Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-12T18:05:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 arquivo5625_1.pdf: 3034906 bytes, checksum: 1e1ce3c2f81221e50a72a54593696a83 (MD5) license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A atual mesorregião do Sudeste Paraense formada por 39 municípios e aproximadamente 1,6 milhões de habitantes, possui características e dinâmicas socioeconômicas e territoriais muito singulares, formadas, especialmente, pelas transformações dos últimos 40 anos. A discussão sobre essas transformações passa pela reflexão do conceito de fronteira no Brasil. Existe, pois, uma diversidade de tipos de fronteira que neste trabalho foram sistematizados para a construção de uma definição e caracterização mais adequada à realidade desta mesorregião. A fronteira pode ser, ao mesmo tempo, um fenômeno e um território no qual ocorrem rápidas e profundas transformações, tanto em aspectos econômicos quanto sociais (demográficos e culturais), políticos e territoriais. Para compreender o desenvolvimento dessa fronteira, tão diversa e heterogênea, foi construída uma tipologia de municípios a partir da organização de uma base de indicadores econômicos, sociais e territoriais representativos com as características da fronteira. Esses indicadores foram utilizados numa análise multivariada de conglomerados (Cluster Analysis) a partir do método k-means clusters, com o suporte estatístico e computacional dos softwares SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) versão 18.0 e STATISTICA na versão 8.0 para a construção de grupos de municípios com características comuns. Esta abordagem permitiu identificar quatro estágios que caracterizam desenvolvimento dos municípios da fronteira: Pioneira, Transitória, Urbanizada e Consolidada. A utilização do método de análise multivariada para criar uma tipologia que evidencie os estágios de evolução de municípios da fronteira no Sudeste Paraense revelou-se relativamente ineficiente. Pois, mesmo buscando-se a combinação com maior homogeneidade interna possível, os grupos formados ainda são bastante heterogêneos, principalmente por causa da complexidade, heterogeneidade e variedade do fenômeno nessa região

Image compression aims to reduce the amount of data that is stored or transmitted for images. One technique that may be used to this end is vector quantization. Vectors may be used to represent images. Vector quantization reduces the number of vectors required for an image by representing a cluster of similar vectors by one typical vector that is part of a set of vectors referred to as the code book. For compression, for each image vector, only the closest codebook vector is stored or transmitted. For reconstruction, the image vectors are again replaced by the the closest codebook vectors. Hence vector quantization is a lossy compression technique and the quality of the reconstructed image depends strongly on the quality of the codebook. The design of the codebook is therefore an important part of the process. In this thesis we examine three clustering algorithms which can be used for codebook design in image compression: c-means (CM), fuzzy c-means (FCM) and learning vector quantization (LVQ). We give a description of these algorithms and their application to codebook design. Edges are an important part of the visual information contained in an image. It is essential therefore to use codebooks which allow an accurate representation of the edges. One of the shortcomings of using vector quantization is poor edge representation. We therefore carry out experiments using these algorithms to compare their edge preserving qualities. We also investigate the combination of these algorithms with classified vector quantization (CVQ) and the replication method (RM). Both these methods have been suggested as methods for improving edge representation. We use a cross validation approach to estimate the mean squared error to measure the performance of each of the algorithms and the edge preserving methods. The results reflect that the edges are less accurately represented than the non - edge areas when using CM, FCM and LVQ. The advantage of using CVQ is that the time taken for code book design is reduced particularly for CM and FCM. RM is found to be effective where the codebook is trained using a set that has larger proportions of edges than the test set.

Context. Multiple studies demonstrate that most of the residential burglaries are committed by a few offenders. Statistics collected by the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention show that the number of residential burglary varies from year to year. But this value normally increases. Besides, around half of all reported burglaries occur in big cities and only some burglaries occur in sparsely-populated areas. Thus, law enforcement agencies need to study possible linked residential burglaries for their investigations. Linking crime-reports is a difficult task and currently there is not a systematic way to do it. Objectives. This study presents an analysis of the different features of the collected residential burglaries by the law enforcement in Sweden. The objective is to study the possibility of linking crimes depending on these features. The characteristics used are residential features, modus operandi, victim features, goods stolen, difference of days and distance between crimes. Methods. To reach the objectives, quasi experiment and repeated measures are used. To obtain the distance between crimes, routes using Google maps are used. Different cluster methods are investigated in order to obtain the best cluster solution for linking residential burglaries. In addition, the study compares different algorithms in order to identify which algorithm offers the best performance in linking crimes. Results. Clustering quality is measured using different methods, Rule of Thumb, the Elbow method and Silhouette. To evaluate these measurements, ANOVA, Tukey and Fisher’s test are used. Silhouette presents the greatest quality level compared to other methods. Other clustering algorithms present similar average Silhouette width, and therefore, similar quality clustering. Results also show that distance, days and residential features are the most important features to link crimes. Conclusions. The clustering suggestion denotes that it is possible to reduce the amount of burglaries cases. This reduction is done by finding linked residential burglaries. Having done the clustering, the results have to be investigated by law enforcement.

Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul / Knowing the consumer and their attitudes at the completion of purchases is a behavior that has been studied for several decades. Based on the theory of consumer behavior this study is to spend one more contribution to academia and industry, to present the factors that influence young people to the habit of doing or not planning ahead to situations of purchase. Thus the problem of research proposed in this study was: "What are the factors that influence the act of performing and non-planned purchases planned?". For this was a descriptive study of the quantitative type, involving a survey of field of 600 respondents, a stratified sample covering the proportion of graduate students from four institutions of higher education. Was extracted from the literature review some factors that could be linked to the fact that the purchases are made in a planned or not and, therefore, could be investigated. Bearing in mind that each factor was chosen consisting of many variables realized the need to reduce the initial set of variables, but without compromising the original meaning of each factor and, therefore, appealed to the statistical technique of cluster analysis. For a better understanding of the phenomenon it was studied by logistic regression analysis applied to other variables of the previous technique, there are aspects that are related to the increased likelihood that the purchases are planned and implemented in a Nor -planned. Thus, it was found that self-esteem and age tend to increase the chance of occurring and that the purchases planned income, materialism and compulsive buying behavior increases the likelihood of non-planned purchases occur. Furthermore, no relationship was found between any of the family structure and social factors to the act of planning or not purchasing the university. How the results can not be generalized, taking into view that was conducted among a specific audience, they become further research to better understanding and deeper in this area of study. / Conhecer o consumidor e suas atitudes no momento da realização de compras é um comportamento que vem sendo estudado há várias décadas. Com base na teoria do comportamento do consumidor este estudo tem como finalidade passar mais uma contribuição para o meio acadêmico e empresarial, ao apresentar aspectos que influenciam os jovens no hábito de realizar planejamento ou não frente a situações de compra. Dessa forma, o problema de pesquisa proposto nesse estudo foi: Quais são os fatores influenciadores do ato de realizar compras planejadas e não-planejadas? . Para isso foi realizada uma pesquisa descritiva do tipo quantitativa, envolvendo um levantamento de campo de 600 respondentes, de uma amostra estratificada proporcional abrangendo os estudantes de graduação de quatro Instituições de Ensino Superior. Foi extraído da revisão de literatura alguns fatores que poderiam estar vinculados ao fato de as compras serem efetuadas de forma planejada ou não e que, por isso, mereciam ser investigados. Tendo-se em vista que cada fator escolhido era constituído por muitas variáveis, percebeu-se a necessidade de reduzir esse conjunto inicial de variáveis sem, no entanto, comprometer o significado original de cada fator e, para isso, recorreu-se a técnica estatística de análise de cluster. Para um melhor entendimento do fenômeno estudado buscou-se por meio da análise de regressão logística, aplicada às variáveis restantes da técnica anterior, verificar quais são os aspectos que estariam relacionados com o aumento da probabilidade de as compras serem executadas de forma planejada e também nãoplanejadas. Desse modo, constatou-se que a auto-estima e a idade tendem a aumentar a chance de ocorrer compras planejadas e que a renda, o materialismo e o comportamento compulsivo de compra aumentam a probabilidade de ocorrer compras não-planejadas. Além disso, não foi evidenciada relação linear alguma entre os fatores estrutura familiar e socialização ao ato de planejamento ou não de compras pelos universitários. Como os resultados obtidos não podem ser generalizados, tendo-se em vista que fora realizado junto a um público específico, tornam-se necessárias novas pesquisas para uma melhor compreensão e aprofundamento nessa área de estudo.

Emerging automotive and transportation technologies have provided revolutionary possibilities in the way we might travel in the future. Major car manufacturers and technology giants have demonstrated significant progress in advancing and testing autonomous vehicles in real-life traffic conditions. Governmental agencies are grappling with how to plan transportation systems for a world with autonomous vehicles. Past research has shown that not all technologies are immediately welcomed by the public. Autonomous Vehicles would have to likely go through a similar phase, and would need to overcome not just technological challenges but also social barriers for successful penetration into the marketplace. Most previous studies on consumer opinions, and potential adoption of these technologies provide only descriptive, univariate analyses that fail to extract deeper insights on consumers’ perceptions, and their intended adoption of autonomous vehicles. Multi-population surveys were conducted to obtain data on consumers’ perceptions, their intended adoption, and eventual use of autonomous vehicles. Descriptive results revealed that around one-fifth of the respondents were unfamiliar about this technology, with larger shares of the younger generations expressing unfamiliarity. Questions on intended adoption of autonomous vehicles were asked across two stages of the survey and results revealed the merit of providing information to the recipients which seem to have assisted them in making more informed decisions about their intended adoption (or non-adoption process). 40% of the respondents were unlikely to adopt autonomous vehicles with a further 20% being unsure, presently. When analyzed across generations, it was seen that higher shares of older generations were unlikely to adopt autonomous vehicles than their younger counterparts. In addition to adoption, other interesting insights on use of autonomous vehicles, and travel behavioral implications of autonomous vehicles were also obtained in this analysis. Considering the vast market potential of this technology, it is important to obtain insights on possible differences in adoption (or non-adoption) across various consumer market segments. The current dissertation fills these gaps in the literature by providing an in-depth understanding of the potential market segments of autonomous vehicle consumers, and revealing the factors influencing their adoption (or non-adoption of autonomous vehicles). Two-step cluster analysis of consumers’ perceptions of potential benefits and concerns with autonomous vehicles reveal four distinct consumer market segments – the benefits-dominated market segment, the concerns-dominated market segment, the uncertain market segment, and the well-informed market segment. The insights obtained are further used to uncover various triggers influencing the adoption (or non-adoption) of autonomous vehicles across these market segments. It can be seen that in addition to the influence of sociodemographics, various other factors such as current travel characteristics, crash history, and current vehicle purchase inventory have significant influences in the adoption process across each market segment. The results from this exercise provide autonomous vehicle stakeholders with a more in-depth understanding of the potential market segments interested (or uninterested) in adopting autonomous vehicles, which could be used to develop enhanced marketing and policy initiatives to achieve better outcomes. Considering the high initial cost of autonomous vehicles, novel business models like shared autonomous vehicles (SAVs), could emerge as possible alternatives to individually owning, and operating autonomous vehicles. The recent emergence of popular rideshare giants, such as Uber and Lyft, into the SAV market have further brought some discussion on possible alterations to household vehicle ownership models in a shared environment. Previous research simulating SAV fleets in a gridded city network reveal the cost benefits of having shared autonomous vehicles in comparison to owning and individually operating them. This study looks into the implications of shared autonomous vehicles on current household vehicle ownership and uncovers the factors influencing the relinquishment of a household vehicle to use shared autonomous vehicles for commute trips. Results show that the effect of relinquishing household vehicles is different among single- and multi-vehicle households with different triggers such as socio-demographics, current travel characteristics, crash severities, and vehicle purchase histories influencing the relinquishment of household vehicles.

Imaging of cellular samples has for several hundred years been a way for scientists to investigate biological systems. With the discovery of immunofluorescence labeling in the 1940’s and later genetic fluorescent protein labeling in the 1980’s the most important part in imaging, contrast and specificity, was drastically improved. Eversince, we have seen a increased use of fluorescence imaging in biological research, and the application and tools are constantly being developed further. Specific ion imaging has long been a way to discern signaling events in cell systems. Through use of fluorescent ion reporters, ionic concentrations can be measured inliving cells as result of applied stimuli. Using Ca2+ imaging we have demonstrated that there is a inverse influence by plasma membrane voltage gated calcium channels on angiotensin II type 1 receptor (a protein involved in blood pressure regulation). This has direct implications in treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure),one of the most common serious diseases in the western civilization today with approximately one billion afflicted adults world wide in 2016. Extending from this more lower resolution live cell bioimaging I have moved into super resolution imaging. This thesis includes works on the interpretation of super resolution imaging data of the neuronal Na+, K+ - ATPase α3, a receptor responsible for maintaining cell homeostasis during brain activity. The imaging data is correlated with electrophysiological measurements and computer models to point towards possible artefacts in super resolution imaging that needs to be taken into account when interpreting imaging data. Moreover, I proceeded to develop a software for single-molecule localization microscopy analysis aimed for the wider research community and employ this software to identify expression artifacts in transiently transfected cell systems. In the concluding work super-resultion imaging was used to map out the early steps of the intrinsic apoptotic signaling cascade in space and time. Using superresoultion imaging, I mapped out in intact cells at which time points and at which locations the various proteins involved in apoptotic regulation are activated and interact. / Avbildning av biologiska prover har i flera hundra år varit ett sätt för forskare att undersöka biologiska system. Med utvecklingen av immunofluoresens inmärkn-ing och fluoresens-mikroskopi förbättrades de viktigaste aspekterna av mikroskopi,kontrast och specificitet. Sedan 1941 har vi sett kontinuerligt mer mångsidigt och frekvent användning av fluorosense-mikroskopi i biologisk forskning. Jon-mikroskopi har länge varit en metod att studera signalering i cell-system. Genom användning av fluorosenta jon-sensorer går det att mäta variationer avjon koncentrationer i levande celler som resultat av yttre påverkan. Genom att använda Ca2+ mikroskopi har jag visat att det finns en omvänd koppling mellan kalcium-kanaler i plasma-membran och angiotensin II typ 1 receptorn (ett proteininvolverat i blodtrycksreglering). Detta har direkta implikationer för behandlingav högt blodtryck, en av de mer vanliga sjukdomarna i västvärlden idag med överen miljard drabbade patienter i världen 2016. Efter detta projekt vidgades mitt fokus till att inkludera superupplösnings-mikroskopi. Denna avhandling inkluderar ett arbete fokuserat på tolkningen av superupplösnings-mikroskopi data från neuronal Na+, K+ - ATPase α3, en jon-pump som återställer cellernas jonbalans i samband med cell signalering. Mikroskopi-datan korreleras mot elektrofysiologi experiment och modeller för att illustrera möjliga artefakter i superupplösnings-mikroskopi som måste tas i beaktande i samband med tolkning av data. Jag fortsatte med att utveckla mjukvara för analys av data från singel-molekyl-lokalisations-mikroskopi där fokuset för mjukvaran framförallt varit på användarvänligheten. Detta då jag hoppas att den kommer vara användbar för ett bredare forskingsfält. Mjukvaran användes även i ett separat projekt för att identifiera överuttrycks-artefakter i transfekterade celler. I det avslutande arbetet använder jag superupplösnings-mikroskopi för att karakterisera de tidiga stegen i mitokondriell apoptos. Jag identifierar när och var i cellen de olika proteinerna involverade i apoptos signaleringen är aktiverade och interagerar. / <p>QC 20171003</p>

Submitted in fulfilment of the Degree of Master of Engineering in Chemical Engineering, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2017. / A pertinent issue facing the materials industry is that of the lifespan of materials when exposed to certain solvents/ environments. Limitations to the applications of materials require further research into understanding their failure mechanisms and how such problems can be addressed in terms of re-engineering such materials to be more durable. PVC and HDPE are two common polymers used extensively in industrial applications. Gibbs ensemble Monte Carlo simulations were used to simulate systems of PVC and HDPE with methanol, respectively. The temperatures used in this work were 25, 30 and 40 oC and all systems were at atmospheric pressure. Laboratory tests were used to complement simulations for analysis purposes. Results showed an increase in temperature resulted in a decrease in the overall clustering in both polymers although PVC displayed a greater decrease than HDPE. Linear clustering dominated over other forms of clustering with increases in temperature, with dimers being the most prevalent topology type. The results of this study suggest that the presence of chlorine atoms in PVC may not directly affect clustering of absorbed methanol, and their effect may instead be indirect by means of altering the accessible free volume within the polymer. Swelling was also investigated in the simulated systems and it was found that PVC displayed a greater degree of swelling than HDPE despite its lower rate of clustering. The effect of cluster radius on the cluster analysis was also considered. / M

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / This study examines the relationship between stock returns and market segmentation. Monthly returns of stocks listed on the JSE from 1997-2007 are analysed using mostly the analytic factor and cluster analysis techniques. Evidence supporting the use of multi-index models in explaining the return generating process on the JSE is found. The results provide additional support for Van Rensburg (1997)'s hypothesis on market segmentation on the JSE.

Magister Artium - MA / Backpacker tourism is a niche market of tourism that has been rapidly growing, South Africa in particular has become an increasingly popular destination for backpacker tourism (Visser 2004). Academic interest in backpacker tourism research has grown in recent years, although the current literature on backpacker tourism has focused on the economic significance and impacts with little empirical research conducted on the characteristics, motivations and behaviors. Cohen (2003) stresses that future research should stop referring to backpacking as if it were a homogeneous phenomenon, and should rather focus on its diverse manifestations in terms of origins, age, gender, class, nationality and cultural backgrounds of backpackers. Since backpacker tourism is a growing market it is important for the destination to understand the specifics and capabilities of the market in order to create sustainable products. The main aim of this research is to segment the backpacker tourism market in South Africa, in order to ascertain if any significant sub-groups exist. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were utilised to collect data including a distribution of 202 questionnaire surveys to backpackers within backpacker hostels and also participant observation was employed to gain an in-depth understanding of the phenomena. Factor and cluster analysis was used to analyse the data. The following motive-based segments were identified: Self-developers/ Learners, Experience Seekers, Escapers/ Independence, Adventures/ Social Seekers. The results revealed that these segments do illustrate an increase in the heterogeneity of backpacker tourism. The reason these sub-groups of backpackers are depicted in South Africa is to address the underlying desires of backpackers in order to satisfy their needs.

This thesis deals with the relation between marriage and parenthood in the Czech Republic. The main object is to explore changes in the family behavior of young generations and to analyze the related demographic processes of fertility and nuptality. Special attention is paid to marital, extramarital and premarital fertility. The thesis searches for the answer of the question if the marital surroundings are still unique for the child upbringing or if the economic and value changes of the society after 1989 broke the traditional family formation. Another important object is to perform a cluster analysis. Czech districts are divided into the clusters, which are made to describe the current situation. The last part demonstrates the results of the quantitative survey, which helps to find out the public attitudes about family life.