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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
281

Real time global illumination using the GPU

Bengtsson, Morgan January 2010 (has links)
Global illumination is an important factor when striving for photo realism in computergraphics. This thesis describes why this is the case, and why global illumination is considered acomplex problem to solve. The problem becomes even more demanding when considering realtime purposes. Resent research has proven it possible to produce global illumination in realtime. Therefore the subject of this thesis is to compare and evaluate a number of those methods. An implementation is presented based on the Imperfect shadow maps method, which per se isbased on instant radiosity and reflective shadow maps. The implementation is able to renderplausible global illumination effects in real time, for fully dynamic scenes. With conclusions that while it demonstrably is possible to provide believable global illum-ination in real time, it is not without shortcomings. In every case approximations or restrictionshas to be done to some extent, sometimes leading to wrong results. Though in most cases, notvisually unpleasing by a great deal. The final conclusion is that global illumination is possible on current hardware, with believablequality and good speed. Showing great potential for future implementations on next generationof hardware.
282

An exploratory research : Fear and the need of security interplay as a business mechanism

Beltrán Alanis, Martha Alicia, Cruz Sánchez, Javier Arnulfo January 2011 (has links)
Background: Humanity builds and writes its history. Overtime the need of feeling secure has been present originated from an emotion, a condition and reaction: the fear of threats or danger. The impact of human fear over the humanity behaviour leads for searching ways of reducing such fear. Consequently, security companies have a potential opportunity for fulfilling this human need reducing the phenomenon of fear. Some organisations and companies discovered that human fear can be used as tool for influencing the individual behaviour and for consumption purposes. Aim: Developing a research and discussing some of the issues that concerns today‟s societies and business organisations as well as the managerial consequences arising by exploring the global fear and necessity of security trends as a critical issue for the decades to come. Therefore, the purpose of this study explores the extent to which companies can use human fear that an individual perceives as a potential strategy within the security industry to increase and expand their market. Definitions: When companies use fear in advertising influence human behaviour known in marketing as fear appeal. In this research, mass media does not use fear as a conscious way to manipulate or persuade human behaviour. However, the usage of fear messages in mass media has an impact on human fear perception. Then, there is evidence of a positive relationship between marketing fear appeal and mass media spreading information of threats, violence and crime. Both create fear on humans‟ perception but marketing in a direct conscious way and mass media in an indirect unconscious way, what we have identified and called „unacquainted-indirect fear appeal‟. Results: The findings in this exploratory thesis show a functional relationship between the phenomenon of fear and the phenomenon of the need of security which are persistent variables overtime. Therefore, it is possible for security companies to take advantage of this trend and to develop a potential strategy to increase and expand their market while taking into account that fear appeal needs a very specific treatment and testing along this process due to the several results that can be achieved from such a strategy. The results can vary depending on the circumstances of the individual and the environment not always controllable by the companies within business in a constant changing world.
283

Correlation analysis between resting metabolic rate, body composition and physical activity in active and inactive men and women

Jonsson, Emma January 2012 (has links)
The objective of the present study was to explore the correlation between resting metabolic rate (RMR), body composition and physical activity in active and inactive men and women aged 20-30 years. In total, 13 active and 10 inactive women and 8 active and 5 inactive men were enrolled in this study. RMR was measured using an indirect respiratory calorimeter and body composition was obtained using a BodPod, anthropometric measurements (measurements of waist, weight, skin fold thickness etc.) and bioelectrical impedance analysis. From the BodPod were information obtained about fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM) and from the bioelectrical impedance analysis were data obtained about the total body water (TBW). By combining the data from these methods a three-compartment model could be produced. This gives a better value of the body composition. By using anthropometric measurements the muscle mass (MM) could be calculated. FFM measurements correlate best with RMR for both active men and women and for inactive women. For the inactive men MM correlates best with RMR. In conclusion, comparing the groups as a whole it is seen that the FFM correlates best with RMR for both women and men. Since the muscles are the metabolically active part of FFM it is concluded that muscles affects the RMR value and muscles can in turn be influenced by training.
284

Exploring the mechanisms of sex and grade differences in relational/indirect/social aggression

Mazur, Jennifer Leah 15 August 2008 (has links)
The purpose of the project was to explore sex and grade differences observed in RISA (a term used to refer collectively to relational, indirect, and social aggression). Three theories used to explain sex and grade differences, namely, gender socialization theory (Bjorkqvist, 1994;Lagerspetz & Bjorkqvist, 1994; Lagerspetz, Bjorkqvist, & Peltonen, 1988), target-value theory(Bjorkqvist, Lagerspetz, & Kaukiainen, 1992; Lagerspetz et al, 1988; Crick & Grotpeter, 1995),and symbolic capital theory (Campbell, 1993; Cashdan, 1997; Eckert, 1990; Horney 1934a, 1934b, 1934c) were reviewed, expanded upon, and tested. Theories were tested using questionnaires; however, a small subset of participants also completed individual interviews to add greater depth to information provided by the quantitative data. A second purpose of the project was to use a measure that represents the diversity of RISA items found in other measures currently used by researchers since research has suggested inconsistencies in findings may be related to item composition. Participants were 521 (301 girls and 220 boys) in grades six (n = 224), seven (n = 224) and eight (n = 73) from various Canadian schools (average age of 12.2 years) who completed the questionnaires. From this sample, 28 students completed individual interviews. Results indicated that boys and girls did not differ in regard to self-reported use of RISA; however, interviews and peer nominations indicated that girls have the reputation for engaging in RISA more frequently than boys. Post-hoc analyses indicated that the appearance of sex differences in RISA may be influenced by item choice as some items on the self-report measure were more highly reported by boys, while others were more likely to be reported by girls. There was not a great deal of support for any of the theories tested. Results indicated that the pattern of connections for predictors of RISA frequently did not differ by sex. Factors like perceived risk of or discomfort with using aggression, affective reactions to relationship threats, and care about ones own or a peers performance in a number of life domains were connected to RISA for both sexes.
285

Indirect Land-Use Change from BiofuelProduction : Uncertainties and Policymaking from an EUPerspective

Offergeld, Taniya January 2012 (has links)
No description available.
286

Användning av svenska stiftelser i fåmansföretagskonstruktioner

Larsson, Linda January 2012 (has links)
Denna uppsats syftar till att utreda huruvida ändamålet med fåmansföretagsreglerna kan kringgås genom företagskonstruktioner med svenska stiftelser. I utredningen läggs fokus på fåmansföretagsreglerna samt de regler som behandlar kontrollmöjligheten av en stiftelse. Även de skattemässiga konsekvenser som medförs i en fåmansföretagskonstruktion med en svensk stiftelse behandlas. Syftet med fåmansföretagsreglerna är att motverka att en delägares inkomst som härstam-mar från arbetsinsats i företaget omvandlas till kapitalinkomst. Om en utomstående, direkt eller indirekt, i betydande omfattning äger andel i ett företag eller direkt eller indirekt har rätt till utdelning, tillämpas utomståenderegeln som är en undantagsregel från fåmansföre-tagsreglerna. Tidigare lagstiftning har inneburit att utomståenderegeln har kunnat tillämpats vid ett indirekt ägande. Dagens gällande fåmansföretagsregler omfattar dock även indirekt ägda fåmansföretag. Indirekt ägande genom svenska stiftelser är däremot inte reglerat i lag. Författaren kommer fram till att ett indirekt ägande i ett fåmansföretag genom en stiftelse normalt inte kan anses föreligga, trots att vissa möjligheter finns att kontrollera en stiftelse. Istället blir utomståenderegeln tillämplig då en betydande del i företaget ägs av en stiftelse. För en verksam fåmansföretagare som säljer andelarna i företaget till en stiftelse beskattas dock utbetalningarna från stiftelsen i inkomstslaget tjänst. Detta innebär att kapital som härrörs från arbetsinsats i fåmansföretaget, genom företagskonstruktionen med stiftelsen, inte kan omvandlas till kapitalinkomst. På grund av utomståenderegeln kan dock en delä-gare uppnå skattemässiga fördelar genom att bilda en stiftelse och överlåta tillräckliga ande-lar i fåmansföretaget, trots att stiftelsen då har rätt till utdelning motsvarande sin andel. / The purpose of this bachelor thesis is to analyze if the regulations regarding closely held companies serve their purpose in company structures with Swedish trusts. The regulations regarding closely held companies as well as a founder’s possibility to control a trust are cen-tral in this thesis. In addition the thesis deals with the tax consequences which follow a company structure with Swedish trusts. The purpose of the regulations regarding closely held companies is to prevent income de-riving from work efforts to be converted into capital income. The outsider rule is an ex-emption rule in the regulations regarding closely held companies and is applicable if an out-sider, direct or indirectly, owns a significant share in a company or direct or indirectly has the right to dividends. Shareholders in such companies can be taxed solely for capital in-come. According to previous regulations the outsider rule was applicable when a company was owned indirectly. This is no longer the case, however there are no current regulations covering the situation when a company is indirectly controlled through a Swedish trust. The author comes to the conclusion that although a founder has some possibilities to con-trol a trust, a closely held company can normally not be indirectly owned through a trust. Instead, the outsider rule is applicable when a trust owns a significant share of a company. An active shareholder in a closely held company who sells his shares to a trust will be taxed for salary income for the payments received from the trust. Income that derives from work efforts will therefore not be converted into capital income. However, a shareholder can gain tax advantages due to the outsider rule, by founding a Swedish trust and selling a sig-nificant amount of the shares, even though the trust in that situation has the right to an amount of dividends corresponding to its shares.
287

Characterization of Pre-Monsoon Aerosol and Aerosol-Cloud-Rainfall Interactions in Central Nepal

SHRESTHA, PRABHAKAR January 2011 (has links)
<p>This dissertation presents the first findings of aerosol indirect effect in the foothills of the Himalayas (Central Nepal), through a systematic research approach involving satellite data analysis, field campaign, growth factor estimation and numerical modeling studies. Satellite retrieved aerosol optical depth data over the region were first used to identify the dominant modes of spatial/temporal variability of aerosols in the region. Based on the observed dominant spatial mode of aerosol in the pre-monsoon season (Shrestha and Barros 2010, ACP), a field campaign was organized under the Joint Aerosol Monsoon Experiment (JAMEX09) at Dhulikhel and Besisahar to simultaneously measure dry and ambient aerosols size spectra using SMPS and chemical composition using filters (Shrestha et al. 2010, ACP). The diurnal cycle of aerosol number concentration exhibited a consistent peak in the morning and evening period, which was found to be associated with increase in local emission and the delay in ventilation of aerosol through upslope flows and mixing (inferred from an idealized numerical study over Besisahar). The aerosol size distribution was mostly unimodal at night and bimodal during the day, with a consistent larger mode around 100nm and a smaller mode located around 20nm. The chemical composition of PM2.5 was dominated by organic matter at both sites. Organic carbon (OC) comprised the major fraction (64~68%) of the aerosol concentration followed by ionic species (24~26%, mainly and ). Elemental Carbon (EC) compromised 7~10% of the total composition and 27% of OC was found to be water soluble at both sites. The aerosol number concentration increased and decreased in the presence of synoptic scale aerosol plumes and after rainfall events respectively.</p><p>A simple model based on Köhler theory was used to explain the observed growth factor using an assumption of (NH4)2SO4 aqueous solution including the presence of slightly soluble organic compounds (SSC) with an insoluble core as a function of molality and mass-fraction. The measured growth factors suggest that the aerosols are in metastable state due to the strong diurnal cycle of relative humidity (RH). The bulk hygroscopic parameter estimated from the DGF and chemical composition of aerosols suggests less hygroscopic aerosols at both locations as compared to previous studies. The dry aerosol size distribution and the bulk hygroscopic parameters were used to estimate the cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) spectrum, which was vertically scaled up to lifting condensation level (LCL) assuming that the shape and chemical properties of aerosol remains unchanged (Shrestha et al. 2011, submitted to JGR). Finally, these regional CCN spectra for polluted and clean conditions as well as standard continental and marine spectra used in numerical weather prediction models (Cohard et al. 1998) were used to probe CCN sensitivity for a pre-monsoon storm system in Central Nepal during JAMEX09. A significant shift in the maxima of the accumulated precipitation was observed between the continental aerosol spectra (Cohard et al. 1998) and the polluted spectra for Dhulikhel. This shift caused the displacement of rainfall maximum away from the Kulekhani water reserve catchment, which is key to hydropower in Nepal. Detailed analysis of the simulations suggests that simgnificant differences in the space-time variability and intensity of precipitation, if not areally integrated amounts, can be explained by differences in the timing and intensity of latent heat release and absorption due to freezing/melting of hydrometers and evaporative cooling of droplets, strengthening cold pool formation and associated circulations. This numerical study provides the first look on the aerosol indirect effect over Nepal for a single pre-monsoon rainfall event, and how aerosols can potentially affect the precipitation distribution (to be submitted to JGR). In addition, it shows the importance of using regionally consistent CCN spectra in model parameterizations of aerosol-cloud interactions. At local places, the differences in simulated precipitation between marine, JAMEX09 clean and polluted air spectra were smaller (up tp ± 50%) than the difference between those simulations and the standard continental aerosol spectra (±200%).</p> / Dissertation
288

Assessments of the Direct and Indirect Effects of Anthropogenic Aerosols on Regional Precipitation over East Asia Using a Coupled Regional Climate-Chemistry-Aerosol Model

Huang, Yan 24 March 2005 (has links)
An aerosol module is developed and coupled to a regional climate model to investigate the direct and indirect effect of anthropogenic aerosols (sulfate and carbonaceous aerosols) on climate with a focus on precipitation over East Asia. This fully coupled regional climate-chemistry-aerosol model is capable of understanding the interactions between the aerosol perturbation and climate change. The simulated aerosol spatial and seasonal distributions are generally consistent with the observations. The magnitude of the simulated total aerosol concentration and optical depth is about 2/3 of the observed value, suggesting the estimated climatic effects in this work are reasonable and conservative. With the implementation of various aerosol effect, i.e., direct, semi-direct, 1st and 2nd indirect effect, the aerosols?impacts on climate are assessed over the region. The direct, semi-direct and 1st indirect effects generate a negative surface solar forcing, leading to a surface cooling, and the semi-direct effect also heats the atmosphere by BC absorption. This, in turn, increases the atmospheric stability and tends to inhibit the precipitation. The precipitation reduction is largest in the fall and winter, up to -10% with the inclusion of both direct and 1st indirect effects. The 2nd indirect effect using BH94 scheme produces a comparable magnitude in long-wave heating as the solar cooling, leading to the nighttime temperature warming of 0.5K, and a reduction in the diurnal temperature range. The precipitation reduction from the 2nd indirect effect strongly depends on the auto-conversion scheme, with about -30% in the fall and winter, and -15% in the spring and summer using BH94 scheme, while less than -5% using TC80 scheme. By allowing the feedbacks between aerosols and climate, the coupled model generally decreases the discrepancies between the model-simulated and observed precipitation and aerosols over the region. The EOF analysis of the climatological precipitation from last century over East Asia shows a decreasing mode in the EOF leading modes in the fall and winter, and is generally geographically consistent with the distribution of the model simulated precipitation reduction from anthropogenic aerosols.
289

Evaluation Of Resilient Modulus Estimation Methods For Asphalt Mixtures Based On Laboratory Measurements

Demirci, Canser 01 May 2010 (has links) (PDF)
Resilient modulus is a property for bound and unbound pavement materials characterizing the elastic behavior of materials under dynamic repeated loading. Resilient modulus is an important design parameter for pavement structures because it represents the structural strength of pavement layers through which the thickness design is based on. In Turkey, the layer thickness design is performed using resilient modulus determined empirically from various published sources. Determining a layer modulus using empirical methods causes inaccurate design solutions, which directly affects the structural performance and the overall cost of pavement construction. In this study, the resilient moduli of bituminous mixtures are measured in the laboratory by the indirect tensile test procedure for eight asphalt concrete samples according to NCHRP and ASTM procedures. The measured moduli of samples based on the two procedures are compared with the predicted values calculated from various empirical methods using aggregate and binder properties. An evaluation of each estimation method is presented on the basis of its accuracy level. The results show that the Witczak predictive equation produces the closest estimation to the modulus of samples for both laboratory measurement methods.
290

Perceived Risk Of Victimization And Fear Of Crime: A Case Study Of Metu Students

Gokulu, Gokhan 01 September 2011 (has links) (PDF)
Fear of crime is a phenomenon which affects individuals&#039 / standard of living and influences their everyday behaviors. In this sense, it can be said that if a person has high fear of crime, this will have a negative effect on his or her standard of living. Fear of crime does not always bear resemblance to the crime rate of the society. From this standpoint, residents of a region where crime rate is high do not always have high fear of crime. Similarly, the residents of a region where crime rate is low may have high fear of crime. This situation points out the need of an extensive analysis on fear of crime as a significant variable regarding individuals&#039 / standard of living. This study aims to examine the relationship between perceived risk of victimization and fear of crime. Studies about fear of crime mainly focus on gender differences, social inequalities and physical incivilities. all of this factor are important element to grasp its nature and dimensions of fear of crime. In addition to this factors fear of crime is affected by individuals risk perception of victimization. Our study aims to deal fear of crime concept among students in a multidimensional approach. In this respect, it will evaluate how much the students are afraid of and uncomfortable with being exposed to a crime rather than the assessing merely the possibility of being exposed to a crime. The study will measure the concept of fear of crime over the concept of anticipated fear according to Ferraro&rsquo / s (1995) model. The advantage of this approach is that it allows the measurement of fear of crime the individuals show as a result of contacting other person and environment rather than the instantaneous fears. Our study will evaluate the Metu students&rsquo / fear of crime in terms of specific crimes rather than a general evaluation of crime in line with the approach of risk perception. In this sense, our study seeks to measure the fear of crime over certain crimes such as theft, robbery, simple attack, serious attack and sexual abuse.

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