I present numerical simulations of intensity and degree of polarization of light reflected by Earth-like exoplanets. The results are presented as a function of wavelength, and for a few different phase angles and a few different points on the planet. At this stage the aim is to show the working code and test a few different set ups of the star-planet system in order to find preferable configurations for observations. Not surprisingly, phase angle 90◦ shows the largest degree of polarization. For beneficial wavelength regions, visual light shows a larger overall degree of polarization, while NIR shows very clear absorption patterns in the degree of polarization, making detection of the atmospheric composition possible.

Denna studie vill undersöka om koloniala strukturer genomsyrar den senaste i raden av Star Trek-serierna, Enterprise. Med utgångspunkt i äldre forskning om just koloniala strukturer i Star Trek kommer en jämförelse göras om Enterprise först och främst har dessa strukturer och om så är fallet, göra en jämförelse med de andra serierna. Det postkoloniala forskningsfältet tillsammans med ett strukturalistiskt och post-strukturalistiskt tillvägagångssätt som innefattar semiotik och diskursanalys används för att kunna peka på hur de koloniala strukturerna genomsyrar serien. Analysen, som bland annat innefattar besättningens inbördes hierarki, hur andra främmande raser ser ut och vilka egenskaper de har och hur mötet går till med andra kulturer, visar att de koloniala strukturerna fortfarande genomsyrar Star Trek. Enterprise skiljer sig dock från de äldre serierna på ett sådant sätt att det koloniala tar mindre plats, bland annat seriens handling och även hur alla besättningsmedlemmar är med och skapar seriens handling.

This paper deals with decision problems related to the star problem in trace monoids, which means to determine whether the iteration of a recognizable trace language is recognizable. Due to a theorem by Richomme from 1994[30,31], we know that the Star Problem is decidable in trace monoids which do not contain a C4-submonoid. The C4 is (isomorphic to) the Caresian Product of two free monoids over doubleton alphabets. It is not known, whether the Star Problem is decidable in C4 or in trace monoids containing a C4. In this paper, we show undecidability of some related problems: Assume a trace monoid which contains a C4. Then, it is undecidable whether for two given recognizable languages K and L, we have K ⊆ L*, although we can decide K* ⊆ L. Further, we can not decide recognizability of K ∩ L* as well as universality and recognizability of K U L*.

This paper deals with a connection between two decision problems for recognizable trace languages: the star problem and the finite power property problem. Due to a theorem by Richomme from 1994 [26, 28], we know that both problems are decidable in trace monoids which do not contain a C4 submonoid. It is not known, whether the star problem or the finite power property are decidable in the C4 or in trace monoids containing a C4. In this paper, we show a new connection between these problems. Assume a trace monoid IM (Σ, I) which is isomorphic to the Cartesian Product of two disjoint trace monoids IM (Σ1, I1) and IM (Σ2, I2). Assume further a recognizable language L in IM (Σ, I) such that every trace in L contains at least one letter in Σ1 and at least in one letter in Σ2. Then, the main theorem of this paper asserts that L* is recognizable iff L has the finite power property.

High accessibility to internet technology and popularization of focus media has given rise to various emerging subcultures among the younger generation who constantly seek novelty and unique lifestyles. The Otaku subculture is one such adolescent subculture, a culture of avid ACG (animation, comic, games) collectors, while pop music fans belong to another youth subculture deeply involved in gathering and tracking the lives and performances of pop music stars. As the adolescent is becoming the most purchasing power consumer group of fashion product, this research aims at comparing the traits of the above two adolescent subcultures and their influences on buying behavior tendencies toward subculture-specific merchandises. This research is also attempting to develop an analytical model through comparison of two studies. The research framework is constructed based on the assumption that the traits of adolescent subcultures influence the subculture-specific consumptions and is examined on two studies of Otaku and pop music fans subcultures respectively. The same investigation methods are applied in two studies. First, the review of prior studies and findings of focus group interview with sample of five representative adolescents were integrated into a tentative model. Then, the questionnaire was developed based on the tentative model and the focus group interview findings, and sample of survey in two studies are 105 and 101 respectively. Survey data were examined by factor analysis and structural equation modeling for the verification of the tentative model, and finally a revised model is developed based on comparison of two studies results. Results show that the personality, values and lifestyle of subculture¡¦s main traits dimensions influence their buying behavior, although the Otaku and pop music fans take part in different activities and embrace different personality traits and values. The results also verify a feasible generalized analytical model for measuring the influences of the traits of specific adolescent subcultures on their buying behavior. This research offers some implications for consumer behavior and marketing communication including (1) comprehensive customer investigation is needed to understand what adolescents think and want; (2) providing attractive content and (3) adopting modern media to attract and access adolescent subculture group; (4) marketing communication appeals should match adolescents self-images to get their identification; and (5) providing total subculture solution in integrated marketing programs.

Traditional relational database model does not have enough capability to cope with a great deal of data in finite time. To address these requirements, data warehouses and online analytical processing (OLAP) have emerged. Data warehouses improve the productivity of corporate decision makers through consolidation, conversion, transformation, and integration of operational data, and supports online analytical processing (OLAP). The data warehouse design is a complex and knowledge intensive process. It needs to consider not only the structure of the underlying operational databases (source-driven), but also the information requirements of decision makers (user-driven). Past research focused predominately on supporting the source-driven data warehouse design process, but paid less attention to supporting the user-driven data warehouse design process. Thus, the goal of this research is to propose a user-driven data warehouse design support system based on the knowledge discovery approach. Specifically, a Data Warehouse Design Support System was proposed and the generalization hierarchy and generalized star schemas were used as the data warehouse design knowledge. The technique for learning these design knowledge and reasoning upon them were developed. An empirical evaluation study was conducted to validate the effectiveness on the proposed techniques in supporting data warehouse design process. The result of empirical evaluation showed that this technique was useful to support data warehouse design especially on reducing the missing design and enhancing the potentially useful design.

The STAR collaboration recorded s =200 GeV per nucleon d+Au and p+p collision events during the year 2003 RHIC run. In the p+p and the d+Au data samples, it is possible to reconstruct jets and make comparisons between them. This dissertation describes the reconstructed jet sample from the p+p events, the measurements of the jet jT distribution which quantifies the shape of the jet perpendicular to the jet direction, the jet fragmentation function (z), which quantifies the fraction of jet momentum carried by the jet particles, and the width of the parton momentum broadening distribution (kT). This dissertation also describes the comparison of these results to the reconstructed jet sample from d+Au events. Measurements of jet jT and jet fragmentation from p+p, d+Au, and PYTHIA are compared. The z and jT distributions from p+p and also d+Au are found to be consistent with PYTHIA event simulation version 6.205. RMS(jT) equals 612±12±30 MeV/c for p+p, and RMS(jT) equals 630±13±30 MeV/c for d+Au. The p+p kT Gaussian sigma (width) equals 2.08±0.12±0.13 GeV/c. This width is consistent with PYTHIA, kT literature surveys, and other RHIC measurements. A limit on nuclear kT broadening in the Au nucleus is also obtained, showing that nuclear kT is consistent with zero to within 0.5 GeV/c. The present status of the RdAu measurement from jets is also described. The nuclear kT broadening, in particular, is a measurement which has been done at this energy for the first time at RHIC. These measurements, while interesting by themselves, also will contribute ultimately to the understanding of Au+Au collisions at RHIC, and the properties of the high-density matter which results from them.

People are becoming more aware of the relationships between the built environment and their physical and psychological well-being. This has encouraged numerous studies in the field of environment and behavior, and effects of architecture, urban design and architectural form on human response. In the realm of architectural form, some professionals, from "signature" architects to environmental and organic designers, are strong advocates of free-flowing curvilinear forms. They assume that the use of curvilinear forms is sympathetic to the body, mind and spirit, although there is little empirical research to confirm this claim. There is also little research on the topic of signature / star architects and their design methods. The purpose of this multi-method study was to investigate the emotional effects of curvilinear forms in interior architectural settings. The research involved qualitative and quantitative methodologies. In the qualitative phase, twelve signature architects, known for their use of curvilinear forms, were interviewed to examine the reasons and processes by which they applied curvature in their work. They were also asked to talk about their design process. In the quantitative phase, two modified interior residential views were ranked on their emotional load by 230 non-architect and 75 architect students in card-sorting tasks. In each view, architectural forms gradually changed from fully rectilinear to fully curvilinear. The data from both phases of the research was analyzed. The dissertation concludes by discussing (a) factors that separate signature architects from others (b) how signature architects design (c) how and why designers utilize curvature in the built environment, and (d) different emotional responses of designers and non-designers in response to curvature in architectural settings. In general, quantitative data indicates that non-architects show significant positive response to curvilinear architectural forms. Nonarchitects found curvilinear forms to be pleasant, elevating and reducing stress. The strongest relationship was recorded between curvature and feminine qualities of architectural space, which was shared by both architects and non-architects.

In this thesis, we focus on the design of the fault-tolerant routing algorithm for the (n, k)-star graph. We apply the idea of collecting the limited global information used for routing on the n-star graph to the (n, k)-star graph. First, we build the probabilistic safety vector (PSV) with modified cycle patterns. Then, our routing algorithm decides the fault-free routing path with the help of PSV. In order to improve the routing performance with more faulty nodes, we dynamically assign the threshold for our routing algorithm. The performance is judged by the average length of routing paths. Compared with distance first search and safety level, we get the best performance in the simulations.

Fullerene research has advanced to elevated levels in a short period of time due to the unique chemical and physical properties of the caged molecule that have been utilized in numerous applications. Due to the spherical shape of the fullerene molecule which allows for a hollow cavity, encapsulation of atoms or small molecules can occur within the ball structure. This encapsulation creates an endohedral component that is limited from interacting with other molecules which creates potential of control over electronic information of the isolated molecule. Endohedral fullerenes have the potential as serving as the base unit in a quantum computer if control over global alignment is attained. Thus, by using the inherent self-assembling capabilities of some organic materials, ordered endohedral fullerenes can be achieved. This dissertation investigates the ability to use self-assembling strategies to obtain alignment which include ordering within a morphologically controlled copolymer matrix, forming a supramolecular polymer complex with cyclodextrin, and encapsulation within the helical wrap of polymer chains. The ultimate goal is to understand the dynamics that control association and orientation of varying fullerene-based molecules in each strategy in order to maximize control over the final alignment of endohedral elements.