This thesis explores a performance practice within free improvisation. This is not a theory based improvisation – performances do not require specific preparation and the music refrains from repetition of musical structures. It engages in investigative and experimental approaches emerging from holistic considerations of acoustics, interaction and instrument, and also philosophy, psychology, sociopolitics and technology. The performance practice explores modes and approaches to working with the given potentiality of an electronically augmented acoustic instrument and involves the development of a suitably flexible computerised performance system, the piano+, combining extended techniques and real-time electroacoustic processes, which has the acoustic piano at its core. Contingencies of acoustic events and performance gestures – captured by audio analysis and sensors and combined to control the parameter space of computer processes – manipulate the fundamental properties of sound, timbre and time. Spherical abstractions, developed under consideration of Agamben’s potentiality and Sloterdijk’s philosophical theory of spheres, allow a shared metaphor for technical, instrumental, personal, and interpersonal concerns. This facilitates a theoretical approach for heuristic and investigative improvisation where performance is considered ‘Ereignis’ (an event) for sociopolitically aware activities that draw on the situational potentiality and present themselves in fragile and context dependent forms. Ever new relationships can be found and developed, but can equally be lost. Sloterdijk supplied the concept of knowledge resulting from equipping our ‘inner space’, an image suiting non-linearity of thought that transpires from Kuhl’s psychological PSI-theory to explain human motivation and behaviour. The role of technology – diversion and subversion of sound and activity – creates a space between performer and instrument that retains a fundamental pianism but defies expectation and anticipation. Responsibility for one’s actions is required to deal with the unexpected without resorting to preliminary strategies restricting potential discourses, particularly within ensemble situations. This type of performance embraces the ‘Ereignis’.

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In this thesis I examine the ways in which analysing open-air preaching as ‘radical street performance’ can inform our understanding of this expression of Christian preaching. Open-air preaching is commonly associated with negative stereotypes. Most contemporary homiletical writers also largely neglect considering this practice. Through my research, I posit radical street performance as a constructive and illuminating way to understand and analyse open-air preaching. In chapter 1, I introduce the practice of open-air preaching in relation to relevant homiletical literature. In so doing, I challenge the commonly held stereotypes about open-air preaching. I do so with reference to the long and diverse nature of the practice. In chapter 2, I critically analyse existing ‘preaching as performance’ literature. I first demonstrate the ways in which these authors show the suitability of performance as a concept for understanding preaching. I then go on to consider the limitations of their understandings of preaching as performance for exploring open-air preaching in performance terms. I do this to establish the immediate theoretical context for my own research. In chapter 3, I develop this argument further drawing on the work of performance theorists Jan Cohen-Cruz and Baz Kershaw. I argue accordingly, that radical street performance is a valuable way of understanding and analysing open-air preaching as performance. On the basis of these theoretical and methodological foundations, in chapters 4-6, I explore three case studies of open-air preaching according to this analytical approach. In chapter 4, I focus on the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century evangelical preaching of James Haldane (1768-1851), whose open-air preaching was directly related to his move to congregational Independency. In chapter 5, I explore the early to mid twentieth century open-air preaching of George MacLeod (1895- 1991), founder of the Iona Community. In chapter 6, I analyse the open-air preaching of OAC Ministries GB, a contemporary organisation that seeks to promote and practice open-air preaching in a creative way. The outcomes of the original research in chapters 4, 5, and 6 demonstrate the applicability and versatility of radical street performance as a way of understanding and analysing open-air preaching in performance terms. It also provides original understandings of the dynamics of each example of open-air preaching examined, highlighting differences and similarities between them. In chapter 7, I draw together by way of conclusions, the theoretical, theological, and practical outcomes of the research for the practice of open-air preaching and the consequent implications for in-church preaching. In this way I present open-air preaching as a minority but significant practice of incarnational witness which exists in a tensive relationship with the dominant practice of in-church preaching.

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The business environment has changed dramatically since the 1980s. Many researchers have shown that the traditional financially-based performance measurement systems have failed to cope with the current dynamic business environment. Even although new performance measurement systems have been proposed, such as Activity-Based Costing, the Balanced Scorecard, the SMART system, the Performance Measurement Questionnaires and the Cambridge model, the problem of quantifying the interaction of the factors affecting business performance still remains. The objectives of this thesis are: 1. To develop a performance measurement system model that can be used to quantify the effects of factors on performance and consolidate them into a single performance indicator. 2. To develop a model for reducing the number of performance reports. 3. To carry out experiments for testing the validity, applicability and stability of the models developed. To achieve these objectives this thesis reviews research methodology literature, studies the traditional and new performance measurement systems, identifies the current problems of performance measurement systems, reviews existing methods for identifying, structuring and prioritising performance measures, reviews the multicriteria methods, studies the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and its controversy, develops quantitative methods for performance measurement systems and carries out experiments to test the validity, stability and applicability of the methods developed. To quantify the effect of factors on performance and consolidate them into a single performance indicator a quantitative method for performance measurement system (QMPMS) was developed. The method uses cognitive maps for identifying factors affecting performance and their relationship, structured diagrams for structuring the factors hierarchically and analytic hierarchy process for quantifying the effects of factors on performance. The method was then extended to reduce the number of performance reports. The QMPMS and its extension were implemented in three case studies to test their theoretical and application validity. The first case study applied the models to 'J&B Scotland Ltd.' to identify whether the models can produce the intended outputs. The second case study applied the QMPMS to 'Seagate Distribution (UK) Ltd.' to test the validity (accuracy) and stability of the QMPMS. Finally, the third case implemented the QMPMS to quantify and consolidate Inland Revenue, Cumbernauld's performance measures. It was found from the experiments that the QMPMS is quite accurate (the mean percentage of deviation is less than 4 percent), stable for a reasonable period of time and it can be applied comfortably to real cases. The QMPMS is now being used by the Inland Revenue - Cumbernauld for producing a single performance indicator of their business processes and overall office.

This thesis serves as an examination of the process I underwent to arrive at answers to those questions. Chapter I examines differences between Pierre Corneille's seventeenth century L'Illusion Comique and Kushner's modern-day adaptation. Chapter II takes a closer look at textual analysis specific to Kushner's adaptation. Chapter III documents pre-rehearsal and designer collaboration. Chapter IV follows the production process from casting to performances. This chapter also includes many of the problems encountered and solutions reached. Chapter V, the summary, includes an assessment of the entire process, including; rehearsals, production, and my role as director. A summary of audience evaluations also is included in this chapter. The appendixes follow with a transcription of the audience discussion, backward analysis, floor plan, photos, and the playbill.

Approved for public release, distribution unlimited / A single-stage transonic research compressor and test rig are to be used to obtain data on the effect of inlet flow distortion on compressor (and therefore engine) stall. Auxiliary injection was examined as a technique for generating distortion in inlet stagnation pressure, or temperature, or to simulate the more complex effects of engine steam ingestion from a catapult launch. Engineering analyses were developed and programmed in EES to relate inlet conditions to the compressor characteristics, for both pressure and temperature distortion. An injection duct area of 8% was selected to limit the required heater power. A CFD analysis was carried out to predict the compressor inlet flow field and hence position the injection duct exit. It was found that a broad range of distortion parameters could be generated by simply ducting (and heating) atmospheric air (or steam) through an auxiliary inlet throttle valve.

This research was conducted per a Navy Warfare Development Center request that the Naval Postgraduate School update the Navy's TACMEMO: Integration of UVs into Maritime Missions TM 3-22-5-W. Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) are expected to becoming an integral part of the Navy's maritime mission. To incorporate USVs into the fleet, manpower issues must be identified and resolved, i.e., manning requirements supporting USV operations; and analysis of the rate/rating, skill sets, training and procedures required to operate and maintain USVs. The methodology included Navy lessons learned, operation evaluation reports, and technical documentations from past and ongoing fleet employment of USVs to identify manning issues. Research findings included: current USV launch-and-recovery systems on host ships are personnel intensive compared to other available systems; knowledge, skills and abilities required of USV support personnel are identified within the BM, EM, EN, ET (Surface), GM, IT, OS, STG (Surface) rating occupational standards, and it would be easier to train personnel from these ratings for USV support; and a formal training path should be established for USV operators. In consonance with Navy Human Capital direction, naval platforms must operate with reduced manning, however, unmanned systems definitely require trained and specialized personnel to operate and maintain.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited / This thesis is devoted to analyzing the problem of masking a reflected radar signal, in order to degrade the radar receiver's performance. This is to be accomplished by appropriately choosing the Power Spectral Density (PSD) of a power constrained colored noise interference to be generated either by the target itself or by pre-positioned "friendly" noise makers. The goal in either case is to generate interference signals that result in decreased receiver probability of detection, P(D), for a given receiver probability of false alarm, P(F). Efforts to identify appropriate PSD's of the power constrained interference were carried out by evaluating the receivers' P(D) as a function of P(F) for two specific target models. The performance results for the various receivers investigated demonstrate that the noise interference generated by the noise makers can achieve significant levels of degradation, while the target generated noise interference tends to improve rather than degrade the radar receiver's performance. In all cases considered, the sine squared shaped noise interference PSD is more effective at degrading the receiver performance than any other kind of PSD analyzed. / http://archive.org/details/performanceofrad00mavr / Captain, Hellenic Army

Although performance appraisals exist in most organisations, they are not implemented correctly. In many organisations the link between the performance appraisal ratings and the outcome is not so obvious. This has led to mistrust of the performance appraisal process by the users and the total process does not command the credibility it deserves. A summary of problems with performance appraisals systems and processes are as follows: Preparations prior to appraisal with staff are not adequate. Users of the system are not formally trained. Performance appraisal processes are often considered to be unpleasant and time consuming. The performance appraisal processes are subject to subjectivity. The rating scales and performance dimensions used in the systems are open to different interpretations due to lack of clear guidelines. / Prof. W. Backer