The aim of this dissertation is to promote public transportation by creating an effective terminal facility accessible to all commuters and creating an identifiable landmark within the city. The facility must have adequate services to support users, such as taxi operators, commuters, tenants, traders and the general city dwellers. Construction of the terminal will be funded by government’s budget allocated to upgrading of public transport. The facility will subsequently generate an income through rent from shops, kiosks, hotels and other commercial activities, allowing the terminal financial sustainability. It must promote safety and convenience to the commuter thereby improving comfort. The terminal must offer a public transport infrastructure that will be more advantageous than private transportation, eventually encourage medium and high income population sectors to start using public transportation. Sustained flow of passengers will increase economic opportunity to traders. The methodology for the research of this dissertation will be based on the grounded theory. Factual information will be gathered from similar projects that have been built in recent years and are located around the country. These terminals have allowed South African culture to adapt itself to these types of interventions. Through a qualitative analysis, This dissertation will reveal findings, concepts and hypotheses, that will form a base for the philosophy and finally the design of an integrated commuter centre. / Dissertation (MArch(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Architecture / unrestricted

Taxis are a popular mode of travel in Singapore because of their convenience and high levels of comfort. Despite having approximately 28,000 taxis, Singapore’s taxi system is under-optimized. As a result, e-hailing applications have transformed the way consumers select ride services. Such apps have provided a faster and more convenient service. In fact, both consumers and taxi drivers have reaped significant benefits from e-hailing services. In our study, we use average wait times and prices to understand the impact e-hailing applications have had on the Singapore taxi industry. We predict that such services would have negatively impacted the existing taxi dispatch system. We found e-hailing applications reduced the average wait time for passengers. Prices were the cheapest for Uber. Due to limitations in the study, we cannot conclude if these are statistically significant results.

The overall goal of this work was to develop and utilize microfluidic models for investigating bacterial chemotaxis and biofilm formation - phenotypes that play key roles in bacterial infections. Classical methods for investigating chemotaxis and biofilm formation have many limitations and drawbacks. These include being unsuitable for investigating the effect of chemorepellents, non-quantitative readouts, and not accounting for interaction between hydrodynamics and biofilm formation. The novel microfluidic model systems for chemotaxis and biofilm formation developed in this study addresses these drawbacks. Chemotaxis model system development was done in three stages. We first developed two static chemotaxis model systems - the two fluorophore chemotaxis agarose plug assay and the mu Plug assay - for rapidly determining the extent of chemotaxis in a qualitative manner. A key feature of these model systems was the incorporation of dead cells and differential labeling with green and red fluorescent proteins for partitioning the effects of movement due to fluid flow from chemotaxis. The static systems were used to rapidly screen a wide range of conditions for use in the flow-based mu Flow chemotaxis model system. The effect of four major variables - cell preparation method, gradient strength, flow rate in the device, and imaging position - that influence the chemotactic response in the mu Flow was characterized using the repellent taxis from Ni^2 gradients as the model chemoeffector. Using the mu Flow chemotaxis device, we investigated the chemotaxis of Escherichia coli RP437 to different signals that are present in the human gastrointestinal tract and are likely to be mediators of infection through their effect on chemotaxis. Our data show that the bacterial signal indole is a repellent, while the signals autoinducer-2 (AI-2) and isatin are attractants for E. coli RP437. However, cells exposed to a competing gradient of indole and either AI-2 or isatin, attracts E. coli. The ?Flow device was also used to refute a long-standing view on how the repellent Ni2 is sensed in E. coli. Our data show that only the Tar chemoreceptor is needed for sensing Ni^2 and the nickel binding protein, NikA, and the Ni^2 transport system proteins, NikB and NikC, are not required for repellent taxis from nickel. A microfluidic biofilm model was also developed in this study and used in conjunction with a mathematical model to investigate biofilm formation and quorum sensing in closed systems (where biofilm growth and hydrodynamics are interdependent). The mathematical model predictions were experimentally validated using Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 in a microfluidic biofilm system at various flow rates.

RODRIGUES, Priscila Silva. Extensões e aplicações do modelo de tributação indireta ótima de Deaton. -2017. 61f. Dissertação ( mestrado). - Universidade Federal do Ceará, Programa de Pós Graduação em Economia, CAEN, Fortaleza, 2017. / Submitted by Mônica Correia Aquino (monicacorreiaaquino@gmail.com) on 2017-07-27T18:08:25Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2017_dis_psrodrigues.pdf: 580441 bytes, checksum: 80aa6520de8d3b9e635f667b64b4cc75 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Mônica Correia Aquino (monicacorreiaaquino@gmail.com) on 2017-07-27T18:08:47Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2017_dis_psrodrigues.pdf: 580441 bytes, checksum: 80aa6520de8d3b9e635f667b64b4cc75 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-27T18:08:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2017_dis_psrodrigues.pdf: 580441 bytes, checksum: 80aa6520de8d3b9e635f667b64b4cc75 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017 / The taxi is a means of transport widely used in several countries of the world. An expressive amount of people work by driving taxis in large urban centers. The main competitors of taxi drivers are private cars and mass transportation, but with the rise of technology, and the advent of some commercial innovations have emerged companies that enjoy the context of the Sharing Economy offering services of shared carpool, such as case of Uber. There is discussion as to whether the Uber application really works like shared racing, paid rides or if the service is identical to that offered by conventional taxis. For this reason the application has been strongly rejected by taxi drivers. In this context, this dissertation tries to analyze characteristics of the labor market of taxi drivers and its main objective is to examine the job offer of taxi drivers and to verify if there has been any impact on the quantity of hours worked and on the income of taxi drivers after the start of operations of the Uber application in the Metropolitan Regions of Fortaleza ( MRF) and Porto Alegre (MRPA). For this, two models were estimated, one based on the regressions of mincerian yields and number of hours worked, and a second model using the difference-in-differences method. The data are from the Pesquisa de Emprego e Desemprego (PED) and refer to the years 2014 to 2016. It was found that the estimated coefficient for the Uber Effect did not present statistical significance in any of the metropolitan regions studied, however, this result refers only to the initial effect and may present different results in future analyzes. Other results have shown that black RMPA taxi drivers tend to show more hours of work and lower hourly yields. Taxi drivers who are heads of their families also work longer hours. The higher the family income of these workers, the more hours are worked in the week and the higher the income per hour. In some of the models estimated for the two metropolitan regions there is an education effect. / O táxi é um meio de transporte bastante utilizado em diversos países do mundo. Uma quantidade expressiva de pessoas trabalham dirigindo táxis nos grandes centros urbanos. Os principais concorrentes dos taxistas são os carros particulares e os meios de transporte em massa, porém com a ascensão da tecnologia, e o advento de algumas inovações comerciais surgiram empresas que usufruem do contexto da Economia de Partilha oferecendo serviços de caronas compartilhadas, como é o caso da empresa Uber. Há a discussão se o aplicativo da Uber funciona realmente como corrida compartilhada, caronas pagas ou se o serviço é idêntico ao oferecido pelos táxis convencionais. Por esse motivo o aplicativo vem sofrendo forte rejeição por parte dos taxistas. Nesse contexto, esta dissertação procura analisar características do mercado de trabalho dos taxistas e tem como objetivo principal examinar a oferta de trabalho dos taxistas e verificar se ocorreu algum impacto sobre a quantidade ofertada de horas trabalhadas e sobre os rendimentos dos taxistas após o inicio das operações do aplicativo Uber nas Regiões Metropolitanas de Fortaleza (RMF) e Porto Alegre (RMPA). Para isso foram estimados dois modelos, um a partir das regressões de rendimentos minceriano e quantidade de horas trabalhadas, e um segundo modelo utilizando o método de diferenças em diferenças. Os dados são da Pesquisa de Emprego e Desemprego – PED e se referem aos anos de 2014 a 2016. Constatou-se que o coeficiente estimado para o Efeito Uber não apresentou significância estatística em nenhuma das regiões metropolitanas estudadas, entretanto esse resultado refere-se apenas ao efeito inicial, podendo apresentar resultados diferentes em análises futuras. Outros resultados demonstraram que taxistas negros da RMPA tendem a apresentar mais horas de trabalho e menor rendimento por hora. Taxistas que são chefes de suas famílias também trabalham mais horas. Quanto maior a renda familiar desses trabalhadores, mais horas são trabalhadas na semana e maior o rendimento por hora. Em alguns dos modelos estimados para as duas regiões metropolitanas há um efeito educação.

ABSTRACT This study mainly sets to explore how English second language students grade 12 learners at Randfontein Secondary School develop critical literacy awareness (CLA) by reading ‘bumper’ stickers found in mini-bus taxis commonly known as taxis. Data used in this project was mainly collected through interviews with research participants namely; students, taxi drivers, bumper sticker manufacturers and taxi commuters. The teacher/researcher required students to collect literary texts from their environment for use in their critical literacy class. This research project mainly employs Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis model as an analytical model, which holds that CDA should include the socio-cultural contexts in which texts are produced and read. Data was analysed by all the students in class, especially the six students who were selected for the focus group. The researcher (myself) analysed the students’ reading of texts so as to establish the extent to which they were developing critical literacy awareness. The research found that my students resisted bumper stickers as a discourse that differed from their own ideological positions. Data in this study reveals that the students approached the bumper stickers from a position of estrangement because they were reading from an urban social context that differs from the taxi drivers’ rural social context. This study showed that getting students to be researcher themselves can be a very fruitful and developmental learning experience.

Version remaniée de: Magisterarbeit--Philosophische Fakultät I--Universität Regensburg, 1984.

Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Tecnologico. Programa de Pós-graduação em Engenharia de Produção / Made available in DSpace on 2012-10-23T23:35:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / A presente tese remete às questões ergonômicas envolvendo os veículos automotivos: o ambiente de trabalho dos condutores de automóveis populares, em especial dos profissionais taxistas; os benefícios que os critérios de ergonomia, antropometria e usabilidade podem promover aos motoristas; e a adoção de medidas ergonômicas no assento/protótipo, objeto alvo do presente estudo. Com o intuito de demonstrar a importância da ergonomia para os condutores de veículos de 1000 cilindradas, é efetuada uma explanação sobre a contribuição oferecida pelas medidas que visam ao bem-estar físico e emocional dos trabalhadores, sobretudo dos motoristas de táxi. Para melhor situar o leitor sobre o tema, é executado um apanhado histórico sobre o automóvel popular, em especial no Brasil. Também é realizado um estudo bibliográfico sobre alguns acessórios automotivos, tais como: volante, painéis, pedais, cinto de segurança, assento e espelhos retrovisores. Outro fator observado são os problemas resultantes da atividade de condução, especificamente estresse, dorsalgias e a constante permanência do trabalhador na posição sentada. Observou-se por meio de pesquisa bibliográfica e experimental que a adoção de fatores que respeitem a ergonomia pode beneficiar o ser humano. No caso dos profissionais taxistas de Curitiba que permanecem no posto de condução por cerca de oito horas ao dia, tendo pouco tempo para atividades de alongamento e relaxamento muscular durante o expediente, são relatados diversos sintomas de incômodos musculares e de cansaço físico e mental. A tese focaliza a importância da criação de um assento ergonômico na promoção do conforto e bem-estar físico dos condutores de veículos populares que dirigem várias horas seguidas ao dia.

TESIS PARA OPTAR AL GRADO DE MAGÍSTER EN ADMINISTRACIÓN / Santiago Duque [Parte I], Jorge Torres Medina [Parte II] / El presente plan de negocios expone la evaluación para la implementación de una Flota de Taxis para Ejecutivos en Santiago de Chile. El Transporte de Pasajeros ha experimentado un crecimiento exponencial dado por la densidad poblacional de la Ciudad, el aumento del poder adquisitivo y un aumento de las empresas multinacionales, lo cual define un mercado grande y creciente. El objetivo es insertarse en el segmento de transporte de ejecutivo de empresas. Esto adquiriendo patentes (permisos) emitidos por el Ministerio de Transporte y Telecomunicaciones de Chile, que junto con la compra de autos nuevos, colocarlos a disposición de empresas llamadas “Radio Taxis”, sociedades ya establecidas en el mercado. Estas compañías o Radio Taxis se encargan exclusivamente de: (1) Captación de nuevos clientes, habitualmente convenios con empresas y gobierno, (2) Actividades de crédito y cobro: operación fundamental del modelo de negocios, (3) Asignación de clientes (pasajeros) a choferes (nuestros vehículos): esto por medio de la central de monitoreo y gestión del Radio Taxi, la cual asigna, según el tipo de vehículo y posicionamiento GPS, los traslados a los distintos choferes disponibles. La metodología de operación de la Flota de Taxis se basa en Tecnología provista en un 100% por la empresa Radio Taxis, es decir, los dispositivos de posicionamiento geográfico, herramientas de comunicación, herramienta web de historial de carreras asignadas y gestión de pagos para los choferes, entre otros instrumentos, son inversiones que BLACKSPEED no requerirá ejecutar, permitiendo contar con un modelo de negocio escueto y que la puesta en marcha forme parte de una cadena de suministro ya en funcionamiento, alcanzando y sobrepasando de manera expedita el punto de equilibrio. El desafío del plan de negocios consiste en la adquisición de los autos y patentes, las cuales deben ser suficientes para cumplir con el plan financiero estipulado, sumado a la búsqueda de choferes que sean competentes, responsables y dedicados para cumplir con las expectativas de ventas planteadas. El plan financiero y de inversiones proyecta una recuperación de la inversión de 10 autos para el cuarto año de funcionamiento, presentando un VAN de 49.8 Millones de pesos a una Tasa de Descuento del 19.7% y una TIR de 23.53%, lo cual hace viable la implementación.

Autor no autoriza el acceso a texto completo de su documento hasta el 2/11/2020. / Ingeniero Civil Industrial / El principal objetivo de este trabajo de título consiste en la elaboración de un plan estratégico para la empresa de transporte vía terrestre Radio Taxis VIP Ltda. Esta empresa corresponde a una PYME familiar con más de 23 años en el rubro. La empresa cuenta con una sucursal ubicada en la comuna de Ñuñoa y principalmente abastece con el transporte de pasajeros a Farmacias Ahumada, Municipalidad de Vitacura, y Viña Concha y Toro. Parte importante de este trabajo se enmarca dentro de los procesos de profesionalización y re-estructuración estratégica de la empresa. Lo anterior, debido a que al día de hoy se encuentra realizando servicios con márgenes muy bajos y ocupaciones de vehículos muy altas que no le permiten expandirse a nuevos clientes. La metodología empleada en la memoria considera un análisis del entorno, con el fin de determinar las principales tendencias, dinámicas y desafíos que presenta la industria. Luego se procede a realizar un análisis interno de la empresa, utilizando como marco teórico la utilización del modelo de la cadena de valor, el desarrollo de un análisis FODA, seguido del desarrollo del modelo CANVAS, competencias centrales, un análisis profundo a los modelos de negocios actuales de la empresa y finalmente una serie de entrevistas a los clientes. A partir del diagnóstico anterior y las oportunidades particulares presentadas por la empresa, es que se definen los objetivos estratégicos a seguir, la estrategia de crecimiento recomendada, los indicadores y metas a utilizar y finalmente el plan de acción necesario. Además de lo anterior se re-define la visión, misión y el posicionamiento de la empresa. Los pilares propuestos sobre los que se basa el crecimiento de la empresa son el potenciamiento del modelo de negocios de la Viña Concha y Toro, buscando aumentar en los próximos 5 años un 12% de value share dentro de la facturación de la empresa. Además de lo anterior, se busca mejorar la calidad del personal humano mediante una mejora de procesos y capacitación del personal clave en términos de tecnología. Como conclusión, se puede destacar que este trabajo de memoria hace importantes aportes en términos de levantamiento de procesos, cuestionamientos de estrategias, mejora de competitividad, coordinación entre las áreas, mejora de políticas internas, entre otros. Lo anterior son apuestas fundamentales que permitirán a la empresa crear una propuesta basada en la diferenciación, lo que se torna particularmente relevante en una industria comoditizada, a su vez lo anterior otorgar mayor valor agregado a sus clientes y lograr tener una cartera de clientes más diversificada.

La calidad de servicio se ha vuelto todo un desafío para las empresas; lograr que los clientes se encuentren satisfechos es un factor primordial para generar ingresos económicos y lograr la perdurabilidad de las mismas. Asimismo, representa una de las variables más importantes en la formulación de estrategias para mejorar su competitividad en el mercado. La investigación se enfocó en identificar los tres principales factores que determinan la calidad del servicio de transporte en taxi por aplicativos móviles, para nuestros actores involucrados: Usuarios y Ejecutivos. Esto considerando la expectativa de ambos segmentos y la percepción del servicio. La metodología de investigación aplicada correspondió a un estudio cualitativo exploratorio, diseño de teoría fundamentada, se utilizaron los métodos de observaciones a usuarios y entrevistas a profundidad, tanto a ejecutivos de las distintas empresas como usuarios del servicio, para obtener la información correspondiente. Este se aplicó a una muestra de 3 ejecutivos y 19 usuarios. Los resultados de la investigación permitieron establecer que, para los usuarios los factores que determinan la calidad del servicio de transporte en taxi por aplicativos móviles son el Servicio al Cliente, Precio y Seguridad. Mientras que para los ejecutivos, estos factores son Servicio al Cliente, Seguridad y Tiempo, en ambos casos, en ese orden de importancia. Es importante que las compañías pongan más énfasis en estos tres factores, al momento de implementar estrategias que les permitirán, obtener una mayor cantidad de clientes, quienes están llenos de expectativas por recibir una excelente calidad de servicio. / The quality of service has become a challenge for companies; achieving customer satisfaction is a key factor for generating economic income and achieving durability. It also represents one of the most important variables in the strategies formulation, to improve its competitiveness in the market. The research was focused on identifying the three main factors that determine the quality of the taxi service by mobile applications, for both of our involved actors: Users and Executives, considering the expectations of the users, executives and the perception of the service. The applied research methodology, corresponded to an exploratory qualitative study, design of grounded theory. The observational method was used with users and in-depth interviews were used with both segments, executives of the different companies and users of the service in order to obtain the corresponding information. This was applied to a sample of 3 executives and 19 users. The research results allowed us to confirm that the factors that determine the quality of taxi service by mobile applications are Client Service, Security and Price for the users sector, and Client Service, Security and Time for the executives segment. Finally, it is recommended that companies providing these services put more emphasis on these three factors when establishing strategies to improve their quality of service, as this will allow them to get a larger number of customers, who are full of expectation to receiving an excellent quality of service. / Tecnología de la información Gestión de la calidad