The overall aim of this thesis is to investigate the effects of coherence in the corporate branding process. Specifically, this thesis defines and develops the concept of corporate brand coherency (CBC) using four antecedents and four dimensions, and investigates the effects of incongruence based on the advertising antecedent by manipulating ad-brand congruence. Using the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM), the research tests whether two-sided messages aid the resolution of incongruence following central route processing and whether greater number of arguments could act as a peripheral cue. Accordingly, a conceptual model was developed to test the effects of ad-brand congruence, message sidedness and argument quantity on corporate credibility, attention and elaboration, attitude towards the ad and attitude towards the corporate brand. To empirically test this model an online experiment (using a 3x2x2 between-subjects factorial design) was conducted, where subjects were exposed to a modified print advertisement for a grocery store. A total of 528 responses were collected from New Zealand Internet users. Two- and three-way ANCOVAs as well as path analysis was used to analyse the hypothesised relationships. The results indicate support for CBC, as it was found that congruence led to positive evaluations and higher corporate credibility. Two-sided messages were not found to be effective in reducing the negative effect of incongruence. Instead, two-sided messages led to less favourable evaluations of incongruence. Regardless of the incongruence, the results show that two-sided messages did not lead to positive evaluations, while an increased number of arguments did lead to more favourable attitudes. Overall, the findings show the ELM is not applicable to explain consumers’ responses to incongruence, as incongruence was not found to affect message processing. Additionally, there was no support that message sidedness and argument quantity, respectively, acted as central and peripheral cues. Furthermore, findings indicate that incongruity in advertising can lead to positive evaluations when consumers have a negative prior brand attitude. The theoretical and managerial implications as well as directions for future research based on these findings are discussed.

During this project three distinct methods to improve the data processing of Controlled Source Audio Magnetotellurics (CSAMT) data are implemented and their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. The methods in question are: Detrending the time series in the time domain, instead of detrending in the frequencydomain. Implementation of a coherency test to pinpoint data segments of low quality andremove these data from the calculations. Implementing a method to detect and remove transients from the time series toreduce background noise in the frequency spectra. Both the detrending in time domain and the transient removal shows potential in improvingdata quality even if the improvements are small(both in the (1-10% range). Due totechnical limitations no coherency test was implemented. Overall the processes discussedin the report did improve the data quality and may serve as groundwork for further improvementsto come. / Projektet behandlar tre stycken metoder för att förbättra signalkvaliten hos Controlled Source Audio Magnetotellurics (CSAMT) data, dessa implementeras och deras för- och nackdelar diskuteras. Metoderna som hanteras är: Avlägsnandet av trender från tidsserier i tidsdomänen istället för i frekvensdomänen. Implementationen av ett koherenstest för att identifiera ”dåliga” datasegment ochavlägsna dessa från vidare beräkningar. Implementationen av en metod för att både hitta och avlägsna transienter (dataspikar) från tidsserien för att minska bakgrundsbruset i frekvensspektrat. Både avlägsnandet av trender samt transienter visar positiv inverkan på datakvaliteten,även om skillnaderna är relativt små (båda på ungefär 1-10%). På grund av begränsningarfrån mätdatan kunde inget meningsfullt koherenstest utformas. Överlag har processernasom diskuteras i rapporten förbättrat datakvaliten och kan ses som ett grundarbete förfortsatta förbättringar inom området.

Neste trabalho, estudou-se a sincronização de uma classe de sistemas dinâmicos não-lineares acoplados. Do ponto de vista teórico, apresentam-se resultados que fornecem condições suficientes sobre o campo vetorial e estimativas dos parâmetros de acoplamentos que garantem sincronização de um conjunto de soluções de uma classe de sistemas não-lineares acoplados. Diferentemente da grande maioria dos resultados existentes na literatura de sincronização de sistemas não-lineares acoplados, os resultados propostos nesta tese podem ser aplicados para demonstrar sincronização em sistemas que não possuem atratores globais, incluindo casos instáveis, onde as soluções são não-limitadas. Quando o sistema não possui atrator global, foi utilizado um resultado, também proposto nesta tese, que fornece estimativas uniformes de atratores, para estimar conjuntos positivamente invariantes contidos na região de sincronização do sistema. Os resultados teóricos propostos foram empregados para demonstrar sincronização em um sistema formado por dois pêndulos acoplados e também por dois sistemas de Duffing acoplados. Do ponto de vista aplicado, estuda-se o problema de coerência de geradores em sistemas elétricos de potência. Valendo-se dos resultados teóricos desta tese, um índice foi proposto para detectar e identificar geradores fracamente coerentes, os chamados clusters. A metodologia de análise de coerência proposta nesta tese não requer grande esforço computacional e poderia ser utilizada em aplicações em tempo real. Os resultados mostraram que a análise deste índice fornece, a priori, sem a necessidade de simulações numéricas, informações importantes sobre a presença de acoplamento forte entre as máquinas, a localização dos pontos de equilíbrio instáveis de controle, assim como a existência de modos de instabilidade combinados. / Synchronization of a class of coupled non-linear systems is studied in this work. From the theoretical point of view, we present synchronization results that provide sufficient conditions on the vector field and estimates of the coupling parameters that guarantee synchronization. Differently from the existing approaches in the nonlinear systems literature, our results can be applied to demonstrate synchronization in systems that do not have global attractors, including even unstable cases, where the solutions are unbounded. When the system does not globally synchronize, a result that provides uniform estimates of attractors is used to present an estimate of a positively invariant set contained in the synchronization region. The theoretical results are applied to demonstrate synchronization between two nonlinear pendulums and two coupled Duffing\'s systems. From the applied point of view, we study the problem of coherency between generators in electrical power systems. Using the theoretical results of this thesis, an index is proposed to detect and identify groups of weakly-coherent generators, the so called clusters. The proposed coherency analysis methodology proposed in this text does not require a great computational effort and is suitable for online applications. Our results have shown that this index analysis provides important information about the strong coupling between the generators, the location of the controlling unstable equilibrium points and the existence of combined unstable modes.

Neste trabalho, estudou-se a sincronização de uma classe de sistemas dinâmicos não-lineares acoplados. Do ponto de vista teórico, apresentam-se resultados que fornecem condições suficientes sobre o campo vetorial e estimativas dos parâmetros de acoplamentos que garantem sincronização de um conjunto de soluções de uma classe de sistemas não-lineares acoplados. Diferentemente da grande maioria dos resultados existentes na literatura de sincronização de sistemas não-lineares acoplados, os resultados propostos nesta tese podem ser aplicados para demonstrar sincronização em sistemas que não possuem atratores globais, incluindo casos instáveis, onde as soluções são não-limitadas. Quando o sistema não possui atrator global, foi utilizado um resultado, também proposto nesta tese, que fornece estimativas uniformes de atratores, para estimar conjuntos positivamente invariantes contidos na região de sincronização do sistema. Os resultados teóricos propostos foram empregados para demonstrar sincronização em um sistema formado por dois pêndulos acoplados e também por dois sistemas de Duffing acoplados. Do ponto de vista aplicado, estuda-se o problema de coerência de geradores em sistemas elétricos de potência. Valendo-se dos resultados teóricos desta tese, um índice foi proposto para detectar e identificar geradores fracamente coerentes, os chamados clusters. A metodologia de análise de coerência proposta nesta tese não requer grande esforço computacional e poderia ser utilizada em aplicações em tempo real. Os resultados mostraram que a análise deste índice fornece, a priori, sem a necessidade de simulações numéricas, informações importantes sobre a presença de acoplamento forte entre as máquinas, a localização dos pontos de equilíbrio instáveis de controle, assim como a existência de modos de instabilidade combinados. / Synchronization of a class of coupled non-linear systems is studied in this work. From the theoretical point of view, we present synchronization results that provide sufficient conditions on the vector field and estimates of the coupling parameters that guarantee synchronization. Differently from the existing approaches in the nonlinear systems literature, our results can be applied to demonstrate synchronization in systems that do not have global attractors, including even unstable cases, where the solutions are unbounded. When the system does not globally synchronize, a result that provides uniform estimates of attractors is used to present an estimate of a positively invariant set contained in the synchronization region. The theoretical results are applied to demonstrate synchronization between two nonlinear pendulums and two coupled Duffing\'s systems. From the applied point of view, we study the problem of coherency between generators in electrical power systems. Using the theoretical results of this thesis, an index is proposed to detect and identify groups of weakly-coherent generators, the so called clusters. The proposed coherency analysis methodology proposed in this text does not require a great computational effort and is suitable for online applications. Our results have shown that this index analysis provides important information about the strong coupling between the generators, the location of the controlling unstable equilibrium points and the existence of combined unstable modes.

Background: It is important to have a coherent brand identity and brand image, as that facilitate the communication process for the brand. It specifically becomes an issue when consumers do not understand what the brand stands for.Purpose: The purpose of this thesis was to investigate to what extent the brand image of Fjällräven among Swedish consumers is coherent with its brand identity.Method: To fulfil the purpose of this study, the researcher applied a mixed method, indicating that both quantitative and qualitative methods were used. The collection of qualitative data investigating brand identity was retrieved from an interview, along with complementary information from Fjällräven’s official brand book. The quantitative data investigating brand image, was retrieved from Swedish consumers that were aware of the brand. In order to investigate the concepts of brand identity and brand image, an abductive research approach was used, generating a broad overview of the topic. To justify an appropriate target population, a non-probability judgmental sampling technique was used.Conclusion: By combining the results from brand identity along with brand image, the researchers have found that the two concepts are coherent to a medium-strong level. This means that consumers and the company share the same thought about Fjällräven as a brand.

A numerical study aimed at probabilistically assessing the coastal hazard posed by tsunamis induced by one-dimensional submarine rigid landslides that experience translational failure is presented. The numerical model here utilized is the finite-difference recreation of a linear, fully dispersive mild-slope equation model for wave generation and propagation. This recreated model has the capability to simulate submarine landslides that detach into multiple rigid pieces as failure occurs. An ad-hoc formulation describing the combined space-time coherency of the landslide is presented. Monte Carlo simulations are employed, with an emphasis on the shoreward-traveling waves, to construct probability of exceedance curves for the maximum dimensionless wave height from which wave statistics can be extracted. As inputs to the model, eight dimensionless parameters are specified both deterministically in the form of parameter spaces and probabilistically with normal distributions. Based on a sensitivity analysis, the results of this study indicate that submarine landslides with large width to thickness ratios and coherent failure behavior are most effective in generating tsunamis. Failures modes involving numerous slide pieces that fail in a very compact fashion, however, were observed to induce bigger waves than more coherent landslides. Rapid weakening in tsunami generation potential for some of the parameter combinations suggests that the hazard posed by submarine landslide tsunamis is strongly dependent on source features and local conditions and is only of concern for landslides of substantial dimensions.

A two-part paleolimnological study was conducted to: i) understand the important factors that are related to the present-day distribution of scaled-chrysophytes; ii) investigate changes in the scaled-chrysophyte assemblages in the Experimental Lakes Area northwestern Ontario, in response to recent climate warming. Scaled-chrysophyte assemblages were analyzed in the modern sediments of 40 ELA lakes to determine their relationship to measured environmental variables. The sediment record from 210Pb dated cores from six ELA lakes were analyzed at a sub-decadal resolution to evaluate if chrysophytes were changing in a consistent fashion and if these changes could be accounted for by measured climatic factors. Ordination analysis of the modern chrysophyte flora was significantly related to pH, lake depth, and the degree of thermal stratification, as well as water temperature. Mallomonas punctifera ‘small’ and Mallomonas acaroides were indicators of warm surface-waters. High-resolution analysis of six ELA lakes revealed pronounced shifts in the chrysophyte assemblages over the last ca. 150 years. The most notable shift in the chrysophyte assemblage was characterized by an overall shift towards higher relative abundances of colonial taxa. In several lakes increases in unicellular warm-water taxa were also observed. Breakpoint Analysis identified significant changes in the chrysophyte assemblages beginning in the late-1800s to mid-1900s in most lakes. An interclass correlation coefficient (ri) was used to assess the temporal coherency of the chrysophyte assemblages over the past ca. 100 years. All lakes displayed a similar directional change which was significantly coherent (p<0.05). A Brien’s Test identified sub-sets of lakes that were temporally coherent and homogenous. The high coherency of two groups, (Group A, grand mean=0.89, p-value=5.3x10-15; Group B, grand mean=0.38, p-value=0.038), suggests the dominance in extrinsic factors in governing the lake responses. The average PCA axis-1 scores of Group A (r-value=0.62, p=0.03) and Group B (r-value=0.60, p=0.038) were significantly correlated to regional mean annual temperature. Collectively, the results of this study suggest that changes observed in the scaled-chrysophyte assemblages in the ELA region are consistent with recent climate warming. / Thesis (Master, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2011-09-29 16:42:06.753

Η πρόσφατη εξάπλωση που είδε το μοντέλο της παράλληλης επεξεργασίας στους μικροεπεξεργαστές γενικής χρήσης με την εισαγωγή περισσότερων από έναν πυρήνες εντός του ολοκληρωμένου κυκλώματος έφερε νέες απαιτήσεις στις μεθόδους προσομοίωσης που παραδοσιακά χρησιμοποιήθηκαν για την εξερεύνηση νέων αρχιτεκτονικών. Στην εργασία αυτή προτείνεται ένα πλαίσιο και ένα προγραμματιστικό μοντέλο που κάνει χρήση της αρχιτεκτονικής υψηλού βαθμού παραλληλίας CUDA για να επιτύχει επιτάχυνση στην αρχιτεκτονική προσομοίωση πρωτοκόλλων συνοχής κρυφής μνήμης. / The recent adoption of the parallel computing model in general-use microprocessors with the inclusion of more than one cores in the IC has raised new demands for the simulation methodologies that have been traditionally used. In this work, a framework and a programming model are proposed that make use of the highly parallel CUDA platform to accelerate architectural simulation of cache coherency protocols.

The aim of this work was to develop the method for classification of ECG beats into two classes, namely ischemic and non-ischemic beats. Heart beats (P-QRS-T cycles) selected from animals orthogonal ECGs were preprocessed and used as the input signals. Spectral features vectors (values of cross spectral coherency), principal component and HRV parameters were derived from the beats. The beats were classified using feedforward multilayer neural network designed in Matlab. Classification performance reached the value approx. from 87,2 to 100%. Presented results can be suitable in future studies aimed at automatic classification of ECG.

A mobile user may voluntarily disconnect itself from the web server to save battery life and also to avoid the high communication price. To allow web pages to be updated while the mobile user is disconnected from the web server, updates can be staged in the mobile unit and propagated back to the web server upon reconnection. In this thesis, we investigate methods for supporting disconnected write operations and develop a performance model which helps identify the optimal length of the disconnection period under which the cost of update propagation is minimized. We validate the analytic model with simulation in the thesis. We also show how the result can be applied to real-time web applications with a deadline requirement to propagate updates of web pages. The analysis result is particularly applicable to web applications which allow wireless mobile users to modify web contents while on the go. The algorithms that we have developed can be generally applied to other data items such as files and databases. / Master of Science