In this thesis we extensively experiment with two ART (adaptive resonance theory) architectures called Gaussian ARTMAP (GAM) and Distributed Gaussian ARTMAP (dGAM). Both of these classifiers have been successfully used in the past on a variety of applications. One of our contributions in this thesis is extensively experiments with the GAM and dGAM network parameters and appropriately identifying ranges for these parameters for which these architectures attain good performance (good classification performance and small network size). Furthermore, we have implemented novel modifications of these architectures, called semi-supervised GAM and dGAM architectures. Semi-supervision is a concept that has been used effectively before with the FAM and EAM architectures and in this thesis we are answering the question of whether semi-supervision has the same beneficial effect on the GAM architectures too. Finally, we compared the performance of GAM, dGAM, EAM, FAM and their semi-supervised versions on a number of datasets (simulated and real datasets). These experiments allowed us to draw appropriate conclusions regarding the comparative performance of these architectures.

Recent advancements in the speed and availability of the Internet have catapulted distance education into the forefront of possible economic education alternatives. Distance learning courses are taught exclusively over the Internet. Economics distance courses provide alternatives for economics students to traditional classroom instruction, and also invite new students to the discipline who may not have otherwise enrolled. An increase in the number of distance courses in the economics field has sparked a debate over the ability of distance courses to provide equivalent educational outcomes as traditional in-class courses. This study evaluates educational outcomes from a traditional section and two distance sections of introductory agricultural microeconomics courses, Economics of the Food and Fiber System (AAEC 1005), taught at Virginia Tech. The study compares student learning, attitudes and interests in economics, and perceptions of instructor effectiveness between traditionally taught students and those taught through distance education. Average exam scores, and common exam questions given to students in both course types, are the measures of student learning used in this study. Attitudes and interest are measured by student survey, and perceptions of instructor effectiveness are measured by student course evaluations. A variety of statistical tests are conducted comparing distance and traditional students in order to determine the influence of delivery method on educational outcomes. Results indicate that traditional students generally obtain higher grades on tests, and have a higher opinion of course instruction than distance students, suggesting that distance education is not an equivalent educational alternative to traditional classroom instruction. / Master of Science

Real time applications over IP network became widely used in different fields; social video conference, online educational lectures, industrial, military, and online robotic medical surgery. Online medical surgery over IP network has experienced rapid growth in the last few years primarily due to advances in technology (e.g., increased bandwidth; new cameras, monitors, and coder/decoders (CODECs)) and changes in the medical care environment (e.g., increased outpatient care, remote surgeries). The purpose of this study was to examine and analyze the impact of IP networks parameters; delay, jitter, throughput, and drop packet on the performance of real-time medical surgery videos sent across different IP networks; native IPv6, native IPv4, 6to4 and 6in4 tunneling transition mechanisms and compare the behavior of video packets over IP networks. The impact of each parameter over IP networks is examined by using different video codecs MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4. This study has been carried out with two main parts; theoretical and practical part, the theoretical part of this study focused on the calculations of various delays in IP networks such as transmission, processing, propagation, and queuing delays for video packet, while the practical part includes; examining of video codecs throughput over IP networks by using jperf tool and examining delay, jitter, and packet drops for different packet sizes by using IDT-G tool and how these parameters can affect quality of received video. The obtained theoretical and practical results were presented in different tables and plotted into different graphs to show the performance of real time video over IP networks. These results confirmed that video codecs MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4 were highly impacted by encapsulation and de-capsulation process except MPEG-4 codec, MPEG-4 was the least impacted by IPv4, IPv6, and IP transition mechanisms concerning throughput and wastage bandwidth. It also indicated that using IPv6-to-4 and IPv6-in-4 tunneling mechanisms caused more bandwidth wastage, high delay, jitter, and packet drop than IPv4 and IPv6.

This thesis focuses on comparing two Czech translations of Klaus Mann's novel Mephisto. The first translation was issued in 1937, the second translation in 1962 and later re-issued in 1984, 1986, 2000, 2004 a 2008. After an introduction summarizing the author's life and the novel's troubled fate after World War II, the focus shifts to the selected Czech translation and their background. The attention is paid to their respective translators and first publishing houses. Subsequently, the translations are subjected to a descriptive analysis. Inspired by Katharina Reiß, we include both extra- and intra-linguistic phenomena, also using categories first introduced by Czechoslovak translation scholars Jiří Levý and Anton Popovič. The approaches of both Mephisto translators are not only compared, but also contextualized within the translation methods framework and its development in Czechoslovakia, especially the so-called Otokar Fischer's school. After presenting a selection of translation scholars' views on ageing translations, we debate if the analyzed translations are obsolete or not. Lastly, we take into account possible other (extra-linguistic/pragmatic) reasons for the publishing disproportion between the selected translations. Key words: Klaus Mann, Mephisto, comparing translations, translation...

The aim of this thesis was to perform inter-company comparison by using different tools for a set of five construction companies. For comparison were selected five joint stock companies, which are in terms of market share, the largest. To the resulting comparison has been used inter-comparison methods, bankruptcy and credibility models and it was created credit rating companies AGR (Aspect Global Rating). Based on the chosen methodology, we compare the companies among themselves in terms of their economic situation.

This thesis deals with suite for accordion solo by authors of the Russian composition school and specific problems associated with their interpretation at music schools and conservatories. The main goal is to draw attention to the Czech, Slovak and Russian accordion music scene and to analyse chosen accordion suites of three Russian composers. Furthermore, suitability to involve these suites into the repertoires of pupils at elementary music schools and of conservatories students is considered. The general aim is to introduce accordion not only as a folk instrument, but also as a concert one.

My graduation theses are comparing the drama education at basic and art schools in different towns and regions. The first part is dealing with different approaches to drama education from the aspect of different authors. The second part is about comparing drama education at basic schools and art schools. A questioner that reveals different approaches at different schools for both children and teachers and is added.

The theme of this thesis is one of ways, which develops area of Business Intelligence in the last few years. This way are BI systems design on the principle of Cloud computing, also called BI SaaS. This is a cost available solution also suitable for small companies. This work is aimed to acquaint the reader with basic theoretical knowledge in the areas of Cloud computing, Business Intelligence and their connections. Wants to show risks of this technologies and compare between on-premise and cloud BI. In the next step want to offer a practical comparison of selected BI SaaS systems. Finally it aims to create forecast of possible future paths of development in Business Intelligence.

The thesis deals with aplication of data mining methods for the analysis of two Ni3Si supercells, one with a stable grain boundary and the second one with unstable grain boundary. DOS and COHP curves are examined using selected curve matching methods. The surroundings of the individual atoms are examined by the Voronoi diagram. This information was used to reveal the differences in binding between stable and unstable supercell.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / This study compares what we know through academic research about organizational leadership communication and what non-academic sources say about leadership communication. Moreover, this study seeks to understand if academic leadership communication research is effectively being translated to non-academic leadership communication advice and to what degree the advice given in the self-help books or blogs many leaders count on to enhance their leadership communication skills align with the findings from academic studies on leadership. Based on grounded theory, a qualitative thematic content analysis was conducted. Six academic articles, two blog sites, and two self-help books about leadership communication were analyzed individually in an attempt to explore what themes emerged about leadership communication and the qualities of a leader. The five nonacademic themes found in the blogs and self-help books were take care of yourself, embrace uncertainty, know who you are, practice interdependence, and be approachable. The four academic themes were two-way communication, organizational culture, confident leadership, and transformational leadership. The final themes from nonacademic and academic sources were compared to see how they were similar and how they differed among sources.