In this dissertation, I introduce a general, flexible framework for learning direct mappings from images to actions in an agent that interacts with its surrounding environment. This work is motivated by the paradigm of purposive vision. The original contributions consist in the design of reinforcement learning algorithms that are applicable to visual spaces. Inspired by the paradigm of local-appearance vision, these algorithms exploit specialized visual features that can be detected in the visual signal. Two different ways to use the visual features are described. Firstly, I introduce adaptive-resolution methods for discretizing the visual space into a manageable number of perceptual classes. To this end, a percept classifier that tests the presence or absence of few highly informative visual features is incrementally refined. New discriminant visual features are selected in a sequence of attempts to remove perceptual aliasing. Any standard reinforcement learning algorithm can then be used to extract an optimal visual control policy. The resulting algorithm is called "Reinforcement Learning of Visual Classes." Secondly, I propose to exploit the raw content of the visual features, without ever considering an equivalence relation on the visual feature space. Technically, feature regression models that associate visual features with a real-valued utility are introduced within the Approximate Policy Iteration architecture. This is done by means of a general, abstract version of Approximate Policy Iteration. This results in the "Visual Approximate Policy Iteration" algorithm. Another major contribution of this dissertation is the design of adaptive-resolution techniques that can be applied to complex, high-dimensional and/or continuous action spaces, simultaneously to visual spaces. The "Reinforcement Learning of Joint Classes" algorithm produces a non-uniform discretization of the joint space of percepts and actions. This is a brand new, general approach to adaptive-resolution methods in reinforcement learning that can deal with arbitrary, hybrid state-action spaces. Throughout this dissertation, emphasis is also put on the design of general algorithms that can be used in non-visual (e.g. continuous) perceptual spaces. The applicability of the proposed algorithms is demonstrated by solving several visual navigation tasks.

Magistro baigiamojo darbo objektas – gandų, tikslingai skleidžiamų sporto klubo ir apie jį, priežastys, ypatybės, tikslai ir vaidmuo. Darbo tikslas – įvertinti tikslinių gandų naudojimo sporto komunikacijoje ypatumus, jų apraiškas žiniasklaidoje ir visuomenėje bei jų atliekamą vaidmenį. Darbo tikslui pasiekti buvo iškelti šie uždaviniai: išanalizuoti užsienio ir Lietuvos autorių mokslines publikacijas gandų, kaip vienos iš organizacijos komunikacijos priemonės, tematiką; išsiaiškinti sporto klubo komunikacijos ypatumus; parengti tyrimo, siekiančio nustatyti gandų šaltinius, skleidimo priemones, tikslus, vaidmenį ir būdus kovoti su jais, metodologiją; nustatyti gandų, skleidžiamų sporto klubo komunikacijoje, iniciatorius, šaltinius, skleidimo tikslus, vaidmenį ir priemones kovoti su jais; remiantis tyrimu pateikti išvadas ir rekomendacijas, leisiančias atpažinti gandus ir juos valdyti. Atliekant tyrimą buvo iškeltos ir patvirtintos šios hipotezės: 1) gandai sporto klubo komunikacijoje yra sezoniniai. Gandai skleidžiami komplektuojant komandą, ruošiantis sezono pradžiai, vėliau – ruošiantis finalinėms kovoms. Ištikus krizei sporto klube, gandai suaktyvėja ir sezono viduryje; 2) dauguma gandų yra paskleidžiami iš agentų, iš pačių sporto klubų ir iš jų konkurentų. Dažniausia gandų skleidimo priemonė – interneto puslapiai ir forumai; 3) gandai sporto komunikacijoje skleidžiami įvairiais pretekstais, kurių dauguma – siekiant pakelti žaidėjų kainą rinkoje, norint pakenkti deryboms... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The subject of the master thesis is the causes, features, aims and role of the rumours purposefully spread by a sports club and about a club. The objective of the thesis is to measure peculiarities of using purposive rumours in sport, their manifestation in mass media and society, as well as their role. In order to achieve the objective of the thesis the following tasks have been set: to analyse the topic of rumours as one of the methods of communication in an organization in foreign and Lithuanian authors‘ publications; to ascertain the peculiarities of a sports club communication; to frame the methodology of the survey aiming at determination of the sources of rumours, means of dissemination, aims, role and ways of combating them; to determine the initiators, sources, aims of dissemination and role of rumours spread in a sports club communication and means of combating them; with reference to the survey, to make the conclusions and recommendations which will allow to recognize rumours and manage them. In the process of the research the following speculations have been raised and confirmed: 1) the rumours in a sports club communication are seasonal. Rumours are spread when a team is being recruited, while preparing for the start of a season, later – while preparing for the final fights. In case of the crisis in a sports club rumours become more active also in the middle of a season; 2) the majority of rumours is spread by the agents, by clubs themselves and their rivals... [to full text]

The thesis is based on the notion that a person's behaviour is largely a result of the interplay between his beliefs and values. A model is described which ccmbines Personal Construct Theo~J (as a means of describing beliefs) and Multi-Attributed Utility Theory (as a means of describing values) in order to predict purposive choice behaviour. The model is applied to choice of records, books, clothes and role behaviours and is found to predict choices with a high degree of accuracy. Prediction using personal constructs is shown to be superior to that using supplied dimensions. Furthermore, construct weights elicited by a lottery tech~que are shown generally to be purposespecific and to give better predictions of behaviour than UIUt weights. The model is then used to investigate the sentencing of offenders by magistrates and is again found to predict behaviour with a high degree of accuracy. The data also indicate the problems inherent in using verbal measures of construct similarity since the same words may be used differently and different words may be used similarly. Claims for the model's broad applicability are illustrated by using the model to reformulate the concepts of 'attention' and 'role' and a means of operationally defining role conflict is suggested.

<p>This study concerns school-development and the political public sphere in a Swedish context. It draws on an earlier study in which school-leaders expressed political signals in relation to school-development as being ambiguous and contradictive. On one hand they saw a political support for openness and dialogue in school. On the other hand they perceived control and competition. Another point of departure for the study is what tentatively was suggested as a shift in focus for the state government of schools during the 1990:s, from decentralization as such to an increased emphasis on control of its consequences. The overriding aim of the study was to illuminate how this shift could be understood regarding the relation between school-development and the political public sphere.</p><p>The study was conducted within a larger, national project where almost 900 schools worked without the national time table. Policy texts behind the governments’ decision on starting the project were used in order to describe and analyse school policy. School-leaders´ accounts on school-work and school-development in the project was used for analysis and description of school practice.</p><p>Habermas’ theory of communicative action, particularly his notions on “the welfare-state crisis” as an opening for a revitalized political public sphere grounded upon communicative action, was used as a theoretical frame for the study.</p><p>The results support the assumption that school policy, as formulated in the studied documents, did shift over time from a focus on decentralization to an emphasis on control of its consequences. The school-leaders, however, gave voice to a school practice where the importance of a communicative direction was emphasized. The overall conclusion is that while a vital political public sphere in Habermas´ terms is supported in school practice, school policy seems to direct school development in the opposite direction, thereby closing the opportunity for school to support a revitalized public sphere.</p>

Thesis (LL.M.)--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Law, 1998. / This thesis explores the democratic legitimacy of the power of judicial review. It discounts the countermajoritarian dilemma on the basis that constitutional democracy means more than majoritarianism, it entails judicial protection of other characteristics fundamental to democracy from invasion even by a majority government. Such characteristics include political processes and values which ensure the continuation of democratic rule. The Court may, however, be criticised if it exercises its power of judicial review in a manner which is undemocratic. I argue that the Court is obliged to exercise its power in a manner which respects the doctrine of separation of powers. In interpreting the Constitution, the Court is therefore obliged to show deference to Parliament by giving effect to the purpose of a constitutional provision. I conclude that the Court may only have recourse to the values which the legislature chose to include in the Constitution, except when the Court protects those political processes and values which ensure the survival of constitutional democracy.

This study concerns school-development and the political public sphere in a Swedish context. It draws on an earlier study in which school-leaders expressed political signals in relation to school-development as being ambiguous and contradictive. On one hand they saw a political support for openness and dialogue in school. On the other hand they perceived control and competition. Another point of departure for the study is what tentatively was suggested as a shift in focus for the state government of schools during the 1990:s, from decentralization as such to an increased emphasis on control of its consequences. The overriding aim of the study was to illuminate how this shift could be understood regarding the relation between school-development and the political public sphere. The study was conducted within a larger, national project where almost 900 schools worked without the national time table. Policy texts behind the governments’ decision on starting the project were used in order to describe and analyse school policy. School-leaders´ accounts on school-work and school-development in the project was used for analysis and description of school practice. Habermas’ theory of communicative action, particularly his notions on “the welfare-state crisis” as an opening for a revitalized political public sphere grounded upon communicative action, was used as a theoretical frame for the study. The results support the assumption that school policy, as formulated in the studied documents, did shift over time from a focus on decentralization to an emphasis on control of its consequences. The school-leaders, however, gave voice to a school practice where the importance of a communicative direction was emphasized. The overall conclusion is that while a vital political public sphere in Habermas´ terms is supported in school practice, school policy seems to direct school development in the opposite direction, thereby closing the opportunity for school to support a revitalized public sphere.

<p>The purpose of this thesis is to broadly determine the influence of the Constitution on the South African labour environment and to do so from the perspective of the labour rights of workers who fall outside the ambit of the traditional common law contract of employment. An examination of the Constitution&rsquo / s influence will involve a consideration of various aspects including: (i) The evolution of the concept of employee and the contract of employment / (ii) The impact of the Constitution on South African labour relations and labour laws / (iii) The purposive interpretation of legislation / (iv) An outline of the &lsquo / Kylie&rsquo / CCMA ruling and Labour Court judgment / (v) The current legal position of prostitution in South Africa / (vi) The requirements for a meaningful transformation in the legal treatment of sex workers particularly as regards their entitlement to the protections afforded to vulnerable workers provided in the LRA.</p>

<p>The purpose of this thesis is to broadly determine the influence of the Constitution on the South African labour environment and to do so from the perspective of the labour rights of workers who fall outside the ambit of the traditional common law contract of employment. An examination of the Constitution&rsquo / s influence will involve a consideration of various aspects including: (i) The evolution of the concept of employee and the contract of employment / (ii) The impact of the Constitution on South African labour relations and labour laws / (iii) The purposive interpretation of legislation / (iv) An outline of the &lsquo / Kylie&rsquo / CCMA ruling and Labour Court judgment / (v) The current legal position of prostitution in South Africa / (vi) The requirements for a meaningful transformation in the legal treatment of sex workers particularly as regards their entitlement to the protections afforded to vulnerable workers provided in the LRA.</p>

The purpose of this thesis is to broadly determine the influence of the Constitution on the South African labour environment and to do so from the perspective of the labour rights of workers who fall outside the ambit of the traditional common law contract of employment. An examination of the Constitution&rsquo;s influence will involve a consideration of various aspects including: (i) The evolution of the concept of employee and the contract of employment; (ii) The impact of the Constitution on South African labour relations and labour laws; (iii) The purposive interpretation of legislation; (iv) An outline of the 'Kylie' CCMA ruling and Labour Court judgment; (v) The current legal position of prostitution in South Africa; (vi) The requirements for a meaningful transformation in the legal treatment of sex workers particularly as regards their entitlement to the protections afforded to vulnerable workers provided in the LRA. / Magister Philosophiae - MPhil

Teleological interpretation in private law Abstract This thesis deals with the problem of teleological interpretation in private law which, after the re-codification of private law in the Czech Republic has become a vital interpretative method in the process of interpretation of private legal rules. This PhD thesis describes the historical development of approaches to teleological interpretation and its relation to the other interpretative methods. Interpretation of the law is a complex process and individual interpretative methods cannot be approached separately but, on the contrary, in their mutual context. Such procedure is also encouraged by the interpretative provisions contained in the introduction to the new Civil Code. In this thesis, the so-called four-element scheme, namely the division of interpretative methods to teleological, historical, linguistic and systematic interpretation were chosen which also correspond to the categorization that can be inferred from the wording of the new Civil Code. The work is divided into chapters with the content of chapter two to seven forming the focal point, while the first chapter is the introduction and the eighth chapter is the conclusion. In the second chapter, the question of private and public law and the concept of interpretation itself are examined....