Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) represents a significant portion of the total discharge from coastal aquifers through diffuse seepage and point source springs, but can be difficult to locate. SGD is important as it can be a source of nutrients to estuaries and other coastal ecosystems. In an effort to evaluate geophysical and thermal methods for detecting SGD on the Florida Gulf coast, a suite of water-borne surveys were run in conjunction with aerial thermal imagery over the lower Suwannee River and estuary in March and September 2005. Thermal imagery exploits temperature differences between discharging groundwater and surface water. Thermal images were collected in March (dry season), at the end of winter, and at night to maximize the differences between warm groundwater and colder surface water. Generally pore waters in zones of concentrated SGD should be fresher, and hence more resistive than "background" values. Marine streaming resistivity data can detect pore water resistivity variations and were collected alongside continuous 222Rn and CH4 sampling from surface waters. Naturally occurring tracers, 222Rn and CH4, are used as the "standard" against which resistivity and thermal images are compared. Based on the expected properties of discharging groundwater, we hypothesize that in zones of elected tracer concentrations, increased thermal image temperatures and increased terrain resistivities will be observed. The data set as a whole supports this hypothesis. However, regional-scale correlations are clearly and significantly influenced by factors other than SGD including thermal-image noise, the presence of the fresh/salt water interface, and a large regional tracer gradient generated by a first-order spring. At local scales (tens to hundreds of meters) there are no significant correlations between thermal image temperature and tracer concentrations, due at least in part to flight-line edge effects that dominate the thermal imagery. After correcting for regional trends,significant correlations between tracer concentration and log resistivity exist only in a subset of the data that lies offshore. Because neither thermal imagery nor streaming resistivity data consistently support the hypotheses, this study suggests that neither method by itself is reliable for detecting SGD in this area

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) can be an important pathway for nutrients entering coastal systems. However SGD flow paths can be difficult to identify and flow volumes difficult to quantify. This study assesses whether geophysical techniques are potentially cost effective methods for detecting the presence or lack of SGD within an estuary environment found in Sarasota Bay, Florida. In this area, a rapid increase in urbanization has led to increased nitrogen loading into the bay, with some 10% of this loading attributed to SGD. Discharging groundwater is expected to be fresher and hence higher resistivity, than "background" surface waters. Thus resistivity surveys sensitive to seafloor conductivities may be useful for identifying zones of SGD. However, terrain resistivities are influenced by matrix geology as well as pore water resistivity. In this study we compare the results of marine resistivity surveys against both geochemical measures of SGD (radon tra cers) and seismic profiles indicative of subsurface structure to better determine the relative impacts of geology and SGD on marine resistivity measurements in Sarasota Bay. On both regional (kilometers to tens of kilometers) and local scales (hundreds of meters) the relationship between marine resistivity and tracer-based SGD estimates does not follow the expected pattern of higher resistivities associated with higher SGD flux. Seafloor resistivities instead appear primarily influenced by stratigraphy, particularly the presence of a clay layer at ~10-15 m depth in the southern part of the bay. In the southern bay, resistivities decrease at the depths associated with the clay layer. On the local (hundreds of meters) scale, lateral variations in resistivities derived from inversions of resistivity data were not found to be reproducible; nearly-coincident lines collected 30 minutes apart in time show different local signatures. This apparent local lateral variability in the resistivi ty profiles is inferred to be a result of inversion of noisy streaming resistivity data.

Submitted by Aline Amarante (1146629@mackenzie.br) on 2017-02-21T17:37:55Z No. of bitstreams: 2 MARCOS BATISTA DA SILVA.pdf: 1381242 bytes, checksum: a4d4c24a2497e0891392d1e81eda2fa0 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Rejected by Paola Damato (repositorio@mackenzie.br), reason: Liiii, não repete o orientador como membro da banca. Favor verificar a data da Banca on 2017-03-22T15:56:26Z (GMT) / Submitted by Aline Amarante (1146629@mackenzie.br) on 2017-03-27T18:48:40Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) MARCOS BATISTA DA SILVA.pdf: 1381242 bytes, checksum: a4d4c24a2497e0891392d1e81eda2fa0 (MD5) / Rejected by Paola Damato (repositorio@mackenzie.br), reason: Liii, favor tirar o membro da banca repetido !!!!!! Obrigada !!! on 2017-03-31T15:36:51Z (GMT) / Submitted by Aline Amarante (1146629@mackenzie.br) on 2017-03-31T16:03:47Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) MARCOS BATISTA DA SILVA.pdf: 1381242 bytes, checksum: a4d4c24a2497e0891392d1e81eda2fa0 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Paola Damato (repositorio@mackenzie.br) on 2017-04-10T14:46:47Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) MARCOS BATISTA DA SILVA.pdf: 1381242 bytes, checksum: a4d4c24a2497e0891392d1e81eda2fa0 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-10T14:46:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) MARCOS BATISTA DA SILVA.pdf: 1381242 bytes, checksum: a4d4c24a2497e0891392d1e81eda2fa0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-08-09 / The changing in the controller’s role is represented by the term “business partner”, which means: (i) contribution to the organizational performance; (ii) the performance of traditional activities in Accounting and (iii) participation in the strategic management process. The fundamental problem of this research is the need for a deeper understanding of the controller’s procedure extension as a business partner from the perspective of the performance management system. So, this paper is proposing an illustration based on eleven dimensions. They are: (i) “setting goals”, (ii) “strategies and plans”, (iii) “strength and coherence”, (iv) “mission and vision”, (v) “performance key measures”, (vi) “performance evaluation”, (vii) “information flow, systems and networks”, (viii) “reward system”, (ix) “success key factors”, (x) “organizational structure” and (xi) “system alteration”. This was made to guide the systematization of thirty-eight controller activities based in the management performance system. After the conclusion of the systematization and its respective illustration, the researcher held the field research to know the extension in which the controllers perform as business partners in their organizations. A case study was held with a group that gone through procurement processes and disinvestments of companies in the last five years. It is a publicly-traded company with global agribusiness operations. Four Controllership professionals were interviewed — a Global Chief Financial Officer, a Controllership director, a business controller and a Controllership assistant — and also the internal communication manager and the investor relation manager who do not integrate the Controllership area. Besides the interviews, documents were collected and direct observations were made as sources of data collection. The analysis of the results were based in triangulation. No evidence of the controller participation was found in a total of five activities that referred their contribution to the communication tasks. Moreover, it were found twelve business partner tasks performed by the controller and an illustration of their participation as business partner was elaborated as a complementation from the perspective of the performance management. Ultimately, the results prove that, in practice, the performance of the controller as a business partner covers seven dimensions, among eleven dimensions cataloged in the illustration. A strong performance of the controller was verified in these dimensions: (i) “setting goals” and (ii) “strategies and plans”. They also partially perform in (iii) “strength and coherence”, (iv) “mission and vision”, (v) “performance key measures”, (vi) “performance evaluation”, and (vii) “information flow, systems and networks”. Finally, no evidences were found of the controller participation in (viii) “reward system”, (ix) “success key factors”, (x) “organizational structure” and (xi) “system alteration”. / A mudança do papel do controller é representada pelo termo “business partner” que, em outras palavras, contempla: (i) contribuição para o desempenho organizacional, (ii) realização de atividades tradicionais de Contabilidade e (iii) participação no processo de gestão estratégica. A problemática fundamental desta pesquisa repousa na necessidade de um entendimento mais aprofundado sobre a extensão de atuação do controller como business partner sob a ótica do sistema de gestão do desempenho. Assim, o que se fez neste trabalho foi a proposição de uma ilustração baseada em onze dimensões. São elas: (i) “definição de metas”, (ii) “estratégias e planos”, (iii) “força e coerência”, (iv) “missão e visão”, (v) “medidas-chave de desempenho”, (vi) “avaliação do desempenho”, (vii) “fluxo de informação, sistemas e redes”, (viii) “sistemas de recompensa”, (ix) “fatores-chave de sucesso”, (x) “estrutura organizacional” e (xi) “alteração no sistema”. Tal criação foi necessária para nortear, com base no sistema de gestão do desempenho, a sistematização de trinta e oito atividades do controller. Uma vez concluídas a sistematização de atividades e a respectiva ilustração, foi-se a campo para saber em qual extensão o controller atua como business partner em suas organizações. Realizou-se um estudo de caso em um grupo que nos últimos cinco anos passou por processos de aquisição e desinvestimentos de empresas. Trata-se de uma companhia de capital aberto, cujas operações de agronegócio são realizadas globalmente. Foram entrevistados quatro profissionais da Controladoria — Chief Financial Officer Global, diretor de Controladoria, business controller e assistente de Controladoria — e mais a gerente de comunicação interna e o gerente de relação com investidores que não integram a área de Controladoria. Além das entrevistas, foram coletados documentos e observações diretas foram realizadas como fontes de coleta de dados. No que tange à análise dos resultados, foi baseada na triangulação. Notou-se que não foram encontradas evidências da participação do controller no total de cinco atividades que remetiam sua contribuição para tarefas de comunicação. Além disso, foram constatadas doze tarefas de business partner realizadas pelos controllers e, de forma complementar, elaborou-se uma ilustração de sua participação como business partner, sob a ótica do sistema de gestão do desempenho. Finalmente, os resultados evidenciam que, na prática, a atuação do controller como business partner se estende por sete dimensões, dentre onze dimensões catalogadas na ilustração. Constatou-se forte atuação do controller nas seguintes dimensões: (i) “definição de metas” e (ii) “estratégias e planos”. Além disso, também há atuação parcial sobre a (iii) força e coerência, (iv) “missão e visão”, (v) “medidas-chave de desempenho”, (vi) “avaliação do desempenho” e (vii) “fluxo de informação, sistemas e redes”. Por fim, não foram encontradas evidências da participação do controller em (viii) “sistemas de recompensa”, (ix) “fatores-chave de sucesso”, (x) “estrutura organizacional” e (xi) “alteração no sistema”.

Eye-tracking is the process of determining the point where the viewer is looking at. Therefore, an eye tracker is a device that measures eye positions and eye movements. Over the recent few years, eye trackers are being used in research in the area of medical technology, visual system, rehabilitation, and human-computer interaction. This study explores the application of eye-tracking in watching and rendering images on a computer screen. In this research, Eye-tracker 5 developed by Tobii is used which is a popular instrument among other eye trackers. Tobii Eye Tracker 5 includes a software development kit (SDK) enabling the creation of new research projects based on eye-tracking and head movement. This work measured eye-tracking streaming data on the digital images, and post-process the gaze data to observe the gaze pattern of the human eye. This thesis investigated the impact of blinking using subtle gaze direction (SGD) approach, which states that flickering on the computer screen in peripheral vision instead of foveal vision attracts human attention and as the viewer’s foveal vision attracted to that blinking point, flickering was stopped and, subsequently, performed flickering to the next point of interest while the viewer is watching the previous point of interest. The work successfully modeled flickering on the desired locations of an image. Furthermore, rendering to different images is also demonstrated in this work using entirely through eye movement. It is envisaged that eye-gazing-based control technology would have tremendous applications in almost all areas of future technology, particularly in assistive technology.

This thesis considers the problem of average consensus, distributed centralized and decentralized Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD) and their communication requirements. Namely, (i) an algorithm for achieving consensus among a collection of agents is studied and its convergence to the average is shown, in the presence of link failures and delays. The new results improve upon the prior works by relaxing some of the restrictive assumptions on communication, such as bounded link failures and intercommunication intervals, as well as allowing for message delays. Next, (ii) a Robust Asynchronous Stochastic Gradient Push (RASGP) algorithm is proposed to minimize the separable objective F(z) = 𝛴_{i=1}^n f_i(z) in a harsh network setting characterized by asynchronous updates, message losses and delays, and directed communication. RASGP is shown to asymptotically perform as well as the best bounds on a centralized gradient descent that takes steps in the direction of the sum of the noisy gradients of all local functions f_i(z). Next, (iii) a new communication strategy for Local SGD is proposed, a centralized optimization algorithm where workers make local updates and then calculate their average values only once in a while. It is shown that linear speed-up in the number of workers N is possible, using only O(N) communication (averaging) rounds, independent of the total number of iterations T. Empirical evidence suggests this bound is close to being tight as it is further shown that √N or N^{3/4} communications fail to achieve linear speed-up. Finally, (iv) under mild assumptions, the main of which is twice differentiability on any neighborhood of the optimal solution, one-shot averaging, which only uses a single round of communication, is shown to have optimal convergence rate asymptotically.

Tese(doutorado) - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Programa de Pós–Graduação em Oceanografia Biológica, Instituto de Oceanografia, 2012. / Submitted by Cristiane Gomides (cristiane_gomides@hotmail.com) on 2013-12-15T10:09:04Z No. of bitstreams: 1 karina.pdf: 8139075 bytes, checksum: c30bac487b6f4defadafc03c71b60d50 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Sabrina Andrade (sabrinabeatriz@ibest.com.br) on 2013-12-18T17:52:30Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 karina.pdf: 8139075 bytes, checksum: c30bac487b6f4defadafc03c71b60d50 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-12-18T17:52:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 karina.pdf: 8139075 bytes, checksum: c30bac487b6f4defadafc03c71b60d50 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / A alta produtividade na zona costeira e na Plataforma Continental do Sul do Brasil é dada pelo aporte de nutrientes, os quais são determinantes para a produção primária. As regiões de plataforma (Santa Marta-SC 28,60ºS e Albardão-RS 33,20ºS) foram selecionadas por apresentarem características diferenciadas em relação à topografia, sazonalidade e dinâmica das massas de água. Sendo assim, essas possuem diferentes mecanismos de fertilização, além dos aportes continentais. A proximidade à zona de Convergência Subtropical (CST) é determinante para a produtividade dessas regiões, visto que: no inverno, a intrusão da Água Subantártica de Plataforma na região do Albardão aumenta consideravelmente as concentrações de nutrientes na região e; no verão, a Água Central do Atlântico Sul resultado da CST aflora na região de Santa Marta, sendo responsável por 60% da produção nova local. Além disso, aportes subterrâneos foram evidenciados tanto na zona costeira quanto na região de plataforma. No extremo sul do Brasil verificou-se, mediante a variação espaço-temporal de isótopos naturais de rádio e radônio, a ocorrência de advecção de água subterrânea ao longo de toda a costa, desde a desembocadura da Lagoa dos Patos até as proximidades do Uruguai (média: 2,17± 0,2 cm d-1). Com a aplicação de modelos pré-estabelecidos, foi possível calcular os fluxosde nutrientes para a zona costeira (NIT: 21 105 mol d-1) e avaliar o potencial produtivo relacionado a essas descargas (2800 gC m-2 ano-1). Desse modo, entende-se que a parcela de água subterrânea deva ser definitivamente incluída no balanço de massas da região, uma vez que apresenta um potencial produtivo de 7 a 32 vezes maior quando comparado às outras regiões onde a estimativa foi realizada. / High productivity on the coastal region and on the Southern Brazil Continental Shelf is provided by the nutrient input which is fundamental to primary productivity. The regions of Santa Marta, SC (28.60ºS) and Albardão, RS (33.20ºS) were selected due to their special characteristics regarding the topography, seasonality and dynamics of their water mass. Therefore, these areas have different fertilization mechanisms besides the continental input. The proximity to the subtropical convergence zone (SCZ) is determinant in relation to productivity because, in winter, the intrusion of the Subantarctic Shelf Water (SSW) in the Albardão region considerably increases the nutrient concentration whereas, in summer, the South Atlantic Central Water (SACW) that results from the SCZ, moves to the Santa Marta region and is responsible for 60% of the new local production. In addition, subterraneous input was observed both on the coastal areas and on the shelf. In southern Brazil, spatial - time variations of radionuclides (Ra e Rn) show the occurrence of groundwater advection along the coast, from the mouth of Patos Lagoon to Uruguay rates (average: 2.17± 0.2 cm d - 1). Using mathematical models, it was possible to calculate the discharge of nutrients on the coastal zone (TIN: 21105 mol d - 1) and evaluate the productive potential regarding the Submarine Groundwater Discharge (2800 gC m - 2 y - 1). Thus, this study suggests that the portion of ground water should definitely be included in the mass budget of the region, since its productive potential is 7 to 32 times higher by comparison with other regions where this estimate was also carried out.

Inom mjukvaruteknik finns en mångfald processmetoder där var och en har ett specifikt syfte. En processmetod kan enklare beskrivas som en upprepningsbar uppsättning delsteg i syfte att utföra en uppgift och uppnå ett specifikt resultat. Majoriteten av processmetoder som har hittats i denna studie inriktar sig på den mjukvaruprodukt som är att utveckla. Det verkar finnas en brist på processmetoder som kan användas av mjukvaruutvecklare för att utveckla sin personliga utvecklingsprocess. Med personlig utvecklingsprocess menas, hur den enskilda utvecklaren väljer att strukturera det egna arbetet i syfte att uppnå ett visst re- sultat. Självstyrandes-utvecklarramverket (även kallad SGD-ramverket) är i skrivande stund ett nyligen utvecklat processramverk med syfte att bistå den individuella utvecklaren att ut- veckla sin personliga utvecklingsprocess. Kort beskrivet är ramverket tänkt att innehålla alla aktiviteter som kan komma att uppstå i ett utvecklingsprojekt. Problemet är att detta ramverk inte har utvärderats ännu och därför vet man inte om ramverket är relevant för att uppfylla sitt syfte. För att rama in och vägleda studien formulerades ett antal problemfråge- ställningar (1) Är ramverket fullständigt för ett mindre företag med avseende på aktivite- ter?, (2) Hur hög är kostnaden för SGD-ramverket i form av tid? Målet med studien är att bidra till framtida studier för ramverket genom att utföra en akt- ionsstudie där SGD-ramverket utvärderas utefter ett par specifika utvärderingskriterier. En induktiv kvalitativ forskningsmetod användes för att genomföra denna studie. Med in- duktiv metod menas att slutsatser dras utifrån empiriskt insamlad data och utifrån dessa ut- formas generella teorier. Mer specifikt användes metoden aktionsstudie. Data samlades in genom loggning och tidsloggning under aktionsstudiens gång. För att utvärdera ramverket användes utvärderingskriterierna (1) Fullständighet, (2) Semantisk korrekthet (3) Kostnad. En narrativ analys fördes över insamlad data för dessa kriterier med hänsyn till problemfrå- geställningarna. Resultat från utvärdering visade att ramverket inte ansågs fullständigt med hänsyn till dess aktiviteter. Dock näst intill fullständigt då enbart ett fåtal aktiviteter behövdes tilläggas i den utförda aktionsstudien. Totalt 3 extra aktiviteter lades till utöver de 40 som redan finns. Ca tio procent av den totala arbetstiden i aktionsstudien var i tillagda aktiviteter utanför Självstyrandes-Utvecklarramverkets ordinarie aktiviteter. Ramverkets aktiviteter ansågs även vara för granulärt formulerade i sammanhanget av ett mindre företag. Ramverket an- sågs vara högst relevant för att förbättra den individuella utvecklarens egna process. Kost- nad för införsel av Självstyrandes-Utvecklarramverket i denna studie speglar tiden det tog tills tidsanvändningen av Ramverket ansågs stabilt. Denna införelsekostnad uppskattades i form av tid och bestod av ca 3.54% av en åttatimmars arbetsdag, detta uppskattade ske un- der en införselsperiod på 24 dagar. Total tillämpningskostnad för användning av ramverket i den utförda aktionsstudien är i snitt 4,143 SEK/timme alternativt 662,88 SEK/månad. Schablonkostnaden som har använts ligger på 172,625 SEK/timme. / Within software engineering there is a diversity of process methods where each one has its specific purpose. A process method can be described as being a repeatable set of step with the purpose to achieve a task and reach a specific result. The majority of process methods found in this study are focused on the software product being developed. There seems to be a lack of process methods that can be used by software developers for there individual soft- ware process improvement. Individual software process improvement, refers to how the in- dividual software developer chooses to structure their own work with the purpose to obtain a specific result The Self-Governance Developer Framework (also called SGD-framework) whilst writing this is a newly developed process framework with the purpose of aiding the individual soft- ware developer to improve his own individual software process. Briefly explained the framework is intended to contain all the activities that can come up in a software project. The problem is that this tool has not yet been evaluated and therefore it is unknown if it is relevant for its purpose. To frame and guide the study three problem questions has been for- mulated (1) Is the framework complete for a smaller company in regards to it activities? (2) How high is the cost for the SGD-framework in regard of time? The goal of the study is to contribute for future studies for the framework by performing an action study where the Self-Governance Developer Framework is evaluated against a set of chosen evaluation criteria. An inductive qualitative research method was used when conducting the study. An induc- tive method means that conclusions are derived from empirically gathered data and from that data form general theories. Specifically, the action study method was used. Data was gathered by keeping a logbook and also time logging during the action study. To evaluate the framework, some evaluation criteria was used which were (1) Completeness, (2) Se- mantic correctness, (3) Cost. A narrative analysis was conducted over the data that was gathered for the criteria. The analysis took the problem formulations in regard. The results from the evaluation showed that the framework was not complete with the re- gards of the activities. Although next to complete as only a few activities were further needed during the action study. A total of 3 extra activities were added over the regular 40 activities. Around 10% of the time spent in activities were in activities outside of the Self- Governance Developer Framework. The activities were considered to finely comminute for the context of a smaller company. The framework was considered highly relevant for im- proving the individual software developers own process. The introduction cost in this study reflect on the time it took until the usage of the framework was considered consistent. In this study it was approximately 24 working days with a usage about 3.54% of an eight-hour work day. The total application cost of usage of the framework in the performed action study was on average 4.143 SEK/hour or 662,88 SEK/month. The template cost used was on 172.625 SEK/hour.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, 2009. / Title from screen (viewed on January 13, 2010). School of Nursing, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Advisor(s): Marsha L. Ellet, Rebecca S. Sloan, Lynne A. Sturm, Melinda M. Swenson. Includes vitae. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 104-123).

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / There are children in this world who are silenced by disability. The struggles of these children as they attempt to find a voice are difficult and often considered insurmountable. With advances in computer technology, devices are available to assist the child to have a voice. This voice is not found easily or acquired without difficulty. Even after finding and acquiring the necessary device, the child requires education and support to learn to use the device effectively. Challenges may be specific to the child’s disability, the support systems involved with the child, or even the technology itself. It is the adults in the child’s life, and the child’s family in particular, who provide needed support and assistance in helping him/her find an effective way of expressing his/her ideas. Families are an essential component in assisting their children to learn to use the device. My pilot study examined parents’ likes and dislikes of their child’s communication device. The preliminary data from that study illuminated several factors that increased the struggles of these children and their families as they work together to learn the device. These factors include financial, emotional, and developmental costs; as well as the lack of appropriately trained professionals; and excessive time lapses from evaluation to receipt of the device. The purpose of this study was to give a voice to the experiences of families around a child’s use of one type of augmentative and alternative (AAC), a speech generating device (SGD), by analyzing family’s experiences of the child’s use of a SGD as seen through the lens of the child’s primary caregiver. Interpretive phenomenologic methods for data collection and interpretation were used to elucidate the experience of families who have a child who is currently using or who has previously used a SGD as a method of communication. One cannot learn about the lived experience of the family without first listening to their story and allowing the family to share how their child’s use of a SGD affected the life of their family.

No description available.