Synthetic seismograms are a computer-generated aid in the search for hydrocarbons. Heretofore the solution has been done by z-transforms. This thesis presents a solution based on the method of finite differences. The resulting algorithm is fast and compact. The method is applied to three variations of the problem, all three are reduced to the same approximating equation, which is shown to be optimal, in that grid refinement does not change it. Two types of algorithms are derived from the equation. The number of obvious multiplications, additions and subtractions of each is analyzed. Critical section of each requires one multiplication, two additions and two subtractions. Four sample synthetic seismograms are shown. Implementation of the new algorithm runs twice as fast as previous computer program.

This study examined gender and self-monitoring as separate and interacting variables predicting judgmental accuracy on the part of observers of facial expressions of emotional categories. The main and interaction effects failed to reach significant levels during the preliminary analysis. However, post hoc analyses demonstrated a significant encoder sex variable. Female encoders of emotion were judged more accurately by both sexes. Additionally, when the stimulus was limited to female enactments of emotional categories, the hypothesized main and interaction effects reached significant F levels. This study utilized 100 observers and 10 encoders of seven emotional categories. Methodological considerations and alternatives are examined at length.

Title: Analysis of tennis single on clay Objectives: The aim of the work was to analyze 10 elite players on clay and also to discover differences in observed aspects of their plays. Methods: The analysis was done by observing video recordings of chosen matches from the French Open 2016 tournament. It was a notational analysis. The results were recorded into record sheets that were prepared in advance. Firstly, descriptive analysis was used to analyze all of the matches. Thereafter, all of the matches were analyzed by descriptive analysis of graphs and measured values. Results: The results show different techniques and styles among male athletes on clay, given the service and its variations, the return and its variations, the length of plays, and other observed aspects; resulting in other tactical differences among the players. Keywords: Tennis, men, differences, serve, return

This research aimed to investigate game developers' preferences and graphical differences between Chinese and Western female game characters. Parts of the survey were conducted in China and in cooperation with Game Hub Scandinavia (2015). For this research, an image analysis and two models were made. The image analysis analyzed common elements that exist between different female characters from Chinese and Western game toplists. One model was based on a Chinese game toplist and the other model was based on a Western game toplist. The survey was conducted through Internet surveys and interviews. Results showed that there were graphical differences between games from Chinese and Western game lists, but there is not a significant difference between game developers' preferences.

It is well established that exposure to virtual motion environments (VME) can elicit postural instability (PI) in addition to motion sickness (MS). While research has found sex differences in motion sickness, the results of experimental studies are equivocal regarding these differences, and previous studies utilizing VME have failed to address the factor of sex differences in terms of hormonal fluctuations, which may also be instrumental in behavioral responses to VME, such as PI. The intent of this investigation was to determine whether exposure to VME, during various phases of the menstrual cycle (premenstrual, permenstrual, ovulation) would reveal sex differences in MS and PI during some phases, but not others. The first experiment involved men and women completing Daily Living Logs for a period of 40 days to provide a baseline for any sex differences (and for women, menstrual phase differences) in motion related activity and symptomatology. The second experiment involved 24 participants (6 men) viewing a rotating Archimedes spiral for a period of twenty minutes. Exposures were timed to place each woman in three phases of her menstrual cycle; men were exposed by yoking their exposure time to a female counterpart. Multiple measures of PI and MS were recorded before, after and during exposure. Results of the first experiment found no significant effects of sex or phase upon symptomatology, revealing no support for the theory of a reporting bias as influencing sex differences in MS or PI elicited in the laboratory. The second experiment found no significant effect of sex of phase upon any of the PI measures, but found significant interaction effects of sequence and phase, as well as sequence and sex, upon reported magnitude ratings of illusory self-motion perception. There were also significant effects of sex found upon measures of MS, with women reporting more discomfort to exposure to motion stimulation, as compared to men. There were no significant effects of phase upon any of the MS measures. While these findings show no support for a reporting bias influencing the sex differences found experimentally induced MS, it yields no evidence to support a hormonal influence on these differences.

The purpose of this study is to examine if testosterone shows reactivity to skydiving and to examine whether the testosterone level and reactivity was associated with sex and sensation seeking trait of the participants. Testosterone is an important steroid hormone which has several biological and socio-behavioral effects on people and is also present in disproportionate amounts in males and females; thus, it is important to explore how this hormone acts in different sex. Furthermore, exploring the relationship between sensation-seeking and testosterone could provide insight into the relation between psychological factor and hormonal response in humans. Forty-four people were recruited to participate in the study. The sample comprised of 73% males (N=32) and 27% females (N=12) with a mean age of 24 years (SD = 4.6) and an age range of 18 to 49. The participants volunteered to jump out of an airplane and give saliva samples at different time points during that day and during another day (basal levels). This study found that testosterone shows reactivity in response to skydiving, where the peak levels in males were higher than in females. It also found that people who scored higher in experience-seeking scores had higher testosterone level at jump than people who scored lower. Furthermore, it also revealed that people who scored higher in intension-seeking scores showed more reactivity in terms of testosterone i.e. the rise was steeper in these people. In summary, we see that psychological factors and sex predicted reactivity and peak level of testosterone after skydiving.

Body image (BI) reflects how a person views his or her own body, and how one thinks, feels and acts toward it. This study examined the relationship of activity (sport vs. leisure) and gender to body image among adults aged 50 years and older. The sample included 182 Senior Olympians (79 men; 103 women) with a mean age of 65.5 years. Three scales measured the components of BI: the Social Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS) measured affective BI, the Contour Rating Drawing Scale (CRDS) measured cognitive BI, and the Body Image Avoidance Questionnaire (BIAQ) measured behavioral BI. The Body Satisfaction Scale (BSS) measured satisfaction with appearance and functionality, and grip strength was used as a measure of body function. Women scored higher than men on the SPAS and the CRDS, indicating greater dissatisfaction with their affective and cognitive BI. Women also scored higher than men on the clothing and grooming behaviors of the BIAQ, while men scored higher on social avoidance. Sport participants scored higher than leisure participants on the grip strength test. Results suggest that gender differences in BI appear to persist into older adulthood. The results also suggest that the effects of sport on BI among older adults may depend in part on gender.

Thesis (B. Tech. (Tourism management))--Vaal University of Technology. / In recent years there has been a considerable interest in the cultural aspect of tourism (Reisinger & Turner 2003:1 ). Culture in its various forms and dimensions has a significant impact on tourism planning and development, management and marketing. Unfortunately literature that examines the impact of culture on tourism concentrates mostly on expressions of material forms of culture such as the arts, music, architecture or crafts. Research regarding the variables of national cultures such as values, perceptions, rules of behaviour and satisfaction has been neglected. The importance of cultural variables for tourist holiday experiences is important and affects satisfaction and consequently repeat visitation. Thus the cultural variables which influence the quality of the interpersonal interaction between tourists and hosts, can significantly add to tourist holiday experiences and satisfaction. The past few years has witnessed a dramatic change in the composition and nature of domestic tourism in South Africa (Futter & Wood 1997:1 ). Black tourists are emerging as the largest travelling group within South Africa and it is important to the tourism industry that cultural variables of this group be examined. Tourism has experienced a growing internationalization and considerable attention has been paid to the issue of cultural diversity as a result of this growth in international travel. Tourism is a service industry where people from all nationalities meet and the crossing of different cultures takes place. This cross-cultural interaction leads to socio-cultural impacts which affect both the tourist and the host community. By understanding the cultural characteristics of various travelling groups to and around South Africa, socio cultural impacts will be minimised and the benefits of tourism can be appreciated. The target group for this study was black tourists to Vanderbijlpark. This is a large domestic tourism group and understanding the cultural characteristics of this group will enable the tourism industry to better plan, develop and market specific tourism packages. Research for this study was undertaken at a jazz festival in Vereeniging. Field workers randomly interviewed respondents using a questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of five sections, namely demographic particulars, personal values, rules of behaviour, perceptions and satisfaction. The data was analysed to provide information regarding the cultural characteristics of the black tourism market in Vanderbijlpark. Respondents were categorised using the demographic data, the culture sections of the questionnaire were analysed in order to give descriptive results of each of the cultural variables. Each variable was analysed to determine its importance to respondents, thus categorising respondents according to their cultural characteristics. A factor analysis was completed in order to synthesise the large amount of data and for each cultural variable smaller, more descriptive factors were identified and used to describe the black tourism market in Vanderbijlpark.

M.A. (Psychology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate and describe online interpersonal victimization (OIPV) in terms of gender differences and the association between such victimization and online behavior of active social media users in a Swedish sample. Since social media has become such a big part of our world it is of importance to study OIPV in this forum. Previous research has found that OIPV is a rather common phenomenon, that there are gender differences included and that certain online behaviors are risk factors. OIPV by itself is not a crime but rather an umbrella term including the legal terms illegal threat, slander, insult, harassment, sexual harassment, stalking and crimes against the personal data act or the copyright act. The cyberlifestyle–routine activities theory was used in this study to understand which online behaviors were risk factors in our sample. To answer the aim a survey was made and answered by 338 participants. The answers were tested with chi-square tests (χ²) and Mann-Whitney U tests in order to examine differences in gender regarding victimization and to find differences between the victimized and non-victimized group regarding their online behaviors. The results showed a high prevalence of OIPV and that women were more likely to be victims of OIPV, especially of harassment, sexual harassment, threats of sexual violence and stalking. The online behaviors that were significant risk factors in our sample were the use of a profile picture of themselves and number of hours spent on social media every day. This combined indicated that social media may not be a completely gender equal place and that online behaviors may not indicate the risk of being victimized equally well for both genders. / <p>2016-06-01</p>