Compressed Sensing (CS) is an emerging paradigm in which signals are recovered from undersampled nonadaptive linear measurements taken at a rate proportional to the signal's true information content as opposed to its ambient dimension. The resulting problem consists in finding a sparse solution to an underdetermined system of linear equations. It has now been established, both theoretically and empirically, that certain optimization algorithms are able to solve such problems. Iterative Hard Thresholding (IHT) (Blumensath and Davies, 2007), which is the focus of this thesis, is an established CS recovery algorithm which is known to be effective in practice, both in terms of recovery performance and computational efficiency. However, theoretical analysis of IHT to date suffers from two drawbacks: state-of-the-art worst-case recovery conditions have not yet been quantified in terms of the sparsity/undersampling trade-off, and also there is a need for average-case analysis in order to understand the behaviour of the algorithm in practice. In this thesis, we present a new recovery analysis of IHT, which considers the fixed points of the algorithm. In the context of arbitrary matrices, we derive a condition guaranteeing convergence of IHT to a fixed point, and a condition guaranteeing that all fixed points are 'close' to the underlying signal. If both conditions are satisfied, signal recovery is therefore guaranteed. Next, we analyse these conditions in the case of Gaussian measurement matrices, exploiting the realistic average-case assumption that the underlying signal and measurement matrix are independent. We obtain asymptotic phase transitions in a proportional-dimensional framework, quantifying the sparsity/undersampling trade-off for which recovery is guaranteed. By generalizing the notion of xed points, we extend our analysis to the variable stepsize Normalised IHT (NIHT) (Blumensath and Davies, 2010). For both stepsize schemes, comparison with previous results within this framework shows a substantial quantitative improvement. We also extend our analysis to a related algorithm which exploits the assumption that the underlying signal exhibits tree-structured sparsity in a wavelet basis (Baraniuk et al., 2010). We obtain recovery conditions for Gaussian matrices in a simplified proportional-dimensional asymptotic, deriving bounds on the oversampling rate relative to the sparsity for which recovery is guaranteed. Our results, which are the first in the phase transition framework for tree-based CS, show a further significant improvement over results for the standard sparsity model. We also propose a dynamic programming algorithm which is guaranteed to compute an exact tree projection in low-order polynomial time.

Type inference can be considered a form of partial evaluation that only evaluates a program with respect to its type annotations. Building on this key observation, this dissertation presents a uniform framework for expressing computation, its dynamic properties and corresponding static type information. By using a unified approach, the static phase divide between values and types is lifted. Instead, computations and properties can be freely assigned to the static or dynamic phase of computation. Even more, moving a property from one world to the other does not require any program modifications. This thesis builds a bridge between two worlds: That of statically typed languages and the dynamically typed world. The former is wanted for the offered static guarantees and detection of a range of defects. With the increasing power of type systems available, the kinds of errors that can be statically detected is growing, nearing the goal of proving overall program correctness from the program’s source code alone. However, such power does come for a price: Type systems are becoming more complex, restrictive and invasive, to the point where specifying type annotations becomes as complex as specifying the algorithm itself. Untyped languages, in contrast, may provide less static safety but they have simpler semantics and offer a higher flexibility. They allow programmers to express their ideas without worrying about provable correctness. Not surprisingly, untyped languages have a strong following when it comes to prototyping and rapid application development. Using the framework presented in this thesis, the programmer can have both: Prototyping applications using a dynamically typed approach and gradual refinement of prototypes into programs with static guarantees. Technically, this flexibility is achieved with the novel concept of auxiliary computations. Auxiliary computation are additional streams of computation. They model, next to the data’s computation, the computation of property of data. These streams thereby may depend on the actual data that is computed, as well as on further auxiliary computations. This expressiveness brings auxiliary computations into the domain of dependent types. Partial evaluation of auxiliary computations is used to infer static knowledge from auxiliary computations. Due to the interdependencies between auxiliary computations, evaluating only those parts of a program that contribute to a property is non trivial. A further contribution of this work is the use of demands on computations to narrow the extent of partial evaluation to a single property. An algorithm for demand inference is presented and the correctness of the inferred demands is shown.

This research evaluates the factors that caused unprecedented high levels of non-performing loans (NPLs) in Chinese banks and the measures that have been taken to deal with them. In examining the surrounding issues recommendations are made, which might resolve or at least ameliorate China's non-performing loans problem. An extensive literature is drawn upon and a systematic examination of the factors that were responsible for China's NPLs is presented. The research aims and objectives, and the subsequent research themes were identified after conducting field research in Chinese banks. Six managers in Chinese banks were interviewed and their views on non-performing loans in their respective banks were obtained. These banks included: the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the China Construction Bank, the Bank of China, the Agricultural Bank of China, the State and Development Bank and Citic Bank. The results of the interviews were used to design the questionnaire, which was distributed to 16 different banks. These banks are broadly representative of the main types of bank within China and include four state-owned commercial banks, seven joint-stock commercial banks, three foreign banks, one policy bank and one city commercial bank. Content analysis and descriptive statistical techniques were used to analyse the data and the findings revealed that lending managers generally lack adequate incentives to make efficient lending decisions. Moreover, although political interference in bank lending is quite widespread within China, it is not the only issue and certainly not the major issue in explaining why managers have a tendency to select inefficient projects. The measures taken to deal with NPLs in Chinese banking are also examined and the findings suggest that these have not been totally effective in resolving the problem.

The practice of so-called diplomatic guarantees in recent international law The aim of this thesis is to analyze the practice of so-called diplomatic assurances (guarantees) in contemporary international law and its possible impact on existing obligations of States related to the protection of human rights, especially in relation to the ban on torture. Diplomatic assurances enable a transfer of an individual from one State to another. They include an undertaking of the State receiving an individual that he or she will be treated in accordance with the conditions set by the sending State, i.e. generally in accordance with the human rights obligations. However, it has recently received a great deal of public attention due to a number of suspicious returns of alleged terror suspects into the countries with poor human rights record including a record of torture. Consequently, the opinion criticizing the reliance on diplomatic assurances evolved describing diplomatic assurances as a tool how to circumvent current obligations of States under international human rights law. First part of this thesis provides a general overview of diplomatic assurances, their history, what are the advantages and disadvantages of diplomatic assurances and whether diplomatic assurances could be considered as treaties under...

The aim of this work is to answer the question of whether the judge's remuneration represent a constitutional guarantee of judicial independence and thus whether they can have a real impact on the judges' decisions. In view of this, the thesis will first deal with the definition of the term "judicial independence" and its possible categorizations. Subsequently, the diploma thesis will focus on Czech legal regulation of judicial remuneration and documentation from important international institutions. The focus of this thesis will be devoted to the analysis of Act No. 236/1995 Sb., o platu a dalších náležitostech spojených s výkonem funkce představitelů státní moci a některých státních orgánů a soudců a poslanců Evropského parlamentu, ve znění pozdějších předpisů (about salary and other elements associated with the performance of State representatives, bodies, judges and members of the European Parliament duties). Specifically looking at case law from the Constitutional Court on the issue of judge's remuneration, in particular with regard to the method of calculating judges' salaries and restrictive interventions in the judiciary, including the removal of additional salaries, the freezing of salaries and changes in the statistical index. The aim of this chapter will be to find out, in particular,...

A aderência entre os investimentos das Entidades Fechadas de Previdência Complementar (EFPCs) e as características dos negócios privados de infraestrutura de transporte sinalizam uma boa alternativa para alocação de recursos dessas entidades e a formação de um mercado de funding privado ao Brasil, porém, algumas barreiras de mercado, principalmente os riscos políticos-regulatórios, falta de garantias aos financiadores, alto valor pago pelos títulos públicos e os riscos inerentes ao processo de licenciamento ambiental, atualmente, impedem que haja um fluxo constante de capital para o setor. O presente trabalho tem por objetivo identificar como pode ser promovido um ambiente indutor de recursos das EFPCs à investimentos de infraestrutura de transporte no Brasil, como forma de aumentar o financiamento privado ao setor. Para tal, busca-se mediante a aplicação de um questionário junto aos gestores das EFPCs elencar quais são os principais entraves que dificultam os investimentos das mesmas em debêntures de infraestrutura de transportes. Para se preparar as questões, são organizados dados sobre o investimento em infraestrutura de transporte, o financiamento do setor, aspectos sobre a emissão de debêntures incentivadas de infraestrutura e os motivos que levaram as mesmas a não obterem grande inserção de mercado. Por sua vez, os dados resultantes da pesquisa são tabulados e apresentados sugerindo um conjunto de medidas estimuladoras ou mitigadoras de riscos que visam contribuir para redução dos entraves e favorecer a compra dos títulos de debêntures de infraestrutura de transporte. As sugestões são apresentadas sob uma discussão de como cada uma delas protege ou incentiva o investidor da debênture de infraestrutura. Por fim, para se testar o grau de sustentação das medidas propostas o trabalho lança mão um empreendimento protótipo que confronta, quando possível, os impactos de cada medida ou instrumento de garantia proposto frente aos indicadores da qualidade do negócio (Taxa de Retorno do empreendimento e payback) ou frente ao custo da tarifa paga pelo usuário. / The adhesion between the investments of Pension Funds (EFPCs) and the characteristics of private business transportation infrastructure indicates a good alternative for resource allocation of these entities and the formation of a private funding market in Brazil, however, some market barriers, especially the political regulatory risks, lack of guarantees to lenders, high value paid by government bonds and the inherent risks in the environmental licensing process, currently, prevents a steady flow of capital for the sector. This study aims to identify how it can be promoted a resource-inducing environment of EFPCs to transport infrastructure investments in Brazil as a way to increase private funding to the sector. To this end, the main goal is, by applying a questionnaire with the managers of EFPCs, outline what the main obstacles that hinder investments in the same transport infrastructure debentures. To prepare these questions the data are organized on investment in transport infrastructure, industry funding, aspects on the issue of debentures encouraged infrastructure and the reasons that led them to not achieve great market insertion. In turn, the resulting data of the survey are tabulated and presented suggesting a set of stimulatory measures or mitigating risks that aim to contribute to reducing barriers and encouraging the purchase of tickets infrastructure debentures. The suggestions are presented in a discussion of how each protects or encourages the investors infrastructure debenture. Finally, to test the degree of support of the work proposed measures, makes use of a prototype model that confronts, where possible, the impact of each measure or guarantee instrument proposed front of business quality indicators (Rate of Return of the project and payback) or against the cost of user-pay rate.

A interferência de desempenho é um desafio bem conhecido em redes de datacenter (DCNs), permanecendo um tema constante de discussão na literatura. Diversos estudos concluíram que a largura de banda disponível para o envio e recebimento de dados entre máquinas virtuais (VMs) pode variar por um fator superior a cinco, resultando em desempenho baixo e imprevisível para as aplicações. Trabalhos na literatura têm proposto técnicas que resultam em subutilização de recursos, introduzem sobrecarga de gerenciamento ou consideram somente recursos de rede. Nesta tese, são apresentadas três propostas para lidar com a interferência de desempenho em DCNs: IoNCloud, Predictor e Packer. O IoNCloud está baseado na observação que diferentes aplicações não possuem pico de damanda de banda ao mesmo tempo. Portanto, ele busca prover desempenho previsível e garantido enquanto minimiza a subutilização dos recursos de rede. Isso é alcançado por meio (a) do agrupamento de aplicações (de acordo com os seus requisitos temporais de banda) em redes virtuais (VNs); e (b) da alocação dessas VNs no substrato físico. Apesar de alcançar os seus objetivos, ele não provê conservação de trabalho entre VNs, o que limita a utilização de recursos ociosos. Nesse contexto, o Predictor, uma evolução do IoNCloud, programa dinamicamente a rede em DCNs baseadas em redes definidas por software (SDN) e utiliza dois novos algoritmos para prover garantias de desempenho de rede com conservação de trabalho. Além disso, ele foi projetado para ser escalável, considerando o número de regras em tabelas de fluxo e o tempo de instalação das regras para um novo fluxo em DCNs com milhões de fluxos ativos. Apesar dos benefícios, o IoNCloud e o Predictor consideram apenas os recursos de rede no processo de alocação de aplicações na infraestrutura física. Isso leva à fragmentação de outros tipos de recursos e, consequentemente, resulta em um menor número de aplicações sendo alocadas. O Packer, em contraste, busca prover desempenho de rede previsível e garantido e minimizar a fragmentação de diferentes tipos de recursos. Estendendo a observação feita ao IoNCloud, a observação-chave é que as aplicações têm demandas complementares ao longo do tempo para múltiplos recursos. Desse modo, o Packer utiliza (i) uma nova abstração para especificar os requisitos temporais das aplicações, denominada TI-MRA (Time- Interleaved Multi-Resource Abstraction); e (ii) uma nova estratégia de alocação de recursos. As avaliações realizadas mostram os benefícios e as sobrecargas do IoNCloud, do Predictor e do Packer. Em particular, os três esquemas proveem desempenho de rede previsível e garantido; o Predictor reduz o número de regras OpenFlow em switches e o tempo de instalação dessas regras para novos fluxos; e o Packer minimiza a fragmentação de múltiplos tipos de recursos. / Performance interference has been a well-known problem in datacenter networks (DCNs) and one that remains a constant topic of discussion in the literature. Several measurement studies concluded that throughput achieved by virtual machines (VMs) in current datacenters can vary by a factor of five or more, leading to poor and unpredictable overall application performance. Recent efforts have proposed techniques that present some shortcomings, such as underutilization of resources, significant management overhead or negligence of non-network resources. In this thesis, we introduce three proposals that address performance interference in DCNs: IoNCloud, Predictor and Packer. IoNCloud leverages the key observation that temporal bandwidth demands of cloud applications do not peak at exactly the same time. Therefore, it seeks to provide predictable and guaranteed performance while minimizing network underutilization by (a) grouping applications in virtual networks (VNs) according to their temporal network usage and need of isolation; and (b) allocating these VNs on the cloud substrate. Despite achieving its objective, IoNCloud does not provide work-conserving sharing among VNs, which limits utilization of idle resources. Predictor, an evolution over IoNCloud, dynamically programs the network in Software-Defined Networking (SDN)-based DCNs and uses two novel algorithms to provide network guarantees with work-conserving sharing. Furthermore, Predictor is designed with scalability in mind, taking into consideration the number of entries required in flow tables and flow setup time in DCNs with high turnover and millions of active flows. IoNCloud and Predictor neglect resources other than the network at allocation time. This leads to fragmentation of non-network resources and, consequently, results in less applications being allocated in the infrastructure. Packer, in contrast, aims at providing predictable and guaranteed network performance while minimizing overall multi-resource fragmentation. Extending the observation presented for IoNCloud, the key insight for Packer is that applications have complementary demands across time for multiple resources. To enable multi-resource allocation, we devise (i) a new abstraction for specifying temporal application requirements (called Time-Interleaved Multi-Resource Abstraction – TI-MRA); and (ii) a new allocation strategy. We evaluated IoNCloud, Predictor and Packer, showing their benefits and overheads. In particular, all of them provide predictable and guaranteed network performance; Predictor reduces flow table size in switches and flow setup time; and Packer minimizes multi-resource fragmentation.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O presente estudo tem por objetivo analisar a contribuição dos conflitos para a evolução do Direito e das formas de solucioná-lo. Tem por finalidade estudar o desenvolvimento da jurisdição e do processo nos conhecidos Estado Liberal, Estado Social e Estado Constitucional. O estudo oferece ênfase à incidência do constitucionalismo sobre o direito, em especial ao Direito Processual. O processo justo e suas garantias, extraídas da Constituição Federal, transformaram o processo em instrumento de concretização das normas constitucionais. A crescente litigiosidade e dependência dos cidadãos relativamente a decisão adjudicada impõem uma necessária reformulação da cultura processual. Neste ponto, o empoderamento ganha destaque como meio de fomentar a utilização de meios consensuais para solução de conflitos. Tais meios são observados como complemento e instrumentos para o afastamento da crise de efetividade experimentado pela jurisdição. A introdução, no processo, de meios consensuais de solução de conflitos, como a mediação judicial, pretende fomentar o desenvolvimento do modelo cooperativo de processo. Consequentemente, a maior participação das partes no processo de construção da solução a ser aplicada ao conflito que as envolve, contribui para a maior efetividade da prestação jurisdicional. Examina-se, cautelosamente, a introdução dos meios consensuais de solução de conflitos no processo judicial de modo que as características essenciais de cada um não sejam perdidas ou transformadas, sob pena de desvirtuar-se a mediação judicial. É preciso assegurar a compatibilidade entre ambos, bem como a aplicação das garantias fundamentais do processo. / The present study aims to analyze the contribution to the evolution of conflicts of law and the ways to solve it. It aims to study the development of the jurisdiction and the process known in the Liberal State, Welfare State and the Constitutional State. The study gives emphasis to the impact of constitutionalism on the right, especially the Procedural Law. The fair trial and its guarantees, drawn from the Constitution, the process turned into an instrument of implementation of constitutional norms. Increased litigation and dependence of citizens to impose a decision adjudicated necessary needs reform of procedural culture. At this point, the empowerment gained prominence as a means of promoting the use of consensual means of conflict resolution. So, the ways are seen as a complement and instruments for the removal of the effectiveness of crisis experienced by jurisdiction. The introduction, in the process of consensual means of dispute resolution, such as mediation court, aims to promote the development of the cooperative process. Consequently, the largest participation in the process of construction of the solution to be applied to the conflict that surrounds them, contributes to greater effectiveness of adjudication. It examines cautiously the introduction of consensual means of resolving conflicts in the judicial process so that the essential characteristics of each are not lost or transformed, otherwise misrepresenting themselves to judicial mediation. It needs to ensure compatibility between them, and the application of the fundamental guarantees of the process.

This dissertation consists of six separate papers dealing with the valuation of financial guarantees and risky debt contract. Each of these papers is independent and distinct. The main theme is the valuation of securities by contingent claims analysis (CCA). Paper 1: Valuation of Financial Guarantees – A Presentation and a Critique.One purpose of this paper is to derive a pricing formula for a deposit guarantee, when the assets of the bank exhibit downward jumps due to extraordinary loan defaults. In this respect, we use the framework of Merton (1976), where a stock option is priced under the assumption of a jump-diffusion process for the underlying stock. Paper 2: Valuation of Deposit Insurance – An Alternative Approach.This paper extends paper 1 in the respect that the guarantor, in this case a deposit insurance agency, will nullify the guarantee contract and liquidate the bank when it gets insolvent. The liquidation is assumed to involve some costs like legal and realization costs. In fact, since the guarantee contract will never get in-the-money, the guarantee will receive value only from these liquidation costs. Paper 3: Financial Guarantees and Asymmetric Information.In this paper, we make the assumption that the guarantor cannot observe the solvency process, unless it carries out audits. This is different from the normal perfect information assumption for this kind of analysis. Since audits are often costly, and this burdens the guarantee value, the guarantor will search for an audit strategy, which minimizes the guarantee value. Paper 4: Valuation of Barrier Contracts – A Simplified Approach.Many types of financial contracts can be classified as "barrier contracts". This description comes from their feature of allowing either contractual part to take some kind of action during the lifetime of the contract contingent on some pre-specified event. In this sense, the deposit insurance contract in analysed in paper 2 can be regarded as a barrier contract. The previous valuation models of barrier contracts are often considerably advanced and have tended to obscure the underlying economics. It is the path-dependence and stopping-time features that primarily make the derivation of these pricing formulas complicated. Our model simplifies this procedure by deriving the important "first passage time" distribution from a binomial model instead of using the reflection principle. Paper 5: Valuation of Risky Debt in the Presence of Jumps, Safety Barriers and Collaterals.This paper deals with different aspects of risky debt valuation with the CCA approach. The term. "risky", refers to the probability of default on the promised payment by the borrower. Paper 6: Portfolio Selection and the Pricing of Personal Loan Contracts.The CCA literature that follows Black and Scholes (1973), has mainly taken the underlying asset dynamics for given. Although it may be appropriate for stock options, we consider this assumption too simplifying with regards to personal loan contracts. It is obvious that the borrower’s consumption-investment decision affects his wealth process, on which the loan contract is contingent. Moreover, we believe that individuals actually have preferences to repay loans for different reasons such as the existence of reputational costs or legal penalties that affect the borrower in case of loan default. / Diss. av båda förf.  Stockholm : Handelshögskolan

This master thesis examines the issues surrounding the pricing of intra-group loans. The main focus of the thesis is the process of establishing an interest rate and the assessment of the credit risk in an intra-group context.  In order to expose the common problems associated with the pricing of intra-group loans the thesis has examined case law from two different jurisdictions, Canada and Sweden, which have been put in relation to the OECD guidelines and Swedish national legislation. The purpose of the master thesis has been to determine whether the establishing of an interest rate and the assessment of the credit risk of an intra-group loan should be made taking into account the parent-subsidiary affiliation or relationship and whether or not this is a deviation of the arm’s length principle. A general assumption is that, if a transaction is carried out between related parties, the price could be different from a price deriving from negotiations between two unrelated parties on the open market, due to their commercial or financial relations. A common feature in case law, regarding the establishing of an appropriate interest rate on intra-group loan, has been whether or not the parent-subsidiary should be included in the assessment of the credit risk. Much of the support available to taxpayers in resolving transfer pricing issues are relating to goods and services and not financing transactions. The main reason is the unique economic profile of financial transactions. Financial transactions are affected by different factors why it is difficult to develop usable transfer pricing policies. Establishing economically justifiable transfer pricing policies while attempting to properly reflect taxable income and prevent penalties from international tax authorities, has resulted in transfer pricing challenges that are unique to intra-group financing. According to Swedish law, interest is regarded as a deductable cost within corporate tax. However, in recent cases, the Swedish tax authorities have been questioning, the deduction right as well as the level of interest on intra-group loans. As of today, there are few national and international guidelines on this area thus it is of interest to examine and address the issues surrounding intra –group loans.