Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Correlation tracker'

If researchers are able to derive usability simply by analysing gaze data it provides a quick, objective and potentially automatic way of measuring the usability of an interface. In order to do that it is essential to know which traits of the gaze data that have an impact on usability. This paper investigates these traits by analysing different eye tracking metrics in the data. The goal is to see which of these metrics have a general correlation with usability. Previous research provides a clue about which metrics are useful when analysing usability. However, much of the research is based on subjective analysis or lacks in general applicability. This research provides an objective analysis that is independent of characteristics of the interface. A user study is done on 20 participants. They complete tasks on nine different ecommerce websites while their eye movements are recorded. Correlation is measured between usability and eye tracking metrics in order to investigate which metrics that are sensitive to changes in usability. The results show that fixational backtracks and number of fixations have the strongest correlation with usability. Previous research did suggest that both of these eye tracking metrics have an impact on usability.<br>Om det är möjligt för forskare att härleda användbarhet endast genom att analysera ögondata så tillhandahålls ett snabbt, objektivt och potentiellt automatiserat sätt att mäta användbarheten hos ett gränssnitt. För att göra detta är det avgörande att veta vilka karakteristiska drag i ögondatan som påverkar användbarheten. Denna rapport utforskar dessa drag genom att analysera olika mått i ögondatan. Målet är att se vilka av dessa mått som uppvisar en generell korrelation med användbarhet. Tidigare forskning förser oss med ledtrådar om vilka mått som är lämpliga att analysera när användbarhet ska mätas. Dock så är mycket av denna forskning baserad på subjektiv analys eller saknar generell tillämpbarhet. Denna rapport tillhandahåller en objektiv analys som är oberoende av karakteristiken hos gränssnittet. En användarstudie utförs på 20 deltagare. De utför uppgifter på nio olika webbsidor för e-handel medan deras ögonrörelser spelas in. Korrelation mäts mellan användbarhet och mått i ögondatan för att undersöka vilka mått som är känsliga för förändringar i användbarhet. Resultatet visar att tillbakabildande sackader och antal fixeringar har starkast korrelation med användbarhet. Tidigare forskning visade att båda dessa mått påverkades av användbarheten.

Nous étudions la dynamique d'un traceur soumis à une force extérieure dans un bain de particules. Nous proposons un modèle qui prend en compte explicitement la dynamique du bain, et qui décrit les corrélations entre la dynamique du traceur et la réponse du bain. Nous considérons un traceur biaisé dans un gaz de coeurs durs sur réseau : le traceur réalise une marche aléatoire biaisée tandis que les particules du bain réalisent des marches aléatoires symétriques. Nous étudions plus particulièrement les fluctuations de la position du traceur. Dans la limite de haute densité, nous obtenons des résultats exacts à l'ordre dominant en la densité de lacunes. En géométrie confinée, un calcul analytique des fluctuations de la position du traceur prévoit un long régime superdiffusif, et une transition vers un régime diffusif final. Nous proposons une description simplifiée du système qui révèle le mécanisme physique à l'origine de ce comportement anormal. Nous montrons l'existence d'une anomalie de la vitesse du traceur dans les systèmes quasi-1D. Nous étudions également le cas général d'une densité arbitraire de particules sur un réseau en contact avec un réservoir. Cette situation constitue un problème à N corps décrit par une équation maîtresse, qui ne peut être résolue qu'en recourant à une approximation de type champ moyen consistant en le découplage de certaines fonctions de corrélation. Il est alors possible de déterminer des valeurs approchées de la vitesse, de coefficient de diffusion du traceur ainsi que de la distribution de position du traceur. Nous montrons enfin que l'approximation de découplage est exacte dans les limites de basse et de haute densité<br>We study the dynamics of a tracer submitted to an external force in a bath of particles. We propose a model which takes explicitly into account the dynamics of the bath, and which describes the correlations between the dynamics of the tracer and the response of the bath. We consider a biased tracer in a lattice gas of hardcore particles: the tracer performs a biased random walk whereas the bath particles perform symmetric random walks. We study in particular the fluctuations of the position of the tracer. In the high-density limit, we obtain exact results at leading order in the density of vacancies. In confined geometries, an analytical calculation of the fluctuations of tracer position predicts a long superdiffusive regime, and a crossover to an ultimate diffusive regime. We give a simplified description of the system that unveils the physical mechanism explaining this anomalous behavior. We show the existence of a velocity anomaly in quasi-1D systems.We also study the general case of an arbitrary density of particles on a lattice in contact with a reservoir. This situation is a N-body problem described by a master equation, that can be solved by resorting to a mean-field-type approximation, which consists in the decoupling of relevant correlation functions. It is then possible to determine approximate values of the velocity, the diffusion coefficient and the distribution of the position of the tracer. We finally show that the decoupling approximation is exact in the high-density and low-density limits

The work presented in this Ph.D. thesis is mostly related to the measurement and interpretation of the cross-correlation of different species. This is achieved using spectroscopic data from the BOSS survey of which I am a member. Along the thesis I will be visiting the cross-correlation of different tracers. This tracers include the Mg II absorbers, the Damped Lyα Systems (DLA), the Lyα forest, the quasars and the galaxies. Save the last mentioned, all tracers are measured from quasar spectra from BOSS. The galaxies are taken from the BOSS CMASS catalogue. The first cross-correlation I address is that of Mg II absorbers with CMASS galaxies. I present a new method for measuring the equivalent width of metal absorbers, developed in collaboration with Britt Lundgren and Jordi Miralda- Escud´e, and I apply it to the absorption doublet. Then I shift my attention to the DLAs and the Ly forest. Since the Lyα forest autocorrelation has already been studied (see e.g. Delubac et al. 2015; Blomqvist et al. 2015), the Lyα parameters are well constrained. I use those constraints to provide more accurate measurements of the DLA bias when analysing the cross-correlation of DLAs with the Lyα forest. The study has been made in collaboration with Andreu Font-Ribera, Nicol´as Busca, and Jordi Miralda-Escud´e. In particular, the estimator for the cross-correlation was orig- inally developed by Nicol´as Busca for the analysis of the Lyα autocorrelation and later adapted to the measurement of the cross-correlation. The first two cross-correlations studied and more importantly their interpre- tation, are mostly focused on large scales, where the linear theory is valid. At smaller scales, non-linear effects start to kick in and the linear approximation is no longer valid. I measure the cross-correlation of quasars with the Lyα forest, and focus on the small scales effects. I show that a contamination from metals is clearly present in the cross-correlation. Also, I discuss some of the possible non-linear effects and give a simple theoretical model to explain the effect that quasar radiation can have in the surrounding hydrogen clouds.<br>El treball fet en aquesta tesi doctoral es basa principalment en la mesura i interpretació de la correlació creuada entre diferents traçadors. Els traçadors emprats en aquesta tesi són les galàxies del catàleg CMASS, els quàsars del catàleg de Baryon Oscillations Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS), els sistemes absorbidors de MgII, el bosc de Lya i els sistemes Lya esmorteïts o DLAs (els tres darrers són sistemes absorbidors detectats als espectres dels quàsars). El projecte BOSS és un dels quatre projectes que han composat la tercera fase de la col·laboració de l’Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) el principal objectiu del qual ha estat la detecció del senyal de les oscil·lacions acústiques dels barions (BAO, de l’anglès Baryon Acoustic Oscillations) i que ha estat recollint espectres electromagnètics de quàsars i galàxies des de la tardor de 2013 fins a la tardor de 2014. L’estructura d’aquesta tesi es divideix en tres capítols que fan referència a l’estudi de diferents traçadors. En el capítol ì els traçadors emprats són les galàxies de CMASS i els sistemes absorbidors de MgII; en el capítol 3, els DLA i el bosc de Lya, i en el capítol 5, els quàsars i el bosc de Lya. A més la tesi compta amb una introducció en català, una altra en anglès i un compendi de les conclusions obtingudes.

Deviations from the design track geometry are called track irregularities, which are a main excitation mechanism in the track–vehicle dynamic system, and very important to monitor and maintain to have trac on a line run safely and comfortably. Especially during vehicle acceptance testing, it is important that a new vehicle behaves close to design predictions and within limit values, thus it is important to be able to describe track irregularities in a consistent way. There are several methods which quantify the eects track irregularities have on a vehicle while running along the track. Most common is analyse standard deviations and percentiles and maximum values over sections with pre-defined length. However, these quantities do not correlate well with the vehicle dynamic response, e.g. two track sections with similar maxima and standard deviations can result in very dierent response of the vehicle. To improve the correlation between track irregularities and vehicle re- sponse measures, it is recommended by past research to use multiple regres- sion analysis to take e.g. vehicle speed and track curvature into account as well. Other methods range from derivatives of track irregularities, via trans- fer functions and vehicle filters to neural networks. Common for all these methods are that there is either still slight inconsistencies in the results or that they are tailored for certain vehicle types on specific lines. As a result, the preferred method to evaluate track irregularities is still to use standard deviations. In this thesis, data from three vehicles in two measurement campaigns is evaluated using a single degree of freedom model as inspiration to break down the path from track to vehicle into several steps. A weak link in these steps is identified, which shows significantly lower correlation coecients than the other steps. The weak link is the step from vertical track irregularity second spatial derivative to vertical axle box acceleration divided by the squared vehicle speed. A variable wavelength range Dx is introduced, as an alternative to the common D1 (3–25 m), D2 (25–70 m) and D3 (70–150 m) wavelength ranges. Its wavelength range corresponds to the vehicle response band-pass filter frequencies and is thus speed dependent. Simulations are also carried out to investigate the weak link and for the possibility to vary parameters that cannot be changed during on-track mea- surements. A multi-body system model of the passenger coach Bim 547.5 is used, together with recorded track data and vehicle speed from the on-track measurements. The varied parameters have rather low sensitivity and aect results to a small extent. Most impact has the randomly varying vertical track stiness which aects the vertical wheel–rail forces and axle box accelerations. In future work, it should be explored if it is possible – and in such case how – to separate the eects of varying track stiness from the track irreg- ularities. This to better understand when a vehicle response is linked more to the track irregularities or to the track flexibility. The weak link identified in the steps from track to vehicle should also be further explored, perhaps by extending the underlying model or evaluate a dierent set of measurements.<br>Spårlägesfel är avvikelser från den nominella spårgeometrin. De är en vik- tig excitationsmekanism i det dynamiska system som bana och fordon utgör och är viktiga att övervaka och åtgärda för att trafiken ska kunna flyta sä- kert och komfortabelt. Eftersom det vid mätningar för typgodkännande av fordon är viktigt att fordonet beter sig som förväntat och inom gränsvärden, är det viktigt att kunna beskriva spårlägesfel på ett sätt som är konsekvent och motsvarar hur fordonet ”känner av” dem. Det finns ett flertal olika metoder som kvantifierar de eekter spårläges- fel har på ett fordon som rör sig längs ett spår. Vanligast är att använda standardavvikelser, percentiler och maxvärden från spårsektioner med för- definierad längd. Dessa storheter korrelerar dock inte väl med den dynamiska fordonsresponsen, till exempel kan två spårsektioner med liknande maxvärden och standardavvikelse resultera i väldigt olika fordonsrespons. För att förbättra korrelationen mellan storheter för spårlägesfel och for- donsrespons rekommenderar tidigare forskning att använda multipel regres- sionsanalys för att även ta hänsyn till till exempel fordonets hastighet eller spårets kurvatur. Det finns flera alternativa metoder, till exempel derivator av spårlägesfel, överföringsfunktioner och fordonsfilter eller neurala nätverk. Generellt ger dock dessa metoder antingen fortfarande en viss osäkerhet i resultaten, eller så är de anpassade för vissa fordonstyper på enstaka järn- vägslinjer. Sammantaget är resultatet att den metod som föredras för att utvärdera spårlägesfel, fortfarande baseras på standardavvikelser. I den här avhandlingen används en enfrihetsgradsmodell som inspiration för att bryta ner excitationsvägen från spår till fordon i ett antal steg, som sedan undersöks genom att utvärdera mätdata från tre fordon i två forsk- ningsprojekt. En svag länk bland stegen identifieras, vilken visar signifikant lägre korrelationsvärde än övriga steg. Den svaga länken är steget från spatial andraderivata av spårlägesfel till axelboxacceleration dividerat med fordons- hastigheten i kvadrat. Ett variabelt våglängdsområde Dx introduceras som ett alternativ till de vanligt förekommande D1 (3–25 m), D2 (25–70 m) och D3 (70–150 m). Det variabla våglängdsområdet motsvarar de frekvenser som används för utvärdering av fordonsrespons och är därmed hastighetsberoende. Vidare används simuleringar för att undersöka den svaga länken och för möjligheten till parametervariationer. En flerkroppsmodell (MBS-modell) av passagerarvagnen Bim 547.5 används tillsammans med uppmätta data för spår och fordonshastighet. De parametrar som varieras visar sig ha låg käns- lighet och påverkar resultaten i liten utsträckning. Störst inverkan har den slumpmässigt varierande vertikala spårstyvheten, vilken påverkar de vertikala hjul–rälkrafterna och axelboxaccelerationerna. Fortsatt forskning bör undersöka om det är möjligt att – och i så fall hur – separera eekten av varierande spårstyvhet och spårlägesfel. Detta kan ge bättre förståelse för om fordonsrespons kopplar mer till spårlägesfelen eller till spårflexibiliteten. Den svaga länken som identifierats bör också undersö- kas ytterligare, förslagsvis genom att utöka den bakomliggande modellen eller analysera annan mätdata.<br><p>QC 20180517</p>

It is undoubtable that the geological path followed by a bentonite natural occurrence, will set a birthmark in terms of grade and quality, the former being expressed in terms of mineralogical composition, smectite content and other aspects derived from the bulk sample characterization, and the latter being expressed in terms of the crystal chemistry of smectite species present and derived from the clay size fraction observations. The influence of parent rock composition, genesis mode, burial history and preservation conditions after alteration, would set the fingerprint on bentonite and inherent structural features in smectites species, which determines potential industrial and scientific uses. The following thesis aims to evaluate physicochemical properties of 12 bentonite samples, coming from the six most relevant bentonite bearing geological areas located in the Mercosur economic block (Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay)1; in order to stablish possible correlations between distinctive geological contexts, and observed characteristics from whole rock providing information regarding grade and the clay size fraction will provide information regarding quality. Mineralogical composition corroborated the tendency to be influenced by the geochemical signature of parent rock firstly, and secondly genesis mode (probably due to lack of information in this aspect). Age, on the other hand, could on the contrary, be a misleading parameter; in the sense that preservation is not necessarily time dependent. Poor grade and the presence of mixed layers and accessory clay mineral phases (mostly kaolinite but also I/S, illite and pyrophyllite) appear to be associated with hydrothermal to sedimentary alteration modes, higher grade bentonites with tendency to yield extreme relative values of physical properties, measured in layer charge, swelling and organic sorption, were found in association to diagenetic bentonites. In terms of smectite species, all members found belong to the montmorillonite-beidellite series, and rhyolitic to dacitic volcanic source, tends to alter into the montmorillonite end member of the series; and accordingly, basic precursors (basalt) to intermediary (andesite), show a tendency to alter into transitional up to beidellite Fe-rich end members of the series respectively. To evaluate implications on possible applications, crystal chemistry was evaluated over the <1 µm size fractions by XRD and XRF along with other accessory techniques (FTIR, SEM-EDS and size distribution analysis), finding a clear trend, between layer charge relative magnitude, as a function organo-sorption behavior; by simply evaluating the d-001 XRD reflections on oriented slides after first K-saturation and sequential ethylene glycol solvation, against (CTAC)-montmorillonite d001 basal reflection , being inversely proportional and resulting in a broad variety Organophilic XRD patterns, showing distinctive expandability behavior ranging from 15,2 Å To 21,68 Å. As a function of alkyl chain size and the known sorption isotherm, basically all patterns of organo-compound sorption where observed, going from lateral monolayer to paraffin type sorption behavior.<br>É inquestionável que o caminho geológico seguido pela ocorrência natural de bentonitas, irá indicar suas características em termos de teor e qualidade, o primeiro expressado em termos da composição mineralógica, conteúdo de esmectitas e outros aspectos derivados da caracterização da amostra cabeça, e o Segundo expressado em termos da química cristalina das espécies esmectiticas presentes e derivado das observações na fracção de tamanho de argilas. A influência da composição da rocha parental, sua gênese, o histórico de soterramento e das condições de preservação após processo de alteração, determinaria a \"impressão digital\" da bentonita e as características estruturais inerentes as espécies de esmectitas, que determina os usos potenciais e industriais. O objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar propriedades físico-químicas de 12 amostras de bentonitas, provenientes de seis áreas geológicas mais relevantes localizadas no bloco econômico do Mercosul (Argentina, Brasil e Uruguai)2; o intuito é estabelecer possíveis correlações entre contextos geológicos distintos e características observadas em rochas (teor) e fração de tamanho de argila (qualidade). A composição mineralógica corroborou a tendência de ser influenciada pela assinatura geoquímica da rocha parental em primeiro lugar, e em segundo lugar, por sua gênese (provavelmente devido à falta de informação neste aspecto). A idade, por outro lado, poderia, pelo contrário, ser um parâmetro ilusório, no sentido de que a conservação não é necessariamente dependente do tempo. Baixo teor e baixo conteúdo de esmectita, assim como a presença de camadas mistas e fases argilosas acessórias (principalmente caulinita, mas também I/S, ilita e pirofilita) parecem estar associadas aos modos de alteração hidrotermal a sedimentar, bentonita de alto teor, com tendência a produzir valores relativos extremos de propriedades físicas, medidas em carga foliar, inchamento e sorção orgânica, foram encontradas em associação com bentonitas diagenéticas. Em termos de espécies de esmectitas, todos os membros identificados como pertencentes a série montmorilonita-beidellita, e a fonte vulcânica riolítica a dacítica, tendem a se alterar para membro final da série montmorilonita, e consequentemente, os precursores básicos (basalto) e intermediário (andesito), mostram tendência a se alterar em membros transitórios e beidellita ricos em ferro, respectivamente. Para avaliar as implicações nas possíveis aplicações, a química cristalina foi avaliada nas frações abaixo de 1 µm por DRX e FRX, juntamente de outras técnicas de apoio (FTIR, MEV/EDS e distribuição granulométrica), encontrando uma tendência clara entre a magnitude relativa da carga da camada, como uma função do comportamento da organo-absorção, simplesmente avaliando as reflexões basais em d-001 a partir de lâminas orientadas após a primeira saturação em potássio e solvatação sequencial de etileno glicol, contra reflexão em d-001 da (CTAC)-montmorilonita, sendo inversamente proporcional e resultando em uma ampla variedade de padrões de DRX organofílico, mostrando um comportamento de expansibilidade distinto, variando de 15,2 Å a 21,68 Å. Como função do tamanho da cadeia carbônica e da isoterma de sorção conhecida, basicamente todos os padrões de sorção de organo-compostos foram observados, partindo do comportamento de sorção do tipo monocamada lateral para sorção tipo parafina.

Les éléments chimiques métalliques tels que Fe, Cu ou Zn sont présents en quantité infime dans le cerveau. Le rôle de ces métaux traces dans les fonctions neuronales, telles que la transmission synaptique et les processus de mémorisation, reste encore largement à élucider. En outre, une dyshoméostasie des métaux est retrouvée dans de nombreuses neuropathologies, telles que maladie d’Alzheimer, de Parkinson ou sclérose latérale amyotrophique. Les mécanismes d’interaction des métaux traces au niveau neuronal sont difficiles à décrire faute de méthodes analytiques possédant une résolution et une sensibilité adaptées pour en déterminer la distribution à l’échelle synaptique. La spectrométrie de fluorescence-X synchrotron (SXRF) est une méthode d’analyse chimique multi-élémentaire permettant de décrire la distribution quantitative de ces éléments à l’échelle subcellulaire avec une résolution nanométrique (40 nm avec la ligne ID16A du synchrotron ESRF) et une très haute sensibilité. Afin d’interpréter avec précision les résultats d’imagerie chimique, nous avons développé un protocole pour corréler l’imagerie nano-SXRF avec la microscopie super résolutive de déplétion par émission stimulée (STED) permettant ainsi la corrélation des distributions des métaux avec celle de protéines cibles en super résolution. Nous avons marqué les microtubules et l’actine-F de neurones primaires d’hippocampe de rat puis imagé le cytosquelette par microscopie STED avant de déterminer par spectrométrie SXRF les distributions des éléments P, S, Fe, Cu et Zn. Nous avons ainsi mis en évidence la colocalisation du Zn et des microtubules au niveau dendritique ainsi qu’une localisation du Cu essentiellement dans le cou des épines dendritiques riches en F-actine, et une distribution du Fe sous forme de points très localisés dans les dendrites. Ces résultats ont révélé le rôle essentiel du Zn dans l’architecture du cytosquelette des neurones d’hippocampe et la méthode d’imagerie corrélative développée ouvre de nouvelles perspectives pour l’étude des dyshoméostasies des métaux dans les maladies neurodégénératives<br>Metallic chemical elements such as Fe, Cu or Zn are present in minute quantities in the brain. The role of these trace metals in neuronal functions such as synaptic transmission and memory processes remains largely unclear. Moreover, metal dyshomeostasis is found in many neuropathologies, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The interaction mechanisms of trace metals at the neuronal level are difficult to describe because of the lack of analytical methods with appropriate resolution and sensitivity to determine metal distribution at the synaptic level. Synchrotron X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (SXRF) is a multielemental chemical analysis method for describing the quantitative distribution of these elements at the sub-cellular scale with a nanometric resolution (40 nm at ESRF beamline ID16A ) and a very high sensitivity. In order to accurately interpret chemical imaging results, we have developed a protocol to correlate nano-SXRF imaging with stimulated emission depletion super resolution microscopy (STED), allowing the correlation of metal distribution and that of target proteins in super resolution. We labeled microtubules and F-actin of primary rat hippocampal neurons and imaged the cytoskeleton by STED microscopy before determining the distributions of P, S, Fe, Cu and Zn by SXRF spectrometry. We evidenced the colocalization of Zn and microtubules at the dendritic level and a localization of Cu mainly in the neck of dendritic spines rich in F-actin, and a distribution of Fe in the form of very localized points in the dendrites. These results highlight the crucial role of Zn in cytoskeleton architecture of hippocampal neurons and the developed correlative imaging method opens new perspectives for the study of metal dyshomeostasis in neurodegenerative diseases

The rate at which a railway track deteriorates depends on the response of the track under different static and repeated dynamic forces. These wheel/rail forces lead to imperfections in the rail surface and deviation in track geometry alignment. The wheel/rail forces are dependent upon the quality of maintenance of the characteristics of both train and track. If train components such as wheelsets and suspensions are maintained to a high standard, less dynamic forces are generated at the wheel/rail interface and less damage is caused over time. Therefore, the amount and cost of maintenance of track are reduced. However, there is little known about how the characteristics of train components affect time-dependent track degradation. Track degradation through deviation of track from its ideal position has the most effect on maintenance costs. Therefore, the present research aims to investigate this track degradation and improve understanding of the effects of train characteristics (such as train mass and speed, suspension stiffness and damping) on railway tracks. The research is conducted by looking into the relationship between wheel/rail forces and track degradation on one hand and between wheel/rail forces and train characteristics on the other hand, with the objective of assisting in managing vehicle/track interaction in order to minimise track degradation. This aim is achieved by investigating the above two relationships to attain the desired relationship between track degradation and train characteristics. The research focuses on wheel/rail vertical forces (both amplitudes and frequencies), vertical track alignment (longitudinal vertical profile), and rail head defects. The study started by collecting wheel/rail vertical forces data in addition to data on vertical track degradation under sustained traffic loads on a heavy haul railway section of track in Central Queensland. Also, five years of degradation and maintenance history data were collected on three other test sections of railway track under variety of traffic conditions and loads in Central Queensland. There were four main analyses of this data employed to probe the study. The first analysis was performed by examining the track degradation history data. The standard deviation method was used in this first analysis to acquire the rate of deterioration in terms of its relationship to track profile (roughness). The second analysis was accomplished by correlating the vertical wheel/rail forces to both vertical track profile and rail roughness using signal processing principles and a function know as coherence. The third analysis was carried out by using the computer simulation software NUCARS to obtain the link between wheel/rail forces and the deterioration of the vertical track profile. The fourth analysis was achieved by combining the results obtained from the above three analyses to acquire the rate of track deterioration in terms of its relationship to varying train characteristics. The first analysis mentioned above quantified the relationship between the level of roughness of the track and rate at which that roughness deteriorated. An important outcome of this relationship is that there is a threshold of roughness below which track deterioration is minimal. The track maintenance planners can now use that threshold for cost effective targeting of tamping activities. The correlation study between track roughness and wheel/rail forces using the coherence function found, surprisingly, that the overall deterioration of the track roughness, in the absence of frequencies of forces above 30 Hz, is due to the so-called quasi-static lower frequency oscillations of dynamic forces. This conclusion together with the relationship between vehicle characteristics and track forces, established in the analyses above, has significant implications for the design of wagon bogies and for charges track owners might levy on trains using their tracks. This research is part of a larger Rail CRC project 11/4 called 'Enhancing the Optimisation of Maintenance/Renewal' being carried out in the School of Urban Development in Queensland University of Technology.

The rate at which a railway track deteriorates depends on the response of the track under different static and repeated dynamic forces. These wheel/rail forces lead to imperfections in the rail surface and deviation in track geometry alignment. The wheel/rail forces are dependent upon the quality of maintenance of the characteristics of both train and track. If train components such as wheelsets and suspensions are maintained to a high standard, less dynamic forces are generated at the wheel/rail interface and less damage is caused over time. Therefore, the amount and cost of maintenance of track are reduced. However, there is little known about how the characteristics of train components affect time-dependent track degradation. Track degradation through deviation of track from its ideal position has the most effect on maintenance costs. Therefore, the present research aims to investigate this track degradation and improve understanding of the effects of train characteristics (such as train mass and speed, suspension stiffness and damping) on railway tracks. The research is conducted by looking into the relationship between wheel/rail forces and track degradation on one hand and between wheel/rail forces and train characteristics on the other hand, with the objective of assisting in managing vehicle/track interaction in order to minimise track degradation. This aim is achieved by investigating the above two relationships to attain the desired relationship between track degradation and train characteristics. The research focuses on wheel/rail vertical forces (both amplitudes and frequencies), vertical track alignment (longitudinal vertical profile), and rail head defects. The study started by collecting wheel/rail vertical forces data in addition to data on vertical track degradation under sustained traffic loads on a heavy haul railway section of track in Central Queensland. Also, five years of degradation and maintenance history data were collected on three other test sections of railway track under variety of traffic conditions and loads in Central Queensland. There were four main analyses of this data employed to probe the study. The first analysis was performed by examining the track degradation history data. The standard deviation method was used in this first analysis to acquire the rate of deterioration in terms of its relationship to track profile (roughness). The second analysis was accomplished by correlating the vertical wheel/rail forces to both vertical track profile and rail roughness using signal processing principles and a function know as coherence. The third analysis was carried out by using the computer simulation software NUCARS to obtain the link between wheel/rail forces and the deterioration of the vertical track profile. The fourth analysis was achieved by combining the results obtained from the above three analyses to acquire the rate of track deterioration in terms of its relationship to varying train characteristics. The first analysis mentioned above quantified the relationship between the level of roughness of the track and rate at which that roughness deteriorated. An important outcome of this relationship is that there is a threshold of roughness below which track deterioration is minimal. The track maintenance planners can now use that threshold for cost effective targeting of tamping activities. The correlation study between track roughness and wheel/rail forces using the coherence function found, surprisingly, that the overall deterioration of the track roughness, in the absence of frequencies of forces above 30 Hz, is due to the so-called quasi-static lower frequency oscillations of dynamic forces. This conclusion together with the relationship between vehicle characteristics and track forces, established in the analyses above, has significant implications for the design of wagon bogies and for charges track owners might levy on trains using their tracks. This research is part of a larger Rail CRC project 11/4 called 'Enhancing the Optimisation of Maintenance/Renewal' being carried out in the School of Urban Development in Queensland University of Technology.

In the present thesis, the correlation between ladle glaze and non-metallic inclusions in the ladle treatment was studied. A number of industrial trials with full scale ladle and laboratory works were performed to investigate the inclusions in the ladle treatment. BaO was used as tracer in the ladle slag to investigate the effect of slag on inclusion composition and the formation of non-metallic inclusions by ladle glaze. BaO was detected in the inclusions of all followed heats. This observation showed strong evidence for the generation of non-metallic inclusions by the ladle glaze. The increase of the fractions of BaO containing inclusions and their average content of BaO in the first heat with tracer suggested that the effect of slag on the composition of inclusions was a very slow process. The detachment of ladle glaze and the chemical transformations of oxide solution in the MgO matrix were investigated. The experimental results evidently showed that the ladle glaze could be the source of inclusions continually during the ladle treatment. Samples of liquid oxide solution to simulate the liquid oxide inclusions carried over from EAF were equilibrated with molten steel under controlled atmosphere. The results along with thermodynamic calculation suggested that the SiO2 content of inclusions from EAF could be considerably reduced by dissolved aluminium in the steel. This would explain the vanishing of inclusions containing high SiO2 content after deoxidation. Due to the lack of experimental data, the viscosities of slags in the Al2O3-CaO-MgO-SiO2 system were measured using the rotating cylinder method in the temperature range of 1720 to 1910 K. Eight different slag compositions related to the secondary steel making operations were selected. Viscosities in this system and its sub-systems were expressed as a function of temperature and composition based on the viscosity model developed earlier at KTH. The activities of oxide components in the Al2O3-CaO-MgO-SiO2 systems at 1873 K were measured by equilibrating liquid slag and metal. Either silicon or copper was used as the metal phase and the oxygen partial pressure was controlled with different mixing rates of Ar and CO gas flow in equilibrium with graphite. Iso-activity lines were drawn from the measured activity values in the isothermal section of the slag systems. Nine series of industrial trials were carried out using the same ladle in each series to examine the effect of ladle slag on the number of non-metallic inclusions in the next heat. It was found that the number of inclusions increased with SiO2 content of the ladle slag in the previous heat. No clear trends were found for the effects of viscosity and MgO activity of the previous slag on the number of inclusions. Theoretical analysis based on the experimental results suggested that the formation of 2CaO∙SiO2 followed but the dusting of the compound made the refractory more porous, which was reasonable for the number of non-metallic inclusions.

The energy-energy correlations in charged tracks from the hadronic decays of the Z0 were studied at energies around the Z0-pole of 91.2 Gev. From a comparison with order-alpha-s-squared analytical formulae, the strong coupling constant, alpha-s, was measured. The results obtained were From the EEC: 0.132 +/- 0.006 +0.012/-0.009 From the AEEC: 0.109 +/- 0.007 +0.011/-0.007 where the first error is experimental and the second is due to scale uncertainty. The EEC was also studied for particle clusters and compared with a parton-level Monte Carlo simulation using an exact order-alpha-s-squared matrix element formula. From this study, the value of alpha-s obtained was From clustered EEC: 0.111 +0.016/-0.013 An observation of the effects of coherence in b-quark fragmentation was made, leading to evidence in support of the principle of Local Parton-Hadron Duality. An attempt was made to discriminate between samples of quark and gluon jets using the EEC function. No clear conclusion was reached due to limited statistics and the energy mismatch between quark jets and gluon jets.

Ce travail présente une nouvelle méthode de télédétection à distance de la concentration d’un gaz trace dans l’atmosphère basée sur le couplage de la méthode spectroscopique de corrélation optique (Optical Correlation Spectroscopy, OCS) et la technologie de télédétection lidar dans lequel une source laser de large étendue spectrale est considérée. Les premiers travaux furent consacrés au développement d’un nouveau formalisme pour estimer la concentration d’un gaz trace dans l’atmosphère à partir des signaux OCS-lidar. Pour évaluer les performances d’une telle méthode, un modèle numérique simulant des signaux OCS-lidar pour la mesure de la concentration de méthane et de vapeur d’eau a été réalisé. L’influence de la pression et la température sur les propriétés spectroscopiques de ces gaz sur les mesures de concentration a également été étudiée. En plus de ce travail théorique, la première démonstration expérimentale de l’OCS-lidar est présentée en utilisant un lidar basé sur une source laser femtoseconde. Les mesures OCS-lidar ont été réalisées au moyen d’un nouveau système expérimental entièrement élaboré et construit pendant cette thèse. Pour réaliser les mesures consacrées à la teneur en vapeur d’eau de l’atmosphère, la bande d’absorption de la molécule de H2O 4ν à 720 nm a été utilisée. Ainsi les résultats obtenus ont montré le potentiel de la méthode OCS5 lidar pour mesurer la concentration de vapeur d’eau. Par la suite, le développement de la méthodologie OCS-lidar dédiée à la mesure du méthane est présenté. La bande d’absorption 2ν3 à 1,66 μm est exploitée et les premières mesures des signaux lidar sont exposées. Ce travail se termine par la présentation des possibles perspectives d’évolution<br>In this thesis, a new active remote sensing methodology is proposed to evaluate the content of atmospheric trace gases. The new methodology is based on laser spectroscopy and consists in coupling a spectrally broadband lidar with optical correlation spectroscopy (OCS-lidar). As a first step, a new formalism has been developed to remotely evaluate the target gas concentration from the OCS-lidar signals. To evaluate the performance of this new methodology, a numerical model simulating OSC-lidar signals for methane and water vapor measurement has been developed. Moreover, the influence of the absorption spectroscopic line parameters, such as atmospheric pressure and temperature, on the retrieved gas mixing ratio has been assessed within the OCS-lidar methodology. In addition to this theoretical work, the first experimental demonstration of the OCS-lidar methodology has been performed using a femtosecond lidar system. The latter has been entirely designed, developed and implemented in the framework of this thesis. Results show the ability of the OCS-lidar methodology to monitor the water vapor using the 4ν 720 nm absorption band. Moreover, two different experimental configurations have been proposed, depending on whether the amplitude modulation is operated on the laser pulse or on the backscattered light, i.e. at the emission, with an active amplitude modulator or at the reception, with passive optical filters. The advances in developing the corresponding infrared OCS-lidar system for methane mixing ratios measurements are described and possible outlooks are given

Red-bed alluvial systems are becoming increasingly important as hydrocarbon plays in the UK Northern North Sea. Commonly such ephemeral systems are hard to define in terms of reservoir architecture, due to the difficulty in correlating such diverse and palaeontologically-barren sequences. This project aims to improve understanding of one such system, the Late Jurassic Cormorant Formation, of the Northern North Sea, through detailed sedimentological study of two outcrop analogues. The whole-rock trace element geochemical correlation technique in a variety of settings. The Lower Old Red Sandstone Moor Cliffs Formation of the Anglo-Welsh Basin provides ideal conditions for testing the whole-rock trace element geochemical correlation technique. The Moor Cliffs Formation is a low net:gross alluvial red bed suite, which by virtue of Variscan deformation, outcrops in a well-exposed, easily accessible cliff section at Priests Nose, near Manorbier, Pembrokeshire. A 100m section was sampled to determine variables that may affect whole-rock trace element geochemical correlation. The results prove that whole-rock trace element geochemical correlation can be applied to alluvial successions, despite pedogenic modification and deep burial. The Late Triassic Blomidon Formation of the Fundy Basin, Nova Scotia, provided a second outcrop example of an alluvial red-bed sequence, which was deposited in similar palaeo-climatic and tectonic conditions to the Northem North Sea Triassic. The Blomidon Formation contained a range of fluvial styles from confined channels to unconfined sheetfloods. Three sections were studied along the hanging-wall margin of the Fundy Basin, separated by up to 150km along strike. Each section provided a contrasting basinal setting, allowing comparison of facies along strike and down depositional dip. Sections were measured in detail to quantify bed geometries and facies variants, facilitating architectural analysis. Specific attention was paid to features that may be diagnostic in sub-surface cored sections of the Northern North Sea Triassic. Correlation was possible on a number of scales, using laterally continuous ephemeral marker beds within the Blomidon Formation. Detailed facies evaluation has allowed the division of the Blomidon Formation into four distinctive facies packages that vary considerably in sandstone net:gross. Each facies assemblage is defined by variations in fluvial style and occurrence of evaporite rich, ephemeral lacustrine and rare aeolian sediments. It was possible to produce a broad, basin-wide correlation scheme for the Blomidon Formation, based on these four facies packages. Detailed facies analysis of three cores from the Cormorant Formation, Tem Field, Northern North Sea allowed definition of reservoir architecture, based on models derived from outcrop analogues. The results suggest that correlation based on individual horizons and facies packages is possible in alluvial red-bed sequences through detailed sedimentological study. The whole-rock trace element geochemical correlation technique can also provide additional datasets to enhance correlation in the subsurface.

The work we present in this manuscript revolves around the use of quasar spectra to probe the Universe. Absorption features in the electromagnetic spectrum of bright distant quasars by ionized hydrogen give us access to the distribution of gas in the Universe. Because the light from distant quasars is redshifted as it travels through the Universe, photons emitted with an energy below the Lyα transition will be absorbed along their journey, at the point where their wavelength has been redshifted to the transition wave- length of 1216 Å. As a result, an observed spectrum and its features, referred to as Lyα Forest, depend on the density of neutral hydrogen as a function of position along the line of sight from the quasar. Similar studies can be made with photons blueward of the emission line of the triply ionized carbon. Studying the distribution of this ionized gas on cosmological scales allows us to trace the underlying matter density field while at the same time gaining insight on the thermal state of the intergalactic medium by studying the small-scale correlations of the Lyα absorption. Part I of this manuscript, Introduction to the Universe introduces all the physical and observational notions necessary for the understanding of this doctoral work. In chapter 1, we put in context the field of cosmology and its motivations as well as acquaint ourselves with the standard models that made consensus as best describing our Universe at this time. Chapter 2 presents the formalism and notions of cosmology used in the following chapters. Additional clarifications are available for the interested reader in appendix A. Chapter 3 introduces useful concepts for the use of quasars and their spectra as observables for cosmological surveys. Part II starts with chapter 4, On the effect of the ionizing background on the Lyα forest autocorrelation function. In this work, we present an analytical frame- work to understand the effects of a fluctuating intensity of the cosmic ionizing background on the correlations of the Lyα Forest transmission fraction measured in quasar spectra. In the absence of intensity fluctuations, , and in the limit of large scales at which the linear regime is applicable, the Lyα power spectrum should have the expected cold dark matter power spectrum with redshift distortions in the linear regime, with a bias factor bδ and a redshift distortion parameter β that depend on redshift but are independent of scale. We found that the intensity fluctuations introduce a scale dependence in both bδ and β, but keeping their product bδβ fixed. We also showed that these fluctuations do not bias current or future measurements of the baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) scale from Lyα Forest. Only the amplitude of the Lyα autocorrelation is affected, the position of the BAO peak is not. Chapter 5 is titled Quasar - CIV Forest cross-correlation. In a similar fash- ion that the Lyα Forest is used to probe neutral hydrogen clouds, we use the absorp- tion features of triply ionized carbon (CIV) to (a) probe metal enriched gas at redshift 1.4 < z < 4.2, (b) trace structures at z < 2 that were not accessible with the Lyα For- est. Thanks to the data provided by the full BOSS survey, there is a sufficient increase in quasar number density, compared to previous data sets available, to offset the lower sensitivity of the CIV Forest. As a result, we have made the first detection using the con- tinuum transmission approach of a signal from the Quasar - CIV forest cross-correlation. This detection allows to measure the transmission CIV bias factor at redshift z = 2.3: (1 + βCIV )bCIV = −0.024 ± 0.003.<br>El treball que presentem en aquesta tesi versa sobre l’ús d’espectres de quàsars per a investigar l’Univers. Els sistemes d’absorció produïts per l’hidrogen intergalàctic en l’espectre electromagnètic de quàsars llunyans i brillants ens permeten explorar la dis- tribució de gas en l’Univers. Atès que la llum dels quàsars es decala cap al roig a mesura que viatja a través de l’Univers, els fotons emesos amb una energia superior a la de la transició Lyα són absorbits (en realitat, rebotats per àtoms d’hidrogen) al llarg del seu viatge, just al punt on la seva longitud d’ona coincideix amb la línia de ressonància Lyα a 1216 Å. El resultat és el que denominem bosc Lyα , un camp d’absorció variable al llarg de l’espectre que reflecteix la densitat d’hidrogen neutre en funció de la posició al llarg de la línia de visual del quàsar. Estudis similars poden realitzar-se a la part de l’espectre cap al blau de la línia d’emissió del carboni triplement ionitzat (CIV), en què apareix absorció per part del CIV intergalàctic. La distribució d’aquest gas ionitzat a escales cosmològiques ens permet rastrejar el camp de densitat de matèria subjacent, i al mateix temps obtenir una visió de l’estat tèrmic del medi intergalàctic mitjançant l’estudi de les correlacions a petita escala de l’absorció Lyα . La part I de la tesi, Introducció a l’Univers, ens introdueix les nocions físiques i observacionals necessàries per a la comprensió d’aquest treball doctoral. En el capítol 1, posem en context el camp de la cosmologia i les seves motivacions, i presentem el model estàndard que ha assolit un consens com la millor descripció del nostre Univers en l’actualitat. Seguidament, el capítol 2 presenta el formalisme i les nocions de cosmolo- gia emprades en els segënts capítols. A l’annex A hi ha aclariments addicionals pel lector interessat. A continuació, el capítol 3 presenta conceptes útils sobre l’ús dels espectres de quàsars per estudis cosmològics. La part II comença amb el capítol 4, titolat sobre l’efecte del fons ionitzant en la funció d’autocorrelació del bosc Lyα . Aquest treball desenvolupa un marc analític per a comprendre els efectes d’una intensitat fluctuant del fons còsmic ionitzant sobre les correlacions de l’absorció en el bosc Lyα mesurades en espectres de quàsars. En absència d’aquestes fluctuacions d’intensitat, i en el límit d’escales grans en què el règim lineal és aplicable, l’espectre de potència del bosc Lyα ha de ser proporcional a l’espectre de potència de la massa en la teoria estàndard de matèria fosca freda esperada, amb les conegudes distorsions de decalatge al vermell del règim lineal, i està totalment carac- teritzat per un factor de biaix bδ i un paràmetre de distorsió per decalatge β. Aquests dos paràmetres poden evolucionar amb el temps però són independents de l’escala. En el nostre treball trobem que les fluctuacions d’intensitat introdueixen una dependència d’escala tant en bδ como en β, però mantenint el seu producte bδβ fix. També mostrem que aquestes fluctuacions d’intensitat no esbiaixen de manera sistemàtica les mesures de l’escala d’oscilůlacions acústiques bariòniques (BAO) del bosc Lyα , la qual s’utilitza per indagar la presència d’energia fosca a l’Univers a les diverses èpoques en què podem mesurar aquesta escala. Només l’amplitud de l’autocorrelació Lyα es veu afectada. El capítol 5 es titula Creu-Correlació quàsars - bosc CIV. De forma semblant a com el bosc Lyα s’utilitza per a sondar els núvols d’hidrogen neutre, hem utilitzat les característiques d’absorció del CIV per traçar estructures en l’interval de decalatge 1.4 < z < 4.2, sondant el gas enriquit en metall i correlacionant-lo amb els quàsars. a. Gràcies a les dades del cartografiat complet de BOSS i al gran nombre de quàsars que inclou, hem pogut mesurar la creu-correlació de l’absorció de CIV amb quàsars amb precisió suficient per obtenir la primera mesura dels factors de biaix dels absorbidors de CIV. El resultat d’aquesta mesura pel factor de biaix de la fracció transmesa per CIV a un decalatge de z = 2.3 és: (1 + βCIV )bCIV = −0.024 ± 0.003, amb un error més gran per mesurar el factor de distorsió βCIV i bCIV separadament.<br>El trabajo que presentamos en este manuscrito gira en torno al uso de espectros de cuasar para investigar el Universo. Las características de absorción en el espectro electromagnético de los cuasares distantes brillantes por el hidrógeno ionizado nos dan acceso a la distribución de gas en el Universo. Debido a que la luz de cuásares distantes es redshifted a medida que viaja a través del Universo, los fotones emitidos con una energía por debajo de la transición Lyα serán absorbidos a lo largo de su viaje, en el punto donde su longitud de onda ha sido redshifted a la transición de longitud de onda de 1216 Å. Como resultado, un espectro observado y sus características, denominado Bosque Lyα , dependen de la densidad del hidrógeno neutro en función de la posición a lo largo de la línea de visión a partir del cuásar. Estudios similares pueden realizarse con fotones hacia el azul de la línea de emisión del carbono ionizado triple. El estudio de la distribución de este gas ionizado en las escalas cosmológicas nos permite rastrear el campo de densidad de materia subyacente, mientras que al mismo tiempo obtener una visión sobre el estado térmico del medio intergaláctico mediante el estudio de las correlaciones a pequeña escala de la absorción de Lyα . La parte I de este manuscrito, Introducción al Universo, introduce todas las no- ciones físicas y observacionales necesarias para la comprensión de este trabajo doctoral. En el capítulo 1, ponemos en contexto el campo de la cosmología y sus motivaciones, así como nos acostumbramos a los modelos estándares que hicieron del consenso como la mejor descripción de nuestro Universo en este momento. El capítulo 2 presenta el formalismo y las nociones de cosmología utilizadas en los siguientes capítulos. En el apéndice A se encuentran aclaraciones adicionales para el lector interesado. Por último, el capítulo 3 presenta conceptos útiles para el uso de cuásares y sus espectros como ob- servables para estudios cosmológicos. La parte II comienza con el capítulo 4, Sobre el efecto del fondo ionizante en la función de autocorrelación del bosque Lyα . En este trabajo se presenta un marco analítico para comprender los efectos de una intensidad fluctuante del fondo ionizante cósmico sobre las correlaciones de la fracción de transmisión de Lyα bosque medido en espectros de cuasar. En ausencia de fluctuaciones de intensidad, y en el límite de grandes escalas en las que el régimen lineal es aplicable, el espectro de potencia Lyα debería tener el espectro de potencia de materia oscura fría esperada con distorsiones de desplazamiento al rojo en el régimen lineal, con un factor de sesgo bδ y un parámetro de distorsión de desplazamiento al rojo β que dependen del desplazamiento al rojo pero son independientes de la escala. Encontramos que las fluctuaciones de intensidad introducen una dependencia de escala tanto en bδ como en β, pero manteniendo su producto bδβ fijo. También mostraron que estas fluctuaciones no sesgo actual o futuras mediciones de la oscilación acústica barión (BAO) escala de Bosque Lyα . Sólo la amplitud de la autocorrelación Lyα se ve afectada, la posición del pico BAO no lo es. El capítulo 5 se titula Cuasar - CIV bosque correlación cruzada. De man- era similar, el bosque de Lyα se utiliza para probar las nubes de hidrógeno neutras, utilizamos las características de absorción del carbono ionizado triple (CIV) para (a) sondar el gas enriquecido en metal a cambio de rojo 1.4 < z < 4.2, (b) z < 2 que no eran accesibles con el bosque Lyα . Gracias a los datos proporcionados por la encuesta completa de BOSS, existe un aumento suficiente en la densidad del número de cuásar, en comparación con los conjuntos de datos anteriores disponibles, para contrarrestar la menor sensibilidad del bosque CIV. Como resultado, hemos hecho la primera detección usando el método de transmisión continua de una señal de la correlación cruzada del bosque Cuasar-CIV. Esta detección permite medir el factor de sesgo de transmisión CIV al desplazamiento al rojo z = 2.3: (1 + βCIV )bCIV = −0.024 ± 0.003.

In the present thesis we investigate two basic issues in the dynamics of open quantum systems, namely, the concept of non-Markovianity and the effects of initial system-environment correlations in the subsequent reduced dynamics. In recent research, a great effort has been put into the study and understanding of non-Markovian features within the dynamics of open quantum systems. At the same time, quantum non-Markovianity has been defined and quantified in terms of quantum dynamical maps, using either a divisibility property or the behavior of the trace distance between pairs of reduced states evolved from different initial states. We investigate these approaches by means of several examples, focusing in particular on their relation with the very definition of non-Markov process used in classical probability theory. Indeed, the notion of non-Markovian behavior in the dynamics of the state of a physical system and the notion of non-Markov process are quite different and it will appear how the former represents sufficient, but not necessary condition with respect to the latter. In particular, we explicitly show that the above-mentioned divisibility property in the classical case is not, in general, equivalent to the Chapman-Kolmogorov equation, proper to Markov stochastic processes. Furthermore, by taking into account a bipartite open system, we emphasize how the presence of non-Markovian effects strongly depends on where the border between open system and environment is set. A second relevant topic investigated in this thesis concerns the dynamics of open quantum system in the presence of initial system-environment correlations. By means of the approach based on trace distance, we go beyond the usual assumption that the open system and the environment are initially uncorrelated. The trace-distance analysis provides a characterization of open-system dynamics relying on measurements on the open system only, without the need for any extra information about the total system or system-environment interaction. After an introduction to the general theoretical scheme, we report an all-optical experimental realization, in which the total system under investigation consists of a couple of entangled photons generated by spontaneous parametric down conversion and initial correlations are introduced in a general fashion by means of a spatial light modulator. Finally, we take into account the Jaynes-Cummings model, showing how trace distance establishes general connections between correlation properties of initial total states and dynamical quantities that characterize the evolution of the open system.

Das IceCube Neutrino Teleskop hat einen diffusen Fluss hochenergetischen astrophysikalischen Neutrinos entdeckten. Allerdings sind die Quellen die für die Mehrzahl der nachgewiesenen Neutrinos verantwortlich sind, noch unbekannt. Diese Arbeit untersucht die Möglichkeit, dass der beobachtete Neutrino-Fluss im Zentrum von aktiven galaktischen Kernen (AGN) erzeugt wird. Eine Stacking-Analyse wird durchgeführt, um die Korrelation zwischen verschiedenen Subpopulationen von AGN und hochenergetischen Neutrinos unter Verwendung von IceCube-Daten aus acht Jahren zu testen. AGN werden anhand ihrer Radioemission, Infrarot-Farbeigenschaften und ihres Röntgenflusses. Die Leuchtkraft der Akkretionsscheibe wird verwendet, um den Beitrag ausgewählter Galaxien zum Neutrinosignal zu gewichten. Die leuchtende AGN-Population trägt zu ~52% des von IceCube gemessenen diffusen Flusses bei 100 TeV mit einem Best-Fit-Spektralindex von 2 bei mit 2.83 sigma post-trial Signifikanz. Für die AGN-Probe mit geringer Leuchtkraft wird eine Signifikanz nach dem Versuch von nur 0.66 sigma gefunden, daher werden Obergrenzen festgelegt. Unter Annahme des Spektralindex für den astrophysikalischen Fluss von 2 und einer gleichverteilten gleiche Zusammensetzung Neutrinoflavour-Zusammensetzung auf der Erde, wird eine obere Flussgrenze berechnet, die den maximalen Beitrag der Kerne von AGN mit geringer Leuchtkraft zum diffusen TeV-PeV-Neutrino-Fluss auf ~51% bei 100 TeV beschränkt. Für diese Arbeit wurde auch eine neue Rekonstruktionsmethode entwickelt. In IceCube werden hochenergetische Myon-neutrinos durch die sekundären Myonen identifiziert, die durch Wechselwirkungen über geladene Ströme mit dem Eis erzeugt werden. In dem hier vorgestellten Rekonstruktionsschema wird die erwartete Ankunftszeitverteilung durch ein vorbestimmtes stochastisches Myon-Energieverlustprofil parametrisiert. Diese realistischere Parametrisierung führt zu einer Verbesserung der Myon-Winkelauflösung in IceCube um etwa 20%.<br>The IceCube neutrino telescope has measured a diffuse flux of high-energy astrophysical neutrinos. However, the sources responsible for the emission of the majority of the detected neutrinos are still unknown. The goal of this thesis is to explore the possibility that the neutrino flux observed by IceCube is produced in the cores of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). A stacking analysis is conducted to test for a correlation between various sub-populations of AGN and high-energy neutrinos using eight years of IceCube data. AGN are selected based on their radio emission, infrared color properties, and X-ray flux using the NVSS, AllWISE, ROSAT and XMMSL2 catalogs. The accretion disk luminosity estimated by the observed soft X-ray flux is used as a proxy for the contribution of selected galaxies to the neutrino signal. Two of the three AGN samples tested in this analysis show over-fluctuations, with the highest significance being of 2.83 sigma after trial correction. The luminous AGN population is found to contribute to ~52% of the diffuse flux measured by IceCube at 100 TeV with a best-fit spectral index of 2. For the low-luminosity AGN sample a post-trial significance of only 0.66 sigma is found, therefore upper limits are set. Assuming the spectral index for the astrophysical flux to be 2 and an equal composition of neutrino flavours arriving at Earth, an upper flux limit is calculated which constrains the maximal contribution of the cores of low-luminosity AGN to the diffuse TeV-PeV neutrino flux to be ~51% at 100 TeV. A new reconstruction method has also been developed for this thesis. In IceCube high-energy muon neutrinos are identified through the secondary muons produced via charge current interactions with the ice. In the reconstruction scheme presented in this thesis, the expected arrival time distribution is parameterized by a predetermined stochastic muon energy loss pattern, leading to an improvement of about 20% to the muon angular resolution of IceCube.

Les travaux de cette thèse ont été dédiés à l’étude de pièces minces en acier inoxydable 316L fabriquées ou réparées par Directed Energy Deposition (DED). La nouveauté principale est l’observation de la déformation à l’échelle de la microstructure. Pour ce faire, une expérience associant un essai de traction in situ dans un microscope électronique à balayage, de la corrélation d’images à haute résolution et une carte EBSD de la microstructure ont été réalisés. Les résultats obtenus permettent alors de mieux appréhender les différentes propriétés en traction ainsi que les comportements d’autoéchauffement lors d’essais cycliques. Le premier objectif a été de qualifier et quantifier les mécanismes de déformation à l’échelle de la microstructure pour expliquer le comportent anisotrope révélé lors d’essais de traction. Par conséquent, deux orientations de sollicitation permettant d’effectuer un chargement perpendiculaire ou parallèle à la direction d’impression ont été définies. Dans le premier cas, la localisation de déformation s’effectue au niveau de certaines intercouches. Pour le second, une localisation dans certaines régions correspondant à de gros grains particuliers a été observée. Le deuxième objectif a été d’évaluer la capacité du DED à réparer. Pour ce faire, des éprouvettes moitié tôle / moitié imprimées ont été fabriquées afin de solliciter l’interface en traction. Une grande différence de microstructure a été observée entre les deux matériaux. Néanmoins, l’interface n’a jamais été la zone de rupture lors d’essais de traction. De plus, une déformation homogène a été observée dans la partie tôle alors qu’une déformation hétérogène avec des pics de concentration au niveau de certaines intercouches a été remarquée dans la partie imprimée lors d’essais in situ. Enfin, une zone de faible déformation a été constatée de part et d’autre de l’interface, zone dans laquelle une plus grande dureté a été mesurée. Le dernier objectif a été d’évaluer les propriétés en fatigue par des essais d’autoéchauffement. Il a été montré que les difficultés liées à la faible épaisseur de nos éprouvettes pouvaient être surmontées en maitrisant le protocole expérimental. Un comportement anisotrope a été observé durant ces essais cycliques avec des éprouvettes perpendiculaires au sens d’impression montrant une plus grande limite d’endurance par rapport aux éprouvettes sollicitées parallèlement. Pour ces dernières, des analyses post-mortem ont montré un scénario de fatigue classique avec une fissure dominante et donc une source de dissipation de chaleur localisée. A l’inverse, une multitude de fissures aux intercouches créant de nombreux sites de dissipation a été constatée pour les éprouvettes testées perpendiculairement<br>This thesis was dedicated to the study of 316L stainless steel additively manufactured or repaired specimens by Directed Energy Deposition (DED). Different configurations were manufactured under optimal process parameters. The novelty of this work is the observation of the microstructural strain localization. This experiment combined an in situ tensile test inside a scanning electron microscope with high resolution digital image correlation and an electron backscatter diffraction map. These results allowed for a fresh interpretation of monotonic tensile tests as well as of self-heating experiments under cyclic loading and the failure patterns observed at the surface of specimens. The first objective was to understand the deformation mechanisms at the grain scale which could explain the observed macroscopic anisotropy of the tensile properties as reported in literature. Two loading directions, along and perpendicular, were considered with respect to the printing direction for fully printed specimens. We observed that for a tensile load perpendicular to the printing direction, the strain localization is mainly situated at some interlayers. For a tensile load along the printing direction, the strain localization was observed in some particular regions of large grains. The second objective was the assessment of DED as a repair technology. Dog bone shaped repaired specimens (half hot rolled sheet and half printed) were designed and they exhibited an important hierarchical microstructural gradient. We noticed that the interface is not a weak area during a monotonic tensile test. Moreover, while homogeneous strain was observed in the substrate half, the printed half showed a strain heterogeneity, with the highest localization found at some interlayers. An unstrained zone was observed at both sides of the interface and was associated with higher hardness. The last objective was to evaluate the fatigue properties by self-heating tests. The experiment has proven that the difficulties due to the small dimensions of the single-track thickness specimens can be overcome by careful construction of the experimental set-up. The results revealed a certain correlation between the pattern of the microstructure, the deformation pattern at this scale and the self-heating results. Anisotropy was highlighted during these cyclic tests where specimens tested perpendicularly to the printing direction showed higher fatigue limits in comparison to the ones tested along the printing direction. Post mortem analysis revealed a multitude of cracks at interlayers for the specimens tested perpendicularly to the printing direction creating several sites of heat diffusion. For the specimens tested along the printing direction, a more classical fatigue scenario was observed with one dominating crack and thus a localized heat dissipation

Petroleum geochemistry is an important scientific discipline used in the exploration and production of hydrocarbons. Petroleum geochemistry involves the applications of organic geochemistry to the study of origin, formation, migration, accumulation and alteration of hydrocarbons.Key concepts and applications of petroleum geochemistry include understanding the petroleum systems, biomarkers and stable isotopes for oil‐oil and oil‐source rock correlations and controls on secondary processes (e.g. biodegradation, water‐washing and migration‐contamination) altering the composition and usually the quality of petroleum.In this research, important concepts and novel techniques of petroleum geochemistry have been utilized for characterizing the source rocks, evaluating the thermal history of the source rocks, understanding the age (where possible), establishing the depositional environment and lithology of the source. More specifically, various innovative organic (biomarker and stable isotopes) and inorganic (trace elements) geochemical approaches were undertaken to establish source, age, thermal history and sedimentary depositional environments of petroleum systems in Western Australia and Western Canada petroleum basins.The aim of the study presented in Chapter 2 was to understand the enigmatic occurrence of crocetane (an irregular C20 isoprenoid), that is usuallyfound in sediments associated with gas hydrate settings and used as a molecularindicator for the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM), in Devonian sediments and crude oils containing molecular indicators of photic zone euxinia (PZE).This study comprised a detailed molecular and isotopic study of crocetane and Green Sulfur Bacteria (GSB)‐derived carotenoids in Devonian sediments of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (WCSB) covering a range of thermal maturities. In addition, a series of oils generated from Devonian source rocks of the basin were analysed for crocetane. Crocetane was found in ten sediments from the WCSB and in seven Devonian WCSB crude oils. Its abundance was found to increase with thermal maturity, whereas the components generated from C40 derived carotenoids of GSB decreased steadily. The preferred proposed natural product precursor for crocetane is thus GSB‐derived carotenoids. This was corroborated by their similar structural features and the δ13C value of combined crocetane and phytane in these samples. Based on the work presented in Chapter 2, it was concluded that crocetane can provide evidence for PZE conditions in highly mature sediments and crude oils of Devonian age.Application of δD values of individual hydrocarbons (isoprenoids and nalkanes) has a great potential to estimate the thermal maturity of sedimentary organic matter. In Chapter 3, to elucidate the effect of thermal history on the δD values of petroleum hydrocarbons, (i) a comprehensive literature review, focussing on variations in δD values of sediment extracts, crude oils (including bulk organic matter and hydrocarbon fractions as well as individual nalkanes and isoprenoids) and kerogen was carried out and (ii) the application of δD values of hydrocarbons as a maturity parameter with new data from Devonian source‐rocks in the WCSB was tested.Previous work has been used to demonstrate systematic variation in D/H of individual compounds in sediments as a function of thermal maturity and our research in Chapter 3 extended the application of D/H of biomarkers to Devonian samples from the Duvernay Formation of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (WCSB) which is much older deposits (i.e. Devonian) than previously studied.Based on the work presented in Chapter 3, the n‐alkanes, pristane and phytane from relatively immature sediments have δD values that retain the isotopic signature of their natural product precursors, i.e. biosynthesised lipid components made up of acetyl and isoprene sub‐units, respectively. With increasing maturity, pristane and phytane become more enriched in deuterium (D), while the n‐alkanes generally remain at a constant isotopic composition until an overmature level is reached, at which point there occurs a significant enrichment of D in n‐alkanes. The enrichment of D in pristane and phytane with increasing maturity correlated strongly with changes in traditional maturity parameters including vitrinite reflectance, Tmax, and molecular parameters, providing evidence that D‐enrichment is associated with thermal maturation.The maturity indicator based on compound‐specific δD values has proved useful in cases where traditional biomarker maturity parameters are ineffective, for example at high maturity levels (i.e. % Ro >1.0) or where their associated reactants and products either equilibrate, or are thermally degraded. In addition, such a maturity measurement is applicable to Devonian sediments, where vitrinite reflectance measurements cannot be made because the higher‐plant precursors of vitrinite have not yet evolved.In Chapter 4, an integrated study including organic (stable carbon isotopes of individual hydrocarbons) and inorganic (trace elements) geochemical data, along with statistical analysis (linear discriminant analysis) was carried out for the first time to assess the source and age characteristics of crude oils from Western Australian and Western Canada petroleum basins.A novel rapid, reliable and accurate method of determination of major and trace element contents of crude oils was developed based on Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma‐Mass Spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS). This method has been applied for the first time to a series of petroleum samples for analysis of Fe, Mg, Al, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, Co, V, Tm, Mn, Ge, Dy, Si, Pb, B, Sn, Ti, Hg, As, Mo and Se at trace levels, with little or no sample pre‐treatment. δ13C values of individual hydrocarbons were carried out in a systematic manner to compliment the trace element data.The scatter plot of two discriminant functions from the analysis of trace elements (V, Pb, B, Mg, Sn, Ti, Mo and Hg) in crude oils samples confirms the capability for separating samples into their petroleum basins. 91.3% correct classification of the samples analysed was achieved. Analysis using two discriminant functions of combined trace elements (Al, Cr, Ti, Fe, Cu, Si, Tm, Mn, Ge, and Dy) and δ13C of Naphthalene (N), Biphenyl (Bp) resulted in 100% of samples being correctly classified according to their source rock age.In summary, based on the work presented in Chapter 4, the application of linear discriminant analysis and the stable carbon isotope values and trace element concentrations has allowed the classification of crude oils to their geographical (or basinal) sources and age. The use of complimentary inorganic trace element and organic stable isotope techniques for crude oil samples has been demonstrated as a new highly discriminant tool for petroleum exploration.The research presented in Chapter 5 is aimed at establishing the factors controlling the stable carbon isotopic compositions of individual aromatic hydrocarbons analysed by compound specific isotope analysis (CSIA) in crude oils from Western Australian petroleum basins of varying age and facies type but of similar thermal maturity. An evaluation of the data on δ13C of individual aromatic hydrocarbons, like alkylbenzenes, alkylnaphthalenes, alkylphenanthrenes and methylated biphenyls has been carried out to confirm the source and age of these oils and to understand why the Sofer plot is ineffective in establishing source of Western Australian petroleum systems. Previous isotopic work on the oils was mainly based on their bulk δ13C values of saturate and aromatic hydrocarbons. Western Australian oils seemed to follow an erroneous trend regarding their depositional environments (marine vs terrigenous) when they were assessed using only bulk isotopic values.The interpretation of the data presented in Chapter 5 showed that the oils where the δ13C of 1,6‐DMN (dimethylnaphthalene) and 1,2,5‐TMN (trimethylnaphthalene) isomers is most negative are probably derived from a marine source, whereas oils containing 1,6‐DMN and 1,2,5‐TMN with a less negative value are representative of a terrigenous source. The δ13C values falling in between probably have mixed source(s). Less negative δ13C values of 1‐MP and 1,9‐DMP isomers probably reflects the varying inputs of terrigenous organic matter to the source‐rocks of the oils. In addition, plots of P (phenanthrene) /DBT (dibenzothiophene) and Pr (pristane)/Ph (phytane) versus δ13C of DMP (dimethylphenanthrene), 1,6‐DMN, 1,2,5‐TMN, 1‐MP (methylphenanthrene) and 1,9‐MP are constructed to establish the end‐members of terrigenous and marine sourced oils. The ratio of P/DBT and/or the ratio of Pr/Ph and δ13C of aromatic isomers (such as 1,6DMN, 1,2,5‐TMN, 1‐MP and 1,9‐MP) when coupled together, provide a novel and convenient way of establishing crude oil source rock origin and sometimes even lithologies.In summary, oils from terrigenous depositional environments based on their bulk δ13C values were classified as marine based on their δ13C values of individual aromatic compounds. The compound specific isotope data of the aromatic hydrocarbons obtained for the oils may provide opposite conclusions regarding the source of the oils compared to bulk data using the Sofer plot. Thus, great care must be taken when interpreting isotope values of hydrocarbons, particularly those that are only based on bulk parameters.Ultimately, this project has demonstrated that analyses of molecular fossils (biomarkers) and their stable isotopic compositions (δ13C and δD) complemented with trace element data provides an excellent novel tool for better understanding the basic concepts in petroleum basins and for solving a wide range of problems during petroleum exploration.

Submitted by (edna.saturno@ufrpe.br) on 2017-05-17T12:28:04Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Marcio Vieira da Cunha.pdf: 1092911 bytes, checksum: 017070356f3e2ce88be8b4fde08736c8 (MD5)<br>Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-17T12:28:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marcio Vieira da Cunha.pdf: 1092911 bytes, checksum: 017070356f3e2ce88be8b4fde08736c8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-08-18<br>The research was carried out at the Experimental Station of the Agronomic Institute of Pernambuco (IPA), in the city of Itambé, Forest Dry Zone of Pernambuco. It was evaluated eight clones of Pennisetum sp. (Taiwan A-146 2.37, Taiwan A-146 2.27, Taiwan-146 2.114, Merker México MX 6.31, Mott, HV-241, and Elephant B and IRI-381). The objectives were: (a) study the association between morphology and productive traits in Pennisetum sp. clones; (b) identify morphological traits responsible for productivity in Pennisetum sp. clones and (c) study the genotype x environment interaction under forage yield through different methods of adaptability and stability to selection of Pennisetum sp. clones for the Dry Forest Zone of Pernambuco. It was evaluated the canonical correlations and path analysis from the matrix of simple genotypic correlation between morphological and productive traits of the Pennisetum sp. clones. The methods used to study the adaptability and stability were Eberhart and Russell, Wricke, Lins and Binns and the method based on the main components / centroid. The canonical correlations were significant at 1% probability by the chi-square test. The first pair of canonical factors, with correlation of 1.1379, it was associated plants with higher dry matter content to plants with lower leaf area index, lightinterception and leaf angle. The second pair of canonical factors, with correlation of 1.0400, it was associated plants with higher dry matter yield to plants with greater basal tillers density and height, and fewer green leaves per tiller. The results of the pathanalysis showed that the light interception was decisive in the expression of the dry matter content of Pennisetum sp. clones, while the basal tillers density and plant height were responsible for the dry matter yield of these clones. The forage yield was influenced (P < 0.05) by the interaction clones x cuts. The evaluation of Pennisetum sp. clones through different methods of adaptability and stability of the forage yield has increased characterization of the productive performance of clones and provided greater security to the selection. The method based on the main components / centroid allowed greater discrimination on the adaptability of clones. The clone HV-241, despite to the adaptability of the favorable environments, presented less productive stability. The clones of better performance as the adaptability and stability of the forage yield were the Taiwan-146 2.37 and Elephant B, however, is indicated for the first favorable environments and for the second unfavorable environments.<br>A pesquisa foi realizada na Estação Experimental do Instituto Agronômico de Pernambuco (IPA), no município de Itambé, Zona da Mata Seca de Pernambuco. Foram avaliados oito clones de Pennisetum sp. (Taiwan A-146 2.37, Taiwan A-146 2.27, Taiwan-146 2.114, Merker México MX 6.31, Mott, HV-241, Elefante B e IRI-381). Os objetivos foram: (a) estudar a associação entre características morfológicas e produtivas em clones de Pennisetum sp.; (b) identificar características morfológicas responsáveis pela produtividade em clones de Pennisetum sp. e (c) estudar a interação genótipo x ambiente sobre a produção de forragem por meio de diferentes metodologias de adaptabilidade e estabilidade com vistas a seleção de clones de Pennisetum sp. para a Zona da Mata Seca de Pernambuco. Foram avaliadas as correlações canônicas e análise de trilha a partir da matriz de correlação genotípicas simples entre características morfológicas e produtivas de oito clones de Pennisetum sp. As metodologias utilizadas para o estudo da adaptabilidade e estabilidade foram as de Eberhart e Russel, Wricke, Lins e Binns e o método baseado em componentes principais/centróide. As correlações canônicas foram significativas a 1% de probabilidade pelo teste do qui-quadrado. O primeiro par de fatores canônicos, com correlação de 1,1379, associou plantas com maior teor de MS a plantas com menores IAF, interceptação luminosa e ângulo foliar. O segundo par de fatores canônicos, com correlação de 1,0400, associou plantas com maior produção de MS a plantas com maior densidade de perfilhos basais , altura, emenor número de folhas verdes por perfilho. Os resultados da análise de trilha mostraram que a interceptação luminosa foi determinante na expressão do teor de MS de clones de Pennisetum sp., enquanto que a densidade de perfilhos basais e altura da planta foram responsáveis pela produção de MS nestes clones. A produção de forragem foi influenciada (P < 0,05) pela interação clones x cortes. A avaliação de clones de Pennisetum sp. por meio das diferentes metodologias de adaptabilidade e estabilidade da produção de forragem permitiu maior caracterização do desempenho produtivo dos clones e forneceu maior segurança à seleção. O método baseado em componentes principais/centróide permitiu maior discriminação dos clones quanto a adaptabilidade. O clone HV-241, híbrido do Pennisetum sp. com o milheto, apesar de apresentar adaptabilidade a ambientes favoráveis, foi o que apresentou menor estabilidade produtiva. Os clones de melhor desempenho quanto a adaptabilidade e estabilidade da produção de forragem foram o Taiwan A-146 2.37 e o Elefante B, no entanto, o primeiro é indicado para ambientes favoráveis e o último, a ambientes desfavoráveis

In this thesis, the effects of size and stress on permeability, deformability and strength of fractured rock masses are investigated. A comparison study was carried out to examine the effects of considering, or not considering, the correlation between distributions of fracture apertures and fracture trace lengths on the hydro-mechanical behavior of fractured rocks. The basic concepts used are the fundamental principles of the general theory of elasticity, Representative Elementary Volume (REV), the tensor of equivalent permeability, and the strength criteria of the fractured rocks. Due to the size and stress dependence of the hydro-mechanical properties of rock fractures, the overall effective (or equivalent) hydro-mechanical properties of the fractured rocks are also size and stress-dependent. However, such dependence cannot be readily investigated in laboratory using small samples, and so numerical modeling becomes a necessary tool for estimating their impacts. In this study, a closed-form relation is established for representing the correlation between a truncated lognormal distribution of fracture apertures and a truncated power law distribution of trace lengths, as obtained from field mapping. Furthermore, a new nonlinear algorithm is developed for predicting the relationship between normal stress and normal displacement of fractures, based on the Bandis model and the correlation between aperture and length. A large number of stochastic Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) models of varying sizes were extracted from some generated large-sized parent realizations based on a realistic fracture system description from a site investigation programme at Sellafield, UK, for calculating the REV of hydro-mechanical properties of fractured rocks. Rotated DFN models were also generated and used for evaluation of the distributions of directional permeabilities, such that tensors of equivalent permeability could be established based on stochastically established REVs. The stress-dependence of the permeability and the stress-displacement behaviour were then investigated using models of REV sizes. The Discrete Element Method (DEM) was used for numerical simulation of the fluid flow, deformability properties and mechanical strength behavior of fractured rocks. The results show significant scale-dependency of rock permeability, deformability and strength, and its variation when the correlation between aperture and trace length of fractures are concerned, with the overall permeability and deformability more controlled by dominating fractures with larger apertures and higher transmissivity and deformability, compared with fracture network models having uniform aperture. As the second moment of aperture distribution increases, a fractured rock mass shows more discrete behavior and an REV is established in smaller value of second moment with much larger model size, compared with the models with uniform fracture aperture. When the fracture aperture pattern is more scattered, the overall permeability, Young’s modulus and mechanical strength change significantly. The effect of stress on permeability and fluid flow patterns in fractured rock is significant and can lead to the existence or non-existence of a permeability tensor. Stress changes the fluid flow patterns and can cause significant channeling and the permeability tensor, and REV may be destroyed or re-established at different applied stress conditions. With an increase in the confining stress on the DEM models, the strength is increased. Compared with the Hoek-Brown criterion, the Mohr-Coulomb strength envelope provides a better fit to the results of numerical biaxial compression tests, with significant changes of the strength characteristic parameters occurring when the second moment of the aperture distribution is increased.<br>QC 20100702

Railway signaling is of paramount importance to ensure traffic management andsafety on the rail network. The main lines are divided into sections called ‘blocks’,which are governed by a fixed signal installation. To prevent trains from colliding,each block allows one train at once. In France (and most European countries),train detection is performed by an electrical device called track circuit that consistsof a transmitter and a receiver installed at the track-side, and connected via therails. In the absence of a train, an electrical signal flows from the transmitter tothe receiver through the rails. As a train enters a track circuit, its axles shuntthe rails, provoking a short circuit (also called ‘shunt’): the signal transmitted tothe receiver drops. The detection of that signal drop results in the detection of atrain. This method rarely fails throughout the network, but there can be criticalcases where it may be inefficient. In this Master’s Thesis, new detection criteriaproposed in previous studies have been tested on signals measured in poor shuntingconditions. Three approaches have been tested: one in the time domain and two inthe frequency domain. The time approach compares the short-term and long-termstatistics of the received signals. The observation of a change in the spectra of thereceived signals around the 3rd order harmonic (3OH) has led to the implementationof two frequency criteria: the estimation of the band power around the 3OH andthe detection of the 3OH peaks. The obtained results show that better detection isachieved when the new criteria and the existing one are combined.<br>Tågsignalsystem är väsentliga för att garantera trafikstyrning och säkerhet i tågnätet.Spåren är indelade i sektioner, s.k. block, som övervakas med fasta signalinstallationer.För att hindra tåg från att krocka, tillåts bara ett tåg i taget per block. IFrankrike (och de flesta andra europeiska länder), detekteras tågen med en elektriskspårkrets som består av en sändare och en mottagare som är installerad bredvidspåret och ansluten till rälsen. När inget tåg finns på spåret, flyter en elektrisk signalfrån sändaren till mottagaren via spåret. När ett tåg anländer, kortsluts kretsenav hjulaxeln och signalen försvinner från mottagaren. Minskningen i signalstyrkaanvänds för att detektera tåget. Denna metod sällan misslyckas i tågnätet, men iovanliga fall kan det uppstå farliga situationer. I detta examensarbete utvärderasnya detektionsmetoder, som har föreslagits i tidigare studier, på signaler som haruppmätts under förhållanden med dålig kontakt mellan hjul och spår. Tre olika metoderhar testats, en i tidsdomänen och två i frekvensdomänen. Tidsdomänsmetodenjämför kortvarig och långvarig statistik för den mottagna signalen. I spektrum förden mottagna signalen, har man observerat en förändring runt den tredje övertonen,samt detektering av frekvenstoppar vid tredje övertonen. De erhållna resultatenvisar på förbättrad detektering när de nya och existerande kriterierna kombineras.

Les aquifères karstiques sont parmi les milieux souterrains les plus difficiles à caractériser. Ils sont connus pour avoir des réponses complexes aux événements pluvieux en raison de l'hétérogénéité de la porosité allant de la porosité matricielle (micro-porosité) à la porosité de conduits (macro-porosité). La porosité de conduits génère des vitesses de transfert élevées au sein de l'aquifère, à l'origine de la vulnérabilité des aquifères karstiques. L'objectif de cette thèse est de définir les modalités du transfert de l'eau et des solutés au sein d'un aquifère karstique du Dogger situé en Bourgogne. Deux approches complémentaires ont été utilisées: (i) l'analyse de chroniques piézométriques et débitmétriques à partir d'outils de traitement du signal et (ii) une caractérisation géochimique et isotopique des eaux souterraines basée sur l'utilisation d'une large palette de traceurs, notamment des traceurs de datation. Ces deux approches ont été appliquées à différentes échelles temporelles: un suivi haute fréquence (jusqu'à 1h) lors de pics de crue pour étudier les transferts rapides et un suivi à long terme (pluri-annuel) pour caractériser les transferts lents et étudier la variabilité saisonnière des modalités d'écoulement. Ce travail a permis de mettre en évidence une très large distribution des temps de résidence de l'eau souterraine, de quelques heures, lors d'événements de crue souligné par des temps de réponse pluie-niveau piézométrique faible (inférieurs à 70 h) à quelques années pour l'écoulement de base mis en évidence par l'utilisation de traceurs de datation (39Kr, CFC-12 et SF6). En réponse aux précipitations, différentes masses d'eau ont pu être décrites: (i) une eau à vitesse d'écoulement lente, qui correspond à l'écoulement de base mis en évidence par l'utilisation des traceurs de datation; (ii) une eau de recharge rapide dont le temps de résidence au sein de l'aquifère varie, selon les porosités empruntées, de quelques heures à quelques jours soulignés grâce au suivi en continu de la conductivité électrique, des éléments majeurs et du tritium; et (iii) des eaux stockées au sein de la zone non saturée, remobilisées lors de pics de crue mises en évidence par la variation des compositions géochimiques en tritium et Ca2+ des eaux souterraines lors de pics de crue. Malgré une forte hétérogénéité des processus d'écoulement, une logique spatiale des écoulements rapides apparaît. Le temps de réponse du niveau piézométrique à un événement pluvieux et le temps de résidence augmentent vers l'aval du dôme hydrogéologique. L'étude temporelle de la réponse impulsionnelle par la méthode du corrélogramme croisé coulissant montre que le temps de réponse varie de façon saisonnière, et est plus court en été. La variation du temps de réponse pour un forage entre été et hiver est significative et peut atteindre une centaine d'heures. Cette variabilité temporelle s'explique en partie par une variabilité de l'intensité des pluies (plus importantes en été) qui induit une variation des mécanismes d'écoulement au sein de l'épikarst. Lors d'événements de pluie intense, la saturation de l'épikarst est plus importante provocant des transferts latéraux en son sein et permettant de transférer les eaux vers les conduits les plus ouverts.

Sverige har som mål att endast använda fossilfria bränslen inom fordonsflottan till år 2030. Ett av dessa fossilfria bränslen är biogas som bland annat produceras på Karlstads reningsverk, Sjöstadsverket. Sjöstadsverket planerar att bygga ut sin slammottagningsstation för att kunna ta emot mer slam. I samband med detta finns det ett intresse av att undersöka effektiviseringsmöjligheter inom biogasproduktionen. Ett vanligt förekommande sätt att öka biogasproduktionen är genom tillsatser av olika spårämnen. I detta arbete har därför tillsatser av spårämnena järn, kobolt, nickel och magnesium undersökts genom termofila småskaliga rötningsförsök i satsreaktorer. Tillsatserna har även undersökts i kombination med det komplexbildande ämnet EDTA för att undersöka om den biologiska tillgängligheten påverkar vid rötning av avloppsslam. Förutom rötningsförsök har även en korrelationsanalys genomförts där olika faktorer som kan påverka biogasproduktionen undersökts för år 2017. Resultaten av rötningsförsöken visar att inga tillsatser av järn, magnesium, nickel eller kobolt kommer öka biogasproduktionen vid Sjöstadsverket. Istället har biogasproduktionen hämmats vid två av tre rötningsförsök. Dessa resultat indikerar att organismerna i rötningsanläggningen på Sjöstadsverket inte har någon brist på spårämnen. Inte heller tillsatser av EDTA ökade biogasproduktionen vilket visar att det inte heller finns brist på biologiskt tillgängliga spårämnen. Resultaten från rötningsförsöken styrks av korrelationsanalysen eftersom det inte heller finns några tecken på korrelation mellan biogasproduktion och de nämnda spårämnena. Resultaten av korrelationsanalysen visar att pH ut ur rötningsanläggningen kan ha en negativ inverkan på biogasproduktionen vid Sjöstadsverket. Resultaten indikerar att pH blir för högt i anläggningen, något som även påvisats vid rötningsförsöken. Ett högre flöde in i anläggningen kan sänka pH-värdet enligt vidare korrelationsstudier. Detta har även kunnat påvisas vid rötningsförsöken där pH blev lägre vid en kortare uppehållstid. Eftersom Sjöstadsverket baserar sin uppehållstid på en stabil volym i rötkamrarna bör det alltså vara möjligt att öka biogasproduktionen genom att öka flödet in i rötningsanläggningen, vilket kommer ske när den nya slammottagningsstationen sätts i bruk. Eftersom dessa slutsatser främst är baserade på korrelationer rekommenderas vidare studier där pH-värdets och uppehållstidens inverkan på biogasproduktionen vid Sjöstadsverket undersöks närmare.<br>The Swedish government has set a national goal to have no vehicles running on fossil fuels in year 2030. One of the fuels that can replace the fossil fuels of today is biogas. The biggest wastewater treatment plant in Karlstad, called Sjöstadsverket, is already producing biogas and is expanding to receive more sludge in the future. Because of this, Sjöstadsverket wants to investigate the possibility of a more effective biogas production. A common way to improve biogas production is trace element additives. Therefor the addition of cobalt, nickel, iron and magnesium has been investigated through small scale thermophilic anaerobic digestion trials in batch reactors. The trace elements have also been added in combination with EDTA to investigate the bioavailability of the trace elements. In addition to these experiments a correlation analysis was performed where different factors that might influence the biogas production were investigated for year 2017. The results from the digestion trials prove that no addition of iron, magnesium, cobalt or nickel will increase the biogas production. Instead, the biogas production was inhibited during two out of three experiments. These results indicate that the organisms in the digester at Sjöstadsverket already have a sufficient amount of trace elements. The addition of EDTA did not increase the biogas production either which indicates that the trace elements also are bioavailable to a sufficient extent. The results from the digestion trials are validated by the correlation analysis because no correlation could be found between the biogas production and the investigated trace elements. The results from the correlation analysis show that the pH-level affects the biogas production negatively. The results indicate that the pH-level is to high, something that was also observed during the digestion trials. A higher flow rate into the digesters could lower the pH-levels according to further correlation studies. This has also been observed during the digestion trials where a shorter retention time lowered the pH-levels. Because Sjöstadsverket bases their retention time on a stable volume in the digesters, it could be possible for them to increase the biogas production by increasing the flow rates, which will happen when they start receiving more sludge. Because these conclusions are mainly based on correlations, further studies of the influence of pH-levels and retention times on the biogas production at Sjöstadsverket are recommended.

Die Nutzung historisch solider Lastannahmen, wie sie zum Beispiel die VDV Richtlinie 152 in der Fassung von 1992 festlegt, ist für die Festigkeitsauslegung neuartiger Straßen- und Stadtbahnfahrzeuge unzureichend, da die Annahmen und Methoden der Komplexität und insbesondere der Nichtlinearität moderner Fahrzeugkonzepte keine Rechnung tragen. Diese Arbeit zeigt auf, wie sich entstandene Lücken in den Lastannahmen durch Simulation und Messung von Fahrzeug und Gleis analysieren, verstehen und schließen lassen. Den Kern bildet dabei der Einsatz detaillierterer Simulationsmodelle von Fahrzeug und Gleis, deren Eingangsdaten mit Hilfe von Messungen gewonnen und deren Ausgangsdaten mit ihnen verifiziert und ergänzt werden müssen. Hierfür werden Methoden und Werkzeuge entwickelt, die ein ein vielseitiges Baukastensystem für die Fahrzeuganalyse, Modellvalidierung und Datenbewertung bilden, und zu sicheren Lastannahmen für die Fahrzeugauslegung führen.

碩士<br>銘傳大學<br>財務金融學系碩士在職專班<br>95<br>Abstract Using the Multivariate GARCH Model, we aimed to constructing a dynamic volatility model to simultaneously estimate the conditional variance of Taiwan 50 Index, Taiwan 50 Index Futures and Polaris Taiwan Top 50 Tracker Fund. This contributes to the understanding of the relevant“Volatility Changes and Transmission Effect”. Through the BEKK-MGARCH model, therefore, we were able to estimate the conditional variance of different variables and observe the volatility transmission among the variables by using the Granger Causality Test. The research covered the period of 30 June 2003 to 31 December 2006. The high frequency intraday data (five-minute data) were employed. The empirical research as concluded as following: The “Price correlation and volatility transmission effect” does exist among the three products under the TSEC Taiwan 50 Index series i.e., Taiwan 50 Index, Taiwan 50 Index futures and Polaris Taiwan Top 50 Tracker Fund (ETF), reflecting the close interactions and the “aping” co-movement relationship among the three. Further, we also found that a feedback and causal relationship existed in the short term, as well as a transmission effect on cross-period impulse responses. Besides a persistent positive impact effect has been noticed between “the Volatility of Taiwan 50 Index and Taiwan 50 ETF”, and between “the Volatility of Taiwan 50 Index Futures and Taiwan 50 ETF” .While effect between the “volatility of Taiwan 50 Index and the volatility of Taiwan 50 Index Futures is negatine”. We do hope that the results of this empirical research would be a useful reference for investors when analyzing the trends in the drastically changing financial market.

Visual object tracking is a classical and very popular problem in computer vision with a plethora of applications such as vehicle navigation, human computer interface, human motion analysis, surveillance, auto-control systems and many more. Given the initial state of a target in the first frame, the goal of tracking is to predict states of the target over time where the states describe a bounding box covering the target. Despite numerous object tracking methods that have been proposed in recent years [1-4], most of these trackers suffer a degradation in performance mainly because of several challenges that include illumination changes, motion blur, complex motion, out of plane rotation, and partial or full occlusion, while occlusion is usually the most contributing factor in degrading the majority of trackers, if not all of them. This thesis is devoted to the advancement of generic object trackers tackling different challenges through different proposed methods. The work presented propose four new state-of-the-art trackers. One of which is 3D based tracker in a particle filter framework where both synchronization and registration of RGB and depth streams are adjusted automatically, and three works in correlation filters that achieve state-of-the-art performance in terms of accuracy while maintaining reasonable speeds.

碩士<br>臺北巿立體育學院<br>運動器材研究所<br>97<br>In this study for a rapid assessment of PU track surface physics of Force Reduction & Vertical Deformation the analytical methods used to reduce the surface manufacturer of firms to effectively enhance the research and development results. Research methods for International Association Athletic Federation (IAAF) of Berlin Artificial Athlete on the PU track surface Force Reduction & Vertical Deformation of the test, the development of a rapid assessment of the PU track surface has a Force Reduction & Vertical Deformation test equipment , and the test equipment Uncertainty of Measurement. Study of 52 PU track surface samples, and the PU track surface base is divided into different materials of the PU track surface, use of Berlin Artificial Athlete to teat Force Reduction and Vertical Deformation , and use the new test equipment to test impact force and impact deformation of PU track surface . Results showed the Force Reduction of impact force of the impact tester force a high degree of correlation (r =. 929, p <.05), vertical deformation and rapid impact force of the impact tester deformation is also related (r =. 507, p <.05), and used to calculate the strength impairment and vertical shape of the estimated variable equation to predict the strength of Berlin Artificial Athlete attenuation value and vertical shape variable; The results showed that the new test equipment may be can rapid test the impact force and impact deformation estimated Force Reduction & Vertical Deformation.

碩士<br>國立中正大學<br>通訊工程研究所<br>96<br>Network hardening reduces successful network intrusion. One approach of network hardening is to remove the vulnerabilities of the systems and services in the Internet. Vulnerability scanning provides isolated vulnerabilities without correlated network topology information, and that’s useless for network hardening. Often, many organizations use the Intrusion Detection System (IDS) to monitor network traffic, to detect intrusions, and to recognize victims. However, they have problems in figuring out the critical segments in their network for hardening, since the flooding information of alerts and the false positive from IDS. There’s no correlation between the intrusions and overall vulnerabilities with network topology information. To understand overall vulnerabilities to network intrusion, one must consider attacks not only in isolation, but also in combination. We propose to trace intrusion path by correlating IDS alerts with overall vulnerabilities information. Match the attack graph containing overall vulnerabilities and network information with the evidence graph analyzing alerts to trace and build the intrusion path. The intrusion path finds out the key points in the intrusion for hardening, which provides the correlation between the intrusion and overall vulnerabilities.

碩士<br>國立彰化師範大學<br>運動學系<br>107<br>Aim: This study aimed to investigate the correlations between the countermovement vertical jump and the physical plus fitness factors of male adolescent track athletes. A multiple regression analysis was conducted to decide the predictors of vertical jump performance. Method: 120 male track athletes of high school were recruited to join this study. Each was subjected to the measurements of height, weight, BMI, body fat and muscular percentages, medicine ball throwing, vertical jump, reaction time, sit-and-reach, hexagon test. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, Person correlation coefficient and the stepwise multiple regression by using SPSS 20.0. Statistical significance level of α= 0.5 was used for all analysis. Results: Vertical jump performance was significantly correlated with 8 variables, namely, medicine ball throwing (r =.538), hexagon test (r = -.490), reaction time (r = -.473), age (r = .445), fat-free mass (r = .311), sit-and-reach (r = .258), height (r = .227), weight (r = .223). The stepwise regression analysis selected the medicine ball throwing, reaction time, and hexagon test as predictors, with the explained variance (R2) of 28.9%, 10.3% and 4.3%, respectively, and resulted in a sum of 43.5%. Conclusion: This study showed that physical and fitness factors were related to vertical jump performance, and fitness factors were more decisive than physical factors.

碩士<br>國立彰化師範大學<br>運動學系<br>107<br>OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the correlation among body composition, physical fitness and aerobic capacity of junior track and field athletes. Determinants of the aerobic capacity were further discerned by using regression analysis. METHODS: 139 male junior track and field athletes (age 14.9 ± 0.9 years, height 167.5 ± 6.9 cm, weight 55.1 ± 8.7 kg, and BMI 19.6 ± 3.6kg/m2) were recruited to join this study. They were subjected to a battery of measurements including height, weight, body fat and lean body fat, sit and reach, backward medicine ball throw, countermovement vertical jump (CMJ), reaction time, hexagon agility test, and multistage 20m shuttle run test (20MST). Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, Person correlation coefficient and the stepwise multiple regression. Statistical significance level of α= 0.5 was used for all analysis. Results: Running distance of 20MST were significantly correlated with BMI, percent body fat, and hexagon test, with the r = -.191, -.299, and -.367, respectively. The stepwise regression analysis selected the hexagon agility and percent body fat as determinants, with the explained variance (R2) of 13.5% and 6.4%, respectively, summed of 19.9% in total. Conclusion: Performance of hexagon agility test is influenced by motor coordination of the legs. Better motor coordination may increase running economy and hence improve the aerobic performance. On the other hand, increase of body fat may deteriorate the aerobic capacity of the young athletes, which is in agree with other studies.

碩士<br>國立彰化師範大學<br>運動學系應用運動科學碩士班<br>105<br>OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the correlations of anthropometric and fitness factors with 20 meter sprint time of young male track and field athletes. In addition, a multiple regression analysis was conducted to decide the predictors of the 20 meter sprint performance. Methods: 92 male track and field athletes (age, 16.3 ± 0.8 years; height, 172.2 ± 5.8 cm; body mass, 64.3 ± 10.9 kg; body mass index, 21.7 ± 3 kg/m2) were recruited from junior and senior high schools. Each of them was subjected to a series of measurements including stature, weight, body fat, vertical jump, flexibility, agility, core strength and 20 meter sprint. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, Pearson product-moment correlation and stepwise multiple regression by using PASW Statistics (18.0), and the significance level α was set at 0.05. Results: The 20-meter sprint time was significantly and positively correlated with all the measured values except the height and core strength. The stepwise regression analysis selected the vertical jump, body fat, age and core strength as predictors and the explained variance R2 were 41.5%, 10.1%, 3.4% and 2.1%, respectively. The 4 predictors contributed 57.1% variance to the 20-meter sprint. Conclusion: The strongest predictor of the 20 meter sprint is vertical jump. This indicates short distance running demand high power of the lower limbs. Nonetheless, the 4 predictors combined can’t fully explain the variance of 20-meter sprint. Other factors may affect the performance of short distance running. It is suggested that the 20-meter sprint may not be alternatively substituted by other tests in assessing the fitness of young athletes.

碩士<br>國立彰化師範大學<br>企業管理學系國際企業經營管理<br>101<br>This research’s framework is based on the principles of international financial report which the FSC announced in 2009. The targets of this research are the listed companies whose the annual financial reports took both ROC GAAP and IFRS. The motivation of this research is to investigate the relationship between financial earnings announcement and abnormal return by dual track. The range of this research are the listed companies which were at 2012 annual financial report earnings per share before and after the 20%. Therefore we get 295 listed companies to study. In the above 295 companies we export 40 companies to be the samples of this research (subtracting the ROC GAAP to IFRS for EPS before and after removing differences in rank after the optional 20). We use the event study method to examine the relationship between financial earnings announcement and abnormal return. By empirical analysis, we get the reaction of abnormal return (before 15 days of the annual earnings announcement track parallel message-announcement). In addition , we get positive abnormal return in the track parallel to the annual earnings announcement message two days before to two days after the event period. In other words, to obtain a significant positive the cumulative abnormal returns in clustering, the track parallel to the annual earnings announcement, the day after the event declared before the 20 differences between the EPS and electronic grouping bring forward positive abnormal returns and cumulative abnormal return results. In other words, two-track parallel earnings announcement took the significant effect to rise stock price(especially for the companies and the electronic industries for IFRS compared with ROC GAAP count the larger number of EPS). The Investors are rational Investors who agree FSC announced the adoption of IFRS policies have direct positive effects.

碩士<br>經國管理暨健康學院<br>健康產業管理研究所<br>99<br>ABSTRACT The purpose of research is to investigate the current situation of coach leadership behavior and contestant satisfaction for high school-track and field contestants in Keelung city, and compares the deviation of coach leadership behavior, and contestant satisfaction, when contestants have different backgrounds. Next, the research also analyzes high school-track and field contestants who predict the level for coach leadership behavior and contestant satisfaction. The object of study is high school-track and field contestants who participate the 2011 Keelung high school athletic meet, and the research uses questionnaire survey. We collect the data from these surveys such as Descriptive Statistics, One-Way Analysis of Variance, Post Hoc- Scheffe Method, Product-moment Correlation, and Multiple Regression Analysis, and we find out the result as below: 1. In coach leadership behavior for contestants, the highest score is “training and instruction behavior”, however, the lowest score is “despotic behavior.” 2. In contestant satisfaction for contestants, the highest score is “coach leadership behavior”, however, the lowest score is “grade performance.” 3. In coach leadership behavior for contestants have different backgrounds, there is obvious deviation in “gender” and “grade school”, however, there is no obvious deviation in “sport seniority”, “weekly training hour”, and “personal best grade.” 4. In contestant satisfaction for contestants have different backgrounds, there is obvious deviation in “grade school” and “personal best grade”, however, there is no obvious deviation in “gender”, “sport seniority”, and “weekly training hour.” 5. Coach leadership behavior is obviously related to contestant satisfaction. 6. Coach leadership behavior can effectively predict the contestant satisfaction. Key Word: high school-track and field contestant, coach leadership behavior, athletes satisfaction.

碩士<br>國立新竹教育大學<br>體育系體育碩士在職進修專班<br>103<br>The purpose of this study were to explore the correlation between the motives and constraints of participation of athletes in track and field sports in Hsinchu elementary schools. The research is conducted by aquestionnaire survey. The research tool is "The Questionaire of the Correlations between the Athletes' Motivations and Constraints of Track and Field Team Members in Hsinchu City Elementary School." The valid recovering rate is 94%. The data was processed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe method and Canonical Correlation Analysis.The following conclusions were derived: 1. In comparing the differences among motives of sports participation, there were significant differences on the Technical Requirement Needs, the Health Fitness Needs, the Social Support Needs, and the Achievement Needs by gender groups, training time, and athletes whether they continue joining track and field team after graduation. Significant differences were found on the Technical Requirement Needs, the Health Fitness Needs, and the Achievement Needs by comparing athletes who joining the team on different time. Significant differences were found on the Technical Requirement Needs, and the Achievement Needs by comparing athletes who have different scores. Significant differences were found on the Achievement Needs by comparing athletes who join different level competition. 2. In comparing the dif ferences among the constraints, there were significant differencew on Capability, Outside Condition, Team Support and Internal Mentality by gender groups, grades, and the time joining the team. There were significant differences on Capability, Team Support, and Internal Mentality by comparing competition levels, scores, different training time, and athletes who continue joining track and field team after graduation or not. 3. There was significant negative correlation between the Athletes' Motivations and Constraints of track and field Team Members in Hsinchu city elementary school.

碩士<br>臺北市立大學<br>體育學系體育教學碩士學位班<br>105<br>The purpose of the study aims to examine the preferred and perceived coaches’ leadership behaviors recognized by the track and field athletes in elementary schools, compare the difference between the gender, grades, the training time, the scale of the school and competition scores with different-background variables, and analyze the relationship between preferred and perceived coaches’ leadership behaviors and competition scores. The Subjects were 412 students in New Taipei track and field representative team. Based on the collected data, through descriptive statistical method, the independent t-test, one way RM-ANOVA and product-moment correlation, the results showed that (a) Perceived coaches’ leadership behaviors recognized by athletes included training and instructions, positive feedback, social support, democratic behavior and autocratic behavior. (b) Preferred coaches’ leadership behaviors recognized by players included training and instructions, democratic behavior, positive feedback, social support, and autocratic behavior. (c) Male athletes recognized the democratic behavior and autocratic behavior higher than female athletes among the preferred coaches’ leadership behaviors.(d) Sixth-grade students recognized the democratic behavior, positive feedback and social support higher than fifth-grade among the perceived coaches’ leadership behaviors.(e) Schools of A and B scales recognized the training and instructions, positive feedback higher than ones of C scale among the perceived coaches’ leadership behaviors.(f) Top eight athletes in the track and field event recognized the training and instructions, democratic behavior and positive feedback higher than non-top-eight in the track and field event.(g) Four factors including Training and instructions, democratic behavior, positive feedback and social support have lower dissatisfaction than other four among the perceived coaches’ leadership behaviors.(h) The relationships between the preferred and perceived coaches’ leadership behaviors and the satisfaction of scores were not clearly relevant.

The present dissertation develops an invariant framework for 3D gesture comparison studies. 3D gesture comparison without Lagrangian models is challenging not only because of the lack of prediction provided by physics, but also because of a dual geometry representation, spatial dimensionality and non-linearity associated to 3D-kinematics. In 3D spaces, it is difficult to compare curves without an alignment operator since it is likely that discrete curves are not synchronized and do not share a common point in space. One has to assume that each and every single trajectory in the space is unique. The common answer is to assert the similitude between two or more trajectories as estimating an average distance error from the aligned curves, provided that the alignment operator is found. In order to avoid the alignment problem, the method uses differential geometry for position and orientation curves. Differential geometry not only reduces the spatial dimensionality but also achieves view invariance. However, the nonlinear signatures may be unbounded or singular. Yet, it is shown that pattern recognition between intrinsic signatures using correlations is robust for position and orientation alike. A new mapping for orientation sequences is introduced in order to treat quaternion and Euclidean intrinsic signatures alike. The new mapping projects a 4D-hyper-sphere for orientations onto a 3D-Euclidean volume. The projection uses the quaternion invariant distance to map rotation sequences into 3D-Euclidean curves. However, quaternion spaces are sectional discrete spaces. The significance is that continuous rotation functions can be only approximated for small angles. Rotation sequences with large angle variations can only be interpolated in discrete sections. The current dissertation introduces two multi-scale approaches that improve numerical stability and bound the signal energy content of the intrinsic signatures. The first is a multilevel least squares curve fitting method similar to Haar wavelet. The second is a geodesic distance anisotropic kernel filter. The methodology testing is carried out on 3D-gestures for obstetrics training. The study quantitatively assess the process of skill acquisition and transfer of manipulating obstetric forceps gestures. The results show that the multi-scale correlations with intrinsic signatures track and evaluate gesture differences between experts and trainees.