The sparse recovery problem aims to reconstruct a high-dimensional sparse signal from its low-dimensional measurements given a carefully designed measuring process. This thesis presents a framework for graphical-model based sparse recovery algorithms. Differing measurement processes lead to specific problems. The sparse recovery problems studied in this thesis include compressive sensing, network tomography, group testing and compressive phase retrieval. For compressive sensing and network tomography, the measurement processes are linear (freely chosen, and topology constrained measurements respectively). For group testing and compressivephase retrieval, the processes are non-linear (disjunctive, and intensity measurements respectively). For all the problems in this thesis, we present algorithms whose measurement structures are based on bipartite graphs. By studying the properties of bipartite graphs and designing novel measuring process and corresponding decoding algorithms, the number of measurements and computational decoding complexities of all the algorithms are information-theoretically either order-optimal or nearly order-optimal. / 稀疏還原問題旨在通過精心設計的低維度度量重建高維度稀疏信號。這篇論文提出了一個基於圖模型的稀疏還原演算法的框架。研究的稀疏還原問題包括了壓縮感知，網路斷層掃描，組測試和壓縮相位恢復。對於壓縮感知和網路斷層掃描，度量過程是線性的（分別是無約束的度量和拓撲結構約束的度量）。對於組測試和壓縮相位恢復，度量過程是非線性的（分別是邏輯度量和強度度量）。對於提到的問題，這篇論文提出的演算法的度量結構基於二部圖。通過學習二部圖的性質，我們提出了新穎的度量方法和相對應的解碼演算法。對於這些演算法，它們的度量維度和解碼演算法的運算複雜度都是（或接近於）資訊理論最優解。 / Cai, Sheng. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2015. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 229-247). / Abstracts also in Chinese. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on 05, October, 2016). / Detailed summary in vernacular field only.

It is common practice to re‐release wildlife back into the wild, even though there is little data on the effectiveness of this practice with respect to animal welfare or cost effectiveness. The aim of my study was to examine the post‐release behaviour of captive‐reared orphaned stone martens (Martes foina) and the impact of conspecifics' presence on this behaviour. Radio‐telemetry was used to collect behavioural and survival data; a questionnaire survey within the local community and live‐trapping were used to determine the presence of other martens and to investigate public attitudes towards martens. Specific aims were to determine: (1) the post‐release survival of martens; (2) the potential for human‐marten conflict; (3) the martens' pattern of post‐release ranging behaviour; and (4) the impact of conspecifics' presence on this behaviour. On the basis of previous studies, I expected abnormal behaviour immediately after release, together with a reasonable rate of short‐term survival; but there was no previous evidence relating to mid‐ or long‐term survival. A total of twelve martens were released, of which eight were followed successfully for at least 4 months. There was considerable individual variation in post‐release behaviour. Survival rate was high (0.66), indicating that young martens were able to establish sustainable home ranges. Released martens did not seem to cause significant human‐wildlife conflict and only one of the released animals settled in a village. Live‐trapping and the questionnaire survey indicated that martens were already established in the area and I suggest that this was why more of the young captive‐reared martens did not settle in villages. Public attitudes towards martens were generally positive. I conclude that in the medium‐term, release of captive‐reared martens is acceptable as regards animal welfare and cost‐effectiveness. However, further work is needed to examine long‐term survival and post‐release behaviour.

The temperature-density equation of Kinetic Theory and the conservative neutron transport equation are studied. In both cases a modified version of the Larsen-Habetler resolvent integration technique is applied to obtain full-range and half-range expansions. For the neutron transport equation the method applied is seen to have notational advantages over previous approaches. In the case of the temperature-density equation this development extends previous results by enlarging the class of expandable functions and has the added advantage of rigor and simplicity. As a natural extension of the Kinetic Theory results, an integral equation for the surface density is derived for half-space problems involving the boundary condition of arbitrary accommodation. / Ph. D.

Shoots were selected in both interior and exterior canopy positions on 20-year-old 'Delicious' apple trees located at the VPI & SU Horticulture Farm orchard, Blacksburg, Va. The most recently unfolded leaf was tagged on April 28, May 12, and May 26, 1976. Shoot length was unaffected by canopy position but leaf number was greater on exterior shoots. One shoot from each canopy positions was detached for determination of net photosynthesis (Pn) and specific leaf weight (SLW) of tagged leaves on June 6, July 7, and August 4. Net photosynthesis and SLW of exterior leaves were greater than that of interior leaves. As leaf age increased, Pn tended to decrease while SLW increased. No significant correlation was found between SLW and Pn. Young container trees were placed under the canopy of the orchard trees and in a full sun location nearby. The most recently unfolded leaf was tagged on June 6, June 17, June 30, and July 14. Shoot length of the single stem tree was not affected by exposure, but leaf number was greater on sun trees. Net photosynthesis was determined on the same attached leaves at each time and was significantly higher for sun leaves than shade leaves. There were no differences in Pn as leaves aged. Specific leaf weight was determined once and was significantly higher for sun leaves. Maximum Pn rates were reached at approximately 13 klx for shade leaves while sun leaves had not reached maximum Pn at 27 klx. / Master of Science

An experimental study of the ignition of liquid fuels injected transverse to a hot supersonic (M=1.65) air stream was conducted. The liquids considered were kerosene, CS₂ and water as an inert control. The major variables were: air stagnation temperature in the range 1500 to 2300ºF, injectant flow rate and injection angles from 90º to 45º upstream. The experimental observations were: temperature measurements on the wall near the injector and in the flow downstream of injection self-luminosity photographs and infrared photographs taken with a Thermographic camera. Special attention was directed at the behavior of the liquid layer that had previously been found to form near the injector. No unequivocal evidence of ignition of either fuel was found for normal injection at these conditions. However, clear evidence of ignition of CS₂ was found for the upstream injection angle for T_o ≥ 2030°F and 80 ≤ P_j ≤ 135 psi. Higher injection pressures and thus high flow rates failed to produce ignition at any temperature tested. Evidence of CS₂ ignition was found in the infrared photographs and wall and in-stream temperature measurements simultaneously. The infrared photograph indicated possible ignition of the kerosene for upstream injection, but this could not be corroborated with the temperature measurements. / Master of Science

Interest of STI policies to influence the innovation behaviour of firms has been increased considerably. This gives rise to the notion of behavioural additionality, broadening traditional evaluation concepts of input and output additionality. Though there is empirical work measuring behavioural additionalities, we know little about what role distinct firm characteristics play for their occurrence. The objective is to estimate how distinct firm characteristics influence the realisation of behavioural additionalities. We use survey data on 155 firms, considering the behavioural additionalities stimulated by the Austrian R&D funding scheme in the field of intelligent transport systems in 2006. We focus on three different forms of behavioural additionality project additionality, scale additionality and cooperation additionality and employ binary regression models to address this question. Results indicate that R&D related firm characteristics significantly affect the realisation of behavioural additionality. Firms with a high level of R&D resources are less likely to substantiate behavioural additionalities, while small, young and technologically specialised firms more likely realise behavioural additionalities. From a policy perspective, this indicates that direct R&D promotion of firms with high R&D resources may be misallocated, while attention of public support should be shifted to smaller, technologically specialised firms with lower R&D experience.

This paper empirically investigates the key firm- and industry-specific restrictions to the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in services trade. For this purpose, we use firm-level data from firms in France operating in different services sectors over the time period 1998 to 2007 and formulate two-part models consisting of (i) (dy namic) export equations and (ii) (dynamic) export share equations. Our results confirm the view that a relatively low share of SMEs engage in services trade. In line with the new-new trade theory, our results also corroborate that more productive SMEs have a higher export probability. The key finding of this paper is that the export decisions of SMEs in services sectors are estimated to be extremely persistent, implying that trade pol icy efforts, including the allocation of scarce trade promotion budgets, should be directed at addressing the barriers faced in establishing the first export operation. Finally, our sub-sectoral estimates reveal considerable heterogeneity across different types of services.

To what degree developing countries gain from signing double tax treaties is being hotly debated. In this paper, we analyze the Austrian tax treaty policy. Combining legal and economic perspectives, we find that developing countries are likely to expect both positive and negative impacts from signing a double tax treaty (DTT) with Austria. On the one hand, the results of our econometric analysis suggest that middle-income countries that sign a DTT with Austria may expect an increased number of foreign direct investment projects from Austrian companies. On the other hand, the signatory states may suffer from limited withholding taxation rights established in the DTTs for the source country, which could lead to reduced tax revenues in the developing countries. (authors' abstract) / Series: WU International Taxation Research Paper Series