Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1996. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 105-108). Also available on the Internet.

Η παρούσα διπλωματική διατριβή εντάσσεται ερευνητικά στη περιοχή της Στατιστικής Θεωρίας Αποφάσεων, καθώς ασχολούμαστε με τη μελέτη της κατανομής Laplace CL(θ,s), όπου με θ και s συμβολίζονται αντίστοιχα οι παράμετροι θέσεως και κλίμακος, και η οποία θεωρείται ως ιδανικό μοντέλο κατανομής οικονομικής φύσεως δεδομένων. / This thesis is part of research in the area of Statistical Decision Theory, as it deals with the study of the distribution Laplace CL (θ, s), where θ and s respectively symbolized the position and scale parameters, which is considered as an ideal model of distribution of economic kind of data.

Submitted by Alison Vanceto (alison-vanceto@hotmail.com) on 2017-09-05T18:40:22Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DissMFM.pdf: 6937427 bytes, checksum: 9f27179bedfcfdb23587f5a9f3e35e8c (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (ronisp@ufscar.br) on 2017-09-20T19:46:16Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissMFM.pdf: 6937427 bytes, checksum: 9f27179bedfcfdb23587f5a9f3e35e8c (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (ronisp@ufscar.br) on 2017-09-20T19:46:22Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissMFM.pdf: 6937427 bytes, checksum: 9f27179bedfcfdb23587f5a9f3e35e8c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-20T19:50:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissMFM.pdf: 6937427 bytes, checksum: 9f27179bedfcfdb23587f5a9f3e35e8c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-28 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / The current study aims to elaborate a didactic sequence to study the catenary curve through the dynamic geometry perspective. In onder to highlight the importance of using software/application to better understand the function and its graphical representation, a study has been made on its historical development, notation, construction as well as its properties. Therefore, a lesson plan on the curve will be applied to High School students. Based on their reports, we intend to analyze and discuss these results. / O principal objetivo deste trabalho é elaborar uma sequência didática para estudo da curva catenária, utilizando geometria dinâmica. Para isso, foi feito um estudo sobre seu desenvolvimento histórico, notação, construção e propriedades. Destacar a importância do uso de software/aplicativo para melhor compreensão da função e sua representação gráfica. Por fim, aplicar um plano de aula sobre a curva com alunos do Ensino Médio, coletar, analisar e discutir os resultados baseando-se nos relatos dos alunos envolvidos.

Generating and stabilizing periodic motions in nonlinear systems is a challenging task. In the control system community this topic is also known as limit cycle control. In recent years a framework known as Virtual Holonomic Constraints (VHC) has been developed as one of the solutions to this problem. The aim of this thesis is to give an insight into this approach and its practical application. The contribution of this work is primarily the experimental validation of the theory. A step by step procedure of this methodology is given for motion planning, as well as for controller design. Three particular setups were chosen for experiments: the inertia wheel pendulum, the Furuta pendulum and the two-link planar pendulum. These under-actuated mechanical systems are well known benchmarking setups for testing advanced control design methods. Further application is intended for cases such as biped robot walking/running, human and animal locomotion analysis, etc.

A prediction market is a special type of market which offers trades for securities associated with future states that are observable at a certain time in the future. Recently, prediction markets have shown the promise of being an abstract framework for designing distributed, scalable and self-incentivized machine learning systems which could then apply to large scale problems. However, existing designs of prediction markets are far from achieving such machine learning goal, due to (1) the limited belief modelling power and also (2) an inadequate understanding of the market dynamics. This work is thus motivated by improving and extending current prediction market design in both aspects. This research is focused on potential based prediction markets, that is, prediction markets that are administered by potential (or cost function) based market makers (PMM). To improve the market’s modelling power, we first propose the partially-observable potential based market maker (PoPMM), which generalizes the standard PMM such that it allows securities to be defined and evaluated on future states that are only partially-observable, while also maintaining the key properties of the standard PMM. Next, we complete and extend the theory of generalized exponential families (GEFs), and use GEFs to free the belief models encoded in the PMM/PoPMM from always being in exponential families. To have a better understanding of the market dynamics and its link to model learning, we discuss the market equilibrium and convergence in two main settings: convergence driven by traders, and convergence driven by the market maker. In the former case, we show that a market-wise objective will emerge from the traders’ personal objectives and will be optimized through traders’ selfish behaviours in trading. We then draw intimate links between the convergence result to popular algorithms in convex optimization and machine learning. In the latter case, we augment the PMM with an extra belief model and a bid-ask spread, and model the market dynamics as an optimal control problem. This convergence result requires no specific models on traders, and is suitable for understanding the markets involving less controllable traders.

abstract: In this thesis, an integrated waveform-agile multi-modal tracking-beforedetect sensing system is investigated and the performance is evaluated using an experimental platform. The sensing system of adapting asymmetric multi-modal sensing operation platforms using radio frequency (RF) radar and electro-optical (EO) sensors allows for integration of complementary information from different sensors. However, there are many challenges to overcome, including tracking low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) targets, waveform configurations that can optimize tracking performance and statistically dependent measurements. Address some of these challenges, a particle filter (PF) based recursive waveformagile track-before-detect (TBD) algorithm is developed to avoid information loss caused by conventional detection under low SNR environments. Furthermore, a waveform-agile selection technique is integrated into the PF-TBD to allow for adaptive waveform configurations. The embedded exponential family (EEF) approach is used to approximate distributions of parameters of dependent RF and EO measurements and to further improve target detection rate and tracking performance. The performance of the integrated algorithm is evaluated using real data from three experimental scenarios. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Electrical Engineering 2012

Este trabalho apresenta uma proposta de ensino envolvendo funções, funções exponenciais e funções logarítmicas na escola básica. Através da verificação do processo de aprendizagem de funções pelos alunos, buscamos na teoria dos campos conceituais de Vergnaud e na teoria das representações semióticas de Duval os subsídios necessários para compreender as dificuldades dos alunos e com isso propor uma sequência didática para ser utilizada em sala de aula. A proposta parte da hipótese que a investigação de problemas cotidianos envolvendo o estudo das funções proporciona aos alunos uma melhor compreensão dos conceitos e definições matemáticas envolvidos. Os alunos são confrontados com problemas que permitem o reconhecimento do conceito de função através da relação entre grandezas, da noção de variável dependente e variável independente e a visualização gráfica com a possibilidade da identificação das propriedades de crescimento e decrescimento. As funções exponenciais e logarítmicas são tratadas via problemas em que a aplicação dessas funções é necessária, tais como: crescimento populacional, rendimento de um imóvel, medições das escalas de terremotos, cálculo do pH de soluções químicas, entre outros. A apresentação dos gráficos dessas funções se faz no laboratório de informática, onde os alunos utilizam a tecnologia como recurso para visualizar as características de cada função. Portanto, buscamos com essa sequência didática propor uma alternativa para a abordagem dos conceitos de matemática e através da investigação em grupo possibilitar a aprendizagem de matemática. / This paper presents a teaching proposal involving functions, exponential and logarithmic functions at elementary school. Through the verification of the process of learning tasks by the students, we seek in Vergnaud's conceptual fields theory and in Duval’s semiotic representations theory subsidies needed to understand students' difficulties and thus propose a didactic sequence for use in classroom. The proposal starts on the assumption that the research of everyday problems involving the study of functions gives students a better understanding of mathematical concepts and definitions involved. Students are faced with problems that allow the recognition of the function concept through the relation among the quantities, the notion of dependent and independent variable and the graphical display with the possibility of identifying the properties of increase and decrease. The exponential and logarithmic functions are handled through problems where the application of these functions is required, such as population growth, income of a property, measurements of the scales of earthquakes, calculation of the pH of chemical solutions, among others. The presentation of the graphs of these functions is done in the computer lab where students use technology as a resource to display the characteristics of each function. Therefore, we seek with this didactic sequence to propose an alternative to approach math concepts and to enable math learning through this group research.

[pt] O presente trabalho desenvolve um método híbrido com a finalidade de criar um índice de qualidade para distribuidoras de energia elétrica. Esse método é construído através da fusão do Método de Análise Hierárquica (AHP) e Técnicas de Amortecimento Exponencial. Com isso, é possível avaliar uma distribuidora levando em conta múltiplos critérios e seus diversos índices passados. / [en] This work develops a hybrid method in order to create a quality index for electric power distribution companies. This method is built through the merger of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and exponential smoothing techniques. Thus, it is possible to evaluate a distribution company taking into account multiple criteria and its several indexes in the past.

Cette thèse porte sur le phénomène de superconcentration qui apparaît dans l'étude des fluctuations de divers modèles de la recherche actuelle (matrices aléatoires, verres de spins, champ libre gaussien discret, percolation,...). Plus particulièrement, la thèse est consacrée à l'examen d'inégalités de superconcentration à l'échelle exponentielle ; notamment pour des supremum de familles gaussiennes. Les outils mis en œuvre comprennent la propriété d'hypercontractivité de semi-groupes de Markov. Par ailleurs, celle-ci a conduit à une version d'ordre supérieur d'une inégalité sur la variance de M. Talagrand. La première partie de la thèse présente brièvement les notions essentielles de la théorie classique de la concentration de la mesure ainsi que les principaux outils, à savoir : méthodes d'interpolations à l'aide de semi-groupes markoviens, inégalités fonctionnelles, transport optimal et isopérimétrie. Un survol de la littérature existante est ensuite proposé. La deuxième partie du manuscrit rassemble, dans différents chapitres, les travaux que nous avons effectués durant cette thèse. Une grande partie de ceux-ci repose sur la représentation dynamique de la variance le long du semi-groupe d'Ornstein-Uhlenbeck et sa propriété d'hypercontractivité. De nouvelles inégalités de superconcentration sont obtenues au niveau exponentiel et illustrées sur des exemples provenant de la théorie des extrêmes. Le cadre de l'hypercontractivité a également conduit à une nouvelle inégalité sur le cube discret, celle-ci permettant une application sur l'influence d'ordre deux de fonctions booléennes. Enfin, le dernier chapitre aborde la phénomène de superconcentration par le transport optimal. Des majorations de la variance et des inégalités de déviations non asymptotiques pour le maximum de variables aléatoires indépendantes et de même loi sont obtenues. A nouveau, des illustrations pour des lois usuelles, appartenant aux différents domaines d'attraction de la théorie des extrêmes, sont proposées / The thesis focuses on the superconcentration phenomenon which appears in the study of the fluctuations of various moelds from current research (random matrices, spin glasses, discrete Gaussien free field, percolation,...). More precisely, the thesis mainly deals with superconcentration inequalities at an exponentiel level ; in particular for supremum of familu of Gaussian random variables. The principal tools used during this study are the hypercontractive property satisfied by some Markov semi-groups ; this approach leads to an extension of higher order of an inequality due to M. Talagrand. The first part of the thesis exposes the fundamental notions of concentration of measure, interpolation methods with Markovians semi-groups, functional inequalities, optimal transport and isoperimetry. Then, a survey of the literature concerning superconcentration phenomenon is done. The second part of the manuscript bring together, in different chapters, the results obtained during the thesis. Most of them are based on the dynamical representation of the variance along the semi-group of Ornstein-Uhlenbeck and its hypercontractive property. New ineqaulities are obtained at an exponential level and are illustrated on examples coming from extreme theory. This hypercontractive framework also gave birth to a new inequality on the discrete cube which leads to an application on the influence of second order of boolean functions. Finally, the last chapter is about the superconcentration phenomenon with an optimal transport approach. Some non asymptotic bounds on the variance and deviations inequalities are obtained for the maximum of an i.i.d. sample. Again, illustrations for usual laws of probability, belonging to different domain of attraction from extreme theory, are given.

Submitted by Luciana Alcantara De Toledo (luatoledo@yahoo.com) on 2018-09-28T18:33:17Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTAÇÃO - ENSINO DA FUNÇÃO EXPONENCIAL - ANÁLISE DE RESULTADOS - LUCIANA ALCANTARA DE TOLEDO - VERSÃO FINAL.pdf: 8323445 bytes, checksum: f3f79aaa7aa209ffe5cfa3b2b1f02a29 (MD5) / Rejected by Elza Mitiko Sato null (elzasato@ibilce.unesp.br), reason: Solicitamos que realize correções na submissão seguindo as orientações abaixo: Problema 01) A paginação deve ser sequencial, iniciando a contagem na folha de rosto e mostrando o número a partir da introdução, a ficha catalográfica ficará após a folha de rosto e não deverá ser contada. Problema 02) Solicito que corrija a descrição na natureza da pesquisa(Folha de rosto e de aprovação): Dissertação apresentada como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do título de Mestre em Matemática, junto ao Programa de Pós-Graduação Mestrado Profissional em Matemática em Rede Nacional – PROFMAT, do Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas da Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Câmpus de São José do Rio Preto. Problema 03) No arquivo a data da defesa está 17 de agosto de 2018, porém nos metadados você preencheu 18 de agosto de 2018, qual a data correta? Lembramos que o arquivo depositado no repositório deve ser igual ao impresso, o rigor com o padrão da Universidade se deve ao fato de que o seu trabalho passará a ser visível mundialmente. Agradecemos a compreensão on 2018-09-28T19:03:49Z (GMT) / Submitted by Luciana Alcantara De Toledo (luatoledo@yahoo.com) on 2018-10-04T19:16:14Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTAÇÃO - ENSINO DA FUNÇÃO EXPONENCIAL - ANÁLISE DE RESULTADOS - LUCIANA ALCANTARA DE TOLEDO - VERSÃO FINAL.pdf: 8323445 bytes, checksum: f3f79aaa7aa209ffe5cfa3b2b1f02a29 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Elza Mitiko Sato null (elzasato@ibilce.unesp.br) on 2018-10-04T19:38:25Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 toledo_la_me_sjrp.pdf: 8323445 bytes, checksum: f3f79aaa7aa209ffe5cfa3b2b1f02a29 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-10-04T19:38:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 toledo_la_me_sjrp.pdf: 8323445 bytes, checksum: f3f79aaa7aa209ffe5cfa3b2b1f02a29 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-08-17 / Este trabalho tem como objetivo apresentar as análises dos resultados referentes ao ensino da Função Exponencial com o uso da metodologia de Resolução de Problemas para os alunos do Ensino Médio. Baseando-se na teoria proposta por Onuchic (1999), foram elaboradas quatro atividades envolvendo problemas para introduzir os conceitos referentes a Função Exponencial no primeiro ano e verificar os conhecimentos já adquiridos pelos alunos do segundo e terceiro anos. Os problemas envolvem o crescimento populacional de uma bactéria e a meia-vida de um fármaco. Os alunos do primeiro ano apresentaram melhor desempenho com esta nova abordagem de ensino baseada em soluções de problemas, e no segundo e terceiro anos apresentaram dificuldades com relação ao tópico de funções. / This study evaluated the impact teaching of exponential functions through a problem-solving approach to students in secondary education. Based on the theory proposed by Onuchic (1999), we created four activities involving problems to introduce the concepts related to exponential functions to tenthgrade students and to verify the acquired knowledge of eleventh-grade and twelfth-grade students. The problems involve the population growth of bacteria and the half-life of a drug. All the students welcomed the new didactic proposal. The tenth-grade students were able to understand the new concepts based on problem-solving teaching and eleventh-grade and twelfth-grade students presented difficulties regarding the topic of functions.