Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Physical output'

Researchers have linked physical activity (PA) with positive health outcomes. Unfortunately, PA in young people continues to be reported as a concern with many not achieving the recommended guidelines. Further, participation in childhood and adolescence is positively associated with PA into adulthood, highlighting the importance of PA habits in young people for lifelong participation. Gender, socio- economic status (SES), and motivation have all been shown to be important factors that influence participation, and as such are a focus of this thesis. Mixed methods research was adopted to ‘investigate the nature of PA in young people within a Scottish context' including quantitative (study one) and qualitative (studies two and three) methodologies. The initial motivation for study one emerged through my personal interest in understanding the nature of young people's participation in structured club activities and the role SES, gender and motivation play in a Scottish context. Sport is often used as a proxy for PA and as such, young people's participation is frequently reported on sports club based activities. On reflection, this focus on ‘weekly club activity sessions,' rather than a more broad, valid, and reliable measure of PA, limited the application of the findings. Nevertheless, the findings and reflection on the methods used in study one informed the direction of the thesis moving forward. More specifically, SES was found to be the strongest predictor of club activity participation, with those from higher SES taking part in more club activity sessions than those from lower SES. No significant gender differences in participation were found. While SES was the sole predictor of school club activities, perceived competence and intrinsic motivation were also important predictors of participation in out-of-school club activities. The regression models predicted between 5% and 27% of the variance in club participation, highlighting the multi-factorial nature of the influencers of participation. In order to understand the nature of PA more broadly in young people from lower SES within a Scottish context and to investigate the complexity of participation influencers, a qualitative methodology was used. Study two investigated low SES Scottish youths' PA experiences across key development stages (i.e., childhood, adolescence and newly identified early adulthood, study two). Results suggested that young people from low SES participate in a high variety of unstructured PA throughout their lives, which is under reported in the literature. Participation in structured sport based activities in childhood, particularly those in which a young person forms a sport ‘identity,' influences future adherence, but also engagement and enjoyment of school physical education (PE). For many young people, particularly those from less affluent backgrounds, school PE may be the only opportunity for them to participate in structured PA. While some young people embraced school PE, others perceived PE a threatening, so leading them to avoid or drop out altogether. Findings showed that in addition to previous experience, the nature of the PE climate also influenced participation as young people entered early adulthood. As well as shedding light on the broad nature of young people's PA from low SES backgrounds, the findings from study two highlighted the role that schools (e.g., through PE) have in influencing young people's PA and associated attitudes. Study three aimed to investigate young people's PA, motivational influences, and the role of schools from the perspective of qualified Scottish PE teachers, knowledgeable on policy issues and active in the development of future teachers. The main findings from study three showed that family influences (mostly parents) and SES were key towards the formation of young people's attitudes and behaviours towards PA, particularly in sports. Those young people with parents not showing any interest in PA were more likely to be inactive compared to those youngsters with active parents. Young people from lower SES backgrounds were less likely to participate in sports activities, thus preventing them from gaining the necessary experiences (and competencies) needed to successfully take part in many school PE activities. Also, this study found that secondary school PE is perceived by many pupils as threatening which subsequently led many to avoid PE altogether. Many young people are not achieving the curriculum expected health and well-being benefits through school PE. The results also highlighted the huge challenge and role conflict that is apparent for PE teachers in schools, which is a barrier to effective promotion of PA and positive attitudes in a range of young people. This thesis supports the contention that SES is an important factor in young people's PA. While those from lower SES were shown to participate in less structured sport club activity than those from higher SES, evidence emerged suggesting that young people from lower SES participate in a variety of unstructured PA which is underreported in the literature. The complexities of PA participation were also apparent where previous experience, parents and school PE were found to have important roles, which either facilitated or debilitated motivation, and participation. This thesis also highlighted that there are serious challenges in delivering an effective PE experience to pupils with a wide range of ability and backgrounds. These challenges were exacerbated by the vagueness of policy guidance (e.g., within Scotland's curriculum for excellence), the pressures of certification, and the mostly sport dominated culture of PE. Implications for policy and practice in relation to the motivational climate of PEemerged. Recommendations for future research and practice in this area are discussed.

Survival, growth, aboveground biomass production, belowground biomass production, sediment accretion, soil surface elevation dynamics, sediment carbon and C/N ratio, sediment N and P, sediment 13C and 15N, sediment texture and macrofauna community structure, were studied in experimental treatments planted with four different densities (6.96, 3.26, 1.93 and 0.95 seedlings m-2) of the mangrove Rhizophora mucronata in Palakuda, Puttalam Lagoon, Sri Lanka. The first three parameters were also studied at a replicated experiment at Rekawa Lagoon, Sri Lanka. For both Palakuda (1,171days) and Rekawa (702 days) sites, the highest tree density (6.96 seedlings m-2) showed significantly higher % survival: means (±S.E.) of 93.4 (± 1.1) and 91.2 (± 1.38) respectively. The measures of individual trees (tree height, stem diameter, number of leaves, leaf area, number of branches, number of prop roots ) did not differ among treatments (p>0.05) for both sites. In contrast, the aboveground biomass responded significantly to planting density with higher plantation densities equating to greater biomass: 10772 ± 24 and 9904 ± 18.1g dry weight m-2 for Palakuda (1,171days) and Rekawa (702 days) respectively. The belowground biomass at Palakuda (1370 days) varied significantly between the densities with the highest belowground biomass (105.41 ± 6.98 g m-2) in the highest tree density. The same tree density had the highest numbers of fine roots m-2 for efficient absorption of nutrients. Higher tree densities accumulated more N in their sediments while the sediment phosphate was not different between the densities. Sediment ‰ 13C, ‰ 15N and C/N ratios ranged between -16.41 to -14.58, 2.80 to 2.40 and 9.32 to 7.85 respectively and were independent of the planting density. The 13C values indicated a potential mix of seagrass C and mangrove C in sediments of the treatments; the highest tree density (6.96 seedlings m-2) had significantly higher % sediment carbon (0.68 ± 0.04) compared with the unplanted controls (0.46 ± 0.05). Rates of surface accretion were 13.0 (± 1.3), 10.5 (± 0.9), 8.4 (± 0.3), 6.9 (± 0.5) and 5.7 (± 0.3) mm year-1 at planting densities of 6.96, 3.26, 1.93, 0.95, and 0 (unplanted control) seedlings m-2 respectively, showing highly significant differences among treatments. Mean (± SE) rates of surface elevation change were much lower than rates of accretion at 2.8 (± 0.2), 1.6 (± 0.1), 1.1(± 0.2), 0.6 (± 0.2) and -0.3 (± 0.1) mm year-1 for 6.96, 3.26, 1.93, 0.95, and 0 seedlings m-2, respectively. The community structure of the sediment macrofauna was unchanged between the treatments; that is likely to be the result of unchanged sediment texture and unavailability of mangrove derived carbon as the major food source. This study demonstrated the role of higher mangrove densities in enhancing the rates of sediment accretion and surface elevation processes that may be crucial in mangrove ecosystems' adaptation to sea-level rise. There was no evidence that increasing plant density evoked a trade-off with growth and survival of the planted trees during their early 1171 days of growth. While these potential processes need further research, the enhanced survival at high densities suggests the potential to use high plantation densities to help mitigate sea-level rise effects by encouraging positive sediment surface elevation. Higher biomass production in higher densities would also help faster sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Historic buildings and monuments are a precious finite asset and powerful reminders for future generations of the work and way of life of earlier cultures and civilisations. The stone cleaning and restoration of historic buildings is a crucial element in keeping the good look, integrity and quality of the fine art, method of construction and architecture of previous civilisations. Stone cleaning is one of the most noticeable changes a building can be subjected to, which changes its appearance, persona and environmental context. In this study, a series of physical and chemical tests were conducted to further investigate, evaluate and improve the efficiency of building cleaning. Seven different abrasives were adopted for air abrasive cleaning, including copper slag (fine, medium and coarse), recycled glass (fine, medium and coarse) and hazelnut/almond shell (natural abrasive), on a total of eight masonry stones and clay bricks, including yellow sandstone, red sandstone, limestone, marble, granite, white clay brick, yellow clay brick and red clay brick. Physical investigations included sieve tests and impact tests on the abrasives, greyscale image analysis, thickness reduction measurements, Vickers surface hardness tests, Charpy impact tests and water absorption tests. Chemical investigations included Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDX) analyses. Sieve tests and impact tests confirmed that the abrasives utilised were fairly reliable, and the abrasives with high bulk densities were stronger and tougher than those with low bulk density. Greyscale digital image analysis indicated a lower greyscale value corresponded to a dirtier masonry surface. In general, the greyscale continuously increased with the increasing cleaning time and tended to be stable when the surface became fully cleaned. The cleanness was also introduced for assessing the effectiveness of the building cleaning. Similar trends could be observed. Both parameters proved to be significantly useful. For most of the samples, monotonic increase trends were observed between the greyscale and thickness reduction. The image analysis on greyscale and the thickness measurement were two useful methods for assessing the cleaning degree of a masonry stone or clay brick. Based on the analysis on all the testing data, it is possible to recommend a more suitable abrasive for each masonry stone or brick. For granite and red clay brick, medium glass produced the best performance, while for limestone, marble and red sandstone, fine glass was promising. For yellow clay brick, fine slag could be the best option, while for yellow sandstone the natural abrasive was found to be the most suitable. vi The Vickers hardness test results indicated that a larger hardness corresponded to a harder masonry surface. Also the surface hardness continuously increased with the increasing cleaning time but at a decrease rate. Most of the increasing trends of the surface hardness could be approximately expressed using parabolic relationships. Granite was found to be the hardest, and followed by marble and limestone. However, there were no big differences in the surface hardness between yellow clay brick, yellow sandstone, red sandstone and white clay brick. The impact resistances of seven masonry stones and bricks were obtained by conducting the Charpy impact resistance tests. Granite showed the highest impact resistance among all the stones and bricks and was followed by marble, limestone, clay bricks and sandstones. The stones and bricks with higher impact resistances also had higher hardness values but lower water absorptions. The water absorbing capacity of the seven masonry stones and bricks was quantitatively determined. Two types of clay bricks showed the highest water absorptions, and the water absorptions for limestone, yellow sandstone and red sandstone were also quite high. However, the water absorption of marble and granite was found to be very low. Larger water absorption corresponded to a softer stone or brick, while smaller water absorption corresponded to a harder stone or brick. The chemical investigations by using the SEM and EDX techniques showed that the chemical substances on the masonry surface varied largely for different types of stones and bricks. This study showed the way to detect such soiling using chemical analysis by monitor the changes in chemical elements and compounds during the building cleaning. Finally, comprehensive conclusions were presented, together with useful suggestions for future work.

In this paper a novel, radially varying birefringent output coupler is analyzed both theoretically and experimentally. This output coupler, a dimpled half waveplate, is designed to obtain better beam quality from unstable ring resonators. A theoretical model for its transmission when followed by a polarizer is developed. Since the transmission of the dimpled waveplate is a function of various parameters such as the birefringent material, dimple diameter, radius of curvature, and wavelength, the effect of these parameters on the transmission is studied. Using the theoretical equations, the dimpled waveplate design parameters are determined to achieve the necessary transmission. Two experimental procedures used to characterize the dimpled waveplates are described. One is designed to investigate its average transmission and the other to plot its transmission profile. The experimental results are within 5% error of the theoretical calculations for the peak and average transmissions. Finally, the unstable ring laser with the novel dimpled waveplate output coupler is demonstrated.

Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN) learn to synthesize novel samples for a given data distribution. While GANs can train on diverse data of various modalities, the most successful use cases to date apply GANs to computer vision tasks. Despite significant advances in training algorithms and network architectures, GANs still struggle to consistently generate high-quality outputs after training. We present a series of papers that improve GAN output inference qualitatively and quantitatively. The first chapter, Alpha Model Domination, addresses a related subfield of Multiple Choice Learning, which -- like GANs -- aims to generate diverse sets of outputs. The next chapter, CoachGAN, introduces a real-time refinement method for the latent input space that improves inference quality for pretrained GANs. The following two chapters introduce finetuning methods for arbitrary, end-to-end differentiable GANs. The first, PuzzleGAN, proposes a self-supervised puzzle-solving task to improve global coherence in generated images. The latter, Trained Truncation Trick, improves upon a common inference heuristic by better maintaining output diversity while increasing image realism. Our final work, Two Second StyleGAN Projection, reduces the time for high-quality, image-to-latent GAN projections by two orders of magnitude. We present a wide array of results and applications of our method. We conclude with implications and directions for future work.

Athletes regularly monitor exercise workload in an attempt to improve and maintain exercise performance. Within road cycling, workload is commonly measured using power output. Yet, it is plausible that power output during road cycling is influenced by several factors such as topography, road gradient or rider specialities. If these factors do influence power output they may influence quantification of workload demands. As such, the purpose of this thesis was to improve our understanding of external workload in professional road cycling and describe the factors which influence power output during performance analysis. Specifically, this thesis examined the power output within single stage (1 day, Study One) and multi-stage races (4-21 days, Study Two, Three and Four). The within seasonal changes in power output of professional cyclists were also examined (Study Five). Study One calculated the frequency distribution of maximal power output (POpeak) values during road cycling events over different topography categories and analysed the power output 600 s prior to POpeak using a new time series analysis called changepoint. Changepoint estimated the four largest statistical changes in power output to find distinct segments. Seven professional male road cyclists (mean ± SD: age 29.5 ± 2.8 y, mass 69.7 ± 5.5 kg, height 182 ± 5 cm) participated in Study One and were all members of a single professional cycling team. It was found that a greater frequency of POpeak values (54%) occurred during flat stages in the final 80 to 100% of race time compared with the previous 0 to 80% race time. Using changepoint, power output was lower (P <0.05) in segment four compared with POpeak in all topography categories (flat: 235 vs. 823 W, semi-mountainous: 157 vs. 886 W and mountainous: 171 vs. 656 W). These results demonstrate that POpeak values occur at differing time points depending on the topography category and that changepoint demonstrated its ability to analyse power output data. Study Two calculated the maximal mean power (MMP) of professional cyclists from grand tour events. The MMP was examined across various topographies and rider specialities. Study Two also examined the percentage of race time spent in different power output bands between topographies, road gradients and rider specialities. Thirteen male professional cyclists (mean ± SD: age 25 ± 3 y, mass 69 ± 7.5 kg, height 178 ± 0.5 cm) participated in Study Two. MMP for durations longer than 1200 s were greater in semi-mountainous and mountainous stages, when compared with flat stages (1200 s: 5.1 ± 0.2, 5.2 ± 0.3, 4.5 ± 0.3 W·kg-1 respectively; P <0.05). Sprinters and climbers spent greater percentage of race time at a power output greater than 7.5 W·kg-1, when compared with general classification riders and domestiques (11.3, 11.4, 7.1 and 5.3%, respectively; P <0.05). A greater proportion of race time was spent at a power output above 3.7 W·kg-1 when cycling at a road gradient greater than 5% (P <0.05), compared with road gradients 0 to 5% and less than 0%. In conclusion, caution should be taken when comparing MMP between different races of varying topography or rider specialities. It was found in Study Two that MMP differs between flat and mountainous stages. Given that critical power (CP) can be estimated from MMP values during competition it is plausible that such differences will influence CP estimation. It is also plausible that difference in MMP between flat and mountainous stages is because cyclists are able to produce greater power output uphill rather than on flat gradients. As such, Study Three examined the use of MMP in the estimation of CP when calculated from stages of differing topographies. Also, Study Three compared estimated CP from a flat (mean gradient 0.4%) and uphill (mean gradient 6.2%) field-based test. Data from thirteen professional male road cyclists (age 29 ± 4 y, height 171 ± 0.9 cm, mass 67 ± 8.2 kg) were analysed. No differences (P >0.05) were observed in estimated CP between topography categories. However, a large effects size (d = 0.8) was observed in CP between flat stages and both semi-mountainous and mountainous stages. Estimated CP was 11.6% lower in flat field-based test, compared with the uphill field-based test (5.0 vs. 5.6 W·kg-1). Study Three demonstrates a large difference between estimated CP from alternative topography categories and from two different gradient specific field-based tests. With an 11.6% difference in CP observed in Study Three between 0 and 6.2% road gradients, Study Four investigated the magnitude of change in 1 and 5 min MMP from grand tour mountain stages. Road gradients of -5% to +5% were compared chronologically from lowest to highest. Seven professional male road cyclists (age 30 ± 4 y, height 169 ± 8 cm, body mass 69 ± 9 kg) from two professional cycling teams were analysed. In total 50 mountainous stages were analysed in Study Four from grand tours between 2011 and 2016. Power output from road gradient -1% was lower (P <0.001) in both 1 and 5 MMP compared with 0% (2.4 to 3.3 and 2.2 to 3.1 W·kg-1, respectively). Power output from road gradient 1% was lower in both 1 and 5 MMP compared with 2% (3.6 to 4.2 and 3.4 to 4.1 W·kg-1; (P <0.05)). These results highlight the need to consider road gradient when using power output for cycling performance analysis. Study Five described the within-season external workloads of professional male road cyclists for optimal training prescription. Four professional male cyclists (mean ± SD: age 24 ± 2 y, body mass 77.6 ± 1.5 kg, height 184 ± 4.3 cm) from the same professional cycling team were monitored for 12 months. Within three seasonal phases (phase one: Oct-Jan, phase two: Feb-May and, phase three: June-Sept), the volume and exercise intensity during training and racing was measured. Total distance (3859 ± 959 vs 10911 ± 620 km) and time (240.5 ± 37.5 vs 337.5 ± 26 h) was lower (P <0.01) in phase one compared with phase two, respectively. Total distance decreased (P <0.01) from phase two compared with phase three (10911 ± 620 vs 8411 ± 1399 km, respectively). Mean absolute (236 ± 12.1 vs. 197 ± 3 W) and relative (3.1 ± 0 vs. 2.5 ± 0 W·kg-1) power output was higher (P <0.05) during racing compared with training, respectively. These results highlight the importance in acknowledging the difference in volume and intensity changes during a season. In conclusion, this thesis demonstrates that cycling power output is affected by multiple factors including topography, road gradient and a rider’s speciality. Caution should be taken when interpreting cycling performance analysis using power output measures such as MMP and CP.

Background: People with intellectual disabilities (ID) remain at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) due to lifestyle associated risk factors such poor diets and low physical activity levels. Interventions have been adapted which target ongoing T2D self-management. However, there are no adapted programmes which prevent T2D through reducing risk factors. The present research project addresses this gap through a three-phase study on the existing literature, theoretical basis, and process evaluation of a T2D prevention programme. Methods: Phase 1: The literature reviews identified that the support needs of people with ID with T2D are currently not being met. Appropriate training needs to be delivered so that people with ID can self-manage or reduce the risk of T2D effectively. Given the early onset of T2D in people with ID and their often shorter lifespan, there is rationale for a preventative agenda in T2D education. Four potential mainstream intervention programmes were identified, and the self-efficacy model was found to be the most prevalent successfully implemented theoretical model. Phase 2: Nine sub-themes were identified following analysis of the data: 1) "Mastery through knowledge"; 2) "Mastery through tools and strategies"; 3) "Mastery through autonomy"; 4) "Influence of social setting"; 5) "Positive social comparisons"; 6) "Positive and negative self-statements"; 7) "Feedback from Caregivers"; 8) "Adjustment experiences"; 9) "Symptom awareness". These were mapped onto Bandura's (1977) Four Sources of efficacy enhancement model and were consistentwith its proposed mechanisms. The Four Sources model serves as a useful mode of enquiry for exploring people with ID's experiences and perceptions of self-managing diabetes. It also confirms the appropriateness of ssself-efficacy as a potential intervention component for this population. However, additional support may be required for people with ID to reflect meaningfully on their experiences and thus have a sense of self-efficacy. Phase3: 96% of invited students agreed to participate. The Walking Away programme was positively received, and some short-term impact was described, yet there were limitations to accessibility of the program due to the complexity of the language and materials. Suggestions for further adaptations regarding materials and content were provided, and there was perceived scope for a long-term implementation built into college curriculum. Results: Phase One: The literature reviews identified that the support needs of people with ID with T2D are currently not being met. Appropriate training needs to be delivered so that people with ID can self-manage or reduce the risk of T2D effectively. Given the early onset of T2D in people with ID and their often shorter lifespan, there is rationale for a preventative agenda in T2D education. Four potential mainstream intervention programmes were identified, and the self-efficacy model was found to be the most prevalent successfully implemented theoretical model. Phase Two: Nine sub-themes were identified following analysis of the data: 1) "Mastery through knowledge"; 2) "Mastery through tools and strategies"; 3) "Masterythrough autonomy"; 4) "Influence of social setting"; 5) "Positive social comparisons"; 6) "Positive and negative self-statements"; 7) "Feedback from Caregivers"; 8) "Adjustment experiences"; 9) "Symptom awareness". These were mapped onto Bandura's (1977) Four Sources of efficacy enhancement model and were consistent with its proposed mechanisms. The Four Sources model serves as a useful mode of enquiry for exploring people with ID's experiences and perceptions of self-managing diabetes. It also confirms the appropriateness of self-efficacy as a potential intervention component for this population. However, additional support may be required for people with ID to reflect meaningfully on their experiences and thus have a sense of self-efficacy. Phase Three: 96% of invited students agreed to participate. The Walking Away programme was positively received, and some short-term impact was described, yet there were limitations to accessibility of the program due to the complexity of the language and materials. Suggestions for further adaptations regarding materials and content were provided, and there was perceived scope for a long-term implementation built into college curriculum. Phase Three: 96% of invited students agreed to participate. The Walking Away programme was positively received, and some short-term impact was described, yet there were limitations to accessibility of the program due to the complexity of the language and materials. Suggestions for further adaptations regarding materials and content were provided, and there was perceived scope for a long-term implementation built into college curriculum. Conclusions: The findings provide basis for a further trial incorporating the suggested adaptations. A self-efficacy informed prevention programme was highly acceptability to students and teaching staff. Further education colleges provided a supportive setting and yielded a rich sample.

Blood lactate concentration and mean power output were examined over a series of maximal intermittent exercise bouts with varying recovery patterns. Thirteen elite male cyclists completed four randomly assigned experimental conditions. Each exercise/recovery condition consisted of twelve 10 s maximal exercise bouts on a Monark cycle ergometer. Four different recovery patterns (30, 60, 90 and 120 s) followed the repeated 10 s all-out efforts. Results revealed that the mean power output averaged over the 12 trials was 12.7, 13.0, 13.2 and 13.4 W/kg, for the 30, 60, 90 and 120 s conditions, respectively. Blood lactate concentration during exercise were 9.9, 9.2, 6.5 and 6.0 mmol/1, for the 30, 60, 90 and 120 s conditions, respectively. The 30 and 60 s conditions yielded significantly lower mean power output values compared to the 90 and 120 s conditions. Following the repeated maximal 10 s efforts, blood lactate concentration was significantly greater in the 30 and 60 s recovery conditions compared to the 90 and 120 s conditions.

Current human activity is degrading the environment and depleting biotic and abiotic resources at unheard-of rates, inducing global environmental change and jeopardising the development of humankind. The structure of human activity determines which resources are extracted, how they are transformed and where and how they are emitted back to the environment. Thus, the structure of human activity ultimately determines the human-Earth System interaction and human-induced environmental degradation. Several theories and empirical findings suggest that a cyclic structure would lower the resource requirements and emissions of the economic system, decoupling production and consumption from their environmental impacts. However, the cyclic structure has not been fully characterised nor related to the resource requirements or emission generation estimates of environmental impacts as calculated through models representing the physical structure of the economic system. This thesis is interested in developing tools to analyse the physical structure of the economic system and, ultimately, to develop a method to identify its cyclic structure and relate it to the environmental impact induced by economic activity. Using this new knowledge, it might be possible to reduce the environmental impact of the economy by altering its physical structure. In chapter 3, the different methods to calculate the emissions and resources associated to a given final demand of physical input-output tables are reviewed because they gather different results; it is argued that only two are valid. Surprisingly, these two methods reveal different physical structures; these are explored using a backward linkage analysis and their differences explained. It is found that only one method is appropriate to analyse the physical structure of the economic system and this method is in fact a new input-output model capable of tracing by-products as final outputs. Also, since traditional input-output structural analyses provide aggregate measures, a visual representation of input-output tables enabling researchers to perform disaggregated structural analyses and identify intersectoral patterns is developed. In chapter 4, a method to derive the full cyclic structure of the economic system is developed using network analysis within the Input-Output framework; it identifies the intersectoral cycles and the resources and emissions associated to cycling. It is shown that cyclic flows maximise the system throughput but lower the resource efficiency of the system vis-à-vis the system outputs. It is demonstrated that 1) the complete structure is composed of a cyclic-acyclic and a direct-indirect sub-structure, challenging the common understanding of the functioning of the structure, and 2) cycling is composed of pre-consumer cycling, post-consumer cycling, re-cycling and trans-cycling. In chapter 5, a set of indicators are developed to capture the weight and emissions associated to each sub-structure and the sub-structures are related to the economy's resource efficiency and emissions. In chapter 6, it is illustrated how to use the concepts, indicators and methods developed in previous chapters to identify strategies to improve the resource efficiency of the economy by altering its structure. Finally, in chapter 7, it is suggested to refine the definition of recycling to integrate the different systemic effects of pre-consumer and post-consumer cycling and it is argued that the ideal structure of a circular, close-loop economy should minimise its pre-consumer cycling in favour of more efficient acyclic flows while maximising its post-consumer cycling.

As a beneficial component with critical impact, computer-aided decision making systems have infiltrated many fields, such as economics, medicine, architecture and agriculture. The latent capabilities for facilitating human work propel high-speed development of such systems. Effective decisions provided by such systems greatly reduce the expense of labor, energy, budget, etc. The computer-aided decision making system for traumatic injuries is one type of such systems that supplies suggestive opinions when dealing with the injuries resulted from accidents, battle, or illness. The functions may involve judging the type of illness, allocating the wounded according to battle injuries, deciding the severity of symptoms for illness or injuries, managing the resources in the context of traumatic events, etc. The proposed computer-aided decision making system aims at estimating the severity of blood volume loss. Specifically speaking, accompanying many traumatic injuries, severe hemorrhage, a potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate treatment, is a significant loss of blood volume in process resulting in decreased blood and oxygen perfusion of vital organs. Hemorrhage and blood loss can occur in different levels such as mild, moderate, or severe. Our proposed system will assist physicians by estimating information such as the severity of blood volume loss and hemorrhage , so that timely measures can be taken to not only save lives but also reduce the long-term complications as well as the cost caused by unmatched operations and treatments. The general framework of the proposed research contains three tasks and many novel and transformative concepts are integrated into the system. First is the preprocessing of the raw signals. In this stage, adaptive filtering is adopted and customized to filter noise, and two detection algorithms (QRS complex detection and Systolic/Diastolic wave detection) are designed. The second process is to extract features. The proposed system combines features from time domain, frequency domain, nonlinear analysis, and multi-model analysis to better represent the patterns when hemorrhage happens. Third, a machine learning algorithm is designed for classification of patterns. A novel machine learning algorithm, as a new version of error correcting output code (ECOC), is designed and investigated for high accuracy and real-time decision making. The features and characteristics of this machine learning method are essential for the proposed computer-aided trauma decision making system. The proposed system is tested agasint Lower Body Negative Pressure (LBNP) dataset, and the results indicate the accuracy and reliability of the proposed system.

Orientador: Claudio Alexandre Gobatto
Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Aplicadas
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Resumo: O objetivo deste estudo foi viabilizar a utilização da esteira rolante não motorizada (ENM) em corrida atada com sensor de carga para obtenção de potência de corrida, em homens ativos fisicamente. Além disso, analisar possíveis correlações entre os valores de capacidades aeróbias e anaeróbias obtidos no teste convencional de Potência Crítica e all-out de três minutos realizados em esteira rolante não motorizada, e teste de Lactato mínimo realizado na esteira rolante motorizada. Para isto, dez indivíduos do sexo masculino, com a faixa etária média de 23 ± 4 anos compareceram ao laboratório nove vezes, para a coleta dos dados. Nas duas primeiras, foram concretizadas a avaliação antropométrica e a adaptação ao ergômetro. Após essa adaptação, foram utilizadas quatro visitas para aplicação do protocolo convencional de determinação da potência crítica. Para realização do teste e reteste de all-out de três minutos (AO3) foram utilizadas mais duas visitas, seguidas de mais uma para aplicação do teste de Lactato mínimo. É importante ressaltar que foi respeitado um intervalo de no mínimo 24 horas entre todos os testes para recuperação muscular dos avaliados. Além disso, com a escessão da adaptação aos ergômetros e antropometria. Os dados coletados foram posteriormente inseridos em pacote estatístico Statistica 6.0 (Statsoft, EUA), SPSS 16.0 para Windows (SPSS Inc., EUA) , verificada a normalidade da distribuição pelo teste de Shapiro-Wilk e a homogeneidade pelo de Levene, para decisão de uso de estatística paramétrica (Anova One-way e Two-way e quando necessário post-hoc Newmann Keuls, para comparação das variáveis. Teste t de Student e teste de correlação de Pearson e intra classe (ICC) de concordância absoluta também foram aplicados. Para todas as análises foi adotado nível de significância de p ? 0,05. Os principais achados da presente pesquisa sugerem que AO3 em corrida atada na ENM é uma metodologia reprodutível. Além disso, fundamentado nos valores de r2, ausência de diferenças estatísticas entre todas as aplicações, e alta correlção entre os modelos da potência crítica convencional e AO3, podemos concluir que os testes de potência crítica convencional e AO3 em corrida atada na ENM, e LM em corrida atada na EM são metodologias viáveis para obtenção de parâmetros fisiológicos de capacidade aeróbia em unidade de potência mecânica, em ergômetro específico para corredores. Em relação aos parâmetros anaeróbios de capacidade, a aplicação de AO3 parece ser mais confiável pela maior coerência aos valores encontrados na literatura
Abstract: The aim of this study was to enable the use of nonmotorized treadmill tethered running (NMT) with load sensor for obtaining output power of runnung in physically active men. Furthermore, to analyze the correlation between the values of aerobic and anaerobic capacities obtained in the conventional test Critical Power and all-out three minutes in NMT, and lactate minimum test (LM) performed on the motorized treadmill (MT). For this ten males, mean age 23 ± 4 years attended the laboratory nine times for data collection. In the first two, anthropometric assessment and adaptation to the ergometer were implemented. After this adaptation, four visits to applying the conventional protocol for determining the critical power were used. For the test and retest of all-out three minutes (AO3) plus two visits, followed by a further application to the lactate minimum test were used. Importantly, an interval of at least 24 hours between all tests for muscle recovery was evaluated respected. Moreover, with the adaptation to escessão ergometers and anthropometry. The data collected were subsequently included in the statistical package Statistica 6.0 (Statsoft, USA), SPSS 16.0 for Windows (SPSS Inc., USA), checked for normal distribution using the Shapiro-Wilk test and homogeneity by Levene for decision use of parametric statistics (ANOVA One-way and Two-way when necessary and post hoc Newman-Keuls test for comparison of variables. Student's t test and Pearson correlation test and intra-class (ICC) for absolute agreement were also applied. for all analyzes the level of significance was set at p ? 0.05. principal findings of this study suggest that in AO3 in a nonmotorized treadmill tethered running NMT is a reproducible methodology. Moreover, based on r2 values, no statistical differences among all applications, and high correlção between models of conventional critical power and AO3, we can conclude that tests conventional critical power and AO3 in the NMT , and LM tethered running in MT are viable methodologies for obtaining physiological parameters of capacity aerobic mechanical power in unity, in particular ergometer for runners. Regarding anaerobic capacity parameters, the application of AO3 seems to be more reliable for greater consistency with the values found in the literature
Mestrado
Biodinâmica do Movimento Humano e Esporte
Mestra em Ciências da Nutrição e do Esporte e Metabolismo

The purpose was to examine the effect of body mass and body composition on the mean power output in the 30 second Wingate cycling test at five resistance settings. Forty females (X = 22 years), were divided into four groups based on body mass and the sum of five skinfolds. The Wingate test was performed at the resistance settings of 0.075, 0.080, 0.085, 0.090, and 0.095 kp/kg body weight. A 3-way ANOVA (mass, skinfolds, resistance settings) indicated that: (1) mean power (W/kg) was similar for low and high mass groups; (2) the low sum of skinfolds group had a significantly higher (p $<$ 0.02) mean power output than the high sum of skinfolds group; and (3) at resistance settings of 0.080, 0.085, 0.090, and 0.095 (kp/kg) the low sum of skinfolds group had a higher (p $<$ 0.05) mean power score than the high sum of skinfolds group at equivalent resistance settings.

A Zenith-386 workstation was outfitted with a DICRES-54.8 paralell port board to facilitate I/C between a large Summagrid x-y coordinate digital measurement pad that has a resolution of 10 microns. Film views of high energy particle collisions can be projected onto this pad for measurement. Voice prompts via a Votrax speech synthesis system are sent at critical points during the algorithm from the Z-386 through other ports of the DICRES board. Progress in measurement is fed into the Z-386's serial port from an Interstate voice recognition system at other points of the measurement algorithm. The whole measurement process is managed by an assembler language based modular computer program.
Department of Physics and Astronomy

There is a plethora of methods and tools that can be used for the assessment of Urban Metabolism. Nevertheless, there is no standardized method for accounting of material flows within and across the boundaries of urban systems. This thesis aims to provide a physical accounting model for monitoring material flows in urban areas that could potentially become the basis for the development of a standardized accounting method in the long term. The model is based on a Physical Input Output Table framework and builds upon the strengths of existing accounting methods but at the same time it demonstrates new features that can address their limitations. The functions of the model were explored and evaluated through its application to an urban neighbourhood in the Stockholm Royal Seaport. Bottom-up data were used for the application of the model in the case study. The application of the model provided a preliminary description of the material flows in the neighbourhood and most importantly provided information that underpinned the assessment of the strengths and limitations of the model. It was deduced, that on the one hand the model can describe successfully the physical interactions between the urban socioeconomic system and the environment or other socioeconomic systems and at the same it has the potentials to illustrate the intersectoral flows within the boundaries of the system. In addition, it can be used to structure available data on material flows and promote the study of an urban system with a life cycle perspective. On the other hand, the process of compiling the tables of the model can be considered as complex and moreover the data requirements for the compilation of the tables are significant. Especially, the compilation of the tables of the model with bottom-up data may require a laborious data collection and analysis process, which however may not address all data gaps. Thus, the combination of bottom-up data with top-down data is recommended. Moreover, it is recommended the development of integrated databases for data collection and management at the municipal level and the fostering of collaboration between stakeholders within the municipalities to facilitate dissemination of data and information.
Mer än hälften av den globala befolkningen bor numera i urbana områden och denna andel uppskattas öka under de kommande årtiondena. Urbana system förbrukar fysiska resurser och genererar stora mängder av rester vilket innebär påfrestningar på miljön samt hindrar en hållbar utveckling. Således kan förståelse av Urban Metabolism (UM) stödja insatserna för att effektivisera resursförbrukningen och avfallshanteringen. I detta sammanhang har en stor mängd av metoder och verktyg utvecklats och tillämpats i UM-studier, såsom Materialflödeanalys (Material Flow Analysis - MFA) och Input-output Analys (Input Output - IOA) baserat på fysiska input-output tabeller (Input Output Tables – PIOTs). Ändå saknas en standardiserad metod för redovisning av materialflöden inom och över gränserna av urbana system. I samband med detta examensarbete utvecklades en fysisk räkenskapsmodell för övervakning av materialflöden i urbana områden. Denna modell kan potentiellt bli grunden för en enhetlig metod för beräkning av materialflöden i urbana system. Modellen utvecklades i en stegvis process och baserades på litteraturgranskning. Grunden för modellen är ett omfattande PIOT ramverk som kan användas för registrering av materialflöden i urbana system. PIOT ramverket är annorlunda än de typiska PIOT-systemen. Det ger en tydligare avgränsning av systemgränserna, det visar tydligt ursprung och destination för materialflöden, och dessutom kan det erbjuda ett livscykelperspektiv på materialflödena. Modellen består av en uppsättning identiska PIOT. Varje deltabell innehåller materialflöden som tillhör i en specifik klass, medan huvudtabellen aggregerar materialet som strömmar för alla material från deltabellerna. Därigenom kan modellen avbilda materialflödena i ett aggregat-perspektiv och samtidigt ge fysiska räkenskaper för specifika materialtyper. Modellen användes i en nybyggd stadsdel i Norra Djurgårdsstaden (NDS), för att utforska och bedöma dess funktioner. För att kartlägga och kvantifiera flödena i stadsdelen genomfördes en MFA baserad på “bottom-up-data”. Insamlingen och analysen av data var emellertid en besvärlig process och dessutom kunde flera materialflöden inte kvantifieras på grund av databrister. Därför kunde modellens tabeller inte fyllas fullständigt och ett flödesdiagram skapades med både kvantitativa och kvalitativa flöden. Trots att det fanns databrister lyckades tillämpningen av modellen att avbilda UM i det avgränsade urbana systemet på ett adekvat sätt. Det visade tydligt att nästan 96% av de materiella insatserna är ackumulerade i lager. Dessutom fastställde modellen kvalitativt den fysiska växelverkan mellan det urbana systemet och den naturliga miljön, det nationella socioekonomiska och det globala socioekonomiska systemet. Emellertid var det inte möjligt att bedöma modellens fullständiga potential eftersom det inte var möjligt att upprätta intersektorala kopplingar. Dessutom beräknades indirekta flöden av flera importerade material baserat på koefficienterna för materialintensitet. Detta tillvägagångssätt kan erbjuda insikt om de uppströms påfrestningar som orsakas av materialproduktionen. Dock finns det endast koefficienter för specifika material. Därför kan de inte användas för att uppskatta de indirekta flödena för varje materialinflöde. Dock framhöll deras partiella tillämpning att indirekta flödena var 38% högre än direktflödena, vilket indikerar att påfrestningar som utövas till miljön på grund av produktion av importerade material är betydande. Tillämpningen av modellen möjliggjorde en bedömning av både styrkor och svagheter hos modellen. Å ena sidan kan modellen fastställa fysiska interaktioner mellan det urbana socioekonomiska systemet och naturmiljön, det nationella socioekonomiska systemet och det globala socioekonomiska systemet. Dessutom har det potential att beskriva intersektorala flöden inom gränserna för det urbana systemet och det kan erbjuda insikt om materialinflödenas ursprung och materialutflödenas destination. En annan styrka i modellen är att den erbjuder livscykelperspektiv genom att ta hänsyn till indirekta flöden av importerade material. Å andra sidan demonstrerades att sammanställningenav modellens tabeller kräver en stor mängd data, speciellt när data erhålls med ett ”bottom-up” tillvägagångssätt. Ändå är bottom-up data inte alltid tillgängliga för urbana områden. En annan svaghet är att sammanställningenav tabellerna i modellen med bottom-up-data kräver en mödosam process för datainsamling och analys. Dessutom kräver analysen av data många antaganden som ökar osäkerheten i resultaten. Ovanstående svagheter i modellen kan hindra tillämpningen av modellen för räkenskap av materialflöden på urbana områden. Således rekommenderas kombinationen av bottom-up-data med top-down data för tillämpning av modellen. Dessutom föreslås utvecklingen av integrerade databaser för datainsamling om materialflöden i urbana områden.

In an increasingly globalized world with more and more distributed international supply chains, sustainability studies and policies need to consider socioeconomic and environmental interactions between distant places. Studies of the global biomass metabolism investigate physical flows between and within nature and human systems, thus providing a useful basis for understanding the interrelatedness of changes in one place with impacts elsewhere. Various methodological approaches exist for studying the human-nature metabolism and estimating the land embodied in international trade flows, a core element of assessing telecouplings in the global land system. The results of recent studies vary widely, lacking robustness and thus hampering their application in policy making. This article provides a structured overview and comparative evaluation of existing accounting methods and models for calculating land footprints. We identify differences in available accounting methods and indicate their shortcomings, which are mainly attributable to the product and supply chain coverage and detail, and biases introduced by the use of monetary flows as a proxy for actual physical flows. We suggest options for further development of global land footprint accounting methods, particularly highlighting the advantages of hybrid accounting approaches as a framework for robust and transparent assessments of the global displacement of land use.

The next-generation wireless technologies are currently being researched to address the ever-increasing demands for higher data rates, massive connectivity, improved reliability, and extended coverage. Recently, massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) has gained significant attention as a new physical-layer transmission technology that can achieve unprecedented spectral and energy efficiency gains via aggressive spatial multiplexing. Thus, massive MIMO has been one of the key enabling technologies for the fifth-generation and subsequent wireless standards. This dissertation thus focuses on developing a system, channel, and signal models by considering the practical wireless transmission impairments for massive MIMO systems, and ascertaining the viability of massive MIMO in fulfilling massive access, improved spectrum, enhanced security, and energy efficiency requirements. Specifically, new system and channel models, pilot sequence designs and channel estimation techniques, secure transmit/receive beamforming techniques, transmit power allocation schemes with enhanced security provisions, energy efficiency, and user fairness, and comprehensive performance analysis frameworks are developed for massive MIMO-aided non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), cognitive spectrum-sharing, and wireless relaying architectures.Our first work focuses on developing physical-layer transmission schemes for NOMA-aided massive MIMO systems. A spatial signature-based user-clustering and pilot allocation scheme is first formulated, and thereby, a hybrid orthogonal multiple access (OMA)/NOMA transmission scheme is proposed to boost the number of simultaneous connections. In our second work, the viability of invoking downlink pilots to boost the achievable rate of NOMA-aided massive MIMO is investigated. The third research contribution investigates the performance of underlay spectrum-sharing massive MIMO systems for reverse time division duplexing based transmission strategies, in which primary and secondary systems concurrently operate in opposite directions. Thereby, we show that the secondary system can be operated with its maximum average transmit power independent of the primary system in the limit of infinity many primary/secondary base-station antennas. In our fourth work, signal processing techniques, power allocation, and relay selection schemes are designed and analyzed for massive MIMO relay networks to optimize the trade-off among the achievable user rates, coverage, and wireless resource usage. Finally, the cooperative jamming and artificial noise-based secure transmission strategies are developed for massive MIMO relay networks with imperfect legitimate user channel information and with no channel knowledge of the eavesdropper. The key design criterion of the aforementioned transmission strategies is to efficiently combine the spatial multiplexing gains and favorable propagation conditions of massive MIMO with properties of NOMA, underlay spectrum-sharing, and wireless relay networks via efficient signal processing.

Recently, there has been interest to integrate VMC++ into the commercial treatment planning system at VCU as another Monte Carlo code option, since it has been shown to increase efficiency dramatically without introducing a significant amount of systematic error. Also, independent validation of VMC++ for photon beams is of interest since this has not been performed previously in literature. This study included several tests required to integrate VMC++. Output factor normalization was performed and found to agree with experiment to within 1% for all field sizes except 1x1 cm2. Geometric validation was successful. Dosimetric validation was performed with respect to DOSXYZnrc on a water phantom, resulting in agreement within statistical uncertainty except for slight differences at the surface of the phantom. Dosimetric comparison was made for a head-and-neck patient case, showing that 5% of the voxels did not agree within 2.8% of maximum dose. The ability of VMC++ to compute dose-to-water was compared to an in-house algorithm and found to agree within statistical uncertainty.

Saab want to examine Hardware In the Loop method as a concept, and how an infrastructure of Hardware In the Loop would look like. Hardware In the Loop is based upon continuously testing hardware, which is simulated. The software Saab wants to use for the Hardware In the Loop method is Jenkins, which is a Continuous Integration, and Continuous Delivery tool. To simulate the hardware, they want to examine the use of an Application Programming Interface between a Raspberry Pi, and the programming language Robot Framework. The reason Saab wants this examined, is because they believe that this method can improve the rate of testing, the quality of the tests, and thereby the quality of their products.The theory behind Hardware In the Loop, Continuous Integration, and Continuous Delivery will be explained in this thesis. The Hardware In the Loop method was implemented upon the Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery tool Jenkins. An Application Programming Interface between the General Purpose Input/Output pins on a Raspberry Pi and Robot Framework, was developed. With these implementations done, the Hardware In the Loop method was successfully integrated, where a Raspberry Pi was used to simulate the hardware.
Saab vill undersöka metoden Hardware In the Loop som ett koncept, dessutom hur en infrastruktur av Hardware In the Loop skulle se ut. Hardware In the Loop baseras på att kontinuerligt testa hårdvara som är simulerad. Mjukvaran Saab vill använda sig av för Hardware In the Loop metoden är Jenkins, vilket är ett Continuous Integration och Continuous Delivery verktyg. För attsimulera hårdvaran vill Saab undersöka användningen av ett Application Programming Interface mellan en Raspberry Pi och programmeringsspråket Robot Framework. Anledning till att Saab vill undersöka allt det här, är för att de tror att det kan förbättra frekvensen av testning och kvaliteten av testning, vilket skulle leda till en förbättring av deras produkter. Teorin bakom Hardware In the Loop, Continuous Integration och Continuous Delivery kommer att förklaras i den här rapporten. Hardware In the Loop metoden blev implementerad med Continuous Integration och Continuous Delivery verktyget Jenkins. Ett Application Programming Interface mellan General Purpose Input/output pinnarna på en Raspberry Pi och Robot Framework blev utvecklat. Med de här implementationerna utförda, så blev Hardware Inthe Loop metoden slutligen integrerat, där Raspberry Pis användes för att simulera hårdvaran.

La présente thèse analyse l’impact de l’inflation sur la croissance économique et ses différents déterminants. Dansun premier temps, notre étude s’intéresse à deux aspects de la relation entre l’inflation et la croissance économique.Ainsi, nous examinons tout d’abord la non-linéarité du lien entre l’inflation et la croissance économique et identifionsplusieurs seuils pour l'échantillon global ainsi que pour les différents sous-échantillons définis selon le niveau durevenu. Ensuite, nous procédons à l’identification de certaines caractéristiques macroéconomiques au niveau despays qui influencent cette non-linéarité. Nos résultats empiriques corroborent les deux éléments d’analyse précédentset montrent que la non-linéarité de la relation entre l'inflation et la croissance dépend de l’ouverture commerciale dupays, de son accumulation de capital et du niveau de ses dépenses publiques (chapitre 2). Puis, dans un secondtemps, nous nous intéressons à l’explication de la non-linéarité de la relation entre l’inflation et la croissance entestant l’effet Tobin de l’inflation sur le capital physique et sur l’effet de substitution entre le travail et l’éducationpour le capital humain. Nous montrons que l’impact positif des taux d’inflation modérés résulte de l’effet Tobin surle capital physique, tandis que la réduction de l'impact de l'accélération de l'inflation provient d’une meilleureaccumulation du capital humain. Nous confirmons tous ces effets et mettons en évidence le rôle du développementfinancier pour l'ensemble de ces mécanismes (chapitre 3). Enfin, nous abordons la question du manque de cohérenceentre la vision macroéconomique fondée sur la détermination d’un seuil optimal d'inflation et les préférences réellesdes banques centrales à travers le monde. Nous remarquons que les banques centrales utilisent des modèlesmicroéconomiques néo-keynésiens qui définissent le taux d'inflation optimal comme celui minimisant les dispersionsdans les marchés des produits et des facteurs de production. Nous testons alors l'effet de l'inflation sur la variabilitédes prix relatifs et de la croissance ; nos résultats montrent que seul un faible taux d’inflation positif réduit cesincertitudes et cela quel que soit le niveau de revenu du pays. Concernant les pays émergents de notre échantillon, lechoix du régime de politique monétaire affecte également cette variabilité (chapitre 4)
This thesis is concerned with the effects of inflation on output growth and on its determinants. In the first step, ourstudy analyzes two aspects of the inflation–growth relationship. First, it examines the nonlinearity of the relationshipbetween inflation and output growth and identifies several thresholds for the global sample and for various incomespecificsub-samples. Secondly, it identifies some country-based macroeconomic features that influence thisnonlinearity. Our empirical results substantiate both views and validate the fact that the inflation–growth nonlinearityis sensitive to a country’s trade openness capital accumulation, and government expenditures (chapter 2). After that,we explain this inflation–growth nonlinearity by testing a Tobin effect of inflation on physical capital and asubstitution effect – from work to education – for human capital. We find that the positive effects of moderateinflation rate are due to the Tobin effect on physical capital whereas a weak negative effect of high inflation ratestems from a better human capital accumulation. We identify a strong role of well developed financial systems in allthese mechanisms (chapter 3). Lastly, we address a lack of coherence between the macro based optimal inflationthresholds for output growth and the actual preferences of central banks around the world. We notice that centralbanks use micro based New-Keynesian models and their optimal inflation rate is the one that minimizes dispersionsin factors and product markets. We test the effect of inflation on relative price variability and output growthvariability and, for all income groups, the results support a slight positive inflation rate to minimize theseuncertainties. For our selected emerging economies, monetary policy regimes also affect these dispersions (chapter4)

This article develops a novel methodological framework to investigate the exposure of eco- nomic systems to the risk of physical capital stranding. Combining Input-Output (IO) and network theory, we define measures to identify both the sectors likely to trigger relevant capital stranding cascades and those most exposed to capital stranding risk. We show how, in a sample of ten European countries, mining is among the sectors with the highest external asset strand- ing multipliers. The sectors most affected by capital stranding triggered by decarbonisation include electricity and gas; coke and refined petroleum products; basic metals; and transporta- tion. From these sectors, stranding would frequently cascade down to chemicals; metal products; motor vehicles water and waste services; wholesale and retail trade; and public administration. Finally, we provide an estimate for the lower-bound amount of assets at risk of transition-related stranding, which is in the range of 0.6-8.2% of the overall productive capital stock for our sample of countries, mainly concentrated in the electricity and gas sector, manufacturing, and mining. These results confirm the systemic relevance of transition-related risks on European societies.
Series: Ecological Economic Papers

Abstract The thesis concentrates on evaluating and improving performances of various multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) relaying scenarios that are particularly relevant to future wireless systems. A greater emphasis is placed on important practical situations, considering relay deployments, availability of channel state information (CSI), limitations of spectrum, and information secrecy. Initially, the performance of a non-coherent amplify-and-forward (AF) MIMO relaying is analyzed when the relay is deployed with the relay-to-destination channel having a line-of-sight (LoS) path. The main attention is given to analyzing the performance of orthogonal space-time block coded based non-coherent AF MIMO system. Exact expressions of statistical parameters and performance metrics are derived considering the instantaneous signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) received at the destination. These performance metrics reveal that a strong LoS component in relay-destination channel always limits the performance promised by MIMO scattering environment when both nodes have multiple antennas. The thesis also considers scenarios in MIMO two-way relaying (TWR) with physical layer network coding (PNC) mapping at the relay. PNC mapping becomes complex with multiple streams being combined at the relay node. Joint precoder-decoder schemes are considered to ease this, and various studies are carried out depending on the CSI. The zero-forcing criterion is used at the nodes when perfect CSI is available. For the imperfect CSI scenario, a robust joint precoder-decoder design is considered. The precoder and decoder matrices are obtained by solving optimization problems, which are formulated to maximize sum-rate and minimize weighted mean square error (WMSE) under transmit power constraints on the nodes. Next, a precoder-decoder scheme for MIMO underlay device-to-device (D2D) communication system is investigated by considering two D2D modes; PNC based D2D and direct D2D. The joint design is based on minimizing mean square error (MSE) which is useful to mitigate interference, and to improve the performance of both D2D and cellular communications. Distributed and centralized algorithms are proposed considering bi-directional communication in both D2D and cellular communications. System performance is discussed with two transmit mode selection schemes as dynamic and static selection schemes. The results show that the PNC based D2D mode extends the coverage area of D2D communication. Finally, secure beamforming schemes for the PNC based MIMO TWR systems are investigated when multiple eavesdroppers are attempting to intercept the user information. The CSI of the user-to-eavesdropper channels is imperfect at the users. The channel estimation errors are assumed with both ellipsoidal bound and Gaussian Markov uncertainty models. Robust optimization problems are formulated considering both scenarios to design beamforming vectors at the users and relay. Numerical results suggest that the proposed algorithms converge fast and provide higher security
Tiivistelmä Tässä väitöskirjassa keskitytään arvioimaan ja parantamaan suorituskykyä useissa moniantennitoistinjärjestelmissä, jotka ovat ajankohtaisia tulevaisuuden langattomissa verkoissa. Erityisesti työssä analysoidaan tärkeitä käytännön tilanteita, sisältäen toistimien sijoittamisen, kanavatiedon saatavuuden, rajoitetun taajuuskaistan ja tiedon salauksen. Aluksi epäkoherentin, vahvistavan ja jatkolähettävän moniantennitoistimen suorituskykyä analysoidaan tilanteessa, jossa toistin on sijoitettu siten, että kohteeseen on suora yhteys. Suorituskyvyn arvioinnin pääkohteena on ortogonaalinen tila-aika-tason lohkokoodattu epäkoherentti vahvistava ja jatkolähettävä moniantennitoistin. Työssä johdetaan tarkat lausekkeet tilastollisille parametreille ja suorituskykymittareille ottaen huomioon hetkellinen signaalikohinasuhde vastaanottimessa. Nämä suorituskykymittarit ilmaisevat, että toistimen ja kohteen välillä oleva vahva suoran yhteyden komponentti rajoittaa sitä suorituskykyä, jota moniantennijärjestelmän hajontaympäristö ennustaa. Työssä tutkitaan myös kahdensuuntaisia moniantennitoistimia, jotka käyttävät fyysisen kerroksen verkkokoodausta. Koodauksesta tulee monimutkaista, kun monia datavirtoja yhdistetään toistimessa. Tämän helpottamiseksi käytetään yhdistettyä esikoodaus-dekoodausmenetelmää, jota tutkitaan erilaisten kanavatietojen tapauksissa. Täydellisen kanavatiedon tapauksessa käytetään nollaanpakotuskriteeriä. Epätäydellisen kanavatiedon tapauksessa käytetään robustia yhdistettyä esikoodaus-dekoodausmenetelmää. Esikoodaus- ja dekoodausmatriisit saadaan ratkaisemalla optimointiongelmat. Nämä ongelmat on muodostettu maksimoimaan summadatanopeus, ja minimoimaan painotettu keskineliövirhe, kun optimointirajoitteina ovat solmujen lähetystehot. Seuraavaksi esikoodaus-dekoodausmenetelmää tutkitaan moniantennijärjestelmässä, jossa käytetään kahdentyyppistä laitteesta-laitteeseen (D2D) kommunikaatiomenetelmää: fyysisen kerroksen verkkokoodaukseen pohjautuvaa D2D- ja suoraa D2D-kommunikaatiota. Yhteissuunnittelu perustuu keskineliövirheen minimointiin, joka on hyödyllistä, kun halutaan vähentää häiriötä ja parantaa molempien verkkojen suorituskykyä. Työssä ehdotetaan hajautettuja ja keskitettyjä algoritmeja tilanteessa, jossa käytetään kaksisuuntaista kommunikaatiota molemmissa verkoissa. Järjestelmän suorituskykyä arvioidaan, kun käytetään kahta eri lähetystilan valintaa, dynaamista ja staattista. Tulokset osoittavat, että fyysisen kerroksen verkkokoodaukseen pohjautuva D2D kasvattaa D2D-kommunikaatiojärjestelmän kantamaa. Lopuksi, turvallisia keilanmuodostustekniikoita arvioidaan fyysisen kerroksen verkkokoodaukseen pohjautuvassa kahdensuuntaisessa moniantennitoistinjärjestelmässä, kun useat salakuuntelijat yritävät siepata käyttäjätiedon. Käyttäjillä on epäideaalinen kanavatieto heidän ja salakuuntelijoiden välisten linkkien kanavista. Kanavatiedon estimointivirheitä arvioidaan ellipsoidisella ja Gauss-Markov-epävarmuusmallilla. Robustit optimointiongelmat, joissa suunnitellaan keilanmuodostusvektorit käyttäjän ja toistimen välille, muodostetaan molemmille malleille. Numeeriset tulokset osoittavat, että ehdotetut algoritmit konvergoituvat nopeasti ja tarjoavat korkeamman turvallisuuden

In 1987 the World Commission on Environment and Development proposed a reduction in per capita energy consumption of 50%. Increasing demands, and initiatives of this nature, produce a need for more reliable assessment methods, measurement tools and improvement regimes. Since the late 1960's Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has become an increasingly important tool for engineers, technologists, scientists, designers, managers and environmentalists alike. LCA enables the effects which products, processes and activities have on local, regional or global environments to be assessed, adopting a holistic, or whole life approach to design methodologies. The design of window systems has a large impact upon LCA results generated. Thermal performance properties influence energy consumption patterns throughout a lifetime of use, while appropriate use of materials, window positioning and size have a knock-on effect on lighting control functions and air conditioning demands. In developing countries, residential sectors account for between 20% and 30% of the total energy used (30% in the UK). Windows in dwellings alone account for 6% of the total UK energy consumption. This thesis addresses an ongoing need to focus on sustainable development, using LCA as an assessment tool to develop a greater understanding of the window life cycle, and to highlight improvements which are necessary to lessen its environmental impact and make the processes involved more benign. To do this successfully requires that the demands of modern day living, and the comfort conditions expected, be incorporated into design criteria, whilst ensuring that the needs of future generations are not compromised by today's activities. Along with rising demands to improve efficiency and decrease energy consumption in buildings, comes an expectation for continual improvement in building interiors. To this end, both the aural and visual haracteristics of window installations become paramount, in addition to the well researched thermal performance criteria. Much research has focused on investigating the social and physiological benefits associated with improved interior environments. The correlation between worker satisfaction and performance has been well proven. If complete physical well-being is satisfied then an individual's mental well-being is less likely to be affected by the additional stressors of environmental dissatisfaction. An optimisation model has been developed, linking the thermal, aural and visual performance of varying window designs, such that an "advanced" window system is created. Two outputs are generated from the model, which may be used to evaluate the "optimum" window design in terms of energy consumption and global environmental impact. Optimisation of energy consumption incorporates embodied energy, thermal performance and electric lighting demand, over the life cycle of a window. Global environmental impact optimisation is similar, but evaluation is based on energy generation, and greenhouse gas production. Finally, a flowchart for optimisation guides the user towards a glazing solution which offers sufficient noise attenuation, whilst minimising thermal losses and electric lighting demand. Each output provides a guide for design, leaving room for judgement, and is not intended to be followed definitively. Recommendations for improvements to manufacture systems and production of multiglazed windows are offered, based on sustainable development criteria. Future research needs, which are necessary to minimise the total environmental impact resulting from multi-glazed window production, are also discussed.

Le modèle input-output régional environnementalisé développé dans la thèse de M. Cordier suggère qu’il serait possible de restaurer 25% des surfaces naturelles de nourriceries de poissons détruites dans l’estuaire de la Seine entre 1834 et 2004. Le modèle suggère que la mesure de restauration pourrait augmenter de 15% à 23% la biomasse de soles produite dans l’estuaire par rapport à une situation sans mesure. Quant à l’effet des coûts de restauration sur les agrégats macroéconomiques (PIB, emploi, etc.), il génère une diminution qui ne dépasse pas 0,5% par rapport à une situation sans mesure. Le modèle montre cependant que trois secteurs sont particulièrement touchés par la mesure, leur bénéfice étant considérablement réduit. Cela indique le compromis à réaliser entre les objectifs écologiques à long terme et les objectifs économiques sectoriels à court terme. La quantification des compromis par le modèle constitue un atout utile aux processus de décision participatifs multicritère / The regional green input-output model developed in Mateo Cordier's PhD shows that it seems possible to restore 25% of the natural areas of fish nurseries destroyed in the Seine estuary between 1834 and 2004. The model suggests that the restoration measure could increase between 15% and 23% the biomass of sole generated by the estuary compared to a situation without measure. Regarding the impact of restoration costs on macro-economic indicators (GDP, employment, etc.), it generates a decrease that does not exceed 0,5% compared to a situation without measure. However, the model shows that three sectors are particularly impacted by the measure. Their benefits are considerably reduced. This shows the trade-off that occurs between ecological targets on the long run and economic targets on the short run. The quantification of such trade-offs in the model is particularly useful to public participation in decision-making.
Doctorat en Sciences agronomiques et ingénierie biologique
info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Dans les réseaux mobiles du future, un déploiement plus dense des points d’accés radio est prévu pour satisfaire la demande accrue de débit, mais les terminaux utilisateurs peuvent être affectés par une interférence inter-cellulaire plus forte. Par chance, la centralisation des traitements de signal en bande de base dans l’achitecture Cloud RAN (C-RAN) offre la possibilité de la coordination et du traitement conjoint de plusieurs cellules. Pour réellement permettre de déployer ces techniques, une étude bout-à-bout du CRAN est nécessaire selon plusieurs aspects, notamment l’architecture fonctionnelle, la stratégie de coordination, l’implémentation du traitement de signal multiutilisateur et les optimisations possibles pour un fonctionnement plus efficace.Dans cette thèse, nous proposons en premier une architecture qui définit le placement des fonctions du traitement en bande de base entre les unités distribuées et le serveur central. Le but de ce design est de permettre la réalisation des fonctions multi-utilisateurs en transmettant avec la moins de débit possible sur les liens de fronthaul reliant les différentes entités. Dans un second temps, nous présentons comment il est possible de coordiner les différentes cellules servies par le C-RAN en utilisant le concept de réseaux définis par logiciels adapté pour les réseaux d’accès radio. Nous avons mis en place un prototype démontrant la faisabilité de la méthode de contrôle proposée. Finalement, nous étudions l’allocation adaptative du débit sur les liens de fronthaul transportant les symboles numériques quantifiés des utilisateurs en besoin de traitement multi-cellulaire sur la voie montante pour exploiter l’interférence entre eux. Nous proposons un modèle d’optimisation qui inclut le coût des transmissions fronthaul pour maximiser ainsi le gain obtenu par l’opérateur du réseau où la communication multiutilisateur a lieu. Nous réalisons l’optimisation pour différents modèles de coût et en utilisants deux types de données: d’abord les estimations de canal supposées parfaites et disponibles en temps réel, puis seulement les statistiques du canal. Nous montrons que la méthode d’optimisation proposée permet d’exploiter plus efficacement les liens de fronthaul dans l’architecture précedemment définie
In future mobile networks denser deployment of radio access points is planned to satisfy demand of higher throughput, but an increased number of mobile users can suffer from inter-cell interference. Fortunately, the centralization of base-band processing offered by Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) architecture enables coordination and joint physical layer processing between cells. To make practical deployment of these techniques possible, we have to study C-RAN in an end-to-end view regarding several aspects: the functional architecture of a deployment, the multi-cell coordination strategy, the implementation of multi-user signal processing and possibilities for optimization to increase operational efficiency.In this thesis, first, we propose an architecture defining the placement of base-band processing functions between the distributed remote units and the central processing unit. The aim of this design is to enable multi-cell processing both on the uplink and the downlink while requiring low data rate between the involved entities. Secondly, we study how low latency coordination can be realized inside the central unit using software defined networking adapted to radio access networks. Our demonstration through a real-time prototype deployment shows the feasibility of the proposed control framework. Finally, we investigate adaptive allocation of fronthaul rate that is used for transferring quantized base-band symbols for users participating in uplink multi-cell reception in order to exploit interference between them. We propose an optimization model that includes the cost of fronthaul tranmissions and aims to maximize the gain of network operators from multi-user transmissions in C-RAN. We solve the optimization problem for different fronthaul pricing models, in a scenario where real-time and accurate channel estimates are available and in another where only channel statistics are exploited. Using our method - fitting in the architecture that we have defined - cost efficiency of fronthaul usage can be significantly improved

This dissertation investigates the modeling, design, fabrication and testing of the input and output coupling properties of waveguide grating couplers. It is motivated by the application of waveguide gratings to integrated optics. The coupling in both normal incidence and oblique incidence are described, but more attention is paid to the normal incident case. The perturbation transmission line theory is chosen as a theoretical model to design grating couplers in this work. The fundamental coupling parameters were carefully measured by many experiments. The comparison of experimental results to theoretical results is also discussed in this dissertation. For the case of normal incidence, the emphasis is on the optimization of the input coupling efficiency. The maximum input coupling efficiency carried out from our experiment was 75% by means of blazed grating in dielectric waveguide at a wavelength 0.6328 $\mu$m, which is very close to the maximum theoretical value of 80%. This coupling efficiency is significantly larger than that having been reported (40-50%). To achieve this goal, some parameters, such as, output coupling efficiency (branching ratio) and coupling distance (leakage factor), have been measured to test the theoretical model. The effect of the angular divergence and the wavelength dispersion of the incident beam on the input coupling efficiency is taken into account, which was modeled by coupled mode equation and tested by experiment. In addition, the design and fabrication procedure is also discussed in detail. In the case of oblique incidence the emphasis is on the output coupling only, i.e. the coupling from guided wave to radiated wave. In this part of the work the important features of the radiated wave-mode coupling efficiency and mode-conversion efficiencies, the phase difference between TE and TM components and the polarization state--were revealed and compared with the theory. These parameters were measured using one shallow rectangular grating and one deep blazed grating. These measurements were compared with the theoretical model.

Electron radiotherapy (RT) offers a number of advantages over photons. The high surface dose, combined with a rapid dose fall-off beyond the target volume presents a net increase in tumor control probability and decreases the normal tissue complication for superficial tumors. Electron treatments are normally delivered clinically without previously calculated dose distributions due to the complexity of the electron transport involved and greater error in planning accuracy. This research uses Monte Carlo (MC) methods to model clinical electron beams in order to accurately calculate electron beam dose distributions in patients as well as calculate cutout output factors, reducing the need for a clinical measurement. The present work is incorporated into a research MC calculation system: McGill Monte Carlo Treatment Planning (MMCTP) system. Measurements of PDDs, profiles and output factors in addition to 2D GAFCHROMIC EBT2 film measurements in heterogeneous phantoms were obtained to commission the electron beam model. The use of MC for electron TP will provide more accurate treatments and yield greater knowledge of the electron dose distribution within the patient. The calculation of output factors could invoke a clinical time saving of up to 1 hour per patient.
La radiotherapie d'électrons offre plusieurs avantages en comparaison avec les photons. La dose de surface élevée, en combinaison avec une dose descendante plus rapide au-delà du volume prévu présente un taux plus élevé de la probabilité de contrôle tumoral et diminue les complications dans les tissus normaux en évitant les tumeurs superficiel. Les traitements d'électrons sont habituellement utilisés cliniquement sans calculations de doses prévu, due à leurs complexités du transport d'électron qui sont impliqués et plusieurs erreurs de precision en planification. Cette recherche utilise les methodes de Monte Carlo (MC) pour démontrer cliniquement les faisceaux d'électrons pour précisément calculer la dose d'électron distribuée au patients mais aussi pour pouvoir calculer les facteurs de dendements de cutout, et ceci réduit le besoin d'une mesure clinique. Ce projet a été élaboré dans un environnement de calculation par MC: McGill Monte Carlo Treatment Planning (MMCTP) System. Mesure de pourcentage de dose en profondeur, profiles et les facteurs de rendements de cutout ainsi que de doses mesurés avec des films GAFCHROMIC EBT2 dans les phantoms hétérogène ont été obtenu pour déléguer la modèle de faisceau d'électron. L'utilisation de MC pour l'électrode TP sera apporter des traitements plus précis et en consequence produire plus de connaissance de la dose d'electrons plus approprié pour le patient. Ces attributions pourront sauver jusqu'à une heure par patient en terme de temps passé en clinique.

The system identification problem is to estimate dynamical parameters from the output data, obtained by performing measurements on the output fields. We investigate system identification for quantum linear systems. Our main objectives are to address the following general problems: (1) Which parameters can be identified by measuring the output? (2) How can we construct a system realisation from sufficient input-output data? (3) How well can we estimate the parameters governing the dynamics? We investigate these problems in two contrasting approaches; using time-dependent inputs (Sec. 3.7.1 or time-stationary (quantum noise)) inputs (Sec. 3.7.2). In the time-dependent approach, the output fields are characterised by the transfer function. We show that indistinguishable minimal systems in the transfer function are related by symplectic transformations acting on the space of system modes (Ch. 6). We also present techniques enabling one to find a physical realisation of the system from the input-output data. We present realistic schemes for estimating passive quantum linear systems at the Heisenberg limit (Ch. 7) under energy resource constraint. ‘Realistic’ is our primary concern here, in the sense that there exists both experimentally feasible states and practical measurement choices that enable this heightened performance for all passive quantum linear systems. We consider both single parameter and multiple parameter estimation. In the stationary approach, the characteristic quantity is the power spectrum. We define the notion of global minimality for a given power spectrum, and characterise globally minimal systems as those with fully mixed stationary state (Sec. 6.1). The power spectrum depends on the system parameters via the transfer function. Our main result here is that under global minimality the power spectrum uniquely determines the transfer function, so the system can be identified up to a symplectic transformation (see Secs. 6.5, 6.4 6.11). We also give methods for constructing a globally minimal subsystem directly from the power spectrum (see Sec. 6.3). These results hold for pure inputs, we discuss extensions to mixed inputs and the use of additional input channels; using an appropriately chosen input in the latter case ensures that the system is always globally minimal (hence identifiable). Finally, we discuss a particular feedback control estimation problem in Chs. 8 and 9. In general, information about a parameter within a quantum linear system may be obtained at a linear rate with respect to time (in both approaches above); the so-called standard scaling. However, we see that when the system destabilises, so that its system matrix has eigenvalues very close to the imaginary axis, the quantum Fisher information is enhanced, to quadratic (Heisenberg) level. We give feedback methods enabling one to destabilise the system and give adaptive procedures for realising the Heisenberg bounds.

Visible-light optical wireless communications (OWC) is a potential technology that can help resolve the crowdedness of the radio-frequency bands, whilst conveniently exploiting energy-saving light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as transmitters for both illumination and communications. Since there usually are many LEDs in a lighting unit, OWC has a multi- input multi-output (MIMO) geometry which, thanks to its channel diversity, can offer wireless local networks at data-rates many times higher than possible with single-channel systems. In such systems, MIMO-detection methods to separate the different optical channels play an important role in improving the system performance by helping reduce cross-talk between channels. To measure the performance of a particular geometry for MIMO communications, a simulation study, reported in this thesis, found that, amongst the signal- independent metrics, the condition number may be used as a rough predictor of the performance, whilst the channel Signal-to-Interference-and-Noise Ratio (SINR) is the most appropriate for geometry assessment. Combined with the fact that the overall performance of a MIMO system is mostly dominated by its worst channel, this indicates that the most effective way to improve the system performance is to maximise the worst channel’s SINR. One of the possible solutions to improving the SINRs is to use holograms to steer the transmitter images such that their distributions over the photo-detectors reduce overlaps. As LEDs emit partially-coherent light, the beam steering has to be carried out with partially- coherent illumination. By using two lenses to parallelise and collect partially-coherent light before and after the hologram, respectively, the source and image intensity distributions, and the autocorrelation of the hologram can be related in a succinct mathematical relationship. This leads to the development of three computational algorithms based on the autocorrelation function to obtain a quantised hologram with the desired beam-steering capability. These algorithms have their cost functions and performance comparison done at the hologram plane instead of the image plane, which therefore takes less time than traditional image-based methods. Specifically, one of these algorithms is able to save significant time over both the other autocorrelation-based algorithms and the direct binary-search, by 33% and by 50% respectively. A simulation-based study and a corresponding experiment, both reported in this thesis, found that the one of the proposed algorithms had poor power efficiency, whilst the other two were both highly effective in generating digital holograms with precise and power-efficient beam-steering performance. Of these two algorithms, one had superior time performance and was likely the best of the three proposed autocorrelation-based algorithms for generating beam-steering holograms. MIMO-OWC simulation also demonstrated the capability of using beam-steering holograms to design the channel and improve the system performance. Combining reported findings, a strategy can be devised to optimise the throughput of an imaging MIMO-OWC system for a given transmitted power.

Since the advent of precise semiconductor engineering techniques in the 1960s, considerable effort has been devoted both in academia and private industry to the fabrication and testing of complex structures. In addition to other techniques, molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) has made it possible to create devices with single mono-layer accuracy. This facilitates the design of precise band structures and the selection of specific spectroscopic properties for light source materials. The applications of such engineered structures have made solid state devices common commercial quantities. These applications include solid state lasers, light emitting diodes and light sensors. Band gap engineering has been used to design emitters for many wavelength bands, including the short wavelength (SWIR) infrared region which ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 μm [1]. Practical devices include sensors operating in the 2-2.5 μm range. When designing such a device, necessary concerns include the required bias voltage, operating current, input impedance and especially for emitters, the wall-plug efficiency. Three types of engineered structures are considered in this thesis. These include GaInAsSb quaternary alloy bulk active regions, GaInAsSb multiple quantum well devices (MQW) and GaInAsSb cascaded light emitting diodes. The three structures are evaluated according to specific standards applied to emitters of infrared light. The spectral profiles are obtained with photo or electro-luminescence, for the purpose of locating the peak emission wavelength. The peak wavelength for these specimens is in the 2.2-2.5μm window. The emission efficiency is determined by employing three empirical techniques: current/voltage (IV), radiance/current (LI), and carrier lifetime measurements. The first verifies that the structure has the correct electrical properties, by measuring among other parameters the activation voltage. The second is used to determine the energy efficiency of the device, including the wall-plug and quantum efficiencies. The last provides estimates of the relative magnitude of the Shockley Read Hall, radiative and Auger coefficients. These constants illustrate the overall radiative efficiency of the material, by noting comparisons between radiative and non-radiative recombination rates.

Doctor of Philosophy
Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering
Kirby S. Chapman
The increasingly strict air emission regulations may require implementing Non-Selective Catalytic Reduction (NSCR) systems as a promising emission control technology for stationary rich burn spark ignition engines. Many recent experimental investigations that used NSCR systems for stationary natural gas fueled engines showed that NSCR systems were unable to consistently control the exhaust emissions level below the compliance limits. Part of this thesis is devoted to show the results from the field testing of three engines working in natural gas gathering stations located in the “Four Corners” area. These three engines are retrofitted with NSCR systems. Emissions and engine operating data were monitored for more than one year. Data collected from October 2007 through December 2008 shows significant variation in emissions levels over hours, days, and longer periods of time, as well as seasonal variations. As a result of these variations, simultaneous control of NOx and CO below the compliance limit was achieved less than fifty percent of the monitored time. Modeling of NSCR components to better understand, and then exploit, the underlying physical processes that occur in the lambda sensor and the catalyst media is now considered an essential step toward improving NSCR system performance. The second portion of this thesis focuses on modeling the lambda sensor that provides feedback to the air-to-fuel ratio controller. Correct interpretation of the sensor output signal is necessary to achieve consistently low emissions level. The goal of this modeling study is to improve the understanding of the physical processes that occur within the sensor, investigate the cross-sensitivity of various exhaust gas species on the sensor performance, and finally this model serves as a tool to improve NSCR control strategies. This model simulates the output from a planar switch type lambda sensor. The model consists of three modules. The first module models the multi-component mass transport through the sensor protective layer. Diffusion fluxes are calculated using the Maxwell-Stefan equation. The second module includes all the surface catalytic reactions that take place on the sensor platinum electrodes. All kinetic reactions are modeled based on the Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic mechanism. The third module is responsible for simulating the reactions that occur on the electrolyte material and determine the sensor output voltage. The details of these three modules as well as a parametric study that investigates the sensitivity of the output voltage signal to various exhaust gas parameters is provided in the thesis.

Purpose: To examine the dosimetric characteristics of Gafchromic EBT3 film when measuring small fields of radiation, and compare it against other common radiation detectors. Methods and Materials: EBT3 film was placed in a solid water phantom and irradiated with 6MV photons, field sizes from 10x10cm2 down to 6x6mm2. The films were scanned with a Vidar DosimetryPRO Advantage Red scanner, and analyzed with RIT113 software. The films were also scanned at different orientations and times to quantify the discrepancies associated with scanning orientation and post-exposure darkening. The same fields were measured with a PTW TN30013 farmer chamber, an Exradin T1 cylindrical ion chamber, a PTW parallel plate ion chamber, and a Sun Nuclear Edge Detector (diode). Output factors were calculated for each detector and compared for accuracy. The output factors were measured from a Varian Clinac iX, Clinac 21EX, Trilogy, and TrueBeam; as well as a Novalis Tx. The outputs from different machines at different clinics were compared. Results: The EBT3 film and Edge Detector were the only detectors that succeeded in accurately measuring the output from all field sizes; the ion chambers were too large and failed for field sizes below 4x4cm2 due to volume averaging. The dose measured with the film increased by an average of 8.8% after one week post-irradiation. The dose measured was also reduced by an average of 4.4% by scanning the film in landscape orientation, as opposed to portrait orientation. It was shown that the output factors for the smallest field of 6x6mm2--successfully measured with film and diode--varied between 0.54-0.74 for five different machines at three different clinics. Conclusions: The feasibility of using Gafchromic EBT3 film to measure very small fields of radiation is confirmed. Of the other 4 detectors used, only the diode was shown to be capable of accurately measuring small fields of radiation. The need to optimize the film dosimetry process--including the time films are scanned post-irradiation, the consistency of the scanning orientation of the calibration and subsequent films, and the measurement procedure on the computer software--is highlighted.

This thesis contributes to the understanding of glacier response to climate change by ice dynamical studies on Storglaciären, Sweden, and Bonnevie-Svendsenbreen, Kibergbreen and Plogbreen in Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica. Ice surface velocities, ice geometry and temperature information is fed through a force budget model to calculate ice mass outflux of these glacial systems via three-dimensional stress distributions for a flux-gate.

Field data were collected through repeated DGPS and GPR observations on Storglaciären between July 2000 to September 2001 and on Kibergbreen and Plobreen during the SWEDARP 2002/03 expedition to Antarctica. The work was strongly supported by remotely-sensed information.

The results from Storglaciären show a strength in the force budget model to discern both spatial and temporal variability in ice dynamical patterns. It highlights the influence of seasonality and bedrock topography upon glacier flow. A modeling experiment on Bonnevie-Svendsenbreen suggested that ice temperature increases substantially under conditions of high stress (≥0.4 MPa) due to strain-heating. This provides a positive feedback loop, increasing ice deformation, as long as it overcomes the advection of cool ice from the surface. These results explain, to some extent, the mechanism behind fast flowing ice streams. Mass flux caclulations from Bonnevie-Svendsenbreen suggest that the outflux given from force budget calculations can be used as a gauge for influx assuming steady state conditions. Plogbreen receives an influx of 0.48±0.1 km³ a^-1 and expedites a discharge volume of 0.55±0.05 km³ a^-1. This indicative negative mass balance is explained by a falling trend in upstream accumulation and the recent rise in global sea level, as it is likely to induce glacier acceleration due to a reduction in resistive forces at the site of the gate. This result is comparable with other Antarctic studies reporting negative mass balances, e.g. from WAIS, as caused by changes in the global atmospheric circulation pattern.

The Shield&rsquo
s Diagram has been the key stone for the description of initiatial motion of a particle in open channel flow. Data in Shield&rsquo
s study and further studies are collected in channels. However, the approximation of these data for the case of withdrawal of sediment or clean water through bottom outlets has not been confirmed. Furthermore, two phase models run to simulate the phenomenon so far have used brine and water combination. In this study, an experimental attempt is made to study the behavior of deposits subject to withdrawal from a bottom outlet where there are not enough parameters to calculate the bottom shear stress and consequently the dimensionless parameters generally used for the description of initiation of motion. The experimental set up used for this purpose is a 1 m long and 0.35 m wide channel such that at the downstream of the channel there is a horizontal slit representing the bottom outlet. During the experiments, fresh water and sand with D50 = 0.298 mm and D50 = 0.912 mm are used. Two different widths of the slit, namely 0.35 m and 0.0875 m are investigated. Based on the observations of the incipient motion of the sediment, the findings in the form of a relationship among the discharge through the bottom outlet, and some other relevant parameters are reported. In addition, a comparison of these data with the literature by the help of some newly defined dimensionless parameters for the description of the initiation of motion is included.

This thesis is concerned with creating and evaluating interactive art systems that facilitate emergent participant experiences. For the purposes of this research, interactive art is the computer based arts involving physical participation from the audience, while emergence is when a new form or concept appears that was not directly implied by the context from which it arose. This emergent ‘whole’ is more than a simple sum of its parts. The research aims to develop understanding of the nature of emergent experiences that might arise during participant interaction with interactive art systems. It also aims to understand the design issues surrounding the creation of these systems. The approach used is Practice-based, integrating practice, evaluation and theoretical research. Practice used methods from Reflection-in-action and Iterative design to create two interactive art systems: Glass Pond and +-now. Creation of +-now resulted in a novel method for instantiating emergent shapes. Both art works were also evaluated in exploratory studies. In addition, a main study with 30 participants was conducted on participant interaction with +-now. These sessions were video recorded and participants were interviewed about their experience. Recordings were transcribed and analysed using Grounded theory methods. Emergent participant experiences were identified and classified using a taxonomy of emergence in interactive art. This taxonomy draws on theoretical research. The outcomes of this Practice-based research are summarised as follows. Two interactive art systems, where the second work clearly facilitates emergent interaction, were created. Their creation involved the development of a novel method for instantiating emergent shapes and it informed aesthetic and design issues surrounding interactive art systems for emergence. A taxonomy of emergence in interactive art was also created. Other outcomes are the evaluation findings about participant experiences, including different types of emergence experienced and the coding schemes produced during data analysis.

Com base em indicadores bibliométricos de produção, colaboração e impacto, este trabalho investiga os artigos científicos brasileiros da Física de Altas Energias (FAE) indexados pelo Science Citation Index (SCI) da Web of Science (WoS) no período de 1983-2013. Fizeram parte do estudo todas as publicações em periódicos abrangidos na categoria de assunto Physics, Particles & Fields. Os dados foram organizados e analisados com auxílio dos softwares Bibexcel, UCINET, Gephi, Philcarto, SPSS, R e Excel 2007. Os 6.350 artigos sugerem que o crescimento anual da produção pode ter sido consequência da ampliação dos Programas de Pós-Graduação (PPGs) com linhas de pesquisa FAE e grupos do Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), da participação do Brasil nas colaborações internacionais e da instituição da Rede Nacional de Física de Altas Energias (RENAFAE). A distribuição das artigos por Web of Science Category (WC) demonstrou que a área centraliza a publicação em um número reduzido de periódicos estrangeiros de língua inglesa, com destaque para Physical Review D (PRD). A Astronomia & Astrofísica com 45,63% e a Física Nuclear com 18,66% de participação foram as categorias predominantes. Os cientistas nacionais mais produtivos são da subárea experimental e filiados a instituições públicas do eixo Rio de Janeiro-São Paulo. As universidades foram responsáveis por 80,92% da produção. A coautoria entre indivíduos cresceu ao longo do período, registrando média de 155,89 autores por artigo. O estudo por amostragem provou que a parcela de publicações de autoria única (11,39%) está vinculada à Física Teórica. Tanto o crescimento do número de artigos quanto o de colaborações se ajustam ao modelo de regressão linear. O decréscimo da média de instituições por artigo quando consideradas somente as nacionais, denota a preferência pela colaboração internacional em razão do custo e complexidade das investigações. As análises de MDS e clusters confirmam a existência de grupos regionais. A média de países por artigo é de 4,87. A proporção de coautorias internacionais da FAE (49,07%) é superior aos índices verificados na produção científica brasileira em anos recentes. O predomínio de pesquisadores estrangeiros na rede de colaboração confirma a internacionalização da atividade e a presença do Brasil nos experimentos multinacionais. Os indicadores absolutos expressam que EUA, Rússia e França são os principais parceiros. Os indicadores relativos expõem um processo de desconcentração e diversificação das colaborações nacionais, com presença relevante da Colômbia e países do leste europeu. O impacto da pesquisa em FAE aponta que os artigos brasileiros receberam 78.812 citações provenientes de 41.152 documentos. Os dados mostram que 87,65% das publicações foram citadas uma ou mais vezes no período. As características gerais dos citantes revelam a prevalência do artigo publicado em periódico estrangeiro na língua inglesa. A Física de Partículas e Campos com 36,24% e a Astronomia & Astrofísica com 21,17% de participação foram as categorias citantes salientes. Os documentos internacionais representam 88,15% das citações, com distinção para as publicações dos EUA, Alemanha e Itália. O Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) se destaca entre as instituições de filiação dos autores citantes. Conclui que a FAE detém reconhecimento internacional, entretanto, o incremento da participação nas colaborações multinacionais e a intensificação da atividade científica na subárea experimental pode conceder ao Brasil o status dos países desenvolvidos.
Based on bibliometric indicators of production, collaboration and impact, this study investigates the Brazilian scientific papers on High Energy Physics (HEP) indexed by the Science Citation Index (SCI) in the Web of Science (WoS) from 1983 to 2013. All publications in journals embraced by the subject category Physics, Particles & Fields were part of this research. Data were organized and analyzed using the software Bibexcel, UCINET, Gephi, Philcarto, SPSS, R and Excel 2007. The 6.350 papers recovered suggest that the annual growth in production may have been caused by the expansion of Graduate Programs on lines of research related to HEP and by the expansion of groups of the same line in the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), as well as by Brazil’s participation in international collaborations and by the institution of the National Network of High Energy Physics (RENAFAE). The distribution of papers by Web of Science Category (WC) showed that the area centers its publication in a small number of journals in English, especially the Physical Review D (PRD). The predominant categories were Astronomy & Astrophysics, with 45,63% of the publications, and Nuclear Physics, with 18,66%. The most productive Brazilian scientists are from the experimental subarea and affiliated to public institutions in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Universities were responsible for 80,92% of the output. The numbers related to coauthorship grew in the researched period, registering an average of 155,89 authors per article. The study sample proved that the share of single authorship publications (11,39%) is tied to Theoretical Physics. The growth in both the number of articles and the number of collaborations is coherent with the linear regression model. The decrease in the average of institutions per article when considering only the Brazilian institutions indicates the preference for international collaborations due to the cost and complexity of the researches. MDS and clusters analyzes confirm the existence of regional groups. The average of countries per article is of 4,87. HEP’s proportion of international coauthorship (49,07%) is higher than the rates found in the Brazilian scientific output in recent years. The predominance of foreign researchers in the collaboration network confirms the internationalization of the activity and the presence of Brazil in multinational experiments. Absolute indicators show that the U.S.A., Russia and France are Brazil’s main partners in coauthored publications. Relative indicators display a process of decentralization and diversification of Brazilian collaborations, with a significant presence of Colombia and Eastern Europe in the coauthorships. Impact indicators show that Brazilian papers received 78.812 citations to 41.152 documents. The data show that 87,65% of the publications were mentioned one or more times during the period. The general characteristics of the articles that cited Brazilian works revealed a predominance of publications in foreign journals and in English. Field and Particle Physics, with 36,24%, and Astronomy & Astrophysics, with 21,17%, were the two categories that most cited Brazilian works in the area. International documents represent 88,15% of the citations, especially the publications by the U.S.A., Germany and Italy. The Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) stands out among the institutions which the citing authors are affiliated to. The study concludes that HEP has international recognition; however, the increase in Brazil’s participation in multinational collaborations and the intensification of scientific activity in the experimental subarea can give Brazil the same status granted to developed countries.
Con base en indicadores bibliométricos de producción, colaboración e impacto, este trabajo investiga los artículos científicos brasileños de Física de Altas Energías (FAE) indexados por el Science Citation Index (SCI) de la Web of Science (WoS) en el período de 1983-2013. Hicieron parte del estudio todas las publicaciones en revistas incluidas en la categoría de materias Physics, Particles & Fields. Los datos fueron organizados y analizados con ayuda de los softwares Bibexcel, UCINET, Gephi, Philcarto, SPSS, R y Excel 2007. Los 6.350 artículos sugieren que el crecimiento de la producción anual puede haber sido consecuencia de la expansión de los Programas de Postgrado con líneas de investigación FAE y grupos del Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), de la participación de Brasil en las colaboraciones internacionales y de la institución de la Rede Nacional de Física de Altas Energias (RENAFAE). La distribución de los artículos por Web of Science Category (WC) demostró que la área centraliza la publicación en un número reducido de periódicos extranjeros de lengua inglesa, con realce para Physical Review D (PRD). Astronomía & Astrofísica con 45,63% y Física Nuclear con 18,66% de participación fueron las categorías predominantes. Los científicos brasileños más productivos son de la subárea experimental y pertenecen a instituciones públicas del eje Rio de Janeiro-São Paulo. Las universidades fueron responsables por 80,92% de la producción. La co-autoría entre individuos creció durante el período, registrando media de 155,89 autores por artículo. El estudio por muestreo demostró que la fracción de publicaciones de autoria única (11,39%) está vinculada a la Física Teórica. Tanto el crecimiento del número de artículos como el de colaboraciones se ajustan al modelo de regresión lineal. La disminución de la media de las instituciones por artículo cuando consideradas solamente las nacionales, denota a preferencia por la colaboración internacional debido a los costos y complejidad de las investigaciones. Los análisis de MDS y clusters confirman la existencia de grupos regionales. La media de países por artículo es de 4,87. La proporción de co-autorías internacionales de la FAE (49,07%) es superior a las tasas verificadas en la producción científica brasileña en los últimos años. El predominio de investigadores extranjeros en la red de colaboración confirma la internacionalización de la actividad y la presencia de Brasil en los experimentos multinacionales. Los indicadores absolutos muestran que los EE.UU., Rusia y Francia son los principales socios. Los indicadores relativos exponen un proceso de descentralización y diversificación de las colaboraciones nacionales, con presencia relevante de Colombia y países del este europeo. El impacto de la investigación en FAE señala que los artículos brasileños recibieron 78.812 citas provenientes de 41,152 documentos. Los datos muestran que 87,65% de las publicaciones fueron citadas una o más veces en el período. Las características generales de los citandos revelan el predominio del artículo publicado en revista extranjera en lengua inglesa. La Física de Partículas y Campos con 36,24% y la Astronomía & Astrofísica con 21,17% de participación fueron las categorías citandas salientes. Los documentos internacionales representan 88,15% de las citas, con distinción para las publicaciones de Estados Unidos, Alemania e Italia. El Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) se destaca entre las instituciones de los autores citandos. Concluye que la FAE tiene reconocimiento internacional, sin embargo, el aumento de la participación en las colaboraciones multinacionales y la intensificación de la actividad científica en la subárea experimental pueden darle al Brasil el status de los países desarrollados.

In the first part of this thesis, motivated by the development of deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease, we consider the problem of reducing the synchrony of a neuronal population via a closed-loop electrical stimulation. This, under the constraints that only the mean membrane voltage of the ensemble is measured and that only one stimulation signal is available (mean-field feedback). The neuronal population is modeled as a network of interconnected Landau-Stuart oscillators controlled by a linear single-input single-output feedback device. Based on the associated phase dynamics, we analyze existence and robustness of phase-locked solutions, modeling the pathological state, and derive necessary conditions for an effective desynchronization via mean-field feedback. Sufficient conditions are then derived for two control objectives: neuronal inhibition and desynchronization. Our analysis suggests that, depending on the strength of feedback gain, a proportional mean-field feedback can either block the collective oscillation (neuronal inhibition) or desynchronize the ensemble.In the second part, we explore two possible ways to analyze related problems on more biologically sound models. In the first, the neuronal population is modeled as the interconnection of nonlinear input-output operators and neuronal synchronization is analyzed within a recently developed input-output approach. In the second, excitability and synchronizability properties of neurons are analyzed via the underlying bifurcations. Based on the theory of normal forms, a novel reduced model is derived to capture the behavior of a large class of neurons remaining unexplained in other existing reduced models.

Pour réaliser des simulations précises aux temps longs pour des vagues non linéaires, il faut faire appel à des algorithmes d'évolution temporelle précis. En particulier, la combinaison d'un pas de temps adaptatif avec un facteur intégrant est connue pour être très efficace. Nous proposons une modification de cette technique. Le principe consiste à soustraire un certain polynôme à une EDP. Puis, comme pour le facteur intégrant, nous faisons un changement de variable pour retirer la partie linéaire. Mais nous espérons retirer quelque chose de plus afin de rendre l'EDP moins raide pour les calculs numériques. Le polynôme choisi est une expansion de Taylor autour du temps initial de la solution. Afin de calculer les différentes dérivées nécessaires, nous utilisons le Dense Output qui donne la possibilité d'approximer les dérivées de la solution à tout temps. Une fois le facteur intégrant modifié appliqué, nous faisons appel à une avance temporelle classique afin de résoudre l'équation d'évolution. Il a été considéré plusieurs schémas de Runge-Kutta avec pas de temps adaptatif. Nous avons tiré avantage des méthodes emboîtées, afin de ne pas calculer de nouvelles fonctions et perdre du temps de calcul, en utilisant uniquement des données déjà calculées durant l'évolution temporelle. Les résultats numériques montrent que l'efficacité de notre méthode varie selon les cas. Par exemple, nous avons vérifié que plus le profil de l'onde est pentue, plus notre méthode est efficace. Pour le modèle de vagues non linéaires le plus compliqué à notre disposition, le modèle HOS, nous avons pu réduire le nombre de pas de temps de calcul jusqu'à près de 30 % avec un schéma de Runge-Kutta de Dormand-Prince et jusqu'à plus de 99 % pour un schéma de Bogacki-Shampine.

Many control algorithms for ABS systems have been proposed in the literature since the introduction of this equipment by Bosch in 1978. In general, one can divide these control algorithms into two different types: those based on a regulation logic with wheel acceleration thresholds that are used by most commercial ABS systems; and those based on wheel slip control that are preferred in the large majority of academic algorithms. Each approach has its pros and cons [Shida 2010]. Oversimplifying, one can say that the strength of the first ones is their robustness; while that of the latter ones their short braking distances (on dry grounds) and their absence of limit cycles. At the midpoint of this industry/academy dichotomy, based on the concept of extended braking stiffness (XBS), a quite different class of ABS control strategies has been proposed by several researchers (see, e.g., [Sugai 1999] and [Ono 2003]). This concept combines the advantages from both the industrial and academic approaches. Nevertheless, since the slope of the tyre characteristic is not directly measurable, it introduces the question of real-time XBS estimation. The first part of this thesis is devoted to the study of this estimation problem and to a generalization of the proposed technique to a larger class of systems. From the technological point of view, the design of ABS control systems is highly dependent on the ABS system characteristics and actuator performance. Current ABS control algorithms on passenger cars, for instance the Bosch ABS algorithm, are based on heuristics that are deeply associated to the hydraulic nature of the actuator. An interesting observation is that they seem to work properly only in the presence of a specific delay coming from the hydraulic actuation [Gerard 2012]. For brake systems that have different delays compared to those of hydraulic actuators, like electric in-wheel motors (with a smaller delay) or pneumatic trailer brakes (with a bigger delay), they might be no longer suitable [Miller 2013]. Therefore, adapting standard ABS algorithms to other advanced actuators becomes an imperative goal in the automobile industry. This goal can be reached by the compensation of the delays induced by actuators. The second part of this thesis is focused on this issue, and to the generalization of the proposed technique to a particular class of nonlinear systems. Throughout this thesis, we employ two different linearization techniques: the linearization of the error dynamics in the construction of model-based observers [Krener 1983] and the linearization based on restricted state feedback [Brockett 1979]. The former is one of the simplest ways to build an observer for dynamical systems with output and to analyze its convergence. The main idea is to transform the original nonlinear system via a coordinate change to a special form that admits an observer with a linear error dynamics and thus the observer gains can be easily computed to ensure the observer convergence. The latter is a classical method to control nonlinear systems by converting them into a controllable linear state equation via the cancellation of their nonlinearities. It is worth mentioning that existing results for observer design by error linearization in the literature are only applied to the case of regular time scalings ([Guay 2002] and [Respondek 2004]). The thesis shows how to extend them to the case of singular time scalings. Besides, the thesis combines the classical state feedback linearization with a new method for the input delay compensation to resolve the output tracking problem for restricted feedback linearizable systems with input delays.

碩士
國立中央大學
電機工程研究所
88
High-speed I/O is the key component to successfully transmit data between electronic devices. Simultaneous switching noise (SSN) or called ground bounce is one of the major noise sources in high-speed digital circuit. There are two research topics in this thesis. First we focus on the overview of SSN. We will propose an output buffer - AC/DC for reducing SSN, output signal ringing and maintain DC current capability. The test chip by using UMC 0.35um 1P5M digital process will be implemented to verify the theoretical analysis results and circuit design techniques. For example, SSO improvement from 3 to 11 for the YC2/ACDC2 cases, considering the Quiet VDD case. Measurement results show that our invention can reduce the output ringing by 60%, and VDD/GND line bounce by 40% when comparing with conventional buffers used in standard commercial cell library with 2ns rise/fall time and 40pF output loading capability. Also we propose a characterization procedure to estimate power pads for simultaneous switching outputs (SSO). The Universal Serial Bus (USB) technology is now becoming an integral part of the personal computer platform. USB is one of the first I/O ports where several types of devices can be connected simultaneously. Thus, in the second research topic, the transceiver architecture and circuit is proposed for USB2 high-speed mode with 480Mb/s bandwidth. The physical layer of USB2 consists of transceiver, two envelope detector, and clock recovery.

博士
國立清華大學
通訊工程研究所
104
This dissertation examines the transmission of confidential messages over a wireless wiretap system with no a priori channel state information (CSI) at any terminal. The studies can be divided into two parts. The first part focuses on conventional training-based transmissions schemes and examines the tradeoff between training and data transmission in wiretap channels; the second part makes no assumption on the transmission scheme and evaluates the asymptotic performance of such a system at high SNR. More specifically, in the first part, training-based transmission schemes are considered for multi-input single-output (MISO) Rayleigh block fading wiretap channels, where each block consists of a training phase followed by a data transmission phase. By taking the cost of obtaining CSI into account, this work considers the joint design of training and data transmission in physical-layer secret communication systems, and examines the role of artificial noise (AN), a key component in many physical layer secret communication techniques, in both of these phases. In particular, AN in the training phase is used to prevent the eavesdropper from obtaining accurate CSI whereas AN in the data transmission phase can be used to mask the transmission of the confidential message. By considering AN-assisted training and secrecy beamforming schemes, upper and lower bounds on the achievable secrecy rate is derived in a closed-form approximation that is asymptotically tight at high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Then, by maximizing the approximate achievable secrecy rate, the optimal power allocation between signal and AN in both training and data transmission phases is obtained for both conventional and AN-assisted training based schemes. We show that the use of AN is necessary to achieve a high secrecy rate at high SNR, and its use in the training phase can be more efficient than that in the data transmission phase when the coherence time is large. However, at low SNR, the use of AN provides no advantage since CSI is difficult to obtain in this case. In fact, allocating channel resources for training is inefficient and one can actually do better without it in this case. Numerical results are presented to verify our theoretical claims. Even though training-based transmission schemes have been widely adopted in practice, the optimality of such an approach is unknown and is in fact disproved in conjunction with the secrecy beamforming scheme mentioned in the first part. Therefore, a more general and fundamental study of the wiretap channel with no CSI anywhere is considered in the second part of this dissertation. In particular, we consider a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) Rayleigh block fading wiretap channel where the source, the destination, and the eavesdropper have nt, nr and ne antennas, respectively. The length of the coherence interval, where the channel coefficients remain constant within each interval, but vary independently from block to block, is denoted by T. The performance at high SNR is evaluated in terms of the secure degrees of freedom (s.d.o.f.), when T ≥ 2 min(nt, nr). We show that, in this case, the s.d.o.f. is exactly equal to (min(nt, nr)−ne)(T−min(nt, nr))/T . The first multiplicative term in this expression can be interpreted as the loss of ne spatial degrees of freedom at both the transmitter and the legitimate receiver due to the ne receive antennas at the eavesdropper. The second term can be viewed as the ratio of s.d.o.f. remaining after expending resources to acquire CSI at the legitimate receiver. We prove that this s.d.o.f. can be achieved by employing a constant norm channel input, which can be viewed as a generalization of discrete signalling to multiple dimensions. We also show that multiple dimensions in both space and time are needed to achieve a non-zero s.d.o.f. for systems without CSI. That is, one cannot achieve a positive s.d.o.f. with either a long coherence time in a single antenna system or with multiple antennas in a very short (T = 1) coherence time channel. The techniques developed in the second part is also used to examine the performance of a noncoherent network coding system with multiple hops of intermediate relays. A relay recruitment problem is considered for the case where some of the relays are untrustworthy and may be subject to eavesdropping. The source wishes to enlist their help while keeping the message secret against the eavesdropper. By employing random linear network coding at the relays, the problem can be modeled as a noncoherent finite-field wiretap channel. The secrecy capacity is examined and the input distribution is optimized using an efficient projection-based gradient decent algorithm. The untrusted relay recruitment problem is discussed based on the derived secrecy capacity. An interesting scenario is analyzed where each potentially insecure relay may be randomly eavesdropped with a certain probability. Our asymptotic analysis reveals that, with enough untrusted relays, there exists a threshold on the eavesdropping probability below which all untrusted relays should be recruited. Numerical results are presented to illustrate and verify our theoretical claims.

Australian Football requires physical and skilled output from its participants for more than ninety minutes of play. In both research and practice, physical output is typically described using aggregate parameters extracted from wearable technologies. Parameters include volume measures (eg., total distance), work rates (volume expressed relative to time, eg. metreage per minute) and output bands, which bin either accelerations or velocity into a smaller number of thresholds. Similarly, skilled output may be described using coaches’ ratings, player rankings and counts of skilled actions, termed involvements. Involvements refer to skilled actions when players are both in possession and not in possession of the ball. These parameters are typically aggregated across pre-set windows, including stints, quarters, and training drills. However, there are periods of altered physical and skilled output within training drills and stints, which are not captured by aggregate parameters. It is also difficult to determine when output meaningfully changes within sessions using these aggregate parameters. Consequently, it is difficult to use aggregate parameters to inform time-based decisions, including substitutions and stint-to-rest, and training drill length prescription. The aim of this thesis therefore was to develop an alternative method to aggregate parameter profiling, which can identify changes— either increases or decreases-- in physical and skilled output within training drills and matches. Study One quantified the relationship between physical output, skilled output and stint duration in elite Australian football matches. Physical output was quantified using aggregate parameters, extracted from Global Navigation Satellite Local Positioning System devices. Skilled output was quantified using individual player involvements. Random effect models showed negative relationships between duration, high intensity running, and involvements per minute. Metreage per minute had a positive relationship with involvements per minute for most players. Three conditional inference trees were computed. These models described the impact of factors, including round (ie., game number within a season) and rotation number, and how individuals react to outputs, along with a general set of thresholds for the data. All models demonstrated a weak relationship between physical, skilled output and time. This suggests that wearable technology data and notational analysis feeds could be analysed differently to improve their use in team sports. Study Two proposed a combined time-series/frequency domain approach to profiling physical and skilled output in team-sport. A binary segmentation change point algorithm was applied to the velocity time-series, collected via wearable technologies of Australian football players during matches. This method overcame the need for pre-set aggregation windows by identifying different segments of physical output through the mean and variability of velocity. Spectral and involvement features were extracted for each segment to describe physical and skilled output respectively. Spectral features were able to describe aspects of output that are not captured using aggregate parameters. For example, spectral kurtosis may describe whether physical output is continuous or intermittent. Between five and seven change points were able to give more insight into physical and skilled output than aggregate parameters, whilst identifying sufficiently different segments of play. Study Three applied the time-frequency approach of Study Two to match profiling in team- sport. This study demonstrated how a time-frequency approach may identify differences in physical output between matches, that are not apparent from aggregate parameters. Additionally, the time-frequency approach was able to identify changes in physical and skilled output within matches. Alongside the change-point algorithm, k-means clustering allowed for segments of movement to be classified through both their time elapsed within a match, and their physical and skilled output. These methods could therefore be used, to increase the specificity of load monitoring and physical activity prescription in team-sports. Study Four illustrated how a time-series/frequency-domain can be applied to physical output to assess the sequence, specificity and difficulty of team-sport training drills. By condensing velocity data from training drills into a similarity metric relative to match segments, a drill sequence resembling physical output at differing points of a match was generated. This study identified challenge points for each drill, where the mean and variance of velocity within training drills changes. The location and features of challenge points varied substantially by drill. Aggregate work rate parameters may therefore misrepresent the influence of training drill length on physical output. Movement paths were further analysed to explore how players accrue total volume measures such as total distance. These movement paths may reveal differences in physical output between training drills to match outputs, despite similar aggregate parameters. This thesis demonstrated how a time-frequency analysis of physical and skilled output may increase the sophistication of match and training drill profiling in team-sport. The methods presented in this thesis can identify periods of high physical output late in a match and the movement paths completed by athletes, with differences in physical output between matches. This information may assist practitioners to identify difficult matches (ie., matches with high physical outputs), without relying on typical aggregate parameters. These methods may also increase the specificity of training drill prescription to match outputs. The methods presented may also inform training considerations that are not addressed with aggregate parameters, including training drill sequence and duration.

Bibliographical identification Title of Bachelor work: The size and differences in physical activity in the weekly mode in adolescent soccer players on performance level Place of work: UK FTVS Author: Bc. Michal Hojdar Field of study: Physical education and sport Head of work: Mgr. Jakub Kokštejn, Ph.D. Defence year: 2015 Generalization: This thesis is focused on the analysis of physical activity weekly regimen of adolescent soccer players at performance level who practice regular physical activity. The primary objective is to determine the differences in the size of physical activities in the category of younger and older adolescents, and then compare the results obtained with each other and with health recommendations for these ages. Younger adolescents consist of U16 and U17 players in age from 15 to 17 years. Older adolescents include soccer players U19 aged between 17 and 19 years. Research is aimed to the players of football club FC MAS Táborsko. To determine the size and composition of physical activity was used accelerometer ActiGraph GT3X. Obtained data are processed in the program ActiLife Lifestyle Monitor Software. To ensure that the measured values are relevant and comparable, were used statistical methods of calculations, such as arithmetic mean and standard deviation. For clarity and ease of...