This research involves the study of the short term loaded behaviour of mechanically degraded reinforced concrete (RC) flexural elements, which are strengthened with fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. The two main objectives have been: (a) to conduct a series of realistic tests, the results of which would be used to establish the design criteria, and (b) to carry out analytical modelling and hence develop a set of suitable design equations. It is expected that this work will contribute towards the establishment of definitive design guidelines for the strengthening of reinforced concrete structures using advanced fibre composites. The experimental study concentrated on the laboratory testing of 30 simply supported, and 4 two-span continuous full size RC beams, which were strengthened by either FRP plates or fabric sheets. The failure modes of these beams, at ultimate limit state, were examined and the influencing factors were identified. A premature and extremely brittle collapse mechanism was found to be the predominant type of failure for beams strengthened with a large area of FRP composites. A modified semi-empirical approach was presented for predicting the failure load of such over strengthened beams. Despite the lack of ductility in fibre composites, it was found that the FRP strengthened members would exhibit acceptable ductile characteristics, if they were designed to be under strengthened. A new design-based methodology for quantifying the deformability of FRP strengthened elements was proposed, and its difference to the conventional concept of ductility was discussed. The available techniques for ductility evaluation of FRP strengthened concrete members were reviewed and a suitable method was recommended for determining ductility level of FRP strengthened members. A non-linear material based analytical model was developed to simulate the flexural behaviour of the strengthened and control beams, the results were seen to match very well. The parametric study provided an insight into the effects of various factors including the mechanical properties and cross sectional area of FRP composites, on the failure modes and ductility characteristics of the strengthened beams. Based on the findings of the experimental and analytical studies, design equations in the BS 8110 format were developed, and design case studies have been carried out. It was concluded that fibre composites could effectively and safely strengthen mechanically degraded reinforced concrete structures if appropriately designed. The modes of failure and the degree of performance enhancement of FRP strengthened beams depend largely on the composite material properties as well as the original strength and stiffness of the RC structure. If the FRP strengthened elements were designed to be under-strengthened, then the premature and brittle failure mode could be prevented and ductile failure mode could be achieved. It was also found that existing steel reinforcement would always yield before the FRP composite reached the ultimate strength. Furthermore, a critical reinforcement ratio, above which FRP strengthening should not be carried out, was defined. It was concluded that FRP strengthening is most suitable for reinforced concrete floor slabs, bridge decks, flanged beams and other relatively lightly reinforced elements. The study also revealed that to avoid a brittle concrete failure, existing doubly reinforced members should not be strengthened by FRP composites.

[pt] A avaliação de oportunidades de investimentos é sem duvida um tema de grande interesse, pois é o modo pela qual as firmas norteiam suas decisões de investimento ao avaliar que este ou aquele projeto cria ou não valor para esta firma. A teoria de avaliação de investimentos produtivos inicia seu caminho partindo do Valor Presente Líquido (VPL) e vai se ramificando ao longo se sua literatura, percorrendo sempre o objetivo de incorporar a incerteza nos modelos. O estágio atual desta caminhada é a avaliação por opções reais, e tudo que a antecede passou a ser chamado de teoria clássica. Mas muitos problemas enfrentados nas abordagens encontradas na literatura de avaliação de opções reais são antigos. Em função da analogia com as opções financeiras, a metodologia proposta para avaliação das opções reais originaram dos modelos de apreçamento de opções financeiras. Mas esta extensão metodológica é em si problemática, pois os ativos ditos reais e os ativos financeiros guardam entre si importantes diferenças como: risco privado, completude dos mercados, diferenças de liquidez, reversibilidade e uma profunda diferença entre os níveis de assimetria de informação. Estas diferenças comprometem a significância dos resultados finais desta avaliação, pois violam algumas hipóteses que estão por de trás da teoria de apreçamento de opções financeiras, além de não incorporar a parcela de risco privado na avaliação, apenas risco de mercado. Outras abordagens para avaliação de opções reais surgiram para tentar resolver o problema da incompletude dos mercados, mas também retornam a outros problemas já discutidos na teoria clássica como, por exemplo, a dificuldade da escolha da taxa de desconto e a subjetividade da estimativa de um fluxo de caixa equivalente certo. Apesar de ter criado um novo paradigma na concepção de valor dos projetos de investimento, a literatura da teoria de opções reais é ainda divergente quanto aos métodos de avaliação. Este trabalho tem como objetivo discutir as dificuldades práticas de se avaliar/ quantificar as opções de um ativo real que se dá tanto pela inadequação dos métodos de apreçamento próprios para derivativos financeiros, quanto pela subjetividade que se incorre com a utilização de métodos alternativos. / [en] The valuation of investment opportunities is undoubtedly a topic of great interest as it is the manner by which firms guide their investment decisions and assess whether this or that project creates or not value. The valuation theory of productive investments starts its way on the Net Present Value Rule (NPV) and branches along its literature, pursuing always the goal of incorporating the uncertainty into the models. The current stage of this path is the valuation of real options, and so everything that precedes it is now called classical theory. Nevertheless, many problems in the approaches found in literature for assessing real options are old. As the analogy with financial options is common, the proposed methodology for pricing real options bases itself in the financial options models. But this methodological extension is in itself problematic, as the so-called real assets and financial assets retain important differences between themselves such as private risk, completeness of markets, differences in liquidity, reversibility and a dramatic difference in the levels of information asymmetry. These differences undermine the significance of the valuation’s final results, as they violate some of the assumptions behind the pricing theory of financial options. As well as that, only the market component of risk is considered in the assessment, leaving private risk unattended. Other approaches for pricing real options have emerged in order to tackle the problem of market incompleteness, but are not able to prevent other issues already discussed in the classical theory, such as the difficulty in choosing the discount rate and the subjectivity of the certainty equivalent cash flow estimation. Despite having created a new standard in the understanding of what does the value of an investment project represent, real options literature is still uneasy with regards to valuation methods. The aim of this dissertation is to discuss the practical difficulties in the valuation/ quantification of the options present in a real asset. These are given both by the inadequacy in the methods that were designed specifically for financial derivatives, and by the subjectivity that is incurred when one makes use of alternative methods.

This diploma thesis is focused on the influence of European law on the business enti-ties in the Czech Republic. The primary objective of this thesis is to explain how the implementation of Directive 2013/34/EU affects the accounting statements of business entities. There is also paid attention to the new modification of the Accounting Act in this thesis. The amendment of the Accounting Act is compared with the Directive 2013/34/EU in the Financial reporting. Especially this thesis is concentrated on the balance sheet, profit and loss account, the final accounts, the annual report and any other financial reports. After this comparison it has to be shown, whether all the important parts of Directive 2013/34/EU are component of the Czech law. Moreover, this thesis describes some of the advantages that are provided for micro-undertakings and small-undertakings.

Submitted by Mateus Coimbra (mateuscoimbra@globo.com) on 2015-03-26T21:07:42Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Mateus_VersãoFinal.pdf: 2669269 bytes, checksum: 48cd2040e644c14fa2026b9c1af6ab83 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by GILSON ROCHA MIRANDA (gilson.miranda@fgv.br) on 2015-04-15T14:54:23Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Mateus_VersãoFinal.pdf: 2669269 bytes, checksum: 48cd2040e644c14fa2026b9c1af6ab83 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marcia Bacha (marcia.bacha@fgv.br) on 2015-04-17T13:29:20Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Mateus_VersãoFinal.pdf: 2669269 bytes, checksum: 48cd2040e644c14fa2026b9c1af6ab83 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-17T13:29:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Mateus_VersãoFinal.pdf: 2669269 bytes, checksum: 48cd2040e644c14fa2026b9c1af6ab83 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-02 / These work proposes a methodology to evaluate in discrete time the 'reequilibrium discount', a mechanism of balance between govern and business interests, in highways contracts, by using Classical Theory Concepts and Real Options Theory. The model developed permits to incorporate flexibilities related to uncertainties, like managerial decisions, biased behaviors, and risks associated to political decisions, commonly presents in highway concessions contracts in Brazil. / Este trabalho propõe um novo modelo para avaliação, em tempo discreto, do desconto de reequilíbrio em contratos de concessão rodoviária, a partir de conceitos da Teoria Clássica de Finanças e da Teoria de Opções Reais. O modelo desenvolvido permitiu incorporar flexibilidades decorrentes de incertezas nas situações reais, como decisões gerenciais, vieses de comportamento e componentes políticos, comumente presentes em contratos de concessões rodoviária. Os resultados obtidos, utilizando-se como estudo de caso a BR-262, sinalizaram que há espaço para uma melhor intervenção regulatória com relação ao mecanismo do desconto de reequilíbrio, no sentido de prover melhores incentivos aos concessionários.

Submitted by Gabriel Lento (gabriel.carneiro.lento@gmail.com) on 2017-05-01T23:16:04Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Gabriel Carneiro Lento.pdf: 832965 bytes, checksum: f79e7cb4e5933fd8c3a7c67ed781ddb5 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Leiliane Silva (leiliane.silva@fgv.br) on 2017-05-04T18:39:57Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Gabriel Carneiro Lento.pdf: 832965 bytes, checksum: f79e7cb4e5933fd8c3a7c67ed781ddb5 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-17T12:43:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Gabriel Carneiro Lento.pdf: 832965 bytes, checksum: f79e7cb4e5933fd8c3a7c67ed781ddb5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-27 / In this work we study churn in health insurance, that is predicting which clients will cancel the product or service within a preset time-frame. Traditionally, the probability whether a client will cancel the service is modeled using logistic regression. Recently, modern machine learning techniques are becoming popular in churn modeling, having been applied in the areas of telecommunications, banking, and car insurance, among others. One of the big challenges in this problem is that only a fraction of all customers cancel the service, meaning that we have to deal with highly imbalanced class probabilities. Under-sampling and over-sampling techniques have been used to overcome this issue. We use random forests, that are ensembles of decision trees, where each of the trees fits a subsample of the data constructed using either under-sampling or over-sampling. We compare the distinct specifications of random forests using various metrics that are robust to imbalanced classes, both in-sample and out-of-sample. We observe that random forests using imbalanced random samples with fewer observations than the original series present a better overall performance. Random forests also present a better performance than the classical logistic regression, often used in health insurance companies to model churn. / Neste trabalho estudamos o problema de churn em seguro saúde, isto é, a previsão se o cliente irá cancelar o produto ou serviço em até um período de tempo pré-estipulado. Tradicionalmente, regressão logística é utilizada para modelar a probabilidade de cancelamento do serviço. Atualmente, técnicas modernas de machine learning vêm se tornando cada vez mais populares para esse tipo de problema, com exemplos nas áreas de telecomunicação, bancos, e seguros de carro, dentre outras. Uma das grandes dificuldades nesta modelagem é que apenas uma pequena fração dos clientes de fato cancela o serviço, o que significa que a base de dados tratada é altamente desbalanceada. Técnicas de under-sampling e over-sampling são utilizadas para contornar esse problema. Neste trabalho, aplicamos random forests, que são combinações de árvores de decisão ajustadas em subamostras dos dados, construídas utilizando under-sampling e over-sampling. Ao fim do trabalho comparamos métricas de ajustes obtidas nas diversas especificações dos modelos testados e avaliamos seus resultados dentro e fora da amostra. Observamos que técnicas de random forest utilizando sub-amostras não balanceadas com o tamanho menor do que a amostra original apresenta a melhor performance dentre as random forests utilizadas e uma melhora com relação ao praticado no mercado de seguro saúde.

Este trabalho procura avaliar o retorno elástico em aços avançados de alta resistência utilizados em processo de dobramento. Para isso, foram usadas chapas de aço bifásico DP 600 e DP 800, ambas revestidas. Foram empregados dois métodos de medição a fim de abordar e avaliar o retorno elástico. O primeiro método abordado foi à conformação de tiras em U e o segundo método foi à realização do ensaio Dobramento Sob Tensão, aos quais possibilitaram a coleta de dados para aplicação em cálculo de coeficiente de atrito no processo de dobramento. Em ambas as avaliações foram utilizadas duas diferentes condições de lubrificação para o processo de dobramento, visando variar a condição de atrito no processo. A primeira foi à aplicação de um lubrificante em forma de pasta, de nome comercial Clarus Desmoldax DCP 35 e a segunda foi à aplicação em forma líquida, denominado Clarus Desmoldax DCP 35X. Para analisar o retorno elástico, foram utilizadas como critério de avaliação as medições de abertura da parede da tira conformada, permitindo desta forma considerar o atrito por intermédio da variação do tipo lubrificante. As análises realizadas nos corpos de prova conformados em formato U evidenciaram um retorno elástico menor para as amostras do aço DP 600, se comparadas com as amostras do aço DP 800. Não existiu relevância na variação dos lubrificantes quanto ao retorno elástico nas amostras de um mesmo tipo de aço. As análises realizadas nos corpos de prova submetidos ao ensaio de dobramento sob tensão, também evidenciaram um retorno elástico menor para as amostras do aço DP 600 se comparadas com as amostras do aço DP 800. Comparando as amostras com base nos dados coletados e aplicados ao cálculo de coeficiente de atrito, percebeu-se que as amostras que tiveram um retorno elástico menor, também possuíam coeficientes de atrito menor, constatando assim que quanto menor o coeficiente de atrito, menor é o retorno elástico. / This piece of work seeks to evaluate the springback effect on advanced high strength steel used in the bending process. For this, biphasic steel plates DP 600 and DP 800, both coated, were used. Two methods of measurement were used to approach and asses the springback effect. The first method approached was the conformation of strips in U and the second method was the preformance of the Bending Under Tension test, which enabled the data collect for the application in calculation of the friction coefficient in the bending process. In both assessments two different lubricant conditions for the bending process were used with the aim of varying the condition of friction in the process. The first one was the application of a paste lubricant, with the brand name Clarus Desmoldax DCP 35 and the second one was the application of a liquid lubricant, called Clarus Desmoldax DCP 35X. To analyze the springback effect the measurements of the opening of the wall of the conformed strip were used, thus allowing to consider the friction through the variation of the type of lubricant. The assessments carried out in the specimens in U shape showed a smaller springback effect for the steel samples DP 600 in comparison with the DP 800 ones. There was no relevance in the range of lubricants as the springback effect in the samples of the same type of steel. The analyzes carried out in the specimens subjected to bending under pressure test also showed a smaller springback effect for the steel samples DP 600 compared with the DP 800 ones. Comparing the samples based on the data collected and applied to the calculation of the friction coefficient, it was noticed that the samples that had a smaller springback effect also had lower friction coefficients, therefore verifying that the lower the friction coefficient is, the lower the springback effect.

Title: Play and stay 10s system The thesis "Play and stay 10s system" follow up compilation of available literature dealing with training of children under 10 years old. This system i salso applicable to older children beginners or even adult beginners. The aim of the thesis is to analyze this system prefered by ITF and subscribe it to Czech trainers and coaches or those who are interested in tennis methodology for this age category. The problem in this category is the fact that a large amount of athletes have other sport opportunities than tennis. The outflow of athletes from this sport is caused by direct corrective form of teaching that children do not like. And as many people think, it goes to collective and more entertaining sports where the game itself is beginning from first lesson. The slogan of tennis 10s is "Serve, rallye, score". This system has caused worldwide rise and popularity among children and adults. Tennis taught in this way is more attractive and fun. Key words: tennis, methodology, training of children under 10 years, fun form, midi court

Summaries in English and Afrikaans / Text in English / The aim of this investigation was to determine whether values, the style of discipline and father involvement, influence achievement motivation in secondary school pupils. A survey of existing literature on this subject reveals that style of discipline does influence academic achievement. Baumrind's research is a major source of information in this regard. Research also indicates a positive correlation between academic achievement and the father's ability to assume the leadership role in the family. A positive correlation between the choice of values, for example religious, social, etcetera, and academic achievement is indicated in past research on academic achievement. An investigation done in a large rural town in South Africa, however, reveals no significant correlation between the above mentioned factors and academic achievement. However, a negative correlation between achievement and popularity as an important value, suggests that under-achievement is found more frequently among pupils whose parents value popularity highly. / Die doel van hierdie ondersoek was om te bepaal of waardes, die dissiplineringstyl en vaderbetrokkenheid, die kind se akademiese prestasie bei:nvloed. 'n Ondersoek van bestaande literatuur op hierdie gebied, wys daarop dat die dissiplineringstyl, akademiese prestasie bei:nvloed. Baumrind se studie is 'n belangrike bron van inligting in die verband. Navorsing dui op 'n positiewe korrelasie tussen akademiese prestasie en die vader se vermoe om die leierskapsposisie in die gesin te handhaaf Bestaande literatuur oor die onderwerp dui ook daarop dat die keuse van waardes, byvoorbeeld godsdienstige-, sosiale-, ensovoorts, positief korreleer met akademiese prestasie. 'n Ondersoek in 'n groot plattelandse dorp in Suid-Afiika, wys geen beduidende korrelasie tussen die bogenoemde aspekte en akademiese prestasie nie. 'n Negatiewe korrelasie tussen akademiese prestasie en gewildheid as waarde, word wel aangedui, wat suggereer dat leerlinge dikwels onderpresteer wanneer hulle ouers op gewildheid gesteld is. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

Background: Stunting is impaired linear growth that occurs within the first 1000 days of life and continues later in life. It is associated with short and long term morbidity. This study aims to examine the association between stunting and maternal biodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics in children 0-59 months in Ghana.  Methodology: The study is an analysis of a nationally representative sample of households, based on the socio-ecological framework. Data was sourced from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted in 2014. Logistic regression was used to analyze 2759 children aged 0-59 months.  Results: The prevalence of stunting was 17.6%. Children 24-35 months had higher odds of stunting (OR=10.6 95% CI 5.18-21.8). Boys had higher odds than girls to be stunted (OR=1.62, 95% CI 1.21-2.17). There was an association between early initiation of breastfeeding, access to proper toilet facility, mothers’ level of education and ethnicity with stunting. Difficult access to healthcare was associated with high risk of stunting (OR=10.3, 95% CI, 1.38-76.8). Households with more than two U-5 children had higher odds of stunting (OR=1.61, 95% CI, 1.10-2.34). Conclusions: Stunting is a public health concern in Ghana. To address stunting, multisectorial interventions needs to be targeted at extending nutrition programmes to above 24 months. Nutrition interventions should prioritize early initiation of breastfeeding. Easy access to quality healthcare by strengthening the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) should be promoted. Results also suggested that it is critical to invest in free education and scale up family planning programs.

Made available in DSpace on 2011-05-04T12:36:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009 / Esta dissertação é apresentada sob forma de artigo e tem por objetivo estudar a notificaçãode óbito de crianças menores de um ano de idade nos municípios de Fronteiras, Monsenhor Gil, Pimenteiras e Simões do estado do Piauí no biênio 2005 e 2006. Foi realizado um estudo de caso de natureza descritiva. O trabalho de campo foi feito por meio da estratégia busca ativa junto às diversas fontes de notificação de óbito oficiais e não oficiais existentes nos municípios. Foram utilizados os dados de óbito infantil do Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade (SIM). Buscou-se identificar o percentual de subnotificação do óbito infantil, a contribuição das diversas fontes de notificação e o perfil do óbito infantil. O estudo mostrou uma cobertura de óbito infantil para o total dos municípios de 59, 5 por cento; dentre as unidades classificadas como do sistema de saúde, o hospital foi a principal fonte de notificação para óbitos já notificados no SIM. O PSF e informante chave mostraram-se fontes relevantes para óbitos não notificados ao SIM. É possível apontar que a subnotificação do óbito infantil pode ser atribuída a questões relacionadas à garantia do acesso ao serviço de saúde como também a questões que perpassam o setor saúde, a exemplo, o nível de escolaridade materna. / This dissertation is presented in an article format and has as its objective to study the death notifications of children younger than one year of age in the cities of Fronteiras, Monsenhor Gil, Pimenteiras and Simões, in the state of Piauí from 2005 to2006. A case study of a descriptive nature was carried out. The field work was done by means of an active strategic search together with the different sources of official death notification and the non-official ones in the cities. The data of infant deaths from the Mortality Information Computer System (SIM) was used. The search to identify the percentage of under notification of infant deaths, the contribution of several sources of notification and the profile of infant deaths was done. The study showed a covering of infant death for all of the cities at 59.5%; among the units classified as the health system, the hospital was the main notification source for deaths notified at SIM. The Family Health Program and the key informant were the relevant sources for non-notified deaths at SIM. It is possible to point out that the under notification of infant deaths could be attributed to questions related to the guarantee of access to health services as well as questions which are outside the health sector, for example, the educational level of the mother.