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The traditional approach to imaging system design places the sole burden of image formation on optical components. In contrast, a computational imaging system relies on a combination of optics and post-processing to produce the final image and/or output measurement. Therefore, the joint-optimization (JO) of the optical and the post-processing degrees of freedom plays a critical role in the design of computational imaging systems. The JO framework also allows us to incorporate task-specific performance measures to optimize an imaging system for a specific task. In this dissertation, we consider the design of computational imaging systems within a JO framework for two separate tasks: object reconstruction and iris-recognition. The goal of these design studies is to optimize the imaging system to overcome the performance degradations introduced by under-sampled image measurements. Within the JO framework, we engineer the optical point spread function (PSF) of the imager, representing the optical degrees of freedom, in conjunction with the post-processing algorithm parameters to maximize the task performance. For the object reconstruction task, the optimized imaging system achieves a 50% improvement in resolution and nearly 20% lower reconstruction root-mean-square-error (RMSE ) as compared to the un-optimized imaging system. For the iris-recognition task, the optimized imaging system achieves a 33% improvement in false rejection ratio (FRR) for a fixed alarm ratio (FAR) relative to the conventional imaging system. The effect of the performance measures like resolution, RMSE, FRR, and FAR on the optimal design highlights the crucial role of task-specific design metrics in the JO framework. We introduce a fundamental measure of task-specific performance known as task-specific information (TSI), an information-theoretic measure that quantifies the information content of an image measurement relevant to a specific task. A variety of source-models are derived to illustrate the application of a TSI-based analysis to conventional and compressive imaging (CI) systems for various tasks such as target detection and classification. A TSI-based design and optimization framework is also developed and applied to the design of CI systems for the task of target detection, it yields a six-fold performance improvement over the conventional imaging system at low signal-to-noise ratios.

This study seeks to analyze the differences in the U.S. and China's policies towards freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. The South China Sea is one of the most important waterways in the world, linking the Middle East and Southeast Asia to the Pacific Ocean. It is of crucial interest to the United States for transit of energy and other resources as well as power projection via the American naval fleet. These waters are of interest to China as well, but for different reasons: the PRC claims an historic right to the area as a part of its territorial waters. The analysis uses declassified American Presidential correspondence and policy memoranda, U. S. Department of State publications, and the Congressional Record, among other first-degree sources, to discuss American policy; Chinese policy is explored through domestic law, official statements, government maps, and official news sources. After examining the relevant international law framework, history of the issues, and the work of other academics on the subject, this paper presents each side's individual policy towards freedom of navigation, the South China Sea, and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. Finally, the two policies are contrasted and recommendations are made for how conflict might be minimized. / This study seeks to analyze the differences in the U.S. and China's policies towards freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. The South China Sea is one of the most important waterways in the world, linking the Middle East and Southeast Asia to the Pacific Ocean. It is of crucial interest to the United States for transit of energy and other resources as well as power projection via the American naval fleet. These waters are of interest to China as well, but for different reasons: the PRC claims an historic right to the area as a part of its territorial waters. The analysis uses declassified American Presidential correspondence and policy memoranda, U. S. Department of State publications, and the Congressional Record, among other first-degree sources, to discuss American policy; Chinese policy is explored through domestic law, official statements, government maps, and official news sources. After examining the relevant international law framework, history of the issues, and the work of other academics on the subject, this paper presents each side's individual policy towards freedom of navigation, the South China Sea, and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. Finally, the two policies are contrasted and recommendations are made for how conflict might be minimized.

Magistro baigiamajame darbe yra nagrinėjamas konstitucinio laisvės pasirinkti darbą principo turinys ir įgyvendinimo problemos. Kaip ne kartą savo nutarimuose yra pažymėjęs Konstitucinis Teismas, konstitucinė asmens laisvė pasirinkti darbą bei verslą yra būtina asmens gyvybinių poreikių tenkinimo, deramos padėties visuomenėje užtikrinimo sąlyga ir suponuoja įstatymų leidėjo pareigą sudaryti teisines prielaidas įgyvendinti minėtąją laisvę. Laisvės pasirinkti darbą principas užima svarbią vietą tiek tarptautinėje, tiek nacionalinėje teisėje. Laisvės pasirinkti darbą principo turinį sudaro teisė laisvai pasirinkti darbą ir verslą ir teisė laisva valia sutikti jį dirbti. Laisvė pasirinkti darbą ir verslą reiškia, kad kiekvienas asmuo turi teisę rinktis darbą pagal savo sugebėjimus ir norą, bei tokiu laisvai pasirinktu būdu užsidirbti pragyvenimui. Minėtoji teisė taip pat reiškia tai, kad asmuo yra tiek laisvas dirbti, tiek ir laisvas nedirbti, o, tarkime, turėti savo verslą ar gyventi iš santaupų. Teisės laisvai pasirinkti darbą principo taikymas nėra absoliutus ir negarantuoja asmeniui, kad jis gaus pageidaujamą darbą. Įstatymai, kolektyvinės sutartys, darbo tvarkos taisyklės ir darbo santykių šalių susitarimai gali nustatyti minėtos laisvės įgyvendinimo ribojimus. Nustatant teisės laisvai pasirinkti darbą įgyvendinimo ribojimus svarbu, kad tai būtų daroma įstatymu; taip pat tai, kad tie ribojimai demokratinėje visuomenėje būtų būtini siekiant apsaugoti kitų asmenų teises bei... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / There are analysed content and implementation problems of constitutional principle of freedom to choose a job in final master work. Constitutional Court of Lithuania noted that constitutional freedom to choose a job or a business is essential condition to supply vital demands of person and to secure position in society and suppose a duty for legislator to make legal presumption to implement mentioned freedom. Principle of freedom to choose a job takes important place both in international and national law. Content of principle of freedom to choose a job is made of right to choose a job or a business freely and right to agree to work freely. Freedom to choose a job or a business means every person has a right to choose a job by his capabilities and intentions and in that freely choose way to earn for living. Right to choose a job also means that person is free both to work and not to work or for example to have his own business or to live from his savings. Practise of right to choose a job is not absolute and not guarantee that a person will get a job which he wants. Law acts, collective agreements, rules of legal procedure and contracts of parts of employer and employee can determine restrictions of right to choose a job or a business. Estimating restrictions of right to choose a job or a business important is to make sure that it was made by law act, also that it was made on purpose to protect other persons rights and liberties and values consolidated in Constitution; also... [to full text]

This thesis lays out a critique of the libertarian autonomy in Clark Pinnock's open theism. It contends that libertarian autonomy (defined as the choice to do otherwise) is unable to do justice to the fuller sense of freedom described in the biblical narrative. Offering more than a critique, this thesis suggests an alternative definition of freedom by qualifying Karl Barth's "freedom as obedience" as 'freedom as faithfulness'. As such, true freedom is contrasted to the autonomy that leads to evil, and is found beyond the false dichotomy of compatibilism and incompatibilism, heteronomy and autonomy. Freedom is recognized as a good gift of creation and a promise of the eschaton, and thus must be distanced from the shadow of evil which haunts human autonomy. Ultimately, this thesis contends that faithfulness to God as the source and call of life leads to responsive, transformative, and eschatologically unlimited freedom.

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A major weakness of the literature on the regulation of freedom of expression within the field of political science is the assumption of peaceful, liberal democratic conditions. My project seeks to contribute to a better understanding of the legitimate regulation of speech by analyzing disciplinary approaches to freedom of expression through the lens of countries recovering from intractable conflict. I ask: How appropriate are current understandings of freedom of expression to the regulation of speech in post-conflict environments? Relying on insights from the field of social psychology and the case of post-genocide Rwanda, I argue that greater restrictions on freedom of expression could be legitimate in countries recovering from intractable conflict. However, rights derogations must take place within limits so as not to become a tool of authoritarian rule.

Section 26 of the Labour Relations Act 95 of 1996 makes provision for the introduction of closed shop agreements at the workplace between majority unions and employers. All employees covered by such agreements are required to be members of such unions or otherwise face the possibility of dismissal. "Conscientious objector" employees are an exception to this rule. The purpose of this submission is to investigate the constitutional validity of s26 in the light of the fundamental right to freedom of association in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1 996 whilst investigating the position of "conscientious objectors" in certain foreign jurisdictions. / Thesis (LL.M. (Labour Law))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

This thesis is a contextual study of the work of Orkney theologian John Oman (1860- 1939), with reference to personal freedom as the unifying principle. Oman’s early life in Orkney, his philosophical awakening in Edinburgh and his wide reading of European thought are the contexts explored. From these contexts emerges a theology that is eclectic in nature and which finds coherence in the principle of personal freedom. Oman’s concept of freedom is defined theologically, metaphysically and personally; this is followed by discussion of its application to the specific subject areas of Christology and Ecclesiology. The priority that Oman gives to personal freedom results in a distinctive theology of Christ and the Church. Thus, the uniqueness of Christ lies in the freedom which he exemplifies in humanity; and the Church is a community of freedom transcending institutional expression. The thesis concludes that Oman’s sui generis theology is the outcome of the heritage of freedom gifted in various contexts. However, this heritage of freedom was radicalised by Oman, as he developed his own theological vision.

Research concerning ‘basic needs' in the Human Rights literature has consistently found a positive and significant relationship between measures of wealth and basic needs provision. This study utilizes a relatively new measure of economic freedom to test hypotheses regarding general macro-economic policy decisions and basic needs outcomes. A pooled dataset of 138 countries over four years is examined using OLS panel regression controlling for both' year' and ‘country,' in a standard basic needs model. Consistent and systematic differences between economic freedom effects in OECD nations and non-OECD nations are revealed. The Economic Freedom Index has both theoretical and empirical advantages over previous measures of wealth and economic freedom, allowing human rights scholars to test specific economic policy decisions as they affect basic needs outcomes.