Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1996. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 203-217).

Riesenhuber \& Poggio recently proposed a model of object recognitionin cortex which, beyond integrating general beliefs about the visualsystem in a quantitative framework, made testable predictions aboutvisual processing. In particular, they showed that invariant objectrepresentation could be obtained with a selective pooling mechanismover properly chosen afferents through a {\sc max} operation: Forinstance, at the complex cells level, pooling over a group of simplecells at the same preferred orientation and position in space but atslightly different spatial frequency would provide scale tolerance,while pooling over a group of simple cells at the same preferredorientation and spatial frequency but at slightly different positionin space would provide position tolerance. Indirect support for suchmechanisms in the visual system come from the ability of thearchitecture at the top level to replicate shape tuning as well asshift and size invariance properties of ``view-tuned cells'' (VTUs)found in inferotemporal cortex (IT), the highest area in the ventralvisual stream, thought to be crucial in mediating object recognitionin cortex. There is also now good physiological evidence that a {\scmax} operation is performed at various levels along the ventralstream. However, in the original paper by Riesenhuber \& Poggio,tuning and pooling parameters of model units in early and intermediateareas were only qualitatively inspired by physiological data. Inparticular, many studies have investigated the tuning properties ofsimple and complex cells in primary visual cortex, V1. We show thatunits in the early levels of HMAX can be tuned to produce realisticsimple and complex cell-like tuning, and that the earlier findings onthe invariance properties of model VTUs still hold in this morerealistic version of the model.

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International emerging markets, being a matter of interest for Multinational Corporations (MNCs), is regularly researched by scholars for better future understanding. In this regard Resource Base View (RBV) and Resource Management theories are regularly matched and further developed. However, this research paper takes the boundaries from emerging markets to consolidating yet dynamic high-tech markets where research efforts could not be traced to adequate level. This paper has taken theories of RBV, RBV on International Business(IB) and Resource Management. It compared its validation with empirical evidences derived from case study of two mobile telecom MNCs cases which started operating in Pakistan when industry was emerging but soon entered in consolidation stage as high-tech industries are dynamic in nature. An extended evaluation was made by analyzing impact of environmental dynamic factors on these specific MNCs in light of 'Resource Management Process & Distinctions' which lead us to the following findings: Possessing good resource base is essential for MNCs during international ventures but the resource as core capabilities may not develop into competitive advantage if these resources are not structured, bundled and leveraged adequately as per industry dynamism, especially when industry is moving into consolidation phase. It is also learnt that MNCs may advantage from its head quarter's past set of experience. Yet at the same time subsidiary's locally controlled customization also benefits over all resource management process. Empirical findings of these cases gives us a good reason to consider 'shareholder's long-term vision/intensions' as well, being an important element in sustenance or success of such high tech MNCs. The research work opens further arenas for future studies such as comparison of conclusion and their generalization with other industries in same country or same industry in other countries with similar environmental dynamics.

Bakgrund: Satoshi Nakamoto kallas gruppen eller individen bakom kryptovalutan Bitcoin. Syftet med valutan är att kunna genomföra transaktioner snabbt, anonymt och kunna hålla tredje part, centralbanker och banker utanför. Syfte: Syftet är att undersöka och analysera svenska bankers inställning till Bitcoin. Det författarna till denna studie vill undersöka är hur bankens inställning ser ut till valutan om den blir allt mer populär att företag och privatpersoner börjar genomföra transaktioner utan inblandning med banken. Metod: För att kunna svara på syftet har studien genomförts med en abduktiv metod. Datainsamling har skett genom att intervjua relevanta personer på banker genom semistrukturerade intervjuer. I analysen förklaras sedan den datainsamlingen utifrån studiens teoretiska referensram. I syfte att få kvalificerade bedömningar om framtiden har studien använt sig av delfi-metoden. Slutsats: Författarna till studien kom fram till att Bitcoin inte utgör något hot mot bankerna eftersom de kan kopiera tekniken och bankens kärnverksamhet handlar inte bara om att genomföra transaktioner. Den underliggande tekniken till Bitcoin tillsammans med en mer legitimerad valuta (exempelvis e-krona) har en möjlighet att användas av banker i framtiden. / Background: Satoshi Nakamoto is the group or person behind the cryptocurrency Bitcoin. The purpose of the currency was to make it possible to send money fast, anonymously and without involvement of third party, banks or national bank. Purpose: The purpose of our study is to be able to answer our theoretical questions through our empirical research. The authors of this study want to investigate how the bank’s attitude looks like if the currency becomes increasingly popular that companies and individuals begin to make transactions without their involvement. Methodology: To make it possible to answer our purpose, we have chosen an abductive method. Our data collection is from semi-structured qualitative interviews from relevant persons on banks. In our analytical part of the study we explain our collected data with help from our theoretical framework. In order to obtain qualified assessments, the study has used the delfi method. Conclusion: Our conclusion was that Bitcoin does not pose a threat against the banks since they can copy the technology behind it right away and as well because the bank’s core business is not about making transactions. The transaction technology Bitcoin relies on, in combination with a legitimate currency (for example the E-krona), has a possibility to be used by banks in the future.

This study seeks to examine whether a relation can be found between the number of shoreline exemptions and the development of Umeå municipalities population, or not. The weight of this paper will be focusing on the importance of place attractiveness and social place identity for people’s desires and ambitions to live near a lake or the coast. The policies of planning will also be highlighted in order to receive greater understanding of why people apply for shoreline exemptions. Four semi- structured interviews with planners from Umeå municipality were therefor held with the ambition to complement the quantitative findings of the development of exemptions. The presenting results indicates that an increase of shoreline exemptions can be stated as well as the actions within the exemptions. The population has steadily increased trough out the studied years, 2014-2017. The relation between these findings can be argued have had a similar development, but we cannot be sure to say that they solely affect each other. Therefor the findings will be explained by earlier research regarding residential preferences, the desire to live with water view and planning policies that responds to these factors.

Ce travail de thèse est une étude pragmatique du récit romanesque de Maupassant. Si les critiques ont consacré une place importante à l’acte d’écriture, notre recherche est axée sur la stratégie de la réception à partir du fonctionnement narratif et énonciatif du texte. Nous nous interesserons à la dynamique de la réticence de l’auteur perçu comme un phénomène de communication et d’interaction avec le lecteur. Cette approche est fondée sur la pragmatique de la réception et met à contribution les théories de la narratologie post-classique et l’énonciation interactionnelle en vue de proposer une nouvelle lecture de l’œuvre romanesque de Maupassant. / This PhD work consists in a pragmatic study of Maupassant's novelistic narrative. While critics have devoted an important place to the act of writing, our research is centred on the reception strategy based on the text's narrative and expository functioning. It concerns the dynamics of the author's reluctance as a phenomenon of communication and interaction with the reader. This study is based on the pragmatics of reception, and it valorises the theories of post-classical narratology and interactional enunciation that are elaborated with the aim of proposing a modern re-reading of Maupassant's novels.

This thesis studies how three Greek writers differentiate between each other in their texts about ancient Egypt. The three writers included in this thesis are Herodotus, Diodorus Siculus and Plutarch. Their texts describe Egypt and its many aspects, and the names of their texts are as following; Histories and Library of History by Herodotus and Diodorus, and De Herodoti malignitate, De Iside et Osiride and Placita Philosophorum by Plutarch.        This thesis is comparing these writers with each other using two case studies; The Nile and Egyptian cleanness for their gods. The case studies were chosen to limit this thesis upon two aspects of Egypt that the writers should have encountered if they went to Egypt. This brings a theory to light; if the writers' texts are truthfully representing Egypt or if their texts are nothing but literature constructions. This thesis is also looking at how Egyptians are portrayed by the writers with use of the theory the other.        By reading the texts and modern literature about the writers a conclusion is made. The writers are different from each other in their descriptions of Egypt. Herodotus and Diodorus view Egypt as a wonderful land with a wonderful culture. Plutarch is also portraying Egypt with respect as Herodotus and Diodorus but does at the same time view Egypt with a more negative view. This is because Plutarch believes that the Greek culture is the foremost culture in the world.        A problem with all the writers’ texts is based upon that they did not speak ancient Egyptian and could therefore not make use of all the sources presented to them. Herodotus is viewed to not even have visited Egypt. Their texts are to be looked at with a grain of salt even though they clearly tried to represent Egypt as well as they could in their texts. Their texts are to be view as a literature construction simply because the writers did not understand Egyptian and therefore relied on earlier texts about Egypt made in Greek.

This thesis addresses how leaders find themselves doing something even when they don't know what to do. It is based on my own practice as an experienced team leader and it deals with questions of action, time, identity and leadership. A classic understanding of action usually reflects an expectation of a rational means-ends relationship where actions are designed and applied by individuals to reach well-defined goals within a certain context and within a certain time. In contrast, in this thesis, I describe acting as a much more complex process, as something becoming, as a patterning of activities involving multiple actors in a continuous and complex interweaving of relationships. I describe my experience of leading a team of consultants in international development projects where I inquire into how we often find ourselves acting into uncertainty even when we are not at all sure what to do. Adopting the theory of complex responsive processes of relating, which combines insights from the complexity sciences, social psychology and process sociology, I have come to see acting in our projects as complex, unpredictable, emerging themes and patterns of dialogues between colleagues, clients and other actors, rather than as an activity undertaken by an individual such as a team leader. I do not have an outside position to acting in a project as I am fully involved in the process while this paradoxically influences me at the same time. I argue that acting is related to identity, which can be understood as a sense of self, a person's moral self-interpretation which has a narrative structure and which is continuously being formed by (and is forming) one's acting. I argue that my experience of our practice may be explained by the pragmatists' understanding of acting based on actual lived experience where the means paradoxically become our 'ends-in-view' and vice versa, meaning that we do not just try to maintain a theoretical, future goal but move forwards towards what is practically possible, what we find useful and what makes sense in the present. Acting happens in a living present, meaning that we understand the present through our interpretation of the past as well as our expectation of the future, and we construct this living present as something that works for us when we pursue our collective aims and interests. In the process of acting, there is an arrow on time, meaning that what has been said cannot be unsaid, wherefore it is important to reflect on the perspective of 'ends-in-view' and to understand how acting into a situation may reveal new opportunities. The thesis contributes to knowledge within my profession as an original invitation to think differently about two aspects: first, seeing acting in a project with a much more processual, temporal and encompassing understanding where action is not located in an individual; second, understanding how acting is influenced by one's identity, a sense of self, which is paradoxically being formed by the acting at the same time. Further, the thesis identifies sociality, being different things at the same time (Mead, 1932/2002), as a new aspect in the theory of complex responsive processes of relating (Stacey, Griffin, & Shaw, 2000), recognising its significance in the process of understanding of how novelty occurs. The thesis contributes to my practice in terms of an increased reflexivity and acceptance that a team leader cannot determine outcomes in advance; that leadership is a complex process involving many actors; and that observing ends-in-view may create new and surprising ways forward. I find that these insights can lead to an increased acceptance of how we can act under conditions of uncertainty.

Unexplained variations in organisational performance in healthcare are a continued focus of research, political, and public interest. Regulatory agencies are always seeking new ways to reduce variation and improve performance, and the use of approaches to develop improvement capability is increasingly encouraged. However, the regulatory perspective on improvement capability is under researched. This research study seeks to understand how regulatory agencies in the United Kingdom (UK) assess improvement capability within healthcare organisations. It explores how improvement capability is conceptualised, compares the regulatory arrangements across the UK, and examines assessment and enforcement policies and practices, before developing a conceptual framework for improvement capability. The research study uses data from 48 interviews, 90 regulatory policy documents and 30 assessment reports. Regulatory conceptualisations of improvement capability are explored through cross-case comparison and qualitative analysis. A review of 70 instruments and frameworks for the assessment of improvement capability from the literature identifies that there are plural conceptualisations of improvement capability. The findings from the review are synthesised into eight dimensions of improvement capability which are used to analyse the empirical data and to develop a conceptual framework. The analysis finds an emergent trend towards responsive regulatory models which aim to develop improvement capability. However, the analysis identifies ambiguity in regulatory agencies' conceptualisation of improvement capability with two dimensions of improvement capability used more frequently than others in regulatory assessments. Regulatory agencies need to clarify their conceptualisation of improvement capability and supplement their assessment processes to further understand local circumstances. This can be used to inform more flexible regulatory responses, including the tailored provision of improvement support to develop improvement capability. This requires greater regulatory effort and resources, and the analysis finds there are three areas of tension, linked to regulatory roles, resources and relationships. The research study proposes a conceptual framework of improvement capability that can be used to clarify regulatory conceptualisation and assessment of improvement capability. Greater conceptual clarity will strengthen regulatory agencies' assessment, diagnosis and prediction of organisational performance trajectories, and support the advancement of more appropriate, effective and responsive regulatory interventions, including the development of improvement capability.