This thesis empirically investigates the impact of an individual’s dominant independent self-construal, interdependent self-construal, cosmopolitan and local orientation on the effect of the four self-congruity types (actual, ideal, social, ideal social) on brand attitude. A widely used practice among marketers focuses on communicating the notion that using their brands will bring consumers closer to how they would like to see themselves, their ideal self-concept (e.g. being a slim person like the models in the ads), instead of how they actually see themselves, their actual self-concept. However, recent research shows that there is no “universality” of a superior self-congruity effect. Specifically, individual-level characteristics (e.g. public self-consciousness) determine whether actual or ideal self-congruity impacts brand perceptions more strongly (Malär et al., 2011). This study extends that research by considering (a) all four self-congruity types and (b) additional individual-level characteristics (independent and interdependent self-construal, cosmopolitan and local orientation), which are valuable for segmenting consumer markets within and across countries. Survey data from a non-student sample were collected in two countries (the US and India). After performing data cleaning procedures, over 800 usable responses in each country were analysed with the use of PLS-SEM. The findings show that, as expected, these individual-level characteristics have an impact in regard to which of the four self-congruity types has the strongest effect on brand attitude. For instance, for individuals with a local orientation or interdependent self-construal, actual self-congruity has the strongest effect on brand attitude. These findings extend self-congruity theory by considering how an individual’s dominant independent and interdependent self-construal, cosmopolitan and local orientation impact the effect of the four self-congruity types on brand attitude. Moreover, the findings offer marketers insights into which self-concept type they should try to match with their brand communications when targeting these specific consumer groups. Details on the contributions as well as managerial implications are presented.

<p>With numerous applications in both military and civilian life, the demand for accurate 3D models of real world environments increases rapidly. Using an airborne laser scanner for the raw data acquisition and robust methods for data processing, the researchers at the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) in Linköping hope to fully automate the modeling process.</p><p>The work of this thesis has mainly been focused on three areas: ground estimation, image segmentation and classification. Procedures have in each of these areas been developed, leading to a new algorithm for ground estimation, a number of segmentation methods as well as a full comparison of various decision values for an object based classification. The ground estimation algorithm developed has yielded good results compared to the method based on active contours previously elaborated at FOI. The computational effort needed by the new method has been greatly reduced compared to the former, as performance, particularly in urban areas, has been improved. The segmentation methods introduced have shown promising results in separating different types of objects. A new set of decision values and descriptors for the object based classifier has been suggested, which, according to tests, prove to be more efficient than the set p reviously used.</p> / <p>Med många tillämpningar både inom det civila och militära, ökar efterfrågan på noggranna och korrekta omvärldesmodeller snabbt. Forskare på FOI, Totalförsvarets Forskningsinstitut, arbetar med att fullt ut kunna automatisera den process som genererar dessa tredimensionella modeller av verkliga miljöer. En luftburen laserradar används för datainsamlingen och robusta metoder är under ständig utveckling för den efterföljande databehandlingen.</p><p>Arbetet som presenteras i denna rapport kan delas in i tre huvudområden: skattning av markyta, segmentering av data samt klassificering. Metoder inom varje område har utvecklats vilket lett fram till en ny algoritm för markestimering, en rad metoder för segmentering samt en noggrann jämförelse av olika beslutsvärden för en objektbaserad klassificering. Markskattningsalgoritmen har visat sig vara effektiv i jämförelse med en metod baserad på aktiva konturer som sedan tidigare utvecklats på FOI. Beräkningsbördan för den nya metoden är endast en bråkdel av den förra, samtidigt som prestandan, särskilt i urbana miljöer, har kunnat förbättras.</p><p>De segmenteringsmetoder som introducerats har visat på lovande resultat vad gäller möjligheten att särskilja olika typer av objekt. Slutligen har en ny uppsättning deskriptorer och beslutsvärden till den objektbaserade klassificeraren föreslagits. Den har enligt de tester som presenteras i rapporten visats sig vara mer effektiv än den uppsättning som använts fram till idag.</p>

This thesis empirically investigates the impact of an individual’s dominant independent self-construal, interdependent self-construal, cosmopolitan and local orientation on the effect of the four self-congruity types (actual, ideal, social, ideal social) on brand attitude. A widely used practice among marketers focuses on communicating the notion that using their brands will bring consumers closer to how they would like to see themselves, their ideal self-concept (e.g. being a slim person like the models in the ads), instead of how they actually see themselves, their actual self-concept. However, recent research shows that there is no “universality” of a superior self-congruity effect. Specifically, individual-level characteristics (e.g. public self-consciousness) determine whether actual or ideal self-congruity impacts brand perceptions more strongly (Malär et al., 2011). This study extends that research by considering (a) all four self-congruity types and (b) additional individual-level characteristics (independent and interdependent self-construal, cosmopolitan and local orientation), which are valuable for segmenting consumer markets within and across countries. Survey data from a non-student sample were collected in two countries (the US and India). After performing data cleaning procedures, over 800 usable responses in each country were analysed with the use of PLS-SEM. The findings show that, as expected, these individual-level characteristics have an impact in regard to which of the four self-congruity types has the strongest effect on brand attitude. For instance, for individuals with a local orientation or interdependent self-construal, actual self-congruity has the strongest effect on brand attitude. These findings extend self-congruity theory by considering how an individual’s dominant independent and interdependent self-construal, cosmopolitan and local orientation impact the effect of the four self-congruity types on brand attitude. Moreover, the findings offer marketers insights into which self-concept type they should try to match with their brand communications when targeting these specific consumer groups. Details on the contributions as well as managerial implications are presented.

With numerous applications in both military and civilian life, the demand for accurate 3D models of real world environments increases rapidly. Using an airborne laser scanner for the raw data acquisition and robust methods for data processing, the researchers at the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) in Linköping hope to fully automate the modeling process. The work of this thesis has mainly been focused on three areas: ground estimation, image segmentation and classification. Procedures have in each of these areas been developed, leading to a new algorithm for ground estimation, a number of segmentation methods as well as a full comparison of various decision values for an object based classification. The ground estimation algorithm developed has yielded good results compared to the method based on active contours previously elaborated at FOI. The computational effort needed by the new method has been greatly reduced compared to the former, as performance, particularly in urban areas, has been improved. The segmentation methods introduced have shown promising results in separating different types of objects. A new set of decision values and descriptors for the object based classifier has been suggested, which, according to tests, prove to be more efficient than the set p reviously used. / Med många tillämpningar både inom det civila och militära, ökar efterfrågan på noggranna och korrekta omvärldesmodeller snabbt. Forskare på FOI, Totalförsvarets Forskningsinstitut, arbetar med att fullt ut kunna automatisera den process som genererar dessa tredimensionella modeller av verkliga miljöer. En luftburen laserradar används för datainsamlingen och robusta metoder är under ständig utveckling för den efterföljande databehandlingen. Arbetet som presenteras i denna rapport kan delas in i tre huvudområden: skattning av markyta, segmentering av data samt klassificering. Metoder inom varje område har utvecklats vilket lett fram till en ny algoritm för markestimering, en rad metoder för segmentering samt en noggrann jämförelse av olika beslutsvärden för en objektbaserad klassificering. Markskattningsalgoritmen har visat sig vara effektiv i jämförelse med en metod baserad på aktiva konturer som sedan tidigare utvecklats på FOI. Beräkningsbördan för den nya metoden är endast en bråkdel av den förra, samtidigt som prestandan, särskilt i urbana miljöer, har kunnat förbättras. De segmenteringsmetoder som introducerats har visat på lovande resultat vad gäller möjligheten att särskilja olika typer av objekt. Slutligen har en ny uppsättning deskriptorer och beslutsvärden till den objektbaserade klassificeraren föreslagits. Den har enligt de tester som presenteras i rapporten visats sig vara mer effektiv än den uppsättning som använts fram till idag.

In recent years, the challenges facing college admissions professionals have increased, and turnover in the field has become an area of concern. A review of the literature indicated that surprisingly little research had been done in the area of job satisfaction for college admissions professionals and, in particular, Christian college admissions professionals. No direct application of professional (cosmopolitan-local) orientation to the admissions profession could be found in the literature. As a result, the primary purpose of this study was to examine both the level of job satisfaction and the cosmopolitan-local orientation of Christian college admissions professionals, and to determine if any relationship existed between the level of job satisfaction and the cosmopolitan-local orientation of Christian college admissions professionals. All members of the National Association of Christian College Admissions Personnel (NACCAP), the major professional organization for Christian college admissions professionals, were surveyed to gather data for the study. The survey consisted of the 72-item Job Descriptive Index (JDI), the 18-item Job in General scale (JIG), a 19-item cosmopolitan-local instrument, and six demographic items. Of the 723 surveys mailed out, 490 were completed and returned for a 68% return rate. Two research questions and 36 hypotheses were created. Descriptive statistics, multiple regression, and Pearsons correlation were used in analyzing data. All hypothesis testing was conducted at the .05 level of significance. Twenty-five null hypotheses were rejected, and 11 null hypotheses were not rejected. The mean age of survey respondents was 30.2 years, and the mean years of admissions experience for the group was 4.7. At the admissions counselor (entry) level, the mean age was 26.1 years and the mean years of experience was 2.3. Median job satisfaction scores for admissions professionals fell into the "satisfied" range in all areas but two: "satisfaction with pay," with a median score in the "neutral or ambivalent" range, and "satisfaction with opportunities for promotion," with a median score in the "dissatisfied" range. On the cosmopolitan-local items, the group scored particularly high on the "concern with organizational goals" and "organizational immobility" variables. Significant relationships were found to exist between each of the six job satisfaction variables and the set of cosmopolitan-local variables. Additionally, significant relationships were found to exist in 19 of the 30 possible pairings of the job satisfaction and cosmopolitan-local variables.

[pt] Atributos de curvatura são uma importante ferramenta para visualização e interpretação de feições estruturais em dados sísmicos. Tais medidas podem realçar falhas e fraturas sutis que não estavam evidentes no dado de amplitude, fornecendo ao intérprete informações importantes para a construção do modelo geológico da área de interesse. Neste trabalho é apresentado um método para estimar atributos de curvatura volumérica em dados sísmicos empilhados. A partir do dado de amplitude, é computado um atributo identificador de horizonte, o qual permite que horizontes sísmicos sejam representados como superfícies de nível. Dessa maneira, o gradiente desse atributo fornece uma representação coerente do campo de normais do volume. Fórmulas para o cálculo de curvatura em superfícies implícitas são usadas para obter vários atributos de curvatura úteis na delineação e predição de importantes feições estratigráficas. Testes realizados com dados sintéticos e reais mostram que o método proposto é capaz de fornecer estimativas coerentes de atributos de curvatura a um baixo custo de processamento. São avaliados três atributos identificadores de horizontes: fase instantânea, derivada vertical e atributo de ridges. / [en] Curvature attributes are powerful tools for visualization and interpretation of structural features in seismic data. Such measures may highlight faults and subtle fractures that were not evident in amplitude data, providing important information to the interpreter to build the geological model of the area of interest. This paper presents a method for estimating volumetric curvature attributes in post-stack seismic data. Using amplitude volume, an horizon identifier attribute is computed, in order to represent seismic horizons as level surfaces. Thus, the gradient of this attribute provides a coherent estimate of volumetric normal field. Formulas for the calculation of curvature in implicit surfaces are used to compute several curvature attributes useful in the delineation and prediction of important stratigraphic features. Tests with synthetic and real data show that the proposed method is able to provide consistent estimates of attributes of curvature at low cost processing. Three horizon identifer attributes are evaluated: instantaneous phase, vertical derivative and ridge attribute.

This diploma thesis deals with the identification of persons by their fingerprints. In the beginning, there is a brief overview of biometric methods. The issue of fingerprints and their automatic processing is very extensive and addresses a large amount of literature. This work describes the various stages processing fingerprints from receiving a fingerprint scan through the methods of enhancing fingerprint, binarization, the detection of minutiae to compare two fingerprints. After a short introduction of biometric techniques is briefly introduced the history of fingerprints as an instrument for identification of persons. Subsequently, there is the description of problems of obtaining fingerprints from older methods that require the transmission medium, to methods of obtaining fingerprints directly into a digital format. There are described basic principles of sensors and the principle of their function. Next part deals with methods of processing digital fingerprint images. These are methods for fingerprint image enhancement, methods for image thresholding, thinning of ridge lines, detection of global and local characteristics of the fingerprint. The next section introduces the basic methods of comparison and classification of fingerprints. The practical part describes the specific implementation of fingerprint processing chain. For each processing stage is implemented one selected method. The result is an application that allows displaying the output of each phase, the comparison of fingerprints 1:1 and also finds a fingerprint in the database, by comparing one fingerprint with many.

[pt] Neste trabalho apresentamos os aspectos da visualização volumétrica de horizontes em dados sísmicos 3D. Consideramos as abordagens de visualização volumétrica direta e indireta. Na abordagem direta investigamos o problema da seleção de horizontes usando funções de transferência. Apresentamos a técnica de opacidade 2D, que busca aumentar a capacidade de seleção dos horizontes para visualização. Comparamos a utilização dos atributos de fase instantânea, fase ajustada e fase desenrolada como segunda dimensão, enquanto a primeira é a amplitude sísmica. Ainda na abordagem direta, mostramos que o gradiente da amplitude sísmica não aproxima bem os vetores normais nos horizontes sísmicos. Sugerimos o gradiente da fase instantânea como solução para este problema. Na abordagem de visualização volumétrica indireta introduzimos uma modelagem de otimização para o problema de rastreamento de horizontes. Sugerimos um método heurístico baseado em uma estratégia gulosa para encontrar soluções que são boas aproximações para os horizontes mesmo na presença de estruturas geológicas complexas. / [en] This work presents aspects of volume visualization of seismic horizons in 3-D seismic data. We consider both the direct and indirect approaches of volume visualization. In the direct approach we investigate the problem of selecting horizons using transfer functions. We present the 2-D opacity technique, which seeks to increase the ability to select horizons for visualization. We compare the use of instantaneous phase, adjusted phase and unwrapped phase as the second dimension, while seismic amplitude is the first dimension. Also in the direct approach, we show that the seismic amplitude gradient is not a good approximation for the normal vectors in seismic horizons. We suggest the gradient of instantaneous phase as a solution to this problem. In the indirect volume visualization approach we introduce a new optimization model to overcome the seismic horizon tracking problem. We present a heuristic method based on a greedy strategy to find solutions that are good approximations of the horizon of interest, even for complex geological structures.