Technology is changing the structure and dynamics of how humans communicate. Channels of communication are also used for attempts at persuasion, but until now persuasion that (if accepted) would promote the adoption of misinformation could not spread as readily through historical information channels. With the advent of the Internet and World Wide Web this has changed dramatically. In this dissertation it is argued that modern digital communication media such as YouTube, in confluence with what theories of persuasion have to say about how humans deal with persuasion, may create a situation in which misinformation may spread and be accepted on a large scale. The research in this dissertation explores this notion by presenting a group of 120 adolescents who are familiar with the Web with such a misinforming persuasive message. The purpose of which is to determine whether they accept the misinformation presented in the Web-context or are sceptical of it. Different manipulations were done to the persuasive message, known to increase the likelihood of persuasion. The research found that, for this group of participants, no attempt to increase uncritical acceptance of a persuasive message made a statistical difference between different groupings of participants. When intended behaviour was measured in addition to attitude towards the misinformation, participants were even less persuaded. The results are interesting as a starting point for further study, but its generalizability and certain design features must be called into question / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

The focus of this study was to characterize the surface water and groundwater hydrology of borrow-pit wetlands located within the borders of the Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area (LLELA), east of the Elm Fork of the Trinity River. The wetlands were excavated into alluvial deposits downstream of the Lewisville Lake Dam. Both surface water and groundwater contribute to the hydro-period of the borrow-pit wetlands. Nearby marshes exhibit characteristics of groundwater discharge. Salinity in groundwater-fed wetlands could affect establishment of vegetation, as suggested from plant surveys. Surface water input from storm events dilutes salinity levels. Management of LLELA wetlands should include long-term evaluation of hydrology and plantings to enhance habitat. Plans for additional wetlands should consider both surface water and groundwater inputs.

Read up protocol OBD-II and familiarize yourself with the concept of existing devices, which use this protocol for wireless data transmission diagnostics car. Different conception mutually compare and suggest own concept device. The device should be consist from standard components without development own hardware. Implement the proposed device. Verify function of device and measure its range and data throughput. Discuss the connection to the database server and simple presentation of data.

Biodiversitet innebär en hög artsammansättning och är viktigt för fungerande ekosystem. Almar (Ulmus-arter) är ett träd som hyser en mängd andra arter och som värderas högt i urbana miljöer. Almar drabbas tyvärr av svampsjukdomen almsjukan som leder till att trädet dör. Detta kan dock motverkas med hjälp av vaccinet Dutch Trig®. Det är känt att vaccinet motverkar almsjukan men kunskapen om vaccinet möjligen påverkar andra arter och organismer än almsjukan är låg. Denna studie utfördes i syfte att undersöka och jämföra om epifyters mångfald och allmäntillståndet mellan ovaccinerade och vaccinerade almar skiljde sig. Metoden för studien delades upp i två delar, en tillväxtmätning och visuell granskning samt en kartläggning av epifyter. Resultatet och analysen visade att skillnaden mellan grupperna hos en variabel var signifikant, hos resterande variabler kunde skillnaderna bero på slumpen. Trots detta kunde ändå vissa mönster utläsas och slutsatsen att det fanns en skillnad både i allmäntillstånd och biodiversitet kunde dras.

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Studien syftar till att analysera equity- och debt baserad crowdfunding i förhållande till studiens primära teori om elaboration likelihood model (ELM) och hur dess variabler påverkar potentiella investerares investeringsbedömningar. Informationsasymmetri och behavioral finance har inkluderats i studien som två kompletterande delteorier. För att undersöka detta har studien avgränsats till potentiella investerare som geografiskt är bosatta i Stockholms län. Undersökningen har genomförts med hjälp av semistrukturerade intervjuer där totalt elva potentiella investerare har intervjuats. Respondenterna har baserats på ett snöbollsurval. Intervjuerna har skett genom att respondenterna tagit del av fyra scenarion som innehåller variabler kopplade till teorin om ELM. Studiens resultat påvisar att potentiella investerare bedömer samt väljer investeringsprojekt utifrån den centrala vägen i ELM teorin, som karaktäriseras av projektets kvalitet vilken är motsatsen till den perifera vägen som istället belyser elektronisk word of mouth (WoM). / The study aims to investigate how equity- and debt based crowdfunding in relation to the study’s primary theory of elaboration likelihood model (ELM) and its variables effect on potential investors’ investment decision. Information asymmetry and behavioral finance has also been included in the study as two complementary theories. To investigate this, the study has been delimited to potential investors who are geographically resident in Stockholm County. The survey has been conducted using semi-structured interviews, where a total of eleven potential investors have been interviewed based on a chain sampling. The potential investors have been presented four scenarios that contain variables linked to the theory of ELM. The study's findings show that potential investors assess and choose investment projects based on the central path of ELM theory, characterized by the quality of the project and opposite to the peripheral road that instead illuminates the electronic word of mouth (WoM).

Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2017-02-23T14:02:54Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) tese-completa-Sidney_Lima_v21.pdf: 4757211 bytes, checksum: 205170db8b002cc2ab72255ab77628a3 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-23T14:02:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) tese-completa-Sidney_Lima_v21.pdf: 4757211 bytes, checksum: 205170db8b002cc2ab72255ab77628a3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-25 / REUNI / O câncer de mama é a principal causa de morte de mulheres adultas por câncer no mundo. Do ponto de vista clínico, a mamografia é ainda a mais efetiva tecnologia de diagnóstico do câncer de mama, dada a grande difusão de uso e interpretações dessas imagens. De acordo com o estado da arte da classificação de lesões em mamogramas, as wavelets têm apresentado os melhores resultados do ponto de vista da taxa de classificação, quando utilizadas como etapa de préprocessamento que decompõe a imagem original em imagens de detalhes (verticais, horizontais e diagonais) e aproximações para, a partir dessas imagens componentes, serem extraídos atributos de textura. Neste trabalho, propõe-se a Decomposição baseada em Aproximações Morfológicas em regiões de interesse em mamogramas. O método proposto tem por base a decomposição inspirada em wavelets que emprega filtros não lineares passa-baixas e passa-altas, baseados em aberturas e fechamentos, que por sua vez são construídos a partir dos operadores morfológicos clássicos de erosão e dilatação. Neste trabalho, são propostas aproximações aritméticas para esses dois operadores morfológicos clássicos, substituindo os desvios condicionais, presentes na Morfologia Matemática, por operações aritméticas de somas, subtrações e multiplicações, computacionalmente mais rápidas. O trabalho proposto compara o tempo estimado de execução entre as aproximações aritméticas propostas e as operações morfológicas clássicas utilizando a notação Big-Oh e também faz uso de estimativas baseadas em arquitetura de hardware pipeline. Em todas as estimativas e cenários reais, as aproximações morfológicas propostas são mais rápidas do que a morfologia clássica. Além disso, por não empregar unidade de hardware em ambiente pipeline para tratamento de desvios condicionais, as aproximações morfológicas propostas se tornam uma solução mais barata, ocupa menos espaço, mais propícia à miniaturização, consome menos energia e reduz o número de codificações da UC (Unidade de Controle). Logo, as Aproximações Morfológicas criadas são superiores à morfologia clássica nos principais requisitos para o bom funcionamento do hardware. Quanto à classificação, a Decomposição baseada em Aproximações Morfológicas alcança um desempenho médio de 84,65% na distinção entre casos normais, benignos e malignos. Os classificadores empregados são redes neurais ELM e SVM, cujas classes são definidas de acordo com os critérios da American College of Radiology. Foram usadas 355 imagens de mama adiposa da base de dados IRMA, com 233 casos normais, 66 benignos e 56 malignos. Como método de tratamento da base de dados, foram estudados pesos ponderando a fronteira de decisão das redes neurais. / According to the World Health Organization, breast cancer is the main cause of death of women round the world. From the clinical point of view, mammography is still the most effective diagnostic technology, given the wide diffusion of the use and interpretation of these images. According the state-of-the-art lesions classification on mammograms, wavelets have produced the best results from the viewpoint of precision, when used as a preprocessing step that decomposes the original image into approximation and detail images (vertical, horizontal and diagonal) in order to, from these components images, extract shape or texture attributes. This work proposes the decomposition Morphological-based in regions of interest on mammograms. The proposed method is inspired on wavelets decomposition employing nonlinear low-pass and high-pass filters, based on openings and closings, which are constructed from classical morphological operators of erosion and dilation. In this work, we propose approaches of classical morphology, replacing the conditional branches, present in Mathematical Morphology, by arithmetic operations of addition, subtraction and multiplication, computationally faster. The proposed work compares the estimated run time of proposed arithmetic approximations and classical morphological operations using Big-Oh notation and also the thesis uses notation based on pipeline hardware architecture. In all real scenarios, our morphological operations are faster than classical morphology. Also, by not employing hardware unit in pipeline environment for treating conditional branches, the proposed morphology approximation becomes a cheaper solution, occupies less space, more propitious to miniaturization, consumes less power, and reduces the Control Unit coding number. Then, our approaches of classical morphology are superior to classical morphology in key requirements of hardware solution. Regarding the classification, the proposed decomposition reaches an average performance of 84.65% in distinguishing normal, benign, and malignant cases. Classifiers are neural networks ELM and SVM, classes are defined according American College of Radiology criteria. They are employed 355 adipose breast images with 233 normal cases, 66 benign and 56 malignant. As database processing method, weights were studied considering the decision boundary of neural networks.

This master’s thesis describes possibilities of usage of ZigBee communication protocol and integrated circuit ELM 327 in problem of realization universal diagnostic device, running by OBDII communication standards, which can be used to monitor function of all car´s electronic systems. Thesis also deals with design and realization of necessary electro technical devices and modules followed by compilation of control software and experimental measurements of these devices in real traffic flow. In the first part of project, there are reminded some basic features and parameters of OBDII, followed by description of ways how to use OBDII and adumbrating how to realize universal diagnostic system. The analysis of ZigBee system focused on XBee circuits follows. Construction, ways of data transfer and possibilities of controlling are described. Integrated circuits produced by ELM Electronics Company are introduced and possibilities of usage ELM 327 are described as requested by main task. Second part talks about designing of electronic circuits of this system, assembling schematic diagram and designing sources for production of PCB. Physical realization of these circuits and its first start is also included. Thesis finishes by dealing with practical experiences and measurements using real vehicles. This part talks also about means to improve system by several software solutions to reach more effective functioning of created device.

To better understand abiotic dynamics in Southern reservoirs receiving heated effluents, water was analyzed before and after impoundment in 330 ha North Lake. Macronutrients, metals, and chlorinated hydrocarbons were measured. Concentrations of nutrients and metals in sediments were quantified in this 2 yr study. River water prior to impoundment contained 16 times more total phosphorus, and supported 23 times more Selenastrum capricornutum cells in an algal assay than reservoir water. The reservoir has essentially no drainage and since evaporation is high, the concentrations of many dissolved solids have increased since the reservoir was filled in 1958. North Lake is now phosphorus limited. Apparently altered chemical equilibria have caused precipitation or adsorption of phosphorus with calcium and iron.