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1
Jowett, Simon. "A novel photogrammetric technique using DLT to measure golf shaft dynamics." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 2002. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.272754.
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Gandy, Megan E. "Assessing LGBTQ youth cultural competency in direct-care behavioral health workers: Development and validation of a measure." VCU Scholars Compass, 2015. http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/3741.
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Direct-care workers can provide an array of service types to children, adolescents, and their families in behavioral health treatment. They may also work in a variety of settings (e.g., group homes, inpatient units/hospitals, residential treatment, treatment foster care, day treatment, in-home treatment, etc.). Direct-care workers typically are involved in the supervision of youth and in the implementation of a treatment plan developed by the youth’s treatment team. For youth who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) and are receiving behavioral health services, such workers form a critical part of their therapeutic experience. However, little is known about these workers’ competencies related to working with LGBTQ youth. This study begins to fill that gap by developing and testing a measure that assessed LGBTQ cultural competencies related to behavioral health practice with youth and a measure that was relevant to the roles and responsibilities of direct-care (e.g., paraprofessional, front-line) workers.
In order for direct-care workers to use LGBTQ cultural competency in their practice, more understanding is needed about their current level of LGBTQ-related cultural competency. The LGBTQ Youth Cultural Competency scale (abbreviated as LGBTQY-CC) provides a means to measure those competencies. An exploratory factor analysis found that the new scale consists of one primary factor which represents knowledge, attitudes, skill, and awareness of LGBTQ cultural competency. Cronbach’s alpha, correlations with other measures for concurrent validity, and correlation with a measure of social desirability all resulted in evidence that the LGBTQY-CC has good validity.
Analyses examined how the new measure was related to constructs associated with training and competency in direct-care workers. Multiple regression analyses showed that higher levels of LGBTQ cultural competency (as measured by the LGBTQY-CC) were significantly related to age (younger), political ideology (more liberal), more social contact with LGBTQ individuals, and degree of religious belief about LGBTQ being a sin. A model including these factors explained 60% of the variance in LGBTQY-CC scores.
The LGBTQY-CC was created with the long-term goal of creating training interventions for direct-care workers to improve their practice with LGBTQ youth. The measure could be used to assess training participants’ knowledge, attitudes, skills, and awareness and to evaluate the effectiveness of varying types and styles of training programs. Federal and state regulatory bodies have begun to require service providers to identify how they will address disparities faced by LGBTQ individuals, so service providers need to demonstrate how they are improving access to and quality of care for LGBTQ individuals. Therefore, the LGBTQY-CC may provide a means to gather data on efforts made by service providers to improve their behavioral health workforce’s capacity to serve LGBTQ youth.
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Laham, Noor. "Episodic DSS tests to measure changing strength for whole-life geotechnical design." Master's thesis, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, 2020.
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Changes in seabed soil strength due to loading events during the life of a structure, affect the response of the structure to any future event. This change in soil strength due to loading events, in particular cyclic loads, was of great concern in the field of offshore geotechnics during the last decades. Allowing for these changes can have a beneficial outcome on the design. Studying the changes occurring in the soil can be mainly done using large scale centrifuge tests or Laboratory element testing, where the latter proved to be able to successfully illustrate soil strength changes during periods of cyclic loads and reconsolidation.
A new approach of life design known as “the whole life design” has been introduced lately to the industry “. Whole life design embraces the time-varying evolution of actions and resistances to create a continuous assessment of conditions of a structure.
This dissertation studies the possibility of one of the most famous element tests which is the “Direct simple shear testing” to capture the changing in strength under cyclic (i.e., episodic in this context) loads and the settlement of subsea layers for the whole life geotechnical design. The outcome of the DSS testing in addition to outcomes from other previous methods (eg T-bar penetrations and Triaxial testing) can form the basis for a new framework to be adopted in the future for demonstrating a whole life design for subsea structures.
In general, the project introduces the concept of whole-life geotechnical design through practical examples and shed lights on Direct simple shear testing ability to simulate specific cyclic loading scenarios. The topic closes with a discussion of next steps to enable whole-life geotechnical design to be more readily adopted in routine practice where appropriate.
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Looney, David. "The relationship between the CEFI, as a measure for executive function, and the BASC-3, as a measure of externalizing behavior, on school problems for children receiving special education services." Scholarly Commons, 2019. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/3612.
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This study examined the relationship between executive function and externalizing behaviors within a student population that was assessed for special education services. Executive function was measured by using the Comprehensive Executive Function Inventory (CEFI). Externalizing behaviors and school problems was measured using the Behavior Assessment System for Children, Third Edition (BASC-3). Four separate structural equation models were produced and analyzed to examine this relationship. The results from this study indicate that there is a significant direct effect from executive function on externalizing behaviors and school problems, such that higher scores in executive function yielded lower externalizing behavior and school problems scores. Differences in average full scale CEFI scores were noted between types of special education placements and between various groupings of students in regards to what category they qualified in. The data indicates programs that facilitated more environmental supports and services had students with lower full scale CEFI scores, while students that qualified under Other Health Impairment and Emotional Disturbance shared comorbid features with other distinct processing deficits.
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Genovese, Marco. "Analisi sperimentale e misura diretta dello sforzo taglianti di fondo di correnti in canale a pelo libero." Doctoral thesis, Universita degli studi di Salerno, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10556/1976.
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2013 - 2014<br>The manuscript presents the study that led to the design, implementation and testing of an innovative system for the direct measurement, in the laboratory, of the bed shear stress of flows in open channel. The related analysis has been intended at exploring the possibility of providing a new tool to survey research, especially in the context of the erosion of the bed during the events known as debris flow. In facts, the shear stress between the debris flow and the ground over which it propagates, is now recognized as one of the key parrrameters that affect the most dynamic local and global motion (Iverson 2010). However, experimental resarch has not sufficiently investigated this aspect. The electromechanical system presented in this work earned, therefore, the purpose to make a contribution to this survey... [edited by Author]<br>XIII n.s.
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Vaculík, Vlastimil. "Snímače proudu." Master's thesis, Vysoké učení technické v Brně. Fakulta elektrotechniky a komunikačních technologií, 2012. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-219715.
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This diploma theisis deals with the theoretical analysis of the known types of current sensors, including for example, current transformers, shunts, and advanced sensors using Hall sensor or Rogowski coil. Subsequently, the rest of the work deals with the issue of current transducers with Hall sensors, without using a ferromagnetic circuit. For optimal currnet measure and overall precision, several possible options are designed and calculated. This includes number of sensing elements and distribution of sensors around the wires. Based on calaculation of magnetic intensity, related 3D charts ale plotted unsing Excel software. These charts illustrate the theoretical calculations of field distribution around conductors for various number of sensor. In the last part, components ale designed for practical implementation and scheme of electrical wiring. According to this scheme there is PCB designed as well. Whole current meter ir practically build and its results are compared with theoretical assumtions that are discussed in conclusion part of this theisis.
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Reuter, Robert. "Direct and indirect measures of learning in visual search." Doctoral thesis, Universite Libre de Bruxelles, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/2013/ULB-DIPOT:oai:dipot.ulb.ac.be:2013/209542.
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In this thesis, we will explore direct and indirect measures of learning in a visual search task commonly called contextual cueing. In the first part, we present a review of the scientific literature on contextual cueing, in order to give the readers of this thesis a better general idea of existing evidence and open questions within this relatively new research field. The aims of our own experimental studies presented in the succeeding chapters are the following ones: (1) to replicate and extend the findings described in the various papers by Marvin Chun and various colleagues on contextual cueing of visual attention; (2) to explore the nature of memory representations underlying the observed learning effects, especially whether learning is actually implicit and whether memory representations are distinctive, episodic and instance-based or rather distributed, continuous and graded; (3) to extend the study of contextual cueing to more realistic visual stimuli, in order to test its robustness across various situations and validate its adaptive value in ecologically sound conditions;<p>and (4) to investigate whether such knowledge about the association between visual contexts and “meaningful” locations can be (automatically) transferred to other tasks, namely a change detection task.<p><p>In a first series of four experiments, we tried to replicate the documented contextual cueing effect using a wide range of various direct measures of learning (tasks that are supposed to be related to explicit knowledge) and we systematically varied the distinctiveness of context configurations to study its effect on both direct and indirect measures of learning. <p><p>We also ran a series of neural network simulations (briefly described in the general discussion of this thesis), based on a very simple association-learning mechanism, that not only account for the observed contextual cueing effect, but also yield rather specific predictions about future experimental data: contextual cueing effects should also be observed when repetitions of context configurations are not perfect, i.e. the networks were able to react to slightly distorted versions of repeating contexts in a similar way than they did to completely identical contexts. Human participants, we conjectured, should therefore (if the simple connectionist model captures some relevant aspects of the contextual cueing effect) become faster at detecting targets surrounded by context configurations that are only partially identical from trial to trial compared to those trials where the context configurations were randomly generated. These predictions were tested in a second series of experiments using pseudo-repeated context configurations, where some distractor items were either displaced from trial to trial or their orientation changed, while conserving their global layout. <p><p>In a third series of experiments, we used more realistic images of natural landscapes as background contexts to establish the robustness of the contextual cueing effect as well as its ecological relevance claimed by Chun and colleagues. We furthermore added a second task to these experiments to study whether the acquired knowledge about the background-target location associations would (automatically) transfer to another visual search task, namely a change detection task. If participants have learned that certain locations of the repeated images are “important”, since they contain the target item to look for, then changes occurring at those specific locations should lead to less “change blindness” than changes occurring at other irrelevant locations. We used two different types of instructions to introduce this second task after the visual search task, where we either stressed the link between the two tasks, i.e. telling them that remembering the “important” locations for each image could be used to find the changes faster, or we simply told them to perform the second task without any reference to the first one. <p><p>We will close this thesis with a general discussion, combining findings based on our review of the existing research literature and findings based on our own experimental explorations of the contextual cueing effect. By this we will discuss the implications of our empirical studies for the scientific investigation of contextual cueing and implicit learning, in terms of theoretical, empirical and methodological issues.<br>Doctorat en sciences psychologiques<br>info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished
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Pires, Jacinta Paula. "Modelling output and inflation using direct measures of expectations." Thesis, University of Leicester, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/9943.
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This thesis provides an applied macroeconometric study of the determination of output and inflation and of stabilization policy. Its focus is on the time series analysis of output and inflation, concentrating on the use of direct measures of expectations and data obtained in real time, and modelled in multivariate settings. Direct measures of expectations are useful in this study as they allow a better understanding of the expectations formation processes as well as the role played by expectations in the output and inflation dynamics and in the conduct of monetary policy. The use of real time data is important as it focuses on information sets available when decisions are made. This study considers three empirical exercises using actual and expected output and inflation series for the UK and US for the last forty years and making use of different sources of survey data. They are presented to build an increasingly sophisticated picture of the interactions between growth, inflation and stabilization policy. The first chapter concentrates on the measurement of actual and expected inflation and output from different sources of survey data, eventually developing a multivariate framework with which to analyse expectations at different time horizons. The second chapter concentrates on the dynamics between actual and expected inflation and output, developing a simple growth model that distinguishes between the longrun trend in output and short and medium term fluctuation around that trend, with inflation assumed to be driven by a model of time-consistent monetary policy. The last chapter builds on the previous ones by considering a small macro model of the economy based on three main behavioural relationships: a Phillips curve, an IS curve and a monetary policy rule; its focus is on the role of expectations in the conduct of monetary policy.
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Hester, Dena M. "Corporate Money and Direct Democracy Measures: A Case Study." ScholarWorks, 2019. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/7807.
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Direct democracy was adopted by states to balance the influence and power of corporate
interests. Although corporate money has always been a part of American democracy,
dark money expenditures have increased significantly since the Citizens United v. FEC
case. Corporate money in elections poses a problem because it inconsistent with the
tenants of direct democracy. Little published literature addresses the influence of
corporate money on direct democracy measures. Using Kingdon's multiple streams
approach as the foundation, the purpose of this case study was to investigate the
perceived influence of corporate money on the 2018 ballot initiative and referendum
measures in Arizona. The research question was focused on the perceptions of political
professionals of the influence of corporate money on direct democracy. Data were
collected through using a purposeful sampling that identified 10 political professionals.
Semi-structured interviews with participants were supplemented with document review.
Data were inductively coded, and then subjected to a thematic analysis procedure,
producing 4 thematic elements. The key findings of this study indicated that access to the
ballot, using an effective campaign strategy, running an effective paid media campaign,
and the outcome all hinged on the money available to fund and support, or oppose, a
measure. The implications for social change for the study include informing policy
makers of the perceived influence of corporate money on direct democracy so they are
equipped to implement policy aligned with the original goal of citizen participation in the
state's constitution.
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Guo, Li Li. "Direct Optimization of Ranking Measures for Learning to Rank Models." Wright State University / OhioLINK, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1341520987.
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Sullivan, Donald L. "Direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs : measures of effectiveness /." Connect to resource, 1996. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=osu1242751906.
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Hetherington-Rauth, Megan, Jennifer W. Bea, Vinson R. Lee, et al. "Comparison of direct measures of adiposity with indirect measures for assessing cardiometabolic risk factors in preadolescent girls." BIOMED CENTRAL LTD, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/623119.
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Background: Childhood overweight and obesity remains high, contributing to cardiometabolic risk factors at younger ages. It is unclear which measures of adiposity serve as the best proxies for identifying children at metabolic risk. This study assessed whether DXA-derived direct measures of adiposity are more strongly related to cardiometabolic risk factors in children than indirect measures. Methods: Anthropometric and DXA measures of adiposity and a comprehensive assessment of cardiometabolic risk factors were obtained in 288, 9-12 year old girls, most being of Hispanic ethnicity. Multiple regression models for each metabolic parameter were run against each adiposity measure while controlling for maturation and ethnicity. In addition, regression models including both indirect and direct measures were developed to assess whether using direct measures of adiposity could provide a better prediction of the cardiometabolic risk factors beyond that of using indirect measures alone. Results: Measures of adiposity were significantly correlated with cardiometabolic risk factors (p < 0.05) except fasting glucose. After adjusting for maturation and ethnicity, indirect measures of adiposity accounted for 29-34% in HOMA-IR, 10-13% in TG, 14-17% in HDL-C, and 5-8% in LDL-C while direct measures accounted for 29-34% in HOMA-IR, 10-12% in TG, 13-16% in HDL-C, and 5-6% in LDL-C. The addition of direct measures of adiposity to indirect measures added significantly to the variance explained for HOMA-IR (p = 0.04). Conclusion: Anthropometric measures may perform as well as the more precise direct DXA-derived measures of adiposity for assessing most CVD risk factors in preadolescent girls. The use of DXA-derived adiposity measures together with indirect measures may be advantageous for predicting insulin resistance risk.
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Vydra, Pavel. "Návrh referenčního modelu vybraných procesů marketingové podpory a jeho zhodnocení." Master's thesis, Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze, 2013. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-198264.
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Corporate expenses for IT support of marketing are surging every year, and therefore the processes of marketing support, which contain all the technical aspects of marketing campaign execution and measurement, are attracting more attention than before. The diploma thesis introduces a basic overview of direct marketing and marketing support operations in corporations and presents a reference model to help optimize the marketing support processes. The thesis contains a research of theoretical fundamentals of process modelling and reference model building, a basic overview of corporate direct marketing, an analysis of direct marketing processes and the most relevant processes of marketing support. The reference model, which is based on the outputs from both theoretical parts, includes a detailed description of marketing support processes and outlines the process boundaries in the form of SLA. The model is then tested on two case studies, which emphasize the practical opportunities as well as the major benefits of using the model.
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Saleh, Sabah Khalid. "A device to validate concentration measured by direct reading instruments for aerosols." Thesis, University of Iowa, 2011. https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/2766.
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Direct reading instruments (DRIs) are popular devices for measuring aerosols because they provide rapid on-site measurement of particle size and/or concentration. However, the output of DRIs may drift over time requiring frequent manufacturer calibration. Given the possibility of drift, the output of DRIs should ideally be verified to ensure proper response before and after field use. Methods for verifying the output of DRIs particle size reading are available for use in laboratory and field. However, methods for verifying the DRIs concentration reading are complex and often use of stationary installations that are not suited for field work.
The objective of this study was to develop a verification device that can be used in the field to verify the output of DRIs for measuring aerosol concentration. The new device uses a nebulizer that produces aerosols through vibrating mesh technology. This vibrating mesh nebulizer (VMN) uses only electrical input to generate aerosols and does not require compressed air. The verification device was able to produce stable output of aerosols at low concentrations (0.2 mg/m3 to 1.2 mg/m3). It was also possible to produce different concentration levels of aerosol by changing the electrical current to the VMN. The verification device was used to monitor and validate the output of a condensation particle counter and a photometer. Results showed that both instruments having valid output and did not require manufacture calibration. The verification device made it possible to monitor and verify the output of two DRIs. This was achieved by generating reproducible aerosol output with specific composition. This verification device presents a practical method to verify the concentration output of DRIs for measuring aerosols.
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Arney, Fiona Marie. "A comparison of direct observation and self- report measures of parenting behaviour." Title page, table of contents and abstract only, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/37713.
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The importance of parenting behaviour as a risk factor for the development and persistence of externalising behaviour problems, and as a focus for early interventions, has led to a desire for the accurate measurement of parenting attitudes and practices. Several methods of measuring parenting behaviour have been employed in theoretical research and program evaluation, including self-report and observational measures. Both of these methods have advantages and limitations, but a systematic comparison of self-reports and observations of parenting behaviour has not been conducted. This study compared self- reports and observations of parental responsiveness and control in a sample of 68 parents of preschool children in metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia. Videotaped observations of parents interacting with their children in four set tasks (free play, drawing, pack-up and no distraction) were interval-sampled using behavioural items that paralleled self- report items on the Parenting Scale and the Child-Rearing Practices Questionnaire. In addition, parents completed questionnaires about their child's behaviour and temperament, and factors associated with parenting behaviour including parental psychopathology, social support, marital adjustment, disagreements about child-rearing and demographic characteristics. Reports of children's behaviour at preschool were also obtained from teachers. When the correlations between corresponding behaviour domains on the self-report and observational measures were compared, the only significant correlation was for parental warmth. Observations of parental control practices (such as permissiveness, inconsistency and overreactivity) were not significantly associated with self-reports of these behaviours. The observational system used in this study yielded observations of permissive and inconsistent parenting that had good validity and reliability, whereas self-reports of harsh and overreactive parenting practices were more validly and reliably assessed using self-report methods. Self-reports and observations of responsive parenting practices demonstrated results that are more equivocal. Possible explanations for these results and the implications for the use of self-report and observational measures in parenting research are discussed.<br>Thesis (Ph.D.)--Department of Psychiatry, 2005.
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Boore, Graeme C. "Directed graph iterated function systems." Thesis, University of St Andrews, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10023/2109.
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This thesis concerns an active research area within fractal geometry. In the first part, in Chapters 2 and 3, for directed graph iterated function systems (IFSs) defined on ℝ, we prove that a class of 2-vertex directed graph IFSs have attractors that cannot be the attractors of standard (1-vertex directed graph) IFSs, with or without separation conditions. We also calculate their exact Hausdorff measure. Thus we are able to identify a new class of attractors for which the exact Hausdorff measure is known. We give a constructive algorithm for calculating the set of gap lengths of any attractor as a finite union of cosets of finitely generated semigroups of positive real numbers. The generators of these semigroups are contracting similarity ratios of simple cycles in the directed graph. The algorithm works for any IFS defined on ℝ with no limit on the number of vertices in the directed graph, provided a separation condition holds. The second part, in Chapter 4, applies to directed graph IFSs defined on ℝⁿ . We obtain an explicit calculable value for the power law behaviour as r → 0⁺ , of the qth packing moment of μ[subscript(u)], the self-similar measure at a vertex u, for the non-lattice case, with a corresponding limit for the lattice case. We do this (i) for any q ∈ ℝ if the strong separation condition holds, (ii) for q ≥ 0 if the weaker open set condition holds and a specified non-negative matrix associated with the system is irreducible. In the non-lattice case this enables the rate of convergence of the packing L[superscript(q)]-spectrum of μ[subscript(u)] to be determined. We also show, for (ii) but allowing q ∈ ℝ, that the upper multifractal q box-dimension with respect to μ[subscript(u)], of the set consisting of all the intersections of the components of F[subscript(u)], is strictly less than the multifractal q Hausdorff dimension with respect to μ[subscript(u)] of F[subscript(u)].
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Williams, Richard Earl. "Holland's Self-Directed Search: A Measure of Interests of Abilities?" Thesis, North Texas State University, 1985. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc501104/.
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This study examined the relationship between the sub-components of Holland's Self-Directed Search and independent, objective measures of ability using a comprehensive battery of well-validated tests of primary abilities corresponding to each of Holland's six vocational interest types. The sample consisted of 149 female undergraduate students, ages 18-25. Correlation of the ability measure test scores with the four Self-Directed Search subcomponents revealed that the subtests were not related to corresponding measures of ability in a consistent fashion. Implications for the use of the Self-Directed Search in assessing abilities are discussed along with suggestions for future research investigating the relationhip between interest in ventories and the measurement of primary abilities.
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Sidwell, MacKenzie Denise. "Indirect measures as predictors of social skills observed through means of direct observation." Thesis, Mississippi State University, 2017. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10607205.
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<p> The scope of the current study focuses on the relationship between direct and indirect methods of measuring social skills in children. Participants included 33 children between the ages of 6 and 11 years old. The sample drew from elementary schools in 2 Southern states in the U.S., as well as social skills groups from a university-based clinic. While some participants had been previously identified has having disabilities impacting social performance, it was not an inclusionary requirement and the majority of children were not identified as having a disability clinically or through a special education eligibility domain. Teachers and clinicians leading social skills groups completed indirect measures, the <i>Behavior Assessment Scale for Children Third Edition</i> (BASC-3) and the <i>Social Skills Improvement System </i> (SSIS) related to the participants’ social skills. Direct observations of participants were completed using the <i>Social Observation System</i> (SOS) by graduate level research assistants. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine the predictive value of the teacher informed indirect measures on the direct method of observation. Additionally, simple linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the reverse relationship of the direct observation’s ability to predict the variance observed in each indirect measure. Results indicated that both the indirect and direct methods of social skills assessment can significantly predict the other. However, while significant, a low to moderate amount of variance in the direct measure is explained by the indirect measures of social skills. The results and implications of the finding are discussed, as well as limitations and future directions.</p><p>
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Dykstra, Andrew R. (Andrew Richard). "Neural correlates of auditory perceptual organization measured with direct cortical recordings in humans." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/68451.
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, September 2011.<br>"August, 2011." Vita. Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.<br>Includes bibliographical references.<br>One of the primary functions of the human auditory system is to separate the complex mixture of sound arriving at the ears into neural representations of individual sound sources. This function is thought to be crucial for survival and communication in noisy settings, and allows listeners to selectively and dynamically attend to a sound source of interest while suppressing irrelevant information. How the brain works to perceptually organize the acoustic environment remains unclear despite the multitude of recent studies utilizing microelectrode recordings in experimental animals or non-invasive human neuroimaging. In particular, the role that brain areas outside the auditory cortex might play is, comparatively, vastly understudied. The experiments described in this thesis combined classic behavioral paradigms with electrical recordings made directly from the cortical surface of neurosurgical patients undergoing clinically-indicated invasive monitoring for localization of epileptogenic foci. By sampling from widespread brain areas with high temporal resolution while participants simultaneously engaged in streaming and jittered multi-tone masking paradigms, the present experiments sought to overcome limitations inherent in previous work, namely sampling extent, resolution in time and space, and direct knowledge of the perceptual experience of the listener. In experiment 1, participants listened to sequences of tones alternating in frequency (i.e., ABA-) and indicated whether they perceived the tones as grouped ("1 stream") or segregated ("2 streams"). As has been reported in neurologically-normal listeners since the 1950s, patients heard the sequences as grouped when the frequency separation between the A and B tones was small and segregated when it was large. Evoked potentials from widespread brain areas showed amplitude correlations with frequency separation but surprisingly did not differ based solely on perceptual organization in the absence of changes in the stimuli. In experiment 2, participants listened to sequences of jittered multi-tone masking stimuli on which a regularly-repeating target stream of tones was sometimes superimposed and indicated when they heard the target stream. Target detectability, as indexed behaviorally, increased throughout the course of each sequence. Evoked potentials and high-gamma activity differed strongly based on the listener's subjective perception of the target tones. These results extend and constrain theories of how the brain subserves auditory perceptual organization and suggests several new avenues of research for understanding the neural mechanisms underlying this critical function.<br>by Andrew R. Dykstra.<br>Ph.D.
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Wagner, Emily Claire. "CORRELATING DIRECT AND INDIRECT EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING MEASURES AND LANGUAGE SKILLS OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM." OpenSIUC, 2020. https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/theses/2693.
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Executive functioning usually refers to one’s ability to regulate one’s behavior, set goals, be mentally flexible, and understand the consequence of one’s actions. However, certain neurodevelopmental disabilities such as Autism, often can negatively impact executive function processes. Although applied behavior analytic (ABA) treatment is the most recommended intervention for autism treatment practitioners rarely assess or target executive functioning within their treatment planning. The present study assessed the relationship between direct and indirect executive functioning scores and a language assessment used by ABA providers. Thirty-nine children with autism spectrum disorder were administered a variety of scales including the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning (BRIEF 2), Comprehensive Executive Functioning Inventory (CEFI), Tower of London (TOL), and the PEAK Comprehensive Assessment (PCA). Obtained data yielded a moderate, negative relationship between the total BRIEF and total PCA scores (r=-0.521, p=.032) and a moderate, positive relationship between CEFI planning and PCA scores (r=0.394, p=.017). However, there was a strong correlation between total PCA scores and TOL scores (r=0.708, p=.005).
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Rahal, Abbas. "Bayesian Methods Under Unknown Prior Distributions with Applications to The Analysis of Gene Expression Data." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/42408.
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The local false discovery rate (LFDR) is one of many existing statistical methods that analyze multiple hypothesis testing. As a Bayesian quantity, the LFDR is based on the prior probability of the null hypothesis and a mixture distribution of null and non-null hypothesis. In practice, the LFDR is unknown and needs to be estimated. The empirical Bayes approach can be used to estimate that mixture distribution.
Empirical Bayes does not require complete information about the prior and hyper prior distributions as in hierarchical Bayes. When we do not have enough information at the prior level, and instead of placing a distribution at the hyper prior level in the hierarchical Bayes model, empirical Bayes estimates the prior parameters using the data via, often, the marginal distribution.
In this research, we developed new Bayesian methods under unknown prior distribution. A set of adequate prior distributions maybe defined using Bayesian model checking by setting a threshold on the posterior predictive p-value, prior predictive p-value, calibrated p-value, Bayes factor, or integrated likelihood. We derive a set of adequate posterior distributions from that set. In order to obtain a single posterior distribution instead of a set of adequate posterior distributions, we used a blended distribution, which minimizes the relative entropy of a set of adequate prior (or posterior) distributions to a "benchmark" prior (or posterior) distribution. We present two approaches to generate a blended posterior distribution, namely, updating-before-blending and blending-before-updating. The blended posterior distribution can be used to estimate the LFDR by considering the nonlocal false discovery rate as a benchmark and the different LFDR estimators as an adequate set.
The likelihood ratio can often be misleading in multiple testing, unless it is supplemented by adjusted p-values or posterior probabilities based on sufficiently strong prior distributions. In case of unknown prior distributions, they can be estimated by empirical Bayes methods or blended distributions. We propose a general framework for applying the laws of likelihood to problems involving multiple hypotheses by bringing together multiple statistical models.
We have applied the proposed framework to data sets from genomics, COVID-19 and other data.
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Rahman, Md Atiqur. "Application specific performance measure optimization using deep learning." IEEE, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/1993/31812.
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In this thesis, we address the action retrieval and the object category segmentation problems by directly optimizing application specific performance measures using deep learning. Most deep learning methods are designed to optimize simple loss functions (e.g., cross-entropy or hamming loss). These loss functions are suitable for applications where the performance of the application is measured by overall accuracy. But for many applications, the overall accuracy is not an appropriate performance measure. For example, applications like action retrieval often use the area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (ROC curve) to measure the performance of a retrieval algorithm. Likewise, in object category segmentation from images, the intersection-over-union (IoU) is the standard performance measure. In this thesis, we propose approaches to directly optimize these complex performance measures in deep learning framework.<br>October 2016
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Yu, Ping. "Direct Online/Offline Digital Signature Schemes." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2008. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9717/.
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Online/offline signature schemes are useful in many situations, and two such scenarios are considered in this dissertation: bursty server authentication and embedded device authentication. In this dissertation, new techniques for online/offline signing are introduced, those are applied in a variety of ways for creating online/offline signature schemes, and five different online/offline signature schemes that are proved secure under a variety of models and assumptions are proposed. Two of the proposed five schemes have the best offline or best online performance of any currently known technique, and are particularly well-suited for the scenarios that are considered in this dissertation. To determine if the proposed schemes provide the expected practical improvements, a series of experiments were conducted comparing the proposed schemes with each other and with other state-of-the-art schemes in this area, both on a desktop class computer, and under AVR Studio, a simulation platform for an 8-bit processor that is popular for embedded systems. Under AVR Studio, the proposed SGE scheme using a typical key size for the embedded device authentication scenario, can complete the offline phase in about 24 seconds and then produce a signature (the online phase) in 15 milliseconds, which is the best offline performance of any known signature scheme that has been proven secure in the standard model. In the tests on a desktop class computer, the proposed SGS scheme, which has the best online performance and is designed for the bursty server authentication scenario, generated 469,109 signatures per second, and the Schnorr scheme (the next best scheme in terms of online performance) generated only 223,548 signatures. The experimental results demonstrate that the SGE and SGS schemes are the most efficient techniques for embedded device authentication and bursty server authentication, respectively.
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Hazlett, Knudsen Rebekah. "Direct and Indirect Controls as Measures of Attachment: Gender, Delinquency, and the Parental Social Bond." Doctoral diss., University of Central Florida, 2012. http://digital.library.ucf.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ETD/id/5293.
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Research specific to gender and violent juvenile delinquency is sparse due to two factors: a substantially higher incidence of delinquent male violence and the cost associated with drawing adequate female samples is frequently prohibitive (Howell, 2003). Gender-differences are explored in a sample of arrested juveniles using an expanded measure of parental attachment [bond]. The dimensions of emotional attachment, supervision, and time-involvement with a self-reported caregiver are explored for between group differences and association with recognized risk factors for juvenile delinquency. Findings indicate that while statistically significant between-group differences are not found in the presentation of attachment, descriptive differences do exist. Females demonstrated a higher level of impairment in emotional attachment to a caregiver than their male counterparts; females arrested for a violent offense reported the highest level of problem in this area. Findings also indicate that the mechanism of attachment appears to function differently by gender group in terms of association with risk factors for delinquency. Time-involvement emerged as an important predictor for the full group and the female group, particularly in relationship with higher risk for antisocial peer involvement. Support for a gendered experience of parental attachment [social bond] is provided. Emotional attachment and time-involvement were found to be important predictors for the full group, while supervision was not indicated as important to any risk factor or to recidivism. The current research advances knowledge on gender-related differences within delinquency. Through enhancing the understanding of the complex gender-specific influences on juvenile crime, criminal justice and human service systems may better learn to address these needs thereby reducing both entrance rates into the juvenile justice system and recidivism.<br>ID: 031001366; System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader.; Mode of access: World Wide Web.; Adviser: John Ronnau.; Title from PDF title page (viewed May 8, 2013).; Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Central Florida, 2012.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 137-155).<br>Ph.D.<br>Doctorate<br>Health and Public Affairs<br>Public Affairs
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Evans, Paul. "Measured effects of repeater jamming on direct-sequence spread spectrum receivers that use envelope detectors." Thesis, Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School, 1989. http://hdl.handle.net/10945/27127.
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Kellow, A. "Research into market measures of political risk and risk diversification as a motive direct investment." Thesis, University of Manchester, 1987. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.377747.
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Smith, Kristine Marie. "The assessment of writing ability: A comparative cost effectiveness study of indirect and direct measures." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 1993. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/640.
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Villano, André [Verfasser], Alan T. [Gutachter] Huckleberry, and Peter [Gutachter] Heinzner. "Momentum direct image measures on spaces of elliptic elements / André Villano ; Gutachter: Alan T Huckleberry, Peter Heinzner." Bochum : Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 2016. http://d-nb.info/1123283281/34.
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Burton, Kimberly 1976. "Relationship commitment and accommodation : the role of direct and indirect measures of commitment in relationship maintenance behaviour." Thesis, McGill University, 2000. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=33274.
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Research has demonstrated that self-reported relationship commitment is positively associated with behaviours that help to maintain relationships. One of these, accommodation, refers to an individual's willingness to respond constructively, rather than destructively, to his or her partner's transgressions. Until now, commitment has been measured using mainly self-report methods. This study sought to show that cognitive accessibility of commitment may also be able to predict the relationship maintenance behaviour of accommodation. Participants either encountered the relationship threat of an attractive opposite-sex confederate or encountered no threat. They then complete measures of the accessibility of commitment and accommodation. Results revealed that for women only, the accessibility of commitment was a significant predictor of accommodation in both conditions, independent of self-reported commitment. The implications for understanding relationship maintenance processes and commitment, as well as the study of romantic relationships are discussed.
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Boyer, Stefanie. "Self-directed learning measures and models for salesperson training and development /." [Tampa, Fla.] : University of South Florida, 2009. http://digital.lib.usf.edu/?e14.2818.
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Boyer, Stefanie Leigh. "Self-Directed Learning: Measures and Models for Salesperson Training and Development." Scholar Commons, 2008. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/3878.
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Academic researchers and marketing practitioners are exploring methods to improve salesperson training. Recently, self-directed learning projects were proposed as a new paradigm for learning to take place in the sales domain (Artis & Harris, 2007). Current conceptual work provides a strong foundation for understanding salesperson self-directed learning; however, prior to quantitatively testing proposed models, scales must be created and modified to address salesperson specific learning endeavors. The purpose of this dissertation is: 1) to develop scales to measure salesperson willingness to use self-directed learning projects (SDLP's), 2) to develop a conceptual model of salesperson self-directed learning, 3) to modify current scales to specifically examine salesperson self-directed learning, and 4) to test this model empirically.
To accomplish this, the relevant theories and literature were analyzed to create a theoretical model that would test the following research questions: 1.What factors contribute to salesperson willingness to use SDLP's? 2.What is the relationship between salesperson willingness to use SDLP's and salesperson use of SDLP's? 3.What is the relationship between salesperson use of SDLP's and salesperson performance? Two conceptual models were created to account for two categories of learning projects, induced and synergistic SDLP's. The following variables reflect the conceptual models: willingness to use induced/synergistic SDLP's, use of induced/ synergistic SDLP's, perceived supervisor/organizational support for induced/synergistic SDLP's, and self-regulation training and performance.
Data from 392 salespeople within the financial services industry fit the measurement model and suggest that use of synergistic (non-mandatory) SDLP's positively impacts performance (.396) and use of induced (mandatory) SDLP's does not impact performance. Willingness to use synergistic SDLP's positively impacts use of synergistic SDLP's. Support from the organization and supervisor positively impact willingness to use induced and synergistic SDLP's. Surprisingly, training in self-regulation did not positively impact salesperson willingness to use induced or synergistic SDLP's. The new measures for all constructs exhibit Cronbach's alpha reliability statistics over .7 and acceptable confirmatory factor analysis results. The study provides reliable measurement scales and empirical support for the future study of self-directed learning in a sales context.
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Christian, Carolyn Akers. "Measurement of emotional expressiveness in preschool children comparing direct assessments of affect expressiveness with measures of social competence /." Auburn, Ala., 2007. http://repo.lib.auburn.edu/2007%20Spring%20Theses/AKERS_CAROLYN_46.pdf.
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Silva, Hugo Marcial Checo. "Models and methods for the direct simulation of rough and micropatterned surfaces." Universidade de São Paulo, 2016. http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/55/55134/tde-08072016-165025/.
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Friction in hydrodynamic bearings are a major source of losses in car engines ([69]). The extreme loading conditions in those bearings lead to contact between the matching surfaces. In such conditions not only the overall geometry of the bearing is relevant, but also the small-scale topography of the surface determines the bearing performance. The possibility of shaping the surface of lubricated bearings down to the micrometer ([57]) opened the question of whether friction can be reduced by mean of micro-textures, with mixed results. This work focuses in the development of efficient numerical methods to solve thin film (lubrication) problems down to the roughness scale of measured surfaces. Due to the high velocities and the convergent-divergent geometries of hydrodynamic bearings, cavitation takes place. To treat cavitation in the lubrication problem the Elrod- Adams model is used, a mass-conserving model which has proven in careful numerical ([12]) and experimental ([119]) tests to be essential to obtain physically meaningful results. Another relevant aspect of the modeling is that the bearing inertial effects are considered, which is necessary to correctly simulate moving textures. As an application, the effects of micro-texturing the moving surface of the bearing were studied. Realistic values are assumed for the physical parameters defining the problems. Extensive fundamental studies were carried out in the hydrodynamic lubrication regime. Mesh-converged simulations considering the topography of real measured surfaces were also run, and the validity of the lubrication approximation was assessed for such rough surfaces.<br>O atrito em mancais hidrodinâmicos é uma fonte importante de perdas em motores de combustão ([69]). As condições extremas de carga induzem contato entre as superfícies dos mancais. Em tais condições não somente a macro-geometria do mancal é relevante, mas também são as escalas menores da superfície as que determinam o desempenho do mancal. A possibilidade de fabricar superfícies com detalhes na escala do micrometro ([57]) deixou em aberto a questão de se o atrito pode ser reduzido por meio de micro-texturas, até agora com resultados mistos. Este trabalho centra-se no desenvolvimento de métodos numéricos eficientes para resolver problemas de lubrificação na escala da rugosidade das superfícies. Devido às altas velocidades e a forma convergente-divergente dos mancais hidrodinâmicos o fluido cavita. Para tratar o fenômeno de cavitação empregamos o modelo de Elrod-Adams, um modelo conservativo que tem demonstrado em cuidadosos testes numéricos ([12]) e experimentais ([119]) ser essencial para obter resultados físicos significativos. Outro aspecto revelante do modelado é que os efeitos inerciais do mancal são considerados, o que é necessário para simular corretamente texturas em movimento. Como aplicação, os efeitos de micro-texturizar a superfície móvel do mancal foram estudados. Valores realistas são assumidos nos parâmetros físicos que definem o problema. Foram realizados extensivos estudos no regime de lubrificação hidrodinâmica. Também foram executadas simulações convergidas em malha, levando em conta a topografia real de superfícies medidas, e as hipóteses de lubrificação para superfícies rugosas foram avaliadas.
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Rasmussen, Samantha. "Predicting feed efficiency in beef cattle; a comparison of direct measures, expected progeny differences, and single nucleotide polymorphism methodologies." OpenSIUC, 2020. https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/theses/2685.
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Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) methodology is being used as a means to determine genetic merit in beef cattle by interrogating animal genomes and associating the findings with performance traits. The ability to predict future trait performance is highly attractive to beef cattle producers as they can make important management and financial decisions earlier and with more certainty. To fully realize the potential of SNP testing technology the methodology must be vetted to assure producer confidence. The purpose of this project is to assess three sources of information for beef cattle trait assessment. These information sources are: SNP testing, Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) and direct animal measures. To conduct this study, young beef bulls (n=181) consigned to the SIU Beef Evaluation Station were utilized in an 84-day period to obtain direct measures. The SIU Beef Evaluation Station uses the Calan-Broadbent confinement feeding system which allows researchers to monitor individual animal feed intake and weight gain. Feed efficiency traits are important to the cattle industry since feed is generally among the largest input cost to producers. The evaluation of bulls also assesses reproductive and carcass traits which are also important to the producer’s financial success.Individual animal performance information was sent to the bull’s respective breed association for determination of EPD’s. Blood samples were submitted to a commercial company for SNP testing (Igentiy Gold and Igenity Beef Profile, Neogen, Lincoln, NE). Data was analyzed using pairwise comparisons by source of information. Pearson correlations were used to determine the direction and the strength for sources of information to vary together. Data was determined to be correlated when the correlation coefficient was 0.3 < r < - 0.3. No correlation was observed between RFISIU :RFINEO (r = 0.042), RFINEO:F/GSIU (r = - 0.09), RFISIU:ADGNEO (r = 0.091), RFISIU:ADGSIU (r = - 0.039), RFINEO:ADGNEO (r = 0.236), BWNEO:BWSIU (r = 0.115), FRAMESIU:BWSIU (r = 0.111), FRAMESIU:BWEPD (r = 0.159), FRAMESIU:ADGSIU (r = 0.148), FRAMESIU:ADGNEO (r = -0.005), BWSIU:BWEPD (r = 0.256), and BWNEO:BWEPD (r = 0.226). Correlations were observed between RFISIU:F/GSIU (r = 0.455), ADGSIU :ADGNEO (r = 0.353), and FRAMESIU:BWNEO (r = 0.326).This study determined that beef bulls should continue to be performance tested due to discrepancies between sources of information for key animal performance traits. Assessment of SNPs used in the commercial test should continue.
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Mantrach, Amin. "Novel measures on directed graphs and applications to large-scale within-network classification." Doctoral thesis, Universite Libre de Bruxelles, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/2013/ULB-DIPOT:oai:dipot.ulb.ac.be:2013/210033.
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Ces dernières années, les réseaux sont devenus une source importante d’informations dans différents domaines aussi variés que les sciences sociales, la physique ou les mathématiques. De plus, la taille de ces réseaux n’a cessé de grandir de manière conséquente. Ce constat a vu émerger de nouveaux défis, comme le besoin de mesures précises et intuitives pour caractériser et analyser ces réseaux de grandes tailles en un temps raisonnable.<p>La première partie de cette thèse introduit une nouvelle mesure de similarité entre deux noeuds d’un réseau dirigé et pondéré :la covariance “sum-over-paths”. Celle-ci a une interprétation claire et précise :en dénombrant tous les chemins possibles deux noeuds sont considérés comme fortement corrélés s’ils apparaissent souvent sur un même chemin – de préférence court. Cette mesure dépend d’une distribution de probabilités, définie sur l’ensemble infini dénombrable des chemins dans le graphe, obtenue en minimisant l'espérance du coût total entre toutes les paires de noeuds du graphe sachant que l'entropie relative totale injectée dans le réseau est fixée à priori. Le paramètre d’entropie permet de biaiser la distribution de probabilité sur un large spectre :allant de marches aléatoires naturelles où tous les chemins sont équiprobables à des marches biaisées en faveur des plus courts chemins. Cette mesure est alors appliquée à des problèmes de classification semi-supervisée sur des réseaux de taille moyennes et comparée à l’état de l’art.<p>La seconde partie de la thèse introduit trois nouveaux algorithmes de classification de noeuds en sein d’un large réseau dont les noeuds sont partiellement étiquetés. Ces algorithmes ont un temps de calcul linéaire en le nombre de noeuds, de classes et d’itérations, et peuvent dés lors être appliqués sur de larges réseaux. Ceux-ci ont obtenus des résultats compétitifs en comparaison à l’état de l’art sur le large réseaux de citations de brevets américains et sur huit autres jeux de données. De plus, durant la thèse, nous avons collecté un nouveau jeu de données, déjà mentionné :le réseau de citations de brevets américains. Ce jeu de données est maintenant disponible pour la communauté pour la réalisation de tests comparatifs.<p>La partie finale de cette thèse concerne la combinaison d’un graphe de citations avec les informations présentes sur ses noeuds. De manière empirique, nous avons montré que des données basées sur des citations fournissent de meilleurs résultats de classification que des données basées sur des contenus textuels. Toujours de manière empirique, nous avons également montré que combiner les différentes sources d’informations (contenu et citations) doit être considéré lors d’une tâche de classification de textes. Par exemple, lorsqu’il s’agit de catégoriser des articles de revues, s’aider d’un graphe de citations extrait au préalable peut améliorer considérablement les performances. Par contre, dans un autre contexte, quand il s’agit de directement classer les noeuds du réseau de citations, s’aider des informations présentes sur les noeuds n’améliora pas nécessairement les performances.<p>La théorie, les algorithmes et les applications présentés dans cette thèse fournissent des perspectives intéressantes dans différents domaines.<p><p><p>In recent years, networks have become a major data source in various fields ranging from social sciences to mathematical and physical sciences. Moreover, the size of available networks has grow substantially as well. This has brought with it a number of new challenges, like the need for precise and intuitive measures to characterize and analyze large scale networks in a reasonable time. <p>The first part of this thesis introduces a novel measure between two nodes of a weighted directed graph: The sum-over-paths covariance. It has a clear and intuitive interpretation: two nodes are considered as highly correlated if they often co-occur on the same -- preferably short -- paths. This measure depends on a probability distribution over the (usually infinite) countable set of paths through the graph which is obtained by minimizing the total expected cost between all pairs of nodes while fixing the total relative entropy spread in the graph. The entropy parameter allows to bias the probability distribution over a wide spectrum: going from natural random walks (where all paths are equiprobable) to walks biased towards shortest-paths. This measure is then applied to semi-supervised classification problems on medium-size networks and compared to state-of-the-art techniques.<p>The second part introduces three novel algorithms for within-network classification in large-scale networks, i.e. classification of nodes in partially labeled graphs. The algorithms have a linear computing time in the number of edges, classes and steps and hence can be applied to large scale networks. They obtained competitive results in comparison to state-of-the-art technics on the large scale U.S.~patents citation network and on eight other data sets. Furthermore, during the thesis, we collected a novel benchmark data set: the U.S.~patents citation network. This data set is now available to the community for benchmarks purposes. <p>The final part of the thesis concerns the combination of a citation graph with information on its nodes. We show that citation-based data provide better results for classification than content-based data. We also show empirically that combining both sources of information (content-based and citation-based) should be considered when facing a text categorization problem. For instance, while classifying journal papers, considering to extract an external citation graph may considerably boost the performance. However, in another context, when we have to directly classify the network citation nodes, then the help of features on nodes will not improve the results.<p>The theory, algorithms and applications presented in this thesis provide interesting perspectives in various fields.<p><br>Doctorat en Sciences<br>info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished
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Jonker, Dirk. "Self-assessed and direct measured physical workload among dentists in public dental clinics in Sweden during a period of rationalizations." Doctoral thesis, Linköpings universitet, Arbetslivsinriktad rehabilitering, 2010. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-65422.
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Much research has been done on interventions to reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) at the workplace. However, this problem is still a major concern in working life. The economic cost for WMSDs corresponds to between 0.5% and 2% of the gross national product in some European countries, and in 2007, 8.6% of workers in the EU had experienced work-related health problems during the previous 12 months. In Sweden, one in five of all employees have rated occurrence of WMSDs during the previous 12 months. In spite of comprehensive ergonomic improvements of workplace and tool design in dentistry the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in neck, upper arms and back is reported to be between 64% and 93%. The present thesis investigates if the perceived high exertion during work corresponds to actual physical exposures. Further, it is investigated if risk full physical exposures may be generated due to rationalisations. Specifically, changes in physical exposures are investigated prospectively during a period of rationalisations. Empirical data on production system performance, individual measured physical workload, and self-rated physical workload are provided. High estimates of self-rated workload were found. These high scores for perceived workload were associated with high measured muscular workload in the upper trapezius muscles. Also, negative correlations were found between low angular velocities in the head, neck and upper extremities on the one hand, and estimates for perceived workload on the other. Both measured muscular workload and mechanical exposure among dentists indicate a higher risk of developing WMSDs than in occupational groups with more varied work content. Value-Adding Work (VAW) comprised about 57% of the total working time and compared to industrial work an increase with about 20 percent units is hypothesised. Furthermore, VAW compared to non-VAW (“waste”) implies more awkward postures and especially low angular velocities interpreted as constrained postures. Consequently, when increasing the proportion of time spent in VAW due to rationalisations, work intensification is expected. However, at follow up, we did not find such work intensification. Previous research indicates that rationalisation in working life may be a key factor in the development of WMSD. The present thesis suggests that ergonomics may then be considered proactively as part of the rationalisation process.
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Tierney, Michael. "The effects of general and disaggregated measures of host country civil liberties and political freedom on foreign direct investment inflows." Connect to Electronic Thesis (CONTENTdm), 2009. http://worldcat.org/oclc/457043173/viewonline.
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Harshbarger, Stuart D. "Measured noise performance of a data clock circuit derived from the local M-sequence in direct-sequence spread spectrum systems." Thesis, Monterey, California : Naval Postgraduate School, 1990. http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA238335.
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Thesis (M.S. in Electrical Engineering)--Naval Postgraduate School, September 1990.<br>Thesis Advisor(s): Myers, Glen. Second Reader: Ha, Tri. "September 1990." Description based on title screen as viewed on December 21, 2009. DTIC Identifiers: Direct sequence spread spectrum, data clocks, delay lock loops, sequence generators. Author(s) subject terms: Direct-sequence spread spectrum, communications, data clock recovery, M-sequence, delay-lock loop, spread spectrum, binary sequence generation. Includes bibliographical references (p. 40). Also available in print.
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Wysong, Zachary D. "Development and comparison of the asphalt binder cracking device to directly measure thermal cracking potential of asphalts." Ohio : Ohio University, 2004. http://www.ohiolink.edu/etd/view.cgi?ohiou1177094517.
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Brett, Kendra Elizabeth. "Maternal Phenotype, Directly Measured Physical Activity and Associations with Placenta Nutrient Transport Related Gene Expression." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/32514.
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The intrauterine environment plays an important role in fetal development and downstream health. Given the rise in maternal obesity and the incidence of babies being born large-for-gestational-age, research is needed exploring the mechanisms through which maternal obesity and health behaviours affect the delivery of nutrients to the fetus. This thesis includes three manuscripts in the pursuit of two objectives: 1) To determine whether there are changes in placenta nutrient transport-related gene expression in response to obesity, excess gestational weight gain, and variations physical activity and diet, and 2) To examine whether the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire is a reliable estimate of physical activity during the second trimester of pregnancy. In manuscript 1, we found that maternal obesity was not related to placenta nutrient transport-related gene expression, with the exception of lower placental mTOR expression in obese women who delivered male offspring, however, gestational weight gain was related to the gene expression of key proteins in the placenta. In manuscript 2, it was determined that the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire significantly overestimates physical activity and is not correlated with direct measures of activity and thus should not be used in future research. In manuscript 3, we found that physical activity and diet modify the expression of the genes involved in placenta nutrient transport. Meeting physical activity guidelines was associated with lower expression of a fatty acid transporter and higher expression of an amino acid transporter, while sugar intake was related to the expression of a glucose transporter. Together, the studies that make up this thesis suggest that there are numerous factors that may be contributing to placenta nutrient transport-related gene expression in humans and that future research on the placenta ought to include direct measures of physical activity and maternal diet, as well as account for gestational weight gain with respect to the guidelines and fetal sex.
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Pritchett, Anne McDonald. "An Exploration of Efforts to Re-Define the Drug Problem Through State Ballot Measures." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/27794.
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Historically, the federal government has been the institution responsible for setting the nationâ s drug policy. Since 1996, however, the federal governmentâ s authority and legitimacy in this issue area has increasingly been challenged through state ballot measures introduced via the initiative process. While only eight percent of ballot measures historically are approved by voters (Initiative and Referendum Institute 2004), half of the 28 state ballot measures on illegal drugs have been approved by voters over the past decade. The stated goal of those supporting legalization through ballot measures is to â build a political movement to end the war on drugsâ (Nadelmann 2004). Nadelmann (2004) suggests that victories in the states show that the â nascent drug policy reform movementâ can win in the â big leagues of American politicsâ and that the successful models presented through the ballot measures will increase â public confidence in the possibilities and virtueâ of regulating the non-medical use of illicit drugs. To date there has been no detailed examination of the issue framing strategies in this venue; nor has there been an effort to link the problem definition and direct democracy literatures. This dissertation links the problem definition and direct democracy literatures, using drug policy as the vehicle and applying Stoneâ s (2002) analytic framework of problem definition to make descriptive inferences about the issue framing devices employed in state ballot measures on illegal drugs. The research examines a range of materials related to the state ballot measures on illegal drugs including the language appearing on voter ballots; the full text of the ballot measures, including ballot titles and political preambles; and the voter information statements and their authors. In addition, the dissertation describes the elements of legalization proposed by the ballot measures that were approved by voters and examines three key legal challenges to Proposition 215, one of the first ballot measures on illegal drugs approved by voters in California in 1996, including two U.S. Supreme Court cases.<br>Ph. D.
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Moore, Kristin Suzanne. "Comparison of eye movement data to direct measures of situation awareness for development of a novel measurement technique in dynamic, uncontrolled test environments." Connect to this title online, 2009. http://etd.lib.clemson.edu/documents/1263402095/.
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Chaudhuri, Sanjay. "Using the structure of d-connecting paths as a qualitative measure of the strength of dependence /." Thesis, Connect to this title online; UW restricted, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/1773/8948.
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Abyad, Emad. "Modeled Estimates of Solar Direct Normal Irradiance and Diffuse Horizontal Irradiance in Different Terrestrial Locations." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/36499.
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The transformation of solar energy into electricity is starting to impact to overall worldwide energy production mix. Photovoltaic-generated electricity can play a significant role in minimizing the use of non-renewable energy sources. Sunlight consists of three main components: global horizontal irradiance (GHI), direct normal irradiance (DNI) and diffuse horizontal irradiance (DHI). Typically, these components are measured using specialized instruments in order to study solar radiation at any location. However, these measurements are not always available, especially in the case of the DNI and DHI components of sunlight. Consequently, many models have been developed to estimate these components from available GHI data. These models have their own merits. For this thesis, solar radiation data collected at four locations have been analyzed. The data come from Al-Hanakiyah (Saudi Arabia), Boulder (U.S.), Ma’an (Jordan), and Ottawa (Canada). The BRL, Reindl*, DISC, and Perez models have been used to estimate DNI and DHI data from the experimentally measured GHI data. The findings show that the Reindl* and Perez model outcomes offered similar accuracy of computing DNI and DHI values when comparing with detailed experimental data for Al-Hanakiyah and Ma’an. For Boulder, the Perez and BRL models have similar estimation abilities of DHI values and the DISC and Perez models are better estimators of DNI. The Reindl* model performs better when modeling DHI and DNI for Ottawa data. The BRL and DISC models show similar metrics error analyses, except in the case of the Ma’an location where the BRL model shows high error metrics values in terms of MAE, RMSE, and standard deviation (σ). The Boulder and Ottawa locations datasets were not complete and affected the outcomes with regards to the model performance metrics. Moreover, the metrics show very high, unreasonable values in terms of RMSE and σ. It is advised that a global model be developed by collecting data from many locations as a way to help minimize the error between the actual and modeled values since the current models have their own limitations. Availability of multi-year data, parameters such as albedo and aerosols, and one minute to hourly time steps data could help minimize the error between measured and modeled data. In addition to having accurate data, analysis of spectral data is important to evaluate their impact on solar technologies.
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Kim, Nak-Kyoon. "Metal dependent structure, dynamics, and function in RNA measured by site-directed spin labeling and EPR spectroscopy." Diss., Texas A&M University, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/4900.
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The structure and function of RNA molecules are dependent on RNA-metal ion interactions in both diffusive and direct ways. Structural information for RNA has been obtained using various biophysical and biochemical methods. In this study, using site-directed spin labeling (SDSL) and EPR spectroscopy, distances in RNA duplexes, TAR RNA, and the hammerhead ribozyme have been measured to investigate RNA structures. Kinetic measurements have been performed in the extended hammerhead ribozyme to correlate the catalytic function with metal dependent ribozyme folding. As a basic model system for distance measurements, inter-spin distances in RNA duplexes with spin labels at various positions are measured using SDSL with continuous EPR and a Fourier deconvolution method. Divalent metal-ion dependent TAR RNA folding from bent to extended conformers is monitored by measuring inter-spin distances near the bulge region. In order to investigate a proposed loop-loop interaction in the extended hammerhead ribozyme which significantly enhances the ribozyme activity, distance measurements, dynamics studies, and kinetics measurements have been performed. We have introduced PELDOR long-distance measurements in order to investigate metal dependent folding of the hammerhead ribozyme. The dynamics of the spin labels attached to the hammerhead ribozyme with increasing mono- and divalent metal ion concentrations are monitored using CW EPR spectroscopy at room temperature. EPR data show that a loop-loop interaction occurs near the U1.6 nucleotide, and that in 0.1 M NaCl the docking occurs at submillimolar Mg2+ concentrations ([Mg2+]1/2, docking = ~ 0.7 mM). Kinetics measurements show that the hammerhead ribozyme requires high concentration of Mg2+ for the maximum cleavage activity ([Mg2+]1/2, cleavage = ~ 90 mM).
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Madraki, Golshan. "Efficient Algorithm to Find Performance Measures in Systems under Structural Perturbations." Ohio University / OhioLINK, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1501838878410153.
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Zhang, Jian. "The impact of trade related investment measures in developing countries." Thesis, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2003. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=765888031&SrchMode=1&sid=6&Fmt=2&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1209144977&clientId=23440.
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Lopes, Anderson Bezerra. "Os conhecimentos fortuitos de prova no direito processual penal." Universidade de São Paulo, 2013. http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/2/2137/tde-22082014-090055/.
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No curso da investigação criminal, a execução de alguns meios de obtenção de prova pode implicar restrições aos direitos fundamentais do investigado ou de terceiros. As medidas restritivas de direitos fundamentais estão sujeitas a controle de constitucionalidade através da regra da proporcionalidade. Os meios de obtenção de prova são atividades de pesquisa e registro de fontes de provas e elementos de informação úteis para a persecução penal. Durante a regular execução de um meio de obtenção de prova, podem surgir resultados probatórios relativos a indivíduos e/ou crimes excluídos da situação histórica de vida da investigação que legitimou o ato. As fontes de provas e os elementos de informação obtidos durante a execução de um meio de obtenção de prova e que possuem conexão com a situação histórica de vida da investigação são conhecimentos da investigação, enquanto os que não possuem esse vínculo são conhecimentos fortuitos. De acordo com a regra da proporcionalidade, as medidas restritivas de direitos fundamentais devem estar previstas em lei e sua execução exige prévia autorização judicial. A admissibilidade dos conhecimentos fortuitos para fins probatórios depende do cumprimento desses requisitos, sob pena de haver violação ilegítima de direitos fundamentais, tornando a prova ilícita.<br>In the course of a criminal investigation, the research of evidence may cause restriction to the investigated persons fundamental rights or to a third persons rights. Any fundamental right restriction shall be preceded by constitutionality control, which must be done in the light of the proportionality rule. The evidence discovery is an activity of research and recording of evidentiary source and other useful data for the criminal investigation and prosecution. During the ordinary execution of a research of evidence, it could emerge evidentiary result related to individuals and/or crimes that are not related to the historical situation of life that caused the issuing of judicial authorization for such a research. The evidentiary sources and other information obtained during the execution of a research of evidence that are connected to the historical situation of life that caused the issuing of its judicial authorization are called knowledge of the investigation. The ones which are not connected to it are called fortuitous knowledge. According to the proportionality rule, any investigative measure which causes a fundamental right restriction must be enshrined in a statutory provision and its execution requires prior judicial authorization. The evidentiary admissibility of fortuitous knowledge depends on the accomplishment of such requirements. Otherwise, there would be unlawful violation of fundamental rights, which would cause the evidence to be illegal.
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Farkas, Ábel. "Dimension and measure theory of self-similar structures with no separation condition." Thesis, University of St Andrews, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10023/7854.
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We introduce methods to cope with self-similar sets when we do not assume any separation condition. For a self-similar set K ⊆ ℝᵈ we establish a similarity dimension-like formula for Hausdorff dimension regardless of any separation condition. By the application of this result we deduce that the Hausdorff measure and Hausdorff content of K are equal, which implies that K is Ahlfors regular if and only if Hᵗ (K) > 0 where t = dim[sub]H K. We further show that if t = dim[sub]H K < 1 then Hᵗ (K) > 0 is also equivalent to the weak separation property. Regarding Hausdorff dimension, we give a dimension approximation method that provides a tool to generalise results on non-overlapping self-similar sets to overlapping self-similar sets. We investigate how the Hausdorff dimension and measure of a self-similar set K ⊆ ℝᵈ behave under linear mappings. This depends on the nature of the group T generated by the orthogonal parts of the defining maps of K. We show that if T is finite then every linear image of K is a graph directed attractor and there exists at least one projection of K such that the dimension drops under projection. In general, with no restrictions on T we establish that Hᵗ (L ∘ O(K)) = Hᵗ (L(K)) for every element O of the closure of T , where L is a linear map and t = dim[sub]H K. We also prove that for disjoint subsets A and B of K we have that Hᵗ (L(A) ∩ L(B)) = 0. Hochman and Shmerkin showed that if T is dense in SO(d; ℝ) and the strong separation condition is satisfied then dim[sub]H (g(K)) = min {dim[sub]H K; l} for every continuously differentiable map g of rank l. We deduce the same result without any separation condition and we generalize a result of Eroğlu by obtaining that Hᵗ (g(K)) = 0. We show that for the attractor (K1, … ,Kq) of a graph directed iterated function system, for each 1 ≤ j ≤ q and ε > 0 there exists a self-similar set K ⊆ Kj that satisfies the strong separation condition and dim[sub]H Kj - ε < dim[sub]H K. We show that we can further assume convenient conditions on the orthogonal parts and similarity ratios of the defining similarities of K. Using this property we obtain results on a range of topics including on dimensions of projections, intersections, distance sets and sums and products of sets. We study the situations where the Hausdorff measure and Hausdorff content of a set are equal in the critical dimension. Our main result here shows that this equality holds for any subset of a set corresponding to a nontrivial cylinder of an irreducible subshift of finite type, and thus also for any self-similar or graph directed self-similar set, regardless of separation conditions. The main tool in the proof is an exhaustion lemma for Hausdorff measure based on the Vitali's Covering Theorem. We also give several examples showing that one cannot hope for the equality to hold in general if one moves in a number of the natural directions away from `self-similar'. Finally we consider an analogous version of the problem for packing measure. In this case we need the strong separation condition and can only prove that the packing measure and δ-approximate packing pre-measure coincide for sufficiently small δ > 0.
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Martins, Guilherme Pereira Gonzalez Ruiz. "Medidas assecuratórias na lei de lavagem de capitais: finalidade e aplicação do instituto face ao estado democrático de direito." Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo, 2013. https://tede2.pucsp.br/handle/handle/6278.
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Previous issue date: 2013-10-23<br>This dissertation intends to help the understanding of the Law of Money Laundering under an innovative approach, treating the context of a democratic state founded on the dignity of the human person and the influence of the criminal policy of emergency in the legislative process, which ultimately help to create with eminently repressive laws, drawing upon the misrepresentation of criminal procedural instruments to achieve the purposes of criminal prosecution, perpetrating a maneuver within the limits of the law to punish the state. The Money Laundering Act, from the standpoint of international treaties and conventions that Brazil is committed to meeting reaches the constriction and its confiscation of property as a means of containment of organized crime, however, imposed the most authoritarian procedural schemes among existing in the Brazilian law, allowing the constriction of goods through to transform the preservative measures in an early and objectively punishment to the accused of money laundering. The law allows the State to remain in possession of the goods of the accused, independently of the stoppage of business activities and the consequent bankruptcy, just to facilitate the forfeiture of assets. Engenders the accused in true Kafkaesque process, where shall prevail the imbalance of the procedure in favor of the State, removing of the accused their Fundamental Rights and Guarantees. In this model, we revealed a critical analysis of the preservative measures in the Money Laundering Law, emphasizing some discrepancies capable of unconstitutionality of the current system, inconsistent with the Federal Constitution, concluding appeal for criminalization and prosecution of organized criminal activity, however, respecting the law and the Federal Constitution<br>A presente dissertação busca auxiliar a compreensão da Lei de Lavagem de Capitais sob um enfoque inovador, tratando o contexto do Estado Democrático de Direito pautado na dignidade da pessoa humana e a influência da política criminal da emergência no processo legislativo, que acaba por auxiliar a criação de leis com caráter eminentemente repressivo, valendo-se da deturpação de instrumentos processuais penais para atingir os fins de repressão criminal, perpetrando uma manobra nos limites ao Direito de punir do Estado. A Lei de Lavagem de Capitais, sob o enfoque dos tratados e convenções internacionais que o Brasil se comprometeu a cumprir, atinge a constrição dos bens e seu confisco como meio de contenção da criminalidade organizada, contudo, impôs um dos regimes processuais mais autoritários dentre os existentes na Legislação brasileira, permitindo que a constrição dos bens por intermédio das medidas assecuratórias convole em imposição de punição de maneira objetiva e antecipada ao acusado de lavagem de capitais. Permite a lei que o Estado permaneça na posse dos bens do acusado, independentemente da paralisação de atividades comerciais e a consequente falência, visando facilitar o perdimento dos bens. Engendra o Acusado em verdadeiro processo kafkiano, onde prevalece o desequilíbrio da relação processual em prol do Estado, retirando do acusado seus principais Direitos e Garantias Fundamentais. Nesse modelo, desvelamos uma análise crítica das medidas assecuratórias na Lei de Lavagem de Capitais, pontuando algumas discrepâncias passíveis de declaração de inconstitucionalidade do sistema atual, desconforme com a Constituição Federal, concluindo pela necessidade criminalização e da repressão penal da atividade criminosa organizada, porém, respeitando a Lei e a Constituição Federal