The enactment of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 promised the most fundamental reform to be made in U.S. financial services regulation in more than half a century. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLB) removed barriers that forced separation between commercial banks, investment banks, and insurance companies; and it allowed subsidiaries of banks or insurance companies to engage in a broad range of financial activities that were not permitted for banks or insurers themselves. Few doubted the potential for GLB to have a profound impact on financial service providers and on the financial market. However, there is a striking lack of empirical research on the effects of diversification by financial firms. The first goal of this dissertation is to identify domestic “assurbanks” (insurers owning banks) and “bancassurers” (banks owning insurers) and to identify the unique subsidiaries of financial services companies licensed as commercial banks, thrifts, or insurance companies in the U.S. We construct a unique dataset that links the banking and insurance regulatory datasets. A second objective is to investigate the effects of integrating the banking and insurance sectors of the U.S. economy. We evaluate the market structure and operating performance of financial institutions in the integrated banking and insurance industry. Gains from exploiting scope economies and product mix efficiencies are often cited as motives for financial institution integration. A third objective is to estimate efficiency effects from the economies of scope across the two formally separate sectors by estimating multi-product costs, revenue, and profit functions. The final objective is to test whether scope economies exist for firms that jointly produce financial products across multiple sectors and to explain the variation of scope economy estimations. The empirical evidence suggests that both domestic assurbanks and bancassurers are large in size and count for a significant portion of the banking and insurance market share. These firms are also more diversified in terms of their traditional products with a focus on personal line products. Large bancassurers appear more interested in investing in small-size life and property-liability subsidiaries. Large assurbanks are more interested in acquiring small-size thrifts. Banks prefer to affiliate with life insurance more than property-liability insurance, and insurers are more likely to affiliate with thrift saving banks than to affiliate with commercial banks. Diversified firms have higher profitability in their traditional lines of business. Bancassurers perform well in the insurance business, but most assurbanks lose money in their banking division. The scope economy results; investigating consumption complementarities suggests that a significant number of cost scope diseconomies, revenue scope economies, and weak profit scope economies exist in the post-GLB U.S. integrated banking and insurance sectors. The scope economies are variant among firms, and certain firm characteristics (size, business portfolio, geographic diversification, product mix and diversification, insurance distribution system, and X-efficiency) are the determinants of scope economies.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-11T12:33:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 tese_12563_Rayla Silva.pdf: 1269633 bytes, checksum: 40566f9404e8acef40182001de544a4b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-06-28 / A grande dúvida motriz que dá início a esta dissertação diz respeito à possibilidade de que haja atuação estatal fora dos limites constitucionalmente estabelecidos. Neste sentido, estaria o Estado agindo em excesso e fortificando as representações sociais de dominação insculpidas nos jurisdicionados, de modo a torná-los indivíduos dependentes do arbítrio estatal, e invariavelmente sem poder decisório por terem entregue sua parcela de poder àquele que deveria tão somente garantir a paz e o equilíbrio social. Para que se desenvolva o estudo aqui proposto, intentou-se realizar uma divisão de capítulos organizada de modo que primeiro sejam analisadas as relações governamentais e o modo como se dá a manifestação do fenômeno de poder como elemento comum aos regimes políticos, bem como as consequências das representações sociais vislumbradas na sociedade atual, com base em Pierre Bourdieu, Axel Honneth e Erving Goffman. No capítulo seguinte, é analisada a possibilidade de que com a desvirtuação, pelo Judiciário, da parcela de poder que lhe fora conferida pelos indivíduos que desejavam sua proteção e auxílio, tenha havido uma abertura em nosso ordenamento para a instauração da judicialização. Esta, considerada como a ação em desconformidade com os padrões normativos constitucionais, faz com que se judicialize as mais simples relações da vida em sociedade, que não necessariamente precisariam ser submetidas ao arbítrio estatal. Sabe-se que com a instituição da Constituição Federal de 1988 um grande leque de direitos passou a ser tutelado, permitindo assim o julgamento da pretensão de todo aquele que deseja ver satisfeito seu direito frente ao judiciário. No entanto, algumas das lides poderiam, com a mesma eficácia, ser solucionadas por intermédio de proposições extrajudiciais, o que inclusive encorajaria os indivíduos a agir de forma positiva e ativa, revertendo o quadro de apatia característica às patologias mencionadas no capítulo anterior. Por fim, no capítulo derradeiro, é analisada a possibilidade de restrição a este uso desmedido da jurisdição estatal, tendo em vista mecanismos de contenção da judicialização já previstos no ordenamento processual civil, como a aplicação de multa para litigância de má-fé, utilização dos juizados especiais de forma consciente com o pagamento de custas por quem não fizer jus ao benefício da gratuidade de justiça e o direcionamento da prestação jurisdicional efetiva e gratuita àqueles que de fato se mostrem comprovadamente hipossuficientes. Palavras-chave: Jurisdição Estatal; Judicialização; Litigância de Má-fé; Gratuidade de Justiça; Efetividade; Prestação Jurisdicional.

Group role assignment (GRA) is an important task in Role-Based Collaboration (RBC). The complexity of group role assignment becomes very high as the constraints are introduced. According to recent studies, considerable efforts have been put towards research on complex group role assignment problems. Some of these problems are clearly defined and initial solutions are proposed. However some of these solutions were unable to guarantee an optimal result, or the time complexity is very high. In fact, many real world collaboration problems concern many types of constraints. Therefore, to make them practical, the accuracy and efficiency of the algorithms should be improved. Role is the center of a role-based collaboration mechanism. Role plays a very essential part in the whole process of a collaboration system, without the roles, there would be no collaboration. One important function of the role is that it defines the features or requirements of a position which can be used to filter or access the candidates. The definition of roles greatly influences the evaluation results of candidates, which in turn influence the RBC algorithms significantly. Based on previous research, the role-based evaluation is associated with multiple attribute decision making (MADM). Role-based evaluation methods can be adopted from MADM methods. Selecting an appropriate method for a specific problem is difficult and domain oriented. Therefore, a dynamic evaluation model which can be expanded by domain experts and adapted to many cases is required. At present, there is limited research related to this requirement. This thesis first focuses on two complex role-based collaboration problems. The first being group role assignment problems with constraints of conflicting agents, and the iv second an agent training problem for a sustainable group. Practical solutions to these problems are proposed and resolved by IBM ILOG CPLEX. Simulations are conducted to demonstrate the performance of these solutions. From which I compare the solutions’ performances with the initial solutions, and indicate the improvement of these proposed solutions. Secondly, this thesis clarifies the difficulties of connecting evaluation methods with real world requirements. In order to overcome these difficulties, I introduce an additional parameter, propose a dynamic evaluation model, and provide four synthesis methods to facilitate the requirements of a co-operation project which is funded by NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada). The contributions of this thesis includes: clarifying the complexity of two complex role-based collaboration problem; proposing a better solution and verifying its efficiency and practicability; discussing the difficulties of connecting evaluation methods with real world problems; introducing an additional parameter to improve the accuracy of evaluation to some problems; proposing a role-based evaluation model to meet the requirements of adaptive and expandable.

Submitted by Automa??o e Estat?stica (sst@bczm.ufrn.br) on 2017-04-03T21:33:40Z No. of bitstreams: 1 FranciscoEduardoDeOliveira_DISSERT.pdf: 1198013 bytes, checksum: 76ed4af820b7a818bd46b094f37cc6e0 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Arlan Eloi Leite Silva (eloihistoriador@yahoo.com.br) on 2017-04-10T18:32:29Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 FranciscoEduardoDeOliveira_DISSERT.pdf: 1198013 bytes, checksum: 76ed4af820b7a818bd46b094f37cc6e0 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-10T18:32:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 FranciscoEduardoDeOliveira_DISSERT.pdf: 1198013 bytes, checksum: 76ed4af820b7a818bd46b094f37cc6e0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-19 / Est? disserta??o tem como objetivo a an?lise do conceito de predestina??o na filosofia de Agostinho de Hipona. Nossa investiga??o ter? in?cio com a an?lise das origens e fontes que conduziram o fil?sofo no desenvolvimento desse tema. Logo ap?s, buscaremos o lugar que o conceito ocupa nas obras e sua rela??o com as controv?rsias manique?sta e pelagiana. Por ?ltimo, identificaremos o que seria a predestina??o dentro do sistema estabelecido por Agostinho de Hipona para explicar a rela??o entre a liberdade da vontade humana e a soberania divina. / This thesis aims to analyze the concept of predestination from the Augustine of Hippo?s philosophy. Our investigation is going to start with the analysis of the sources and origins that guided the philosopher to developed of this subject. After that, we will seek the place that the concepts occupy in all his works and the relation With the Manichean and Pelagian controversies. Ultimately, we will identify what would be predestination inside of the system established for Augustine of Hippo to explain the relation between freedom of the human will and the divine sovereignty.

Grapheme-based speech recognition systems are faster to develop, but typically do not reach the same level of performance as phoneme-based systems. Using Afrikaans speech recognition as a case study, we first analyse the reasons for the discrepancy in performance, before introducing a technique for improving the performance of standard grapheme-based systems. It is found that by handling a relatively small number of irregular words through phoneme-to-grapheme (P2G) transliteration – transforming the original orthography of irregular words to an ‘idealised’ orthography – grapheme-based accuracy can be improved. An analysis of speech recognition accuracy based on word categories shows that P2G transliteration succeeds in improving certain word categories in which grapheme-based systems typically perform poorly, and that the problematic categories can be identified prior to system development. An evaluation is offered of when category-based P2G transliteration is beneficial and methods to implement the technique in practice are discussed. Comparative results are obtained for a second language (Vietnamese) in order to determine whether the technique can be generalised. / MSc (Computer Science) North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2014

Submitted by PPG Teologia (teologia-pg@pucrs.br) on 2018-07-02T20:24:34Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Walter Amaral de Santana - Dissertacao final.pdf: 431268 bytes, checksum: c42947d079d6f64471a85f00fc843cf4 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Sheila Dias (sheila.dias@pucrs.br) on 2018-07-10T12:08:42Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Walter Amaral de Santana - Dissertacao final.pdf: 431268 bytes, checksum: c42947d079d6f64471a85f00fc843cf4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-10T12:18:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Walter Amaral de Santana - Dissertacao final.pdf: 431268 bytes, checksum: c42947d079d6f64471a85f00fc843cf4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-04-24 / This research seeks to discuss the theme "Grace as the starting point of unity among Christians", in view of the conflicting moment in which the world, people and religions live. In the first chapter we seek to demonstrate a path that can transform the life of the human being and consequently the world through the power of saving grace, given by God to all regardless of their language or religion culture, since we are all made in the image of the Creator. In the second chapter we try to demonstrate the life of the Apostle Paulo, his initial trajectory and the change that occurred in his life after his encounter with the Christ on the road to Damascus and how grace had a special participation in that event. In the third chapter, we will walk to a new period of grace and how it was during the Patristic period through the life of St. Agostinho and how grace comes to be conceptualized by this holy man of God. We will make a trajectory of grace through the Scholastic period, focusing in particular on the life and performance of St. Tom?s de Aquino and how grace marked this period. In the fourth chapter we will deal with grace in the Reformation and how it acted in the life of Martinho Lutero and the transformations that occurred in that period through thinkers such as Calvino and Arm?nio, both for the Protestant Churches as well as for the Roman Catholic Church, we will also reflect on grace in mo dernity in the sense of unity among christians. / Esta pesquisa procura discorrer sobre o tema ?A Gra?a como ponto de partida da unidade entre os crist?os?, tendo em vista o momento conflituoso em que vive o mundo, as pessoas e as religi?es. No primeiro cap?tulo procuramos demonstrar um caminho que pode transformar a vida do ser humano e consequentemente o mundo atrav?s do poder da gra?a salvadora, dada por Deus a todos independentemente de sua cultura l?ngua ou religi?o, j? que todos somos feitos ? imagem do Criador. No segundo cap?tulo procuramos demonstrar a vida do Ap?stolo Paulo, sua trajet?ria inicial e a mudan?a ocorrida em sua vida ap?s seu encontro com o Cristo na estrada para Damasco e como a gra?a teve uma participa??o especial nesse acontecimento. No terceiro cap?tulo, caminharemos para um novo per?odo da gra?a e como foi sua atua??o no per?odo Patr?stico atrav?s da vida de Santo Agostinho e como a gra?a passa a ser conceituada por esse santo homem de Deus. Faremos uma trajet?ria da gra?a pelo per?odo Escol?stico, focando em especial a vida e atua??o de Santo Tom?s de Aquino e como a gra?a marcou esse per?odo. No quarto cap?tulo trataremos da gra?a na Reforma e como ela atuou na vida de Martinho Lutero e as transforma??es ocorridas nesse per?odo atrav?s de pensadores como Calvino e Arm?nio, tanto pra as Igrejas protestantes bem como para a Igreja Cat?lica Apost?lica Romana, faremos ainda uma reflex?o sobre a gra?a na modernidade no sentido de uni?o entre os crist?os.

Es va caracteritzar la interacció genètica del sistema Erysiphe graminis / Hordeum vulgare subsp. vulgare a Catalunya, a través dels caràcters de virulència/avirulència i resistència/susceptibilitat, amb l'objecte d'una millor utilització de la resistència raça-específica pel control d'aquesta malaltia.S'obtingueren 11 mostres aleatòries de la població aèria d'espores mitjançant una 'Schwarzbach jet spore sampler'. En un total de 948 colònies individuals s'analitzà al laboratori la virulència sobre un conjunt de genotipus amb els al.lels de resistència Mla1, Mla3, Mla6, Mla7, Mla9, Mla12, Mla13, Mlk, Mlg, mlo, Ml(La) i Mlh. Part d'aquestes colònies s'analitzaren també amb la resta de les resistències incloses en les línies quasi-isogèniques de Pallas i el cv. Triumph. La distribució de la resistència s'estimà a partir de la producció d'ordi precintat a Catalunya i dels al.lels de resistència que porten aquestes varietats. Addicionalment, es van identificar per primera vegada els al.lels de resistència raça-específics presents en 12 varietats comercials, mitjançant la interacció amb 10 aïllaments d' E. graminis f.sp. hordei.La virulència de la població del patogen està adaptada a l'estructura de resistència/susceptibilitat de la població de l'hoste. En més del 73% de la superfície d'ordi hi ha present alguna resistència, si bé les resistències predominants Weihenstephan, Ragusa, Laevigatum i Hauters són inefectives pel control de la malaltia, degut a les altes freqüències de les virulències complementàries.En canvi, en relació a les resistències Kwan, Lyallpur, Arabische i Monte Cristo, que només ocupen cadascuna una superfície al voltant del 10-15%, les freqüències de virulència complementàries són intermèdies.No es va detectar cap colònia virulenta a les resistències Abessinian, Ruppe i Mlo. Aquestes, juntament amb les resistències Algerian i Ricardo són les més efectives pel control de la cendrosa.Atenent a l'alta diversitat observada de la virulència i l'elevada complexitat dels aïllaments, juntament amb la localització i el clima de Catalunya, es suggereix que l'inòcul primari està format bàsicament per ascospores. I que és la recombinació sexual obligatòria juntament amb el desenvolupament poc sever de la malaltia en termes mitjans, el fet que origina que al final del cicle no predomini cap raça.Pel control de la cendrosa de l'ordi en una agricultura sostenible es proposa augmentar la durabilitat d'aquestes resistències mitjançant una major diversificació, i incrementar el nivell de resistència raça-no específica. / Se caracterizó la interacción genética del sistema Erysiphe graminis / Hordeum vulgare subsp. vulgare/ a Catalunya, a través de los caracteres de virulencia/avirulencia y resistencia/susceptibilidad, con el objeto de una mejor utilización de la resistencia raza-específica por el control de esta enfermedad.Se obtuvieron 11 muestras aleatorias de la población aérea de espora mediante una 'Schwarzbach jet spore sampler'. En un total de 948 colonias individuales se analizó al laboratorio la virulencia sobre un conjunto de genotipos con los alelo de resistencia Mla1, Mla3, Mla6, Mla7, Mla9, Mla12, Mla13, Mlk, Mlg, mlo, Ml(La) y Mlh. Parte de estas colonias se analizaron también con el resto de las resistencias inclusas en las líneas casi-isogénicas de Pallas y el cv. Triumph. La distribución de la resistencia se estimó a partir de la producción de cebada precintada a Catalunya y de los alelo de resistencia que traen estas variedades. Adicionalmente, se identificaron por primera vez los alelo de resistencia raza-específicos presentes en 12 variedades comerciales, mediante la interacción con 10 aislamientosaslamientos d'E. graminis f.sp. hordei.La virulencia de la población del patógeno está adaptada a la estructura de resistencia/susceptibilidad de la población del huésped. En más del 73% de la superficie de cebada hay presente alguna resistencia, si bien las resistencias predominantes Weihenstephan, Ragusa, Laevigatum y Hauters son inefectivas por el control de la enfermedad, adeudado a las altas frecuencias de las virulencias complementarias.A cambio, en relación a las resistencias Kwan, Lyallpur, Arabische y Monte Cristo, que sólo ocupan cada una una superficie alrededor del 10-15%, las frecuencias de virulencia complementarias son intermedias.No se detectó ninguno colonia virulenta a las resistencias Abessinian, Ruppe y Mlo. Estas, junto con las resistencias Algerian y Ricardo son las más efectivas por el control de la cenicilla.Atendiendo a la alta diversidad observada de la virulencia y la elevada complejidad de los aislamientosaslamientos, junto con la localización y el clima de Catalunya, se sugiere que el inoculo primario está formado básicamente por ascosporas. Y que es la recombinación sexual obligatoria junto con el desarrollo poco severo de la enfermedad en promedios, el hecho que origina que al final del ciclo no predomine ninguna raza.Por el control de la cenicilla de la cebada en una agricultura sostenible se propone aumentar la durabilidad de estas resistencias mediante una mayor diversificación, y incrementar el nivel de resistencia raza-no específica.

Grapheme-based speech recognition systems are faster to develop, but typically do not reach the same level of performance as phoneme-based systems. Using Afrikaans speech recognition as a case study, we first analyse the reasons for the discrepancy in performance, before introducing a technique for improving the performance of standard grapheme-based systems. It is found that by handling a relatively small number of irregular words through phoneme-to-grapheme (P2G) transliteration – transforming the original orthography of irregular words to an ‘idealised’ orthography – grapheme-based accuracy can be improved. An analysis of speech recognition accuracy based on word categories shows that P2G transliteration succeeds in improving certain word categories in which grapheme-based systems typically perform poorly, and that the problematic categories can be identified prior to system development. An evaluation is offered of when category-based P2G transliteration is beneficial and methods to implement the technique in practice are discussed. Comparative results are obtained for a second language (Vietnamese) in order to determine whether the technique can be generalised. / MSc (Computer Science) North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2014

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-27T19:31:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Andrezza Christina Ferreira Rodrigues.pdf: 593868 bytes, checksum: 1eb90afbc9be07c4b54513fbfa5c0bb9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-05-29 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / This work intends to do an analysis of some discourses historically constituted by modernity progress, during the last decades of XIX century, having as reflections main point Bram Stoker s novel Dracula, first published in 1897. Surrounding Stoker s novel, it is possible to glimpse the cultural lines of successful scientism allied health knowledge, especially concerned to blood. At 1880s social Darwinism opened through a biological cover hereditary degeneration theory to English people, reinforcing the sanitary idea developed by Chadwick, which has had its expression through illness control and degeneration by blood connections. The medical theories see blood as gemmules word adopted by Darwin himself to mean granule which has influence on body and mind because of hereditary presence made by ancestors, for example been a worker, been insane, develop promiscuous behavior or became a beggar. In that moment English people has been concerned about this themes, which had been debated by Galton who began the idea of good race for British society / Este trabalho pretende fazer a análise de alguns dos discursos historicamente constituídos pelo avanço da modernidade durante as últimas décadas do século XIX, tendo como eixo norteador das reflexões o livro Dracula de Bram Stoker, publicado em 1897. Através do romance de Stoker é possível vislumbrar traços culturais de um cientificismo triunfante em relação às noções de saúde, em especial no que tange ao sangue. Na década de 1880, o darwinismo social propôs aos ingleses a cobertura biológica para a teoria da degeneração hereditária, reforçando a posição da chamada idéia sanitária desenvolvida por Chadwick, encontrando sua expressão no controle de doenças e na degenerescência através da mistura do sangue. As teorias médicas investem no sangue como condutor dos gemmules termo adotado por Darwin significando grânulos -, que interferem no comportamento do corpo e da mente pela ação hereditária, assim a presença dos antepassados habilitaria o desenvolvimento de características como a disposição para o trabalho, a loucura, a promiscuidade, a mendicância, entre outros. Tema que traz preocupação à sociedade inglesa do período, sendo debatido por estudiosos como Galton, que inauguraria o conceito de boa linhagem para a sociedade britânica

Advances in machine learning, together with an abundance of available data has lead to an explosion in personalized offerings and being able to predict what consumers want, and need without them having to ask for it. During the last decade, it has become a multi billion dollar industry, and a capability upon many of the leading tech companies rely on in their business model. Indeed, in today's business world, it is not only a capability for competitive advantage, but in many cases a matter of survival. This thesis aims to create a machine learning model able to predict customers interested in an upselling opportunity of changing their payment method after completing a purchase with the Swedish payment solutions company, Klarna Bank. Hence, the overall aim is to personalize the customer experience on the confirmation page. Two gradient boosting methods and one deep learning method were trained, evaluated and compared for this task. A logistic regression model was also trained and used as a baseline model. The results showed that all models performed better than the baseline model, with the gradient boosting methods showing the best performance. All of the models were also able to outperform the current solution with no personalization, with the best model reducing the amount of false positives by 50%. / Tillgång till stora datamängder har tillsammans med framsteg inom maskininlärning resulterat i en explotionsartad ökning i personifierade erbjudanden och möjligheter att förutspå kunders behov. Det har under det senaste decenniet utvecklats till en multimiljardindustri och en förmåga som många av de ledande techbolagen i världen förlitar sig på i sina verksamheter. I många fall är det till och med en förutsättning för att överleva i dagens industrilandskap. Det här examensarbetet ämnar att skapa en maskininlärningsmodell som är kapabel till att förutspå kunders intresse för att "uppgradera" sin betalmetod efter ett slutfört köp med den svenska betallösningsföretaget Klarna Bank. Konceptet att erbjuda en kund att uppgradera en redan vald produkt eller tjänst är på engelska känt som upselling. Det övergripande syftet för detta projekt är därför att skapa en personifierad kundupplevelse på Klarnas bekräftelsesida. Följaktligen implementerades och utvärderades två så kallade gradient boosting - metoder samt en djupinlärningsmetod. Vidare implementerades även en logistisk regressionsmodell som basmodell för att jämföra de övriga modeller med. Resultaten visar hur alla modeller överträffade den tillämpade basmodellen, där gradient boosting-metoderna påvisade bättre resultat än djupinlärningsmetoden. Därtill visar alla modeller en förbättring i jämförelse med dagens lösning på Klarnas bekräftelssesida, utan personifiering, där den bästa modellen förbättrade utfallet med 50%.