Training a Support Vector Machine (SVM) requires the solution of a very large quadratic programming (QP) optimization problem. Sequential Minimal Optimization (SMO) is a decomposition-based algorithm which breaks this large QP problem into a series of smallest possible QP problems. However, it still costs O(n2) computation time. In our SVM implementation, we can do training with huge data sets in a distributed manner (by breaking the dataset into chunks, then using Message Passing Interface (MPI) to distribute each chunk to a different machine and processing SVM training within each chunk). In addition, we moved the kernel calculation part in SVM classification to a graphics processing unit (GPU) which has zero scheduling overhead to create concurrent threads. In this thesis, we will take advantage of this GPU architecture to improve the classification performance of SVM.

This research pursues the use of the Bible in counseling. The focus is to identify the different theological paradigms in which the Bible is used and the different ways that counsellors make use of the Bible in therapy. It also pursues the experiences that the clients had of such counsellors in the use of the Bible. Therapists and clients from different theological backgrounds partake in this study. An overview is given of the shift that is taking place from a modern to a postmodern approach about reality, truth, and knowledge and the effect there of on the use of the Bible in therapy. The aim of the research is to explore if an evangelical christian in a postmodern context can make use of the Bible as the inspired word of God. The implication of this can be profound for pastoral therapy. A narrative paradigm is adopted to dicuss the discourses that evolved from the research. / Practical Theology / M.Th. (Pastoral Therapy)

Thesis "Data Mining in the Field of English Football League Third Division's Betting Odds" deals with data mining referring to acquiring knowledge from data. The main objective of this work is to develop data models for prediction of match results and to compare these predictions with a chosen strategy of betting. The selected betting strategy is based on betting single bets with odds belonging to chosen intervals, which generate a profit. These odds intervals were discovered by analyzing 2006-2009 football matches in a created simulator. On the basis of these odds ranges data models were constructed. Each data model contains a hypothesis which is generated by SD4ft procedure of LispMiner based on all football matches played in seasons 2001-2008. Developed data models are tested afterwards using 2006-2009 football matches data. Results show that all derived data models are profitable in all four seasons under consideration. More than half of them successfully predicted 2009 matches as well. The analysis showed that betting agencies offer mostly odds which make it almost impossible to be profitable while betting on matches according to their odds. In spite of this fact I identified some odds intervals with which you can success while betting single bets on home-team, draw or visitor-team with odds falling within these intervals. Association rules with reasonable confidence and support can generate high profitability. It is important to realize that there are no data models which guarantee a certain profit. Most of developed data models are not applicable in the real world, some of them can actually generate a loss. Nevertheless there are data models to be found that could generate a profit in the real world.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T19:58:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Liniane Haag Brum.pdf: 6383423 bytes, checksum: 6702515acecea6ffb93b0307da91ddbe (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-09-30 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This dissertation is inscribed into a zone of interval between critics and literary creation, that is, between the critical discourse about a work, Before the past: silence comes from Araguaia (2012), by my authorship, and the potential creation of another work - Stone house. Its objective is to speculate possible points of view for the narrator of a potential narration stablished around what is to be said by another one, already published: the novel Before the past, inscribed in the post-dictatorial Brazilian literature. Our methodological strategy is structured around two cores. The first one embraces the analysis of Before the past: the silence which comes from Araguaia, which was based on the concepts of narrator, vestige and threshold according to Wayne Booth and Walter Benjamin studies. The second one is centered on the work in progress - Stone house and has as conceptual axis the notions of archive, act and potency came from Michel Foucault e Giorgio Agamben studies. From this context, emerges the proposition of giving ear and trying to identify, describe and analyze Before the past narrative voice procedures, departing from a site where we are settled simultaneously as a researcher and a reader who scrutinizes her own work. In Part II, the architectural mechanisms of Stone house are investigated by a reflexive voice, which mixes first and third persons that narrate the creation research construction in the form of a writer s book , in the light of the book Passages, by Walter Benjamin. As a result, we delineated a sort of literary cartography of proto-book, which is Stone house, based on collecting and organizing archives made of documental vestiges, memories, audiovisual interviews, photographs, written and oral narratives about Brazilian military dictatorship, and the disappearing and death through a fragile narration which tries to keep itself in a threshold between said and non said, creation and (un)creation / Esta dissertação inscreve-se numa zona intervalar entre a crítica e a criação literária, ou seja, entre o discurso crítico sobre uma obra, Antes do Passado o silêncio que vem do Araguaia (2012), de minha autoria, e a criação potencial de outra Casa de Pedra. O objetivo é o de especular possíveis pontos de vista para o narrador de um relato potencial cujo esteio está naquilo que ficou por dizer em outro, já publicado: o do romance Antes do Passado inscrito na literatura brasileira do período pós-ditatorial. A estratégia metodológica se estruturou em dois núcleos. O primeiro abrange a análise da narração de Antes do Passado o silêncio que vem do Araguaia, tendo como fundamentos os conceitos de narrador, rastro e limiar a partir dos estudos de Wayne Booth e Walter Benjamin. O segundo centra-se na obra em processo de criação - Casa de Pedra - e tem como eixo conceitual as noções de arquivo, ato e potência, a partir de Michel Foucault e Giorgio Agamben. Surge, deste contexto, a proposição de uma escuta que procura identificar, descrever e analisar procedimentos da voz narrativa de Antes do Passado, partindo de um lugar onde nos colocamos, simultaneamente, como pesquisadora e leitora que perscruta a própria obra. Já na Parte II, são investigados os mecanismos arquitetônicos de Casa de Pedra, por meio de uma voz reflexiva que mescla primeira e terceira pessoas, a narrar a construção da pesquisa de criação na forma de um Livro do Escritor , à luz do livro das Passagens de Walter Benjamin. Como resultado, delineamos uma espécie de cartografia literária de um proto-livro , que é Casa de Pedra, a partir da recolha e da organização de arquivos feitos de rastros de documentos, memórias, entrevistas audiovisuais, fotografias, narrativas verbais e escritas sobre a ditadura militar brasileira, o desaparecimento e a morte por meio de uma frágil narração que busca se manter no limiar entre o dito e o não dito, entre criação e des-criação

The aim of this qualitative interpretive research was to explore the experiences of HIV counsellors and how these experiences influence the counsellors' psychological wellbeing. The complexities of the context within which HIV pre and post test counselling occurs form the day-to-day real ity of barely trained volunteer counsellors whose task it is to counsel, inform and educate people at grass roots concerning HIV. The guiding question of the current research pertained to the experience of HIV counselors regarding the influence of their work on their own well-being. A case study design was used. In depth interviews were conducted with nine Sotho speaking HIV counselors working in primary healthcare clinics in the Sedibeng region of Gauteng. Additional data was collected through observation. Data was initially coded, using axial coding; this was followed by thematic analysis. The focus was .on the psychological well-being of the volunteer HIV counsellors. The data indicated that the participants were not overwhelmed by the many stressors of their challenging occupations. They succeeded in developing their own ways of stress relief especially through practising their spiritual beliefs and other means like participating in community activities and meaningful relationships of significant other. They experienced personal growth and empowerment in general, but especially in the field of health and sexuality. The female participants were increasingly able to negotiate safer sex. Participants' lives were enriched through amongst others the regard they received from their communities, and being in a position to give information and advice that they gained from the training and exposure to information. The participants experienced feelings of self-worth in that they were able to contribute to their communities and thereby adding meaning to their own existence. It became clear that their character strengths such as wisdom, courage, humanity, justice and transcendence enabled them to function and grow in their difficult situation. The research highlighted that the inner strengths and virtues of the volunteer counsellors enable them to persist, in challenging work conditions and socio-economic circumstances. Difficulties facing volunteer HIV counsellors that became clear are the lack of support and recognition they have to contend with. It is therefore recommended that more attention should be given by the relevant stakeholders to strengthen the support and to make more resources available to them. / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2010.

The aim of this qualitative interpretive research was to explore the experiences of HIV counsellors and how these experiences influence the counsellors' psychological wellbeing. The complexities of the context within which HIV pre and post test counselling occurs form the day-to-day real ity of barely trained volunteer counsellors whose task it is to counsel, inform and educate people at grass roots concerning HIV. The guiding question of the current research pertained to the experience of HIV counselors regarding the influence of their work on their own well-being. A case study design was used. In depth interviews were conducted with nine Sotho speaking HIV counselors working in primary healthcare clinics in the Sedibeng region of Gauteng. Additional data was collected through observation. Data was initially coded, using axial coding; this was followed by thematic analysis. The focus was .on the psychological well-being of the volunteer HIV counsellors. The data indicated that the participants were not overwhelmed by the many stressors of their challenging occupations. They succeeded in developing their own ways of stress relief especially through practising their spiritual beliefs and other means like participating in community activities and meaningful relationships of significant other. They experienced personal growth and empowerment in general, but especially in the field of health and sexuality. The female participants were increasingly able to negotiate safer sex. Participants' lives were enriched through amongst others the regard they received from their communities, and being in a position to give information and advice that they gained from the training and exposure to information. The participants experienced feelings of self-worth in that they were able to contribute to their communities and thereby adding meaning to their own existence. It became clear that their character strengths such as wisdom, courage, humanity, justice and transcendence enabled them to function and grow in their difficult situation. The research highlighted that the inner strengths and virtues of the volunteer counsellors enable them to persist, in challenging work conditions and socio-economic circumstances. Difficulties facing volunteer HIV counsellors that became clear are the lack of support and recognition they have to contend with. It is therefore recommended that more attention should be given by the relevant stakeholders to strengthen the support and to make more resources available to them. / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2010.

Title: Optimization Problems under (max, min)-Linear Constraints and Some Related Topics. Author: Mahmoud Gad Department/Institue: Department of Probability and Mathematical Statis- tics Supervisor of the doctoral thesis: 1. Prof. RNDr. Karel Zimmermann,DrSc 2. Prof. Dr. Assem Tharwat, Cairo University, Egypt Abstract: Problems on algebraic structures, in which pairs of operations such as (max, +) or (max, min) replace addition and multiplication of the classical linear algebra have appeared in the literature approximately since the sixties of the last century. The first publications on these algebraic structures ap- peared by Shimbel [37] who applied these ideas to communication networks, Cunninghame-Green [12, 13], Vorobjov [40] and Gidffer [18] applied these alge- braic structures to problems of machine-time scheduling. A systematic theory of such algebraic structures was published probable for the first time in [14]. In recently appeared book [4] the readers can find latest results concerning theory and algorithms for (max, +)-linear systems of equations and inequalities. Since operation max replacing addition in no more a group, but a semigroup oppera- tion, it is a substantial difference between solving systems with variables on one side and systems with variables occuring on both sides of the equations....

This research pursues the use of the Bible in counseling. The focus is to identify the different theological paradigms in which the Bible is used and the different ways that counsellors make use of the Bible in therapy. It also pursues the experiences that the clients had of such counsellors in the use of the Bible. Therapists and clients from different theological backgrounds partake in this study. An overview is given of the shift that is taking place from a modern to a postmodern approach about reality, truth, and knowledge and the effect there of on the use of the Bible in therapy. The aim of the research is to explore if an evangelical christian in a postmodern context can make use of the Bible as the inspired word of God. The implication of this can be profound for pastoral therapy. A narrative paradigm is adopted to dicuss the discourses that evolved from the research. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Pastoral Therapy)

Criminal behaviour among youths is spread so widely, that almost every youth has committed one criminal aktivity at least. The top of the criminal activities of youth committers came in the half nineties. Since that time, there have been noticed new trends in youth{\crq}s criminality development. The average age of committers decreases, the brutality of crime increases and there came out new kinds of crime (children prostitution, drug criminality). In the last time it is more often discussed lowering the age limit of penal responsibility. It would be since 14 years. A new penal legislative could be authorized at the break of this and next year. This diploma work aims to chart the society{\crq}s attitude towards criminal activity of youths in chosen areas of south bohemian region. Individual points of this work are orientated towards the attitudes to the age limit of penal responsibility, to the current legislative reform in punishable activities of youths; to risky factors which cause arise of criminal behaviour. The first hypothesis was set up on the thought, that the risky factor which has an effect on arising the criminal behaviour of youths is preferred by the public in consistence in parents bringing up to school setting. Hypothesis I. was confirmed. Hypothesis one claimed that the laic public is not partisan of setting op cameras at schools. This hypothesis was disapproved. Hypothesis II. assumed that positive laic public{\crq}s attitude are for lowering the age limit of penal responsibility. This hypothesis was confirmed. Before the research, there had come out a hypothesis III. which assumes professionals positive attitude towards lowering the age limit of penal responsibility. There was pursued a research with some professionals work in a field of penal affairs of youths. There was made a half standardized interview. In the second part was done a quatitative research. That research was realized on the selective set which had 210 respondents. Some inhabitants of České Budějovice and Český Krumlov regions took part in this research. The main implement used in this research was a semantic diferencial. This diploma work should help to spread awareness and knowledge of the crime problematic of youths. Next usage could be used by professionals who are interestend in attitudes towards this problematic.

nÃo hà / Nesta dissertaÃÃo objetiva-se analisar a realizaÃÃo humana segundo a perspectiva do filÃsofo Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900). Considera-se, para tanto, o processo vital circunscrito pelo subtÃtulo dado à autobiografia: âcomo alguÃm se torna o que Ãâ. Privilegiando os temas tratados em Ecce Homo, intermedeiam-se as discussÃes com o cotejamento daqueles assuntos abordados por outras obras do FilÃsofo. Tornar-se o que se à constitui nÃo apenas um cume perseguido, mas igualmente uma sobredeterminaÃÃo inapelÃvel para a filosofia de Nietzsche. Nesse caminho, ele valorizou, contra a tradiÃÃo filosÃfica e religiosa, o cultivo de si e o amor de si como propiciadores do grande e fecundo egoÃsmo. Apontou para a superaÃÃo de tudo aquilo que amesquinha e enfraquece o homem, elogiando o que fortalece e plenifica a vida compreendida por ele como vontade de poder em expansÃo. O cultivo da grande individualidade surge como contraposiÃÃo, nessa filosofia, à massificaÃÃo do homem pelas forÃas gregÃrias que arrebanham os âseres supÃrfluosâ em igrejas, povos e estados. Percorrem-se, entÃo, as ponderaÃÃes de Nietzsche sobre o que ele nomeou de âcasuÃstica do egoÃsmoâ, sua pretensa extemporaneidade, bem como se delimita aquilo designado pelo FilÃsofo como die Wohlgeratenheit, âa vida que vingouâ. SÃo trabalhadas, a seguir, as relaÃÃes dessa vida bem lograda com as teses de Nietzsche sobre a razÃo, a subjetividade, o cultivo de si mediante a disciplina do guerreiro â ele prÃprio entendia-se como um filÃsofo guerreiro. Por fim, apresenta-se sua compreensÃo acerca do que à a mÃxima auto-realizaÃÃo depois que o Ãltimo homem se configurou no niilismo caracterÃstico da contemporaneidade: a figura de Zaratustra como super-homem, mestre do eterno retorno e amante do destino.