The aim of this study is to seek to determine the philosophic grounds which prompt this painter in particular to incorporate both two- and three-dimensional space within each painting.

This project explores systematic strategies for establishing a definitive mode of representation in drawing. These strategies are considered in the context of the subjectivities and contingencies of perceptual experience, the mediation of that experience and inherent limitations in representational language. The aim is to explore the possibilities of constructing two-dimensional artworks which serve to define or investigate perceptual processes, perspective devices and spatial relationships.

This thesis explores the multi-dimensional aspects of space by engaging three primary “modes of knowing”: the corporeal, the virtual and the spiritual. The crossings of these modes are investigated through the development of three characters in a film; Kira is the earth-worshipping goddess; Kisho is the cyborg, a permanently uploaded information-seeker; and the Shaman is a shape-shifting lightworker. These characters evolve from the distillation of specific readings related to each of the aforementioned modes as well as from interviews and experiences that assist in their development. These readings range from Novalis and Ashley Montagu on corporeal knowledge, Donna Harraway and Neil Spiller on technologically enhanced trans-human states and Fritjof Capra and Alex Grey on the intersection of ancient mystical teaching with recent findings in quantum physics. This exploration is followed by the design portion of the thesis: a short film where each character occupies a separate world in the dystopian future. The radical and regenerative possibilities of their crossings are what the film initiates.

This thesis explores the multi-dimensional aspects of space by engaging three primary “modes of knowing”: the corporeal, the virtual and the spiritual. The crossings of these modes are investigated through the development of three characters in a film; Kira is the earth-worshipping goddess; Kisho is the cyborg, a permanently uploaded information-seeker; and the Shaman is a shape-shifting lightworker. These characters evolve from the distillation of specific readings related to each of the aforementioned modes as well as from interviews and experiences that assist in their development. These readings range from Novalis and Ashley Montagu on corporeal knowledge, Donna Harraway and Neil Spiller on technologically enhanced trans-human states and Fritjof Capra and Alex Grey on the intersection of ancient mystical teaching with recent findings in quantum physics. This exploration is followed by the design portion of the thesis: a short film where each character occupies a separate world in the dystopian future. The radical and regenerative possibilities of their crossings are what the film initiates.

This project explores systematic strategies for establishing a definitive mode of representation in drawing. These strategies are considered in the context of the subjectivities and contingencies of perceptual experience, the mediation of that experience and inherent limitations in representational language. The aim is to explore the possibilities of constructing two-dimensional artworks which serve to define or investigate perceptual processes, perspective devices and spatial relationships.

Similarities between golden mice (Ochrotomys nuttalli) and white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) have been well-studied in both field and laboratory settings. Often sympatric, these species share similar habitat, as well as other resources, yet previous researchers have found little evidence for interspecific competition. Niche partitioning may reduce direct competition through specialization of resource use. Although the golden mouse is considered a resource specialist, it is likely that the degree of habitat specialization differs by locality, and thus, the degree of interspecific competition with similar species is variable. To determine the extent to which microhabitat use differs between golden mice and white-footed mice, I measured 16 and 15 microhabitat variables during the leaf-on and leaf-off seasons, respectively, in Jackson County, Illinois. Trapping took place on 3 grids from March 2010 to September 2011. The ratio of individual golden mice (n = 74) to white-footed mice (n = 85) was unusually high during this study. Microhabitat use models were constructed for both species during both seasons using logistic regression by comparing microhabitat at trapping stations where each species was captured vs. stations without captures. Few variables described habitat occupied by golden mice. Overall, dense vegetation up to 2.0 m was most important for golden mice and ground-level structures such as logs were most important for white-footed mice. Captures and noncaptures were predicted with a high degree of accuracy by logistic regression (81.5-90.3%). Discriminant function analysis was used to identify which microhabitat variables optimally discriminated between habitat used by golden mice, white-footed mice, and neither species. More variables discriminated between species during the leaf-on season than the leaf-off season although discriminating variables during leaf-off were more important overall. Habitat where either species was captured was combined and compared against habitat where no mice were captured; microhabitat used by mice was statistically distinct within the study area. Captures and noncaptures were classified correctly more than would be expected by chance by discriminant function analysis but moderate classification success values indicated microhabitat differences between species were subtle. Microhabitat and elevated trap use varied between seasons for both species, but neither species used ground or elevated traps more than expected during the leaf-on season. Spatial segregation was more apparent during the leaf-off season when golden mice used elevated traps more than expected and white-footed mice used ground traps more than expected. Overall results suggest that golden mice exhibited a great deal of plasticity in microhabitat use seasonally, and are more habitat generalists than previous literature would suggest. Although some spatial segregation was apparent between golden mice and white-footed mice, there was no evidence for avoidance between species, which implies a lack of interference competition. It is likely that other life-history factors (such as metabolic rate, nest building, or sociality) in combination with microhabitat and vertical partitioning allow coexistence between these species rather than microhabitat segregation alone.

The aim of this dissertation is to explore the stories of women who have been trapped in abusive relationships (victims of intimate partner violence (IPV)) and the process of how they moved on from these relationships to non-abusive relationships, thereby becoming survivors. The primary research question guiding the study is; How do the women describe their experiences of the processes that they underwent in leaving an abusive relationship and entering into a new, non-abusive, relationship? The study generates a rich description of their experiences, exploring what it is that makes these women unique in changing their identities from victim of abuse to survivor. This is done by taking an in-depth look at each participant’s story and uncovering the personal meanings that they ascribed to these experiences. Literature from past studies is also explored as various authors describe IPV, factors related to IPV and how their illustrations coincide or differ from the findings of this study. A narrative research approach is used in this study. Narrative research falls under the umbrella of postmodernism and is conducted with a social constructionist outlook. The narrative approach views knowledge as generated by exploring subjective experience and how the individual makes meaning with emphasis on context. This study, therefore, focuses on how the participant’s identities are constructed over time as a result of making meaning from their experiences, through self-exploration, social processes and through interactions with others. Data was gathered by means of semi-structured interviews. The tool used for analysis of the stories was the Three-Dimensional Space Approach, the specific tools being; analysis of situation, interaction and continuity. This approach allows for the data to be analysed, not as a given truth but rather, as meaning is generated from the unique perspective of each individual participant in the context, as well as how it was interpreted by myself, the researcher. The results explore this process through the themes of a message from each participant: commitment as it preceded the abuse, identity, control and manipulation at the hands of the perpetrator, and everyone needs someone to help. These themes were then integrated with the literature. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Psychology / unrestricted

We study the extraction of nonlinear data models in high dimensional spaces with modified self-organizing maps. Our algorithm maps lower dimensional lattice into a high dimensional space without topology violations by tuning the neighborhood widths locally. The approach is based on a new principle exploiting the specific dynamical properties of the first order phase transition induced by the noise of the data. The performance of the algorithm is demonstrated for one- and two-dimensional principal manifolds and for sparse data sets.

No description available.

o processo de inclusão social do aluno portador de deficiência visual é facilitado pela adoção de estratégias pedagógicas, e pela utilização de materiais didáticos adequados. Neste trabalho, com o objetivo de facilitar a compreensão de conceitos químicos básicos, desenvolvemos um material didático, constituído de bolas texturizadas, que representam elementos qUlmlcos freqüentemente citados em aulas de Química de nível introdutório. Este material permite que o aluno, por meio do toque, e com o uso de uma legenda escrita em Braille, reconheça os elementos químicos em uma Tabela Periódica, especialmente montada para tal fim. Utilizando este modelo texturizado, o aluno pode, também, estabelecer ligações entre átomos, montar moléculas e cadeias de compostos orgânicos. Desta forma, a tridimensionalidade molecular pode ser melhor compreendida. O material instrucional foi testado com alunos de classes variadas, pertencentes à oitava série do ensino fundamental ou a uma das séries do ensino médio, sendo demonstrada sua eficiência. Além disso, em paralelo, procurou-se conhecer as idéias de professores, diretamente envolvidos com a educação especial, com relação à inclusão social de alunos deficiente visuais . / Special educational strategies and specific instructional material are needed in order to promote School and Social inclusion of students with visual impairment. In this work, we present our results on the development and testing of a new instructional material , composed of a specially designed Periodic Table of elements in which the na me of each element is written according to the Braille system, and some elements are represented by texturized balls. The tactile recognition of elements and names were very helpful in developing basic concept on chemical bonding and chemical properties of elements and compounds. Using texturized ball and stick models, High School students with visual impairment were also able to construct physical representations of organic and inorganic molecules, as well as of some hydrocarbon molecular chains. These three dimension structural models allowed for a proper insight on the space orientation of simple molecules. Some teachers\' ideas on the process of Social inclusion of students with visual impairment are also presented and discussed.