic converters, in an attempt to curtail production costs. Although no viable substitute could be developed as yet, various alternatives (such as silver alloys) have been mentioned throughout the media. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of such a substitution event on South African PGM producers and its resultant effect on the South African economy. The study will attempt to determine, at a high level, the direct impact of the event, as well as the indirect consequences of the proposed substitution event. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie is histories op die mynbou- en landbousektore gebaseer, wat gelei het tot Suid-Afrika se wêreldklas mynbou industrie. Suid-Afrika beskik oor die wêreld se grootste PGM reserwes (in 'n geologiese formasie, ook bekend as die Bosveld Stollings Kompleks), met ‘n geskatte lewe van 230 jaar (teen huidige mynbou tempo's). Die komoditeite is verantwoordelik vir ‘n aansienlike hoeveelheid direkte en indirekte waardetoevoeging tot die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie. PGM’s word hoofsaaklik in katalisators in voertuie gebruik, met nagenoeg 60% van wêreldwye vraag wat uit die toepassing voortspring. PGMs word gebruik om uitlaatgasse op te breek en te verwerk in motorvoertuie. Gegewe die hoë mate van korrelasie tussen PGM en voertuigverkope, blyk dit voor die handliggend dat platinumverkope sal aanhou styg soos wat omgewingswetgeging in bepaling van toelaatbare uitlaatgasse in motorvoertuie strenger word. Die vermindering van uitlaatgasse is huidiglik slegs moontlik deur die verhoging van PGM ladings in katalisators, gegewe dat alternatiewe tegnologieë nog nie ver genoeg gevorder is om geimplementeer te word nie. Die hoë mate van korrelasie tussen PGM pryse en PGM vraag dui dat dit hoogs waarskynlik is dat die prys van edelmetaal sal aanhou styg soos wat vraag toeneem. Die verskynsel sal moontlik verder bou op die verwagting dat vraag vir die metaalaanbod oor die langtermyn sal oorskadu, siende dat geen wesenlike nuwe PGM myne onlangs oopgemaak is nie. Voertuigvervaardigers het aangedui dat hul alternatiewe tegnologieë opndersoek, nadat die platinumprys tot 'n rekord hoogtepunt van USD2276/ oz gestyg het in mid 2008. Die uitspraak is gelewer met die oog op koste kontrole in die vervaardiging van motorvoertuie. Alhoewel geen werkbare alternatief vir die edelmetale huidiglik bestaan nie, is verskeie moontlike materiale reeds in die media bespreek (byvoorbeeld verskeie silwer allooie). Die doel van die dokument is om die potensiële impak van so ‘n vervangings senario op die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie te ondersoek. Die studie sal poog om op ‘n hoë vlak die direkte en indirekte gevolge van die gebeurtenis te bepaal.

Bakgrund: Att vårdas hemma vid livets slut blir allt vanligare. De senaste 10-15 åren har behovet av avancerade vårdinsatser i hemmet alltjämt ökat och möjligheterna att vårda patienter med komplicerade sjukdomstillstånd har blivit mer möjliga. Detta har medfört att kraven på de såväl medicinska som de specifikt omvårdnadsmässiga åtgärderna har växt. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie var att belysa ASIH- sjuksköterskors upplevelse av att vårda patienter i hemmet vid livets slut. Metod: Studien har en kvalitativ och deskriptiv ansats. Två sjuksköterskor från en ASIH:enhet i Stockholm intervjuades. En innehållsanalys gjordes sedan för att analysera det insamlade materialet. Resultat: Tretton subkategorier kunde urskiljas ur dessa bildades fem kategorier. Kunskap och erfarenhet grund till god omvårdnad, Närståendes betydelse i vården, Kommunikation och förståelse mellan patient och sjuksköterska, Ta seden dit man kommer och Personal cost of caring. Slutsats: Sjuksköterskan inom ASIH bär ett stort ansvar då det gäller symtomlindring. Det kan gälla smärta såväl som oro och ångest. Vikten av att ha en helhetssyn som innefattar både patient och närstående beskrevs som viktiga. Ett fungerande samspel mellan sjuksköterska, patient och närstående är en förutsättning för god omvårdnad. / Background: To be cared for at home at the end of life is becoming more common. The last 10-15 years, the need for advanced care in the home has increased and the possibility to treat patients with complex medical conditions has become more possible. This has led to higher medical demands and to higher demands concerning specific nursing activities. Aim/Objective: The purpose of this study was to illuminate the ASIH-nurses' experience of treating patients at home at the end of life. Design: The study has a qualitative and descriptive approach. Two nurses from one ASIH unit in Stockholm were interviewed. A content analysis was then used to analyze the material. Result: Thirteen subcategories could be distinguished those formed five categories. Knowledge and experience due to good care, Significant others and their part in the caringprocess, Communication and understanding between patient and nurse, To adapt to customs and Personal cost of caring. Findings: The nurse within the advanced homecare facility bears a great responsibility when it comes to symptom relief. It may be relief of pain as well as anxiety. The importance of having a holistic approach that includes both patient and relatives were described as important. A good interaction between nurses, patients and relatives is a prerequisite for good care.

Comment et dans quelle mesure les femmes espagnoles nées dans les années 1930 et 1950 ont pu conquérir le droit à l’individualisme ? Tel est l’objet de cette thèse doctorale. Les femmes qui nous intéressent ont vécu ce que les sociologues de la « modernité avancée » identifient comme le passage de la première à la seconde modernité, changement social historique permettant aux femmes d’accéder au droit à l’individualisme et d’être reconnues, légalement au moins, comme égales aux hommes. C’est en s’appuyant sur un corpus original d’entretiens compréhensifs réalisés dans différentes régions d’Espagne que nous répondons à notre question initiale. Nous étudions, tout d’abord, la jeunesse de ces femmes en mobilisant l’image du « gynécée franquiste » pour approcher le confinement féminin dans la sphère privée, espace dans lequel elles contribuent à la production de richesses, s’éduquent, se contrôlent et s’entraident. Notre recherche explore ensuite les différentes attitudes des deux générations de femmes par rapport au développement de l’individualisme. A partir de la diversité de ces expériences, nous proposons une typologie des chemins empruntés face à cette modification de l’ordre social. Nous identifions ainsi un mouvement majoritaire d’appropriation progressive de la seconde modernité et deux groupes marginaux : les femmes qui ont toujours joui du droit à l’individualisme, et celles répondant aujourd’hui encore à l’injonction de dépendance et d’hétéronomie féminine. En nous appuyant sur les caractéristiques socio-démographiques de chacune des enquêtées, ainsi que sur le rôle de leur entourage, nous analysons les facteurs favorisant la modification du Soi vers la deuxième modernité. Notre démarche nous conduit à étudier l’impact de l’individualisme sur la vie quotidienne des actrices et pourquoi, malgré les difficultés vécues, elles « choisissent » et assument ce modèle social. / How and to what extent have Spanish Women born in the thirties and fifties been able to conquer their right to individualism? Such is the subject of this doctoral thesis. The women we are interested in have lived through what “Advanced Modernity” Sociologists call the passage from the First to the Second Modernity, a social and historical change that allowed women to gain the right to individualism and, at least in a legal sense, recognition of gender equality. We respond to our initial question through a corpus of original comprehensive interviews with women from different regions of Spain. Initially, our study explores these women’s youths, using the image of “Francoist gynoecium” to approach feminine confinement in their private realm, space in which they contribute to the production of wealth, get an education, gain self control and support each other. Our research will then explore the different attitudes of two generations of women in regards to their individualism development. From the diversity of theses experiences, we offer a typology of paths chosen in the face of social change. Thereby, we identify a larger movement of progressive Second Modernity appropriation and two minority groups: women who have always enjoyed the right to individualism and others still responding to dependence constraints and female heteronomy. Supporting our study on the socio-demographic characteristics of each interviewee, as well as the role of their environment, we analyze the factors favoring the modification of the Self towards Second Modernity. Our research has led us to study the impact of individualism on our subjects’ every day lives and why, despite the hardships entailed, they “chose” to adopt this social model

Lorsque la pathologie cancéreuse touche l’enfant, figure sacrée du XXIe siècle, c’est aussi le poids de représentations culturelles formant un discours social anxiogène qui pèse sur lui. Tantôt figure de victime, tantôt  figure de héros, l’enfant malade est en réalité, le plus souvent, objet sous l’emprise de l’Autre qui s’exerce par la maladie en elle-­même mais aussi par l’angoisse parentale bien légitime, ainsi que la fonction médicale et la mise en œuvre de moyens thérapeutiques nécessaires pour obtenir la guérison. Portant une attention particulière à la singularité du discours des enfants rencontrés en oncologie pédiatrique (situés entre 4 et 9 ans), et plus précisément, au processus psychique à l’œuvre dans la symbolisation et dans l’élaboration de leurs théories personnelles, subjectives autour de la maladie, nous soutenons que cette construction d’un sens, qui opère comme une tentative de guérison psychique à  partir d’une effraction du réel, définit aussi une implication du sujet dans la maladie, lui permettant ainsi de ne pas rester dans cette position d’objet. De même, lorsque ces enfants manifestent un symptôme qui fait énigme ou qu’ils éprouvent le besoin d’élucider une question, notamment dans l’après-coup des traitements intensifs, comme une sorte de point de réel qui vient fissurer ce qui a pu s’édifier comme sens autour de la maladie, nous posons alors l’hypothèse d’une modification possible de cette position subjective par le travail analytique autour de ce sens qui peut se faire et se défaire grâce à l’équivoque du signifiant, la métaphore et la métonymie, dans la perspective de définir un nouveau mode d’existence, marqué par l’expérience de la maladie, plutôt qu’empêché par celle-­ci. / A sacred figure of the 21st century, the child, when affected by a cancer pathology, is bound to carry the burden of cultural symbols and of the anxiety - inducing social discourse resulting from them. Sometimes considered a victim, sometimes a hero, an ill child is in fact an object under the influence of the Other ; a control acting through the disease itself, but also by the legitimate anguish of parents, the medical corps and the therapeutic measures that are necessary to reach the desired cure. With particular attention to the singularity of the discourse that we met in the paediatric oncology clinic (children aged 4 to 9 years old), and specifically to the psychological processes involved in the symbolization and in the development of their personal and subjective theories surrounding their condition, we believe that this development of a “signification” – acting as a psychological healing attempt following an incursion into reality – also defines the subject’s involvement in the disease, which frees them from being mere objects Furthermore, when these children show a puzzling symptom or feel the need to find the answer to a question, especially in the afterwardsness of intensive treatments – like a real point altering the constructed signification surrounding the disease – we believe that changing this objectification is possible thanks to analytical work around this signification, which can be deconstructed and reconstructed through the significant’s ambivalence, metaphors and metonymy. An attempt to define a new way of existing marked by the experience with the disease, rather than being prevented by it.

A Aprendizagem Baseada em Projeto (ABP) é uma abordagem ativa e sistêmica, onde as aulas são centradas no aluno e o permite trabalhar individual ou em grupo aplicando esse método na resolução de problemas. Este projeto tem como objetivo a tentativa de uma melhoria da qualidade do ensino a partir da construção de funções utilizando os recursos computacionais alternativos como suporte para uma aprendizagem significativa, partindo do pressuposto de inserir softwares na educação, com auxílio do simulador PHET e o do software educacional WINPLOT. O simulador será utilizado para criar a motivação necessária para inserir o conteúdo e contribuir para que o educando entenda melhor a presença da matemática em outras disciplinas como Física e Biologia, o software WINPLOT será utilizado para construção e conferências de gráficos e o simulador PHET será utilizado para relacionar o conteúdo com situações do cotidiano. Este projeto será aplicado nos alunos do 3º ano do ensino médio, em uma instituição privada de ensino básico na cidade de Lorena- SP. Este trabalho será dividido em sete etapas, sendo que estas etapas serão feitas em sequência e, para a montagem de cada atividade, serão analisados os resultados apresentados na atividade anteriores. / The Project Based Learning (PBL) is an active and systematic approach, where classes are student-centered and allows you to work individually and in groups by applying this method to solve problems. This project aims to attempt to improve the quality of education through the construction of functions using alternative computing resources as support for meaningful learning, assuming insert software in education, with the help of PHET simulator and software educational WINPLOT. The simulator will be used to create the necessary motivation to enter content and contribute to the student better understand the presence of mathematics in other disciplines such as physics and biology, the WINPLOT software will be used to build and graphics conferences and PHET simulator will be used to relate the content with everyday situations. This project will be applied to students of the 3rd year of high school, in a private institution of elementary education in the city of Lorena- SP. This work will be divided in seven stages, and these steps will be done in sequence and, for the assembly of each activity, the results presented in the previous activity will be analyzed.