Autonomous vehicles have made milestone strides within the past decade. Advances up the autonomy ladder have come lock-step with the advances in machine learning, namely deep-learning algorithms and huge, open training sets. And while advances in CPUs have slowed, GPUs have edged into the previous decade's TOP 500 supercomputer territory. This new class of GPUs include novel deep-learning hardware that has essentially side-stepped Moore's law, outpacing the doubling observation by a factor of ten. While GPUs have make record progress, networks do not follow Moore's law and are restricted by several bottlenecks, from protocol-based latency lower bounds to the very laws of physics. In a way, the bottlenecks that plague modern networks gave rise to Edge computing, a key component of the Connected Autonomous Vehicle system, as the need for low-latency in some domains eclipsed the need for massive processing farms. The Connected Autonomous Vehicle ecosystem is one of the most complicated environments in all of computing. Not only is the hardware scaled all the way from 16 and 32-bit microcontrollers, to multi-CPU Edge nodes, and multi-GPU Cloud servers, but the networking also encompasses the gamut of modern communication transports. I propose a framework for negotiating, encapsulating and transferring data between vehicles ensuring efficient bandwidth utilization and respecting real-time privacy levels.

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie studie is onderneem om aan te dui hoe die verslagleweringsfunksie van die ouditeur in openbare praktyk be1nvloed word deur die voortdurende veranderings in onder andere, gemeenskapstrukture en gemeenskapsdoelwitte. Gedurende die afgelope aantal jare het die gebruiker van die ouditeursversl ag herhaaldelik druk op die ouditprofessie geplaas om beter kommunikasiemiddels tot stand te bring. Die ouditprofessie het gehoor hier aan gegee en een van die reaksies op hierdie versoek was die uitreiking van 'n voorgeskrewe nuwe verlengde vorm van die ouditeursverslag. In hierdie studie word die proses van ontwikkeling van die verlengde vorm van die ouditeursverslag deurgevolg. Spesifieke verwysing na die verslagleweringsbeleide wat tans in sekere toonaangewende lande gevolg word, word gedoen, naamlik: die Verenigde State van Amerika, Suid-Afrika en die Verenigde Koninkryk. Om te verseker dat die ouditprofessie altyd gehoor gee aan die behoeftes van die gebruiker van die ouditeursverslag en sodoende 'n professie met 'n visie sal bly, word aanbeveel dat volgehoue navorsing op die gebied van ouditverslaglewering sal bly voortgaan. / This study was undertaken to indicate how continua 1 changes in, inter alia, community structures and goals have influenced the reporting function of the auditor in public practice. In recent years users of the auditor's report have applied continual pressure on the profession to improve its communication tools. One of the responses to this demand has been the issuing of the newly expanded long format auditor's report. In this study the development process of the new long format auditor's report has been researched and described with specific reference to the reporting practices in some of the leading countries in the field viz; the United States of America,South Africa and the United Kingdom. Continuing research within the domain of audit reporting is recommended to ensure that the profession deals with reporting problems as they occur, thus retaining the visionary status of the profession. / Auditing / M. Com. (Auditing)

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-03T12:31:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Brunopg1_30.pdf: 123865 bytes, checksum: aaa147915d7281dcf847ddf83dca9ef7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-04-04 / O presente estudo tem como objetivo definir teoricamente o conceito de game show interativo, tendo por referência o novo ambiente de TV digital no Brasil. Para tanto, o método empregado para desenvolver esta pesquisa foi o qualitativo, sendo utilizadas as técnicas de pesquisa bibliográfica, análise documental e pesquisa exploratória. O ponto de partida para tal estudo foi a criação e desenvolvimento do gênero nos Estados Unidos da América local onde teve seu auge, seu declínio e seu ressurgimento quando entra em funcionamento a TV por assinatura. O formato é exportado para vários países, inclusive o Brasil, e dele vislumbram-se várias possibilidades de reformulação a partir do uso das novas tecnologias. Há um novo panorama de construção de conteúdos que foi aberto com as possibilidades da TV digital interativa e este estudo visa apontar o game show como potencial formato para uso exploratório das possibilidades de interatividade.

Public speaking anxiety (PSA), widespread amongst students and also the general population, is associated with substantial distress and interferes with a person’s ability to give a presentation or speech. This can lead to difficulties in social, occupational and academic areas of functioning. Despite its pervasiveness, very few individuals will seek help, most will tend to avoid the anxiety-provoking situations. This can be a serious issue if left untreated, leading to negative impacts on quality of life, for example dropping out of education early and subsequently having limited job opportunities. The literature review explored the existing body of work regarding PSA and presented the rationale for the current research, beginning with a conceptual framework and the manner in which PSA is related to Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). This was followed by a detailed investigation of existing influential models and treatment modalities for both PSA and SAD. It identified that CBT has been the most effective treatment and has been delivered via different formats; however some individuals with SAD/PSA did not respond to a mainstream CBT approach and continued presenting residual symptoms after therapy. Thus, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) was introduced, with an examination of its model and potential to help PSA. Preliminary research employing acceptance-based strategies have provided promising results. The literature review indicated a need for investigation of (i) more readily disseminated, briefer formats of ACT and (ii) whether differences exist in efficacy and sustainability between non-guided self-help and group-led therapies format. Given the large number of individuals experience PSA/SAD and the limited availability of resources, there is a need to consider ways of improving access. Thus, development of ultra-brief interventions would potentially reduce delivery cost and enhance dissemination to a larger population. Keywords: public speaking anxiety, social anxiety, interventions, experiential avoidance, fear of negative evaluation, acceptance.

A agricultura demanda grande quantidade de água para a produção de alimentos e fibras. Técnicas que determinem e monitorem a dinâmica da água no solo são importantes para promover o uso correto e consciente desse recurso natural. Diante do exposto, a tensiometria é uma ferramenta eficiente na determinação da dinâmica da água em solos agrícolas, podendo ser utilizada em conjunto com sensores de capacitância para a caracterização da curva de retenção de água no solo. Contudo, apesar de práticos, erros associados à instalação e às características das cápsulas podem comprometer a precisão dos tensiômetros. Esse trabalho teve como objetivo testar a influência do uso de lama de solo no momento da instalação, bem como o formato e condutância hidráulica de cápsulas de tensiômetros de punção sobre o potencial matricial da água no solo, tendo-se como referência tensiômetros com manômetro de mercúrio. Também, se objetivou determinar a curva de retenção de água no solo com base nos dados obtidos por tensiometria e de um sensor de capacitância. Os resultados mostram que o formato das cápsulas de cerâmica e a lama de solo influenciaram as determinações do potencial matricial, ao contrário da condutância hidráulica das cápsulas. A lama de solo é indicada na instalação de tensiômetros com manômetro de mercúrio e de punção. As curvas de retenção diferiram quanto aos sistemas de aquisição (manômetro de mercúrio ou tensímetro); no entanto, o modelo ajustado não foi sensível em distinguir diferenças entre os tratamentos quanto ao formato das cápsulas ou uso de lama de solo. De modo geral, ocorreu uma subestimativa dos ajustes das curvas de retenção para os tensiômetros de punção, o que pode levar a interpretações errôneas das curvas de retenção de água no solo quando determinadas por meio desses instrumentos. / The agriculture demand large amounts of water for food and fiber production. The techniques used to determine and monitor the water dynamics in the soil are important to promote the correct and conscious use of this natural resource. Given the above, the tensiometry is an efficient tool for the determination the water dynamics in soils, which can be used in conjunction with capacitance sensors to characterize the water retention curve in the soil. However, although practical, errors associated with the installation and the characteristics of the capsules may compromise the accuracy of tensiometers. This study aimed to test the influence of the use of soil slurry during the tensiometer installation, the format and hydraulic conductance of the capsules from puncture tensiometers on the matric potential of soil water, taking as reference tensiometers equipped with mercury manometers. In addition, aimed to determine the soil-water retention curve based on data obtained by tensiometry and a capacitance sensor. The results shows that the format of the ceramic capsules and the use of the slurry influenced the measurements of matric potential, as opposed to hydraulic conductance of the capsules. The soil slurry is recommended for tensiometers equiped with mercury manometer and puncture tensiometers. The retention curves differed among the acquisition systems (mercury manometer or tensimeter); however, the fitted model was not sensitive enough to distinguish differences between treatments for the format of the capsules or the use of soil slurry. In general, there was an underestimation of the retention curve for puncture tensiometers, which can lead to erroneous interpretations of the soil-water retention curve when determined by these instruments.

Já não vemos a possibilidade de sustentar a ideia do formato notícia como o produto final da cadeia de produção jornalística digital. O desajuste que aqui enxergamos não está na notícia, ou em sua estrutura tradicional, ou em sua função social, mas no seu entendimento como produto final, como efeito de uma causa, como desfecho, epílogo ou conclusão de um processo. O desajuste está no termo final, que pressupõe um início. Já não vemos o formato narrativo digital como um produto hereditário de uma cadeia linear e fechada de produção no jornalismo. No lugar do controle e da linearidade, proporemos neste estudo observar a produção narrativa dentro de um processo circular típico do jornalismo pós-industrial. Em vez de fechamentos de formatos estáticos, notaremos continuidades com formatos adaptativos e mais leveza e imponderabilidade no lugar de estruturas narrativas rígidas e sólidas. Esse é, de fato, um estudo que abraça o desconforto e a beleza das incertezas que nascem da relação forma-conteúdo-tela das narrativas digitais no jornalismo. O que nos interessará aqui será criar um instrumento teórico para lidar com essa condição complexa. Assim, propomos um modelo teórico capaz de expandir a compreensão do que seja a narrativa digital jornalística, inaugurando um modo sistêmico de se pensar o desenho das narrativas no jornalismo digital e fornecendo assim um entendimento novo para este fenômeno. Neste estudo o termo \"narrativa\" não irá, portanto, se referir apenas ao que vemos nas telas de nossos dispositivos tecnológicos. Expandimos neste trabalho a perspectiva da narrativa clássica que toma a narrativa jornalística como o agenciamento dos fatos e a colocamos como agenciamento coletivo entre os estratos do sistema narrativo ou, de forma mais reduzida, assumimos a narrativa como sistema narrativo. Expansão, aqui, significa dilatação da visão e não negação ou discordância em relação às construções e percursos teóricos que precedem esta pesquisa. Para a construção do modelo teórico, partimos da narratologia pós-clássica, da moderna teoria dos sistemas e do modelo JDBD (Jornalismo Digital de Base de Dados). Observamos, nesta jornada, que o agenciamento entre os estratos do sistema narrativo realiza-se de forma coletiva por diversos atores: jornalistas, engenheiros, designers, webmasters, especialistas em negócios, arquitetos de informação, usuários, robôs, softwares, algoritmos, entre muitos outros; e que o jornalista atua sobretudo nas camadas de frontend do sistema. Familiarizando-se com camadas mais subterrâneas do sistema narrativo, a antenarrativa (dados e metadados), o jornalista abre oportunidades para melhor comunicar suas histórias no ciberespaço, interfaceando formatos que provoquem experiências ricas para suas audiências. Em nosso entendimento, o jornalista é, portanto, potencialmente um designer da experiência narrativa. / We no longer see the digital narrative format as a product of a linear hereditary and closed production in digital journalism. We no longer see the the form of news, their format, what we see in the screens, as a final product. The imbalance that we see here is not in the news itself or in its traditional structure, or even in its social function, but in understand it as an end product, as an effect or a cause, as an outcome, the epilogue or the conclusion of a process. The misfit is in this notion: the end, which implies a beginning. nstead of control and linearity, we propose in this study to observe the storytelling production inside a circular process, a loop that is typical of a post-industrial journalism. Instead of closing static formats, we will notice continuities with adaptive shapes. More lightness and weightlessness rather than rigid and solid narrative structures. In fact, this is a study that embraces both the discomfort and the beauty of the uncertainties that arise from the relationship between forms, contents and screens when we analyse digital storytelling in journalism context. What concern us here shall be create a theoretical apparatus to address this complex condition. In this way, this study opens up a systemic way to think about the design of narratives in digital journalism and thus provide a new insight of this phenomenon. The term storytelling will not, therefore, refer only to what we see on the screens of our technological devices. Here we expand the perspective of classical narrative (the arrangement of the events) and place it as the collective assemblage among the strata of narrative system. Or in other words: in this study, narrative is narrative system. It is worth to emphasize that when we say \" expansion of perspective,\" we mean dilation of vision and no denial nor disagreement with the theoretical constructs and pathways that precede this research .For the construction of the theoretical model, we start from the post-classical narratology, the modern theory of systems and the JDBD model. We observed, in this journey, the arrangement of the narrative system is held collectively by several actors: journalists, engineers, designers, webmasters, business specialists, information architects, users, robots, software, algorithms, among many others. And the journalist operates in some of the strata of the storytelling system, especially in the frontend layers. If familiar with subterranean layers of narrative system, the antenarrative (data and metadata), journalists provide opportunities to better communicate their stories in cyberspace, interfacing formats which cause rich experiences for its audiences. In our understanding, the journalist is potentially a narrative experience designer.

To control various response biases and rater errors in noncognitive assessment, multidimensional forced choice (MFC) measures have been proposed as an alternative to single-statement Likert-type scales. Historically, MFC measures have been criticized because conventional scoring methods can lead to ipsativity problems that render scores unsuitable for inter-individual comparisons. However, with the recent advent of classical test theory and item response theory scoring methods that yield normative information, MFC measures are surging in popularity and becoming important components of personnel and educational assessment systems. This dissertation presents developments concerning a GGUM-based MFC model henceforth referred to as the GGUM-RANK. Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms were developed to estimate GGUM-RANK statement and person parameters directly from MFC rank responses, and the efficacy of the new estimation algorithm was examined through computer simulations and an empirical construct validity investigation. Recently derived GGUM-RANK item information functions and information indices were also used to evaluate overall item and test quality for the empirical study and to give insights into differences in scoring accuracy between two-alternative (pairwise preference) and three-alternative (triplet) MFC measures for future work. This presentation concludes with a discussion of the research findings and potential applications in workforce and educational setting.

The process of contourization is presented which converts a raster image into a discrete set of plateaux or contours. These contours can be grouped into a hierarchical structure, defining total spatial inclusion, called a contour tree. A contour coder has been developed which fully describes these contours in a compact and efficient manner and is the basis for an image compression method. Simplification of the contour tree has been undertaken by merging contour tree nodes thus lowering the contour tree's entropy. This can be exploited by the contour coder to increase the image compression ratio. By applying general and simple rules derived from physiological experiments on the human vision system, lossy image compression can be achieved which minimises noticeable artifacts in the simplified image. The contour merging technique offers a complementary lossy compression system to the QDCT (Quantised Discrete Cosine Transform). The artifacts introduced by the two methods are very different; QDCT produces a general blurring and adds extra highlights in the form of overshoots, whereas contour merging sharpens edges, reduces highlights and introduces a degree of false contouring. A format based on the contourization technique which caters for most image types is defined, called the contour tree image format. Image operations directly on this compressed format have been studied which for certain manipulations can offer significant operational speed increases over using a standard raster image format. A couple of examples of operations specific to the contour tree format are presented showing some of the features of the new format.

The purpose of this thesis is to highlight the importance of graphic design and its visual effects in day-to-day life, notice new methods, justify relevant investments to advertisement as well as mention continuously rising demands made on professional graphic designers. The theoretical part of the thesis is based on the research article, which subject is the extent of consumers' product understanding of products being sold online. The research concludes that it is possible to choose the appropriate presentation format according to task complexity (product features) in terms of graphical and multimedia means of online presentation, such as static pictures with text captions, videos with or without narration and Virtual Product Experiences (VPE ). This is followed by the definitions of communication process and relevant standards related to web design, concluding with the description and interpretation of the most interesting and useful theoretical foundations. The main body is about implementing the theoretical findings in the real world business case including advertising campaign in a project having the purpose to give a real economic/business value. All the project phases are described from finding the business partner to the launch of brand new web service and its propagation. The new web page and other propagation materials were made in order to attract selected companies.

Reliability of data transmission is a fundamental problem in wireless communications. Fading in wireless channels causes the signal strength to vary at the receiver and this results in loss of data packets. To improve the reliability, automatic repeat request (ARQ) schemes were introduced. However these ARQ schemes suffer from a reduction in the throughput. To address the throughput reduction, conventional ARQ schemes were combined with forward error correction (FEC) schemes to develop hybrid-ARQ (HARQ) schemes. For improving the reliability of data transmission, HARQ schemes are included in the present wireless standards like LTE, LTE-Advanced and WiMAX. Conventional HARQ systems use the same transmission power and the same number of channel uses in different ARQ rounds. However this is not optimal in terms of minimizing the average transmit power or the average energy spent for successful transmission of a data packet. We address this issue in the first part of the dissertation, where we consider optimal resource allocation in HARQ systems with a limit on the maximum number of allowed transmissions for a data packet. Specifically, we consider the problem of minimizing the packet drop probability (PDP) under an average transmit power constraint or equivalently minimizing the average transmit power under a fixed PDP constraint. We consider both incremental redundancy (IR)-based and Chase combining (CC)-based HARQ systems in our work. For an IR-HARQ system, for the special case of two allowed transmissions for each packet, we provide a solution for the optimal number of channel uses and the optimal power to be used in each ARQ round. For a CC-HARQ system, we solve the problem of optimal power allocation in i.i.d. Rayleigh fading channels as well as correlated Rayleigh fading channels. For the CC-HARQ case, we also provide a low complexity geometric programming (GP) solution using an approximation of the outage probability expression. HARQ systems conventionally use one bit acknowledgement (ACK)/negative ACK (NACK) feedback from the receiver to the transmitter. In the 3GPP-LTE systems, one method for sending these HARQ acknowledgement bits is to jointly code them with the other control signaling information using a specified Reed-Muller code consisting of 20 coded bits. Even though the resources used for sending this control signaling information can inherently provide a diversity gain, the Reed-Muller code with such a short block size is not good at extracting all of the available diversity. To address this issue, in the second part of this dissertation, we propose two new methods: i) based on complex-field coding (CFC), and ii) using repetition across frequency bands, to extract the inherent diversity available in the channel resources and improve the error protection for the HARQ acknowledgement bits along with the other control signaling information. In the second part of the dissertation, we also propose a new signal space diversity (SSD) scheme, which results in transmit signals having constant envelope (CE). The proposed CE-SSD scheme results in a better overall power efficiency due to the reduced back-off requirements on the radio frequency power amplifier. Moreover, the proposed CE-SSD technique can be useful for application scenarios involving transmission of small number of information bits, such as in the case of control signaling information transmission. In conventional HARQ systems, during the retransmission phase, the channel resources are exclusively used for the retransmitted data packet. This is not optimal in terms of efficient resource utilization. For efficient utilization of channel resources during the retransmissions, a superposition coding (SPC) based HARQ scheme was proposed in the literature. In an SPC based HARQ system, an erroneous packet is transmitted together with a new data packet by superposition in the Euclidean space. In the final part of this dissertation, we study performance of different bits-to-symbol mappings for such an SPC based HARQ system.