Primary sensory cortex has long been believed to play a straightforward role in the initial processing of sensory information. Yet, the superficial layers of cortex overall are sparsely active, even during strong sensory stimulation; moreover, cortical activity is influenced by other modalities, task context, reward, and behavioral state. The experiments described in this thesis demonstrate that reinforcement learning dramatically alters representations among longitudinally imaged neurons in superficial layers of mouse primary somatosensory cortex. Cells were confirmed to be sparsely active in naïve animals; however, learning an object detection task recruited previously unresponsive neurons, enlarging the neuronal population sensitive to tactile stimuli. In contrast, cortical responses habituated, decreasing upon repeated exposure to unrewarded stimuli. In addition, after conditioning, the cell population as well as individual neurons better encoded the rewarded stimuli, as well as behavioral choice. Furthermore, in well-trained mice, the neuronal population encoded of the passage of time. We further found evidence that the temporal information was contained in sequences of cell activity, meaning that different cells in the population activated at different moments within the trial. This kind of time-keeping was not observed in naïve animals, nor did it arise after repeated stimulus exposure. Finally, unexpected deviations in trial timing elicited even stronger responses than touch did. In conclusion, the superficial layers of sensory cortex exhibit a high degree of learning-dependent plasticity and are strongly modulated by non-sensory but behaviorally-relevant features, such as timing and surprise.

This thesis is concerned with the characteristics and development of scree slopes, as illustrated by examples from a small alpine valley. The major controls of scree slope development and processes are discussed with special emphasis on rockfalls and snow avalanches. The results of debris accumulation measurements on networks of cleaned boulders and polyethelene squares at seven screes from 1968-1972 are presented and discussed. The techniques are suggested as a valid means of measuring debris accumulation by avalanches. The surface sedimentary characteristics of five screes are examined in detail with particular emphasis on size sorting at various levels over the scree and possible relationships between sedimentary characteristics and sorting. Detail of the profile form of these screes is also given and the avalanche modification of screes discussed. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

No description available.

This dissertation examines the cost behavior model implicit in analysts' and investors' decisions. Even though a cost behavior model that recognizes fixed and variable costs and cost stickiness can provide more accurate earnings forecasts, analysts and investors cannot fully capture sticky cost information. Since analysts are not fully aware of the correct cost behavior model, earnings surprises can be largely explained by a cost model that recognizes sticky stickiness. Similarly, investors' under-reaction to sticky cost information relates to post-earnings announcement drifts. As a result, positive abnormal returns can be earned by a trading strategy that takes advantage of investors' lower awareness of sticky cost information. / Business Administration/Accounting

This dissertation explores three current issues relevant to the accounting and business communities by empirically examining the effect these issues have on the bond credit market. The first study examines the effect earnings predictability has on both the initial bond rating and the initial pricing of the issue. Earnings predictability is measured as (1) the annual earnings surprise (actual minus analyst forecast) and (2) the dispersion of initial analyst forecasts. The results indicate a negative association between a lack of earnings predictability and both bond ratings and initial bond price. The results are consistent with creditors interpreting greater earnings variability as a dimension of default risk incremental to the benchmark model. These results add to the existing literature by documenting a favorable benefit in the credit arena for firms that have predictable earnings. The second study investigates the effect perceived auditor independence has on the rating assigned to newly issued bonds. The magnitude of non-audit service fees is utilized as a proxy for auditor independence. The results of the study document a consistent negative relationship between the level of non-audit fees provided by the external auditor and the bond rating received by the client for new issues. Several non-audit fee measures are used in the study (raw measure, log scaled, asset scaled, unexpected) and each possess a significant negative association with a firm's bond rating. Importantly, no economic effect was discernable in a classification accuracy analysis. The third study examines what effect, if any, longer auditor tenure has on the client's bond rating. There is some contention that longer auditor tenure can lead to substandard audits either through the auditor's excessive desire to retain the client or through general auditor complacency. However, the issue of auditor tenure is far from one-sided. An alternative view asserts that longer auditor tenure increases client-specific knowledge and, thus, results in increased audit quality. Results indicate a positive association between auditor tenure and the client's bond rating on new issues suggesting that longer auditor tenure is perceived to be beneficial by bond rating analysts. This is consistent with financial statement users perceiving longer tenured auditors to have more client specific knowledge thus increasing auditor competency and a better audit. Overall, these results contribute to the existing knowledge-base in accounting by empirically demonstrating how several important issues of interest to the accounting profession are impounded into a firm's bond rating. This research provides a detailed look at how one important group of knowledgeable financial statement users, i.e. bond rating analysts, incorporate several issues that are relevant and important to the professional community. / Ph. D.

L'objet de cette recherche est de découvrir le vrai sens de la fameuse « main invisible » d'Adam Smith à travers la nature humaine en insistant surtout sur le rôle de l'imagination humaine. Afin d'éclairer le plus grand mythe de toute l'histoire de l'économie moderne, on va faire référence aux différents concepts du maître écossais comme la philosophie, la sympathie, le spectateur impartial, la surprise, l'étonnement, l'admiration ou encore les vertus. Dans cette démarche, il sera sans doute essentiel d'insister sur les caractéristiques de l'homme à savoir son amour pour des systèmes cohérents, réguliers, harmonieux et simples, pour améliorer sa condition, sa recherche pour plus de commodités, son désir d'approbation ou encore son aversion pour une désapprobation de la part d'autrui. L'objet de ses différentes références est de prouver une cohérence évidente et intelligible non seulement en ce qui concerne l'unicité de la philosophie smithienne mais aussi en ce qui concerne le vrai sens de la main invisible du père fondateur de l'économie moderne. / The purpose of this research is to discover the true meaning of the famous "invisible hand" of Adam Smith through human nature with particular emphasis on the role of human imagination. To inform the biggest myth in the history of the modern economy, we will refer to different concepts of the Scottish master as the philosophy, sympathy, impartial spectator, surprise, wonder, admiration or virtues. In this approach, it may be essential to emphasize the characteristics of man namely his love for coherent, regular, harmonious and simple systems, to improve his condition, his search for convenience, his desire to approval or his aversion for disapproval from others. The purpose of its various references is to prove an evident and intelligible consistency not only regarding to the uniqueness of the Smithian philosophy but also regarding to the true meaning of the invisible hand of the founding father of the modern economics.

abstract: Human-robot interaction has expanded immensely within dynamic environments. The goals of human-robot interaction are to increase productivity, efficiency and safety. In order for the integration of human-robot interaction to be seamless and effective humans must be willing to trust the capabilities of assistive robots. A major priority for human-robot interaction should be to understand how human dyads have been historically effective within a joint-task setting. This will ensure that all goals can be met in human robot settings. The aim of the present study was to examine human dyads and the effects of an unexpected interruption. Humans’ interpersonal and individual levels of trust were studied in order to draw appropriate conclusions. Seventeen undergraduate and graduate level dyads were collected from Arizona State University. Participants were broken up into either a surprise condition or a baseline condition. Participants individually took two surveys in order to have an accurate understanding of levels of dispositional and individual levels of trust. The findings showed that participant levels of interpersonal trust were average. Surprisingly, participants who participated in the surprise condition afterwards, showed moderate to high levels of dyad trust. This effect showed that participants became more reliant on their partners when interrupted by a surprising event. Future studies will take this knowledge and apply it to human-robot interaction, in order to mimic the seamless team-interaction shown in historically effective dyads, specifically human team interaction. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Engineering 2019

In this paper I use an equity duration framework to develop and empirically test the hypothesis that returns on growth stock portfolios react more strongly to Federal Funds target rate change announcements, as compared to value stock portfolios. When I decompose the Federal Funds rate change, I find that portfolio returns are only sensitive to rate shocks, as opposed to the predictable component of rate change. Since growth stocks are expected to have higher duration than value stocks, I further explore the well documented polarity between value and growth stocks, by examining the interest rate sensitivities of portfolios that diverge along four fundamental-to-prices ratios: dividend yield, book-to-market value, earnings-to-price and cashflows-to-price. In each case, I find that price reactions are more pronounced for portfolios with high growth characteristics. I also document that portfolio returns react asymmetrically to positive and negative target rate surprises, and that this reaction is conditional on the state of business cycles - periods of economic expansions and recessions. To improve the robustness of my results, several statistical applications have been applied. First, I include Newey-west estimators to examine significant levels of regression estimates. Second, I check if there is any contemporaneous correlation across target rate shocks by applying ARIMA tests, and to overcome the problem resulted from serial correlation of target rate shocks, I substitute white noise residuals from the regressions on the rate shocks for target rate shocks to be new exogenous variables.

<p>This thesis is about the design and evaluation of a graphical display that aims at showing the behavior of a complex automated system in action. A problem with complex automation is that it sometimes surprises the user by performing actions that were not expected. The reason of this is poor communication of system activities. In order to study how to design for anticipative automation communication a prototype around automatic vehicle driving on highways was designed and evaluated. The design work focused on designing a display that contained anticipation as a use quality. This resulted in a display design that aimed at representing the working scene in such a way that the user would be able to recognize and compare the system view with the real situation. In order to accomplish this, three layers of information were merged together in the display, these layers were; the automaton’s image of how the world is seen, the way that image is perceived and interpreted in terms of system action necessity and out of that the actions that the system plans to perform in the near future. The evaluation of the design prototype showed that it was possible to anticipate system actions but that the information detail level was insufficient for the evaluators to completely trust system decisions. The evaluation also showed that trust can be created by letting the automaton represent the perception of the situation in such a way that the user is able to compare it to personal experience from performing the task manually. Anticipation can be created through showing what future the automaton is expecting and what actions that needs to be performed in order to reach or maintain the general system task or goal.</p>

<p>This essay aims to analyse if the Russian military operation carried out against Georgia between the 7^th and 12^th of august 2008 were executed with adherence to the Russian principles for military deception, <em>maskirovka</em>.</p><p>   A superior purpose is to assess the situation according to the Swedish Armed Forces task of identifying possible needs for new or changed needs for abilities and competence.</p><p>   The method used is two-alternative hypotheses which are tried by comparing actual events before and during the Russian-Georgian war with the ten methods of <em>maskirovka</em>, compiled from military analytical literature. Such traces of resemblance are further examined, both individually and as a part of a larger indication.</p><p>   Further the essay describes the Russian art of war, the prerequisites for military surprise, information warfare in Russian doctrine, the disputed territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and the principles for <em>maskirovka</em>.</p><p>   The conclusion is that the Russian operation was executed with some adherence to maskirovka, though unspecified of to what degree.</p><p>   Author of this essay is Cadet Martin Svensson of the Swedish Army, currently a student at the Armed Forces Technical School in Halmstad.</p>