In this thesis, a method to calculate scaling function coefficients for a new bi-orthogonal wavelet family derived directly from an impulse response waveform is presented. In literature, the Daubechies wavelets (DB wavelet) and the Morlet wavelet are the most commonly used wavelets for the dyadic wavelet transform (DWT) and the continuous wavelet transform (CWT), respectively. For a specific vibration signal processing application, a wavelet basis that is similar or is derived directly from the signal being studied proves to be superior to the commonly used wavelet basis. To assure a wavelet basis has a direct relationship to the signal being studied, a new formula is proposed to calculate coefficients which capture the characteristics of an impulse response waveform. The calculated coefficients are then used to develop a new bi-orthogonal wavelet family.

Impulsyvus pirkimas yra nagrinėjamas daugelį metų, siekiant išsiaiškinti vartotojo vidinius motyvus, išorinių veiksnių įtaką šiam reiškiniui. Daugiau nei pusė pardavimo pajamų gaunama iš impulsyvių pirkimų. Tad išsiaiškinus, kokie faktoriai įtakoja vartotojų impulsyvius pirkimus, būtų galima padidinti pardavimų skaičių. Darbo tikslas buvo išanalizuoti impulsyvaus pirkimo ypatumus ir motyvus bei jų įtakojimą. Darbą sudaro trys dalys – teorinė, praktinė ir projektinė. Pirmoje dalyje aptariami teoriniai impulsyvaus pirkimo aspektai, pateikiami anksčiau atliktų tyrimų apžvalga. Antroje dalyje pateikiami darbo autorės atlikto tyrimo rezultatai, metodika. Trečioje dalyje aprašomas impulsyvaus pirkimo skatinimo projektas, įgyvendinimo sąlygos. Teorinėje darbo dalyje aptariami užsienyje atlikti tyrimai, kurių rezultatai parodė, jog dauguma užsieniečių perka impulsyviai. Atlikus tyrimą, paaiškėjo, jog dauguma Kauno gyventojų planuoja savo pirkinius ir tik retkarčiais perka neplanuotas prekes. Šiai problemai išspręsti projektinėje dalyje buvo pateiktas vartotojų požiūrio keitimo projektas. / The researches of impulse buying has took lots of years in a row tracing consumer motives, influence of external factors. As marketers agree there are more than half of income that is received from sellings based on impulse. Therefore it is essential to find out which motives influence impulse buying. The purpose of this diploma work was to analyse motives and singularities of impulse buying. The paper work consits three main parts – theoretical, practical and designed. The first part of the work holds theoretical aspects of impulse buying and includes the review of previous researches done abroad. The second part consists of results from research and it‘s review. The last part is designed to introduce the solution that define how to stimulate impulse buying behaviour. Theoretical background has showed that most of foreigner consumers buys on impulse. But research that took place in Kaunas has showed that most of customers tend to plan their purchases. Therefore there were introduced few solutions how to change customer attitude in the third part of this diploma work.

Electronic commerce sales continue rising due to Internet growth. However, online retailers may not be doing enough to promote their products causing them to forego potential profits. Stimulating impulse purchase behavior, online retailing environments have the capability to increase profits. Research has not conclusively identified how Web site aesthetics impact perceived ease of use (PE) and perceived usefulness (PU) as antecedents of intention to purchase in impulse purchase behavior. Understanding this impact of Web site aesthetics will enable online retailers to design Web sites that engage users, leading to additional purchases. Using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), a framework frequently referenced and studied within information systems research, this study adapted the TAM to identify a model conceptualizing the effects of Web site color (CA), images (IA), and typography (TA) aesthetics on PE and PU for individuals among those exhibiting a higher than average impulse buying tendency (IBT). The TAM posits PE and PU contribute to an individual's behavioral intention. Research has shown Web site aesthetics have the ability to influence PE and PU. This descriptive study developed and executed a Web-based experiment using a fictitious purchase scenario and post-experiment survey with a 32-item instrument measuring: CA, IA, TA, PE, PU, and IBT. A total of 301 responses were gathered. Data analysis using various statistical tests and simple path analysis was performed to propose a modified TAM. Consumer demographics, age and gender, were also considered. The results demonstrated CA, IA, and TA correlated significantly with PE and PU. TA was found to be the largest contributor to PE and PU, followed by IA. CA was not found to contribute to PE or PU. Age was found to significantly affect PU only for 25-34 year olds, indicating the age group may be influenced easier by Web site aesthetics than other age groups. No significant differences were found in PU and gender, PE and age groups, or PE and gender despite prior literature concluding relationships existed. Research implications include recommendations for Web site design and the identification of an adapted TAM displaying the influence of Web site aesthetics on PE and PU.

The hypotheses investigated were (1) as measured by a test of impulse control, elopers are more impulsive than non-elopers, and (2) as measured by a test of impulse control, males are more impulsive than females. The Self-Report Test of Impulse Control (STIC) and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) were administered to 76 female and 40 male patients at the time of admission to an open psychiatric hospital. Of these, 20 females and 10 males eloped. The first hypothesis was only partially supported. The second hypothesis was not supported. The BIS was found to be a potential predictor of elopers. The data also suggested that males elope later than females.

The present study examined the prevalence and characteristics of skin picking in a college population in the southeast. Undergraduates completed a battery of self-report inventories that included the Skin Picking Inventory – Abbreviated, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Eating Disorders Inventory – 2, Padua Inventory, Short Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test, Dissociative Experiences Scale, and a short demographics form. Only 1% of the sample population met the full criteria for pathological skin picking and 6.7% met the subclinical definition. As a result of their skin picking, all participants in the subclinical group reported significant distress or impairment in some area of functioning. Interestingly, the current subclinical sample included more males (60%) than females (40%). Higher levels of anxiety, depression, dissociative experiences, and alcohol abuse were associated with skin picking. The responses to the Skin Picking Inventory – Abbreviated were analyzed and characteristics of skin picking are reported.

Purpose: The study aims to increase knowledge of dealers' purchasing behavior of impulse goods in wholesale trade. Methodology: An exploratory survey method has been selected in order to investigate the relatively unexplored topic; buyer behavior of impulse goods in the wholesale. Data has been collected through interview of 27 dealers that conduct business with bulk confectionery sales across Sweden. A semi-structured interview technique has been selected, with a predetermined interview schedule but with space for follow-up questions and discussion. Conclusion: The background to this work argued that there is not much research on how retailers reasons when buying convenience products, or also called as impulse items. It is usually the sale of goods such as several of the informants believe is critical to their business existence. Impulse goods which do not require any effort, has little search time and usually are cheap and suits many customers pockets. It was therefore of interest to investigate whether the retailer is acting as their customers when they buy in bulk confectionery, which separated this study and considered to be an impulse to be, by definition, from wholesalers like Axfood Närlivs. What are the factors they take into consideration when choosing a product? How do they reflect on price, quality, delivery, access and communication with the wholesaler?

The aim of this project was to investigate the mechanics of the sprint start through the use of computer simulation. Experimental data was collected on one male athlete in accordance with a procedure agreed by Loughborough University Ethical Advisory Committee. The data provided subject specific data for the creation of a four and fourteen segment, angle and torque driven models of the sprint start. The models simulated the start from the moment of onset of force production until takeoff from the starting block. The four segment model comprised a head and trunk, thigh, shank and foot whilst the fourteen segment model also included a lower spine and pelvis, upper arms, forearms and hands, as well as the other leg including two segment feet. Subject specific torque data was combined with EMG data to provide input to the torque models Results from the four segment angle driven model demonstrated that the participant will benefit from using smaller joint angles than usual in the set position as this resulted in increased velocity on takeoff with minimal increase in movement time. The model also showed large joint torques during such starts and so suggested that this is likely to limit start performance. The four segment torque driven model also revealed that optimal joint angles exist for the hip and knee but such a result was not clear for the ankle. For this model the optimum angle at the hip was 73 (the smallest tested) and 108 at the knee which was the athlete's usual angle. Increasing the athlete's strength parameters resulted in a small increase in horizontal velocity on takeoff for some simulations and all simulations had enhanced acceleration. Increasing initial muscle activations didn't increase horizontal takeoff velocity but did also increase horizontal acceleration. The fourteen segment angle driven model was used to optimise spring parameters for input into a torque driven model. The fourteen segment torque driven model simulated movements and forces realistically but an adequate match was not found to the sprint start performance of the participant due to long simulation times and lack of computing power.

Mathematical modeling of dynamical systems plays a central roll in science and engineering. This thesis is concerned with the process of finding a mathematical model, and it is divided into two parts - one that concentrates on nonlinear system identification and another one where an impulsive model of testosterone regulation is constructed and analyzed. In the first part of the thesis, a new latent variable framework for identification of a large class of nonlinear models is developed. In this framework, we begin by modeling the errors of a nominal predictor using a flexible stochastic model. The error statistics and the nominal predictor are then identified using the maximum likelihood principle. The resulting optimization problem is tackled using a majorization-minimization approach, resulting in a tuning parameter-free recursive identification method. The proposed method learns parsimonious predictive models. Many popular model structures can be expressed within the framework, and in the thesis it is applied to piecewise ARX models. In the first part, we also derive a recursive prediction error method based on the Hammerstein model structure. The convergence properties of the method are analyzed by application of the associated differential equation method, and conditions ensuring convergence are given. In the second part of the thesis, a previously proposed pulse-modulated feedback model of testosterone regulation is extended with infinite-dimensional dynamics, in order to better explain testosterone profiles observed in clinical data. It is then shown how the analysis of oscillating solutions for the finite-dimensional case can be extended to the infinte-dimensional case. A method for blind state estimation in impulsive systems is introduced, with the purpose estimating hormone concentrations that cannot be measured in a non-invasive way. The unknown parameters in the model are identified from clinical data and, finally, a method of incorporating exogenous signals portraying e.g. medical interventions is studied.

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Nosso objetivo neste trabalho é acompanhar os rumos percorridos pela violência no discurso das personagens de Plínio Marcos, em Homens de papel. Neste sentido, procuramos defender a tese de que a violência segue rumos diversificados na ação do opressor e na ação do oprimido. Para comprovarmos nosso intento, recorremos ao apoio teórico da Análise da Conversação Etnometodológica, da Sociolinguística Interacional e da Análise do Discurso. Nesta linha de pensamento, elaboramos a análise da linguagem das personagens, levando em consideração o contexto interacional, valorizando elementos lingüísticos e extralinguísticos importantes para a produção de efeitos de sentido. Entre esses elementos, incluem-se fatores relacionados com a identidade social, com a situação enunciativa e com o estado interior que contribuem para a instalação da violência no discurso. Partimos da hipótese de que a ação violenta do opressor é calculada e medida, enquanto a ação do oprimido é impulsiva e precipitada. Seguindo essa direção, tentamos mostrar como a intenção no uso da linguagem representa fator decisivo na construção de efeitos de sentido. Na voz do opressor, a intenção de dominar se manifesta por meio de estratégias e referências que, além de intimidar e aterrorizar os catadores, têm como objetivo alimentar um esquema de simulação. Na ação do oprimido, os insultos e as ofensas, imersos em clima de total descontrole, representam um meio de extravasar sentimentos e emoções desequilibradas que se acumulam e explodem com o apelo à brutalidade em um ato de linchamento. Tudo isso se manifesta na expressividade da linguagem que dá vida ao texto, graças à habilidade do autor em construir diálogos espontâneos, bem próximos da naturalidade da vida real. / Our purpose in this work is to follow the paths covered by violence in the speech of Plínio Marcos characters, in Paper Men. In this sense we defend the thesis that, violence follows a different way in the action of the oppressor and in the action of the oppressed.. To prove our intent, we rely on the theoretical support of the Ethno Methodological Conversation Analysis, Interactional Sociolinguistics and Speech Analysis. Having this in mind, we designed the analysis of the characters language, taking into account the interaction context, increasing the value of linguistics and extra linguistics facts that are important for the production of sense effects. Among these facts, there are factors related to social identity and to internal conditions which contribute to the onset of violence in the speech. We start from the assumption that the violent action of the oppressor is calculated and measured whereas the action of the oppressed is impulsive and hasty. In this way, we try to show how the intention represents a decisive factor in producing sense effects within the language usage. In the voice of the oppressor, the intention of dominating is shown by means of strategies and references whose objective is to feed the simulation scheme, besides embarrassing and terrifying the pickers. In the action of the oppressed, immersed in a complete breakdown, the insults and offenses represent a way of expressing feelings and unbalanced emotions that pile up and explode with a call for a brutal act and lynching. All that is expressed through the language that gives life to the text, thanks to the authors ability in building up spontaneous dialogues that are very close to the real life.