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Despite the prevalence of bilingual identity among linguistic minority youth in Canada, few studies have empirically investigated its acculturative consequences. This study explores the nature of bilingual identity, as determined by language confidence, in various ethnolinguistic contexts. More specifically, it investigates the relation between language confidence and identity as moderated by ethnolinguistic vitality. It also verifies whether bilinguals can be distinguished from predominantly unilingual participants on factors related to the maintenance of identity, namely subjective ethnolinguistic vitality and language usage and evaluates the impact of ethnolinguistic vitality on these differences. Data from the Survey on the Vitality of Official-Language Minorities collected by Statistics Canada among francophones outside of Quebec and anglophones in Quebec (N = 7377) was used for analysis. The results of univariate and multivariate analyses of variance show that language confidence is significantly related to levels of identity for all regions. Bilinguals are significantly distinct from predominantly monolingual participants on most factors for maintenance of identity. However, among all francophone samples, bilinguals most resemble the franco-dominant participants. The implications of these findings on the understanding of the nature of bilingual identity are discussed. Malgré la prévalence de l’identité bilingue parmi les jeunes de groupes minoritaires linguistiques au Canada, peu d’études ont vérifié ses conséquences acculturatives de façon empirique. Cette étude explore la nature de l’identité bilingue telle que déterminée par la confiance langagière, dans divers contextes ethnolinguistiques. De façon plus spécifique, la relation entre la confiance langagière et l’identité, modérée par la vitalité ethnolinguistique est examinée. Par ailleurs, l’étude explore si les gens bilingues se distinguent de ceux qui ont une prédominance langagière sur des facteurs liés au maintien de l’identité, soit la vitalité ethnolinguistique subjective et l’utilisation langagière, et évalue l’impact de la vitalité ethnolinguistique sur ces différences. Les analyses ont été menées à partir des données de l’Enquête sur la vitalité des minorités de langue officielle de Statistique Canada recueillies auprès des francophones de l’extérieur du Québec et des anglophones du Québec (N = 7377). Les résultats d’analyses univariées et multivariées dévoilent que pour chacune des régions ethnolinguistiques, la confiance langagière est significativement liée à l’identité. Les bilingues se distinguent significativement de ceux à prédominance langagière sur la plupart des facteurs importants au maintien de l’identité. Toutefois, parmi les groupes francophones, les bilingues ressemblent le plus aux participants franco-dominants. Les conséquences de ces résultats sur la compréhension de la nature de l’identité bilingue sont discutées.

Despite the prevalence of bilingual identity among linguistic minority youth in Canada, few studies have empirically investigated its acculturative consequences. This study explores the nature of bilingual identity, as determined by language confidence, in various ethnolinguistic contexts. More specifically, it investigates the relation between language confidence and identity as moderated by ethnolinguistic vitality. It also verifies whether bilinguals can be distinguished from predominantly unilingual participants on factors related to the maintenance of identity, namely subjective ethnolinguistic vitality and language usage and evaluates the impact of ethnolinguistic vitality on these differences. Data from the Survey on the Vitality of Official-Language Minorities collected by Statistics Canada among francophones outside of Quebec and anglophones in Quebec (N = 7377) was used for analysis. The results of univariate and multivariate analyses of variance show that language confidence is significantly related to levels of identity for all regions. Bilinguals are significantly distinct from predominantly monolingual participants on most factors for maintenance of identity. However, among all francophone samples, bilinguals most resemble the franco-dominant participants. The implications of these findings on the understanding of the nature of bilingual identity are discussed. Malgré la prévalence de l’identité bilingue parmi les jeunes de groupes minoritaires linguistiques au Canada, peu d’études ont vérifié ses conséquences acculturatives de façon empirique. Cette étude explore la nature de l’identité bilingue telle que déterminée par la confiance langagière, dans divers contextes ethnolinguistiques. De façon plus spécifique, la relation entre la confiance langagière et l’identité, modérée par la vitalité ethnolinguistique est examinée. Par ailleurs, l’étude explore si les gens bilingues se distinguent de ceux qui ont une prédominance langagière sur des facteurs liés au maintien de l’identité, soit la vitalité ethnolinguistique subjective et l’utilisation langagière, et évalue l’impact de la vitalité ethnolinguistique sur ces différences. Les analyses ont été menées à partir des données de l’Enquête sur la vitalité des minorités de langue officielle de Statistique Canada recueillies auprès des francophones de l’extérieur du Québec et des anglophones du Québec (N = 7377). Les résultats d’analyses univariées et multivariées dévoilent que pour chacune des régions ethnolinguistiques, la confiance langagière est significativement liée à l’identité. Les bilingues se distinguent significativement de ceux à prédominance langagière sur la plupart des facteurs importants au maintien de l’identité. Toutefois, parmi les groupes francophones, les bilingues ressemblent le plus aux participants franco-dominants. Les conséquences de ces résultats sur la compréhension de la nature de l’identité bilingue sont discutées.

The thesis is focused on application of methods of financial analysis, solvent and bankruptcy indicators and methods for assessing the vitality of the company by H. Pollak. These methods will be applied on the Prague Energy Company, Inc. This thesis aims to compare the resulting values and vitality assessment of Prague Energy Company, Inc.

The paper deals with the verification of method Vitality of company evaluation, designed by Harry Pollak. The aim of this paper was to verify based on case studies the accuracy of how the method works and modify it for use in the Czech conditions. Qualitative research in the form of a guided interview was due to the effectiveness of the method verification focused on the 22 companies that have gone through crisis management. Research has shown that the method is fully functional and correctly diagnoses the health of the company, regardless of size, industry, history or location. Through revision of the method in the form of adjustment weights, changes and additions of the characteristics and their parameters was developed a new method of Vitality of company evaluation, which better reflects the conditions of Czech companies, emphasis the importance of key business elements and easier evaluates extreme situations of the company. This diagnostic method is generally applicable, simple, quickly and easily interpretable and applicable, which responds to the imperfection of previous methods. The experience of crisis management case studies show that the crisis caused by over-indebtedness or decline in demand due to external reasons are those that can be solved. The basic elements of these solutions are quality products, satisfied customers and reliable staff.

Urban open spaces are of strategic importance to the quality of life of our increasingly urbanized society. Trees and related vegetation are planted and managed within the communities and cities to create or add value to the busy lives of the city dwellers. Trees in towns and cities form an important part of complex urban ecosystems and provide significant ecosystem services and benefits for urban dwellers, for example: reducing particulate pollution, carbon sequestration, decreasing air temperature, decreasing water runoff, aesthetic value and an increase in human health. Trees are solarpowered technology that can help restore balance to dysfunctional urban ecosystems. Trees form strands in the urban fabric that connect people to nature and to each other. The urban environment puts tremendous strain on trees by trenching, limited space for root growth and emission of pollutants into the atmosphere, water and soil. The problem is that the real impact of the urban environment on the trees within our community is unknown. The aim of this investigation was to assess the overall anthropogenic and environmental impacts on urban trees by measuring the tree vitality of Acacia karroo using chlorophyll fluorescence kinetics (JIP-test) and the leaf water potential using a pressure chamber. Tree vitality was quantified as the chlorophyll fluorescence-based performance index (PIABS)T. ree vitality measurements were also correlated with soil physical and chemical data. In the comparative study, an urbanization gradient approach was followed in which results of trees in rural areas were regarded as controls. The gradient approach is used worldwide and provides a background for questions of ecological structure and function. The urbanization gradient was quantified using the V-I-S model, based on % cover of vegetation, impervious surface and soil. Additionally, a model to determine the monetary value of trees in urban environments (SATAM) was tested. All this information could eventually contribute to develop an urban tree management program for Potchefstroom. It was evident from the current study that urbanization has a negative impact on tree vitality. The leaf water potential of a tree was, however, not necessarily negatively impacted upon. Although trees in urban environments did not always have a high vitality (PIABS)t, hey still played a major role in the urban environment. According to the tree appraisal method (SATAM), some of these trees have a value of R60 000. / Thesis (M. Environmental Science (Ecological Remediation and Sustainable Utilisation))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

This thesis focuses on problems related to unregulated construction of shopping malls in the city centres. Shopping malls are often built considering their negative effects on small merchants, urban environment etc. This particular problem was analyzed in two cities (Pardubice and Liberec) using elements of Retail Impact Assessment study and counterfactual impact evaluation method. Results showed that placing the shopping malls to the city centre changes the structure of retail units in its vicinity. Since customers prefer larger shopping facilities, their shopping behaviour changes, and small merchants are forced to addapt and compete with "all under one roof" shopping centers. Some of them cannot compete with these centers and are forced to close. Contribution of this research focuses on application of unique methods which indicated a need to regulate and coordinate building of large shopping centers within Czech cities. Key words: retail impact assessment, city centre, vitality, shopping mall

Orientador: Mateus José Rodrigues Paranhos da Costa / Coorientador: Monique Valéria de Lima Carvalhal / Banca: João Alberto Negrão / Banca: Luciandra Macedo de Toledo / Resumo: O objetivo com esta dissertação foi desenvolver uma ferramenta prática para caracterizar a vitalidade das bezerras e entender suas relações com a saúde e desempenho desses animais. Foram avaliadas 82 bezerras que nasceram de partos eutócicos (57,32%, N=47) e distócicos (42,68%, N=35), sendo distribuídas em dois grupos genéticos, 1/2HG (N=23, 28,05%) e 3/4HG (N=59, 71,95%). As seguintes características inerentes as bezerras foram quantificadas: latência para mamar, postura, sucção e velocidade de sucção. As notas de postura e sucção foram somadas para obter a nota de vigor, que variou de 2 a 6 (sendo 2 a nota correspondente ao pior vigor e 6 ao melhor estado de vigor), sendo que 42,68% das bezerras estavam no escore 6. Foram registradas características inerentes as vacas que somadas constituíram a nota de comportamento maternal, que nas análises estatísticas foi considerada juntamente com as variáveis latência para mamar, vigor, grupo genético das bezerras e tipo de parto, variáveis independentes. Ainda foram registradas variáveis consideradas dependentes nos modelos estatísticos: vigor, peso ao nascimento, transferência de imunidade passiva, tratamentos veterinários, ganho de peso diário e sobrevivência. Foi utilizada a regressão linear múltipla para identificar quais foram as variáveis inerentes as bezerras, utilizadas como efeito fixo do modelo na análise confirmatória. Para a análise confirmatória foi utilizado o procedimento PROC MIXED do SAS (versão 9.0). Para o vigor as... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The objetive of this dissertation was to develop a practical tool to characterize the vitality of calves and to understand their relationships with the health and performance of these animals. Eighty-two calves born of eutocic (57.32%, N = 47) and dystocic (42.68%, N = 35) calves were distributed in two genetic groups, 1/2HG (N = 23, 28.05 %) and 3/4HG (N = 59, 71.95%). The following inherent characteristics were quantified: suckling latency, posture, suction and suction velocity. Posture and suction scores were added to obtain the vigor score, which ranged from 2 to 6 (2 being the worst strength score and 6 being the best state of vigor), and 42.68% of the calves were in the score 6. Inherited characteristics were registered cows, which together were the maternal behavior note, which, together with the variables latency to suckling, vigor, genetic group of calves and type of calving, were considered as independent variables. Variables considered to be dependent on statistical models were also recorded: vigor, birth weight, transfer of passive immunity, veterinary treatments, daily weight gain and survival. Multiple linear regression was used to identify which inherent variables were heifers, which were used as fixed effect of the model in the confirmatory analysis. For the confirmatory analysis, the SAS PROC MIXED procedure (version 9.0) was used. For vigor, the variables group and suction velocity had a significant effect (p = 0.0028 and <0.0001, respectively), with the hig... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre