Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 125-129). / Also available by subscription via World Wide Web / xi, 129 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm

This thesis addresses two important topics in developing a systematic space-time geometric approach to real-time, low-level motion vision. The first one concerns measuring of image flow, while the second one focuses on how to find low level features. We argue for studying motion vision in terms of space-time geometry rather than in terms of two (or a few) consecutive image frames. The use of Galilean Geometry and Galilean similarity geometry for this  purpose is motivated and relevant geometrical background is reviewed. In order to measure the visual signal in a way that respects the geometry of the situation and the causal nature of time, we argue that a time causal Galilean spatio-temporal scale-space is needed. The scale-space axioms are chosen so that they generalize popular axiomatizations of spatial scale-space to spatio-temporal  geometries. To be able to derive the scale-space, an infinitesimal framework for scale-spaces that respects a more general class of Lie groups (compared to previous theory) is developed and applied. Perhaps surprisingly, we find that with the chosen axiomatization, a time causal Galilean scale-space is not possible as an evolution process on space and time. However, it is possible on space and memory. We argue that this actually is a more accurate and realistic model of motion vision. While the derivation of the time causal Galilean spatio-temporal scale-spaces requires some exotic mathematics, the end result is as simple as one possibly could hope for and a natural extension of  spatial scale-spaces. The unique infinitesimally generated scale-space is an ordinary diffusion equation with drift on memory and a diffusion equation on space. The drift is used for velocity  adaption, the "velocity adaption" part of Galilean geometry (the Galilean boost) and the temporal scale-space acts as memory. Lifting the restriction of infinitesimally generated scale spaces, we arrive at a new family of scale-spaces. These are generated by a family of fractional differential evolution equations that generalize the ordinary diffusion equation. The same type of evolution equations have recently become popular in research in e.g. financial and physical modeling. The second major topic in this thesis is extraction of features from an image flow. A set of low-level features can be derived by classifying basic Galilean differential invariants. We proceed to derive invariants for two main cases: when the spatio-temporal  gradient cuts the image plane and when it is tangent to the image plane. The former case corresponds to isophote curve motion and the later to creation and disappearance of image structure, a case that is not well captured by the theory of optical flow. The Galilean differential invariants that are derived are equivalent with curl, divergence, deformation and acceleration. These  invariants are normally calculated in terms of optical flow, but here they are instead calculated directly from the the  spatio-temporal image. / QC 20110518

A novel approach for the analysis of spinal cord deformation based on a combined technique of non-invasive imaging and medical image processing is presented. A sopposed to traditional approaches where animal spinal cords are exposed and directly subjected to mechanical impact in order to be examined, this approach can be used to quantify deformities of the spinal cord in vivo, so that deformations — specifically those of myelopathy-related sustained compression — of the spinal cord can be computed in its original physiological environment. This, then, allows for a more accurate understanding of spinal cord deformations and injuries. Images of rat spinal cord deformations, acquired using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), were analyzed using a combination of various image processing methods, including image segmentation, a versor-based rigid registration technique, and a B-spline-based non-rigid registration technique. To verify the validity and assess the accuracy of this approach, several validation schemes were implemented to compare the deformation fields computed by the proposed algorithm against known deformation fields. First, validation was performed on a synthetically-generated spinal cord model data warped using synthetic deformations; error levels achieved were consistently below 6% with respect to cord width, even for large degrees of deformation up to half of the dorsal-ventral width of the cord (50% deflection). Then, accuracy was established using in vivo rat spinal cord images warped using those same synthetic deformations; error levels achieved were also consistently below 6% with respect to cord width, in this case for large degrees of deformation up to the entire dorsal-ventral width of the cord (100% deflection). Finally, the accuracy was assessed using data from the Visible Human Project (VHP) warped using simulated deformations obtained from finite element (FE) analysis of the spinal cord; error levels achieved were as low as 3.9% with respect to cord width. This in vivo, non-invasive semi-automated analysis tool provides a new framework through which the causes, mechanisms, and tolerance parameters of myelopathy-related sustained spinal cord compression, as well as the measures used in neuroprotection and regeneration of spinal cord tissue, can be prospectively derived in a manner that ensures the bio-fidelity of the cord.

The hospital industry operates in a very competitive environment, where differentiation strategies play a very important role to out perform rivals. Corporate reputation is an intangible asset of immense value and probably the only sustainable competitive advantage that any hospital can possess. This research therefore has as its objective, the identification of the factors affecting the corporate reputation of hospitals. / The concept of reputation hinges upon the perceptions and beliefs of stakeholders. Perceptions and beliefs are intrinsically hard to manage. It is also hard to measure corporate reputation unless the parameters of reputation are known. Many of the current measures of reputation in the literature were found to be lacking in rigour. A search of the literature failed to find any comprehensive studies on identifying the factors affecting corporate reputation for the hospital industry. Therefore, the aim of this exploratory research was, to fill this gap in the understanding of corporate reputation of hospitals, from the Singapore perspective. / Thesis (PhDBusinessandManagement)--University of South Australia, 2007.

This research focuses on the retail investor???s perception of the corporate image and reputation of large Mainland enterprises listed in Hong Kong. Such enterprises have grown and are expected to grow, in both number and significance in the local securities market. Despite the effort to align themselves with international business practices, these enterprises are generally still perceived as being less accountable and transparent, and have a less favourable corporate image and reputation when compared to the other blue chip companies listed in Hong Kong. / Our results indicate that only three factors, namely, corporate management and communication, financial prospects, and market presence, significantly influence retail perception. Four implications arise: how companies communicate with retail investors is as important as how companies are perceived to be managed; maximising leadership driven communication, communicating clearly to retail investors the financial prospects of the company and communicating and impressing retail investors with the market presence of the company. / Thesis (DBA(DoctorateofBusinessAdministration))--University of South Australia, 2007

This research focuses on the development of a novel image super-resolution algorithm for coordinate measurement in manufacturing. The main features of the algorithm are that it is fast, flexible and fully automatic. A fast algorithm is required because image-super resolution is a procedure that handles a large amount of data. Having a slow or highly complex algorithm may result in computational infeasibility. A flexible algorithm means the algorithm can be customised to handle specific problems, i.e. the algorithm can be augmented with multiple constraints and still obtain an optimal solution. This is desirable as most image super-resolution problems are specific and having the capacity to augment multiple constraints reduces the search space, thus leading to faster convergence. An automatic algorithm is viewed as ideal as it has minimum human intervention and will generate super-resolution images automatically when measured frames are input. / This study considers three issues related the developing the algorithms: the model of image super-resolution; the formulation of a flexible algorithm that is capable of augmenting multiple constraints into the model and produces optimal super-resolution images; and the optimisation technique to solve the problem formulated to ensure that the computational complexity is low. / Thesis (PhDEngineering)--University of South Australia, 2005.

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Bibliography: leaves 100-110. / xiv, 110 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / This thesis addresses the structure from motion problem in computer vision. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Computer Science, 2000

The hospital industry operates in a very competitive environment, where differentiation strategies play a very important role to out perform rivals. Corporate reputation is an intangible asset of immense value and probably the only sustainable competitive advantage that any hospital can possess. This research therefore has as its objective, the identification of the factors affecting the corporate reputation of hospitals. / The concept of reputation hinges upon the perceptions and beliefs of stakeholders. Perceptions and beliefs are intrinsically hard to manage. It is also hard to measure corporate reputation unless the parameters of reputation are known. Many of the current measures of reputation in the literature were found to be lacking in rigour. A search of the literature failed to find any comprehensive studies on identifying the factors affecting corporate reputation for the hospital industry. Therefore, the aim of this exploratory research was, to fill this gap in the understanding of corporate reputation of hospitals, from the Singapore perspective. / Thesis (PhDBusinessandManagement)--University of South Australia, 2007.

This research focuses on the retail investor???s perception of the corporate image and reputation of large Mainland enterprises listed in Hong Kong. Such enterprises have grown and are expected to grow, in both number and significance in the local securities market. Despite the effort to align themselves with international business practices, these enterprises are generally still perceived as being less accountable and transparent, and have a less favourable corporate image and reputation when compared to the other blue chip companies listed in Hong Kong. / Our results indicate that only three factors, namely, corporate management and communication, financial prospects, and market presence, significantly influence retail perception. Four implications arise: how companies communicate with retail investors is as important as how companies are perceived to be managed; maximising leadership driven communication, communicating clearly to retail investors the financial prospects of the company and communicating and impressing retail investors with the market presence of the company. / Thesis (DBA(DoctorateofBusinessAdministration))--University of South Australia, 2007