Evidence of networks in the resting-brain reflecting the spontaneous brain activity is perhaps the most significant discovery to understand intrinsic brain functionality. Moreover, subsequent detection of dynamics in these networks can be milestone in differentiating the normal and disordered brain functions. However, capturing the correct dynamics is a challenging task since no ground truths' are present for comparison of the results. The change points of these networks can be different for different subjects even during normal brain functions. Even for the same subject and session, dynamics can be different at the start and end of the session based on the fatigue level of the subject scanned. Despite the absence of ground truths, studies have analyzed these dynamics using the existing methods and some of them have developed new algorithms too. One of the most commonly used method for this purpose is sliding window correlation. However, the result of the sliding window correlation is dependent on many parameters and without the ground truth there is no way of validating the results. In addition, most of the new algorithms are complicated, computationally expensive, and/or focus on just one aspect on these dynamics. This study applies the algorithms and concepts from signal processing, image processing, video processing, information theory, and machine learning to analyze the results of the sliding window correlation and develops a novel algorithm to detect change points of these networks adaptively. The findings in this study are divided into three parts: 1) Analyzing the extent of variability in well-defined networks of rodents and humans with sliding window correlation applying concepts from information theory and machine learning domains. 2) Analyzing the performance of sliding window correlation using simulated networks as ground truths for best parameters’ selection, and exploring its dependence on multiple frequency components of the correlating signals by processing the signals in time and Fourier domains. 3) Development of a novel algorithm based on image similarity measures from image and video processing that maybe employed to identify change points of these networks adaptively.

[pt] Seja ela a crise global da civilização, a crise da modernidade, ou mesmo uma simples resposta às exigências da globalização, para os mais conservadores, o nome dado ao período de transformações pelo qual atravessa a sociedade, há um consenso entre diversos autores, além de um movimento por parte de empresários, executivos e funcionários de diversas organizações, de que a mudança com respeito à forma como se enxerga a relação organizações e sociedade não é só primordial, mas um fato consumado. A sociedade atravessa uma fase na qual se depara com problemas em grande parte resultantes do seu próprio desenvolvimento. Essa problemática tem sido tema em diversos meios, desde acadêmicos, administrativos e políticos. Partindo de estudos e de experiências empresariais que já mostraram ser possível adotar uma perspectiva mais ética, humana e ecologicamente engajada, assim como de contribuições teóricas sobre a mudança transformadora, este trabalho teve por objetivo compreender a natureza das dificuldades e dos facilitadores inerentes a um processo de mudança organizacional transformadora. Com relação às considerações finais, devido à própria natureza da mudança paradigmática, os resultados da literatura corresponderam às nossas expectativas de que não fosse possível encontrar uma, e somente uma resposta possível para o problema. Parte dos autores dá maior ênfase às dificuldades nos processos de mudança, associadas normalmente aos valores da administração tradicional, enquanto que outra parte dá maior ênfase aos facilitadores da mudança, associados a valores éticos, de responsabilidade, cooperação, solidariedade e sustentabilidade. De qualquer forma, tanto dificuldades quanto facilitadores estão associados a valores, o que corresponde a aspectos de natureza axiológica. A análise dos dados, assim como a análise da pesquisa bibliográfica, nos levou, principalmente, às bases filosóficas do problema da mudança. Dentro da dimensão filosófica, o resultado da pesquisa empírica nos permitiu identificar as maiores freqüências também nas categorias de natureza axiológica. Entretanto, são as categorias de facilitadores as mais lembradas, no que diz respeito a sua freqüência e diversidade, tanto é que são três as de valores facilitadores e somente uma para dificuldades. / [en] Either global crisis of the civilization, crisis of modernity, or even a simple reply to the requirements of the globalization, for more the conservatives, the name given to the period of transformations for which crosses the society, there is a consensus among various authors, besides a movement of entrepreneurs, executives and employees of diverse organizations, that the change with respect to the form we see the relation organizations and society is not only primordial, but a consummated fact. The society crosses a phase in which it faces problems, most of them, resulted of its own development. This problematic issue has been subject of diverse areas, including academic, administration and politics. Considering previous studies and enterprise experiences that have already shown the possibility to adopt a more ethical, human and ecologically engaged perspective, as well as theoretical contributions on the transforming change, the purpose of this work was to understand the nature of the difficulties and the inherent incentives to a process of transforming organizational change. With regard to the final considerations, due to the particularly nature of the paradigm change, the results of literature corresponded to our expectations of that it was not possible to find only one single answer to the problem. A group of authors gives more emphasis to the difficulties in the change processes, usually associated to the values of the traditional administration, whereas another group gives more emphasis to the incentives of change, associated to ethical values, responsibility, cooperation and solidarity. Anyway, both difficulties and incentives are associated to values, those which correspond to the aspects of axiological nature. The analyses of the data, as well as the analysis of the bibliographical research, have led to the philosophical bases of the problem of change. In the philosophical perspective, the result of the empirical research allowed us to also identify the greatest frequencies in the axiological categories. However, the incentive categories are the most remembered, in regard to their frequency and diversity, for there were three incentive categories and only one difficulty category.

Although the cruise industry and ROPAX ships have achieved steady growth with increased capacity, innovative service provisions and constantly being prepared for events of emergencies, they were not prepared for the sudden COVID-19 pandemic, and the travel restrictions and No Sail order put a halt to their services. Organisational resilience has received a growing interest in the world since its capabilities can support organisations to anticipate, cope and adapt to internal or external changes due to a crisis or unexpected event. This exploratory scenario study seeks to examine the cruise ships organisational resilience and service attributes in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.The empirical findings have been collected by using qualitative semi-structured interviews with four key managers and decision makers within the industry. The findings were themed to find qualitative variations and then analysed in relation to the presented literature through the adaptive change cycle. The adaptive change cycle has been used to explain the drastic and partially chaotic crisis and recovery of cruise services.

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Research was undertaken for this thesis to uncover characteristics of resilient volunteers and stewardship groups, both of which are a major element of the social mobilisation strategy used in Australia to manage natural resources. The ability of volunteers and groups to overcome problems, deal with new issues as they arise, and keep going under pressure is termed 'resilience'. A 'resilience management' approach to natural resource management uses the idea of 'adaptive change' or panarchy to understand the development of resilience and thus, sustainability in human communities. According to this theory, sustainable communities are both changeable and stable, adapting to new situations as they arise. The research approach used in the study is called 'phenomenography'. It is an interpretive approach, based on the central assumption that there is variation in the ways in which people experience the same phenomenon. Phenomenography was used to see if lessons about resilience and sustainability could be learnt from catchment volunteers. All participants were 'catchment volunteers' working along the east coast of Queensland. They were drawn from a variety of organisations and programs including Landcare; Coastcare; Bushcare; Greening Australia; Waterwatch; treeplanting groups; and Integrated Catchment Management Committees. A total of 26 personal and group interviews involving 85 participants were conducted. Interviews comprised a series of semi-structured questions that were tape-recorded, then transcribed verbatim. Through a process of comparing and contrasting themes in the transcriptions, six conceptions emerged. These were: catchment volunteering was experienced as seeking and maintaining balance; developing/maintaining an identity; empowerment; learning; networking; and sustainable. Analysis of these themes was used to develop a model of catchment volunteer experiences depicting relationships between conceptions (termed the 'Outcome Space' in phenomenography). In this study the Outcome Space emerged as a set of scales, signifying the importance of keeping a balanced perspective on volunteering - a balance between things such as personal goals and organisational goals; between dedication to an unpaid vocation and family life; and between social benefits and environmental benefits. From the Outcome Space, several conceptual and practical outcomes were developed. These included: a typology of participation based on volunteer experiences; a table describing forms of empowerment in catchment volunteering; a table listing drivers for catchment volunteers; an illustration of Holling and Gunderson's adaptive cycle as it applies to stewardship groups; a table of factors that enhance the resilience and sustainability of stewardship groups; a model of the relationship between external pressures and resilient, sustainable stewardship groups; and guidelines for developing resilient sustainable stewardship groups. These outcomes contribute to an understanding of individual, group and community level responses to environmental issues; and how resilience can be developed in volunteers and stewardship groups and programs.

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