Dissertations / Theses on the topic '5235r'

Il presente studio è stato svolto allo scopo di offrire un'ampia conoscenza del prestito linguistico, in particolare dell'extranjersimo (forestierismo in italiano), nello spagnolo attuale. Considerando l'ampio trattamento del fenomeno offerto dalle opere accademiche della Real Academia Española e delle Accademie americane della lingua spagnola, abbiamo cercato di verificare se e come la stampa si facesse eco delle raccomandazioni date dalle varie istituzioni normative.

Tropical forests play a vital role in the global carbon cycle and international policy, such as the United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation or Degradation (REDD+), but the amount of carbon they contain and its spatial distribution remain uncertain. Allometric equations used to estimate tree mass are a key source of this uncertainty, because large-scale variation in tree allometry and fundamental differences between functional groups are not accurately represented in pantropical biomass equations. This research tests the effects of accounting for sources of variation not currently explained in treemodels (i.e., crown size and structure) and recognising important distinctions between functional groups (monocots vs. dicots) at both the level of individuals and across the landscape. Southwestern Amazonian forests are politically and ecologically important, but biomass estimates may be articularly uncertain in this region. Specifically, tree biomass estimates vary greatly among published models, but these models do not account for crown structure nor have their predictions been tested against directly measured data in the southwestern Amazon. Palms are also abundant in western Amazonia but theirmass has been widely misrepresented: using models developed for dicotyledonous trees is likely inaccurate because these two groups have very different structures. To test these ideas, 51 trees and 136 arborescent palms were harvested and weighed in Peru, including the heaviest tropical tree on record. Existing pantropical equations that included height underestimated tree biomass by 11-14%because large crowns partially compensate for lower stature. Including crown parameters in new allometric models greatly improved performance and reduced error, especially for the largest trees. Palm biomass was often underestimated by dicot models because they can be much taller at small diameters, and stem height was the most important variable in new equations. These results were confirmed on a larger scale. Based on a network of 53 forest plots, biomass carbon in trees and palms in the southwestern Amazon is 9%greater than estimated by the recommended pantropical biomass equation. Original total aboveground carbon stocks over the entire 746,653 km2 ecoregion is estimated at 11.5 Pg C. Nearly one third of forests in this region are at imminent risk of deforestation and forest degradation, which would result in emissions up to 4.4 Pg C. These results significantly advance allometricmodelling and reduce uncertainty in forest biomass estimates, especially in southwestern Amazonia, which should help to underpin effective forest management and provide better forest biomass estimates for REDD+ and other carbon-based conservation projects.

El objetivo general de este trabajo de investigación será relacionar los modelos de las configuraciones básicas de Henry Mintzberg (1991) con diversos funcionamientos afines a estructuras mentales, y donde generamos las siguientes hipótesis de trabajo: Si la cumbre estratégica está fuera de control, podremos predecir un funcionamiento organizacional histérico. Si la está tecnoestructura está fuera de control, podremos predecir un funcionamiento organizacional obsesivo. Si la línea media está fuera de control, podremos predecir un funcionamiento organizacional depresivo. Si el núcleo operativo está fuera de control, podremos predecir un funcionamiento organizacional paranoide. Si el staff de apoyo está fuera de control, podremos predecir un funcionamiento organizacional esquizoide. La metodología utilizada para esta investigación se basó en el relevamiento de diversas fuentes de información, principalmente de autores que han desarrollado algunos conceptos de psicología organizacional tales como Danny Miller y Ketz de Vries (1984), y han sido incorporados al funcionamiento organizacional de Mintzberg (1991); teorizando fallas paramétricas de diseño que llevasen a “funcionamientos" mentales específicos a los diferentes tipos de configuraciones organizacionales<br>Fil: Marengo, José Alberto. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2001.<br>English Abstract: This research project examines the syntax of negative sentence constructions in Sesotho and explores implications of the empirical data on negation within the framework of the Minimalist Program. According to Minimalist Program, language consists of a lexicon and Computational System where the operations Merge and Move generate sets of structural descriptions, it is driven by the principle of economy, which entails that movement should take place only when necessary for the purpose of Case feature checking. It is also concerned with the expansion of syntactic structures in terms of X-bar theoretic properties, where functional category gives full categorical status. This project further considered the morphology of negation in Sesotho where Sesotho data is refined within the Lexeme-morpheme base morphology, where bound grammatical morphemes such as the negative morphemes in Sesotho are defined in terms of morphological spelling operations. Within these two theoretical frameworks, sentence constructions which realize negation by means of negative morphemes over a full range of tense, aspect and mood distinctions were examined, including sentence construction that realize negation in subordinate clauses as well as those that entail issues of topic and focus, and scope of negation. Constituent negation, with constituents such as subjects, objects and adjuncts is also investigated. Various ways of negating constituents in Sesotho were examined: they are cleft sentences, pseudo-cleft sentences, sentence construction with locative AgrS [ ho ] and sentence constructions with subject inversion as well as sentences where constituents are negated within the VP. All these methods were considered with regard to noncopulative and copulative verbs. The issue of focus which entails plain focus, restrictive and contrastive foci, the issue of topic, which entails stage topics, modified topics and multiple topics are investigated and interpreted within the Focus Structure theory, a theory which assigns focus structures to sentences of the language. Negative sentences are assigned two focus structure viz. main focus structure and the subordinate focus structure. Finally, this study also looks into the scope of negation in Sesotho, where negative criterion (Neg-criterion) stipulates various positions of negative morphemes or words which in turn determines the scope of negation. Scope of negation is also examined in terms of focus, with constituents such as NP's, NP Lac's and NP's in subordinate clauses.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsingsprojek ondersoek die sintaksis van konstruksies met negatiewe sinne in Sesotho en gaan die implikasies na van die empiriese data oor ontkenning binne die raamwerk van die Minimalistiese Program. Volgens die Minimalistiese Program, bestaan taal uit In leksikon en In rekenaarsisteem waar die bewerkinge Saamsmelt en Skuif versamelings strukturele beskrywings genereer, dit word aangedryf deur die beginsel van ekonomie wat inhou dat Skuif slegs plaasvind wanneer dit nodig is vir die doel van die nagaan van die Kasus kenmerk: dit het ook te doen met die uitbreiding van sintaktiese strukture in terme van die teoretiese kenmerke van die X-balk, waar die funksionele kategorie volle kategoriale status verkry. Dié projek het ook verder die morfologie van ontkenning in Sesotho oorweeg waar die Sesotho data verfyn is binne die Lekseem-Morfeem Basis Morfologie, waar grammatikale morfeme soos die negatiewe morfeme in Sesotho gedefinieer word in terme van morfologiese spellingsbewerkings. Binne hierdie twee teoretiese raamwerke, is daar ondersoek ingestel na sinskonstruksies wat negatief realiseer deur middel van negatiewe morfeme binne In volledige reeks van onderskeidinge van tyd, aspek en modus, insluitende sinskonstruksies waar die negatief realiseer in die bysin, asook daardie negatiewe wat gaan oor sake soos Topiek en Fokus, en die omvang van ontkenning. Konstituent ontkenning is ondersoek waaronder konstituente soos onderwerpe, voorwerpe en adjunkte. Verskeie wyses om konstituente in Sesotho te ontken is ondersoek, naamlik: klef en pseudo-klef sinne, sinskonstruksie met die lokatiewe kongruensie [ho] en sinskonstruksies met subjeksinversie asook sinne waar konstituente ontken word binne In werkwoordfrase. AI hierdie wyses is nagegaan met nie-kopulatiewe en kopulatiewe werkwoorde. Die probleem van fokus is ondersoek wat insluit eenvoudige fokus, beperkende en kontrastiewe fokus, asook die probleem van topiek wat verskeie soorte topiek insluit. Hierdie ondersoek is gedoen en uiteindelik geïnterpreteer binne die Fokus Sruktuur teorie, In teorie wat fokusstrukture toeken aan sinne van In taal. Negatiewe sinne word twee fokusstrukture toegeken, naamlik: die hoof fokus struktuur en die onderskikkende fokus struktuur. Laastens het die studie ook gekyk na die omvang ('scope') van ontkenning in Sesotho waar die negatiewe kriterium verskeie posisies van negatiewe morfeme of woorde stipuleer wat dan weer die omvang van ontkenning bepaal. Die omvang van ontkenning is ook ondersoek in terme van fokus waar kontrastiewe fokus die uitbreiding van omvang bepaaloor konstituente soos naamwoordfrases, lokatiewe naamwoordfrases en naamwoordfrases in onderskikkende klouse.

Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study explores the complex and contested processes of drawing boundaries and negotiating identities in the post-Apartheid South African context by analysing how residents in a new residential suburb of Cape Town are working to carve out a new position for themselves in a changing social order. Drawing on data gathered through participant observation, individual and focus group interviews, and household surveys between November 1998 and December 2000, the study examines how residents draw and negotiate boundaries in their search for stability, status, and community in a society characterised by social flux, uncertainty, ambiguity and contradiction. It explores the construction and shifting of identities believed to be embodied in those boundaries, at the levels of the individual, the household and the community. A range of everyday social and spatial practices - including streetscape design, its use and contestation, neighbourliness and sociality, .household livelihoods and strategies, home maintenance and improvements - are shown to reveal residents' own conceptualisations of boundaries, their practical significance and symbolic power, as well as their permeability and transgression. The marking and maintenance of boundaries convey how social relationships, practices and power in the suburb are structured and continually negotiated. By analysing these actions and responses, the study illustrates some of the ways in which recent changes in South African society have unsettled the relationship between class, race and space to construct new boundaries and shape new identities. The fmdings suggest that although social differentiation among the residents is increasingly being restructured around class, race remains a salient variable in residents' constructions of themselves and each other. Ethnic-religious prejudice is also shown to influence local conflict and constructions of community. The study draws out four discourses through which residents contemplate and formulate circumstances and processes in their neighbourhood. The first emphasises racial integration, the second middle class suburban living, the third safety from crime, the fourth distrust and disorder. The discourses are significant, not only in their practical manifestation in everyday interaction but also because they suggest some of the ways in which connections and disconnections with the past, with (he old identities and the old affiliations, are managed in a new, post-Apartheid South Africa.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie verken die komplekse en betwiste prosesse van die trek van grense en die onderhandeling van identiteite in die Suid-Afrikaanse post-Apartheid konteks, deur te analiseer hoe inwoners in 'n nuwe Kaapstadse residensiële voorstad te werk gaan om 'n nuwe posisie in 'n veranderende sosiale orde vir hulself daar te stel. Op grond van data bekom deur deelnemende observasie, onderhoude met indiwidue en fokusgroepe, en opnames in huishoudings tussen November 1998 en Desember 2000, ondersoek die studie hoe inwoners grense trek en onderhandel in hulle soeke na stabiliteit, status, en gemeenskap in 'n samelewing gekenmerk deur sosiale vloeibaarheid, onsekerheid, dubbelsinnigheid en teenstrydigheid. Dit verken die konstruksie en die verskuiwing van identiteite wat gesien word as dat dit binne hierdie grense tuis hoort, op die vlakke van die indiwidu, die huishouding en die gemeenskap. 'n Reeks alledaagse sosiale en ruimtelike praktyke - insluitende omgewingsbeplanning, die benutting en betwisting daarvan, buurskap en gemeenskapsin, huishoudelike bestaansmiddele en strategieë, huisonderhoud en verbeterings - toon inwoners se eie voorstellings van grense, hulle praktiese betekenis en simboliese invloed, sowel as hulle deurdringbaarheid en oorskryding. Die afbakening en handhawing van grense deel mee hoe sosiale verhoudings, praktyke en mag in die voorstad gestruktureer en voortdurend onderhandel word. Deur hierdie optredes en reaksies illustreer die studie sommige van die wyses waarop onlangse veranderings in die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing die verhouding tussen klas, ras en ruimte beïnvloed het om nuwe grense te konstrueer en nuwe identiteite te vorm. Die bevindings suggereer dat, hoewel sosiale differensiasie tussen die inwoners toenemend geherstruktureer word wat klas betref, ras 'n duidelik waarneembare onderliggende veranderlike in inwoners se siening van hulleself en mekaar bly. Etniesgodsdienstige vooroordeel word ook getoon 'n invloed op plaaslike konflikte en die konstruksie van gemeenskappe te wees. Die studie onthul vier diskoerse waardeur inwoners omstandighede en prosesse in hulle omgewing bedink en te kenne gee. Die eerste beklemtoon rasse-integrasie, die tweede voorstedelike middelklas lewenswyse, die derde misdaadsbeveiliging, die vierde wantroue en wanorde. Die diskoerse is betekenisvol, nie slegs in hulle praktiese manifestering in die daaglikse omgang nie, maar ook aangesien hulle sommige van die wyses waarop koppelings en ontkoppelings met die verlede, en sy ou identiteite en ou affiliasies, in 'n nuwe, post-Apartheid, Suid-Afrika hanteer word, suggereer.

Thesis (MAgricAdmin)--Stellenbosch University, 2001.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Crop rotation present a possible alternative to wheat mono culture production in the Middle Swartland region where farming circumstances became increasingly more difficult since 1996 due to decreasing profit margins. Crop rotation as such presents a number of advantages like higher yield for wheat within the system and reduced inputs costs mainly due to cuts in fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides. Crop rotation trials are currently undertaken at the Langgewens experimental farm in which canola and lupines are used in rotation with wheat while medics and medic/clover mixtures are used as pasture crops in rotation with wheat. The trials is scheduled to run over a period of 20 years, a study of the possible financial effect crop rotation might have on the typical farm can be of some importance to decision makers in the wheat industry. Due to a lack in reliable information the knowledge of a multi disciplinary panel of experts were use to obtain information concerning certain aspects of crop rotation. The expected profitability could thus be determined. To be able to determine the expected financial implications on farm level a typical farm model was developed with the help of the panel of experts. The typical farm of 630 ha was used for the model. The expected profitability and financial implications of the implementation of the eight different crop rotation systems on such a typical farm were estimated making use of long term budgets. The dispersion of rainfall over time was identified as the single most influential factor on the yields of the different crops in the region and was taken into account determining the profitability of the systems over time. The period used for the calculations were thus divided into good, average or poor rainfall years. The IRR (internal rate of return) was used as financial criteria in calculating the expected profitability of the different<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Wisselbou bied 'n moontlike alternatief vir koringmonokultuurverbouing in die Middel Swartland waar boerdery omstandighede sedert 1996 toenemend moeiliker word weens dalende winsmarges. Wisselbou as sulks bied verskeie voordele ten opsigte van verhoogde opbrengste vir veral koring wat in die wisselboustelsel voorkom, sowel as insetbesparings ten opsigte van hoofsaaklik bemesting en spuitprogramme. Wisselbouproewe word tans op Langgewens Proefplaas onderneem om wisselboustelsels waarin kanola en lupien as wisselbougraangewasse en medies en medics/klawer kombinasies as wisselbouweidingsgewasse saam met koring ondersoek word. Die proef is geskeduleer om oor 'n 20 jaar tydperk uitgevoer te word, maar 'n voortydige finansiële ontleding van die verwagte effek wat wisselbou vir die tipiese plaas kan inhou, kan waardevol wees vir besluitnemers in die betrokke bedryf Weens 'n tekort aan toepaslike betroubare inligting is van 'n multidissiplinêre span van kundiges gebruik gemaak om inligting ten opsigte van sekere aspekte van wisselbou te genereer. So kan die verwagte winsgewendheid van die geïdentifiseerde wisselboustelsels bepaal word. Ten einde die finansiële implikasies van gewaswisselbou relatief tot koringmonokultuurverbouing op plaasvlak te ondersoek, is van 'n tipiese plaasmodel gebruik gemaak wat met behulp van die paneel kundiges ontwikkel is. 'n Tipiese plaas van 630 ha is gebruik as ontledingsmodel. Die verwagte winsgewendheid en finansiële implikasies van die implementering van eik van agt verskillende wisselboustelsels is beraam deur middel van langtermyn begrotings. Reënval en reënvalverspreiding is geïdentifiseer as die faktore wat die grootste invloed op die opbrengs prestasie van gewasse in die betrokke omgewing uitoefen en is in ag geneem met die beraming van die finansiële prestasie van die stelsels oor die langtermyn. Die berekeningstermyn is gevolglik ingedeel in goeie, gemiddelde en swak reënvaljare ten einde die invloed van reënval op die opbrengste van die verskillende gewasse in ag te neem. Die lOK (interne opbrengskoers van kapitaal) is gebruik as finansiële maatstaf vir die meet van die winsgewendheid van eike wisselboustelsel, soos geïmplementeer op die tipiese plaas. Wisselboustelsels met kanola en lupien saam met koring toon goeie finansiële resultate, terwyl stelsels met weidingsgewasse en koring oor die algemeen meer winsgewend vertoon as koringmonokultuur.Na verwagting behoort die stelsel waar koring en medics/klawennengsel afgewissel word, die beste te vaar ten opsigte van winsgewendheid.

Assignment (MFor)--Stellenbosch University, 2001.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The ongoing environmental destruction that results from the continuous use of the woodland resources for economic purposes has caused extensive changes in the original vegetation of Goba area of southern Mozambique. Developing alternative sources of income for communities can reduce their dependence on the production of charcoal, building materials and wood carvings. The lack of infrastructure and remoteness of these localities from the markets make alternatives economically unfeasible and thus unsustainable for rural development. Ineffective policy planning that does not address the problem in a holistic way causes the dilemma of local people in remote areas. The challenge at Goba is to develop alternative livelihoods that are economically, socially and ecologically sustainable. Nature-based tourism has been identified as such an alternative to realize this goal. However, this development requires incentives for sustainable resource use, which can be created either by expanding the benefits accruing from the efficient use of the resource or by changing the distribution of the benefits and cost in favor of the users. In many cases, local communities have developed tourism initiatives in ecologically fragile, remote areas, without sound planning based on detailed ecological and socio-economic information. Uncontrolled flows of tourists in unplanned tourist destinations degrade these areas. These destinations lose their aesthetic appeal; tourism flow decreases and consequently new attractions are opened. This study is of a land use planning nature and follows a combination of existing framework tools. The primary aim of this study was to develop simple guidelines for nature-based tourism that contribute to the conservation and management of the rural woodland areas as well as to the improved socio-economic welfare of rural communities in the Goba area. The study used baseline information for planning, focusing on the tourism market and on the ecological and socia-economical aspects of the siudy area. Two strategies were used to obtain the information, namely market research and attraction resources analysis. The market research in the southern part of Mozambique shows that: International tourist flows are at present from Southern African countries mostly South Africa (more than 50%), North America, Europe and Australia or Asia. Mozambique is perceived mainly as a sunny beach destination for vacations and weekends though most of the tourists were engaged in multi-destination itineraries that included safari, wildernesses, bird watching, touring and curiosity. There was no evidence from any tourist that nature tourism was the reason to visit Mozambique, but many of them said that they would visit ecotourism and nature tourism destinations if available. The average daily expenditure per tourist was found to be US$47. Tourists from long-haul distances had higher disposable expenditures and stayed longer in both attraction assets and in the country. Sixty nine per cent (69%) of surveyed tourists were over 50 years of age and they were mostly males (57%). The results show clearly that many issues must be taken into consideration where the development of ecotourism and nature-based tourism, especially in rural areas, is concerned. Such considerations should include (i) careful planning of the destinations based on the local developmental policy; (ii) developing saleable tourist products and packages and (iii), promotional strategies to expand the market to capture tourists with high average daily expenditure. The rural communities can then have a chance to develop nature-based tourism that uses outstanding natural resources. The resources analysis study results revealed that: The rugged topographic, climatic conditions of Goba water catchment area and the distance from settlements have naturally preserved local forest resources from human utilization. The area has well conserved and differentiated natural scenic landscape. These scenic landscapes have recreational values as well as environmental contrast, scientific discovery potential and retention of vanishing biological species. To preserve or improve the management of these landscapes, it is essential to consider recreation use in relation to all other potential values. Few existing landscapes showed a relative ability to absorb impacts produced by facility development with a minimum negative effect on the visual and ecological quality of the landscape. The majority of the landscapes have some potential for primitive and sensitive recreational spectrum. All these results are consistent with results from similar studies on watershed and water catchment ecology. Given the constraints on the environmental settings of the Goba landscapes, it is recommended that the basic and logic framework development should attract tourists interested in the more primitive portion of the recreational spectrum and should have fewer facilities of small-scale building. These facilities should be rustic in character with less service and more emphasis on self-reliance. Improved management of the Goba ecosystem is needed to maintain the ecological functions of the catchment and local culture and rurality. In conclusion, this study suggests that, if on these remote fragile ecosystems local communities can protect and market attractive quality-of-life-amenities, maintain a relatively low cost of living, and offer serviceable links to global telecommunication infrastructures in order to attract tourists and retirees, these communities can survive and may even thrive as local economies. An incentive planning method and sustained extension outreach effort in rural development, which focuses on nourishing local action at the grassroots level, will complement such a policy strategy.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Omvattende verandering van die natuurlike plantegroei in die Goba area van suiderlike Mosambiek is teweeg gebring deur die deurlopende bentting van die omgewing deur die misbruik van die natuurlike hulpbronne vir ekonomiese wins. Die ontwikkeling van alternatiewe inkomstebronne vir plaaslike gemeenskap kan hul afhanklikheid van hout vir die produksie van houtskool, boumateriaal en houtsneewerk verminder. Die gebrek aan infrastruktuur en die groot afstande na markte maak die verkoop van die houtprodukte in stedelike gebiede onprakties en dus nie 'n volhoubare oplossing vir landelike ontwikkeling nie. Oneffektiewe beleidsbeplanning wat die probleem nie holisites benader nie veroorsaak 'n dilemma vir inwoners in afgeleë gebiede. Die uitdaging in Goba is om alternatiewe bronne van inkomste te ontwikkel wat ekonomies, sosiaal en ekologies volhoubaar is. Natuurgebaseerde toerisme is geïdentifiseer as 'n moontlike alternatief wat aan die doel kan beantwoord. Die ontwikkeling van eko-toerisme sal egter net slaag indien die plaaslike bevolking genoegsaam aangemoedig word om die natuurlike hulpbronne op 'n volhoubare basis te benut. Dit kan gedoen word óf deur winste terug te ploeg in die omgewing en so die toerisme basis te vergroot óf deur winsdeling op 'n gebruikersgunstige voordele- en kostebasis te behartig. In baie gevalle het plaaslike gemeenskappe toerisme inisiatiewe in sensitiewe, afgeleë gebiede ontwikkel, sonder deeglike beplanning wat op uitgebreide ekologiese en sosio-ekonomiese inligting berus. Die onbeheerde toeriste aanloop na onbeplande areas lei tot die stelselmatige vernietiging daarvan. Hierdie bestemmings verloor hul estetiese waarde en het tot gevolg dat toeriste ander ongerepte areas gaan soek. Hierdie studie handeloor die beplanning van grondgebruik en volg 'n kombinasie van bestaande raamwerk prosedure. Die primêre doel van hierdie ondersoek is om eenvoudige riglyne vir natuurgebaseede eko-toerisme te ontwikkel wat 'n bydra kan lewer tot die bewaring en bestuur van die natuurlike wonde en wat die sosioekonomiese welvaart van die plaaslike bevolking van Goba sal bevorder. Die studie maak gebruik van basiese inligting vir beplanning, en fokus op die toeristemark sowel as op die ekologiese en sosioekonomiese aspekte van die studie-area. Die twee strategieë wat gevolg is om inligting in te win is marknavorsing en die analise van toeriste-attraksie hulpbronne. Marknavorsing in die suide van Mosambiek toon dat die meerderheid internasionale besoekers aan Mosambiek afkomstig is van lande in Suidelike Afrika (Suid-Afrika alleen 50%), en daarna uit Noord- Amerika, Europa and Australië/Asië. Mosambiek word hoofsaaklik as 'n sonnige strandoord-bestemming vir vakansies en naweke beskou, hoewel die meeste toeriste 'n multi-bestemming reisplan volg wat safaris, ornitologie, reis en besoeke aan besienswaardighede insluit. Daar is geen bewys gevind dat enige toeris Mosambiek besoek het met eko-toerisme as doel nie, maar baie sou belangstelom dit te doen indien ekoen natuurgebaseerde toeriste-betemmings beskikbaar was. Die gemiddelde daaglikse uitgawe per toeris was US$47. Toeriste wat groot afstande moes aflê om hul bestemming te bereik het meer beskikbare fondse en bly langer, beide in die land en by verskillende attraksies. Van die toeriste by wie die opname gemaak is 69% ouer as 50 jaar en die meerderheid (57%) was mans. Die resultate toon dat daar talle faktore is om in ag te neem by die ontwikkeling van 'n landelike area vir natuurgebaseede en eko-toerisme. Daar moet aandag gegee word aan (i) deeglike beplanning van die bestemming gebaseer op die plaaslike ontwikkelingsbeleid; (ii) die ontwikkeling van verkoopbare toeriste produkte en pakkette;en (iii), promosie strategieë om die mark uit te brei om toeriste wat meer spandeer te lok. Die landelike gemeenskappe word sodoende die geleentheid gebied om hul besondere natuurlike hulpbronne te ontwikkel vir natuurgebaseerde toerisme. Die hulpbron-analise toon dat die afgeleë en bergagtige topografie en die klimaatsomstandighede van Goba se wateropvangsgebied as natuurlike beskerming vir inheense woude teen die benutting deur die plaaslike bevolking gedien het. Die area is goed bewaar met skouspelagtige natuurtonele. Die skouspelagtige landskap beskik oor rekreasiewaarde sowel as omgewingskontras, potensiaal vir wetenskaplike ontdekkings en vir bewaring van seldsame fauna en flora. Om hierdie landskap te bewaar of die bestuur daarvan te verbeter, moet gebruik vir rekreasie in verhouding tot die ander potensiële waardes beskou word. Daar is beperkte areas wat die vermoë besit om ontwikkeling te absorbeer en waar die verbouing van fasiliteite slegs 'n minimale negatiewe effek op die visuele en ekologiese kwaliteit sal hê. Die potensiaal bestaan egter vir alle areas om op 'n beperkte skaalontwikkel te word vir die primitiewe en sensitiewe sektor van die rekreasie spektrum. Die resultate van die vavorsing stem ooreen met soortgelyke studies van waterskeiding- en wateropvangsgebied-ekologie en ontwikkeling. Vir die gegewe omgewingsbeperkings van Goba word dit aanbeveel dat ontwikkeling op 'n basiese vlak geskied om daadie proporsie van die toeriste te lok wat in die sogenaamde wildernis-ervaring belangstel. Geboue en beperkte fasiliteite moet slegs op klein skaal opgerig word. Die fasiliteite moet by die omgewing inpas en die klem moet op selfvoorsiening eerder as op dienstelewering val. Die bestuur van die Goba ekosisteem moet egter verbeter om die ekologiese funksie en die plaaslike kultuur en landelikeid te behou. Die bevinding van die studie is dat indien ver-afgeleë en sensitiewe ekosisteme deur die plaaslike bevolking bestuur en beskerm word, dit tot ekonomiese welvaart van die landelike gebiede kan lei. Hierdie areas moet bestuur word sodat die landelike karakter as toeriste aantreklikheid behou word, dat die lewenskoste relatief laag bly en dat verbindings met die buitewêreld op telekommunikasie vlak ingestel word. Beplanning moet op 'n aansporingsbasis gegrond wees met uitreikingsprogramme met landelike ontwikkeling as doel. Aanmoediging van plaaslike aksie op grondvlak behoort so 'n beleidstrategie te versterk.

Thesis (MA.)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Worldwide call centres are being used by organisations to provide services and products to their clients in an immediate, interactive and cost-effective way. Taking into consideration the characteristics of call centres, the important contribution they make to the economical success of present day organisations, as well as the demands that this environment makes on employees, the question arises whether emotional intelligence is related to performance in call centres. A literature study of the nature and extent of emotional intelligence, with specific reference to the workplace, was carried out. Focus was further placed on call centres and the influence emotional competencies have on success in this environment. Emotional intelligence is conceptualised, as competencies that may enable individuals to use emotions to their advantage to achieve desired outcomes. In the literature emotional intelligence is regarded as a factor that influences an individual's performance. The primary goal of this study was to determine whether there is a relationship between emotional intelligence and performance in the call centre environment. The sample in this study is compiled of 135 call centre agents, working respectively in client service, sales and administrative environments, in a life assurance company. A questionnaire consisting of biographical items, the "Emotional Competency Inventory" and a performance rating, was used to obtain the necessary data from the subjects. rThe results of this study revealed that a statistically significant and positive correlation exists between emotional intelligence and performance in call centres. No statistical significant difference was found between the correlation of emotional intelligence and performance in the respective call centre environments of client service, sales and administration. A positive and statistically significant correlation was found between performance and the four areas of emotional intelligence, namely self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and social skills. With regard to the mean scores of emotional intelligence and performance, the results of the study suggest no statistically significant difference between the respective call centre environments. It was also established which combination of emotional competencies serves as best predictors of performance in the call centre environment. The main objectives of this study were successfully achieved. General conclusions and possible explanations for the above-mentioned findings are presented. Finally the implementation value of the study is discussed and recommendations for future research are made.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Oproepsentrums word wereldwyd deur organisasies aangewend om hul kliente op 'n onmiddellike, interaktiewe en koste-effektiewe wyse van dienste en produkte te voorsien. Teen die agtergrond van die kenmerke van oproepsentrums, die betekenisvolle bydrae wat dit tot die ekonomiese sukses van vandag se organisasies lewer, asook die eise wat hierdie omgewing aan werknemers stel, ontstaan die vraag of emosionele intelligensie met werksprestasie in oproepsentrums verb and hou. 'n Literatuurstudie oor die aard en omvang van emosionele intelligensie, met spesifieke verwysing na die werksplek, is uitgevoer. Verder is op oproepsentrums en die invloed van emosionele bevoegdheid op die werksukses in hierdie omgewing gefokus. Emosionele intelligensie word gekonseptualiseer as bevoegdhede wat individue in staat mag stel om emosie tot hul voordeel aan te wend ten einde die verlangde uitkomste te bereik. Emosionele intelligensie word in die literatuur as 'n faktor wat 'n invloed op 'n persoon se werksprestasie kan he geidentifiseer. Die primere doelstelling van hierdie studie was om te bepaal of daar 'n verband tussen emosionele intelligensie en werksprestasie in die oproepsentrum-omgewing bestaan. Die steekproef in hierdie studie bestaan uit 135 oproepsentrum-agente in 'n lewensversekeringsmaatskappy wat onderskeidelik in klientediens, verkoops- en administratiewe omgewings werksaam is. Daar is van 'n vraelys bestaande uit biografiese items, die "Emotional Competency Inventory" en 'n werksprestasietelling, gebruik gemaak om die nodige inligting van die proefpersone te bekom. Die resultate van hierdie ondersoek toon dat daar 'n statisties beduidende en positiewe verband tussen emosionele intelligensie en werksprestasie in oproepsentrums bestaan. Geen statisties beduidende verskil is aangetref tussen die korrelasies van emosionele intelligensie en werksprestasie in die onderskeie oproepsentrum-omgewings, naamIik klientediens, verkope en administrasie, nie. 'n Positiewe en statisties beduidende verb and is gevind tussen werksprestasie en die vier areas van emosionele intelligensie, naamlik selfbewussyn, selfbestuur, sosiale bewussyn en sosiale vaardigheid. Ten opsigte van die gemiddelde tellings van emosionele intelligensie en werksprestasie dui die resultate van die studie op geen statisties beduidende verskille in die onderskeie oproepsentrurn-omgewings rue. Verder is vasgestel watter kombinasie van emosionele bevoegdhede as die beste voorspellers van werksprestasie in die oproepsentrum-omgewing funksioneer. Die vemaamste doelstellings van hierdie studie IS suksesvol bereik. Algemene gevolgtrekkings en moontlike verklarings vir bogenoemde bevindings word aangebied. Laastens word die implementeringswaarde van die studie bespreek en aanbevelings vir verdere navorsing gedoen.

Thesis (MScEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The application of artificial neural networks to microwave circuits is investigated. A neural network model is developed for two parallel waveguides coupled by a longitudinal slot in the common broad wall. Training data is generated through a moment method solution of the integral equations that describe the structure. A systematic investigation of training options is carried out and the development of the model is described in detail. The model is evaluated and compared with an Adaptive Sampling Interpolation (ASI) Technique. The neural network is found to be less accurate than the ASI Technique at a much greater expense of development time and required user supervision.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die toepassing van neurale netwerke op mikrogolfbane is ondersoek. In Neurale netwerk-model is ontwikkel vir twee parallelle golfleiers met longitudinale gleufkoppeling in die gemeenskaplike bree wand. Data vir die opleiding van die netwerke is verkry deur In momentmetode-oplossing van die integraalvergelykings wat die struktuur beskryf. Verskillende ontwerpsopsies vir die netwerke is stelselmatig ondersoek en die ontwikkelingsproses van die netwerk is volledig beskryf. Die model is geevalueer en vergelyk met In Aanpasbare Monstering Interpolasietegniek (AMI). Daar is gevind dat die neurale netwerk minder akkuraat is as die AMI terwyl die koste aan ontwikkelingstyd en gebruikerstoesig hoer is.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The technical college sector is facing major changes and challenges. Various new demands will be set to the further education and training colleges and their management. It will be expected of these colleges to be managed according to a well developed strategic plan. Strategic management will form an integral part of the institution's management activities. In this study the core elements of strategic management and the development of strategic plans, as applicable to sectors inside as well as outside the education sector, are investigated with the aim of developing a strategic management model for further education and training colleges. A strategic management model for further education and training colleges was developed and presented for implementation.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die tegniese kollege sektor staan op die vooraand van verskeie veranderinge en uitdagings. Verskeie nuwe eise sal aan die verdere onderwys en opleidingskolleges en hul besture gestel word. Dit sal van hierdie instansies vereis word om ooreenkomstig 'n goed ontwikkelde strategiese plan bestuur te word. Strategiese bestuur sal 'n integrale deel van die bestuursaktiwiteite van die instansies uitmaak. In hierdie studie word die kern elemente van strategiese bestuur en die ontwikkeling van strategiese planne soos dit in sektore binne en buite die onderwys omgewing toegepas word, ondersoek, met die doel om 'n strategiese bestuursmodel vir verdere onderwys en opleidingskolleges te ontwikkel. 'n Strategiese bestuursmodel vir verdere onderwys en opleidingskolleges word ontwikkel en voorgelê vir implementering.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study evaluates the use of information technology as a method to reduce production risk for irrigated potatoes. Risk in agriculture is discussed under climatic, market or price and production related risk. Production related risk covers the disciplines of planting, irrigation, fertilisation, disease and pest control as well as harvesting. It is in the above mentioned disciplines that information technology could possible be applied to reduce production risk in irrigated potatoes. The nature of this study can therefor be described as the investigation of the economic justification of information technology as a method to reduce production risk in irrigated potatoes. A brief introduction to put potato production in world and South African context into perspective, is provided. In South African context the importance and position of potato production relative to other crops is discussed. To better understand the economic conditions, under which potatoes are produced in South Africa, a financial breakdown of production cost for irrigated potatoes over regions is given. It is important to understand the economics of potato production before a proper assessment of thepossible benefits of information technology can be made. Various principles and instruments involved with information technology, as it applies to potato production under irrigation are also discussed. Irrigation scheduling as a discipline in which information technology can be applied, is also discussed. It is important to understand that irrigation scheduling can be based on two underlying principles, i.e. atmospheric modelling and soil moisture measurement. Various examples of measurement instruments are discussed. Climatic based disease modelling and petiole sampling as a method to determine nutritional status in the potato plant, was also discussed. A brief discussion of computerised agriculture management software was included to conclude the discussion on the principles and instruments available for information technology in irrigated potato production. The use of fertiliser scheduling, irrigation scheduling and climatic modelling to reduce fungal diseases in potatoes, as information technology methods, are explained in greater detail. It is shown that recommended levels for various nutrients do exist and that petiole analysis as a method to determine these levels at various growth stages, can be applied successfully. It is further argued that with various methods of irrigation scheduling, proper decision making about the amount and timing of irrigation needed, can be possible. The Plant-Plus system as a method to better control Late Blight on potatoes, is discussed. The results obtained through a commercial trial proves the validity of climatic modelling as a method of information technology to reduce production risk on potatoes, specifically the risk associated with Late Blight. The existence of and results obtained through the equipment and methods previuosly mentioned, raises the question of the economic viability of information technology at farm level. To investigate the perception of growers with regard to the applicability of information technology to reduce production risk and their readiness to adopt such . -- technology, a questionnaire was sent to 40 commercial potato growers throughout South Africa. Growers were tested on their perception with regard to the use of information technology on aspects such as financial management, irrigation scheduling, fertilisation, climatic measurement for fungal modelling as well as a profile analysis of the grower. The results of the survey are tabulated and analysed. Growers were on average positive about the value of information technology and indicated that under certain conditions, they were prepared to implement such technology. Margins in commercial potato production are under severe pressure and are in fact shrinking. Case studies presented in this investigation and results from the pilot survey indicate that the use of information technology is not only important for the reduction of risk in potato production but also imperative for sustainable and profitable potato production. It can therefore be concluded that, based on the results obtained in the pilot questionnaire, a statistical valid sample would probably support the findings in the pilot study. The pilot study indicated that reliable, affordable and practical information technology, as it has been presented in this investigation, does have a place in modern day irrigated potato production.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie evalueer die gebruik van informasie tegnologie as 'n metode om produksie risiko in die verbouing van aartappels onder besproeiing, te verminder. Risiko in landbou word onder klimatologiese, mark of prys en produksie verwante risiko bespreek. Produksie verwante risiko kan weer onderverdeel word in risiko wat verband hou met plant of vestiging, besproeiing, bemesting, plaag en pes beheer asook oes. Dit is dan in die bogenoemde dissiplines waar informasie tegnologie moontlik aangewend kan word om produksie verwante risiko te verminder. Die kern van hierdie ondersoek kan gevolglik saamgevat word as 'n ondersoek na die ekonomiese regverdigbaarheid van informasie tegnologie as 'n metode om produksierisiko in die verbouing van aartappels onder besproeiing, te verminder. Daar word kortliks verwys na aartappel verbouing in wêreld en Suid Afrikaanse konteks. In Suid Afrikaanse konteks is die relatiewe belangrikheid van aartappelverbouing in vergelyking met ander gewasse uitgelig. Ten einde 'n beter begrip vir die ekonomiese omstandighede waaronder aartappels in Suid Afrika verbou word, word 'n afbraak van produksiekoste oor streke verskaf Dit is belangrik om die ekonomie van aartappelproduksie te verstaan voordat 'n deeglike evaluering van die moontlike voordele wat informasie tegnologie kan inhou, onderneem kan word. Verskeie beginsels en instrumente in die aanwending van informasie tegnologie, soos van toepassing in die verbouing van aartappels onder besproeiing, word ook toegelig. Hieronder word besproeiingskedulering as 'n metode bespreek. Dit is verder belangrik om te besef dat besproeiingskedulering op hoofsaaklik twee beginsels berus naamlik atmosferiese modellering en fisiese grondvog meting. Verskeie voorbeelde van meetinstrumente word bespreek. Klimatologiese siektemodellering en petioolontledings as 'n metode om die voedingstatus van aartappelplante te bepaal, word ook bespreek. Die gebruik van bemestingskedulering, besproeiingskedulering en klimatologiese modellering vir die beheer van laatroes op aartappels, as metodes van informasie tegnologie, word in groter besonderhede toegelig. Daar is aangetoon dat aanbevole peile vir verskeie nutriënte bestaan. Deur die neem van gereelde petiool ontledings kan hierdie peile suksesvol gedurende die opeenvolgende fenologiese stadia van die aartappelplant, gehandhaaf word. Daar is verder aangevoer dat deur die gebruik van verskeie metodes van besproeiingskedulering, deeglike besluitneming rakende die hoeveelheid en tydsberekening van 'n besproeiing, moontlik is. Die Plant-Plus sisteem as 'n metode om laatroes op aartappels te beheer, is toegelig. Resultate behaal in 'n kommersiële aanplanting het die geldigheid van klimatologiese modellering as 'n metode om produksierisiko - veral die risiko geassosieer met laatroes - te verminder, onderskryf. Die bestaan van resultate en instrumente soos voorgehou in Hoofstukke 3 en 4, onderskryf of bevestig die vermoede dat informasie tegnologie wel aangewend kan word om produksierisiko in aartappelverbouing te verminder. Die vraag is egter of dit ekonomies op plaasvlak aangewend kan word. Ten einde die persepsie met betrekking tot - die toepaslikheid en gereedheid van produsente in dié verband te evalueer, is 'n loodsvraelys na 40 respondente, wat die kommersiële aartappelprodusente regdeur Suid Afrika verteenwoordig, gestuur. Respondente is ge-evalueer met betrekking tot hul persepsie rakende die gebruik van informasie tegnologie in die dissiplines van finansiële bestuur, besproeiingskedulering, nutriëntskedulering en klimatologiese modellering vir die beheer van laatroes. Respondente was oor die algemeen positief met betrekking tot die nut van informasie tegnologie en dat onder seker voorwaardes, hulle dit sal gebruik. Marges in kommersiële aartappelverbouing is onder ernstige druk en is inderdaad besig om te krimp. Gevallestudies wat in hierdie ondersoek voorgehou is, asook resultate verkry uit die vraelys, dui aan dat informasie tegnologie nie alleen belangrik is vir die vermindering van risiko in aartappelverbouing me, maar ook noodsaaklik IS vir volhoubare en winsgewende aartappelproduksie. Dit kan gevolglik gestel word dat resultate verkry uit die loodsvraelys, daarop mag dui dat 'n statisties verifieerbare steekproef moontlik kan uitwys dat betroubare, bekostigbare en praktiese informasie tegnologie, soos voorgehou in hierdie ondersoek, wel 'n bestaansreg in die moderne verbouing van aartappels onder besproeiing het.

The purpose of this research was to investigate the extent to which strategic foresight was used by business leaders with a focus on the South African Platinum Mining Industry. The motivation for the research was the reports of prevailing conditions in the mining sector, which brought into question the level at which strategic foresight was used in planning. This raised a further question of whether academic research of the past 50 years was perceived as valuable by organisational leaders. Because strategic foresight is a managerial tool that, among other things, takes into consideration the value of employees and other stakeholders, the researcher interviewed corporate Heads of Strategy, Business Development and Sustainability, and Risk, Assurance and Sustainability. Finance, Risk and Operations Managers in the operations were also interviewed. Conclusions reached in this research were that use of strategic foresight, as explained by Rohrbeck & Gemünden, (2008), Slaughter, (1995) and Godet, (2008), seemed to be limited in the area of focus which was the South African Platinum Mining sector. This was due to the fact that all participating organisations seemed to have an idea of what it was but, either had no resources to properly implement it; lacked the understanding of the concepts; or simply felt that parts of the process, rather than the whole process, would be sufficient to guarantee success.<br>Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2015.<br>ms2016<br>Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)<br>MBA<br>Unrestricted

This study seeks to explicate the antecedents to the luxury purchase intentions of the influential South African Millennial consumer. Specifically, the purpose of this study is to firstly verify the cross-cultural stability of Shukla s (2012) conceptual value perceptions model (comprising social, personal and functional value perceptions) as it relates to luxury brands in the South African context, and, secondly, to synthesise an extension of this model by incorporating the constructs of self-congruity, brand consciousness, and social media marketing, each of which has been found to be a predictor of luxury consumption in other markets. To this end, a descriptive, quantitative research study was conducted among South African Millennials. Primary data was collected through the use of an online questionnaire. Snowball sampling (through the use of Facebook) rendered a satisfactory sample of 388 valid responses. Structural equation modelling was employed to establish the validity and reliability of the proposed model and respective constructs, and to test the related hypotheses. The findings revealed that each of the constructs is positively correlated with the luxury purchase intentions of South African Millennials, with materialism being the most significant antecedent to luxury consumption. The results validated Shukla s (2012) model in the South African context as it relates to Millennial consumers. The findings further demonstrate that, while similarities exist between the value perceptions of South African Millennials and those of consumers in western developed and eastern emerging markets, the differences in this regard should also be considered before generalised assumptions are formed regarding the factors that inform the decisions of luxury brand consumers. This study advances the existing theoretical understanding of luxury consumption by exploring and developing a deeper understanding of the luxury purchase intentions of Millennials by testing the relevant theory in the South African context, which, in turn, may inform the marketing strategies of global luxury companies looking to South Africa for growth opportunities.<br>Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2015.<br>sn2016<br>Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)<br>MBA<br>Unrestricted

The majority of large IT projects fail completely costing businesses billions with very little benefit to show for the money they ve spent. This has prompted considerable, but indecisive, amounts of research regarding the reasons for project success and failure. This exploratory study uses a current case study to provide a high level conceptual model for project success. This model serves as both an academic summary of recent research as well as a high level blue print that can be used by organisations looking to implement large information systems. The study further concludes by providing a detailed risk formula that can be empirically tested in future research and used as an indicative measure of project specific risk.<br>Mini-disseration (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2015.<br>nk2016<br>Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)<br>MBA<br>Unrestricted

Economies with weak or inefficient institutions are often replete with structural holes that if filled lead to the expansion of network structures and new intelligence regarding market opportunities. South African companies embarking on an internationalisation strategy into Sub-Saharan Africa could benefit from the insights and experiences of some of South Africa s biggest companies currently investing in the region. This research analyses these experiences and offers contribution to the understanding of how inter-organisational partnerships and employment decisions impact on a company s ability to bridge the structural holes they face in Sub-Saharan Africa. Using a qualitative research process, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eleven senior managers from South African companies. The findings from the research suggests that inter-organisational partnerships and employment decisions, if conducted properly, positively impacts on a company s ability to navigate these structural holes. South African expatriates, deployed as senior managers in the host country operation, are highly valued for their ability to transfer skills and knowledge to the local workforce. However, the knowledge gaps displaye<br>Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2015.<br>ms2016<br>Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)<br>MBA<br>Unrestricted

The ability to effectively persuade in the context of the highly competitive, fast-paced, but tight global economy is arguably an elixir to organisational growth in these challenging times. Sustainable growth is dependant not only on carving out a distinctive value proposition, but also on convincing the market of the merits thereof in order to remain competitive. The need for this research originated from the gap in literature on the interconnectedness of persuasive instruments, and their effectiveness as mechanisms for organisational growth. Rhetoric and social influence are complex phenomena, and their impact as persuasive instruments incompletely understood. By better understanding their interconnectedness, the researcher hoped to appreciate how executives could possibly leverage them, from an organisational perspective, as instruments of growth. A hypothetical framework was generated based on the themes that emerged from the literature review. The framework was sense tested through in-depth interviews with executives and the subsequent data analysis process, with the aim of validating its rationale and a number of assumptions made in its creation. Interviews were conducted with fourteen research respondents from a cross-section of industries, comprising of eight executives in the listed corporate environment as well as six owners of private entities. The stated objective of the research was to debunk growth strategy in the context of the arduous current economic environment, and to explore executives experiences and perspectives of growth strategy. The underlying objective of the research was to investigate executives instinctive use of rhetoric and social influence as persuasive instruments, as observed in the description of their growth strategies. Research respondents were only made aware of the underlying research objective after interview completion, so as to ensure the integrity of the data. Through their narratives, research respondents enabled triangulation of the various phenomena investigated. A refined model, dubbed the contemporary model of persuasive instruments emerged from the findings of the research. It presented a conceptualised framework of the combinations of rhetoric and social influence which were observed in the interviews with executives. The research contributed toward the facilitation of a better understanding of the interplay of persuasive instruments in practice, which provided valuable insight on how to utilise these to the benefit of business. The model, whilst only conceptual in nature, requires more rigorous strength testing through the collection of quantitative data to further validate the findings.<br>Mini-disseration (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2015.<br>nk2016<br>Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)<br>MBA<br>Unrestricted

The essence of entrepreneurship spanning many decades, from, broadly put, seen as any attempt to create something new to current times including concepts of economic value creation and uncertainties. The urgency of small businesses contributing to the creation of this value is visible to the country due to unemployment stagnating at 25.5% and the 2008 financial crisis not a so distant memory. Entrepreneurship breeds innovation which can be turned into an economic value. Small businesses are a breeding place for innovation. Entrepreneurship Orientation (EO), a concept in entrepreneurship literature highlights the innovativeness, pro-activeness and risk taking businesses can be positively on business performance. However, with the high mortalities of small business at stages of business inception, a need has been created in relooking at what the factors impacting business are critical for to improve on SMEs life expectancy. By inferring age of the business as a measure of business performance, a quantitative cross sectional study was conducted on 62 owners of small businesses with age of 10 years and beyond to investigate what the owners perceived as factors critical for SME survival. Through the ranking of the factors deemed to impact on SME performance, an understanding of what factors were deemed critical was found. A focus on managerial skills on managing business resources and value offering moderated by<br>Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2015.<br>pa2016<br>Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)<br>MBA<br>Unrestricted

An innovation deficit may exist due to cycles of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) as managers of innovation driven business use a strategy of buying growth at the expense of innovation. It is recognised that innovations are vital for economic growth and society depends on innovations from industries such as pharmaceutical and biotechnology as a matter of public health. Empirical studies exist that explain why companies engage in M&A and the impact thereof on company performance but with a non-specific industry focus. The impact of M&A on innovation driven businesses is less well documented. This identified a gap in the knowledge in this area and to address it, this research examined specifically the effects of M&A activity on innovation-driven businesses as proxied by the pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries. A quantitative, causal design using a time series approach was employed for the research. Specifically event study methodology, which measured the impact of a specific event on the value of a company and a joint set of variables, was the main tool used for this research. Cumulative average abnormal returns (CAARs) were calculated to assess the impact of the M&A event on the value of the companies. An accounting study was used to determine abnormal operating financial performance. Parametric tests, non-parametric tests, and descriptive statistics were used to assess variables, namely research and development intensity, sales performance, and cost efficiency. Secondary company data used for the analysis such as data on the M&A transactions, stock prices, and data from company financial statements was sourced mainly from the Zephyr database. A sample of 35 transactions in the period 2005-2015 was selected based on purposive sampling. Parametric (paired-sample t-tests, matched pairs t-tests, paired sample correlations) and non-metric tests (Wilcoxon Signed Rank Sum tests and the Friedman test) were performed at the 95% confidence interval. A bootstrapping technique was used to test the statistical significance of the results of the CAARs. This research concluded that post the transaction the acquirers shareholders earn positive but statistically insignificant returns in the short-term; up to one year post the transaction the acquirers face a significant decline in research and development intensity and are less cost effective while the operating financial performance and sales performance, are not significantly impacted.<br>Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2015.<br>sn2016<br>Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)<br>MBA<br>Unrestricted

One of the commodities in the commercial world has become access to data, specifically personal information. The Internet has rapidly expanded a company s ability to access consumers and individuals personal information, however consumers privacy-concerns regarding the disclosure of their personal information have continued to increase. Using an e-mail marketing campaign, this research explored the impact of using third-party privacy seal (lock) as signals to facilitate consumers disclosing private information. The study employed a live experimental randomised two-group post-test only design, whereby an e-mail advertisement, identical in design except for the image of a third party seal (lock) placed on the non-control group s e-mail. The test explored whether the e-mail advertisement containing the third-party privacy signal (lock) had an impact on whether or not the recipient behaved in a certain way in comparison to the e-mail advertisement that did not contain a lock. The results showed no real significant difference of the third-party seal (lock) on the consumer s preparedness to disclose personal information. Whilst the lock may be used as a trust symbol it is not enough, within the online advertising context, to entice disclosure of personal information. To remain competitive, companies will need to reassess their advertising strategies and further research will need to identify high value signals to encourage consumer disclosure.<br>Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2015.<br>vn2016<br>Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)<br>MBA<br>Unrestricted

Development finance institutions have dual mandates, where they must contribute to development in the economy in which they serve, and simultaneously must maintain financial sustainability. The research explores the dichotomy; studies whether a tradeoff in the dual mandate exists, and goes beyond the traditional accounting approaches to appraising financial performance. The soundness of financial independence of development finance institutions in South Africa has been emphasised by both the national government, through the National Treasury department, and the capital markets from which these institutions borrow. Thus, their ability to create value for their stakeholders is one important aspect to their continued existence. In South Africa, value creation in development finance institutions has not been studied and serves as the primary motivation for this research study. The research has applied a value-based system, McKinsey s discounted economic profit model, to measure value creation or destruction of a development finance institution in its use of scarce capital resources. In addition to this, a theoretical framework has been applied to measure development impact, using the social output index model. The research design followed the holistic case study method, with a sample of one, employing the purposive technique. The findings of this research revealed that value is being destroyed in the deployment of capital resources by the development finance institution, with recommendations thereof proposed. Secondly, the findings revealed that development impact is not maximised, and the results provide insight to decision-makers regarding informed allocation of resources. In exploring the dichotomy between financial performance and development impact, the findings lastly indicated the trade-off relationship can neither be confirmed or refuted, as the results are inconclusive in this regard.<br>Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2015.<br>pa2016<br>Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)<br>MBA<br>Unrestricted

Pre-start-up planning s value has been disputed by researchers in the recent past. The need for this research originates from the requirement, proposed by most of the conflicting research, to better understand the content of pre-start-up plans and its influence on business success. By better understanding specific pre-start-up planning activities and the influence that these activities have on planned businesses, entrepreneurs can identify and exploit opportunities more efficiently. The research investigated the activities that new South African craft beer companies engaged in before establishing their breweries and assessed how the pre-start-up planning activities influence brewery development. An interview framework was developed from key concepts that emerged from the literature review. The framework was used to assess points of difference between small and large breweries in their planning activities and the influence it had on their business historic and anticipated future development. Twelve founders of South African craft beer companies younger than 5 years old, with production capacities ranging from 500 liters beer per month to 250 000 liters beer per month, were interviewed. The data gathered allowed for an assessment of small and large breweries planning practices. From the interviews it emerged that entrepreneurs have two options when developing a South African craft beer business with different plan content requirements. The key difference in these options being the origen of planning informaiton used in the development of business plans (either pre-start-up or later in the business development process). The outcome of this research could guide plan development by entrepreneurs and support the development of successful new business.<br>Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2015.<br>ms2016<br>Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)<br>MBA<br>Unrestricted

Surface water-groundwater interaction can provide various stream functions including temperature regulation, nutrient cycling, pollutant attenuation, and habitat creation. However previous literature is divided on the extent and conditions of these benefits. This dissertation has explored the dominance of hydraulic conductivity (K) on hyporheic hydraulics and implications to hyporheic zone functions through a series of modeling studies and field experiments. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software was used to model the effect of varying K on weir-induced hyporheic exchange hydraulics and heat transport. Fundamental shifts in hydraulics and temperature dynamics occurred at threshold K's. Surface water began noticeably sinking into the bed above a threshold of K=10-3 m/s and inertial forces caused deviation from Darcy's Law. The heat transport model indicated net downstream surface water cooling from weir-induced exchange was maximized by maximizing K (flow-limited function) and thermal heterogeneity increased with K, particularly above K=10-5 m/s. Results suggest that using CFD to predict surface water-groundwater interaction may be important to accurately predict hyporheic hydraulics and functions dependent on flow-rate or residence time. The importance of macropores to hyporheic transport through meander bends was explored. Transport velocities, hydraulic head gradients, and solute transport rates through the meander bend were increased by macropores. Results indicate that macropores can dictate solute or pollutant transport through meander bends and in the hyporheic zone, which in turn may influence biogeochemical cycling and pollutant attenuation. Surface-connected macropores along streams were studied as hydrologically important subsurface heterogeneities for surface water-groundwater interaction. Macropores were common geomorphic features in the Appalachian province of southwestern Virginia, and were inundated during storm events over a one-year period. Banks with macropores experienced increased hydraulic head fluctuations, temperature fluctuations, and K. Macropores increased bank storage rates and solute transport between the channel and riparian groundwater zones, which in turn may influence biogeochemical cycling, pollutant attenuation, and hyporheic habitat. Macropores may be important to hyporheic flow and solute transport in a wide range of conditions and may broaden the portion of the landscape in which hyporheic exchange is important. Future work is needed to further assess the impacts of macropores on hyporheic functions and explore new methods to map and quantify macropore geometries and inter-connectivity.<br>Ph. D.

Information Technology (IT) jobs are in demand in the United States and rural Appalachian communities are attracting IT businesses. The need to fill IT jobs creates a workforce opportunity for these communities where students have limited access to academic and career resources. The Upward Bound and Talent Search programs respond to the academic and career needs of disadvantaged students and aim to educate students about high skills jobs but little is known about interest in IT careers among middle and high school students in rural Appalachia. This study validates models of IT career interest and parental support of IT careers in girls and boys enrolled in Upward Bound or Talent Search in rural communities in Virginia using the theoretical framework of self-authorship. The theory of self-authorship explores the development of meaning-making in individuals and offers a context-specific way to study interest in IT careers. Results indicate interest in IT careers but the path to IT career interest is different among girls and boys. Girls are relying on others for career advice more often than boys and there is direct association between the information sources and interest in IT careers. Parental support is important in IT career interest for both girls and boys. Other important variables indicating an interest in IT careers are computer use and positive attitudes toward IT workers. Receiving information from sources such as parents, teachers, counselors, and friends is especially important to girls. Findings from this study can be used to inform practices and policies for Upward Bound and Talent Search.<br>Ph. D.

An experimental research program comprising constant-volume direct simple shear (DSS) tests was conducted to study the monotonic, cyclic shear and post cyclic consolidation response of natural silts. Relatively undisturbed samples of silt which were obtained from three different locations in the Lower Mainland area of British Columbia were used for this purpose. Plasticity indices of the natural silt samples which were considered for the study were 5, 7, and 34. Monotonic shear response of the natural silt was studied with the constant volume DSS test results that were conducted with different vertical effective stresses and different overconsolidation ratios (OCRs). Stress-strain response of normally consolidated silt at different consolidation stresses were found to be stress-history-normalizable where as higher OCR and higher plasticity resulted greater shear strength. Normally consolidated silt specimen, despite of their difference plasticity, exhibit gradual strain accumulation without abrupt loss of shear stiffness during cyclic loading with different cyclic stress ratios (CSRs) at different consolidation stress levels. The potential and rate of strain accumulation and development of excess pore-water pressure (Δu) were noted to be increased with higher CSRs at all tested consolidation stress levels. The cyclic shear resistances of silt, derived from cyclic direct simple shear (CDSS) tests, were not sensitive to the tested range of different consolidation stress levels, whereas higher plasticity resulted greater cyclic shear resistance. Relative undisturbed specimens exhibit comparatively higher cyclic shear resistance than the reconstituted specimens despite of comparatively denser particle arrangement in reconstituted specimens. However, during the constant-volume monotonic DSS tests, relative undisturbed specimens exhibit comparatively lesser shear resistance than the reconstituted specimens implying that soil fabric / microstructure plays a significant role in governing the shear loading response of silt. The examination of consolidation responses of silt specimens that were initially normally consolidated and subjected to constant-volume CDSS loading revealed that the post cyclic consolidation volumetric strain increases with the maximum cyclic pore-water pressure ratio developed during constant volume CDSS loading for all tested silt specimens with different plasticity.<br>Applied Science, Faculty of<br>Civil Engineering, Department of<br>Graduate

One of the major goals in neuroscience is to understand and map the connectivity of the brain. While this is no small undertaking, recent technological advances have allowed brain mapping to reach unprecedented levels. Optogenetic tools have been developed that permit selective manipulation and investigation of neural systems. Here, we have mapped in vivo intracortical activity in the mouse by combining arbitrary point optogenetic stimulation and regional voltage-sensitive dye (VSD) imaging. We first show that optogenetic photostimulation using channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) led to cortical maps that were similar to the maps generated with sensory stimulation. ChR2-evoked maps confirmed known intrahemispheric relationships (such as between barrel cortex and motor cortex) and known interhemispheric relationships (such as between homotopic areas). We used ChR2 point stimulation to map a number of cortical areas and used network analysis to examine relationships between cortical areas. We found asymmetrical connections between primary and secondary sensory cortex and defined the parietal association cortex as a hub node. We then applied this mapping method to map altered cortical connectivity in the early and late stages after a targeted cortical stroke (1 week post-stroke and 8 weeks post-stroke, respectively). Network analysis based on ChR2-evoked responses revealed a symmetrical bilateral sham network that was disrupted after stroke. At 1 week post-stroke, we observed wide-spread depression of ChR2-evoked activity that extended to the contralesional hemisphere. By 8 weeks post-stroke significant recovery was observed. When we considered the network as a whole, we found that scaling the ChR2-evoked activity from the stroke groups to match the sham group mean resulted in a relative distribution of responses that was indistinguishable from the sham group, suggesting network-wide down-scaling and connectional diaschisis after stroke. When connections within the peri-infarct were isolated, we did not observe equal down-scaling of responses after stroke. Our findings suggest that during recovery, most cortical areas undergo homeostatic upscaling, resulting in a relative distribution of responses that is similar to the pre-stroke (sham) network, albeit still depressed. However, recovery within the peri-infarct zone is heterogeneous and these cortical points do not follow the recovery scaling factor expected for the entire network.<br>Medicine, Faculty of<br>Graduate

Objective: To explore the relationship between cerebellar pathology and changes in neuronal activity in mouse models of autism-like phenotypes. Methods: We used the rotarod test as a measure of sensorimotor function in our mice and as a means to trigger neuronal activation. Following behavioural testing we obtained brain tissue from our ASD-like mouse models and used histology and microscopy to examine the expression of cFos (a reporter of neuronal activity) and several other structural and functional markers to evaluate cerebellar pathology. Finally, we looked at differences in the morphology, distribution and number of cerebellar glia in our ASD-like mouse models to determine if reactive gliosis contributes to further cerebellar pathology in adult mice. Results: Compared to wildtype littermates, Lc/+ mutant mice performed significantly worse on the rotarod assay of sensorimotor function (p<0.0001). In addition, Lc/+ mutants have significantly increased neuronal activity in the cerebellum and cortex at rest and following cerebellar rotarod activation as compared to wildtype littermates (p<0.05 for each group). Lurcher chimeras with the severest cerebellar pathology have increased neuronal activity in the GCL and CN neurons, but decreased neural activity in inhibitory PCs and they have increased numbers of activated microglia and Bergmann glia in the cerebellar cortex. Fmr1 KO mice have a slight decrease in PC numbers as compared to Fmr1 wildtypes (p=0.0862 n.s) with alterations in neuronal activity at rest in the cerebellar GCL and cortex. Conclusion: Variable cerebellar pathology seen in human cases of autism and in ASD-like mouse models in the form of neuron loss, microgliosis and astrogliosis leads to changes in excitatory and inhibitory activity in surviving cerebellar neurons. Structural and functional changes documented in Lc/+ mutants, chimeras and Fmr1 KO mice revealed neuroanatomical abnormalities and functional changes in cerebellar neural circuits which may lead to a better understanding of the neurobiological changes occurring in the cerebellum that contribute to ASD-like phenotypes. By identifying cerebellar neurons and glia that are involved in pathological processes in mouse models of neurodevelopmental disorders, it is hoped that these results will provide fresh insights into neurobiological changes underlying ASD-like phenotypes.<br>Medicine, Faculty of<br>Graduate

British Columbia, recognized as the most earthquake prone region in Canada, has a transportation network consisting of more than 2500 highway bridges. Failure of bridges due to any future seismic event might have a catastrophic impact on the province’s highway network. Many of the bridges in this region are very old and were constructed without proper seismic detailing. Moreover, by introducing performance based design (PBD) approaches in the proposed Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code (CHBDC), probabilistic seismic assessment of existing bridges have become essential. In this study, fragility analysis is performed to assess the seismic performance of the existing wall pier highway bridges in BC which is one of the major bridge types in BC region. Fragility curves for critical bridge components and for the entire bridge system are generated which provide the probability of exceeding any specific performance level under a certain ground motion intensity. Estimation of wall pier capacity limit states for these different performance levels is also part of this study which is crucial for performance based design of wall pier bridges. In order to accurately simulate the behavior of such wall pier bridges in BC, a comprehensive bridge inventory analysis is performed to determine their dimensions, shapes, span length etc. Analytical 3D models of 180 wall pier bridges with three different soil types, as per CHBDC, are generated combining different structural and geometrical uncertainties from the inventory. From the nonlinear dynamic time history analyses of these bridge models, fragility curves for slight, minimal, repairable and near collapse damage are generated. Fragility curves highlight the elastomeric bearing as the most vulnerable component followed by wall pier and abutment back wall. While estimating the seismic vulnerability, these fragility curves can also provide resourceful information for developing a retrofitting prioritization plan for wall pier bridges in BC. Besides the information presented in the inventory will aid in establishing an efficient Bridge Management System (BMS) and a possible National Bridge Inventory for Canada.<br>Applied Science, Faculty of<br>Engineering, School of (Okanagan)<br>Graduate

The cessation of milking, or dry off, is a regular management practice in dairy animals. This practice initiates a non lactating, or dry, period. Milking begins again after parturition. Provision of a dry period is done largely to improve milk production in the subsequent lactation, but also to address udder health issues (intramammary infections); therefore, the majority of literature focuses on these areas, and little consideration is given to the welfare of the individual animal. The goals of this thesis were to develop a better understanding of how common dry off methods, and the dry period itself, affect three components of animal welfare: biological functioning, affective states and natural behaviour in dairy cows and dairy goats. The first study in this dissertation explored how high producing dairy cows experience abrupt cessation of milking, a commonly utilized procedure. The results suggested that cows remain motivated to leave the pen around milking time, and that these cows leak milk, a risk factor for intramammary infections. Since dry off methodology is not well understood in dairy goats, the second study shifted towards describing dry off management used by goat producers. Although similarities to cow management exist, goat producers show more flexibility in decision making around dry off, sometimes opting to give high producing goats shorter, or even no, dry periods. Within this work, concerns were also identified regarding metabolic issues in goats (pregnancy toxemia and ketosis). Therefore, the final studies combined to explore the early identification of these issues in goats. The third study validated the use of data loggers on goats, allowing for automatic recording of lying behaviour. The fourth study applied these loggers to monitor the lying behaviour of goats during the dry period, and searched for links to pregnancy toxemia and ketosis. The results showed that at-risk goats increase their lying time and decrease their activity, making lying behaviour a promising indicator of metabolic issues. Finally, three key areas are discussed for future research, namely continued work in evaluating affective states in dairy animals, benchmarking of on-farm research results, and exploring the possibilities of deviating from standard annual lactation cycles.<br>Land and Food Systems, Faculty of<br>Graduate

The purpose of this research was to examine the ways in which preschoolers use artistic, kinaesthetic and linguistic modes of expression to recognize, label and understand feeling words of varied salience within a classroom environment. The ways in which a multi-modal approach towards emotional literacy in the classroom supported emotional literacy is examined. The research site was an urban preschool classroom in the lower mainland of British Columbia. Seventeen three-and-four-year-old children created drawings, kinaesthetically posed, and discussed feeling words of varied salience: ‘calm’, ‘happy’, and ‘ecstatic’, which served as the primary data source, supplemented with teacher observation notes. Analysis found that each mode offered unique insights into how young children recognize, understand and label feeling words of varied salience. Limitations of this study are discussed and suggestions for further research are offered.<br>Education, Faculty of<br>Graduate

The corrosion characteristics of titanium (ASTM Grade 2) in copper pressure leaching environments are determined from room temperature and pressure up to high temperatures and pressures (230 °C, 430 psi). Anodic oxidation and controlled chemical oxidation methods are used to improve the corrosion resistance of Ti. Electrochemical and mass loss measurements are performed to evaluate the corrosion resistance of pre-oxidized titanium, compared to that of titanium with no prior oxidation, to generate a best practices guide for the hydrometallurgical industry. The results at low temperature showed that H₂SO₄ solution is very corrosive for Ti with a freshly polished surface. The corrosion rates (CRs) of Ti are obtained using mass loss and electrochemical measurements in H₂SO₄ with Cl-, Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺ additions up to 175 °C. It is found that the CRs of Ti are unaffected by the presence of Cl− ions in H₂SO₄ solutions. CRs obtained from mass loss and electrochemical measurements confirm that Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions are good corrosion inhibitors for Ti. Iso-corrosion diagrams, with 0.1, 0.5 and 1 mm yr−1 lines for Ti in 3-50 wt.% H₂SO₄ solutions with Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺ additions from room temperature to 175 °C are constructed from immersion test data. The effects of temperature (100-230 °C) and SO₄²− concentration (0-0.5 mol L−¹) on the pitting corrosion of Ti are studied in neutral Cl− containing solutions using cyclic potentiodynamic polarization and linear-sweep thermammetry measurements. A metastable pitting temperature threshold (MPTT) is defined for Ti as a function of sulfate to chloride mole ratio using linear-sweep thermammetry measurements. iii Anodic oxide films (AOFs) are potentiostatically formed on Ti in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ solutions at various anodizing voltages (up to 80 V) at 25 °C. A new method is developed to fabricate chemically oxidized films (COFs) with high corrosion resistance by controlled chemical oxidation with H₂O₂ solutions at 90 °C. The corrosion behavior of the as grown AOFs and COFs is investigated in copper sulfide leaching solutions. It is confirmed that chemical oxidation with 2 M H₂O₂/0.1 M HCl solution leads to the best improvement of the corrosion resistance of Ti.<br>Applied Science, Faculty of<br>Materials Engineering, Department of<br>Graduate

Despite a large demand from industry, a realistic chatter modeling for hard turning has not been available due to the complexity of the problem, which is mainly caused by flank wear and nonlinearity in hard turning. This thesis attempts to develop chatter models for predicting chatter stability conditions in hard turning with the considerations of the effects of flank wear and nonlinearity. First, a linear model is developed by introducing non-uniform load distribution on a tool tip to account for the flank wear effect. Second, a nonlinear model is developed by further incorporating nonlinearity in the structure and cutting force. Third, stability analysis based on the root locus method and the describing function approach is conducted to determine a critical stability parameter. Fourth, to validate the models, a series of experiment is carried out to determine the stability limits as well as certain characteristic parameters for facing and straight turning. From these, it is shown that the nonlinear model provides more accurate predictions than the linear model, especially in the high-speed range. Furthermore, the stabilizing effect due to flank wear is confirmed through a series of experiments. Fifth, to fully account for the validity of linear and nonlinear models, an empirical model is proposed to fit in with the experimental stability limits in the full range of cutting speed. The proposed linear and nonlinear chatter models will help to improve the productivity in many manufacturing processes. In addition, chatter experimental data will be useful to develop other chatter models in hard turning.

This study examined how carded female members of Canadian national teams used and perceived Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). The research was guided by the following question: How do elite Canadian female athletes use Complementary and Alternative Medicine? Additionally, the research was infonned by three subsidiary questions, namely: (1) How do they perceive and experience CAM?; (2) Why do they use/not-use CAM?; (3) What roles do they perceive CAM to play in their athletic development?; and (4) How is the use of CAM negotiated within existing sport structures? Using qualitative research methods, 12 female athletes were interviewed twice using a semi-structured interview format for a total of 22.5 hours. The athletes were questioned about their first experiences of using CAM and the situations that lead them to explore new treatments. The athletes were also asked about their continued use ofCAM and the reasons for the ongoing treatments as well as the role they perceived CAM and CAM practitioners to have in their athletic careers. Previously, the extant literature concerning CAM use among athletes indicated that 56% of varsity athletes used CAM although this research gave no indication as to the frequency with which CAM treatments were utilized. The women in my study reported that, when carded, they used CAM treatments extensively and frequently (from two appointments a month up to two appointments a day). At the same time, the women in this project revealed that their ability to access services was highly contingent on their status as carded athletes and the associated monthly stipend from Sport Canada. Within different sports organization, gendered, and hegemonic hierarchies further delimited access to CAM. My findings suggest that while injury may have been the impetus for the first treatment, the ongoing use of CAM was more closely associated with an effort to prevent chronic conditions and physical imbalances from escalating and thereby restricting their ability to fully participate in their sport. These findings have theoretical implications for expanding our understanding of the value CAM holds for those who use it. The data also bridge the gap between the existing literature which has examined the influence of the sportsnet on an athlete’s belief, attitudes, and actions, and research into rates CAM utilization in special populations. Finally, this project reveals that elite female athletes perceive CAM to be an essential part of their athletic training.

The magnetic structures and spin reorientations of RGa (R = Gd, Dy, Ho and Er) intermetallic compounds have been investigated using neutron powder diffraction and rare earth Mössbauer spectroscopy. The aim has been to determine the magnetic structures of these compounds before and after their spin reorientation transitions and to understand the role of the crystal field and exchange interactions in the spin reorientation mechanism. The results have been compared with those found from previous single-crystal susceptibility measurements on RGa and the recent 119Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy work on Sn-doped RGa compounds. The magnetic structures obtained at low temperatures are a simple collinear ferromagnetic in DyGa, canted ferromagnetic in HoGa and a non-collinear ferromagnetic in GdGa. The spin reorientation in ErGa was also observed by 166Er Mössbauer spectroscopy. These results show that both the crystal field and exchange interactions play an important role in the reorientation mechanism.

El derecho de los ciudadanos de la Unión Europea a la devolución de los ingresos tributarios que indebidamente realizan a las administraciones nacionales surge como consecuencia de la percepción por los estados miembros de exacciones que resultan contrarias al ordenamiento jurídico comunitario. Sólo el procedimiento para el reconocimiento del derecho a la restitución de los ingresos aduaneros indebidos se encuentra regulado por un texto comunitario uniforme: el código aduanero comunitario y su reglamento de aplicación. En los demás supuestos en que surge el derecho a la devolución, los agentes económicos han de ejercer tal derecho ante los órganos juridiccionales internos invocando los principios de efecto directo y primacia de las normas comunitarias. La heterogeneidad de las soluciones dadas por los ordenamientos estatales al contencioso del indebido tributario en virtud del principio de autonomía institucional y procedimental de los estados miembros en la aplicación del derecho comunitario o principio de subsidiariedad procesal ha implicado la limitación de aquel principio por la jurisprudencia del TJE. La armonización jurisprudencial ha de ser completada por una armonización normativa en la materia.

Cochlear implant (CI) users have traditionally reported less enjoyment and have performed more poorly on tasks of music perception (timbre, melody and pitch) than their normal hearing (NH) counterparts. The enjoyment and perception of music can be affected by the MAP programmed into a user’s speech processor, the parameters of which can be altered to change the way that a CI recipient hears sound. However, finding the optimal MAP can prove challenging to clinicians because altering one parameter will affect others. Until recently the only way to find the optimal MAP has theoretically been to present each potential combination of parameters systematically, however this is impractical in a clinical setting due to the thousands of different potential combinations. Thus, in general, clinicians can find a good MAP, but not necessarily the best one. The goal of this study was to assess whether a Genetic Algorithm would assist clinicians to create a better MAP for music listening than current methods. Seven adult Nucleus Freedom CI users were assessed on tasks of timbre identification, melody identification and pitch-ranking using their original MAP. The participants then used the GA software to create an individualised MAP for music listening (referred to as their “GA MAP”). They then spent four weeks comparing their GA and original MAPs in their everyday life, and recording their listening experiences in a listening diary. At the end of this period participants were assessed on the same timbre, melody, and pitch tasks using their GA MAP. The results of the study showed that the GA process took an average of 35 minutes (range: 13-72 minutes) to create a MAP for music listening. As a group, participants reported the GA MAP to be slightly better than their original MAP for music listening, and preferred the GA MAP when at the cinema. Participants, on average, also performed significantly better on the melody identification task with their GA MAP; however they were significantly better on the half-octave interval pitch ranking task with their original MAP. The results also showed that participants were significantly more accurate on the single-instrument identification task than the ensemble instrument identification task regardless of which MAP they used. Overall, the results show that a GA can be used to successfully create a MAP for music listening, with two participants creating a MAP that they decided to keep at the conclusion of the study.

Thesis (MNutr (Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. Human Nutrition))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Introduction : The health status of women in peri-urban areas has been influence by the South African political transition. Despite some progress, maternal and child mortality rates are still unacceptably high. A mother’s nutritional status is one of the most important determinants of maternal and birth outcomes. The Institute of Medicine’s pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI) method is not always appropriate to use in a peri-urban setting as many women attend their first antenatal clinic later on in their pregnancy. Two alternative methods, the gestational BMI (GBMI) and the gestational risk score (GRS), have been used elsewhere to screen for at risk pregnancies, but have not been used in a South African peri-urban setting. Furthermore, examining socio-economic variables (SEV) aids in the explanation of the impact of social structures on an individual. Risk factors can then be established and pregnant women in these higher risk groups can be identified and given additional antenatal clinic appointments and priority during labour. Aim: The first aim was to investigate the strength of the GBMI and GRS methods for predicting birth outcomes and maternal morbidities. The second aim was to investigate the relationships between SEV, GBMI and maternal morbidities. Methods: This was a sub-study of the Philani Mentor Mothers Study. A sample of 103 and 205 were selected for investigating the prediction methods and SEV respectively. Maternal anthropometry, gestational weeks and SEV were obtained during interviews before birth. Information obtained was used to calculate GBMI and GRS and to assess the SEV. Birth outcomes were obtained from the infant’s clinic cards and maternal morbidities were obtained from interviews two days after the birth. Results No significant association was found between GBMI and birth outcomes and maternal morbidities. A significant positive association was found between GRS and birth head circumference percentile (r=0.22, p<0.05). The higher the GRS, the higher the risk of an infant spending longer time in the hospital (Kruskal Wallis X2 = 4, p<0.05). A significant positive association was found between GBMI and the following SEV factors; age (r=0.33, p<0.05), height (r=0.15, p<0.05), parity (r=0.23, p<0.05), income (r=0.2, p<0.05), marital status (X2 = 9.35, p<0.05), employment (U=2.9, p<0.05) and HIV status (U=2.54, p<0.05). No statistically significant relationships were found between gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes mellitus and SEV. Conclusion: From the findings of this sub-study there were some promising results, however it is still unclear as to which method is the most appropriate to predict adverse birth outcomes and maternal morbidity. It is recommended that the GBMI and GRS once-off methods be repeated in a larger population to see if there are more parameters that could be predicted. Women who were older, shorter, married, had more pregnancies, HIV negative and had a higher socioeconomic status tended to have a greater GBMI. This can lead to adverse birth outcomes and increases the risk of women developing maternal morbidities and other chronic diseases later in their life. Optimal nutrition and health promotion strategies targeting women before conception should be implemented.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Inleiding: Die gesondheidstatus van vroue in semi-stedelike areas is beïnvloed deur die Suid-Afrikaanse politiese oorgang. Ten spyte van ’n mate van vooruitgang is die sterftesyfers vir moeders en kinders steeds onaanvaarbaar hoog. ‘n Moeder se voedingstatus is een van die mees belangrike bepalende faktore van moeder- en geboorteuitkomste. Die Instituut van Geneeskunde se voorswangerskap Liggaamsmassa Indeks (LMI) metode is nie altyd toepaslik om te gebruik in ‘n semi-stedelike opset nie aangesien baie vroue hul eerste voorgeboorte-kliniek eers later in hul swangerskap bywoon. Twee alternatiewe metodes, die swangerskap LMI (SLMI) en die swangerskap risiko telling (SRT) is al elders gebruik as sifting vir hoë risiko swangerskappe, maar is nog nie gebruik in ‘n Suid-Afrikaanse semi-stedelike opset nie. Vervolgens kan ‘n ondersoek na sosio-ekonomiese veranderlikes (SEV) help om die impak van maatskaplike strukture op ‘n individu te verduidelik. Risiko faktore kan dan vasgestel word en swanger vroue wat in hierdie hoër risiko groepe val kan geïdentifiseer word. Dié vroue kan addisionele voorgeboorte-kliniek afsprake ontvang asook voorkeurbehandeling tydens die geboorteproses. Doelstellings: Die eerste doelstelling was om die sterkte van die SLMI en SRT metodes te ondersoek as voorspellers van geboorte uitkomste en moeder-morbiditeite. Die tweede doelstelling was om die verhoudings tussen SEV, SLMI en moeder-morbiditeite te ondersoek. Metodes: Hierdie projek was ‘n sub-studie van die Philani Mentor Moeders Studie. ‘n Steekproefgrootte van 103 en 205 was geselekteer om onderskeidelik die voorspeller metodes en SEV te ondersoek. Die moeder se antropometrie, swangerskap weke en SEV was verkry gedurende onderhoude voor geboorte. Informasie ingewin was gebruik om die SLMI en SRT te bereken en om die SEV te ondersoek. Geboorteuitkomste was verkry vanaf die babas se kliniekkaarte en moeder-morbiditeite was verkry tydens onderhoude twee dae na die geboorte. Resultate: Geen betekenisvolle assosiasie was gevind tussen SLMI, geboorteuitkomste en moeder-morbiditeite nie. ‘n Betekenisvolle positiewe assosiasie was gevind tussen SRT en die geboorte kopomtrek persentiel (r=0.22, p<0.05). Hoe hoër die SRT, hoe hoër die risiko dat ‘n baba langer in die hospitaal sou bly (Kruskal Wallis X2=4, p<0.05). ‘n Betekenisvolle positiewe assosiasie was gevind tussen SLMI en die volgende SEV faktore: ouderdom (r=0.33, p<0.05), lengte (r=0.15, p<0.05), pariteit (r=0.23, p<0.05), inkomste (r=0.2, p<0.05), huwelikstatus (X2=9.35, p<0.05), besit van ‘n identiteitsdokument (U=1.75, p<0.05), werkstatus (U=2.9, p<0.05) en MIV status (U=2.54, p<0.05). Geen statisties beduidende verhoudings was gevind tussen swangerskap hipertensie, swangerskap diabetes mellitus en SEV nie. Gevolgtrekking Sommige bevindinge van hierdie sub-studie dui op belowende resultate, alhoewel dit steeds nie duidelik is watter metode die mees toepaslike is om ongewenste geboorteuitkomste en moeder-morbiditeit te voorspel nie. Dit word aanbeveel dat die SLMI en SRT eenmalige metodes herhaal word in ‘n groter populasie om te sien of daar meer parameters is wat voorspel kan word. Vroue wat ouer, korter, getroud, meer swangerskappe, MIV negatief en ‘n hoër sosio-ekonomiese status gehad het was geneig om ‘n hoër SLMI te hê. Dit kan lei tot ongewenste geboorteuitkomste en verhoogde risiko om moeder-morbiditeite en ander chroniese siektes later in hul lewe te ontwikkel. Optimale voeding en gesondheidsbevordering strategieë wat vroue teiken voor bevrugting behoort geïmplementeer te word.

A sample of 7724 college students in Washington and Utah was selected to study the relationships of religious activity and religious affiliation to illicit sexual behaviors, use of marijuana, and getting drunk. For all religious affiliations (except for the Jews), there were significant correlations between church activity and the measured illicit behaviors. LDS rates of behavior were significantly lower at <.001 for the five illicit behaviors. Two factor analyses were calculated to determine which sexual behaviors would load on a single factor and which substances would load on another factor. Extramarital coitus, heavy petting, and passionate kissing formed the first "sexual" factor. The use of beer, liquor, and marijuana combined with the behavior getting drunk to form the "substance-abuse" factor. A canonical analysis reported a moderate relationship with a canonical coefficient of .534 between the two factors. A discriminant analysis based on each subjects' religious affiliation and activity level yielded a 70-80 percent correct classification percentage.

Made available in DSpace on 2013-08-07T19:11:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 000436921-Texto+Completo-0.pdf: 876008 bytes, checksum: 918b49280d31c0ae6ba7ba8203bc573a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011<br>This dissertation examines the impact of the Internet in the conception of the person of Jesus Christ among Catholic youth of Rio Grande do Sul, constructing a dialogue with the thought of the Theologian Jürgen Moltmann. To this end, it presents a qualitative study with focus groups interviews with young Catholics in four cities of Rio Grande do Sul. Initially, the article traces the christological itinerary of Moltmann, highlighting their his theology from the dimension of hope, emphasizing the Christopractice. It then it presents the characteristics of the digital age as well as the characteristics of the present generation youth. It also presents the epistemological assumptions that guide the work. The methodological procedures are the following: focus group as a technique; the audience researched; the inerpretation follows de lines of the methodological framework of depth hermeneutics, that serves as a broad framework in the analysis of symbolic forms of communication. The data are systematized and categorized, and are interpreted according to the pressuppositions of the Christology in messianic dimensions of J. Moltmann, trying to answer the question: who is Jesus Christ for us today?<br>Esta dissertação analisa o impacto da internet na concepção de Jesus Cristo entre jovens católicos do Rio Grande do Sul, construindo um diálogo com o pensamento do *teólogo Jürgen Moltmann. Para tal, apresenta-se uma pesquisa qualitativa com jovens católicos em quatro cidades do estado. Inicialmente, o texto traça o itinerário cristológico de Moltmann, destaca a teologia a partir da dimensão da esperança, dando ênfase à cristoprática. Em seguida, o presente trabalho caracteriza a era digital, assim como dos jovens desta geração. Os procedimentos metodológicos são detalhados: a técnica do grupo focal, o público pesquisado e o referencial metodológico da Hermenêutica de Profundidade, que serve como um enquadramento amplo na análise de formas simbólicas de comunicação. Após, os dados são sistematizados e categorizados, para serem relacionados com a cristologia em dimensões messiânicas de J. Moltmann, a fim de responder à questão: quem é Jesus Cristo para os jovens católicos hoje?

Este trabalho analisa o envolvimento do engenheiro civil com atividades - dentro do processo da construção civil - que contém funções administrativas. O estudo inicialmente identifica as funções administrativas presentes dentro das atividades que o engenheiro civil usualmente desempenha no processo gerencial da indústria da construção civil e verifica quais as áreas de conhecimento que estas funções envolvem. A seguir é discutido o emprego de jogos de treinamento - envolvendo estes conhecimentos - no processo de formação dos engenheiros civis. Através da análise de alguns dos jogos de treinamento percebe-se o constante incremento dos seus escopos buscando abranger um maior espectro em relação àquelas funções administrativas. Em funçao disto elabora-se um jogo que simula o gerenciamento de uma empresa da construção civil nos aspectos referentes a estas funções administrativas.<br>This reserch work is concerned with the involvement of civil engineering profession with management activities within the construction process. The study initially identifies the management functions in which civil engineers are usually involved, and the domains of knowledge which such functions can be assaciated with. The use of management games for training construction professionals is discussed in the second part of the work. A number of training tools developed in other countries are reviewed, and the main principies used for structuring them are examined. Based on that, the author proposes a training game which simulates the finantial management of construction firms.

Made available in DSpace on 2010-04-20T20:17:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 1996-11-14T00:00:00Z<br>O trabalho apresenta uma nova perspectiva de análise na área da economia do desenvolvimento, representada pela Nova Economia Institucional (NEI) e por um de seus mais destacados representantes, Douglass C. North (prêmio Nobel, 1993). Esta corrente enfatiza a relação entre regras formais e informais (leis de comércio, constituição federal, normas culturais) e crescimento econômico no longo prazo, destacando a relevância do ambiente em que as mesmas são criadas e no qual têm sua aplicação garantida, o que inclui o governo e os papéis por ele assumidos. A elaboração de tais regras é ainda afetada pelos modelos mentais dos agentes e por falhas do processo político. O resultado final do aparato institucional será um país com altos ou baixos custos de transação, os quais influenciam a organização dos mercados e o crescimento de longo prazo. Utilizando estes conceitos teóricos, este trabalho analisa a política industrial do Japão no período 1945-1990, defendendo a idéia de que o aparato institucional promoveu a eficiôncia econômica e uma trajetória de longo prazo 'favorável ao mercado', mesmo quando o governo praticava medidas protecionistas. Havia uma preocupação central com práticas de mercado e competição, mesmo dentro do aparato governamental. A conclusão a que chega a pesquisa a partir do estudo de caso escolhido é que o governo foi extremamente importante em países de industrialização recente, mas o aparato institucional determinou a trajetória de longo prazo da relação entre setor privado e mercado em cada um deles. Para que possa regular ou interferir no mercado, o governo deve ser severamente limitado