The aim of this study is to compare remote sensing methods in the context of a vegetation mapping of an urban environment. The methods used was (1) a traditional per-pixel based method; maximum likelihood supervised classification (ENVI), (2) a standard object based method; example based feature extraction (ENVI) and (3) a newly developed method; Window Independent Contextual Segmentation (WICS) (Choros Cognition). A four-band SPOT5 image with a pixel size of 10x10m was used for the classifications. A validation data-set was created using a ortho corrected aerial image with a pixel size of 1x1m. Error matrices was created by cross-tabulating the classified images with the validation data-set. From the error matrices, overall accuracy and kappa coefficient was calculated. The object-based method performed best with a overall accuracy of 80% and a kappa value of 0.6, followed by the WICS method with an overall accuracy of 77% and a kappa value of 0.53, placing the supervised classification last with an overall accuracy of 71% and a kappa value of 0.38. The results of this study suggests object-based method and WICS to perform better than the supervised classification in an urban environment.

Memory dysfunction is common in association with the course of normal aging. Memory dysfunction is also obligatory in age-associated neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease. However, despite the ubiquitousness of age-related memory decline, several basic questions regarding this entity remain unanswered. The present investigation addressed two such questions: (1) Can individuals suffering from memory dysfunction due to aging and amnesia due to Alzheimer’s disease improve memory performance if contextual support is provided at the time of acquisition of to-be- remembered material or reproduction of to-be-remembered material? (2) Are memory deficits observed in ‘younger’ older adults similar to the deficits observed in ‘older’ elderly subjects, Alzheimer’s disease, and memory dysfunction in younger subjects? The outcome of this investigation suggests an affirmative answer to the first question. Given appropriate support at encoding and retrieval, even densely amnesic patients can improve their memory performance. As to the second question, a more complex pattern emerges. When attentional demands are varied, subjects of varying ages perform qualitatively similar. However, when semantic aspects of the to-be- remembered material are manipulated, age-associated qualitative differences are observed. These qualitative differences show up between older and younger adults, as well as between ‘younger’ and ‘older’ elderly subjects. / <p>Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Univ., 1992, härtill 6 uppsatser</p> / digitalisering@umu

L'immense quantité d'information générée et gérée au quotidien par les systèmes d'information et leurs utilisateurs conduit inéluctablement ?a la problématique de surcharge d'information. Dans ce contexte, les systèmes de recommandation traditionnels fournissent des informations pertinentes aux utilisateurs. Néanmoins, avec la propagation récente des dispositifs mobiles (Smartphones et tablettes), nous constatons une migration progressive des utilisateurs vers la manipulation d'environnements pérvasifs. Le problème avec les approches traditionnelles de recommandation est qu'elles n'utilisent pas toute l'information disponible pour produire des recommandations. Davantage d'informations contextuelles pourraient être utilisées dans le processus de recommandation pour aboutir à des recommandations plus précises. Les systèmes de recommandations sensibles au contexte (CARS) combinent les caractéristiques des systèmes sensibles au contexte et des systèmes de recommandation an de fournir des informations personnalisées aux utilisateurs dans des environnements ubiquitaires. Dans cette perspective ou tout ce qui concerne l'utilisateur est dynamique, les contenus qu'il manipule et son environnement, deux questions principales doivent être adressées : i) Comment prendre en compte la dynamicité des contenus de l'utilisateur ? et ii ) Comment éviter d'être intrusif en particulier dans des situations critiques ?. En réponse ?a ces questions, nous avons développé un système de recommandation dynamique et sensible au risque appelé DRARS (Dynamic Risk-Aware Recommender System), qui modélise la recommandation sensible au contexte comme un problème de bandit. Ce système combine une technique de filtrage basée sur le contenu et un algorithme de bandit contextuel. Nous avons montré que DRARS améliore la stratégie de l'algorithme UCB (Upper Con dence Bound), le meilleur algorithme actuellement disponible, en calculant la valeur d'exploration la plus optimale pour maintenir un compromis entre exploration et exploitation basé sur le niveau de risque de la situation courante de l'utilisateur. Nous avons mené des expériences dans un contexte industriel avec des données réelles et des utilisateurs réels et nous avons montré que la prise en compte du niveau de risque de la situation de l'utilisateur augmentait significativement la performance du système de recommandation.

During the 20th century, numerous philosophers of science pointed out several problems afflicting scientific communication. Communication in accounting is also problematic. In both cases (science and accounting) there seems to be a tension between objectivism and subjectivism. The former emphasizes the objects of knowledge while the latter prefers to rely on the human subject. In science one of these approaches seems to prevail in different periods. In accounting there seems to be an oscillation or ambiguity between the two tendencies (subjectivism and objectivism) which remain side by side. A polarity seems to emerge as statutory disclosures are influenced by objectivism, while contextual disclosures are inclined towards subjectivism. With reference to the philosophy of Herman Dooyeweerd subjectivism and objectivism are interpreted as emphasizing certain modal aspects to the detriment of others. Although this problem can be regarded as the cause of many difficulties in annual reports, this article focuses on communication problems. It is suggested that a better approach can be adopted by paying attention to all the modal aspects, in particular to those which tend to be neglected under a certain approach (objectivism or subjectivism). The final sections of this article provide a few concrete examples of how to improve communication in corporate reports by taking into account the neglected modal aspects. / MPhil, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Pastoraat aan die Afrika-mens is a Masters' thesis, which explores the hypotheses and finds that an African life and worIdview must consciously be taken into account in pastoral care to Christians with an African life and worldview in order to improve effective care. The practical-theological model of Heitink is being used as research method. This entails the following: Hermeneutically 1. To show from Scripture as basis some perspectives on the research concepts 'pastoral care' and 'life and worldview'. Empirically 2. To describe the main aspects of an African life and worldview. 3. To determine the extent to which an African life and worldview still influence the thought and life of believers in Mamelodi. Strategically 4. To determine which aspects of an African life and worldview are relevant for pastoral care, 5. To formulate guidelines for pastoral care concerning Christians who are having an African life and worldview. Especially exegesis about Moses and Paul shows that life and worldview must be taken into consideration in pastoral care. The religion phenomenological approach to religious consciousness by the Dutch scholar Johan Herman Bavinck serves as basis to describe an African life and worldview in terms of totality, norm, higher powers, need of salvation and life between activity and passivity. The socio-cultural category of space is added. Empirical research among seven ecclesiastical congregations in Mamelodi points to the fact that an African life and worldview still has an effect on the Iives of Christians. Pastoraat aan die Afrika-mens give guidelines for pastoral care, after looking at some 'emic' en 'etic' contributions regarding African-ness in pastoral care. The departure of a psycho-sociocuItural hermeneutic approach to African life and worldview as well as a Word-based holistic approach to the pastoral conversation is promoted. / Thesis (Th.M. (Practical Theology))--Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, 2003

In its course of development, urban and regional planning has been greatly influenced by the modernist movement, which left human environments with various problematic ecological and social conditions. In reaction to these conditions, alternative planning approaches branched from the planning profession, one of these being the development approach known as place-making. Place-making is the physical designing of a place based on locational contexts. Place-making is offered as an alternative planning approach to current planning practice to ameliorate and possibly prevent continuation of the problematic ecological and social conditions. However, this implies that there has to come about a shift in the focus and aims of current planning practice. The main implications of place-making are that planning should become more contextually driven, holistic, multidisciplinary, as well as human and quality centred. Also, it is proposed to increase research on place in the South African context. In terms of current research in South Africa, a mixed-method research approach made it possible to include symbolic locational elements, like sense of place, in the planning process. Researching the Vredefort Dome's sense of place aimed to explore sense of place in a rural area and to concretise the area's sense of place for inclusion in spatial planning. Initial qualitative research informed the quantitative phase. This way symbolic experiences and meanings of participants were linked to spatial locations and three-dimensional features, which made it possible to create place-making guidelines based on both symbolic and material contexts of the Vredefort Dome. / Thesis (M.Art. et Scien. (Town and Regional Planning))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

The new world of work has an enormous impact on the work-life of employees. Retrenchment, early retirement, unemployment and the demand for better performance are the result of massive restructurings, outsourcing, mergers and acquisitions. The old Psychological contract, as well as lifelong employment, is becoming obsolete in a changing world of work. This leads to increased job insecurity in the workplace. There is substantial evidence in the literature that job insecurity is damaging to psychological health. Job insecurity in not only damaging the individual but impacts negatively on the organisation. Job insecurity leads to mistrust, lack of commitment and general dissatisfaction. In the end it will have a definite impact on organisational performance. The empirical objective of this research was to investigate the relationship between job insecurity, psychological well-being and the relationship with future literacy. A cross-sectional design with an availability sample (n =. 459) was used. The sample was subjected to a specific programme of future literacy training (Map Your Life). Questionnaires were completed prior to the training programme. The reliability and construct validity of the measuring instruments acceptable. (Cronbach alpha coefficients adhere to the cut-off point of > 0,70) with the exception of the Dispositional Optimism Questionnaire (Cronbach alpha coefficient of 0,64). Future literacy is an unknown concept and it was necessary to conceptualise the concept. No instrument to measure future literacy existed and it was necessary to compile such an instrument. A questionnaire consisting of 18 items was compiled to measure future literacy. Factor analysis revealed two factors that measured future literacy. Factor One was named Positive Mindset Towards Future Possibilities and Factor Two, Anticipating, Planning and Preparing for Future Changes. The Cronbach alpha for Factor One was 0,76 and 0,8 1 for the second factor. Results indicated statistical signiticant correlations (of a medium effect) between job insecurity, self-efficacy, dispositional optimism and work locus of control. Self-efficacy and dispositional optimism correlated negatively with job insecurity, indicating that job insecurity decreases as self-efficacy and dispositional optimism increases. The results also indicated a significant negative correlation (medium effect) between job insecurity and future literacy. This implies that as job insecurity decreases future literacy increases. The negative correlation between future literacy and job insecurity indicates that candidates who are future literate experience less job insecurity. When candidates with high and low scores on future literacy were compared with one another, candidates who scored low on all the scales of future literacy experienced high levels job insecurity. Candidates who demonstrated high levels of future literacy experienced significantly lower job insecurity. Black employees experienced significantly higher levels of future literacy when compared to White employees. Multiple regression analysis indicated that self-efficacy, dispositional optimism, work locus of control and future literacy predicted job insecurity when controlling for biographical variables. Limitations and recommendations regarding future research, as well as recommendations for the organisation were made. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2006.

This thesis will discuss the results of a two-year 90 game study to consider the role violence and aggression plays in competitive minor hockey and its role as a mechanism for injury. The second objective of this thesis was to determine the contextual factors that lead to injury on the ice. Using a mixed methods approach, the study followed three minor hockey teams from the Ottawa-Gatineau region over two sporting seasons. The study found that players are not being injured due to aggressive or violent play but rather players are being hurt within the rules of the game. The contextual factors that were shown to lead to injury included: (1) body-checking, (2) time of the game, (3) player’s body mass, (4) position played and (5) legal plays. Injuries were also broken down by anatomical site (head/neck, upper body and lower body); the upper body was affected by injury most.

In its course of development, urban and regional planning has been greatly influenced by the modernist movement, which left human environments with various problematic ecological and social conditions. In reaction to these conditions, alternative planning approaches branched from the planning profession, one of these being the development approach known as place-making. Place-making is the physical designing of a place based on locational contexts. Place-making is offered as an alternative planning approach to current planning practice to ameliorate and possibly prevent continuation of the problematic ecological and social conditions. However, this implies that there has to come about a shift in the focus and aims of current planning practice. The main implications of place-making are that planning should become more contextually driven, holistic, multidisciplinary, as well as human and quality centred. Also, it is proposed to increase research on place in the South African context. In terms of current research in South Africa, a mixed-method research approach made it possible to include symbolic locational elements, like sense of place, in the planning process. Researching the Vredefort Dome's sense of place aimed to explore sense of place in a rural area and to concretise the area's sense of place for inclusion in spatial planning. Initial qualitative research informed the quantitative phase. This way symbolic experiences and meanings of participants were linked to spatial locations and three-dimensional features, which made it possible to create place-making guidelines based on both symbolic and material contexts of the Vredefort Dome. / Thesis (M.Art. et Scien. (Town and Regional Planning))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Context is important to today's mobile and ubiquitous systems as operational requirements are only valid under certain context conditions. Detecting context and adapting automatically to that context is a key feature of many of these systems. However, when the operational context associated with a particular requirement changes drastically in a way that designers could not have anticipated, many systems are unable to effectively adapt their operating parameters to continue meeting user needs. Automatically detecting and implementing this system context evolution is highly desirable because it allows for increased uncertainty to be built into the system at design time in order to efficiently and effectively cope with these kinds of drastic changes. This thesis is an empirical investigation and discussion towards integrating data mining algorithms into self-adaptive systems to analyze and de fine new context relevant to specific system requirements when current system context parameters are no longer sufficient. / Graduate / 0984 / arook@uvic.ca