Researchers within digital pathology are endeavouringto develop machine-learning tools to support dentists whenmaking a diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to investigatehow applying colour normalisation (CN) algorithms on an oral,histopathological dataset would impact both machine-learningmodels and ensembles of models when classifying cell types.The dataset was run through four different CN algorithms byusing a stain normalisation toolbox. The now five datasets (1 +4) were then fed separately into a pipeline to create machinelearningmodels, specifically convolutional neural networks withEfficientNet architecture. Two different ensembles were studied,one that used all the models and one that used the three modelswith the highest test accuracy. Each model gave a cell typeprediction of each cell. The ensembles super positioned theirmodels’ predictions of the same cell and used the results as theirown predictions.The models based on datasets created by two of the CNalgorithms had a weighted, average accuracy of ca. four percentagepoints higher than the model based on the unnormaliseddataset. Unexpectedly, the models based on the colour-normaliseddatasets had a larger standard deviation than the model basedon the unnormalised dataset. All the models were generally badat classifying two of the four cell types. Both the ensembleshad a weighted, average accuracy of ca. ten percentage pointshigher than the model based on the unnormalised dataset, aswell as a larger standard deviation. The increase in accuracyis significant and could move forward the timeline for whenmachine-leaning tools can be implemented into dentists’ andpathologists’ workflow. / Forskare inom digital patologi strävar efteratt utveckla maskininlärnings-verktyg som stödjer tandläkarenär de ställer diagnoser. Syftet med denna studie är att utreda hurtillämpning av färgnormaliserande algoritmer (CN algoritmer)på ett oralt, histopatologiskt dataset påverkar hur både maskininlärningsmodeller och ensembler av modeller klassificerarcelltyper.Datasetet kördes igenom fyra olika CN algoritmer med hjälpav en färgnormaliserings-verktygslåda. De nu fem dataseten(1 + 4) matades separat in i en ”pipeline” för att skapamaskininlärningsmodeller, specifikt djupa neurala nätverk medEfficientNet arkitektur. Två olika ensembler skapades, en somanvände alla modeller och en som endast använde de tre somhade högst noggrannhet på testsettet. Varje modell uppskattadecelltypen för varje cell. Ensemblerna superpositionerade derasmodellers uppskattningar för varje cell och använde resultatensom sina egna uppskattningar.Modellerna som tränats på två av de färgnormaliseradedataseten ökade i viktad, snitt-noggrannhet med fyra procentenheteri förhållande till modeller tränade på det ursprungligadatasetet. Förvånansvärt nog så ökade även standardavvikelsenhos modeller tränade på de färgnormaliserade dataseten. Allamodeller var generellt dåliga på att klassificera två av de fyracelltyperna. Ensemblen uppnådde en viktad snitt-noggrannhet på ca. tio procentenheter mer än modeller tränade på detursprungliga datasetet. Noggrannhetens signifikanta ökning kanleda till en tidigare implementering av maskininlärnings-verktygi tandläkares och patologers arbetsflöde. / Kandidatexjobb i elektroteknik 2021, KTH, Stockholm

This is a time of expanding futures for transgender youth who are able to “buy time” by blocking puberty and transitioning young. Twenty years of clinical literature indicates that suppressing puberty can be lifesaving for trans youth, allowing them to avoid the distress and harm associated with transgender lives writ large. A growing number of “gender affirming” clinics now offer young trans people greater autonomy over their bodies, their futures, and their future bodies. Yet there remain troubling disparities, with indications that clinics are primarily serving white middle class trans youth and that autistic trans youth face delays. This thesis is a discourse analysis of 18 interviews with international health and mental health clinicians and 10 interviews with key stakeholders. Drawing from the literature of queer temporalities, sociological work on time and social power, queer and trans of colour critique, critical disability studies, critical autism studies, and transgender studies, I use an “interpretive repertoire” analysis to ask: How have puberty suppression and early gender transition become thinkable futures for trans youth? This thesis finds that the conditions of possibility that make early transition possible for some, are the same that foreclose it for others. The discourses of maturity and cognitive age, the expected “chrononormative” narrative, and the discourses of crisis and the “race against time”, each work to make outsiders of autistic and racialized trans youth in particular. While there is much to celebrate in the new futures available to trans youth, I argue that puberty blockers currently function as a “switchpoint” moving privileged trans youth onto a track toward even greater privilege, and widening the gap in life opportunities. This thesis introduces the concept of “the temporality of privilege” and calls for greater attention to the political implications augured by the contemporary scene of gender-affirming care for trans youth. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / We are in a time of expanding futures for transgender youth who are able to “buy time” by blocking puberty and transitioning to a new gender while young. Clinical research and literature suggest this as a lifesaving option for trans youth, allowing them to avoid distress and harm. Yet there remain troubling disparities with this treatment. Many clinics report they are primarily serving white middle class trans youth and there are some indications that autistic trans youth may be stalled or delayed in the process. I report on a discourse analysis of 18 interviews with health and mental health clinicians across six countries, in addition to 10 interviews with community level experts. I draw on a range of theory and an “interpretive repertoire” analysis to theorize how these futures become thinkable and possible for trans youth, while considering the political implications and unforeseen consequences for those youth unable to benefit.

Tesis por compendio / [EN] Fuzzy mathematics has constituted a wide field of research, since L. A. Zadeh introduced in 1965 the concept of fuzzy set. In particular, the problem of constructing a satisfactory theory of fuzzy metric spaces has been investigated by several authors. In 1994, George and Veeramani introduced and studied a notion of fuzzy metric space that constituted a modification of the one given by Kramosil and Michalek. Several authors have contributed to the study of this kind of fuzzy metrics, from the mathematical point of view and for their applications. In this thesis we have contributed to develop the study of these fuzzy metrics, from the mathematical point of view, and we approached the problem of measuring perceptual colour-difference between samples of colour using one of these fuzzy metrics. The contributions of the study carried out in this thesis is summarized as follows: \begin{enumerate} \item[(i)] We have made a detailed study of the fuzzy metric space $(X,M,\cdot)$ where $M$ is given on $X=[0,\infty[$ by $M(x,y,t)=\frac{\min\{x,y\}+t}{\max\{x,y\}+t}$ and others related to it. As a consequence we have introduced five questions in fuzzy metrics related to continuity, extension, contractivity and completion. \item[(ii)] We have answered an open question constructing a fuzzy metric space $(X,M,\ast)$ in which the assignment $f(t)=\lim_n M(a_n,b_n,t)$, where $\{a_n\}$ and $\{b_n\}$ are $M$-Cauchy sequences in $X$, is not a continuous function on $t$. The response to this question has allowed us to characterize the class of completable strong fuzzy metric spaces. \item[(iii)] We have introduced and studied a stronger concept than convergence of sequences in fuzzy metric spaces, which we call $s$-convergence. In our study, we have gotten a characterization of those spaces in which every convergent sequence is $s$-convergent and we have given a classification of fuzzy metrics attending to the behaviour of the fuzzy metric with respect to the different types of convergence. \item[(iv)] We have studied, in the context of fuzzy metric spaces, when certain families of open balls centered at a point are local bases for this point. \item[(v)] We have answered two open questions related to standard convergence, a stronger concept than convergence of sequences in fuzzy metric spaces, introduced in a natural way attending to the concept of standard Cauchy sequence (introduced in \cite{adomain}). These responses have led us to establish conditions under which Cauchyness and convergence should be considered \textit{compatible}. \item[(vi)] As a practical application, we have shown that a certain fuzzy metric is useful for measuring perceptual colour-differences between colour samples. \end{enumerate} / [ES] La matemática fuzzy ha constituido un amplio campo en la investigación, desde que en 1965 L. A. Zadeh introdujo el concepto de conjunto fuzzy. En particular, la construcción de una teoría satisfactoria de espacios métricos fuzzy ha sido un problema investigado por muchos autores. En 1994, George y Veeramani introdujeron y estudiaron una noción de espacio métrico fuzzy que constituía una modificación de la anteriormente dada por Kramosil y Michalek. Muchos autores han contribuido al estudio de este tipo de métricas fuzzy, desde el punto de vista matemático y de sus aplicaciones. En esta tesis hemos contribuido al desarrollo del estudio de estas métricas fuzzy, desde el punto de vista matemático, y hemos abordado el problema de la medida de la diferencia perceptual de color utilizando una de estas métricas. Las contribuciones que aportamos en esta tesis a dicho estudio, se resumen a continuación: \begin{enumerate} \item[(i)] Hemos hecho un estudio detallado del espacio métrico fuzzy $(X,M,\cdot)$ donde $M$ está dada sobre $[0,\infty[$ por la expresión $M(x,y,t)=\frac{\min\{x,y\}+t}{\max\{x,y\}+t}$ y de otros espacios métricos fuzzy relacionados con el. Como consecuencia de este estudio hemos introducido cinco cuestiones en la teoría de las métricas fuzzy relacionadas con continuidad, extensión, contractividad y completación. \item[(ii)] Hemos respondido a una cuestión abierta construyendo un espacio métrico fuzzy $(X,M,\ast)$ en el cual la asignación $f(t)=\lim_n M(a_n,b_n,t)$, donde $\{a_n\}$ y $\{b_n\}$ son sucesiones $M$-Cauchy, no es una función continua sobre $t$. La respuesta a esta cuestión nos ha permitido caracterizar la clase de los espacios métricos fuzzy strong completables. \item[(iii)] Hemos introducido y estudiado un concepto más fuerte que el de convergencia de sucesiones en espacios métricos fuzzy, al que hemos llamado $s$-convergencia. En nuestro estudio hemos conseguido una caracterización de aquellos espacios métricos fuzzy en los cuales toda sucesión convergente es $s$-convergente y hemos dado una clasificación de los espacios métricos fuzzy atendiendo a su comportamiento con respecto a los diferentes tipos de convergencia que se da en él. \item[(iv)] Hemos estudiado, en el contexto de los espacios métricos fuzzy, cuando ciertas familias de bolas abiertas centradas en un punto son base local de este punto. \item[(v)] Hemos respondido a dos cuestiones abiertas relacionadas con la convergencia standard, un concepto más fuerte que el de convergencia de sucesiones en espacios métricos fuzzy, introducido de forma natural a partir del concepto de sucesión de Cauchy standard (introducido en \cite{adomain}). Estas respuestas nos han llevado a establecer unas condiciones bajo las cuales un concepto relacionado con el concepto de sucesión de Cauchy y un concepto relacionado con el de convergencia deberían satisfacer para ser consideradas \textsl{compatibles}. \item[(vi)] Como aplicación práctica, hemos mostrado que una cierta métrica fuzzy es útil para medir diferencia perceptual de color entre muestras de color. \end{enumerate} / [CA] La matemàtica fuzzy ha constituït un ampli camp en la investigació, des que el 1965 L. A. Zadeh va introduir el concepte de conjunt fuzzy. En particular, la construcció d'una teoria satisfactòria d'espais mètrics fuzzy ha estat un problema investigat per molts autors. El 1994, George i Veeramani introduiren i estudiaren una noció d'espai mètric fuzzy que constituïa una modificació de la donada per Kramosil i Michalek anteriorment. Molts autors han contribuït a l'estudi d'aquest tipus de mètriques fuzzy, des del punt de vista matemàtic i de les seves aplicacions. En aquesta tesi hem contribuït al desenvolupament de l'estudi d'aquestes mètriques fuzzy, des del punt de vista matemàtic, i hem abordat el problema de la mesura de la diferència perceptiva de color utilitzant aquestes mètriques. Les contribucions que aportem en aquesta tesi a tal estudi es resumeixen a continuació: \begin{enumerate} \item[(i)] Hem fet un estudi detallat de l'espai mètric fuzzy $(X,M,\cdot)$ on $M$ està donada sobre $[0,\infty[$ per l'expressió $M(x,y,t)=\frac{\min\{x,y\}+t}{\max\{x,y\}+t}$ i d'altres espais mètrics fuzzy relacionats amb ell. Com a conseqüència d'aquest estudi hem introduït cinc qüestions en la teoria de les mètriques fuzzy relacionades amb continuïtat, extensió, contractividad i completació. \item[(ii)] Hem respost a una qüestió oberta construint un espai mètric fuzzy $ (X, M, \ast) $ en el qual l'assignació $ f (t) = \lim_n M (a_n, b_n, t) $, on $ \{a_n\} $ i $ \{b_n \} $ són successions $ M $-Cauchy, no és una funció contínua sobre $ t $. La resposta a aquesta qüestió ens ha permès caracteritzar la classe dels espais mètrics fuzzy strong completables. \item[(iii)] Hem introduït i estudiat un concepte més fort que el de convergència de successions en espais mètrics fuzzy, al qual hem anomenat $ s $-Convergència. En el nostre estudi hem aconseguit una caracterització d'aquells espais mètrics fuzzy en els quals tota successió convergent és $ s $-convergente i hem donat una classificació dels espais mètrics fuzzy atenent al seu comportament respecte als diferents tipus de convergència que es dóna en ell. \item[(iv)] Hem estudiat, en el context dels espais mètrics fuzzy, quan certes famílies de boles obertes centrades en un punt són base local d'aquest punt. \item[(v)] Hem respost a dues qüestions obertes relacionades amb la convergència estàndard, un concepte més fort que el de convergència de successions en espais mètrics fuzzy, introduït de forma natural a partir del concepte de successió de Cauchy estàndard (introduït en \cite{adomain}). Aquestes respostes ens han portat a establir unes condicions sota les quals un concepte relacionat amb el concepte de successió de Cauchy i un concepte relacionat amb el de convergència haurien de satisfer per a ser considerats \textsl{compatibles}. \item[(vi)] Com a aplicació pràctica, hem mostrat que una certa mètrica fuzzy és útil per mesurar la diferència perceptiva de color entre mostres de color. \end{enumerate} / Miñana Prats, JJ. (2015). Fuzzy metric spaces and applications to perceptual colour-differences [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/50612 / Compendio

[ES] La reintegración cromática es una materia que, más allá de los principios clásicos de respeto, reconocimiento y reversibilidad, o del tratamiento de las lagunas y la controversia que ello genera, apenas se presenta de forma extensa y detallada. La falta de monografías específicas que engloben, además, temas tan importantes como la percepción del color o las fuentes de iluminación, requiere en primera instancia, de una recopilación y recensión de material bibliográfico. Mediante este proceso, se muestra una especialización del léxico para denominar el proceso de reintegración cromática, quedando incluidos en esta nueva terminología los criterios y normas que dicha intervención lleva implícitos. La revisión crítica de las teorías de la restauración que abundaron a partir de mediados del siglo XX así como de las más recientes, identifica el estado actual de la cuestión del retoque en la pintura de caballete, en la cual se halla una clara influencia de principios teóricos más propios de otras áreas de la restauración como la pintura mural, la arqueología o la escultura. Resulta igualmente importante el análisis de la evolución de criterios en materia de reintegración, pues permite la identificación de las carencias y problemáticas que presentan si se extrapolan a la praxis actual. El extenso estudio del tratamiento de las lagunas y los sistemas de reintegración cromática requiere de una revisión que permita la ordenación, de forma coherente y con ejemplos gráficos, de los sistemas de retoque pictórico existentes, definiéndolos y clasificándolos correctamente, con el propósito de servir como referencia. Esta sección demuestra la diversidad del uso de sistemas según factores geográficos, así como la falta de una unificación terminológica de reintegración a nivel nacional e internacional que evite errores de traducción y confusiones, los cuales pueden derivar en malas prácticas por parte de los restauradores. Existen también otros parámetros, como la textura de los estucos, las fuentes de iluminación y la indumentaria de trabajo, que pasan inadvertidos pero de los cuales se demuestra, por medios experimentales, la importancia que juegan en el desarrollo de los procesos de reintegración cromática y en la calidad de su resultado final. De esta forma, se enfatiza que el retoque pictórico en pintura de caballete debe ser abordado más allá de los conceptos tradicionales y del tratamiento de las lagunas. Asimismo, se revisan también las técnicas utilizadas en la reintegración cromática de pintura de caballete, demostrando la permanencia de materiales tradicionalmente usados como las acuarelas para la restitución acuosa, y los colores aglutinados al barniz para los retoques no acuosos. En relación a esta última técnica, aunque es común el uso de pinturas comerciales, en la última década ha crecido en popularidad la elaboración propia de colores al barniz por los restauradores con motivo de las ventajas que presentan. Este suceso ha requerido un análisis detallado de su viabilidad mediante ensayos de laboratorio, descubriendo si estas pinturas artesanales cumplen unos mínimos estándares de calidad para poder ser utilizadas de forma segura en obras reales. En definitiva, la revisión crítica y el estudio de la reintegración cromática más allá de los medios tradicionalmente expuestos, remarcan la importancia de tratar esta fase de intervención como una disciplina propia e independiente. / [CA] La reintegració cromàtica és una matèria que, més enllà dels principis clàssics de respecte, reconeixement i reversibilitat, o del tractament de les llacunes i la controvèrsia que això genera, a penes es presenta de forma extensa i detallada. La manca de monografies específiques que engloben, a més, temes tan importants com la percepció del color o les fonts d'il·luminació, requereix en primera instància, d'una recopilació i recensió de material bibliogràfic. Mitjançant aquest procés, es mostra una especialització del lèxic per a denominar el procés de reintegració cromàtica, quedant inclosos en la seua terminologia els criteris i normes que aquesta intervenció porta implícits. La revisió crítica de les teories de la restauració que van ser abundants a partir de mitjans del segle XX així com les més recents, identifica l'estat actual de la qüestió del retoc en la pintura de cavallet, en la qual s'hi troba una clara influència de principis teòrics més propis de altres àrees de la restauració com la pintura mural, l'arqueologia o l'escultura. Resulta igualment important l'anàlisi de l'evolució de criteris en matèria de reintegració, doncs permet la identificació de les carències i problemàtiques que presenten si s'extrapolen a la praxis actual. L'extens estudi del tractament de les llacunes i els sistemes de reintegració cromàtica requereix d'una revisió que permeta l'ordenació, de forma coherent i amb exemples gràfics, dels sistemes de retoc pictòric existents, definint-los i classificant-los correctament, amb el propòsit de servir com a referència. Esta secció demostra la diversitat de l'ús de sistemes segons factors geogràfics, així com la falta d'una unificació terminològica de reintegració a nivell nacional i internacional que evite errors de traducció i confusions, els quals poden derivar en males pràctiques per part dels restauradors. Existeixen també altres paràmetres, com la textura dels estucs, les fonts d'il·luminació i la indumentària de treball, que passen inadvertits però dels quals es demostra, per mitjans experimentals, la importància que juguen en el desenvolupament dels processos de reintegració cromàtica i la qualitat del seu resultat final. D'aquesta forma, s'emfatitza que el retoc pictòric en pintura de cavallet déu ser abordat més enllà dels conceptes tradicionals i del tractament de les llacunes. Així mateix, es revisen també les tècniques utilitzades en la reintegració cromàtica de pintura de cavallet, demostrant la permanència de materials tradicionalment utilitzats com les aquarel·les per a la restitució aquosa, i els colors aglutinats al vernís per als retocs no aquosos. En relació a esta última tècnica, encara que és comú l'ús de pintures comercials, en l'última dècada ha crescut en popularitat l'elaboració pròpia de colors al vernís pels propis restauradors amb motiu dels avantatges que presenten. Aquest succés ha requerit un anàlisi detallat de la seua viabilitat mitjançant assajos de laboratori, descobrint si aquestes pintures artesanals compleixen uns mínims estàndards de qualitat per a poder ser utilitzades de forma segura en obres reals. En definitiva, la revisió crítica i l'estudi de la reintegració cromàtica més enllà dels mitjans tradicionalment exposats, remarquen la importància de tractar aquesta fase d'intervenció com una disciplina pròpia i independent. / [EN] Chromatic reintegration is a subject that, beyond the classical principles of respect, recognition, and reversibility, or the treatment of the losses and the controversy it generates, is hardly presented comprehensively and in detail. The absence of specific monographs covering such important subjects as perception of colour or light sources necessitates, first and foremost, a compilation and review of bibliographical material. Through this process, a specialisation of the lexicon is shown to name the process of chromatic reintegration, including the criterion and rules implicit to this intervention. According to the review of restoration theories from the mid-20th century onwards as well as more recent ones, it is identified the current state of the question of retouching in easel painting, in which there is a clear influence of theoretical principles more typical of other areas of restoration such as mural painting, archaeology or sculpture. Analysis of the evolution of reintegration criteria is also important since it allows for the identification of shortcomings and problems if they are applied to current practice. The extensive study of losses treatment and chromatic reintegration demands that the existing systems of pictorial retouching to be organised in a coherent manner including graphic examples that clearly define and classify them, with the aim of serving as a reference. This section demonstrates the diversity of the use of systems according to geographical factors, as well as the need of unification of reintegration terminology at national and international level to avoid translation errors and confusion, which can lead to bad practices by restorers. Experimentation has shown that there are also other parameters, such as the texture of the fillers, the light sources and the working clothes, which go unnoticed but which are important to the development of the chromatic reintegration processes and the quality of the final result. In this way, it is emphasised that pictorial retouching in easel painting must be approached beyond traditional concepts and the treatment of losses. The techniques used in the chromatic reintegration of easel painting are also reviewed, demonstrating the permanence of traditionally used materials such as watercolours for aqueous restitution, and varnish-bonded colours for non-aqueous retouching. However, according to the latter technique, although commercial paints are commonly used by restorers, the use of self-produced varnish colours has grown in popularity over the past decade due to the advantages they offer. To determine if these handmade paints are safe for use on real paintings, a detailed analysis of their viability has been conducted through laboratory tests. Definitely, the critical review and study of chromatic reintegration beyond the traditional means highlight the importance of treating this phase of intervention as an independent discipline. / Doménech García, B. (2022). La reintegración cromática en pintura de caballete. Revisión crítica de los principios teóricos, evolución, técnicas y materiales [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/186055

Yes / Faces convey much information. Interestingly we humans have a remarkable ability of identifying, extracting, and interpreting this information. Recently automatic facial ageing (AFA) has gained popularity due to its numerous applications which include search for missing people, biometrics, and multimedia. The problem of AFA is faced with various challenges, including incomplete training datasets, unrestrained environments, ethnic and gender variations to mention but a few. This work presents a new approach to automatic facial ageing which involves the development of a person specific facial ageing system. A color based Active Appearance Model (AAM) is used to extract facial features. Then, regression is used to model an age estimator. Age synthesis is achieved by computing a solution that minimises the distance from the original face with the use of constrained regression. The model is tested on a challenging database of single image per person. Initial results suggest that plausible images can be rerendered at different ages, automatically using the AAM representation. Using the constrained regressor we are guaranteed to get estimated ages that are exact for an individual at a given age.

No / The bag of visual words (BOW) model is an efficient image representation technique for image categorization and annotation tasks. Building good visual vocabularies, from automatically extracted image feature vectors, produces discriminative visual words, which can improve the accuracy of image categorization tasks. Most approaches that use the BOW model in categorizing images ignore useful information that can be obtained from image classes to build visual vocabularies. Moreover, most BOW models use intensity features extracted from local regions and disregard colour information, which is an important characteristic of any natural scene image. In this paper, we show that integrating visual vocabularies generated from each image category improves the BOW image representation and improves accuracy in natural scene image classification. We use a keypoint density-based weighting method to combine the BOW representation with image colour information on a spatial pyramid layout. In addition, we show that visual vocabularies generated from training images of one scene image dataset can plausibly represent another scene image dataset on the same domain. This helps in reducing time and effort needed to build new visual vocabularies. The proposed approach is evaluated over three well-known scene classification datasets with 6, 8 and 15 scene categories, respectively, using 10-fold cross-validation. The experimental results, using support vector machines with histogram intersection kernel, show that the proposed approach outperforms baseline methods such as Gist features, rgbSIFT features and different configurations of the BOW model.

The pomegranate fruit is one of the high valued crops, but there is insufficient information regarding the fruit properties in South Africa. The aim of the study was to evaluate the physico-chemical properties as well as total phenols, anthocyanin, antioxidant, organic sugars and acids of cultivar Wonderful on three locations of the Western Cape. This study was conducted on mature pomegranate fruits harvested in the 2012 and 2013 seasons. Fruit weight (g), length (mm), and width (mm), peel/aril colour and total arils weights (g) were measured. Fruits were also analysed for total soluble solids (TSS) or °Brix), titratable acidity (TA) and juice pH. Results of the study showed that there were significant differences in all measured factors with the exception of % aril yield between the three locations. Though varied per season, fruits produced at Bonnievalle had better physical and chemical properties than at the other localities. With the exception of Aril hue angle, all measured parameters had significant interaction effect regardless of locality (P<0.05). Total soluble solids content varied from 16.0–17.3 (°Brix), pH values from 2.7–3.0, titratable acid content varied from 1.3–1.7 and maturity index from 9.7–13.4. The anthocyanin, total phenols and antioxidant were in order of 772–1134; 1611–1834 and 12.57–14.84. Organic acids (Citric and Malic) showed differences while Acetic acid was not significant in all areas and organic sugar (fructose, Glucose and Sucrose) all had significant differences. It can also be concluded that changes in colour of peel and arils of pomegranate (cv. Wonderful) was mostly as a result of seasonal variation as well as growing area as evident by the interaction between both main factors. / Agriculture / M.Sc (Agriculture)

The pomegranate fruit is one of the high valued crops, but there is insufficient information regarding the fruit properties in South Africa. The aim of the study was to evaluate the physico-chemical properties as well as total phenols, anthocyanin, antioxidant, organic sugars and acids of cultivar Wonderful on three locations of the Western Cape. This study was conducted on mature pomegranate fruits harvested in the 2012 and 2013 seasons. Fruit weight (g), length (mm), and width (mm), peel/aril colour and total arils weights (g) were measured. Fruits were also analysed for total soluble solids (TSS) or °Brix), titratable acidity (TA) and juice pH. Results of the study showed that there were significant differences in all measured factors with the exception of % aril yield between the three locations. Though varied per season, fruits produced at Bonnievalle had better physical and chemical properties than at the other localities. With the exception of Aril hue angle, all measured parameters had significant interaction effect regardless of locality (P<0.05). Total soluble solids content varied from 16.0–17.3 (°Brix), pH values from 2.7–3.0, titratable acid content varied from 1.3–1.7 and maturity index from 9.7–13.4. The anthocyanin, total phenols and antioxidant were in order of 772–1134; 1611–1834 and 12.57–14.84. Organic acids (Citric and Malic) showed differences while Acetic acid was not significant in all areas and organic sugar (fructose, Glucose and Sucrose) all had significant differences. It can also be concluded that changes in colour of peel and arils of pomegranate (cv. Wonderful) was mostly as a result of seasonal variation as well as growing area as evident by the interaction between both main factors. / Agriculture / M. Sc (Agriculture)

Structural colours arise from the interaction of visible light with nano-structured materials. The occurrence of such structures in nature has been known for over a century, but it is only in the last few decades that the study of natural photonic structures has fully matured due to the advances in imagining techniques and computational modelling. Even though a plethora of different colour-producing architectures in a variety of species has been investigated, a few significant questions are still open: how do these structures develop in living organisms? Does disorder play a functional role in biological photonics? If so, is it possible to say that the optical response of natural disordered photonics has been optimised under evolutionary pressure? And, finally, can we exploit the well-adapted photonic design principles that we observe in Nature to fabricate functional materials with optimised scattering response? In my thesis I try to answer the questions above: I microscopically investigate $\textit{in vivo}$ the growth of a cuticular multilayer, one of the most common colour-producing strategies in nature, in the green beetles $\textit{Gastrophysa viridula}$ showing how the interplay between different materials varies during the various life stages of the beetles; I further investigate two types of disordered photonic structures and their biological role, the random array of spherical air inclusions in the eggshells of the honeyguide $\textit{Prodotiscus regulus}$, a species under unique evolutionary pressure to produce blue eggs, and the anisotropic chitinous network of fibres in the white beetle $\textit{Cyphochilus}$, the whitest low-refractive index material; finally, inspired by these natural designs, I fabricate and study light transport in biocompatible highly-scattering materials.

Due to the finite speed of light and a vast, expanding universe, telescopes are just now receiving the light emitted by galaxies as they were forming in the very early universe. The light from these galaxies has been redshifted (stretched to longer, redder wavelengths) as a result of its journey through expanding space. Using sophisticated techniques and exceptional multi-wavelength optical and infrared data, we isolate a population of 378 galaxies in the process of formation when the Universe was only two billion years old. By matching the distinctive properties of the light spectra of these galaxies to models, the redshift, age, dust content, star formation rate and total stellar mass of each galaxy are determined. Comparing our results to similar surveys of galaxy populations at other redshifts, a picture emerges of the growth and evolution of massive, star-forming galaxies over the course of billions of years.