Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited / The thesis deals with the detection and tracking of dim point targets in infrared images. Research topics include image process modeling with adaptive two-dimensional Least Mean Square (LMS) and Recursive Least Squares (RLS) prediction filters. Target detection is performed by significance testing the prediction error residual. A pulse tracker is developed which may be adjusted to discriminate target dynamics. The methods are applicable to detection and tracking in other spectral bands. / http://archive.org/details/adaptivedimpoint00dema / Major, United States Marine Corps

The thesis focuses audit of annual financial statement. Theoretical part addresses Czech legislation which sets rules, content and form for elaboration of financial statement. It also describes situation when international accounting standards can be utilised. Czech audit regulation is explained together with demands placed on auditing profession. Finally, it analyzes preparation of an accounting entity and audit procedures from order receipt to audit opinion. Practical part covers real financial of a real unnamed company.

This mini-thesis serves as an introduction to the drawing up of a Cultural Resource Management (CRM) plan for Thulamela Heritage Site in the Kruger National Park. It is envisaged that this will be a strategy by which Thulamela heritage resources (including natural and cultural elements) will be identified, their significance assessed, and interpretations constructed to guide their conservation and presentation in a manner that is consistent with their availability for public appreciation or enjoyment. Thulamela Project involves the process of locating, assessing, and dealing appropriately with the Thulamela heritage resources which are represented by the physical manifestation of humanity’s interaction with the natural world around the site and surrounding landscape of Thulamela. This thesis will serve as a guideline towards designing a CRM plan for Thulamela Heritage Site that will be practical. Most of the issues here are management plan issues that the KNP should start implementing in order to preserve and conserve the site for future generations. This study is a result of fieldwork undertaken in the KNP. Problem areas and opportunities are identified. Goals and objectives of a Management Plan for Thulamela Heritage Site are identified and solutions are proposed. Three appendices have been added at the end of the thesis. These are additional recommendations that can be implemented concurrently with the implementation of the CRM plan. The additions are: - Professor Tom Huffman’s “Standard interpretation brochure”. This is a brochure that is intended to be used by Thulamela Tour Guides during trips. It emerged as a result of differing information from different tour guides at Thulamela. The brochure that is attached herewith is still a draft. It will have to be perused and approved by the Thulamela Heritage Site Board of Trustees. - The “Suggested excursion plan or booking system” for Thulamela. This is designed inrder to allow a free flow of tourists to the site. - Of most importance is the “Proposed heritage agreement” to be reached between the South African National Parks (SANP) and Thulamela Board of Trustees. Other members may be added in the process, depending on the agreement between the two most important key stakeholders. The KNP is encouraged to evaluate the thesis and decide which issues are to be dealt with as a priority. The author strongly believes that the implementation of some of the proposals as outlined in this thesis will add value to the preservation and conservation of Thulamela Heritage Site. The thesis will also be helpful to the assessment and management of other heritage sites within the KNP and SANP in general. The document gives the Social Ecology (SE) department the option to utilize the document as it is or to expand it if necessary. / Dissertation (MA (Heritage and Museum Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Historical and Heritage Studies / unrestricted

This study describes, on a comparative basis, the morphology of mechanical (the linguo-laryngeal apparatus) and sensory (Herbst corpuscles and taste buds) specialisations in the upper digestive tract (bill and oropharynx) of the ostrich and emu, with a view to a better understanding of the functional significance of these structures. The ostrich and emu are commercial entities that constitute important niche industries and are farmed intensively throughout South Africa. A lack of information on the mechanical and sensory specialisations of the upper digestive tract in these two birds hampers a sound understanding of food selection and intake. A total of 48 adult (12-14 months) ostrich heads and 48 adult emu (12-14 months) heads obtained from birds at slaughter at commercial abattoirs and farms, as well as 5 ostrich chick (2-4 weeks) heads and 1 emu chick (8 weeks) head, obtained from previous research projects, were used for this study. Morphological features were described using basic gross anatomical (dissection and stereomicroscopy) and histological techniques (H&E staining), supplemented by differential staining for cartilage and bone, transmission electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. The findings of the study were compared with the relevant literature and hypotheses for functional significance were formed. The avian glottis channels air from the oropharynx to the trachea and is situated on an elevated structure, the laryngeal mound. It is imperative that the glottis be protected and closed during swallowing, which in mammals is achieved by covering the glottis with the epiglottis, as well as by adduction of the arytenoid cartilages. An epiglottis, however, is reportedly absent in birds. Ratites such as the ostrich and emu possess a very wide glottis in comparison to other birds. The question therefore arises as to how these large birds avoid inhalation of food particles through a wide glottis, with apparently little protection, particularly as their feeding method involves throwing the food over the glottis to land in the proximal esophagus. In the ostrich, when the glottis was closed and the tongue body retracted, the smooth tongue root became highly folded and the rostral portion of the laryngeal mound was encased by the pocket in the base of the ∩-shaped tongue body. In this position the lingual papillae also hooked over the most rostral laryngeal projections. However, in the emu, retraction of the tongue body over the closed glottis resulted in the prominent, triangular tongue root sliding over the rostral portion of the laryngeal mound. In both the ostrich and emu these actions resulted in the rostral portion of the laryngeal mound and weakest point of the adducted glottis being enclosed and stabilised. Only after conducting a comparative study between these two birds using fresh specimens did it become clear how specific morphological peculiarities were perfectly specialised to assist in the closure and protection of the wide glottis. A unique anatomical mechanism in ratites was identified, described and proposed, which may functionally replace an epiglottis; the linguo-laryngeal apparatus. The oropharynx of the ostrich and emu is richly supplied with Herbst corpuscles. This widespread distribution of these mechanoreceptors has not previously been reported in birds. Specific concentrations of Herbst corpuscles within the oropharynx, which differ between the ostrich and emu, assist in the accurate positioning of the tongue and laryngeal mound for cleaning the choana (internal nares). The Herbst corpuscles are strategically located to aid in the handling and transport of food and the median palatine and ventral ridges in the ostrich display a concentration of Herbst corpuscles which denote these structures as sensory organs, namely the palatal and interramal organs. Three specific arrangements of Herbst corpuscles were noted in the oropharynx. The first arrangement consisted of groups of corpuscles located peripherally around a myelinated nerve and was present in the bill tip. The second arrangement, possibly linked to the first, was that of individual or groups of corpuscles without an obvious associated nerve and was present throughout the remaining regions of the oropharynx. The third arrangement was that of corpuscles associated with large, simple branched tubular mucus-secreting glands. The basic structure of Herbst corpuscles in the ostrich and emu, observed by light and transmission electron microscopy, of a capsule (with cellular and acellular lamella), an outer zone (collagen fibrils, fibroblasts and a fluid matrix), an inner core (formed by bilaterally symmetrical specialised Schwann cells) and a receptor axon, is similar to that noted for other avian species. However, unlike in other birds, the capsule of the Herbst corpuscle in the ostrich and emu is formed by myofibroblasts which indicates contractile properties for this component of the corpuscle in ratites. Sensory cilia were noted in the myofibroblasts of the capsule and fibroblasts of the outer zone of the ostrich Herbst corpuscle which may assist in regulating the tension of the capsule. These features have not been reported in other avian species. Although the structure of the palaeognathous palate has been widely studied, relatively little information is available on the morphology of the ratite bill. The kiwi possesses a bill tip organ and the present study confirmed the existence of this somatosensory organ in the ostrich and emu. Examination of the rhamphotheca of these two birds demonstrated numerous specialisations. In the emu, rhamphothecal serrations with intervening keratinised pegs on the rostral mandibular tomia resembled a form of pseudo-teeth. These structures may share a similar embryological origin to teeth; however, they would appear to function by channelling and enhancing vibratory stimuli to Herbst corpuscles in nearby bony pits. In the ostrich, epidermal troughs were present in the regions overlying the bill tip organ and functioned to enhance vibratory stimuli to the underlying Herbst corpuscles. Additionally, in the ostrich only, and not related to the structure or functioning of the bill tip organ, the rostral tomia and maxillary and mandibular nails were composed of typical tubular and inter-tubular horn. This may represent a unique feature in birds. The structure of the mandible and premaxilla was similar to that described previously for these birds. However, the persistence of Meckel’s cartilage through to the adult bird in the ostrich and emu is a novel avian feature not previously reported. The bony bill tips were adorned with numerous sensory (bony) pits which displayed similar distribution patterns in the ostrich and emu and indicated the presence, macroscopically, of a bill tip organ. The total number of pits in the bill tip of the ostrich and emu did not differ significantly, although regional differences did occur. The sub-divisions of the trigeminal nerve (N. opthalmicus R. medialis and N. intramandibularis) innervating the bill tip were well developed in both birds and displayed extensive branching. The emu displayed more myelinated nerve fibres in both nerves than in the ostrich. As myelinated nerve fibres supply Herbst corpuscles, the number of nerve fibres is correlated to the number of corpuscles. No correlation could be made between the number of pits in a particular region and the number of nerve fibres or with the relative percentage of Herbst corpuscles in that region. The bill tip organ in both species was basically similar except for the epidermal specialisations noted above. Two parts of the bill tip organ were recognised; the bony bill tip organ (Herbst corpuscles stacked in bony cavities and pits) and the peripheral bill tip organ (Herbst corpuscles in sheets or chains in the connective tissue between the epithelium and bone). The morphology of the bill tip organ in the ostrich and emu indicates that it is an organ that functions by direct touch. These two ratite species appear to possess the most elaborate bill tip organ of any pecking bird. The existence of a bill tip organ in the ostrich and emu is an enigma and points to the possibility that a bill tip organ is a basal structure in all palaeognathous birds (living and extinct). Furthermore, it is evident by observing the exploratory behaviour of the ostrich and emu, that they use their bill tip organ extensively as a tool for exploring and interpreting their environment as well as for discriminating food. The sense of taste in birds is an important motivator for feeding as well as initial food selection. The existence of this sense in ratites has remained largely speculative. In the present study taste buds were only identified in the emu and were predominantly located in the caudal region of the non-pigmented oropharyngeal roof and sparsely located on the oropharyngeal floor. The taste buds extended the full width of the epithelium in which they were located and were ovoid structures. The taste bud was composed of centrally located, vertically oriented light and dark cells (representing both receptor cells and supporting elements) and peripherally situated follicular cells which were continuous with the surrounding Str. germinativum of the stratified squamous epithelium. Positive IHC labelling for neurofilament demonstrated numerous fine nerve fibres (Neurofibra gustatoria) within the connective tissue immediately surrounding the taste bud. Taste bud morphology in the emu was similar to that described in other birds. However, when sectioned tangentially they were indistinguishable from the surrounding epithelium with H&E staining. By using IHC labelling, concentrations of nerve fibres could be demonstrated beneath apparently nondescript epidermal structures, thus indicating the presence of a taste bud. The distribution of taste buds in the oropharynx could be linked to the particular feeding method of the emu. Based on information from GenBank, it would appear that the relatively few taste buds present in the emu oropharynx would mainly function in distinguishing bitter taste. As bitter-tasting compounds can cause a negative association with a particular food type, it would appear that the sense of taste in the emu would predominantly function for protection and not food selection. This study revealed various unique findings regarding the mechanical and sensory specialisations in the upper digestive tract of the ostrich and emu.  The ostrich and emu possess a combination of structures which functionally replace an epiglottis, namely the linguo-laryngeal apparatus.  Herbst corpuscles are widely distributed in the oropharynx of the ostrich and emu and their distribution is related to the particular feeding habits of these birds.  The capsule of Herbst corpuscles in the ostrich and emu is composed of contractile elements, a feature not reported in other birds.  The ostrich and emu possess a well-developed bill tip organ, which is an unusual feature amongst pecking birds.  Taste buds are present in the emu and no structures resembling taste buds were identified in the ostrich. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Anatomy and Physiology / Unrestricted

Cities keep expanding as people move towards more desired locations on the outskirts, resulting in abandoned, dead nodes within the city centre. These buildings are left to deteriorate, especially those of heritage and cultural importance. Designed with a very specific function in mind, industrial architecture is mostly removed from society, hidden behind infrastructure. The process and economics are what drives the architecture. But what happens when this industry fails, or become of no value to mankind? What is left behind except for the scarred ecology? This architecture that was specifically designed for this mono-functional purpose? Decay sets in: what was once a producer becomes no more than a relic - socially abandoned because it was never social to begin with. The growth in technology as well as the realization that many of the ways in which old industries used to function has had an immense negative effect on the environment. A calling for new, better ways of doing things were needed; though it has left our city landscapes scattered with industrial objects, from mine dumps to power plants, abandoned and without purpose. There is an ethical responsibility that should address this and to reactivate these areas by re-appropriating these nodes by making them into desired locations for businesses as well as residents. The challenge being in finding an appropriate use for such nodes that will help the city flourish. Re-appropriating such architecture will put a new focus and livelihood on it, as well as its surrounding precinct. By utilizing and re-appropriating the architecture, it will eliminate, or at least lessen, the chances of it becoming another abandoned monument. This dissertation will highlight and investigate the importance of industrial architecture as an object of heritage for South Africa. This will be done by looking at the manner in which the architecture at the Johannesburg Gas Works can be re-purposed and re-imagined in contributing to an ever-evolving city and its people, by giving the existing structures a new purpose. There is therefore a need to keep the heritage of the Gas Works alive because the architecture, and the site as such, has become obsolete to the purpose it was built for. / Mini Dissertation MArch(Prof)--University of Pretoria, 2018. / Architecture / MArch(Prof) / Unrestricted

In detaile, this projects focuses on object's far and near past and memories and brings their history into present exposition. Therefor the concept captures a new perception and observation of the importance of art history, using the still life art form and Vanitas theme and objects to symbolize the impermanence and transience time. However the main focus is not only on the objects themselves but also on their environment as a source of inspiration and cultural memory. This approach links the methods of displaying objects in the contemporary art with the current methods in art education. The didactic part reflects the attitude of pupils aged 14-15 to the objects from the distant and recent past and their values. As the result the artworks are a combination of graphic prints with fragments of photographs depicting snatches of memories, which has been moderately used as a hidden layer to properly reflect the author's perspective.

Statisticians are interested in testing the structure of covariance matrices, especially under the high-dimensional scenario in which the dimensionality of data matrices exceeds the sample size. Many test statistics have been introduced to test whether the covariance matrix is equal to identity structure (<img src="http://www.diva-portal.org/cgi-bin/mimetex.cgi?H_%7B01%7D:%20%5CSigma%20=%20I_p" />), sphericity structure (<img src="http://www.diva-portal.org/cgi-bin/mimetex.cgi?H_%7B02%7D:%20%5CSigma%20=%20%5Csigma%5E2I_p" />) or diagonal structure (<img src="http://www.diva-portal.org/cgi-bin/mimetex.cgi?H_%7B03%7D:%20%5CSigma%20=%20diag(d_1,%20d_2,%5Cdots,d_p)" />). These test statistics work under the assumption that data follows the multivariate normal distribution. In our thesis work, we want to compare the performance of test statistics for each structure test under given assumptions and when the distributional assumption is violated, and compare the test sensitivity to outliers. We apply simulation studies with the help of significance level, power of test, and goodness of fit tests to evaluate the performance of structure test statistics. In conclusion, we identify the recommended test statistics that perform well under different scenarios. Moreover, we find out that the test statistics for the identity structure test are more sensitive to the changes of distribution assumptions and outliers compared with others. The test statistics for the diagonal structure test have a better tolerant to the change of the data matrices.

Företagsvärdering handlar om att uppskatta och beräkna det ekonomiska värdet på ett företag genom olika metoder och modeller. De finns dock en problematik med att de klassiska värderingsmetoderna utesluter en stor del av de icke-finansiella faktorerna. Dessa faktorer kan ha en betydande roll på företagets värde men utesluts då de inte finns något enkelt sätt att väga in deras betydelse i värderingsmodellerna. Flera tidigare studier lyfter fram humankapital som en av de viktigaste tillgångarna i ett företag. I små företag tenderar dessutom ägaren vara starkt kopplad till företaget. Detta beror på att ägaren ofta besitter förmågor och företagsspecifik kunskap som gör denne mycket betydelsefull för företaget och dess drift.  Syftet med rapporten är att undersöka vilken betydelse en ägare i små företag har på ett företags värde vid en försäljning. Den teorin som använts för att svara på rapportens syfte är den resursbaserade teorin och VRIO-ramverket, med ett urval av tre delar. Studien har en kvalitativ forskningsmetod och det empiriska materialet har samlats in genom semistrukturerade intervjuer med företagsvärderare.  Studien har visat att en ägare oftast ses som betydelsefull i små företag. Hur betydelsefull ägaren anses vara kan däremot variera beroende på ett antal olika faktorer. En ägare kan besitta kunskap och förmågor som gör denne värdefull, sällsynt och icke-imiterbar i det specifika företaget. Det finns flera olika tillvägagångssätt för att ta hänsyn till ägaren vid en företagsvärdering, gemensamt är dock att alla värderare tittar på vilken risk som uppkommer när ägaren lämnar företaget. Ju mer betydelsefull desto större blir risken och desto mer påverkas företagets värde. Av studien har det framgått att det är kriteriet icke-imiterbar som har allra störst påverkan huruvida hänsyn tas till ägaren vid värderingen eller inte. Studien visar också att det finns ett flertal problem och svårigheter när hänsyn ska tas till ägaren och vid värdering av små företag. / Business valuation is about estimating and calculating the economic value of a company through various methods and models. However, there is a problem with the fact that classical valuation methods exclude a large part of the non-financial factors. These factors can have a leading role in the business’ value but are excluded since there is no easy way to weigh in importance in the valuation models. There are several studies which lift human capital as one of the most important assets. Moreover, in small businesses, the owner tends to be strongly linked with the company. This is because the owner often has a skillset and domain specific knowledge which make them significant for the business and its operation. The aim of the report is to investigate the impact of an owner in small firms on the value of a firm in the event of a sale. The theory used to answer the purpose of the report is the resource based theory and the VRIO-framework, with a selection of three parts. The study has a qualitative research method and the empirical material has been gathered through semi structured interviews with business valuators. The study has found that an owner is often viewed as a valuable asset in a small firm. How impactful the owner is varies on a number of factors. An owner can have knowledge and abilities that make them valuable, rare and non-imitable. There are several approaches to taking the owner into account in a business evaluation, a common denominator is that all business valuators look at the risk that incurs when the owner would leave the company. The more impactful the higher the risk will be which affects the value of the business. The study shows that the criteria non-imitable has the highest impact when it comes to if the owner will be taken into account or not. The study also shows that there are several difficulties and problems when taking the owner into account when valuating small businesses.

The aim of this thesis is to examine how secondary teachers in the subject of history are using the textbook in their teaching. Four questions are being dealt with in this thesis. What importance is being placed on the use of history textbooks by the secondary teachers? What priorities do the secondary teachers have? How do they deal with student interests? And what is the importance of the secondary teachers’ work experience?  I have interviewed four secondary teachers with different work experience to complete this thesis. A Dictaphone has been used in all the interviews.  Research has shown that textbooks now have a central role in teaching and the lack of alternative materials and reduction of teaching hours has made it difficult to replace.  The main conclusions of the thesis are that the history textbook has a dual role depending on the teacher you ask, and that the history book is used differently by the teachers. The priorities vary depending on the students that are currently enrolled and their interests are. Teachers with less work experience have a rather negative attitude to the textbook and believe that it can be rigid, while teachers with more experience see it as a tool for engaging the weaker students. However, the history textbook is required, and even the teachers who are not using the history textbook can all confirm that: because even a teacher who is not using it has the history textbook for the students to have something to refer to if needed.

We hypothesized that the presence of monoclonal free light chains (FLC) in the serum of patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is a marker of clonal evolution and a risk factor for progression. Forty-seven patients with MGUS and documented progression to myeloma or related malignancy were compared with 50 age- and gender-matched patients with MGUS and no evidence of progression after 5 or more years of follow-up. The presence of an abnormal kappa/lambda FLC ratio in the serum was associated with a higher risk of MGUS progression (relative risk 2.5; 95% confidence interval: 1.6-4.0; P < 0.001).