The influence of the human facial image was surveyed and the nature of its many interpretations were examined. The role of distinctiveness was considered particularly relevant as it accounted for many of the impressions of character and identity ascribed to individuals. The notion of structural differences with respect to some selective essence of normality is especially important as it allows a wide range of complex facial types to be considered and understood in an objective manner. A software tool was developed which permitted the manipulation of facial images. Quantitative distortions of digital images were examined using perceptual and recognition memory paradigms. Seven experiments investigated the role of distinctiveness in memory for faces using synthesised caricatures. The results showed that caricatures, both photographic and line-drawing, improved recognition speed and accuracy, indicating that both veridical and distinctiveness information are coded for familiar faces in long-term memory. The impact of feature metrics on perceptual estimates of facial age was examined using 'age-caricatured' images and were found to be in relative accordance with the 'intended' computed age. Further modifying the semantics permitted the differences between individual faces to be visualised in terms of facial structure and skin texture patterns. Transformations of identity between two, or more, faces established the necessary matrices which can offer an understanding of facial expression in a categorical manner and the inherent interactions. A procedural extension allowed generation of composite images in which all features are perfectly aligned. Prototypical facial types specified in this manner enabled high-level manipulations to be made of gender and attractiveness; two experiments corroborated previously speculative material and thus gave credence to the prototype model. In summary, psychological assessment of computer-manipulated facial images demonstrated the validity of the objective techniques and highlighted particular parameters which contribute to our perception and recognition of the individual and of underlying facial types.

Over the last two decades, the study of 'repetition effects' in behavioural and Event Related Potential (E.R.P) research has originated and added to theories of memory organisation. In this series of experiments, behavioural and E.R.P correlates of human and monkey visual memory were investigated, using the repetition effect as the main index of processing, and manipulating the semantic content of the experimental stimuli. The research has a large founding in established results from lexical studies. The use of pictorial material in this series of experiments extends these results to more general visual memory functions. E.R.P recordings were taken from two monkeys trained extensively to perform a matching-to-sample picture recognition task. The waveforms generated by novel instances of highly familiar pictures were compared to those elicited by repeats. In a further study with unfamiliar pictures the repetition of items had an effect on the evoked potentials for only one of the two subjects. Two further studies were made with one monkey viewing unfamiliar and familiar face pictures. In both these studies, an early potential emerged which was more positive in response to faces than to objects. In order to investigate the importance of the semantic content of stimulus items for memory processes, human E.R.Ps generated by novel and repeated presentations of 'meaningful' and 'meaningless' pictorial images were recorded. Repetition of the meaningful (but not meaningless) pictures attenuated the N400 component associated with the first presentation of a stimulus.

The aims of this thesis are two-fold. The first is to develop computer graphics that allow quantitative manipulation of complex visual stimuli. The second is to show that such techniques have utility in the domain of perceptual psychology. There are three main sections to this thesis. The first section creates methods for performing transformations of facial appearance along particular perceptual dimensions. This work begins with 2-D image manipulations and then extends the general principles to 3-D. Effectiveness of the techniques is illustrated with plates showing transformation in age, gender and identity. The second section uses Genetic Algorithms to control the appearance of 3-D computer graphics objects and investigates methods of evolving objects that embody various consumer concepts. Computer graphic models of shampoo bottles are successfully evolved to satisfy a selection of aesthetic and perceptual characteristics. The final section returns to facial stimuli and extends the Genetic Algorithm approach to investigate aesthetic preference for 3-D facial surfaces. The study shows that individual human subjects can evolve facial surfaces based upon their own attractiveness preferences. The faces evolved are non-average and there is consistency between subjects about preferred characteristics. The three parts of this thesis have different theoretical backgrounds and literature relevant to each topic is therefore reviewed at the start of each section.

The thesis deals with the creation of the application solution for device localization using blockchain.The first part of the thesis is an overview of blockchain platforms and existing projects working with localization and description of technologies used in the implementation. The second part deals with the creation of the solution which is divided into the mobile application, the server application and the blockchain part. The last part describes testing, results, evaluation of the whole solution and its use.

The main purpose of a vehicle information system using blockchain is to create a transparent and reliable information system which will help consumers buy a vehicle; it is a vehicle information system. The blockchain system will create a time sequence chain of events database for each vehicle from the original sale. It will include insurance, vehicle repair, and vehicle resale. This project is mainly divided into three parts. Part one is used by the administration who will create the blockchain and will give authentication to a different organization to create the blockchain. Part two will be used by the Organization to create a block in the blockchain. Part three will be used by customers who want to get information about the vehicle.

No description available.

Bakgrund och problem: År 1999 blev det tillåtet för idrottsföreningar med elitverksamhet att bilda aktiebolag. I dag har endast 23 stycken idrottsföreningar av ungefär 20 000 valt att bilda aktiebolag som man upplåtit sin serieplats till. Inför Riksidrottsmötet 1997 lämnade AIK, Svenska ishockeyförbundet samt några enstaka mindre föreningar in en motion om att idrottsföreningar skulle få möjlighet att driva föreningen i en alternativ assoicationsform. Argumentet för denna motion var att detta skulle ge en möjlighet för svensk idrott att kunna konkurrera sig med internationella föreningar. En bättre ekonomi skulle ge bättre sportsliga resultat. För att kunna närma sig den internationella nivån behövs stora finansiärer, vilket man inte hade möjlighet till genom den associationsform föreningar var tvungna att bedrivas som. Problemformulering: Ger bolagiseringen bättre ekonomiska och sportsliga resultat? Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur föreningens finansiella resultat och sportsliga resultat påverkas av den nya bolagiseringen. Metod: Studien har genomförts som en kvantitativ fallstudie på fyra stycken fotbollsföreningar som bildat aktiebolag. Ekonomiska värden och tabellposition har sedan analyserat för idrottsAB från 1999 till 2011 samt över alla lagen i allsvenskan 2011 och superettan 2011. Studien innehåller även kvalitativa inslag. Slutsats: Slutsatsen är att bolagiseringen av elitverksamheten för föreningar varken ger ekonomiska eller sportsliga lyft. / Background and problem: In 1999 it became allowed for sport clubs to run their clubs as a company. In Sweden today, there is only 23 of approximately 20000 sport clubs that runs their club as a company. in 1997, before the swedish national sport meeting, a few clubs, such as AIK, and the Swedish Icehockey Association submitted a motion that included a request that the clubs could be runned in an another legal form. The main reason for this motion was that it would give the clubs other opportunities for financing, and that would make the clubs competitive in Sweden such as international. To approach the international clubs, the clubs in Sweden needed major external financiers, which was not allowed before.A better economy at the clubs whold lead to better results on the pitch. Problem formulation: Does the corporatisation of the Swedish football clubs give better economic-and sport results? Purpose: The purpose of this study is to find out how the economic and sport results depend on the corporatisation. Method: This case studie has been performed with a quantitative method on four football companies in the two major leagues. Economical values and the positions in the leagues between 1999-2011. There is also a comparision between the companies and the other clubs in the league for 2011. The studie also includes qualitative elements. Conclusion: The conclusion is that the corporatisation of the Swedish football clubs does not affect the economic results and sport results.

Syftet med denna studie är att beskriva och analysera sju kommuners soliditetsutveckling under 2006 till 2010 samt analysera om ett samband finns mellan låg soliditet och genuin sårbarhet. I uppsatsen används en blandning av kvantitativ och kvalitativ metod för att få en djupare förståelse kring kommuners soliditet och dess soliditetsutveckling. Insamlad sekundärdata kommer från böcker, artiklar, uppsatser och lagar. Primärdata samlades in vid en intervju samt genom sju kommuners årsredovisningar. Ett lågt antal invånare i en kommun behöver inte resultera i en låg soliditet. En befolkningsminskning behöver inte leda till en minskad soliditet. Att en kommun har en låg soliditet behöver inte betyda att den är genuint sårbar. Brorström et als (1998) tes, att en kommun kan ha högre soliditet om dess industriella eller tekniska verksamhet bedrivs i bolagsform, stämmer i denna studie, men inte fullt ut. / The purpose of this study is to describe and analyze the development of seven municipalities’ solvency during the year 2006 to 2010 and to analyze if there is a connection between a low solvency and genuine vulnerability. This study uses a mix of quantitative and qualitative method to gather data to get a better understanding about the solvency of municipalities and the development of it. The secondary data was gathered from books, articles, essays and laws. The primary data was gathered during an interview and by the studying of seven municipalities’ annual reports. A low population in a municipality does not have to result in a low solvency. A decrease in a municipality’s population does not have to lead to a decreased solvency. That a municipality has a low solvency does not have to mean that it is genuinely vulnerable. Brorström et als (1998) theses, that a municipality can have a higher solvency if its industrial or technical activities are being managed in corporate form, are in accordance in this study, but not fully.

Mechanikos inžinieriaus magistro projekto tema yra aktuali uždarosios akcinės bendrovės ,,Baltik vairas” gaminamiems dviračių rėmų stiprumo ir standumo tyrimams. Kad išspręsti stiprumo problemas, Technloginiame bandymų centre yra vykdomi konstrukcinių dviračio dalių statiniai ir dinaminiai bandymai. Po rezultatų analizės, deformacijų ir įtempimų matavimui atlikti yra siūloma naudoti daugiau tikslesnį ir patikimesnį matavimo metodą, naudojantį tenzojutiklius bei „Spider 8” matavimo sistemą, valdomą „Catman“ programinės įrangos. Šiame projekte analizuojami šios sistemos principai. Naudojant „Spider 8” sistemą atlikti eksperimentiniai dviračio rėmo bandymai, pateikti ir aprašyti rezultatai. Šis matavimo metodas yra siūlomas naudoti dviračio rėmo bandymams atliekamiems Techologiniame bandymų centre. / The theme of Master project of mechanical engineer is actual for the stock company ,,Baltik vairas” produced bicycle frames strength and rigidity analysis. To solve strength problems in Technological test center are making static and dynamic bicycle tests. After results analysis, suggested more correctly and trusty testing method for measuring strain and stress, by using strain gages, Spider8 amplifier controlling by Catman software. In project analyzed principle of this system. Using Spider system made experimental testing of bicycle frame, introduced about testing method and given result analysis. This test method suggested to use for ,,Baltik vairas” producing bicycles frames testing.

Dviračių šakių stiprumo ir standumo bandymai atliekami vadovaujantis reikalavimais, aprašytais standarte LST EN 14764. Norėdami nustatyti dviračio šakėje bandymo metu atsirandančius įtempimus ir deformacijas galime naudoti matavimo sistemą ,,Spider 8“ valdomą programine įranga ,,Catman“. Taip pat įtempimus ir deformacijas galima nustatyti naudojant virtualaus modeliavimo programas, tokias kaip SolidWorks. Darbe išnagrinėti matavimo sistemos ,,Spider 8“ veikimo principai. Gauti bandymų rezultatai pateikti lentelėse, grafikuose ir paveikslėliuose. Dviračio šakės bandymo rezultatai gauti naudojant folinius tenzodaviklius. Aprašytas daviklių klijavimas ant bandomos šakės, bei jų žymėjimas. Darbe išnagrinėta mechaninių dydžių matavimo metodai. Palyginti SolidWorks ir Catman programomis gauti bandymo rezultatai. / Bicycle fork’s strength and solidity tests are carried out under the conditions described in the standard LST EN 14764. To identify stresses and strains values in the bicycle fork’s test we can use a measuring system ,,Spider 8" controlled by software Catman. Also, the stresses and strains can be determined by using virtual simulation software such as SolidWorks. Operating principles of measurement system ,,Spider 8 " is described in this project. Test results are presented in tables, graphs and pictures. Bicycle fork test results obtained by using strain gages. In this project is described how to bond strain gages and it’s marking. In this project described measurement values of mechanical methods. Compared test results received by using SolidWorks and Catman programs.