Corneal diseases are one of the major causes of visual impairment and blindness worldwide. Used for diagnoses, a laser confocal microscope provides a sequence of images, at incremental depths, of the various corneal layers and structures. From these, ophthalmologists can extract clinical information on the state of health of a patient’s cornea. However, many factors impede ophthalmologists in forming diagnoses starting with the large number and variable quality of the individual images (blurring, non-uniform illumination within images, variable illumination between images and noise), and there are also difficulties posed for automatic processing caused by eye movements in both lateral and axial directions during the scanning process. Aiding ophthalmologists working with long sequences of corneal image requires the development of new algorithms which enhance, correctly order and register the corneal images within a sequence. The novel algorithms devised for this purpose and presented in this thesis are divided into four main categories. The first is enhancement to reduce the problems within individual images. The second is automatic image classification to identify which part of the cornea each image belongs to, when they may not be in the correct sequence. The third is automatic reordering of the images to place the images in the right sequence. The fourth is automatic registration of the images with each other. A flexible application called CORNEASYS has been developed and implemented using MATLAB and the C language to provide and run all the algorithms and methods presented in this thesis. CORNEASYS offers users a collection of all the proposed approaches and algorithms in this thesis in one platform package. CORNEASYS also provides a facility to help the research team and Ophthalmologists, who are in discussions to determine future system requirements which meet clinicians’ needs. / The data and image files accompanying this thesis are not available online.

The object is the communicative sphere of Russian entrepreneurs. The subject is the differences in the formation of communication tools among entrepreneurs and hiring specialists. The dissertation consists of an introduction, two chapters, a conclusion and a list of references, including 117 titles. The total amount of work is 81 pages. The introduction reveals the relevance of the research topic, reflects the problems, sets goals and objectives, defines the object and subject of the dissertation, indicates the methods and techniques used by the author in the study. The author also reflects the practical significance and scientific novelty of the work. In the first chapter, the history of the study of the psychology of an entrepreneur is considered, the author identifies a number of key techniques that allow us to assess the psychological portrait of an entrepreneur. Also, the chapter defines the main features of the Russian entrepreneur, highlighting a number of approaches to understanding the essence of communication, the author considers the communicative sphere, indicates its types and features. The chapter defines the communicative features of entrepreneurs. In the second chapter, a study of the communicative skills of an entrepreneur is conducted on the basis of a number of techniques. The study revealed significant differences in the communication skills and organizational abilities of entrepreneurs and self-employed professionals. The author has confirmed the stated hypotheses in practice. In conclusion, all the main conclusions of the theoretical and empirical chapters are summarized, their practical significance is substantiated, the author describes possible prospects for applying the work in different fields, and identifies further opportunities for studying this topic. / Объект – коммуникативная сфера российских предпринимателей. Предмет – различия в сформированности коммуникативных средств у предпринимателей и специалистов в найме. Диссертация состоит из введения, двух глав, заключения и списка использованной литературы, включающего 117 наименований. Общий объём работы составляет 81 страницу. Во введении раскрывается актуальность темы исследования, отражается проблематика, поставлены цели и задачи, определены объект и предмет диссертации, указаны методы и методики, используемые автором в исследовании. Также, автором отражены практическая значимость и научная новизна работы. В первой главе рассмотрена история исследования психологии предпринимателя, автором выделен ряд ключевых методик, которые позволяют дать оценку психологическому портрету предпринимателя. Также, в главе определены основные черты российского предпринимателя Выделяя ряд подходов к пониманию сущности коммуникации, автором рассмотрена коммуникативная сфера, указаны её виды и особенности. В главе определены коммуникативные особенности предпринимателей. Во второй главе проведено исследование коммуникативных умений предпринимателя на основе ряда методик. В исследовании выявлены значимые различия в коммуникативных навыках и организаторских способностях предпринимателей и специалистов, работающих по найму. Автором на практике подтверждены заявленные гипотезы. В заключении в обобщённом виде представлены все основные выводы теоретической и эмпирической глав, обоснована практическая значимость, автором описаны возможные перспективы применения работы в разных сферах, определены дальнейшие возможности для изучения данной темы.

In the modern world, people are constantly faced with stressful situations that can negatively affect physical and mental health. Stress is becoming an integral part of life, and its study becomes especially important. Stress can manifest itself in various forms: from small everyday problems to serious life crises. Many physiological and biochemical reactions to difficult life situations are common, but a variety of psychological reactions emerge during the threat assessment phase. Coping intelligence is one of those abilities that helps to explain individual differences in psychological and physiological reactions in response to threat. It should be considered as a biopsychosocial phenomenon. The purpose of the study is to analyze the manifestations of coping intelligence in men and women. The object of the study is coping intelligence. The subject of the study - manifestations of coping intelligence. The work uses the method of theoretical analysis of literature, medical intervention (blood sampling), psychological survey-diagnostic methods, methods of statistical and mathematical processing of results. The work contains two chapters. The first chapter is devoted to theoretical analysis of literature on the topic of peculiarities of coping intelligence in men and women. The second chapter is devoted to the empirical study of the peculiarities of coping intelligence in men and women. The empirical study was conducted individually in a psychodiagnostic laboratory. Respondents were offered to undergo several types of loads (physical, intellectual, communicative), before and after loads respondents gave blood, where the level of cortisol was recorded. The total number of respondents was 38 (19 men, 19 women), age ranged from 23 to 48 years (mean = 36.03 ± 6.82). / В современном мире человек постоянно сталкивается со стрессовыми ситуациями, которые могут негативно влиять на его физическое и психическое здоровье. Стресс становится неотъемлемой частью жизни, и его изучение приобретает особую актуальность. Стресс может проявляться в различных формах: от небольших повседневных проблем до серьёзных жизненных кризисов. Многие физиологические и биохимические реакции на трудные жизненные ситуации бывают общими, однако на этапе оценки уровня угрозы возникает разнообразие психологических реакций. Совладающий интеллект - одна из тех способностей, которая позволяет объяснить индивидуальные различия психологических и физиологических реакций в ответ на угрозу. Его стоит рассматривать как биопсихосоциальный феномен. Цель исследования – проанализировать проявления совладающего интеллекта у мужчин и женщин. Объект исследования – совладающий интеллект. Предмет исследования – проявления совладающего интеллекта. В работе использованы метод теоретического анализа литературы, произведено медицинское вмешательство (забор крови), психологические опросно-диагностические методы, методы статистической и математической обработки результатов. Работа содержит две главы. Первая глава посвящена теоретическому анализу литературы по теме особенностей совладающего интеллекта у мужчин и женщин. Вторая глава посвящена эмпирическому исследованию особенностей совладающего интеллекта у мужчин и женщин. Эмпирическое исследование проводилось индивидуально в психодиагностической лаборатории. Респондентам предлагалось пройти несколько видов нагрузок (физическая, интеллектуальная, коммуникативная), до и после нагрузок респонденты сдавали кровь, где фиксировался уровень кортизола. Общее число респондентов – 38 (из них – 19 мужчин, 19 женщин), возраст от 23 до 48 лет (mean = 36,03 ± 6,82).

Dizertační práce se zabývá rozpoznáním emočního stavu mluvčích z řečového signálu. Práce je rozdělena do dvou hlavních častí, první část popisuju navržené metody pro rozpoznání emočního stavu z hraných databází. V rámci této části jsou představeny výsledky rozpoznání použitím dvou různých databází s různými jazyky. Hlavními přínosy této části je detailní analýza rozsáhlé škály různých příznaků získaných z řečového signálu, návrh nových klasifikačních architektur jako je například „emoční párování“ a návrh nové metody pro mapování diskrétních emočních stavů do dvou dimenzionálního prostoru. Druhá část se zabývá rozpoznáním emočních stavů z databáze spontánní řeči, která byla získána ze záznamů hovorů z reálných call center. Poznatky z analýzy a návrhu metod rozpoznání z hrané řeči byly využity pro návrh nového systému pro rozpoznání sedmi spontánních emočních stavů. Jádrem navrženého přístupu je komplexní klasifikační architektura založena na fúzi různých systémů. Práce se dále zabývá vlivem emočního stavu mluvčího na úspěšnosti rozpoznání pohlaví a návrhem systému pro automatickou detekci úspěšných hovorů v call centrech na základě analýzy parametrů dialogu mezi účastníky telefonních hovorů.

"Liszt's music, unlike that of Mozart, projects the man. With rare immediacy, it gives away the character of the composer. ... " (Brendel 1986, 3) The purpose of this study is to examine Liszt's song genre from an historical and stylistic standpoint as a reflection of Liszt's ongoing personality and style development. this end the following will be presented: - an overview of Liszt's life circumstances which reflect his personality development - a chronological classification ofLiszt's song genre - the songs viewed historically as a reflection of the man - characteristics in the revisions of the songs which reveal Liszt's ongoing developing style - a study of the development ofLiszt's harmonic and tonal language as agents of colour and textual imagery. Liszt's song oeuvre will be studied in relation to the man himself in order to revtal his motives, his values, the experiences that moved him, and the ways in which he reproduced them in music. / Department of Musicology / M.Mus.

A wide variety of aspects of Machaka's poetry was treated. His poetry which is meaningful when viewed against his traditional culture brings inspiration and a formal mode of literary expression. Death was never accepted by the Tlokwa as an end to life. Machaka has succeeded in blending the ancestral worship with Christian faith. He has used euphemism to modify pain. He makes use of imagery to execute cruelty and bluntness of death. Machaka's protest poetry echoes the same protest of those of other protesters. These refer to the injustice the Blacks experienced from the white regime prior to independence. From his love poems, it is noticed that Machaka is a great lover. When he is in love, he becomes a slave. Machaka uses traditional and modem praise poetry techniques. This made him manage to produce poetry which made a definite impact on Northern Sotho literature and contributed to its depth / African Languages / M.A. (African languages)

本論文探討2007年中國大陸實施以IFRS為基礎的中國會計準則後，是否因為會計準則要求更多資訊的公開，影響新上市公司股票發行折價的幅度。由於中國大陸資本市場有獨特的機制環境，本研究更進一步探討，中國大陸新上市公司在中國會計準則實施後，新上市公司股票發行折價的幅度，是否會因為各省份機制環境背景有不同的影響。實證結果發現，實施中國會計準則後，新股折價的幅度的確顯著降低，新股上市的蜜月期也會因為準則實施後，資訊不對稱的情形降低，有明顯的縮減。亦發現若中國大陸地方機制環境較進步且發達，該地區市場化的程度愈高，新股折價的幅度會也會因資訊更加公開而降低。 / In 2007, China passed the IFRS-based Chinese Accounting Standards (therefore IFRS-based CAS) to converge with IFRS. This paper examines the effect of implementation of IFRS-based CAS on IPO uncerpricing. In addition, there are different institutional features of transition economy from other countries. This paper also examines the effect of the interaction between implementation of IFRS-based CAS and institutional features of transition economy on IPO uncerpricing. The empirical results show that post-2005 IPOs in China are significantly less underpriced, and IPO honeymoon periods have similar outcomes. Furthermore, the results also show that the magnitude of underpricing will be decreased in those provinces with higher degrees of marketization.

本論文之研究目的係驗證公允價值資訊是否會影響聯合貸款的借款條件。實證結果顯示公司採用更多公允價值，尤其是第1等級輸入值，可在聯合貸款市場中可取得較有利的聯合貸款條件，例如可取得更低的利率及更高額的貸款金額。然而實證結果也顯示，若公司採用更多公允價值，尤其是第1等級輸入值，會有更高的機會被債權人要求提供債務擔保。由此可知，公司採用更多公允價值可有助於取得更有利的聯合貸款借款條件，同時第1等級輸入值可獲得更顯著的結果。

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aims of this thesis are to identify all possible modes of operaton for a multi-stage axial flow compressor; then to characterise the performance, attempt to numerically model operation, and determine the main flow field features for each mode. Four quadrant axial flow compressor operation occurs when the direction of flow through the compressor or the sign of the pressure difference across the compressor reverses, or any combination of these. Depending on the direction of rotation of the compressor, six modes of operation are possible in the four quadrants of the performance map. The rotor rotates in the design direction for three modes, and in the opposite direction for the other three. The stationary-rotor pressure characteristic is S-shaped and passes through the second and fourth quadrants. A three-stage axial flow compressor operating in the incompressible flow regime was used for the experimental investigation. Flow through the compressor was reversed or augmented by means of an auxiliary axial flow fan. Compressor performance was measured by means of static pressure tappings, a turbine anemometer calibrated to measure forward and reversed volumetric flow and a load cell for torque measurement. The inter-blade row flow fields were measured with pneumatic probes and 50 μm cylindrical hot film probes. Three dimensional single blade-passage Navier-Stokes simulations were performed using the Numeca FineTurbo package. Steady state simulations used a mixing plane approach. A nonlinear harmonic approximation was used for time-unsteady simulations. Unstalled first quadrant operation was unremarkable, and good agreement was obtained between experimental and numerical data. A single stall cell was detected experimentally during stalled operation, which was not modelled numerically. In the fourth quadrant for positive rotation, (windmilling), the compressor acts as an inefficient turbine. Flow separates from the pressure surface of the blade, rendering the steady-state mixing plane approach unsuitable. The performance characteristic curves for second quadrant for positive rotation, are discontinuous with those of first quadrant operation. The temperature rise in the working fluid is significantly higher than at design point. Periodic flow structures occurring across two blade passages were detected at all flow coefficients investigated, invalidating numerical modelling assumptions. Better agreement was obtained between experimental and numerical data from a case found in literature. If the compressor operates as a compressor in reverse (third quadrant operation), significant separation occurs on the pressure surface of all blades, and flow conditions resemble severe first quadrant stall. Separation becomes less severe at larger flow rates, allowing numerical simulation, though this is sensitive to the initial flow field. In the the part of the second quadrant, where the compressor rotates in reverse, it operates as a turbine. The blade angles and the direction of curvature match the flow angles and turning well, leading to high turbine efficiencies. Numerical simulations yielded good agreement with measured results, but were again sensitive to the initial flow field. Fourth quadrant operation with negative rotation occurs when flow is forced through the compressor in the design direction. Large separation bubbles are attached to the pressure surfaces of rotor and stator blades, so virtually all throughflow occurs near the hub and casing / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doelwitte van hierdie tesis is om al die moontlike werkmodusse vir ’n bestaande multi-stadium aksiaalvloei kompressor uit te ken; om dan die gedrag te gekarakteriseer, ’n poging aan te wend om die werking numeries te modelleer, en die belangrikste vloeiveldkenmerke vir elke modus te bepaal. Vier-kwadrant aksiaalvloei kompressor werking vind plaas as die rigting van die vloei deur die kompressor, of die teken van die drukverskil oor die kompressor omkeer, of enige kombinasie daarvan. Afhangende van die rigting van rotasie van die kompressor is ses operasionele modusse moontlik in die vier kwadrante van die kompressorkaart. Die rotor draai in die ontwerprigting vir drie van die modes, en in die teenoorgestelde rigting vir die ander drie. Die stilstaande-rotor drukkarakteristiek is S-vormig gaan deur die tweede en vierde kwadrante. ’n Drie-stadium onsamedrukbare vloei aksiaalvloei kompressor is vir die eksperimentele ondersoek gebruik. Vloei deur die kompressor is omgekeer of aangehelp deur middel van ’n aksiaalvloei hulpwaaier. Kompressor werking is gemeet deur middel van statiese druk meetpunte in die omhulsel, ’n turbine anemometer wat gekalibreer is om vorentoe en omgekeerde volumetriese vloei te meet, en ’n lassel vir wringmoment meting. Interlemryvloeivelde is opgemeet met pneumatiese sensors en 50-μm silindriese warm film sensors. Drie-dimensionele Navier-Stokes simulasies is uitgevoer vir ’n enkele lem van elke lemry, met behulp van die Numeca FineTurbo sagtewarepakket. ’n Mengvlakbenadering is gebruik vir bestendige toestand simulasies, terwyl ’n nie-linere harmoniese benadering gebruik is vir die tyd-afhanklike simulasies. Ongestaakte eerste kwadrant werking was alledaags, en goeie ooreenkoms is gevind tussen die eksperimentele en numeriese data. ’n Enkele staak-sel is eksperimenteel ontdek tydens gestaakte werking. Gestaakte werking is nie numeries gemodelleer nie. In die vierde kwadrant vir positiewe rotasie, (”windmeulwerking”), werk die kompressor as ’n ondoeltreffende turbine. Vloei-wegbrekinging op die lem drukoppervlaktes maak die bestendige toestand mengvlakbenadering ongeskik. In die kenlyne vir tweede kwadrant positiewe rotasie, is daar ’n diskontinu¨ıteit in die prestasie karakteristiekkrommes vir die eerste en tweede kwadrant werking. Die temperatuurstyging in die werk- vloeistof is beduidend ho¨er as as by die ontwerppunt. Periodiese vloeistrukture wat oor twee lemme plaasvind is gevind by alle vloei ko¨effisi¨ente wat ondersoek is, en dit maak die numeriese modellering aannames ongeldig. Beter ooreenkoms tussen die eksperimentele en numeriese data iss verkry met ’n geval wat uit die literatuur gevind is. Indien die kompressor werk as ’n kompressor in omgekeerde (derde kwadrant weking), vind beduidende wegbreking op die drukoppervlak van al die lemme plaas, wat lyk soos ernstige gestaakte eerste kwadrant werking. Die vloeiskeiding raak minder ernstig by ’n groter vloeitempo, wat numeriese nabootsing toelaat, maar die nabootsings is sensitief vir die aanvanklike vloeiveld. In die tweede kwadrant, by omgekeerde rotasie, werk die kompressor as ’n turbine. Die lemhoeke en die rigting van lemkromming stem ooreen met die vloeihoeke en verwringing, wat lei tot ho¨er turbine doeltreffendheid. Numeriese nabootsings stem goed ooreen met gemete resultate, maar is weereens sensitief vir die keuse van die aanvanklike vloeiveld. Vierde kwadrant werking met negatiewe rotasie vind plaas wanneer die lug gedwing word om deur die kompressor in die ontwerprigting te vloei. Groot skeidingborrels sit vas aan die drukoppervlaktes van alle lemme, sodat meeste deurvloei naby die naaf en die omhulsel plaas vind.

Space weather has become an international issue due to the catastrophic impact it can have on modern societies. Solar flares are one of the major solar activities that drive space weather and yet their occurrence is not fully understood. Research is required to yield a better understanding of flare occurrence and enable the development of an accurate flare prediction system, which can warn industries most at risk to take preventative measures to mitigate or avoid the effects of space weather. This thesis introduces novel technologies developed by combining advances in statistical physics, image processing, machine learning, and feature selection algorithms, with advances in solar physics in order to extract valuable knowledge from historical solar data, related to active regions and flares. The aim of this thesis is to achieve the followings: i) The design of a new measurement, inspired by the physical Ising model, to estimate the magnetic complexity in active regions using solar images and an investigation of this measurement in relation to flare occurrence. The proposed name of the measurement is the Ising Magnetic Complexity (IMC). ii) Determination of the flare prediction capability of active region properties generated by the new active region detection system SMART (Solar Monitor Active Region Tracking) to enable the design of a new flare prediction system. iii) Determination of the active region properties that are most related to flare occurrence in order to enhance understanding of the underlying physics behind flare occurrence. The achieved results can be summarised as follows: i) The new active region measurement (IMC) appears to be related to flare occurrence and it has a potential use in predicting flare occurrence and location. ii) Combining machine learning with SMART's active region properties has the potential to provide more accurate flare predictions than the current flare prediction systems i.e. ASAP (Automated Solar Activity Prediction). iii) Reduced set of 6 active region properties seems to be the most significant properties related to flare occurrence and they can achieve similar degree of flare prediction accuracy as the full 21 SMART active region properties. The developed technologies and the findings achieved in this thesis will work as a corner stone to enhance the accuracy of flare prediction; develop efficient flare prediction systems; and enhance our understanding of flare occurrence. The algorithms, implementation, results, and future work are explained in this thesis.