Magister Psychologiae - MPsych / South Africa

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It is a well established fact, that – in the case of classical random graphs like variants of Gn,p or random regular graphs – spectral methods yield efficient algorithms for clustering (e. g. colouring or bisec- tion) problems. The theory of large networks emerging recently provides convincing evidence that such networks, albeit looking random in some sense, cannot sensibly be described by classical random graphs. A vari- ety of new types of random graphs have been introduced. One of these types is characterized by the fact that we have a fixed expected degree sequence, that is for each vertex its expected degree is given. Recent theoretical work confirms that spectral methods can be success- fully applied to clustering problems for such random graphs, too – pro- vided that the expected degrees are not too small, in fact ≥ log⁶ n. In this case however the degree of each vertex is concentrated about its expectation. We show how to remove this restriction and apply spectral methods when the expected degrees are bounded below just by a suitable constant. Our results rely on the observation that techniques developed for the classical sparse Gn,p random graph (that is p = c/n) can be transferred to the present situation, provided we consider a suitably normalized ad- jacency matrix: We divide each entry of the adjacency matrix by the product of the expected degrees of the incident vertices. Given the host of spectral techniques developed for Gn,p this observation should be of independent interest.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(農学) / 甲第19019号 / 農博第2097号 / 新制||農||1029(附属図書館) / 学位論文||H27||N4901(農学部図書室) / 31970 / 京都大学大学院農学研究科地域環境科学専攻 / (主査)教授 近藤 直, 教授 清水 浩, 准教授 小川 雄一 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Agricultural Science / Kyoto University / DGAM

The purpose of this study was to determine whether program chairs in interior design have a preferred degree credential for candidates seeking a full-time, tenure-track position or other full-time position at their institution and to determine if there is a correlation between this preference and the program chair’s university’s demographics, their own credentials, or their acceptance of an online terminal degree. Data were collected for the 2 research questions using a quantitative survey instrument. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between the dependent variable, the Hiring Perception Scale and the independent variables, characteristics of the program. Multiple regression analysis was also used to analyze the relationship between the dependent variable, the Hiring Perception Scale and the independent variables, the program chair’s credentials. The survey instrument was a selfministered online questionnaire divided into 5 sections. Some of the demographic categories utilized in the survey instrument were developed by the Interior Design Educators Council (2008) in their member survey. Other questions were designed based on questions used on a survey by Adams and DeFleur (2005). Their survey examined the acceptability of doctoral degrees earned online as credential for obtaining a faculty position. The group of participants for the survey was composed of interior design-program chairs in interior design programs accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. The results from analyses appeared to show only institution type, “Public” and land-grant status predicted hiring perceptions. The five variables that were related to individual characteristics of the program chair did not predict hiring perceptions. This study has provided the preferred degree preference by interior design chairs for full-time positions. Findings revealed acceptance of online terminal degrees and the most-valued credentials preferred by interior design chairs.

This thesis focuses on the design of linear precoding schemes for downlink multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) networks. These schemes are designed to be amenable to implementation in wireless networks that allow rate-limited feedback of channel state information (CSI). In the first half of this thesis, memoryless quantization codebooks are designed and incremental vector quantization techniques are developed for the representation of CSI in MIMO point-to-point links and isolated (single-cell) downlink networks. The second half of the thesis seeks to design linear precoding schemes for the multi-cell downlink networks that can achieve improved performance without requiring significantly more communication resources for CSI feedback than those required in the case of an isolated single-cell. For the quantization problem, smooth optimization algorithms are developed for the design of codebooks that possess attractive features that facilitate their implementation in practice in the addition to having good quantization properties. As one example, the proposed approach is used to design rank-2 codebooks that have a nested structure and elements from a phase-shift keying (PSK) alphabet. The designed codebooks have larger minimum distances than some existing codebooks, and provide tangible performance gains. To take advantage of temporal correlation that may exist in the wireless channel, an incremental approach to the Grassmannian quantization problem is proposed. This approach leverages existing codebooks for memoryless quantization schemes and employs a quantized form of geodesic interpolation. Two schemes that implement the principles of the proposed approach are presented. A distinguishing feature of the proposed approach is that the direction of the geodesic interpolation is specified implicitly using a point in a conventional codebook. As a result, the approach has an inherent ability to recover autonomously from errors in the feedback path. In addition to the development of the Grassmannian quantization techniques and codebooks, this thesis studies linear precoder design for the downlink MIMO networks in the cases of small networks of arbitrary topology and unbounded networks that have typical architectures. In particular, a linear precoding scheme for the isolated 2-cell network that achieves the optimal spatial degrees of freedom of the network is proposed. The implementation of a limited feedback model for the proposed linear precoding scheme is developed as well. Based on insight from that model, other linear precoding schemes that can be implemented in larger networks, but with finite size, are developed. For unbounded networks of typical architecture, such as the hexagonal arrangement of cells, linear precoding schemes that exploit the partial connectivity of the network are presented under a class of precoding schemes that is referred to as spatial reuse precoding. These precoding schemes provide substantial gains in the achievable rates of users in the network, and require only local feedback. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

This study proposed to determine the reasons given by registered nurses for participation or nonparticipation in programs leading to a baccalaureate or higher degree. The purpose of this study was the following: identify the factors influencing registered nurses to return or not return to school for an advanced degree and to compare the needs (met or unmet) of the participants with the anticipated needs (met and unmet) of the nonparticipants.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第24576号 / 工博第5082号 / 新制||工||1973(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院工学研究科建築学専攻 / (主査)教授 大崎 純, 教授 竹脇 出, 教授 聲高 裕治 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DFAM

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / There is a growing trend for graduate schools of social work to offer students the option of receiving dual degrees, which gives students the ability to obtain a Master of Social Work (MSW) along with a second graduate degree in less time than it would take to complete each degree individually. As of 2005, there were approximately 30 different types of degrees that could be combined with graduate studies in social work--one of which is a Master of Divinity (M.Div.). Very little is known about the effectiveness of such programs and the experiences of graduates completing them. The aim of this study was to describe the lived experiences of persons receiving an MSW and an M.Div. from dual degree programs. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) includes religious and spiritual beliefs in its definition of culturally competent practice within the code of ethics. Dual degree graduates are trained to engage in culturally competent practice by virtue of being extensively trained in the cultural context of the church through their M.Div. degree and extensively trained in the context of social work service delivery though their MSW degree. Dual degree programs in social work and divinity are quite timely given that 96% of Americans say they believe in God or a universal spirit. Phenomenology seeks to understand a particular phenomenon from the point of view of those who have experienced it. With this in mind, this study reports the findings resulting from interviews conducted with 16 graduates regarding their experiences while in a dual degree program. One of the key phenomenological patterns that emerged in all the interviews conducted was that dual degree graduates want “journey companions,” i.e. persons who share their worldview.

This study investigated the impact a community college associate of applied science degree from a rural college in east Tennessee has on the area served by the college. Variables explored in this study included residence location, employment status, employment location, salary range, and advanced degree persistence. The population for this study included all Summer 1999, Fall 1999, Spring 2000, and Summer 2000 Associate of Applied Science graduates from Walters State Community College. Data for this study were collected via a student survey and information gathered from the student information system database at the college. All hypotheses were analyzed using descriptive techniques appropriate to the data analyzed, including Chi Square, Mann-Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallis H tests. Based on the analysis of the population sample, Associate of Applied Science graduates do have a positive impact on the Walters State Community College service delivery area. Associate of Applied Science graduates tend to reside in the area, are employed in the area, have reasonable salaries, and many work toward advanced degrees.