The thesis of this dissertation is that automating domain remodeling in AI planning using macro operators and making remodeling more flexible and applicable can improve the planning performance and can enrich planning. In this dissertation, we present three novel ideas: (1) we present an instance-specific domain remodeling framework, (2) we recast the planning domain remodeling with macros as a parameter optimization problem, and (3) we combine two domain remodeling approaches in the instance-specific remodeling context. In the instance-specific domain remodeling, we choose the best macro-augmented domain model for every incoming problem instance using a predictor that relies on previously solved problem instances to estimate the macros to be added the domain. Training the predictor is achieved off-line based on the observed relation between the instance features and the planner performance in the macro-augmented domain models. On-line, the predictor is used to find the best remodeling of the domain based on the problem instance features. Our empirical results over a number of standard benchmark planning domains demonstrate that our predictors can speed up the fixed-remodeling method that chooses the best set of macros by up to 2.5 times. The results also show that there is a large room for improving the performance using instance-specific over fixed remodeling approaches. The second idea is recasting the domain remodeling with macros as a parameter optimization. We show that this remodeling approach can outperform standard macro learning tools, and that it can significantly speed up the domain evaluation preprocessing required to train the predictors in instance-specific remodeling, while maintaining similar performance. The final idea applies macro addition and operator removal to the instance-specific domain remodeling. While maintaining an acceptable probability of solubility preservation, we build a predictor that adds macros and removes original operators based on the instance’s features. The results show that this new remodeling significantly outperforms the macro-only fixed remodeling, and that it is better than the fixed domain models in a number of domains.

At the present time, wireless sensor networks are becoming more and more  common and energy consumption is a key factor in the deployment and  maintenance of these networks. This thesis compares non-SFN multi-hop and  a single frequency network (SFN) or cooperative diversity algorithms with  respect to the energy consumed by the nodes. Since the nodes have limited  power capacity it is extremely important to have an efficient algorithm. In  addition, the behaviour of the network when SFN is employed must be  studied and advice offered with regards to improvements in order to achieve  preferential results. The effect on the network regarding macro diversity is  positive but, the battery energy consumption is still higher and has a drainage  effect on the network for simple multi-hop. The report will include  background information regarding mobile ad-hoc networks and the  relationship with cooperative diversity. It will also deal with how different  algorithms affect the energy consumption in multi-hop networks. Simulations  will also be presented in Matlab plots for two single frequency network  scenarios against a simple multi-hop regarding node energy during the  network discovery and decline. Results will include comparative figures which  are followed by a discussion concerning the simulation results and its effects.  The applications for wireless sensor networks include area monitoring,  environmental monitoring, data logging, industrial monitoring, agriculture  and the idea can additionally be used for wireless radio and TV distribution.  The simulations have been conducted for cooperative diversity algorithms  (SFN-A and SFN-D) against an algorithm which does not use cooperative  diversity in Matlab. The node energy consumption is compared for both  scenarios with regards to both  network reachability and decline. The node  power is analysed during the reachability of the network from the start to  attaining 100% of the discovered network. During network decline, the  behaviour of the node energy is studied for algorithms with SFN-A, SFN-D  and non SFN.  Also, the number of times node transmission occurs with  regards to  node discovery is also analysed.

This project is the result of a cooperation between HalmstadUniversity and EABAB. The aim of the project was to create a macro that would help EABAB automate the process of designing steel trusses. When run in Microsoft Excel, the macro imports and processes coordinates from a calculator program. The data is then imported into the Building Information Modelling software Tekla Structures, which creates a 3D structural model of the steel truss. The macro saves much time in the project planning process and also helps minimize the risk of design flaws caused by human error.

Proefschrift Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam.

Thesis (doctoral)--Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, 1990. / Summary in Dutch. Includes bibliographical references (p. 169-177).

Proefschrift Rijksuniversiteit Groningen. / Met lit.opg. - Met samenvatting in het Nederlands.

In terms of the specific topics covered in the thesis, my research aims to further understanding of risky asset return and volatility behaviour from a macro-finance perspective. In three of the four chapters, the macro drivers of both risky asset returns (the first moment) and volatility (the second moment) are studied and analyzed in detail across different geographies and various time periods. The use of both long sample sets and relevant sub-sample periods allows for a more in-depth assessment of the nature and form of these drivers as well as their influence on risky asset return and volatility dynamics, whilst weakening the impact of any endogeneity bias which the empirical estimation framework used may be subject to. The earliest data used in this research starts from the 18th century. In the first chapter, entitled “Macro Drivers of Equity Market Volatility”, the focus is on the construction and analysis of macro state variables, which are shown to have a strong influence on the behaviour of equity return volatility, especially during periods of severe market upheaval. Chapter two examines the relative abilities of GARCH and Stochastic Volatility Models (SV) to forecast volatility, in a world where the true model can be depicted by an EGARCH(1,2) formulation. Turning to chapter three, the relationship between equity returns and inflation (specifically, if equities are a hedge against inflation) is explored using long-term historical data for the US, the UK, Germany and Japan. Finally, chapter four analytically tackles the question of how various investors' (institutional and retail) asset allocation decisions are dependent on both the formulation of the wealth maximization function and the differentiated nature of information signals. Specifically, this chapter focusses on how asset allocation behaviour of various categories of investors (facing different objective functions) may lead to “herding”.

Submitted by Júlio Leão Brandão (jlbrandao@ufba.br) on 2018-08-21T16:10:04Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação_Wederson.pdf: 7732244 bytes, checksum: bbd713a6942d12fe9527335116f1dbf8 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by NUBIA OLIVEIRA (nubia.marilia@ufba.br) on 2018-08-21T21:02:52Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação_Wederson.pdf: 7732244 bytes, checksum: bbd713a6942d12fe9527335116f1dbf8 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-21T21:02:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação_Wederson.pdf: 7732244 bytes, checksum: bbd713a6942d12fe9527335116f1dbf8 (MD5) / O material particulado em suspensão no meio marinho ocorre na forma de focos e agregados de focos, sendo que sua velocidade de decantação é diretamente proporcional ao tamanho. Como o tamanho dos agregados é inversamente proporcional à velocidade do fluxo, suas dimensões tendem a ser menores em regiões costeiras confinadas onde a energia do escoamento é maior, como em estuários, onde seu tamanho é limitado a alguns milímetros. Ao longo de atividades de monitoramento oceanográfico na Baía de Todos os Santos (BTS), foram observadas concentrações muito elevadas de agregados lamentosos com proporções decimétricas, excessivamente grandes para este tipo de ambiente. O objetivo deste trabalho é documentar a existência destes agregados na BTS, e determinar suas características físicas, hidrodinâmicas e composicionais. Para tanto, mapeou-se diferentes setores da BTS para obter dados referentes à morfometria, distribuição e composição; mediu-se o fluxo vertical do material em suspensão e a velocidade média de decantação dos lamentos em 14 campanhas ocorridas entre 2015-2017. Os resultados mostraram que a maior concentração deste particulado ocorre na região central da baía, especialmente na água de fundo. Sua morfologia é caracterizada por distribuição de massa irregular ao longo de sua estrutura, que é constituída majoritariamente de material inorgânico (>80 %), e exibe presença de fitoplânctons, especialmente diatomáceas, bem como o meio em que é encontrado. A medição do fluxo vertical de sedimentos e da concentração de agregados em suspensão (CAS) em paralelo, demonstra o papel que este particulado tem no processo de deposição do sedimento dentro da baía, especialmente quando considerado à sua velocidade média de decantação (∼20 mm s-1), que é acima dos valores médios para ocos tipicamente grandes de região estuarina. Dada a elevada velocidade de decantação e comum alta concentração junto ao fundo, a possibilidade de dispersão dos macro-agregados para fora da BTS se torna reduzida. Os altos valores de fluxos verticais de sedimento podem indicar o potencial deste particulado na retenção de sedimentos nos dentro da baía. / Ocean monitoring activities at Baía de Todos os Santos (BTS) allowed for the observation of very high concentrations of large lamentous aggregates (macro-aggregates) for this type of environment, whose strong hydrodynamic regime promotes particle disintegration. Knowing the importance of larger ocs in the transport of sediment to the bottom, this work aims to document the existence of suspended aggregates in the BTS, and to determine their physical, hydrodynamic and compositional characteristics. For this, di erent sectors of the BTS were mapped to investigate the aggregate's concentration, their morphometry (size, area and volume) and composition. The vertical ow of the suspended particulate matter (SPM) and the average settling velocity of macro-aggregates were quanti ed. The results showed that the highest concentration of macro-aggregates occurs in the central region of the bay, especially close to the bottom. Their morphology is characterized by irregular mass concentration along its structure, which is constituted mostly of inorganic material (>80 %) encompassing diatom shells and mineral particles. The aggregate's settling speed (mean settling velocity ∼20 mm s−1) and concentration indicate they have an important role in speeding sediment deposition inside the bay. High values of vertical sediment uxes hinder the dispersion of the SPM out of the BTS.

A major goal of the EU Commission in the area of direct taxation is the introduction of a common consolidated corporate tax base (CCCTB) in Europe. While hardly discussed in the literature, such a system would limit national discretion over tax depreciation. In a sample of up to 47 countries, we find that the probability of a tax reform that improves the depreciation allowances increases, if the macroeconomic situation is weak. This suggests that changes in depreciation allowances are used as a fiscal instrument for stabilization. A common consolidated tax base deprives national governments from implementing investment incentives via accelerated depreciation. This paper discusses the possible implementation of a hybrid system that combines features of formula apportionment and separate accounting. Such a hybrid system may substantially mitigate transfer pricing problems and other tax planning issues, whilst preserving national discretion over depreciation allowances. / Series: WU International Taxation Research Paper Series

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Letras, Departamento de Linguística, Português e Línguas Classicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Linguística, 2007. / Submitted by Larissa Ferreira dos Angelos (ferreirangelos@gmail.com) on 2009-11-26T16:26:26Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2007_AmbrosioPereiradaSilvaNeto.pdf: 290556 bytes, checksum: 3eda44b747dc0c6d66419c871697ed02 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Joanita Pereira(joanita) on 2009-11-26T19:05:04Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2007_AmbrosioPereiradaSilvaNeto.pdf: 290556 bytes, checksum: 3eda44b747dc0c6d66419c871697ed02 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2009-11-26T19:05:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2007_AmbrosioPereiradaSilvaNeto.pdf: 290556 bytes, checksum: 3eda44b747dc0c6d66419c871697ed02 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Neste estudo, desenvolvemos uma revisão da família linguística Coroado (Purí) proposta por Chestmir Loukotka (1937), como uma contribuição aos estudos sobre o tronco lingüístico Macro-Jê. Esta revisão tem como objetivo normalizar os dados existentes das línguas Puri, Coroado e Koropó, que compõem a família. Este estudo permitiu confirmar a validade da proposta de Loukotka, e também verificar que a língua Koropó se diferencia mais das outras duas línguas da família, o que indica que o Koropó é um parente mais distante dentro da família. A revisão e a reorganização dos dados aqui feita deve contribuir para os estudos comparativos da família Purí com os demais componentes do tronco lingüístico Macro-Jê. _______________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT / In this study we develop a review of the Coroado (Purí) linguistic family proposed by Chestmir Loukotka (1937) as a contribution to the studies of the Macro-Jê linguistic stock. The purpose of this review was to normalize the data available of the languages Purí, Coroado, and Koropó, which constitute the Coroado family. This study permitted to confirm Loukotka’s hypothesis and still to verify that the Koropó language is the most divergent in the family. The revision and reorganization of the data presented here should contribute to the comparison of the Purí family with the other components of the Macro-Jê linguistic stock.