In this thesis, optimization of the geometry of non-uniform arrays for direction finding yielding unambiguous results is studied. A measure of similarity between the array response vectors is defined. In this measure, the effects of antenna array geometry, source placements and antenna gains are included as variable parameters. Then, assuming that the antenna gains are known and constant, constraints on the similarity function are developed and described to result in unambiguous configurations and maximum resolution. The problem stated is solved with two different methods, the MATLAB optimization toolbox, and genetic algorithm in which different genetic codings are also studied. The performance of the MUSIC algorithm with the optimized array geometries are investigated through computer simulations. The direction of arrival estimates are obtained using the optimized array geometry on the MUSIC algorithm along with the effects of different parameters. Statistics of the true and probable erroneous arrival angles and the probability of gross error are obtained as a measure of performance. It is observed that the proposed optimization process for the array geometry gave rise to unambiguous results for direction finding.

Στα πλαίσια εκπόνησης της παρούσας διπλωματικής εργασίας πραγματοποιείται μια αναλυτική παρουσίαση των μεθόδων αριθμητικής επίλυσης εξισώσεων, ήτοι διχοτόμησης, Regula Falsi, τέμνουσας και Newton-Raphson, καθώς και των τύπων παρεμβολής των προς τα εμπρός και προς τα πίσω διαφορών των Newton-Gregory. Επίσης γίνεται παρουσίαση του αντίστοιχου λογισμικού προγράμματος εφαρμογής της εκπαιδευτικής διαδικασίας. Ο στόχος εδώ είναι η εφαρμογή υπολογιστικών συστημάτων, καθώς αναφέρεται σε λογισμικό εφαρμογής, των μεθόδων και των τύπων παρεμβολής, κατά την παράδοση του μαθήματος της Αριθμητικής Ανάλυσης I του Α' έτους σπουδών. Στην πρώτη ενότητα γίνεται λεπτομερής ανάλυση των τεσσάρων μεθόδων αριθμητικής επίλυσης εξισώσεων και των τύπων παρεμβολής. Η επόμενη ενότητα αναφέρεται στο λογισμικό πρόγραμμα, το οποίο έχει δημιουργηθεί στα πλαίσια της διπλωματικής εργασίας, καθώς επίσης και στον τρόπο εφαρμογής του κατά την διάρκεια της διδασκαλίας. Και τέλος, στην τρίτη ενότητα γίνεται εικονογραφημένη παρουσίαση του λογισμικού προγράμματος. / In this Thesis, the numerical methods of bisection, Regula Falsi, secant and Newton-Raphson for solving nonlinear equations, as well as the forward and backward differences interpolation formulae of Newton-Gregory are presented in detail with emphasis on the educational procedure. The corresponding software application program for the educational process is also given. The aim is to present the application of the above methods of Numerical Analysis to first year students in Mathematics. The first section presents the analysis of the four numerical methods for solving equations and the two interpolation formulae. The second section refers to the software program, which has been developed as part of the thesis, in order to be applied during teaching the course. Finally, the third section is a representation of the software program.

Apresentamos neste trabalho o desenvolvimento de um método para o reconhecimento do Formato de Objetos Tri-dimensionais. Os sistemas tradicionais de Visão Computacional empregam imagens bi-dimensionais obtidos através de câmeras de TV, ricas em detalhes necessários a visão humana. Estes detalhes em grande parte das aplicações industriais de Robôs são supérfluos. Os algoritmos tradicionais de classificação consomem portanto muito tempo no processamento deste excesso de informação. Para este trabalho, desenvolvemos um sistema dedicado para reconhecimento que utiliza um feixe de Laser defletido sobre um objeto e a digitalização da Luminância em cada ponto de sua superfície. A intensidade luminosa refletida e proporcional a distância do ponto ao observador. É, portanto, possível determinar parâmetros que classifiquem cada objeto. A inclinação de cada face de um poliedro, o comportamento de suas fronteiras e também a existência de arestas internas, são as características adotadas. Estas características são então rotuladas, permitindo que o programa de classificação busque em um \"banco de conhecimento\" previamente estabelecido, a descrição dos objetos. Uma mesa giratória permite a rotação do modele fornecendo novas vistas ao observador, determinando sua classificação. Todo o sistema é controlado por um microcomputador cujo programa reconhece em tempo real o objeto em observação. Para o protótipo construído, utilizamos um Laser de HeNe sendo a recepção do raio refletido realizada por um fototransistor. Os objetos reconhecíveis pelo programa são poliedros regulares simples, compondo o seguinte conjunto: 1 prisma de base triangular, 1 cubo, 1 pirâmide de base triangular, 1 pirâmide de base retangular. O tratamento matemático empregado visa a comprovação da tecnologia proposta, podendo, na continuação de trabalhos futuros, ser efetivamente estendido a diversos outros objetos como, por exemplo, os de superfícies curvas. / We present in this work a new method for three dimensional Shape Recognition. Traditional Computer Vision systems use bi-dimensional TV camera images. In most of the industrial Robotic applications, the excess of detail obtained by the TV camera is needless. Traditional classification algorithms spend a lot of time to process the excess of information. For the present work we developed a dedicated recognition system, which deflects a Laser beam over an object and digitizes the Reflected beam point by point over the surface. The intensity of the reflected beam is proportional to the observer distance. Using this technique it was possible to establish features to classify various objects. These features are the slope of the polyhedral surfaces, the boundary type and the inner edges. For each object the features are labeled and the classification algorithm searches in a \"knowledge data base\" for the object description. The recognition system used a He-Ne Laser and the reflected signal was captured by a photo-transistor. The object to be recognized is placed over a rotating table which can be rotated, supplying a new view for the classification. A microcomputer controls the system operation and the object is recognized in real time. The recognized objects were simple regular polyhedral, just as: 1 triangular base prism, 1 cube, 1 triangular base pyramid, 1 rectangular base pyramid. To check that the proposed technology was correct, we used a dedicated mathematical approach, which can be extended to other surfaces, such as curves, in future works.

Submitted by JÚLIO HEBER SILVA (julioheber@yahoo.com.br) on 2017-05-11T17:46:38Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Cássio Ribeiro Manoel - 2017.pdf: 3926550 bytes, checksum: 449963633a30293e84eebed521beb174 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-05-15T11:26:06Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Cássio Ribeiro Manoel - 2017.pdf: 3926550 bytes, checksum: 449963633a30293e84eebed521beb174 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-15T11:26:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Cássio Ribeiro Manoel - 2017.pdf: 3926550 bytes, checksum: 449963633a30293e84eebed521beb174 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-31 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Goiás - FAPEG / This study sought to understand how the finding myth of Santa do Rosário constitutes the Congadas of Catalão in its reaffirmation in the annual rituals and festivities of Nossa Senhora do Rosário’s Festival in this city, from the studies by Brandão (1985). The material of our investigation was made up of narratives and oral songs about this festivity, related to history, life and experiences of members from this cultural and religious manifestation. The narratives were enunciated by ten (10) participants, recorded in field, which were transcribed and analyzed. Thereby, this study becomes relevant, because aims to reach the community of ‘dançadores’, the trading population and researchers by showing the myth’s dynamics in the festival, as culture and religious manifestation in the city. The material of our analysis to identify, describe and analyze the myth as a historical reinforcement had as study perspective the interrelationship between language and culture in the understanding of the linguistic and cultural elements of the founding and legitimizing myth of this practice of religion and popular culture in central Brazil, sitting the research in the bias of Anthropological Linguistics. For this purpose, we used the studies by Coelho (2006), Fiorin (2003), Platão (2001), Saussure (2012), Sapir (1969), Bakhtin (1987), Bosi (1987; 1992), Machado (2002), among others, which has guided us. The research is of mixed qualitative nature, because it involved study in laboratory and field. Our results confirmed the hypothesis that in various forms of language of ‘congadeiros’ (in our case, narratives and songs), we can understand the configurations of Nossa Senhora do Rosário’s Festival, because in these forms the mythical plot of the finding of Santa do Rosário was reaffirmed in an uncontested way, recreating historical and linguistic memories of this community. / Este estudo buscou compreender como o mito do achamento da Santa do Rosário constitui as Congadas de Catalão em sua reafirmação nos rituais e festejos anuais da Festa de Nossa Senhora do Rosário nesta cidade, a partir de estudos de Brandão (1985). O material de nossa investigação se constituiu de narrativas e cantigas orais acerca desta festividade, que abordam a história, a vivência e as experiências de integrantes desta manifestação religiosa e cultural. As narrativas foram enunciadas por dez (10) participantes, gravadas em campo, as quais foram transcritas e analisadas. Assim, este estudo torna-se relevante porque objetiva ter alcance na comunidade de dançadores, no público geral e entre estudiosos ao evidenciar as dinâmicas do mito nos festejos, como manifestação cultural e religiosa na cidade. O material de nossa análise para identificar, descrever e analisar o mito como reforço histórico de práticas do grupo e por ele reforçado teve como perspectiva de estudo a inter-relação língua e cultura, na compreensão dos elementos linguísticos e culturais do mito fundador e legitimizador desta prática de religião e cultura popular no Brasil central, assentando-se a investigação no viés da Linguística Antropológica. Para tanto, utilizamos os estudos de Coelho (2006); Fiorin (2003); Platão (2001); Saussure (2012); Sapir (1969); Bakhtin (1987); Bosi (1987); Bosi (1992); Machado (2002) dentre outros. A pesquisa é de natureza qualitativa mista, porque envolveu estudo em laboratório e em campo. Nossos resultados confirmaram a hipótese de que nas variadas formas de linguagem dos congadeiros (no nosso caso, narrativas e cantigas), se podem compreender as configurações da Festa de Nossa Senhora do Rosário, porque nestas formas o enredo mítico do achamento da Santa do Rosário se reafirmou de forma inconteste, refazendo memórias históricas e linguísticas desta comunidade.

Word finding difficulties (WFD) and slowing down both in linguistic comprehension and production are standard characteristics of people as they grow older. WFD also commonly occur in aphasia and are considered one of the most pervasive symptoms affecting stroke participants’ everyday communication. Research on older adults’ WFD has traditionally focused on production of single words when completing picture naming tasks, while very little is known about how much these WFD can compromise connected speech. Similarly, while picture naming tasks have typically been used for assessing and treating word finding problems in clinical practice, there is a dearth of studies in the aphasiological literature investigating the relationship between confrontation naming and connected speech tasks. The thesis investigated whether a newly-developed method/treatment targeting both speed and accuracy (‘repeated increasingly speeded presentation’ - RISP) in picture naming was more effective in (a) speeding up participants without compromising accuracy, and (b) improving the use of the trained/treated names in connected speech, compared to a standard method/therapy (‘standard presentation’ - SP) which targeted accuracy alone. English-speaking, elderly participants (n=27 at Chapter 3, n= 21 at Chapter 4) and participants with aphasia of varying severity and subtype (n=5 at Chapter 5 and n=20 at Chapter 6) were asked to carry out picture naming tasks/picture naming treatments and composite picture description tasks where the composite pictures included the trained/treated items. As for the neurotypical participants, words which were retrieved more quickly in picture naming tasks were also those which were more readily available and produced in connected speech tasks. Compared to SP, RISP was found to be significantly more effective in significantly reducing picture naming latencies without inducing a speed-accuracy trade-off and with lasting effects. Finally, SP was as effective in promoting retrieval in connected speech as RISP. As for the clinical population, compared to SP, RISP was significantly more effective in improving picture naming accuracy and in maintaining the reduced RTs in the long term. In comparison to the SP, RISP crucially led to significantly higher carry-over of targeted items to connected speech. The thesis findings underlined the effectiveness of a more demanding single word training method/treatment in improving lexical retrieval in confrontation naming for neurotypical participants and in enhancing connected speech for participants with aphasia.

Magister Legum - LLM / Since the 1980's, many dictatorships around the world have been replaced by new democracies. These old dictatorships were notorious for their human rights abuses. Many people were killed and tortured; and many others were disappeared. When the new governments came into power, they had to confront these injustices that were perpetrated under the predecessor regime. This was necessary to create a culture of human rights; promote a respect for the law and access to justice. Many confronted these injustices in different ways, some granted amnesty, some prosecuted and others instituted truth commissions. This research paper focuses on truth commissions. The research focuses particularly on the study of the South African Truth Commission. The mandate of the South African Truth Commission is analysed and the investigation into whether the commission served the purpose for which it had been established is discussed. / South Africa

“The relationship between ministerial tenure and Identity development in local churches, in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa – Northern Free State and Lesotho District.” This thesis was born from my experience of two local churches I was serving simultaneously in Riebeeckstad and Odendaalsrus. After a year of being their minister I began to reflect on my experience in their midst especially because I had begun to recognize that they treated me, as their minister, very differently. Amongst other things I discovered that they had experienced vastly different clergy tenure over an extended period of time. The journey these reflections began, along with my passion for the local church, has led to this dissertation which investigates the relationship between clergy tenure and the development of Congregational identity in local churches. Strong and healthy local churches have a clearly defined and understood congregational identity that overcomes uncertainty, builds unity, provides guidelines and direction, and increases member participation, excitement and energy. This sense of knowing “who we are” and “why we are” generates great momentum and focus in the local church which translates into participation with the Triune God in making the Kingdom of God a reality. For this to happen, strong and capable leadership is required. But, more than that, building up a Local Church to participate in the work of God's Kingdom requires continuity in the leadership of the local church. Long-term clergy tenure over an extended period is a vital part of leading a local church into a fuller participation with the Triune God in making the Kingdom of God a reality. Sadly, the importance of long-term clergy tenure is not always recognized and the result is that not only the local church suffers, but ultimately, the work of the Kingdom of God struggles. As we consider this absolutely vital aspect of Building up the Local Church I hope that local church leaders are encouraged to think long-term and strive for continuity in clergy and lay leadership. It is my hope and prayer that greater numbers of my colleagues will recognize that their call to serve God and His Kingdom in pastoral leadership requires long-term tenure. Soli Deo Gloria. AFRIKAANS : “Die verhouding tussen die predikant se dienstermyn en die Identiteits ontwikkeling in plaaslike gemeentes in die Metodiste Kerk van Suidelike Afrika – Noordelike Vrystaat en Lesotho Distrik”. Hierdie verhandeling is gebore uit my ervaring van twee plaaslike gemeentes waar ek gedien het ter seldetyd in Riebeeckstad en Odendaalsrus. Na 'n jaar van bediening het ek begin nadink oor my ervaring by hierdie gemeentes deurdat hulle my as predikant, 'anders' behandel het. Onder andere het ek uitgevind dat hulle uiteenlopende ervarings gehad het van die dienstermyne van hul predikante oor 'n lang tydperk. Tesame met my voorliefde vir die plaaslike gemeente, het hierdie reistog begin waardeur ek die verhouding tussen die dienstermyn van die predikant en die ontwikkeling van Gemeentelike Identiteit in plaaslike gemeentes ondersoek het. Sterk en gesonde plaaslike gemeentes het 'n duidelik gedefineerde identiteit wat onder andere onsekerheid oorkom, eenheid bou, riglyne verskaf en rigting hou, ledetal verhoog; energie ontwikkel en entoesiasme bevorder. Hierdie kennis van “wie ons is” en “waarom ons bestaan” ontwikkel groot dryfkrag en fokus in the plaaslike gemeente wat vertolk word deur die meelewing saam met die Drie-Enige God in die werklikmaking van die Koninkryk van God. Sterk leierskap is nodig om hierdie ideaal 'n werklikheid te maak, maar selfs belangriker as dit, is die ononderbrokenheid van die dienstermyn van die leierskap van die plaaslike gemeente. 'n Verlengde dienstermyn is 'n kardinale aspek in die opbou van plaaslike gemeentes se volgehoue betrokkenheid om die Koninkryk van die Drie-Enige God 'n werklikheid te maak. Ongelukkig word die voordele van verlengde dienstermyn van 'n predikant misken en die plaaslike gemeente ly verlies, buiten dat die Koninkryk van God ook verlies ly. Terwyl ons nou die voordele van verlengede dienstermyn van die predikant bedink, hoop ek dat plaaslike gemeente-leiers aangemoedig sal word om dit te oorweeg om aaneenlopende dienstermyn van predikante en ander lidmaat leierskap te implementeer. Dit is my gebed en hoop dat 'n groot meerderheid van my kollegas sal besef dat verlengde termyn dienslewering vir God en Sy Konikryk 'n noodsaaklikheid is. Soli Deo Gloria Copyright / Dissertation (MA(Theol))--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

Recommendation Systems or Recommender Systems have become widely popular due to surge of information at present time and consumer centric environment. Researchers have looked into a wide range of recommendation systems leveraging a wide range of algorithms. This study investigates three popular recommendation systems in existence, Collaborative Filtering, Content-Based Filtering, and Hybrid recommendation system. The famous MovieLens dataset was utilized for the purpose of this study. The evaluation looked into both quantitative and qualitative aspects of the recommendation systems. We found that from both the perspectives, the hybrid recommendation system performs comparatively better than standalone Collaborative Filtering or Content-Based Filtering recommendation system

This thesis is about teaching and learning in way finding and map reading. The aim of the study is to investigate children’s ability to perceive the relationship between objects in the nature and map symbols in order to make a positioning. The aim is also to investigate what teaching might facilitate this ability. The study sets out to identify critical features related to the object of learning, that might constitute learning obstacles or problems, and then to discuss possible teaching methods to overcome these problems. The method used is a school based physical education intervention study de-rived from Learning Study principles. In a Learning Study, teachers collaborate in an iterative process to explore their students learning. The students’ ways of perceiving the object of learning is analysed through a phenomenographic ap-proach and the variation theory is used for planning and analysing the studied lessons. Three lessons were videotaped and field notes were taken along with some interviews. The sample consisted of three groups of ten-year-old pupils (n=53) and six teachers. Four critical features of the learning object were identified in the study: a) to perceive objects in nature and understand how these can be represented on the map: b) to perceive objects in nature to make a positioning on the map: c) to perceive objects in nature and its location to make a positioning in relation to the previous positioning and d) to perceive relationships between objects in nature and symbols on the map and take these into account when describing position. The study shows how children’s ability to perceive objects in the nature and map symbols to make a positioning can be improved when they have the possi-bility to discern the critical features in different ways. In conclusion, that what was taught seemed to be reflected in what the pupils learned. Furthermore, the analysis indicates that it is not sufficient merely to name the critical features to the pupils, instead they must be possible to be discerned by the pupils in order for learning to take place. A final reflection is that the theoretical framework used, variation theory, is a powerful tool for analysing lessons that contributed to the analysis of teaching and learning. / <p>Forskarstuderande Kerstin Nilsson har ingått i <em>Forskarskolan idrott och hälsas didaktik </em>(FIHD), en forskarskola som ingått i statens satsning på forskarutbildning av förskollärare och lärare. Satsningen beslutades våren 2011 och har varit ett led i att kompetenshöja verksamma lärare och, i förlängningen, stärka elevernas kunskaper. Forskarskolan har bedrivits som ett samarbetsprojekt mellan Gymnastik- och idrottshögskolan, Örebro universitet och Malmö högskola. Totalt har 15 forskarstuderande ingått i FIHD, och varje lärosäte har ansvarat för fem forskarstuderande var. Centrala mål för forskarskolan har varit att utgöra ett nav för ämnesdidaktisk kunskapsutveckling av ämnet idrott och hälsa, och att bidra till att bygga upp skolämnet idrott och hälsas didaktiska kunskapsbas med hjälp av praktiknära forskningsansatser.</p> / Forskningslinjen Utbildning

Introduction: World Health Organization recommends screening of household contact as a key to improve detection of tuberculosis cases. Ethiopia’s current tuberculosis household contact investigation strategies rely on symptomatic contacts attending health facilities for investigation. This approach has not led to the detection of additional tuberculosis (TB) cases; alternative approaches have to be considered. The purpose of the research was to develop guidelines in endorsing the implementation of a community based household contact investigation program in Addis Ababa. Methods: A mixed method research using sequential exploratory design was conducted in Addis Ababa. In the first phase, qualitative data collection and analysis methods were used to formulate intervention approach and in the second phase, a quantitative random controlled trial was conducted, with the purpose of comparing the proposed intervention measures with routine household contact tuberculosis investigation. Frequencies and logistic regression analyses were used to determine the relative risk and associated factors. Thematic analysis was used for qualitative data analysis. Results: The in-depth interview and focus group discussion findings identified themes namely household contact investigation (HHCI) implementation, misconceptions on HHCI, challenges with HHCI Approaches, opportunities for HHCI provision, contributing factors associated with household involvement, strategies for effective HHCI service and partnerships with health bureau. In phase two, the study reported that the prevalence of TB was 7.1% among the intervention group compared to 1.9% in the control groups at the end of first year follow-up. Nine guidelines were developed to support the household contact investigation system. Conclusion: The passive case detection strategy of contact investigation did not find more cases, and tuberculosis patients and their family contacts were not satisfied with this method. However, the proposed community-based strategy shows that more TB cases can be detected by using existing medical staff. Therefore, an approach that makes the service more accessible is significant and the recommended community based TB household contact tracing approaches needs to be scaled up for its performance towards identified missed cases and enhance patient and their household contacts involvement. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Public Health)