Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Formal communication'

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University
In traditional motion planning, the problem is simply specified as "go from A to B while avoiding obstacles", where A and B are two configurations or regions of interest in the robot workspace. However, a large number of robotic applications require more expressive specification languages, which allow for logical and temporal statements about the satisfaction of properties of interest. Examples include "visit A and B infinitely often, always avoid C, and do not visit D unless E vas visited before". Such task specifications cannot be trivially converted to a sequence of "go from A to B" primitives. This thesis establishes theoretical and computational frameworks for automatic synthesis of robot control and communication schemes that are correct-by-construction from task specifications given in expressive languages. We consider a purely discrete scenario, in which the dynamics of each robot is modeled as a finite discrete system. The first problem addressed in this thesis is the generation of provably-correct individual control and communication strategies for a team of robots from rich task specifications in the case when the workspace is static. The second problem relaxes this assumption and considers a scenario in which the environment changes according to some unknown patterns. It proposed a combined learning and formal synthesis approach to generate correct control policies. To tackle the first problem, we draw inspirations from the research fields of formal verification and synthesis, distributed formal synthesis, and concurrency theory. We consider a team of robots that can move among the regions of a partitioned environment and have known capabilities of servicing a set of requests that can occur in the regions of the partition. Some of these requests can be serviced by a robot individually, while some require the cooperation of groups of robots. We propose a top-down approach, in which global specifications given as Regular Expressions (RE) or Linear Temporal Logics (LTL) can be decomposed into local (individual) specifications, which can then be used to automatically synthesize robot control and communication strategies. To address the second problem, we bring together automata learning methods from the field of theoretical linguistics and techniques from temporal logic games and probabilistic model checking, to develop a provably-correct control strategy for robots moving in an environment with unknown dynamics. The robots are required to achieve a surveillance mission, in which a certain request needs to be serviced repeatedly, while the expected time in between consecutive services is minimized and additional temporal logic constraints are satisfied. We define a fragment of Linear Temporal Logic (LTL) to describe such a mission. We consider a single agent case at first and then extend the results to multi-agent systems. To this end, we apply approximate dynamic programming to our computational framework, which leads to significant reduction of computational time. To demonstrate the proposed theoretical and computational frameworks, we implement the derived algorithms in two experimental platforms, the Robotic Urban-Like Environment (RULE) and the Robotic InDoor-like Environment (RIDE). We assign tasks to the team using Regular Expressions or Linear Temporal Logics over requests occurring at regions in the environment. The robots are automatically deployed to complete the missions.

Redes de comunicação sem fio se tornaram nos últimos anos uma constante na vida de um número crescente de pessoas. Em um circulo virtuoso, novos e ainda mais ofisticados protocolos são projetados a cada dia, aumentando o número de ferramentas disponíveis, o que atrai ainda mais usuários. Contudo novas ferramentas são necessárias para ajudar os designers no seu trabalho de desenvolvimento de novos e melhores softwares e protocolos para este tipo de rede. Ferramentas tradicionais, projetadas para ambientes distribuídos tradicionais não necessariamente funcionam no contexto de redes sem fio. Esta tese apresenta um novo e simples método para ajudar os desenvolvedores na tarefa de criar protocolos para redes sem fio ad hoc baseado em Verificação formal de software. Esta técnica apresenta uma série de vantagens para quem visa criar protocolos de comunicação confiáveis e seguros.

This thesis makes a contribution towards cutting the cost of development of real-time systems, The development of real-time systems is difficult: often errors in the specification are not identified until late in the development pro- cess, and there is a requirment to reduce the amount of rework to correct flaws introduced in the early stages of development, A Real-time network- Specification Language (RTN-SL) is being developed to allow the rigorous specification of functionality and timing properties of computations, The correct specification of end to end timing constraints, however requires an understanding of the timing properties of the communication between components. A theory of communication is therefore required to be used with the RTN-SL, to analyse timing properties of systems early in the development process. The work demonstrates how a tool set can be used to gain an under- standing of the behaviour of the system, to help to identify and correct ambiguities that arise in the early stages of development. An incremental development approach is recommended, Starting with an abstract model and exploring properties of increasingly realistic models of the implementa- tion, to gain confidence about the correctness of the implementation and an understanding of its behaviour, The strengths and weaknesses of a number of tools are discussed and it is shown that it is possibk to use a compositional rely-guaranteed method to verify properties of systems where the individual components give few or no guarantees about their behaviour. This rely guar- antee method makes it possible to record assumptions in the specification, to help ensure they are not overlooked and thereby introduce errors in the design and implementation, This approach can form the basis of a theory of communication, which can be used with the RTN-SL to reason about end to end timing properties of systems in the early stages of development.

Formal analysis of security protocols is becoming increasingly relevant. In formal analysis, a model is created of a protocol or system, and propositions about the security of the model are written. A program is then used to verify that the propositions hold, or find examples of where they do not. This report uses formal methods to analyse the authentication aspect of a protocol that allows private individuals, enterprises, and systems to securely and asynchronously share sensitive data. Unpublished, early drafts of the protocol were studied and algorithms described in it were verified with the help of the formal verification tool Tamarin Prover. The analysis revealed two replay attacks. Improvements to the protocol were suggested based on this analysis. In later versions of the protocol, the improvements have been implemented by the protocol developers.
Det blir alltmer relevant med formell analys av säkerhetsprotokoll. I formell analys så skapas en modell av ett protokoll eller ett system, och påståenden om modellens säkerhet skrivs. Ett program används sedan för att verifiera att påståendena gäller, eller för att hitta exempel där de inte gäller. Den här rapporten avänder formella metoder för att analysera autentiseringsaspekten av ett protokoll som tillåter privatpersoner, företag och system att asynkront dela känslig information på ett säkert sätt. Opublicerade och tidiga utkast av protokollet studerades och de algoritmer som beskrivs i protokollet verifierades med hjälp av Tamarin Prover. Analysen avslöjade två återspelningsattacker. Förbättringar till protokollet föreslogs baserat på denna analys. I senare versioner har protokollutvecklarna implementerat förslagen.

This thesis aims to find out how communication method a˙ects user experience in a formal communication with a stranger, such as a job application process. The communication methods investigated were instant messaging and email. To this end, two studies were performed. The first one based on a set of interviews with recruiters. The second one based on a questionnaire sent out to job candidates. Recruiters did not value communication method as important for the candidate to make a good first impression, but they were concerned with the need for rapid communication and needing to be constantly available when using informal communication methods. I found that candidates significantly preferred formal communication methods, results also showed that candidates felt less insecure when communicating using a formal method. Finally, we also found that younger users did not have a stronger preference for informal communication methods than older users, contrary to my expectations.
Målet med denna uppsats var att ta reda på hur kommunikationsmetod påverkar användarupplevelsen i en formell kommunikation med en främling, så som i en arbetsansökan. Kommunikationsmetoderna som undersöktes var e-post och chatt. För att ta reda på detta gjordes två studier. Den första bestod av intervjuer med rekryterare. Den andra bestod av ett frågeformulär som skickades ut till kandidater. Rekryterarna värderade inte kommunikationsmetoden i sig högt när det gällde vilket intryck de fick av en kandidat, men kommunikations-hastigheten var en viktig faktor i valet av metod. Speciellt så uppfattade de ett behov av att vara tillgänglig och kunna svara snabbt om en informell kommunikationsmetod användes, denna uppfattning delades av kandidaterna. Mina resultat visade att jobbkandidater hade en signifikant preferens för att använda formella kommunikationsmetoder, och visade sig känna sig mindre osäkra när de använde formella kommunikationsmetoder än när de använde informella metoder. Slutligen upptäckte jag att yngre användare inte visade sig föredra informella kommunikationsmetoder mer än äldre användare.

Els mètodes de verificació formal s'estan usant cada vegada més en la indústria per establir la correctessa i trobar els errors en models de sistemes; per exemple la descripció de hardware, protocols, programes distribuïts, etc. En particular, els verificadors de models ho fan automàticament per sistemes d'estats finits, per-o estan limitats degut al problema de l'explosió d'estats; i la verificació formal interactiva, l'àrea d'aquesta tesi, es necessita.

L'enfocament de la verificació automàtica treballa sobre el sistema de transicions del model, el qual defineix la seva semàntica. Aquest sistema de transicions té sovint molts estats, i sempre una mida gran comparada amb la mida del model del sistema, el qual és sempre infinit. Aquestes consideracions suggereixen un enfocament de verificació estàtica com els d'aquesta tesi, evitant els sistemes de transicions, treballant directament sobre el model del sistema, en principi, la complexitat computacional hauria de ser menor. L'enfocament estàtic d'aquest treball es fa sobre models de sistemes expressats en notació imperativa amb paral·lelisme explícit, sentències de comunicacions síncrones i variables d'emmagatzematge locals.

Els raonaments d'equivalència són molt empleats per números, matrius i altres camps. Tanmateix, per programes imperatius amb paral·lelisme, comunicacions i variables, encara que potencialment sigui un mètode de verificació molt intuïtiu, no han estat massa explorats. La seqüencialització formal via l'eliminació de comunicacions internes, l'àrea d'aquesta tesi, és una demostració basada en el raonament estàtic d'equivalències que, donat que disminueix la magnitud del vector d'estats, pot complementar altres mètodes de demostració. Es basa en l'aplicació d'un conjunt de lleis , apropiades per tal propòsit, com reduccions de reescriptura del model del sistema. Aquestes depenen de la noció d'equivalència i de les suposicions de justícia.

Aquesta tesi contribueix a la quasi inexplorada àrea de l'eliminació de comunicacions formal i seqüencialització de models de sistema. Les lleis estan definides sobre una equivalència feble: equivalència d'interfície. L'eliminació de comunicacions est-a limitada a models sense seleccions, per exemple models en els quals les comunicacions internes no estan dins de l'àmbit de sentències de selecció. Aplicacions interessants existeixen dins d'aquest marc. Les lleis són vàlides només per justícia feble o sense justícia. Aquesta ha estat desenvolupada seguint la semàntica proposada per Manna i Pnueli per a sistemes reactius [MP91, MP95]. S'han formulat les condicions d'aplicabilitat per les lleis de la pròpia eliminació de comunicacions. A més a més, es proposa un procediment de construcció de demostracions per l'eliminació de comunicacions, el qual intenta aplicar automàticament les lleis de la eliminació. També s'ha dissenyat un conjunt de procediments de transformació, els quals garanteixen que la transformació equivalent sempre correspon a l'aplicació d'una seqüència de lleis. Degut a que la construcció de les demostracions és impracticable, normalment impossible, sense l'ajuda d'una eina, s'ha desenvolupat un demostrador interactiu per la construcció semiautomàtica de la seqüencialització de models de sistemes i demostracions d'eliminació. Tant els procediments de transformació com els de l'eliminació de comunicacions estan integrats en l'eina. Amb l'ajuda del demostrador s'ha construït la demostració de seqüencialització d'un model, no trivial, de processador pipeline. Per aquest exemple s'ha assolit una reducció, respecte del model original, de la cota superior del nombre d'estats de 2−672.

Malgrat l'enorme quantitat d'esforç dedicat a l'àrea, abans i durant la tesi, encara queda molt treball per a que l'eliminació de comunicacions i la seqüencialització sigui realment un mètode pràctic. No obstant els resultats d'aquesta tesi han establert els fonaments i han donat l'estímul necessari per continuar l'esforç.
Los métodos de verificación formal se están usando cada vez más en la industria para establecer la corrección y encontrar los errores en modelos de sistemas; por ejemplo, la descripción de hardware, protocolos, programas distribuidos, etc. En particular, los verificadores de modelos lo hacen automáticamente para sistemas de estados finitos, pero están limitados debido al problema de la explosión de estados; y la verificación formal interactiva, el área de esta tesis, es necesaria.

El enfoque de la verificación automática trabaja sobre el sistema de transiciones del modelo, el cual define su semántica. Este sistema de transiciones tiene a menudo muchos estados, y siempre un tamaño grande comparado con el tamaño del modelo del sistema, el cual es siempre infinito. Estas consideraciones sugieren un enfoque de verificación estática como los de esta tesis, evitando los sistemas de transiciones, trabajando directamente sobre el modelo del sistema, en principio, la complejidad computacional tendría que ser menor. El enfoque estático de este trabajo se lleva a cabo sobre modelos de sistemas expresados en notación imperativa con paralelismo explícito, sentencias de comunicaciones síncronas y variables de almacenamiento locales.

Los razonamientos de equivalencia son muy empleados para números, matrices y otros campos. Sin embargo, para programas imperativos con paralelismo, comunicaciones y variables, aún teniendo la potencialidad de ser un método de verificación muy intuitivo, no han sido muy explorados. La secuencialización formal vía la eliminación de comunicaciones internas, el área de esta tesis, es una demostración basada en el razonamiento estático de equivalencias que, ya que disminuye la magnitud del vector de estados, puede complementar otros métodos de demostración. Se basa en la aplicación de un conjunto de leyes, apropiadas para tal propósito, como reducciones de reescritura del modelo del sistema. Éstas dependen de la noción de equivalencia y de las suposiciones de justicia.

Esta tesis contribuye a la casi inexplorada área de la eliminación de comunicaciones formal y secuencialización de modelos de sistema. Las leyes están definidas sobre una equivalencia débil: equivalencia de interfaz. La eliminación de comunicaciones está limitada a modelos sin selecciones, por ejemplo modelos en los cuales las comunicaciones internas no están dentro del ámbito de sentencias de selección. Aplicaciones interesantes existen dentro de este marco. Las leyes son válidas sólo para justicia débil o sin justicia. Ésta ha sido desarrollada siguiendo la semántica propuesta por Manna y Pnueli para sistemas reactivos [MP91, MP95]. Se han formulado las condiciones de aplicabilidad para las leyes de la propia eliminación de comunicaciones. Además, se propone un procedimiento de construcción de demostraciones para la eliminación de comunicaciones, el cual intenta aplicar automáticamente las leyes de la eliminación. También se ha diseñado un conjunto de procedimientos de transformación, los cuales garantizan que la transformación equivalente siempre corresponde a la aplicación de una secuencia de leyes. Debido a que la construcción de las demostraciones es impracticable, normalmente imposible, sin la ayuda de una herramienta, se ha desarrollado un demostrador interactivo para la construcción semiautomática de la secuencialización de modelos de sistemas y demostraciones de eliminación. Tanto los procedimientos de transformación como los de la eliminación de comunicaciones están integrados en la herramienta. Con la ayuda del demostrador se ha construido la demostración de secuencialización de un modelo, no trivial, de procesador pipeline. Para este ejemplo se ha logrado una reducción, respecto del modelo original, de la cota superior del número de estados de 2−672.

A pesar de la enorme cantidad de esfuerzo dedicado al área, antes y durante esta tesis, todavía queda mucho trabajo para que la eliminación de comunicaciones y la secuencialización sea realmente un método práctico. Sin embargo los resultados de esta tesis han establecido los cimientos y han dado el estímulo necesario para continuar el esfuerzo.
Formal verification methods are increasingly being used in industry to establish the correctness of, and to find the flaws in, system models; for instance, descriptions of hardware, protocols, distributed programs, etc. In particular, model checking does that automatically for finite-state systems, but it is limited in scope due to the state explosion problem; and interactive formal verification, the broad area of this thesis, is needed.

Automatic verification approaches work on the transition system of the model, which defines its semantics. This transition system has often infinitely many states, and always a large size compared to the size of the system model, which is always finite. These considerations suggest that static verification approaches such as those of this thesis, avoiding the transition system, working directly on the system model would have less computational complexity, in principle. The static approach of this work is carried out on system models expressed in imperative notations with explicit parallelism and synchronous communication statements, and with local storage variables.

Equivalence reasoning is heavily used for numbers, matrices, and other fields. However, for imperative programs with parallelism, communications, and variables, although having the potentiality of being a very intuitive verification method, it has not been much explored. Formal sequentialization via internal communication elimination, the area of this thesis, is a static equivalence reasoning proof that, since it decreases the size of the state vector, could complement other proof methods. It is based on the application of a set of laws, suitable for that purpose, as rewriting reductions to a system model. These proofs need both proper communication elimination laws and auxiliary basic laws. These depend on the notion of equivalence and on the fairness assumptions.

This thesis contributes to the almost unexplored area of formal communication elimination and system model sequentialization. The laws are defined over a weak equivalence: interface equivalence. Communication elimination is confined to selection-free models, i.e. models none of whose inner communications are within the scope of selection statements. Interesting applications already exist within this framework. The laws are valid only with weak fairness or no fairness. It has been developed following the same semantics as Manna and Pnueli for reactive systems [MP91, MP95]. Applicability conditions for the proper communication elimination laws are derived. In addition, a communication elimination proof construction procedure, which attempts to apply the elimination laws automatically is proposed. A set of transformation procedures, guaranteeing that the equivalence transformation always corresponds to the application of a sequence of laws have been designed as well. Since the construction of elimination proofs is impractical, even impossible, without a tool, an interactive prover for semi-automatic construction of system model sequentialization and elimination proofs has been developed. Both transformation and communication elimination procedures are integrated within the tool. As a non-trivial example, a sequentialization proof of a pipelined processor model, has been constructed with the help of the prover. A
reduction, with respect to the original model, of 2−672 on the upper bound on the number of states has been achieved in this example.

In spite of the huge amount of effort already devoted to the area, before and during this thesis, much work still needs to be done until communication elimination and sequentialization become a practical method. Nevertheless the results of this thesis have established its foundations and given the necessary encouragement for continuing the effort.

The notion of communication complexity was introduced by Yao in his seminal paper [Yao79]. In [BFS86], Babai Frankl and Simon developed a rich structure of communication complexity classes to understand the relationships between various models of communication complexity. This made it apparent that communication complexity was a self-contained mini-world within complexity theory. In this thesis, we study the place of regular languages within this mini-world. In particular, we are interested in the non-deterministic communication complexity of regular languages.
We show that a regular language has either O(1) or O(log n) non-deterministic complexity. We obtain several linear lower bound results which cover a wide range of regular languages having linear non-deterministic complexity. These lower bound results also imply a result in semigroup theory: we obtain sufficient conditions for not being in the positive variety Pol(Com).
To obtain our results, we use algebraic techniques. In the study of regular languages, the algebraic point of view pioneered by Eilenberg ([Eil74]) has led to many interesting results. Viewing a semigroup as a computational device that recognizes languages has proven to be prolific from both semigroup theory and formal languages perspectives. In this thesis, we provide further instances of such mutualism.

Magistro baigiamojo darbo objektas – vidinė įmonių komunikacija – kreipiniai ir įvardijimo žodžiai, vartojami įmonių darbuotojų. Darbo tikslas – ištirti vidinę Vilniaus ir Kauno miestų įmonių komunikaciją formalumo ir neformalumo aspektu analizuojant darbuotojų vartojamus kreipinius ir įvardijimus. Darbo problema yra ta, kad sunku rasti būdą, kaip tiriant vidinę įmonių komunikaciją nustatyti jos formalumą. Šiame darbe formaliąją ir neformaliąją vidinę įmonių komunikaciją siūloma tirti analizuojant kreipinius ir įvardijimus. Gauta informacija apie vartojamus kreipinius ir įvardijimus bei bendravimą lemiančius socialinius veiksnius, aplinką gali padėti apskritai tiriant vidinę įmonių komunikaciją, darbuotojų tarpusavio santykius ar pasitenkinimą. Darbą sudaro trys dalys. Pirmojoje dalyje analizuojama mokslinė literatūra, aptariama vidinės komunikacijos ir kreipinio bei įvardijimo žodžio sampratos taip pat distancinio ir kontaktinio mandagumo strategija, kuria ir remiamasi darbe. Plačiau aptariamas žodinis ir nežodinis bendravimas, formalioji ir neformalioji komunikacija. Analizuojami veiksniai, darantys įtaką bendravimui ir pateikiamas kreipinių skirstymas į formalius ir neformalius. Antrojoje dalyje pateikiami detalūs tyrimo rezultatai, dauguma jų iliustruojami diagramomis. Tyrimo rezultatai analizuojami remiantis pirmojoje dalyje pateikta teorine medžiaga. Trečią dalį sudaro apibendrintos išvados ir įžvalgos, kaip būtų galima panaudoti tyrimo metu gautą informaciją. Aprašoma... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]
The subject of this master thesis is internal corporate communication - salutations to colleagues and the naming forms used in business. The objective of the thesis is to research Vilnius and Kaunas inner corporate communication in formality and informality aspect by analyzing salutations to colleagues and the naming forms. The main problem is that it is difficult to find a way to investigate internal corporate communication and to determine its formality. In this paper, formal and informal internal corporate communication is researched by analyzing salutations to colleagues and the naming forms. All salutations and naming forms are analyzed along with the social and economic context in which communication occurs. The results of this research can help in further researches of internal communication, employee relationships and satisfaction. The paper consists of three parts. The first part analyzes the scientific literature, and discusses the conceptions of internal communication, salutation and naming words, as well as the concept of distance and contact politeness strategy. Furthermore, the differences of verbal and non-verbal communication, formal and informal communication are discussed. Finally the factors that influence the communication are evaluated. The second part presents the detailed results of the study, the majority of them are illustrated by diagrams. The results are analyzed on the basis of previously stated theoretical material. The third part summarizes... [to full text]

Every organization goes through the same lifecycle. Through every step in the transformation to a better organization the communication structure changes. In this report there are examples of the communicational disadvantages that is connected to the communicational structure.By choosing to not have a formal communicational design, the manager takes a risk in spreading the information, the interaction, the control and the balance in creativity and constraint.This case organizations problem is that some parts of the organization has made more progress in the communicational structure than other parts. In this case the Collectivity structure has met the Formalized structure.Tha structural differences has came to affect the way of sharing information and it has become a situation where the information about the products is not stored in a safe way from a quality point of view. There is a gap between the two different ways of communicate.In this report I have created a model to identify problems in the communication structure. This is a tool to study the rest of the organization. This model is general and may be used on any organization.
En organisation genomgår olika livscykler. Genom varje steg i utvecklingen förändras organisationens kommunikationsstruktur. I den här rapporten finns exempel på de kommunikativa brister som uppkommit på grund av brister i den kommunikativa strukturen.Genom att inte ha en kommunikationsdesign för den formella kommunikationen utsätter ledningen organisationen för risker i informationsspridning, interaktion, kontroll och balans.Den studerade organisationen har kommit obalans genom att vissa avdelningar har kommit längre i sitt arbete med att formalisera och strukturera sitt arbete, medan andra avdelningar inte har haft samma strukturella utveckling. Interaktionen mellan dessa avdelningar har därför blivit en kommunikativ kulturkrock, där den Kollektiviserade strukturen möter den Formaliserade strukturen.De strukturella skillnaderna genomsyrar även avdelningarnas arbetssätt och innebär en brist ur kvalitetssynpunkt, då de båda strukturerna inte är överlappande.I rapporten har även en modell för att identifiera kommunikativa brister framtagits, för att caseföretaget ska kunna arbeta vidare med andra delar av organisationen och utreda sin kommunikativa struktur ytterligare. Modellen är av allmän karaktär och kan appliceras på en godtycklig organisation.

A person who is communication about (the data subject) has to keep track of all of his revealed data in order to protect his right of informational self-determination. This is important when data is going to be processed in an automatic manner and, in particular, in case of automatic inquiries. A data subject should, therefore, be enabled to recognize useful decisions with respect to data disclosure, only by using data which is available to him.

For the scope of this thesis, we assume that a data subject is able to protect his communication contents and the corresponding communication context against a third party by using end-to-end encryption and Mix cascades. The objective is to develop a model for analyzing the linkability of communication contents by using Formal Concept Analysis. In contrast to previous work, only the knowledge of a data subject is used for this analysis instead of a global view on the entire communication contents and context.

As a first step, the relation between disclosed data is explored. It is shown how data can be grouped by types and data implications can be represented. As a second step, behavior, i. e. actions and reactions, of the data subject and his communication partners is included in this analysis in order to find critical data sets which can be used to identify the data subject.

Typical examples are used to verify this analysis, followed by a conclusion about pros and cons of this method for anonymity and linkability measurement. Results can be used, later on, in order to develop a similarity measure for human-computer interfaces.

This thesis develops a formal framework for the specification, complexity analysis and verification of functional and performance requirements of configurable communication systems and protocols. The main objective is demonstrating the applicability of the proposed framework for the modelling and verification of a realistic system. Design-for-Verification principles are demonstrated, such as the semantic analysis and decomposition of complex and intertwined requirements, and the subsequent composition of orthogonal functional units with manageable complexities. Tack-CSP was used to model those functional units and their interfaces. Analysis of the underlying state machines of the modelled system resulted in the identification of complexity and scalability issues. Then, through the development and application of formal complexity analysis techniques for state machines, modelling optimisations were possible. Complexity issues of the model-checker were also identified and resolved. Adoption challenges of formal methods were addressed by the development of suit.able specification and verification interfaces. The properties of the configurable system and its ISA-Oriented interface were verified using various refinement models including the Tau Priority Model. Finally, the conformance of the ISA-Orien ted Specification methodology to abstract specifications of selected communication protocols was also verified. This thesis is the first to devise mathematical techniques for expressing and analysing the state-space complexity of formal models, the first to develop and use waveform visualisation for the analysis of timing specifications of formal models , and the first application of the newly released Tau Priority Model.

In recent years, within the broad context of mobile communication systems, a significant research has been evolved in the study of wireless ad-hoc networks. Due to the self-organizing nature of these networks, efficient delivery of data packets to the mobile nodes, where the topology is neither pre-determined nor does the network have central control, many problems arise in order to ensure a persistent communication. Packet loss in a multi-hop network is a major concern for ad-hoc distributed networks based systems. MAC layer contention is much more severe in multihop ad hoc networks as compared to wireless LANs. To mitigate this problem, we present a distributed, TDMA and slotted ALOHA protocol based communication approach for mobile robots in ad-hoc networks. Our work focuses on real time communication in a dynamic network where nodes can leave and join the network anytime. In this thesis, we propose an algorithm to establish self-sustaining communication among nodes. In our system processes become aware of their surrounding using slotted ALOHA protocol. Our system ensures self-stability by detecting lost messages and reset the system to ALOHA. Subsequently the system initiates the communication process again.

Our work shows that with combined ALOHA and TDMA protocol, a resilient and robust communication is achievable, where the packet loss is minimum. Our work also shows that self sustaining distributed communication is possible with minimum transitions to the different communication states, such as ALOHA to TDMA. This thesis demonstrates a successful communication process among mobile robotic nodes using our proposed algorithm. In this thesis, we also define the safety, liveness, and fairness properties using linear time logic (LTL) to verify the correctness of the proposed algorithm. We have defined these properties for our algorithm. We then verify the system for these properties under error prone conditions such as message loss, along with this we also make sure that our algorithm follows a fair approach of resource allocation and never end in an undesirable state. We have modeled our communication algorithm using SPIN model checker. SPIN is based on PROMELA language and provides an extensive user interface to define the model and verify the properties using Formal Methods of Verification.

Current technologies are not sufficient to support the full spectrum of organizational communications because organizations are open systems and organizational communication is rather complex (e.g., involves negotiations). Speech Acts is a branch of Linguistics which views speaking to be the same as acting. Recently, Speech Acts theory has been introduced into the design of computer systems, like organizational information systems (OISs), that require complex interactions among themselves. By doing so, it is hoped that actions can be incorporated into man-machine and machine-machine communications. In this thesis, one tractable portion of the speech act theory was identified which can provide a basis for the automation of a class of semi-structured communications (e.g., simple negotiations) in a distributed organizational environment. This portion of rather abstract Linguistics theory was transformed into a concrete application layer communication protocol (namely, the SACT protocol), which was then validated using a protocol validation tool (i.e., VALIRA), specified in a standard formal specification language LOTOS, and simulated using a protocol development toolkit (i.e., the Ottawa University LOTOS Toolkit). This protocol can be used by computer-based organizational systems to automate simple negotiations, as well as recurring tasks of collecting information in an organizational environment. In addition, a communication scheme (called SACT network) was added to the Woo and Lochovsky's MOAP (Micro Organization Activity Processor) model to automate inter-micro-organizational communications using the SACT protocol. The usefulness of this scheme is demonstrated through an example application.
Science, Faculty of
Computer Science, Department of
Graduate

The present article turns on the basis of the Communication Theory of Law as it has been developed by Professor Gregorio Robles, who has elaborated his theory being based on the conception of Law as a system of communication between the human beings. This article focuses on analyzing one of the fundamental elements concerning his Theory: the idea of conceiving the Law as a text. The article finishes with a few valuations.
El presente artículo versa sobre la fundamentación de la Teoría Comunicacional del Derecho tal y como la ha desarrollado el profesor Gregorio Robles basándose en la concepción del Derecho como un sistema de comunicación entre los seres humanos. Este artículo se centra en analizar uno de los elementos fundamentales en torno al cual pivota su Teoría: la idea de concebir el Derecho como texto. Por último, el artículo finaliza con unas valoraciones.

Orientador: Elisa Angotti Kossovitch
Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Educação
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Doutorado
Educação, Sociedade, Politica e Cultura
Doutor em Educação

Background: Good parent-child connectedness, general and substance use specific communication are protective against alcohol, tobacco and drug use during adolescence. Previous research also suggests that general communication with foster and other statutory carers is associated with more positive outcomes, including relationships with caregivers and siblings. However, no studies have examined substance use specific communication between looked after young people and their carers. Aims: The aim of this study was to gain an understanding of how carers and looked after young people communicate about alcohol, tobacco and drug use and the factors that shape communication, including the use of digital media. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted, using in-depth interviews with 13 looked after young people in foster and residential care; two social workers; six foster carers and eight residential care workers. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and the data were analysed thematically. Findings: Relationships between carers and young people were crucial and acted as the antecedent to communication. Carers' role identity influenced their relationships with young people and their approach to and communication about substance use. Shared doing provided a way in which communication about substances could be facilitated in an environment which feels natural. The context in which communication occurred was important, with differences between foster and residential care. Digital media were viewed with caution, as something used to gain information about substances but not as a way of communicating with young people. Conclusions: The findings have implications for foster carers and residential care staff working with looked after young people, in terms of relationships and communication about substance use. Carers should continue to develop positive relationships with young people, whilst considering the potentially negative effects of conflicts in professional role identity. Techniques such as shared doing and encouraging natural conversations about substance use may help.

With the development of digital networks, such as Internet, communication protocols are omnipresent. Digital devices have to interact with each other in order to perform the numerous and complex tasks we have come to expect as commonplace, such as using a mobile phone, sending or receiving electronic mail, making purchases online and so on. In such applications, security is important. For instance, in the case of an online purchase, the right amount of money has to be paid without leaking the buyer personal information to outside parties. Communication protocols are the rules that govern these interactions. In order to make sure that they guarantee a certainlevel of security, it is desirable to analyze them. Doing so manually or by testing them is not enough, as attacks can be quite subtle. Some protocols have been used for years before an attack was discovered. Because of their increasing ubiquity in many important applications, e.g. electronic commerce, a very important research challenge consists in developing methods and verification tools to increase our trust on security protocols, and so on the applications that rely on them. For example, more than 28 billion Euros were spent in France using Internet transactions, and the number is growing. Moreover, new types of protocols are continuously appearing in order to face new technological and societal challenges, e.g. electronic voting, electronic passport to name a few.

The field of chip design is characterized by contradictory pressures to reduce time-to-market and maintain a high level of reliability. As a result, module reuse has become common practice in chip design. To save time on both design and verification, Systems-on-Chips (SoCs) are composed using pre-designed and pre-verified modules. The integrated modules are often designed by different groups and for different purposes, and are later integrated into a single chip. In the absence of a single interface standard for such modules, "plug-n-play" style integration is not likely, as the subject modules are often designed to comply with different interface protocols. For such modules to communicate correctly there is a need for some glue logic, also called a protocol converter that mediates between them. Though much research has been dedicated to the protocol converter synthesis problem of SoC communication, converter synthesis is still performed manually, consuming development and verification time and risking human error. Current approaches to automatic synthesis of protocol converters mostly lack formal foundations and either employ abstractions far removed from the Hardware Description Language (HDL) implementation level or grossly simplify the structure of the protocols considered. This thesis develops and presents techniques for automatic synthesis of provably correct on-chip protocol converters. Basing the solution on a formal approach, a novel state-machine based formalism is presented for modelling bus-based protocols and formalizing the notions of protocol compatibility and correct protocol conversion. Algorithms for automatic compatibility checking and provably-correct converter synthesis are derived from the formalism, including a systematic exploration of the design space of the protocol converter, the first in the field, which enables generation of various alternative deterministic converters. The work presented is unique in its combination of a completely formal approach and the use of a low abstraction level that enables precise modelling of protocol characteristics and automatic translation of the constructed converter to HDL.

This thesis presents a novel Dynamic Gesture Language Recognition (DGLR) system for human-robot and inter-robot communication. We developed and implemented an experimental setup consisting of a humanoid robot/android able to recognize and execute in real time all the arm gestures of the Dynamic Gesture Language (DGL) in similar way as humans do. Our DGLR system comprises two main subsystems: an image processing (IP) module and a linguistic recognition system (LRS) module. The IP module enables recognizing individual DGL gestures. In this module, we use the bag-of-features (BOFs) and a local part model approach for dynamic gesture recognition from images. Dynamic gesture classification is conducted using the BOFs and nonlinear support-vector-machine (SVM) methods. The multiscale local part model preserves the temporal context. The IP module was tested using two databases, one consisting of images of a human performing a series of dynamic arm gestures under different environmental conditions and a second database consisting of images of an android performing the same series of arm gestures. The linguistic recognition system (LRS) module uses a novel formal grammar approach to accept DGL-wise valid sequences of dynamic gestures and reject invalid ones. LRS consists of two subsystems: one using a Linear Formal Grammar (LFG) to derive the valid sequence of dynamic gestures and another using a Stochastic Linear Formal Grammar (SLFG) to occasionally recover gestures that were unrecognized by the IP module. Experimental results have shown that the DGLR system had a slightly better overall performance when recognizing gestures made by a human subject (98.92% recognition rate) than those made by the android (97.42% recognition rate).

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2004.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 155-157).
In the future, groups of autonomous robots will cooperate in large networks in order to achieve a common goal. These multi-agent systems will need to be able to execute cooperative temporal plans in the presence of temporal uncertainty and communication limitations. The duration of many planned activities will not be under direct control of the robots. In addition, robots will often not be able to communicate during plan execution. In order for the robots to robustly execute a cooperative plan, they will need to guarantee that a successful execution strategy exists, and provide a means to reactively compensate for the uncertainty in real-time. This thesis presents a multi-agent executive that enables groups of distributed autonomous robots to dynamically schedule temporally flexible plans that contain both temporal uncertainty under communication limitations. Previous work has presented controllability algorithms that compile the simple temporal networks with uncertainty, STNUs, into a form suitable for execution. This thesis extends the previous controllability algorithms to operate on two-layer plans that specify group level coordination at the highest level and agent level coordination at a lower level. We introduce a Hierarchical Reformulation (HR) algorithm that reformulates the two-layer plan in order to enable agents to dynamically adapt to uncertainty within each group plan and use a static execution strategy between groups in order to compensate for communication limitations. Formally, the HR algorithm ensures that the two-layer plan is strongly controllable at the highest level and dynamically controllable at the lower level. Furthermore, we introduce a new fast dynamic controllability algorithm that has been empirically shown to run in O(N³)
(cont.) The Hierarchical Reformulation algorithm has been validated on a set of hand coded examples. The speed of the new fast dynamic controllability algorithm has been tested using a set of randomly generated problems.
by John L. Stedl.
S.M.

CAPES
Na última década vem sendo institucionalizadas no Brasil políticas públicas de popularização da ciência e da tecnologia. Todavia, poucos estudos têm sido realizados sobre as metodologias utilizadas e os conteúdos desenvolvidos. Nesse contexto, a tese tem como objetivo central examinar a divulgação da nanotecnologia em mídias que respondem a interesses e valores de grupos sociais diferentes, e indagar, mediante uma análise comparativa, quais são as características dos modelos de divulgação utilizados, quais são os conteúdos referenciados e quais não são abordados, e qual é sua função educativa. Utiliza-se a metodologia de análise de conteúdo, de cunho qualitativo e quantitativo, a partir dos fundamentos dos Estudos Sociais da Ciência e da Tecnologia, em especial dos Latino-americanos, e da educação não-formal. Analisam-se as seções de ciência do programa de TV aberta Bom Dia Brasil e do jornal Folha de S. Paulo no período de 2008 a 2010, e uma amostra não aleatória de 20% dos programas Nanotecnologia do Avesso, programa de entrevistas em webTV, no período de 2009 a 2010. Observou-se, mediante análise comparativa, que as definições de nanotecnologia variam bastante entre os meios, dependendo de quem as produz e das circunstâncias que levam à sua promulgação e estabilização. No Bom Dia Brasil e na Folha de S. Paulo o conceito de nanotecnologia enfatiza o artefato material e explicita minimamente sua configuração social por uma rede sociotécnica, aspecto amplamente abordado no Nanotecnologia do Avesso. Todas as mídias descrevem as novas propriedades e funções da matéria em nanoescala, mas diferem na forma de fazê-lo, de acordo com os interesses dos atores relevantes representados: ora salientam o potencial de inovação que tais propriedades geram, ora novos riscos associados a elas. No Bom Dia Brasil e na Folha de S. Paulo sobressaem expectativas de que tais novas propriedades e funcionalidades redundem em benefícios, tais como produtos mais eficientes para a abertura de novos mercados, avanços na saúde e qualidade de vida e preservação do meio ambiente. Essas visões reproduzem discursos baseados em modelos lineares, como a suposta neutralidade, inexorabilidade e progresso contínuo da ciência e da tecnologia. No Nanotecnologia do Avesso é proeminente a discussão de potenciais riscos e implicações sociais, legais e éticas da nanotecnologia, e a demanda pela aplicação do princípio de precaução e regulação obrigatória. Conclui-se que a divulgação sobre nanotecnologia é um processo educativo repleto de tensões e polarizações, que transcende sua especificidade de prática simbólica e se articula com a prática produtiva e social, ora aproximando-se, ora afastando-se da perspectiva de cidadania sociotécnica, de acordo com os modelos de divulgação adotados e os grupos sociais representados nas diferentes mídias.
Over the last decade, public policies for science and technology popularization have been institutionalized in Brazil. However, there are a limited number of studies on the methodologies used and the contents developed. In this context, the central goal of this thesis is to examine the scientific popularization on nanotechnology in different media that respond to interests and values of different social groups, and to investigate, through a comparative analysis, the characteristics of the science popularization models utilized by these media, the contents addressed and those absent, and their educative function. The methodological approach consists of a content analysis, both qualitative and quantitative, based on the Social Studies of Science and Technology, particularly the Latin American strands, and the studies on non-formal education. The thesis analyzes the Science sections of the open television program Bom Dia Brasil and the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo produced during the period 2008-2010, and a non-aleatory 20% sample of the webTV interview show Nanotecnologia do Avesso exhibited during 2009-2010. The comparative analysis showed that definitions of nanotechnology considerably vary among the media, depending on who produced them and the circumstances that led to their enunciation and stabilization. In Bom Dia Brasil and Folha de S. Paulo the concept of nanotechnology emphasizes the material artifact, providing scarce information on its socio-technical configuration, while the latter aspect is widely addressed by the program Nanotecnologia do Avesso. All the media describe the new properties and functions of the matter in the nanoscale, but differ in the way they do it, according to the interests of the relevant actors represented, some highlighting the potential for innovation that stems from such properties; other stressing the new risks they entail. Bom Dia Brasil and Folha de S. Paulo emphasize the promises and benefits of these new properties and functionalities, such as more efficient products that will open up new markets, advances in health research and quality of life, and environmental preservation. Such visions reproduce discourses based on linear models that stress the neutrality, inexorability and continuous progress of science and technology. In Nanotecnologia do Avesso is preeminent the discussion on potential risks and social, legal and ethical implications of nanotechnology, and the demand for the application of the precautionary principle and mandatory regulation. The conclusion of the thesis is that science popularization on nanotechnology is an educational process full of tensions and polarizations that transcends its specificity of symbolic practice and is articulated to the broader social and productive practice, sometimes approaching, sometimes deviating from the sociotechnical citizenship perspective, depending on the popularization models that are used and the social groups that are represented.

This body of work constitutes a description of the development and implementation of the Formal Communication Strategy for the Service Purchasing and Development (SPD) directorate of the Disability Services Commission (Commission) in Perth, Western Australia. The aim of the Strategy was to increase the transfer of information: - withinSPD, - between SPD and other Commission directorates; and - between SPD and non-government organisations. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to develop the Strategy which included incorporating information obtained from a review of the literature; results of a pre- and post-implementation questionnaire; and the directions outlined by senior management within the SPD directorate. While some limitations were apparent with the methodology used within the project, there is evidence to suggest that the development and implementation of the Formal Communication Strategy has increased the transfer of information across the three domains explored.

Thesis (Msc (Mathematical Sciences. Computer Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Model checkers are programs that automatically verify, without human assistance, that certain user-specified properties hold in concurrent software systems. Since these programs often have expensive time and memory requirements, an active area of research is the development of distributed model checkers that run on clusters. Of particular interest is how the communication between the machines can be reduced to speed up their running time. In this thesis the design decisions involved in an on-the-fly distributed model checker are identified and discussed. Furthermore, the implementation of such a program is described. The central idea behind the algorithm is the generation and distribution of data throughout the nodes of the cluster. We introduce several techniques to reduce the communication among the nodes, and study their effectiveness by means of a set of models.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Modeltoetsers is programme wat outomaties bevestig, sonder enige hulp van die gebruiker, dat gelopende sagteware aan sekere gespesifiseerde eienskappe voldoen. Die feit dat hierdie programme dikwels lang looptye en groot geheues benodig, het daartoe aanleiding gegee dat modeltoetsers wat verspreid oor ’n groep rekenaars hardloop, aktief nagevors word. Dit is veral belangrik om vas te stel hoe die kommunikasie tussen rekenaars verminder kan word om sodoende die looptyd te verkort. Hierdie tesis identifiseer en bespreek die ontwerpsbesluite betrokke in die ontwikkeling van ’n verspreide modeltoetser. Verder word die implementasie van so ’n program beskryf. Die kernidee is die generasie en verspreiding van data na al die rekenaars in die groep wat aan die probleem werk. Ons stel verskeie tegnieke voor om die kommunikasie tussen die rekenaar te verminder en bestudeer die effektiwiteit van hierdie tegnieke aan die hand van ’n lys modelle.

Institutional initiatives set up to meet the demands of a fast changing higher education (HE) landscape do not comfortably sit within a single academic or administrative department but instead require blended professionals, with a mixed portfolio of work, to operate in third space – between the administrative and academic domains of institutions (Whitchurch, 2008). Heads of e-Learning (HeLs) in UK HE institutions are one such group of professionals who lead the enhancement of learning and teaching through the use of technology. However, one must question how HeLs continue to learn and develop in their roles as transformational leaders to meet the continuous demands posed by the ever-changing HE environment and the evolution of technology. This research explored the affordances of third space as a learning environment, questioned how learning and leadership development take place through non-formal workplace experiences, and sought to relate these back to HeLs’ perceived developmental needs. The concept of liminality (van Gennep, 1960; Turner, 1969) was employed as a theoretical framework, learning was conceptualised as socially constructed identity formation and leadership development was deemed to be a result of learning. A mixed methodological approach was employed and a unique analytical framework shed light on data derived from nine in-depth interviews. Third space environments were found to be ‘expansive’ (Evans et al., 2006), with qualities which afforded transformational learning experiences that permanently altered the ways in which one understands the world around them. Liminal conditions in third space environments provided a means of reconciling a leader’s espoused theories and their theories-in-use, whilst leadership development was linked to learner readiness and the development of credibility. Underpinned by participatory practices, the theory of ‘possible selves’ (Ibarra, 2004) offered a means of understanding transformational learning and development in third space, and brought the concept of leadership closer to active citizenship.

‘Libertad dirigida: análisis formal del videojuego como sistema, su estructura y su avataridad’ Esta tesis se enmarca dentro de los Estudios del Videojuego (en concreto, en Teoría del Diseño). Su objeto principal es la libertad de acción dentro del sistema jugable, entendida como “libertad dirigida”. Esta libertad surge de la combinación de la “avataridad” (representación del jugador) y la flexibilidad de la estructura (sus posibilidades y el orden de la partida inherente a su diseño). Esta tesis desarrolla un modelo teórico y de análisis metodológico de estos dos aspectos que sitúa la autoría de la partida como algo compartido entre creador y jugador. Entre ambos se establece un pacto jugable que fija los límites de la libertad ofrecida. Se estudian cuatro casos correspondientes a cuatro combinaciones: representación y estructura cerradas en ‘Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater’, representación cerrada y estructura abierta en ‘Catherine’, representación y estructura abiertas en ‘Mass Effect 3’ y representación abierta y estructura cerrada en ‘3D Dot Game Heroes’.
‘Directed Freedom: Formal Analysis of the Videogame as a System, its Structure and its Avatarness’ This dissertation belongs in the field of Game Studies (and, specifically, Game Design Theory). Its main object is the freedom of action within the videogame system, understood as “directed freedom”. This freedom arises from the combination of the “avatarness” (representation of the player) and the flexibility of the game structure (its possibilities and the order engraved in its design). This dissertation develops a theoretical and methodological model for the analysis of these two aspects, describing the authorship of the play process as something shared by the designer and the player. Between them there is a playable pact that delimits the offered freedom. Four cases, corresponding to four combinations, are studied: closed representation and structure in ‘Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater’, closed representation and open structure in ‘Catherine’, open representation and structure in ‘Mass Effect 3’ and open representation and closed structure in ‘3D Dot Game Heroes’

Entertainment Education is a communication strategy widely used in non-formal community education for the purpose of inspiring behaviour and social change. As an international development strategy for educational interventions in mostly developing countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America, the practice is founded on persuasive communication aimed for the diffusion of ‘modern’ innovation. Entertainment Education has been commended for its efficiency in creation of awareness amongst target communities, but criticised for its inability to generate enduring practical change in the lives of the target community members. Situating this practice within Emancipatory Transformative Education, I interrogated the emancipatory principles of democratic practice in Entertainment Education as representational of an intercultural educational space. I did this with a sample case of Geenu Nti programme situated in Northern Nigeria and executed by an American centre for international development. My interaction with the programme stakeholders and audience through the use of semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and documentary analysis revealed that despite efforts at participatory practice, the programme fell short of the key emancipatory values of intellectual equality and freedom in its educational content and process. This raised the need for the reconceptualization of current approach in the management of transformative change in individuals and communities and a relational concern with practitioners’ approach to emancipatory education in general. Drawing on the thoughts of emancipatory education philosophers like Freire, Rancière and Biesta as well as trialectic change philosophers like Bergson, Chia and Ford & Ford, I conceptualised the principles of a model of emancipatory educational change practice. These principles were then articulated into a realisable interactional space with ideas drawn from Ross and Harré to develop a Model of Emancipatory Education for Change which presents an equally creative and expressive inter-subjective communicative relationship between the educator and the ‘educandee’**. Here the educator, through democratic authority simultaneously challenges and nourishes the educadee’s freedom for autonomous growth within individual and collective existential realities, while equally navigating personal growth. The model furthers the idea of emancipation as a process of subjectification to a conceptualisation of emancipation as a process of subjectified socialisation. NB **: The term ‘educandee’ is adopted from Kivelä et al. (1995) and Biesta (1998) and introduced in the later part of the work to signify my concept of participants in communicative educational engagements. I use the term educandee to convey my concept of an educational participant who, under a relatively equal power relation with the educator, actively participates in the educational process as an autonomous individual creating response to own existential circumstances under the intentional support or guidance of a skilled practitioner. This represents the ‘educated’ which is generally my preferred term as against the ‘learner’ or ‘student’ that I deliberately avoided using except when presenting the ideas of other scholars and in their own terms.

The primary purpose of this study was to examine and understand the nature of Information and communication technology (ICT) supported formal women business networks (eFWBNs) and their contribution to the development of women entrepreneurs. For over a decade, studies on women’s entrepreneurship, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa, have reiterated the importance of, and need for, women’s involvement in formal women business networks (FWBNs). In this study, FWBNs are defined as networks that have women entrepreneurs as key actors and are often affiliated with consultants, business practitioners, and government. FWBNs provide benefits and access to useful resources that are not easily accessible to women entrepreneurs due to several constraints. FWBNs have been found to be slow to leverage ICTs to facilitate and enhance their activities even in the era of globalisation. While FWBNs exist in sub-Saharan Africa, there is a dearth of research on their characteristics, structure and operation. Particularly within the information systems field, there is paucity of recearch around the integration and use of ICTs in WBNs. Thus, there is limited guidance on what makes a FWBN achieve its objectives and how these networks may leverage technology to enhance and facilitate their operations and activities. For these reasons, this study sought to shed light on the nature of eFWBNs and their use of ICTs. To achieve this objective, multidisciplinary theories were reviewed and an integrative theoretical framework developed. This revealed that an eFWBN is a configuration of distinct but inter-related elements – actors, relationships, resources, governance, external support and ICTs – which interplay to provide contributions and benefits to women entrepreneurs. This thesis proposed that the stronger the coherence among the core elements of the eFWBN, and the operating and support mechanisms, the greater will be their contribution and benefits. This proposition was tested in an empirical study involving three network cases in Kenya and South Africa, using mixed methods. The qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis, and converted to quantitative data using the quantitisation technique. The quantitised data and the data collected using quantitative methods were combined to test the model using cluster analysis. The cluster analysis resulted in three clusters representing the three eFWBNs cases in this study. The findings revealed that the Kenyan networks had achieved coherence amongst the elements of the network and as such attained good outcomes. However, the South African network did not report good outcomes, suggesting they had not attained coherence amongst the element in the network. The findings also provided results contrary to the observations in literature about the use of ICTs in eFWBNs. In this study, not only ICTs were highly leveraged at the network-level and were an integral part to the strategy, the existence and operation of the network. This research makes significant contribution to knowledge by providing insight and understanding into an under-researched area (eFWBNs). The key theoretical contribution of this study is the integrative theoretical framework that overcomes the limitations of earlier theories used to study networks. It integrates various theories into a framework that identifies and explains more comprehensively the various aspects and operations of eFWBNs. It also advances the configurational theory as an effective approach to measuring complex relationships. This study also makes significant methodological contributions. There is currently a dearth of knowledge on how to fully integrate both qualitative and quantitative data in mixed methods research. Thus, by adopting the quantitisation technique, this study provides knowledge on how to convert qualitative data to quantitative data to achieve synthesis of both methods in a single study. Also, the adoption of realism as a philosophical stance helped to overcome the challenges of mixing methods and paradigms in one research project. The findings of this study also have practical implications. The findings showed that at the membership level, women entrepreneurs need to apply more agency in establishing relationships and translate the acquired resources within the network into benefits for their businesses. At the network-level, the evidence revealed that leaders of eFWBNs need to ensure they balance the needs of their members in order to carry the members along and preventing them from feeling excluded. The findings also asserted the importance of developmental, private and public organisations to eFWBNs. Lastly, government and practitioners can draw from the understanding provided of eFWBNs, to create and establish policies that can aid women entrepreneurs’ successes and growth. The theoretical, practical and methodological contributions are further discussed in this thesis. The study concludes with a discussion on the limitations of the study and recommendations for future research.

Orientador: Cristiane Pereira Dias
Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Estudos da Linguagem
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Resumo: A capoeira angola, por meio de sua prática e história de resistência cultural frente às racionalidades hegemônicas, desempenha papéis relevantes para a difusão da cultura afro-brasileira, acompanhado as mudanças históricas, científicas e tecnológicas da sociedade. Assim, sua história e institucionalização nos conduz para uma reflexão em torno das formas e potencialidades da produção e divulgação cultural de seus saberes populares específicos, bem como da própria legitimidade da capoeira angola. Nesse contexto, esta dissertação de mestrado tem como objetivo identificar e analisar quais são os saberes produzidos na Escola de Capoeira Angola Resistência (ECAR); compreender como eles são re-construídos e circulados entre os/as integrantes da Escola; assim como analisar as formas de divulgação interna e externa desses conhecimentos. Procuramos ainda, descrever como a ECAR utiliza os meios tradicionais (oralidade, roda de capoeira, musicalidade) e contemporâneos (internet, fotografias, vídeos) para produzir e divulgar os conhecimentos e as memórias da capoeira angola. Para isso, desenvolvemos teoricamente a discussão sobre a memória e a divulgação do conhecimento popular e científico na atualidade, com vistas à valorização e ampliação da divulgação cultural dos saberes populares. Também discutimos as relações entre a educação formal, informal e não-formal estabelecidas em uma escola baseada nos saberes populares da capoeira angola e na vida cotidiana de seus integrantes. Partindo da metodologia referenciada nos estudos da memória e da história oral, colhemos depoimentos e fotografias dos integrantes da ECAR (Contra-mestre, Professores, Treneis, alunas e alunos) e, somada a uma observação participante (em que o pesquisador também faz parte do grupo pesquisado), construímos uma narrativa por meio do diálogo entre os teóricos acadêmicos e os sujeitos da pesquisa acerca de seus próprios saberes. Dessa forma, a dissertação buscou contribuir com os processos educativos interiores à escola; com o acervo de pesquisas em torno da capoeira angola e dos saberes populares, bem como com o fazer científico pautado em processos solidários e coletivos para re-pensar a educação e a comunicação popular
Abstract: The capoeira angola, through its experience and history of cultural resistance by hegemonic rationalities, plays important rules in the diffusion of the afro-brazilian culture, following the historical, scientific and technological changes of the society. Therefore, its history and institutionalization conduct us to a reflection surrounding production's forms and potentialities and the cultural propagation of its specific popular knowledges, as well as the legitimacy of the capoeira angola itself. In this context, this dissertation aims to identify and analyze which are the knowledges produced at "Resistência" School of Capoeira Angola (ECAR); understand how they are reorganized and worked between the members of School; as well as examine ways of internal and external disclosure of such knowledges. We also seek to describe how ECAR uses traditional means (orality, capoeira street ritual, musicality) and contemporary (internet, pictures, videos) to product knowledges and memories of capoeira angola. For this, we developed a theoretical discussion about the memory and communication of popular and scientific knowledges today with a view to recovery and wider advertising of cultural propagation of popular knowledges. We also discussed the relationship between formal, informal and non-formal education established in a school based on popular knowledge of the capoeira angola and on everyday life of its members. Based on the methodology referred to memory studies and oral history, we collected testimonials and photographs of the members of ECAR (Contra-mestre, Teachers, Treneis and students) and, added to a participant observation (in which the researcher is also part of the researched group), we constructed a narrative through dialogue between the academic theorists and the researched subjects about their own knowledges. Thus, this dissertation seeks to contribute with educational processes into the School; with the body of research around capoeira angola and popular knowledges, as well as the scientific work guided by solidarity and collective processes to re-think popular education and communication
Mestrado
Divulgação Científica e Cultural
Mestre em Divulgação Científica e Cultural

As the nature of work is rapidly changing, organizations in developed nations all over the world are experiencing shifts in the age composition of their workforces. These changes, which include an aging workforce that is becoming increasingly age-diverse, indicate that organizational researchers and practitioners need to be better aware of how age differences manifest themselves in the workplace and what implications this has for effective employee management. In the current study it is proposed that employees of different ages react differently to various elements of a formal performance feedback event. Specifically, Carstensen's developmental Socio-emotional Selectivity Theory is used as a theoretical backing for explaining how and why employees of different ages perceive and react to performance feedback differently based on their perceptions of the valence, content quality, and delivery quality of the feedback. The results show evidence of age differences in feedback reactions, with younger adults being particularly concerned with information that will benefit them in the future and older adults being particularly concerned with information that conveys a positive relationship with one's supervisor. These findings have both conceptual and practical implications as we seek to build workplace aging theory and find ways to better manage and retain valuable employees of all ages in a changing world of work.

Thesis (DAppLing)--Macquarie University, Division of Linguistics and Psychology, Department of Linguistics, 2008.
Bibliography: p. 404-418.
Introduction -- Literature review -- Methodology -- Results -- Discussion -- Conclusion.
This study sets out to examine the pragmatic competence of Cantonese adult learners of English possessing different levels of proficiency when performing the speech act of requesting for a formal purpose in writing. Pragmatic judgment - one of the two aspects of pragmatic competence - was examined by studying the most proficient group (i.e., native Cantonese-speaking EFL teachers at university), whereas pragmatic performance - the other aspect of pragmatic competence - was examined by studying the two weaker groups (i.e., university students at two language proficient levels). Both pragmatic judgment and pragmatic performance were examined by investigating the same four dependent variables (i.e., politeness, directness, formality and amount of information). Teacher data, collected through a Pragmatic Judgment Questionnaire completed and returned by sixteen EFL teachers (eight native Cantonese speakers and eight native English speakers) and by means of individual interviews, were analyzed quantitatively for responses to twelve questions and qualitatively for responses to an additional two questions. Student data, consisting of both experimental and authentic letters and e-mails, were analyzed quantitatively. -- Main research findings suggest: *It is possible for very proficient NNSs of English, (i.e., the EFL teachers in this study), to achieve native-like pragmatic judgments in most aspects, except for their views on several pragmatic considerations (i.e., "unnaturally polite" expressions, usefulness of "negative" words, supportive moves not to be used and writing plans preferred). *As the English proficiency of L2 learners improves from Grade E to Grade A/B (as determined by the Hong Kong A-level Examinations in the subject "Use of English"), their pragmatic performance shows improvement. -- For pedagogical reasons, a qualitative analysis was conducted for Questions 1 and 2 in order to generate examples of "unnaturally polite"/ "polite" / "impolite" expressions and to provide examples of inappropriate supportive moves in relation to three writing topics.
Mode of access: World Wide Web.
xvii, 576 p

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Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
The organizational grapevine has been studied since the World War II in the United States. In Brazil, this communication process has gained prominence in late 1970 with the labor movements looking for democratic forms of communication during the military regime. The formal face-to-face communication began to be practiced in organizations in the mid-1990s with the arrival of new models of international business management. Based on the study of both grapevine and formal face-to-face communication, by bibliographic research and in-depth interviews with academics and professionals from different fields of knowledge, it was possible to describe their histories, attributes and roles in organizations nowadays, and how these two forms of face-to-face communication (formal and informal) interact with each other, according to personal or organizational interests.(AU)
A rádio-peão é estudada nos Estados Unidos desde o período pós II Guerra Mundial. No Brasil, este processo comunicacional ganhou relevância no final da década de 1970 com os movimentos operários que buscavam formas democráticas de diálogo, durante o regime militar. Já a comunicação formal face a face começou a ser praticada nas organizações brasileiras em meados dos anos 1990, com a chegada de novos modelos internacionais de gestão empresarial. Ao estudar estes dois formatos de comunicação, através de pesquisas bibliográfica e documental e entrevistas semi-abertas com acadêmicos e profissionais de mercado de diferentes áreas de conhecimento e atuação, foi possível um aprofundamento acerca de suas histórias, atributos e papéis desempenhados hoje, nas organizações, além de como essas formas de comunicação face a face (formal e informal) interagem entre si, de acordo com interesses pessoais ou organizacionais.(AU)

Mestrado em Gestão de Recursos Humanos
A comunicação interna desempenha um papel estratégico fundamental no seio das organizações, com impacto comprovado na satisfação, motivação e envolvimento dos colaboradores, na qual, cada vez mais, a Gestão de Recursos Humanos se fundamenta e justifica. Esta investigação procura avaliar a satisfação dos funcionários de uma empresa de seguros não-vida relativamente à comunicação interna formal. Foram utilizados três questionários similares, dirigidos a três grupos hierárquicos distintos (Colaboradores, Chefias Diretas e Chefias de Topo), no sentido de conhecer os seus graus de satisfação em função dos fluxos de informação horizontal, descendente e ascendente que incidiram sobre determinados fatores e meios de comunicação. As conclusões revelaram que os três grupos amostrais estão determinantemente satisfeitos com os fatores de comunicação, entre os quais ganha maior saliência a confiança/credibilidade na informação transmitida. Quanto aos meios, o e-mail destaca-se pela utilização, satisfação e preferência entre os três grupos, seguindo-se-lhe os meios que implicam contacto pessoal entre os inquiridos.
Internal communication plays a fundamental strategic role within organizations. With a proven impact on employee satisfaction, motivation and involvement, has a major contribute on the foundation of the Human Resources. This investigation goal is to evaluate the impact of formal internal communication in the satisfaction of employees of a non-life insurance company. Three similar surveys were distributed among Employees, Direct Managers and Top Management in order to find out their satisfaction levels determined by horizontal, descending and ascending information flows. These surveys were focused on the factors information and media. The results showed convergence of the three sample groups studied. Also showed that they were satisfied with the communication factors, with focus on the confidence/credibility of the information transmitted. Regarding the means, the e-mail stands out for its use, satisfaction and preference among the three groups, followed by the means that imply personal contact between the respondents.
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Neste trabalho refletimos sobre a comunicação produzida nos movimentos de ocupação urbana e sobre o processo de legitimação movido por ela dentro desses espaços. Nosso objeto de estudo é a Ocupação Contestado, organizada pelas Brigadas Populares em São José, região metropolitana de Florianópolis, e a Ocupação 06 de abril de 2010, estruturada pelo Movimento dos Trabalhadores Sem Teto (MTST), em Niterói, no Rio de Janeiro. Nessas ocupações, inúmeros produtos de comunicação são desenvolvidos pelas organizações políticas afim de apresentar os objetivos dos grupos, pedir socorro em momentos de emergência ou rememorar a trajetória das famílias que compõe os movimentos afim de retomar laços perdidos ao longo dos anos. A partir de um mapeamento da comunicação produzida pelas Brigadas Populares e MTST dentro desses movimentos, esta pesquisa discute suas estratégias e efeitos a partir do referencial teórico e de entrevistas com membros das ocupações e das organizações políticas. A análise revela que a comunicação legitima no discurso os movimentos de ocupação e as organizações políticas. Os depoimentos e a forma como a comunicação é estruturada reiteram que esse processo de legitimação acontece através do enquadramento da memória e da divulgação do conteúdo produzido a uma comunidade de interesses comuns, que está estabelecida além do território. Dessa forma, a pesquisa aponta que mais importante do que procurar definições para enquadrar a comunicação produzida nas ocupações urbanas em alternativa, popular ou comunitária, é mostrar sua contribuição para legitimação desses movimentos e apresentar distintas formas de organizar comunicação em espaços periféricos
This study reflects on the urban occupation movements communication and on the legitimation process moved by those movements within the occupied space. Our study objects are the Contestado Occupation, organized by Brigadas Populares, in São José, metropolitan region from Florianópolis, and also April 06, 2010 Occupation, structured by Movimento dos Trabalhadores Sem Teto (MTST), in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Several communication's products are developed by the political organizations in these spaces, in order to present their goals, ask for help in emergency moments, or to remind the trejectory of the families that make the movement. From a mapping of the communication produced by Brigadas Populares and MTST within the occupied spaces, this research discusses the communication strategies and effects, using a theoretical referential and interviews with members of the occupations and the political organizations.The analysis reveals that communication legitimizes through discourse occupational movements and political organizations.The statements and the way that communication is structured reiterate that this process of legitimation happens through the framing of memory and the dissemination of content produced to a community of common interests, which is established beyond the territory. In this way, the study shows that more important than searching for definitions to frame the communication produced in urban occupations as alternative, popular or community, is to expose its contribution to the legitimation of those movements and to present different ways to organizing communication in peripheral spaces

Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to investigate Stena Metall’s values and how they are communicated within the organization.

Background: In the Fall of 2008, the world was shocked by the worst financial crisis in decades. The crisis had deep effects on the Swedish economy, and many companies suffered heavily. The recycling and environmental service company Stena Metall experienced their first negative result in 30 years, and 900 employees had to leave the company. An action program, including an altered culture was established with the purpose to adapt the operations to the new business environmental conditions. Values, which are a part of the organizational culture, were decided to be an important part of the change. To implement these in the entire organization a well-structured communication process is needed. Within these subjects; values and communication, a qualitative study at Stena Metall has been conducted.

Method: To fulfill the purpose, a qualitative method has been used. Thirteen interviews were conducted to collect data from different levels of the organization. The interviews were designed differently based on the employee’s level of responsibility in the organization. The theoretical framework used when analyzing the empirical material includes earlier research in the areas of culture, with emphasis on values, and communication.

Conclusion: Two set of values have been identified, core values and aspiration values. The findings indicate a gap in the communicational process at Stena Metall. Part of the new information communicated about Stena Metall´s values is lost on its way from the management to the lower levels in the organization. The perception of what the values mean, both core and aspiration values, differs depending on level in the organization.

A presente dissertação tem como objectivo contribuir para o aprofundamento do estudo metodológico da tipografia enquanto elemento determinante na disciplina do Design de Comunicação. Tendo como tema principal os letreiros da toponímia do centro histórico eborense, pretende-se construir uma proposta metodológica que conjugue a análise histórica, os processos científicos do Design e linguagem artísticas, com o objectivo de determinar um conjunto de factores que evidenciem e identifiquem a identidade visual da cidade, segundo uma perspectiva de passado, presente e futuro. O estudo é organizado em três partes que vão evoluindo de forma sequencial e afunilada, visando cooperar na compreensão e apropriação de um pormenor gráfico inserido num contexto histórico. Sendo assim, a primeira parte é considerada a introdução e orientação para o desenvolvimento do projecto, com referência a nomes como Gutenberg, Toulouse Lautrec, Alphonse Mucha, A. M. Cassandre, Bruno Munari, Robert Indiana, Lawrence Weiner, Jorge Bacelar, Jorge dos Reis, entre outros, que, através dos seus legados e estudos contribuíram de forma decisiva para o desenvolvimento do Design e particularmente a Tipografia. A segunda parte é dedicada ao enquadramento social e artístico eborense e à analise particular dos letreiros toponímicos. Na terceira parte, é desenvolvida uma proposta conceptual e metodológica, através do aperfeiçoamento de um molde tipográfico existente nos letreiros, que será apropriado e explorado no projecto prático, com a intenção de nutrir a este desenho de letra características singulares de identificação da identidade artística eborense. Para além do desenvolvimento metodológico passível de ser introduzido no ensino do Design, pretende-se com esta dissertação explorar as letras, superando o seu significado linguístico. Propondo também a tipografia como objecto formal decomposição visual, a forma significante aliada ao significado; ### SUMMARY: This thesis aims to contribute to the deepening of methodological study of typography as a determining element to the subject area of Communication Design. Having as main theme the toponymy signboards of Évora's historical center, it's intended to build a methodology combining historical analysis, scientific processes of design and artistic language, with the purpose to determine a set of factors that highlight and identify the city's visual identity, according to a past, present and future perspective. The study is organized in three groups that evolve sequentially and in a tapered way in order to cooperate in the understanding and appropriation of a graphic detail inserted in a historical context. Therefore, the first group is considered the introduction and guidance to the project's development, with reference to names like Gutenberg, Toulouse Lautrec, Alphonse Mucha, A. M. Cassandre, Bruno Munari, Robert Indiana, Lawrence Weiner, Jorge Bacelar, Jorge dos Reis, among others, who, through their studies and legacy contributed decisively to the Design and particularly the Typography's development. The second chapter is dedicated to Évora's social and artistic framework and to the particular analysis of toponymic signs. In the third chapter, it is developed a conceptual and methodological proposal approach, by emproving the thypographical mold in the typographic signs, which will be appropriated and exploited in the practical Project, with the intention of nurturing this drawing of letter features unique artistic identity identification of Évora. Beyond the methodological development, that could be introduced in the teaching of Design, this thesis intends to explore the letters, surpassing its linguistic meaning. Proposing typography also as a formal object of visual composition, significant form allied to the meaning.

This descriptive research was undertaken to investigate the preferred channels of communication used in the adoption of livestock production practices by ranchers in the northeastern Mexican state of Nuevo Le??n. The study builds on previous research by Freund (1999). Freund??s study concluded that ranchers in Nuevo Le??n preferred the Uni??n Ganadera as their primary source. However, the producers indicated some communication preferences that resulted in the Uni??n adjusting some of their efforts to reach out to their membership. This study was designed to revisit those livestock producers to investigate what changes had occurred in their preferences for communication since the Freund (1999) study. This research was conducted in the state of Nuevo Le??n, Mexico. The methodology used was a survey employing a questionnaire to collect data. The convenience sample consisted of 273 active members of the Uni??n Ganadera Regional de Nuevo Le??n (UGRNL) who attended regularly scheduled association functions. A principal objective of the research was to describe the communication infrastructure used in the state of Nuevo Le??n by UGRNL livestock producers. Another objective of the research was to describe preferred formal and informal channels of communication that livestock producers use to get information about ranching practices. Yet another objective was to describe what UGRNL livestock producers use as primary sources of information when choosing to adopt or reject agricultural practices, as well as investigating what secondary and feedback channels they prefer. Another objective was to determine which husbandry practices UGRNL livestock producers want more information about. Finally, an emphasis of the study was on what communication channels smaller stakeholders prefer, because the Uni??n wants to use that information to improve its diffusion of technology to that particular group of producers.

The Parameterised Model Checking Problem asks whether an implementation Impl(t) satisfies a specification Spec(t) for all instantiations of parameter t. In general, t can determine numerous entities: the number of processes used in a network, the type of data, the capacities of buffers, etc. The main theme of this thesis is automation of uniform verification of a subclass of PMCP with the parameter of the first kind, using techniques based on counter abstraction. Counter abstraction works by counting how many, rather than which, node processes are in a given state: for nodes with k local states, an abstract state (c(1), ..., c(k)) models a global state where c(i) processes are in the i-th state. We then use a threshold function z to cap the values of each counter. If for some i, counter c(i) reaches its threshold, z(i) , then this is interpreted as there being z(i) or more nodes in the i-th state. The addition of thresholds makes abstract models independent of the instantiation of the parameter. We adapt standard counter abstraction techniques to concurrent reactive systems modelled using the CSP process algebra. We demonstrate how to produce abstract models of systems that do not use node identifiers (i.e. where all nodes are indistinguishable). Every such abstraction is, by construction, refined by all instantiations of the implementation. If the abstract model satisfies the specification, then a positive answer to the particular uniform verification problem can be deduced. We show that by adding node identifiers we make the uniform verification problem undecidable. We demonstrate a sound abstraction method that extends standard counter abstraction techniques to systems that make full use of node identifiers (in specifications and implementations). However, on its own, the method is not enough to give the answer to verification problems for all parameter instantiations. This issue has led us to the development of a type reduction theory, which, for a given verification problem, establishes a function phi that maps all (sufficiently large) instantiations T of the parameter to some fixed type T and allows us to deduce that if Spec(T) is refined by phi(Impl(T)), then Spec(T) is refined by Impl(T). We can then combine this with our extended counter abstraction techniques and conclude that if the abstract model satisfies Spec(T), then the answer to the uniform verification problem is positive. We develop a symbolic operational semantics for CSP processes that satisfy certain normality requirements and we provide a set of translation rules that allow us to concretise symbolic transition graphs. The type reduction theory relies heavily on these results. One of the main advantages of our symbolic operational semantics and the type reduction theory is their generality, which makes them applicable in other settings and allows the theory to be combined with abstraction methods other than those used in this thesis. Finally, we present TomCAT, a tool that automates the construction of counter abstraction models and we demonstrate how our results apply in practice.

The aim of this study is to find out the pupils’ thoughts and experiences about speakingEnglish for second language acquisition in upper secondary school. We want to establish thatoral communication is an important factor towards fulfilling the criteria to strive for indeveloping the pupils’ knowledge and skills in language learning according to the Curriculumfor Compulsory School System (Skolverket, 2006) and the Syllabus for the English Subject(Skolverket, 2001).The background presents theoretical approaches in second language acquisition, such asVygostskij’s, Piaget’s and Krashen’s theories of language acquisition. Communicativecompetence, affective factors, strategies and speech-codes used in the learning process havealso been briefly described in this study.The methods used for collecting data were observations and interviews, with a qualitativesurvey and hermeneutic approach in focus. The research took place in three different schoolsin a municipality in southwest of Sweden. For the observations, there were 71 pupilsparticipating in this study and 37 pupils wanted to collaborate for the interviews. No teacheror school workers were involved or participated in the observations or interviews. We wantedto keep the pupils’ point of view about how they use verbal language skills in English to gainknowledge about the target language.
Uppsatsnivå: C