Thesis--University of Oklahoma. / Bibliography: leaves 36-37.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A presente dissertação tem o objetivo de propor a reinclusão de elementos de Cálculo no ensino médio, pois no passado o Cálculo fazia parte do currículo e foi abolido após uma reforma no ensino da matemática. O trabalho apresenta os resultados de um levantamento estatístico sobre os índices de reprovação na disciplina Cálculo Diferencial e Integral I nos períodos mais recentes da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) e, também, uma pesquisa quantitativa com quarenta professores de matemática com o objetivo de analisar a viabilidade do projeto e os problemas a serem enfrentados. Por fim, a dissertação conta com uma série de atividades comentadas sobre o tema de limites, que é o foco do trabalho. Tais atividades podem ser incluídas já no 1 ano do ensino médio, paralelamente ao conteúdo de funções, e visam proporcionar aos estudantes o contato com elementos de Cálculo em uma linguagem acessível, e orientar o professor nesta tarefa / This dissertation has the objective of proposing the reinclusion of Calculus elements in high school, because in the past Calculus was part of the curriculum and it was abolished after a reform in mathematics teaching. This paper presents the results of a statistical return about the rates of fails in the subject Differential and integral Calculus I in recent terms at Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) and also a quantitative research with forty mathematics teachers, which has the objective of analyzing the viability of the project and the problems to be faced. Finally, the dissertation has a series of discussed activities about the theme of limits, which is the focus of this paper. These activities can be included in the first year of high school, at the same time as functions content. They aim to offer students a contact with Calculus elements in an accessible language and also to orientate the teacher in this task.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-06-03Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:47:52Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 silvajunior_jb_me_sjrp.pdf: 533913 bytes, checksum: 2ffa5488599336df8a97baf938757756 (MD5) / Neste trabalho estudamos o Método Averaging. Este método é uma ferramenta extremamente útil para quantificar o número de ciclos limites que podem bifurcar de uma singularidade do tipo centro de um sistema de equações diferenciais. A parte inicial do trabalho apresenta a Teoria de Aproximação Assintótica e um primeiro contato com o Averaging. Posteriormente apresentamos uma versão do Averaging via a Teoria do Grau de Brouwer. Finalmente fizemos algumas aplicações do método apresentando uma cota superior para o número de ciclos limites que podem bifurcar a partir das órbitas periódicas de centros de um sistema de equações diferenciais. Além disso, mostramos através de exemplos concretos que esta cota superior pode ser realizada. / In this work we study the Averaging Method. This method is a useful tool in order to give the maximum number of limit cycles that can bifurcate from a center type singularity of a di®erential equation system. In the first part of the work we present the Asymptotic Approximation Theory and a first view of the averaging. After that, we present a version of the averaging via Brouwer Degree Theory. Finally we give some applications of this method presenting an upper bound for the number of limit cycles that can bifurcate from a center type singularity of a di®erential equation system. Moreover, we show by presenting concrete examples that this upper bound can be realized.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-17T14:49:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1572748 bytes, checksum: 77638fe3cad1c3241c694bca4dc273ac (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-11-28 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Older adults represent a segment of population that has more increased in recent years. In Brazil, estimates for next 20 years indicate that elderly population will exceed 30 million people, which can reach nearly 13% of population. Regular physical activity provides one of most opportunities for improving quality of life, improve physical condition and reduce disability and functional limitations of elderly people. The increasing of elderly population has raised need to understand changes that occur in this stage of life, as well as their implications, since, during aging, there are several physiological changes that can affect perception of food for older consumers. For these reasons, present study aimed to evaluate taste sensitivity in elderly people practitioners of physically active, since little is known about sensory responses provided by this group. Threshold test was used to determine detection threshold for salty and sweet flavors in 40 young adults (18-38 years), 40 elderly practitioners of regular physical activity (60-84 years) and 40 elderly no activity practitioners physical (60-87 years). Women accounted for 90% in the group of elderly practitioners of physical activity and 60% of non-elderly practitioners, feature explained by aging feminization process. Physically active elderly had 4.12 mMol thresholds for salty and 6.20 mMol for sweet taste, values close to the group of young adults surveyed and below values found in other studies that worked with sensory perception in the elderly. There were significant minimization of sensory changes of salty and sweet taste in elderly practitioners of physical activity, providing to this group sensorial perception capacity similar to young adults group. Physical activity contributes in some ways to the best development of sensorial perception of older people who practice physical activity, a positive factor for both active development of that group and to its perceptual capacity. / Indivíduos da terceira idade representam um dos segmentos da população que mais tem aumentado nos últimos anos. No Brasil, as estimativas apontam para os próximos 20 anos que a população idosa irá exceder 30 milhões de pessoas, o que pode chegar a representar quase 13% da população. A atividade física regular proporciona uma das maiores oportunidades para se melhorar a qualidade de vida, melhorar as condições físicas e reduzir a incapacidade e limitações funcionais dos idosos. O crescente aumento da população idosa vem despertando a necessidade de se compreender as mudanças que ocorrem nessa fase de vida, bem como suas implicações, uma vez que, durante o envelhecimento, ocorrem diversas transformações fisiológicas que podem afetar a percepção de alimentos por consumidores idosos. Por esses motivos, o presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a sensibilidade gustativa em idosos praticantes de atividade física, uma vez que pouco se sabe sobre as repostas sensoriais fornecidas por esse grupo. Foi utilizado o teste de limite para determinar os limiares de detecção para os sabores salgado e doce, em 40 adultos jovens (18-38 anos), 40 idosos praticantes de atividade física regular (60-84 anos) e 40 idosos não praticantes de atividade física (60-87 anos). As mulheres representaram 90% no grupo dos idosos praticantes de atividade física e 60% dos idosos não praticantes, característica explicada pelo processo de feminilização do envelhecimento. Os idosos praticantes de atividade física apresentaram limiares de 4,12 mMol para o gosto salgado e 6,20 mMol para o gosto doce, valores estes próximos aos do grupo dos adultos jovens pesquisados e abaixo dos valores encontrados em outros estudos que trabalharam com percepção sensorial em idosos. Houve minimizações significativas das alterações sensoriais do gosto salgado e doce em idosos praticantes de atividade física, proporcionando a este grupo capacidade de percepção sensorial semelhante à de adultos jovens. A atividade física contribui de certa forma no melhor desenvolvimento da percepção sensorial dos idosos que praticam atividade física, sendo um fator positivo tanto para o desenvolvimento ativo desse grupo como para sua capacidade perceptiva.

Orientador: Paulo Ricardo da Silva / Banca: Weber Flavio Pereira / Banca: Marcelo Messias / Resumo: Consideramos dois casos principais de bifurcação de órbitas periódicas não hiperbólicas que dão origem a ciclos limite. Nosso estudo é feito para sistemas lineares por partes com três zonas em sua fórmula mais geral, que inclui situações sem simetria. Obtemos estimativas tanto para a amplitude como para o período do ciclo limite e apresentamos uma aplicação de interesse em engenharia: sistemas de controle. / Abstract: We consider two main cases of bifurcation of non hyperbolic periodic orbits that give rise to limit cycles. Our study is done concerning piecewise linear systems with three zones in the more general formula that includes situations without symmetry. We obtain estimates for both the amplitude and the period of limit cycles and we present a applications of interest in engineering: control systems. / Mestre

Orientador: Claudio Aguinaldo Buzzi / Banca: Claudio Gomes Pessoa / Banca: Luis Fernando de Osório Mello / Resumo: Nosso objetivo neste trabalho é estudar o método do averaging através do grau topológico de Brouwer e utilizá-lo para investigar o número de ciclos limites que bifurcam de uma singularidade do tipo centro quando perturbamos um sistema de equações diferenciais através de um pequeno parâmetro ε. Começaremos apresentando o método do averaging que aaprece na literatura clássica e algumas aplicações deste. Depois faremos uma breve discussão sobre o grau topológico de Brouwer, seguido do teorema do averaging que faz menção a este conceito. Finalmente, exibiremos algumas aplicações inéditas do método. / Abstract: The aim of this is to study the averaging method using the Brouwer topological degree in order to investigative the number of limit cycles that can bifurcate from a center type singularity when a differential systemas is perturbed by a small parameter ε. To this respect, initially, we present "classical" averaging method and some of its applications. So we introduce the Brouwer topological degree, followed by the averaging theorem. Finally, we show some original applications of the averaging method. / Mestre

Cette thèse traite de deux problèmes en géométrie hyperbolique réelle et complexe. On étudie dans un premier temps des structures géométriques sur des espaces de modules de métriques plates à singularités coniques sur la sphère. D'après des travaux de W. Thurston, l'espace de modules des métriques plates sur S^2 à n singularités coniques d'angles donnés admet une structure de variété hyperbolique complexe non complète, dont le complété métrique est une variété conique hyperbolique complexe. On étudie dans cette thèse des formes réelles de ces espaces complexes en se restreignant à des métriques invariantes par une involution. On décrit une structure hyperbolique réelle sur les espaces de modules de métriques plates symétriques à 6 (respectivement 8) singularités d'angles égaux. On décrit les composantes connexes de ces espaces comme ouverts denses d'orbifolds hyperboliques arithmétiques. On montre que les complétés métriques de ces composantes connexes admettent un recollement naturel, dont on étudie la structure.La deuxième partie de cette thèse traite des ensembles limites de groupes discrets d'isométries du plan hyperbolique complexe. On construit le premier exemple explicite de sous-groupe discret de PU(2,1) dont l'ensemble limite est homéomorphe à l'éponge de Menger / This thesis is concerned with two problems in real and complex hyperbolic geometry. The first problem is the study of geometric structures on moduli spaces of flat metrics on the sphere with cone singularities. W. Thurston proved that the moduli space of flat metrics on S^2 with n singularities of given angles forms a non complete complex hyperbolic manifold, and that its metric completion is a complex hyperbolic cone-manifold. In this thesis we study real forms of these complex spaces by restricting our attention to metrics that are invariant under an involution. We describe a real hyperbolic structure on moduli spaces of flat symmetric metrics of 6 (respectively 8) singularities of same angle. We describe explicitly the connected components of these spaces as dense open subsets of arithmetic hyperbolic orbifolds. We show that the metric completions of these components admit a natural gluing, and we study the structure of the glued space. The second part of this thesis is devoted to the study of limit sets of discrete subgroups of the isometry group of complex hyperbolic plane. We construct the first known explicit example of a discrete subgroup of PU(2,1) which admits a limit set homeomorphic to the Menger curve

La détection et l’identification de micro-organismes pathogènes est un réel enjeu de santé public tant au niveau alimentaire, que clinique ou d’intérêt national tel qu’illustré en biodéfense. Dans tous ces domaines, il est important d‘avoir des méthodes d’identification et de détection qui soient à la fois rapide, sensible et robuste. Cette thèse a pour objectif de contribuer au développement d’une approche rapide d’identification de micro-organismes sans a priori par spectrométrie de masse en tandem. Cette approche innovante, appelée phylopeptidomique, repose sur l’alliance de la peptidomique, i.e. analyse à large échelle des peptides provenant de la digestion enzymatique d’un échantillon biologique, et de la phylogénie des organismes cellulaires. Après extraction des protéines présentes dans l’échantillon à ausculter, des peptides sont générés et analysés par spectrométrie de masse en tandem. La déconvolution des signaux MS/MS à l’aide du logiciel « µOrg.ID » développé en propre au laboratoire permet d’identifier et quantifier les organismes présents dans l’échantillon en fonction des organismes indexés dans les bases de données. L’étude du protéome de Bacillus atrophaeus, agent simulant de l’anthrax, sous forme sporulée et végétative a permis d’illustrer une méthode d’identification de biomarqueurs protéiques permettant de déterminer le ratio entre les deux formes dans un échantillon. La limite de détection de la phylopeptidomique dans des échantillons purs et des échantillons en mélange équimolaire a été établie sur des bactéries modèles d’intérêts médical et environnemental. La limite de détection de spores de Bacillus atrophaeus en présence de 14 matrices interférentes (alimentaires, environnementales et autres) a permis de mettre en évidence les avantages et limitations de l’approche. Enfin, un mélange artificiel standardisé de 24 organismes a été développé afin d’évaluer les outils de bio-informatique en métaprotéomique. / The detection and identification of pathogenic microorganisms is a real public health issue for the food industry and the clinics or national interest as illustrated in the biodefense field. Thus, it is important to have identification and detection methods that are fast, sensitive and robust. This PhD thesis aims at contributing to the development of a rapid approach to identify microorganisms without any a priori by tandem mass spectrometry. This innovative approach, called phylopeptidomics, is based on the combination of peptidomics, i.e. large scale analysis of peptides derived from the enzymatic digestion of a biological sample, and the phylogeny of cellular organisms. After extraction of the proteins from the sample of interest, peptides are generated and analyzed by tandem mass spectrometry. The deconvolution of MS/MS signals using the "μOrg.ID" software developed in the laboratory enables the identification and quantification of organisms present in the sample according to the organisms indexed in generalist databases. The study of the proteome of Bacillus atrophaeus, a simulant agent of anthrax, in sporulated and vegetative form, has provided an illustration of a new method of identification of protein biomarkers, which allows determining the ratio between both forms. The limit of detection of phylopeptidomics in pure samples and equimolar mixtures was established with model bacteria of medical and environmental interests. The limit of detection of B. atrophaeus spores in the presence of 14 interfering matrices (food, environmental and others) has highlighted the advantages and limitations of the approach. Finally, a standardized artificial mixture of 24 organisms was developed in order to evaluate bioinformatics tools in metaproteomics.

The main work for Qiujing PAN’s PhD thesis is to develop the stability analysis for underground structures, which contains two parts, deterministic model and probabilistic analysis. During his 1st year of PhD research, he has mainly finished the deterministic model study. In the 2nd year, I developed a probabilistic model for high dimensional problems. / In the contemporary society, the utilization and exploitation of underground space has become an inevitable and necessary measure to solve the current urban congestion. One of the most important requirements for successful design and construction in tunnels and underground engineering is to maintain the stability of the surrounding soils of the engineering. But the stability analysis requires engineers to have a clear ideal of the earth pressure, the pore water pressure, the seismic effects and the soil variability. Therefore, the research aimed at employing an available theory to design tunnels and underground structures which would be a hot issue with high engineering significance. Among these approaches employed to address the above problem, limit analysis is a powerful tool to perform the stability analysis and has been widely used for real geotechnical works. This research subject will undertake further research on the application of upper bound theorem to the stability analysis of tunnels and underground engineering. Then this approach will be compared with three dimensional analysis and experimental available data. The final goal is to validate new simplified mechanisms using limit analysis to design the collapse and blow-out pressure at the tunnel face. These deterministic models will then be used in a probabilistic framework. The Collocation-based Stochastic Response Surface Methodology will be used, and generalized in order to make possible at a limited computational cost a complete parametric study on the probabilistic properties of the input variables. The uncertainty propagation through the models of stability and ground movements will be evaluated, and some methods of reliability-based design will be proposed. The spatial variability of the soil will be taken into account using the random field theory, and applied to the tunnel face collapse. This model will be developed in order to take into account this variability for much smaller computation times than numerical models, will be validated numerically and submitted to extensive random samplings. The effect of the spatial variability will be evaluated.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / This study firstly reports the development, characterisation, and application of thick-film acetylcholinesterase (AChE) biosensors based on a gold electrode modified with a mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) self-assembled monolayer and either poly(omethoxyaniline) (POMA) or poly(2,5-dimethoxyaniline) (PDMA) in the presence of polystyrene(4-sulphonic acid) (PSSA). The Au/MBT/POMA-PSSA/AChE and Au/MBT/PDMA-PSSA/AChE biosensors were then applied to successfully detect standard organophosphorous and carbamate pesticides in a 0.1 M phosphate buffer, 0.1 M KCl (pH 7.2) solution. Secondly, it reports the construction of the Au/MBT/PANI/AChE/PVAc thick-film biosensor for the determination of certain organophosphate and carbamate pesticide solutions in selected aqueous organic solvent solutions. / South Africa