I investigate how career concerns influence banking analysts’ forecasts and find that banking analysts issue relatively more optimistic forecasts early in the year and more pessimistic forecasts later in the year for banks who could be their future employers. This pattern is not observed when the same analysts forecast earnings for banks with no equity research departments. Using the Global Settlement as an exogenous shock on career concerns, I show that this forecast pattern is pronounced after the Settlement. Moreover, I find that analysts benefit from this behaviour as analysts that are more biased in their forecasts towards potential future employers are more likely to move to a higher reputation bank. Textual analysis of analyst reports is also valuable due to the private information and analysis conveyed in the text. Second paper therefore examines analyst reports with consistent and conflicting signals in terms of qualitative and quantitative outputs. I find that investors react more strongly when the sentiment and earnings forecast bias are consistent. Interestingly, when the tone of report text does not coincide with the earnings forecast, investors place greater weight on the text rather than the EPS forecasts. I also find that consistent reports with both optimistic sentiment and forecast bias have a strong positive market reaction but they are low in forecast accuracy. Markedly, forecasts with pessimistic sentiment have higher accuracy than those of optimistic sentiment. Hence, pessimistic sentiment is a good indicator of the quality of forecast reports. Finally, in my last paper, I explore whether there is any association between firm-specific investor sentiment and the subsequent tone of firms' quarterly reports. Firm-specific investor sentiment is measured using the methodology from Aboody et al. (2016), which proxies for market confidence relating to a specific firm. Given the potential cost-benefit trade-off in the reporting strategy, I argue and find different responses from managers in their 10-Qs in terms of their investor sentiment. I focus on the tone of optimism, readability and the proportion of uncertain words in the 10-Q filings. For firms with extremely high levels of investor sentiment, managers tend to be more conservative by using less optimistic words to avoid future disappointment. In comparison, in firms with extremely pessimistic investor sentiment, managers tend to use more optimistic and easy to understand language, and minimize their proportion of uncertainty in their 10-Q filings. By doing so, perhaps they are trying to alter their investor sentiment.

Functional communication training (FCT) is an effective procedure to teach a functional communication response (FCR) and decrease problem behavior. However, there are limitations to FCT. These limitations include excessive manding (e.g., requesting items at a high rate) and manding at inappropriate times (e.g., requesting attention when caregiver is driving). Multiple schedules using static signals (e.g., colored cards) have been used to decrease these limitations while maintaining appropriate levels of the FCRs and low levels of problem behavior. Moreover, dynamic signals have been used to maintain low levels of problem behavior and appropriate levels of alternative responses outside of a multiple schedule format. Presently, no research has examined the comparison of static and dynamic signals to address the limitations of FCT. Therefore, the purpose of the current study is to compare the effects of static and dynamic signals (i.e., Time Timer®) during multiple schedules consisting of reinforcement and extinction components following FCT. Key words: functional communication training, multiple schedules, static signals, Time Timers®

Les neurosciences computationnelles sont une grande source d'inspiration pour le traitement de données. De nos jours, aussi bon que soit l'état de l'art de la vision par ordinateur, il reste moins performant que les possibilités offertes par nos cerveaux ou ceux d'autres animaux ou insectes. Cette thèse se base sur cette observation afin de développer de nouvelles méthodes de calcul pour la vision par ordinateur ainsi que pour le calcul de manière générale reposant sur les données issues de capteurs événementiels tels que les "rétines artificielles". Ces capteurs copient la biologie et sont utilisés dans ces travaux pour le caractère épars de leurs données ainsi que pour leur précision temporelle : l'information est codée dans des événements qui sont générés avec une précision de l'ordre de la microseconde. Ce concept ouvre les portes d'un paradigme complètement nouveau pour la vision par ordinateur, reposant sur le temps plutôt que sur des images. Ces capteurs ont été utilisés pour développer des applications comme le suivi ou la reconnaissance d'objets ou encore de l'extraction de motifs élémentaires. Des plate-formes de calcul neuromorphiques ont aussi été utilisées pour implémenter plus efficacement ces algorithmes, nous conduisant à repenser l'idée même du calcul. Les travaux présentés dans cette thèse proposent une nouvelle façon de penser la vision par ordinateur via des capteurs événementiels ainsi qu'un nouveau paradigme pour le calcul. Le temps remplace la mémoire permettant ainsi des opérations complètement locales, ce qui permet de réaliser des machines hautement parallèles avec une architecture non-Von Neumann. / Computational Neurosciences are a great source of inspiration for data processing and computation. Nowadays, how great the state of the art of computer vision might be, it is still way less performant that what our brains or the ones from other animals or insects are capable of. This thesis takes on this observation to develop new computational methods for computer vision and generic computation relying on data produced by event-based sensors such as the so called “silicon retinas”. These sensors mimic biology and are used in this work because of the sparseness of their data and their precise timing: information is coded into events which are generated with a microsecond precision. This opens doors to a whole new paradigm for machine vision, relying on time instead of using images. We use these sensors to develop applications such as object tracking or recognition and feature extraction. We also used computational neuromorphic platforms to better implement these algorithms which led us to rethink the idea of computation itself. This work proposes new ways of thinking computer vision via event-based sensors and a new paradigm for computation. Time is replacing memory to allow for completely local operations, enabling highly parallel machines in a non-Von Neumann architecture.

M.Ing. / Another method is suggested in this paper to decide on the method of control at intersections. A computer program has been developed to simulate traffic on a macroscopic basis to obtain cost for delay, fuel consumption, accidents, maintenance, oil consumption and capital investment. The total cost per vehicle proved that the existing criteria are conservative in so far they warrant traffic signs earlier than necessary ...

What do we do when we realise that others with whom we interact already know something about relevant qualities of ours? Do we relying on the information that we naturally emit to get our message across, or do we take actions to try to change the situation in our favour? And, does the information that we emit, generated intentionally or unintentionally, allow us to cooperate with others and conflict to be resolved peacefully? Drawing on signalling and 'countersignalling' theories, and a recent behavioural theory, I explore these questions using two experiments in which the relevant qualities are trustworthiness and toughness, and observational data from the 1997 Survey of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities concerning violence among prisoners. In the experiments, subjects, who do not know what will follow, initially create a natural indicator of their qualities, and subsequently, have the opportunity to send another indicator, this time fully informed. In one experiment, consistent with countersignalling theory, subjects whose generosity is clear deign to send further information, while those whose generosity can be called under question choose to update their initial action the most. In the other, the toughest subjects put the most effort into getting their message across. Consistent among both, senders' actions correspond to receivers' evaluations. Finally, I find that pertinent information can allow conflicts to be resolved successfully; it is linked with less violence in prison and in a laboratory-based contest.

No description available.

De nos jours, le domaine biomédical est en pleine croissance avec le développement de dispositifs thérapeutiques innovants, bas coût, pour le diagnostic, le traitement ou la prévention de maladies chroniques ou cardiovasculaires. Ces dernières années ont connu l’émergence des polymères semi-conducteurs, alternative intéressante aux matériaux inorganiques, présentant des propriétés uniques de conduction ionique et électronique. Tout d’abord, j’ai axé mes travaux de recherche sur le développement et l’optimisation d’une encre conductrice à base de PEDOT:PSS, parfait candidat comme matériau, pour la transduction des signaux biologiques en signaux électriques, compatible avec le process jet d’encre, pour la réalisation de dispositifs imprimés. Puis mes travaux se sont orientés vers la conception et l’étude d’électrodes imprimées sur supports papiers, tatous et textiles permettant des enregistrements long termes d’électrocardiogrammes (ECG) ou électromyogrammes (EMG), présentant des performances similaires aux électrodes commerciales, utilisant un système d’acquisition spécifique pour la mesure d’activités électriques de tissus musculaires. Puis dans un second temps, je me suis penchée sur l’impression sur support papier, de transistors organiques électrochimiques (OECTs) fonctionnalisés, afin de permettre la détection d’éléments biologiques ou chimiques comme l’alcool. Ces travaux proposent une nouvelle voie pour la conception de dispositifs innovants biomédicaux à bas couts, imprimés, permettant la personnalisation des produits pouvant être intégrés dans des dispositifs biomédicaux portables ou dans des vêtements « intelligents ». / With the evolution of microelectronics industry and their direct implementation in the biomedical arena, innovative tools and technologies have come to the fore enabling more reliable and cost-effective treatment. In this thesis I focus on the integration of the conducting polymer PEDOT:PSS with printing technologies toward the realization of performant biomedical devices. In the first part, I focus on the optimization of the conducting ink formulation. Following, I emphasize on the fabrication of inkjet printed PEDOT:PSS based biopotential electrodes on a wide variety of substrates (i.e., paper, textiles, tattoo paper) for use in electrophysiological applications such as electrocardiography (ECG) and electromyography (EMG). Printed electrodes on paper and printed wearable electrodes were fabricated and investigated for long-term ECG recordings. Then, conformable printed tattoo electrodes were fabricated to detect the biceps activity during muscle contraction and the conventional wiring was replaced by a simple contact between the tattoo and a similarly ink-jet printed textile electrode.In the last part, I present the potentiality of inkjet printing method for the realization of organic electrochemical transistor (OECTs) as high performing biomedical devices. A disposable breathalyzer comprised of a printed OECT and modified with alcohol dehydrogenase was used for the direct alcohol detection in breath, enabling future integration with wearable devices for real-time health monitoring. Their compatibility with printing technologies allows the realization of low-cost and large area electronic devices, toward next-generation fully integrated smart biomedical devices.

No description available.

Although a handful of experiments have utilized indirect feedback in attempts to reduce speeding on roadways, fewer experiments have utilized direct feedback as a means to reduce incidences of speeding. The current study evaluated the effects of direct and individualized feedback provided by a large electronic feedback sign that displayed the speed of oncoming vehicles as they approached the sign along the roadways of a college campus. The effects of the sign were evaluated using a non-simultaneous multiple baseline experimental design employing two control conditions and intervention phase. Each condition was implemented at three sites on the college campus. The results showed that intervention produced significant decreases in both measures of vehicle speeds at each site, relative to measures collected during both control conditions.

Wireless communication systems are growing at an unprecedented pace, making the wireless spectrum at a premium, especially as billions of new Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices worldwide are demanding wireless connections. To accommodate the ever-growing spectrum demand, a promising solution is Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA) that enables two users to communicate with the same spectrum resource at the same time, while decoding the two-user superimposed signal at the receiver. By doing this, the previously detrimental wireless interference caused by two concurrent transmitters becomes decodable at the receiver, potential for higher utilization of the wireless spectrum. Existing NOMA technologies, however, rely on strict power control to sequentially decode the two-user superimposed signal, which is infeasible for many IoT devices that are heterogeneous and often low-cost. In contrast, in this dissertation, we propose new NOMA schemes that are designed for wireless communication systems and can decode the two-user superimposed signals without power control. This dissertation makes four major contributions. First, it presents the first design to implement dynamic signal offsets tracking and reacting schemes to detect and decode two-user superimposed signals, robust against hardware imperfections and feasible for heterogeneous IoT devices. Second, by investigating the relationship between the channel condition and the bit-error-rate (BER) in decoding superimposed signals, we design a reliable NOMA scheme to combat dynamic channel conditions that are inevitable in many practical scenarios and may cause severe decoding errors. Third, considering the wireless communication systems in mobile scenarios, mobility is a vital feature of many applications but can cause severe signal variations and make the hardware offsets harder to predict, resulting in an unreliable decoding performance. To address this, we develop a diversity transmission and smart combining scheme to achieve high reliable decoding performance. Finally, we combine rotation coding to transmit and decode the superimposed signal to achieve both high spectrum efficiency and high reliability performance. To demonstrate our contributions, we derive the theoretical relationship of the BER under different practical settings, validate the performance with simulations, and conduct experiments using software-defined radio based platforms with static indoor, outdoor scenarios and mobile scenarios. The experimental results demonstrate that, compared with the state-of-the-art methods, our schemes can achieve higher reliability and spectrum efficiency in decoding the superimposed signal for wireless communication systems without power control. / Graduate