Thesis (Ph.D)--Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009. / Committee Chair: Theodore H. Poister, Ph.D.; Committee Member: Gordon Kingsley, Ph.D.; Committee Member: John Thomas, Ph.D.; Committee Member: Judith Ottoson, Ph.D.; Committee Member: Patricia Reeves, Ph.D. Part of the SMARTech Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Collection.

published_or_final_version / Psychology / Master / Master of Philosophy

Performance evaluation of document recognition systems is a difficult and practically-important problem. In this thesis, we contribute to the understanding of performance evaluation by studying some issues that arise in evaluation of systems for recognition of mathematical expressions. Issues that are discussed cover the reported performance evaluation experiments, the code availability, the nature of the mathematical notation, the extent of the coverage of mathematical recognition systems, and the quantification of performance evaluation results. For each issue, we discuss its impact on performance evaluation, give an overview of the state of the art for addressing it and point out open problems. / Thesis (Master, Computing) -- Queen's University, 2008-05-21 15:34:21.966

Video dissemination capabilities are crucial for the deployment of many services over VANETs. These services range from enhancing safety via the dissemination of video from the scene of an accident, to advertisement of local services or businesses. This work considers the infrastructure-less scenario of VANETs and dissemination of video content over this network environment, which is extremely challenging mainly due to its dynamic topology and stringent requirements for video streaming. This study discusses issues and challenges that need to be tackled for disseminating high-quality video over VANETs. Furthermore it surveys and analyzes the suitability of different existing solutions aimed towards effective and efficient techniques for video dissemination in vehicular networks. As a result, a set of the most promising techniques are selected, described in detail and evaluated based on standard terms in quality of service. This thesis also discusses efficiency and suitability of these techniques for video dissemination and compares their performance over the same network condition. In addition, a detailed study on the effect of network coding on video dissemination protocols has been conducted to guide how to employ this technique properly for video streaming over VANETs. From this study, a summary of the observations was obtained and used to design a new hybrid solution by deploying robust and efficient techniques in number of existing protocols in an optimal manner. The proposed hybrid video dissemination protocol outperforms other protocols in term of delivery ratio and complies with other quality-of-service requirements for video broadcasting over vehicular environments.

Diss. Stockholm : Handelshögsk., 2004.

A avaliaÃÃo do desenvolvimento infantil à necessÃria para que haja o monitoramento e o acompanhamento das mudanÃas ocorrentes na vida da crianÃa, buscando identificar as caracterÃsticas prÃprias e relacionÃ-las com os respectivos perÃodos de desenvolvimento do ser humano. O estudo objetivou avaliar o desenvolvimento neuromotor de crianÃas com idade de 2m15d a 12m15d. Estudo descritivo-exploratÃrio, transversal, com enfoque analÃtico, realizado em Centro de SaÃde da FamÃlia nos municÃpios de Fortaleza e Sobral, CearÃ, Brasil. A amostra foi composta por 330 crianÃas e seus respectivos pais/responsÃveis, 165 em cada municÃpio referido. A coleta de dados ocorreu de marÃo a junho/2012, utilizando Harris Infant Neuromotor Test (HINT) versÃo brasileira e Instrumento de VigilÃncia do Desenvolvimento do MinistÃrio da SaÃde (Caderneta de SaÃde da CrianÃa), formulÃrio contendo dados sociodemogrÃficos dos pais/cuidadores. A coleta de dados se deu apÃs aprovaÃÃo pelo Comità de Ãtica em pesquisa da Universidade Federal do CearÃ. Os dados foram organizados no programa Excel e analisados no SPSS versÃo 18 e para todos os testes foi utilizado o Intervalo de ConfianÃa de 95% (p<0,05). Os resultados mostraram que 52 crianÃas de Fortaleza estavam na idade de 2m15d a 3m15d, e, em Sobral, 47 estavam na idade de 11m16d a 12m15d. De acordo com os dados, houve associaÃÃo estatÃstica significante entre o tipo de parto e os dois municÃpios (p=0,020) e o estado civil das mÃes de Fortaleza com os escores finais do HINT (p=0,035). Houve diferenÃa significativa do Instrumento de VigilÃncia do Desenvolvimento do MinistÃrio da SaÃde entre crianÃas nascidas a termo e prÃ-termo de Fortaleza (p=0,000) e Sobral (p=0,000) e da renda familiar em Sobral (p=0,022). NÃo houve diferenÃa estatisticamente significante entre os dois municÃpios ao se associar as variÃveis sociodemogrÃficas renda, tipo de chÃo, esgoto e coleta de lixo. Quanto aos questionamentos do HINT direcionado aos responsÃveis pelas crianÃas, em Fortaleza, 117 pais afirmaram sentir o bebà âsÃlido e firmeâ, 88 que a movimentaÃÃo da crianÃa era âexcelenteâ e 85 relataram que os filhos estavam âacima do padrÃo esperadoâ ao serem comparadas com outras da mesma idade. Em Sobral, 132 pais afirmaram sentir o filho âsÃlido e firmeâ, 92 que a movimentaÃÃo era âexcelenteâ e 87 que o filho estava âde acordo com a idadeâ. O resultado da avaliaÃÃo do desempenho neuromotor por meio do HINT mostrou que a maioria das crianÃas, 98 (59,3%) em Fortaleza, pontuou com escore normal e ao serem avaliadas com o Instrumento de VigilÃncia do Desenvolvimento do MinistÃrio da SaÃde (Caderneta de SaÃde da CrianÃa), 127 (77%) em Fortaleza e 144 (87,3%) em Sobral, foram classificadas com o desenvolvimento adequado. Entretanto, os dois instrumentos nÃo mostraram correlaÃÃo significativa entre si (K = -0,010). Apesar disso, os dois instrumentos pertinentes para uso com a clientela estudada, apresentando vantagens e desvantagens, exigindo que novas pesquisas sejam realizadas com amostras e delineamentos diferentes. / The evaluation of infant development is necessary to monitor and follow-up changes in childrenâs lives, seeking to identify their own characteristics and relate them to the respective human development stages. This study aims at evaluating motor development in children aged 2m15d to 12m15d. It is a descriptive-exploratory transversal study with an analytic approached carried out in Family Health Centers in the municipalities of Fortaleza and Sobral, CearÃ, Brazil. The sample is composed of 330 children and their respective parents/caregivers, 165 from each referred municipality. Data collection took place from March to June 2012 using the Harris Infant Neuromotor Test (HINT) Brazilian version and the Ministry of Health Development Control Protocol, a form that includes socio-demographic data on parents/caregivers. Data was collected after approval granted by the Cearà Federal University Research Ethics Committee. Data was organized in Excel charts and analyzed through the SPSS version 18, and a Confidence Interval of 95% (p<0.05) was applied to all tests. Results showed that 52 Fortaleza children were aged 2m15d to 3m15d whereas in Sobral, 47 were between 11m16d and 12m15d. According to data, there was a significant statistical correlation between the baby delivery method and the two municipalities (p=0.020) and the marital status of Fortaleza mothers with the HINT final scores (p=0.035). There was also a remarkable difference in the Ministry of Health Development Protocol between term and preterm babies in Fortaleza (p=0.000) and Sobral (p=0.000) and the family income in Sobral (p=0.022). No statistically relevant differences were noticed between the two municipalities with regards to socio-demographic variables such as income, home floor type, basic sanitation and garbage collection. As for the HINT questionnaire directed to those responsible for looking after the children, in Fortaleza, 117 parents affirmed that they felt their baby was âstrong and firmâ, 88 of them stated that the childâs mobility was âexcellentâ and 85 reported that their children were âabove expected standardsâ when compared to others of the same age. In Sobral, 132 parents affirmed to feel their child to be âstrong and firmâ, 92 said their mobility was âexcellentâ and 87 said that the child was in ânormal development for his/her ageâ. The result of the neuromotor evaluation performance through the HINT program showed that most children, 98 (59.3%) in Fortaleza got a normal score and when evaluated through the Ministry of Health Control Protocol (Child Health Booklet) 127 (77%) in Fortaleza and 144 (87.3%) in Sobral were classified with adequate development. However, both instruments did not present a significant correlation between each other (K = -0.010). Despite this fact, both instruments proved to be useful for the target public, presenting advantages and disadvantages, which require further research with different samples and guidelines.

M.Com. (Business Management) / Introduction to the study Short-term incentives for managers generate interest among employees and executives in South Africa. In the health care industry competency-based performance systems for enhancing both individual and organisational performance have been growing in popularity in the last decade, as they are linked to the quality of diagnosis-specific services. Objectives of the study The objective of the study is to identify the nature of the main components of an appropriate short-term incentive scheme for private hospital managers. Are these schemes in place? If so, how do they work? The study seeks to delve into the experiences of hospital managers regarding their awareness of short-term incentive strategies by researching their views, attitudes and feelings regarding short-term incentives. Literature review The review of the literature indicates that the health care industry faces pressure to balance the quality of health care, on the one hand, with the escalating costs of health care and efforts to motivate hospital managers, on the other. Done correct ly short - term incent ive schemes are a powerful mot ivat ion tool if the intr insic and ext rinsic mot ivators are balanced adequately especially in a hospital set t ing where incor rect implementat ion can lead to unintended consequences. Research methodology The study utilises a qualitative strategy to provide an in-depth description of hospital managers‟ perceptions, understanding, and experiences of short-term incentives. The participatory approach reduces mistrust between subjects and researchers. Main findings The study found that the hospital managers are sharply aware and have a well developed understanding of the short-term incentives practiced in the private hospital sector. Short-term incentives may not be the major motivator but they are critical in ensuring that hospital managers stay motivated. Conclusion Providing a proper balance between intrinsic and extrinsic motivators is crucial in designing a framework that will keep hospital managers motivated and performing their work better.

Title: Extensibility Framework for a Generic Benchmarking Environment Type: Master thesis Author: Tadeáš Palusga Department: Department of Distributed and Dependable Systems Faculty of Mathematics and Physics Charles University Supervisor: RNDr. Andrej Podzimek, Ph.D. Department of Distributed and Dependable Systems Faculty of Mathematics and Physics Charles University Abstract: In 2004, at Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, a project called BEEN (Benchmarking Environment) was introduced. The original aim of this project was to create a highly configurable and modular environment for middleware applications benchmarking. This project was successfully defended in 2007. In 2011, another group of students introduced a successor of this project called WillBEEN. Finally, in 2013 a project entitled EverBEEN, which was a complete reimplementation of the WillBEEN project, was successfully defended. The goal of the EverBEEN project was to bring newer technologies, asynchronous communication and stability improvements into the BEEN project family and resulted in a reimplementation from scratch. Despite all the effort, project EverBEEN remained tightly coupled with underlying libraries and technologies, contained a lot of generated code hard to maintain nor extend and last but not least the...

The ability of an explosive to break rock is influenced considerably by the extent of confinement in the blasthole and it is believed that confinement is improved by the use of stemming. The aim of this paper is to present the first and second stages of results in developing a stemming performance testing and evaluation facility for small diameter boreholes. The results showed that different stemming products have differences in terms of their functionality, which can have a major impact on the efficiency of rock breaking. Two test procedures were used, one through the exclusive use of compressed air and the second using a purpose built high pressure test rig with small quantities of explosives. Both tests were used to identify and evaluate the ability of various stemming products to resist the escape of explosive gas through the collar of a blasthole. Extensive research was conducted to determine the types of stemming products most commonly used in South African underground hard rock mines, and the differences in design between the various products are discussed. The first stage of tests using compressed air only did not prove adequate to predict with certainty the pressure behaviour in the borehole of a particular product under high pressure conditions. The purpose built high pressure test rig did not prove to be a very effective tool to test stemming products under high pressure conditions. The test rig only incorporated the effect of gas pressure on the stemming product and in doing so omitted to take the effect of the shock wave into account. This study proved that to only take the gas pressure generated in the blasthole into account in not sufficient to effectively test stemming product design. A more comprehensive study should include the effect of gas pressure in the borehole, shock waves generated by the explosive and also the coefficient of friction of both the surface of the stemming product as well as the inside of the blasthole. / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Mining Engineering / unrestricted

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / The core objectives of the study are: i)to choose an appropriate methodology to evaluate the performance of public enterprises, such as the sugar mills of Bangladesh; ii) to empirically measure the performance of these mills; iii) to build a model to explain the variation in the performance of these enterprises; iv) to measure managerial performance thereform, adjustment having been made for variables beyond the control of the manager; and v) to recommend measures to improve the performance of the sugar mills. / 2031-01-01