Thesis (M.S.)--Florida State University, 2005. / Advisor: Dr. Anke Meyer Baese, Florida State University, College of Engineering, Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed June 7, 2005). Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 39 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Accounting. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2005. / Title from second page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xxiii, 151 p.; also includes graphics (some col.). Includes bibliographical references (p. 140-151). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center

Universiẗat, Diss., 2000--Konstanz.

Universiẗat, Diss., 1999--Freiburg.

Techn. University, Diss., 2005--Darmstadt.

Modern engineering analysis requires accurate, reliable and efficient evaluation of outputs of interest. These outputs are functions of "input" parameter that serve to describe a particular configuration of the system, typical input geometry, material properties, or boundary conditions and loads. In many cases, the input-output relationship is a functional of the field variable - which is the solution to an input-parametrized partial differential equations (PDE). The reduced-basis approximation, adopting off-line/on-line computational procedures, allows us to compute accurate and reliable functional outputs of PDEs with rigorous error estimations. The operation count for the on-line stage depends only on a small number N and the parametric complexity of the problem, which make the reduced-basis approximation especially suitable for complex analysis such as optimizations and designs. In this work we focus on the development of finite-element and reduced-basis methodology for the accurate, fast, and reliable prediction of the stress intensity factors or strain-energy release rate of a mode-I linear elastic fracture problem. With the use of off-line/on-line computational strategy, the stress intensity factor for a particular problem can be obtained in miliseconds. The method opens a new promising prospect: not only are the numerical results obtained only in miliseconds with great savings in computational time; the results are also reliable - thanks to the rigorous and sharp a posteriori error bounds. The practical uses of our prediction are presented through several example problems. / Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA)

Lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment is a fundamental step in the production of renewable fuels and chemicals. It is responsible for the disruption and removal of lignin and hemicellulose from the lignocellulosic matrix, improving the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose. Alkaline pretreatment has been shown to be successful on agricultural residues and dedicated energy crops. The objective of this study was to evaluate the pretreatment of switchgrass, wheat straw, corn stover, and miscanthus using calcium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and sodium hydroxide at the same hydroxyl concentration, 60% moisture content, and two temperatures for seven days. Enzymatic hydrolysis was also performed and the glucose produced measured. The composition of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin before and after pretreatment were quantified according to the standard procedures developed by the NREL for biomass. The hydrolysis was performed at 50°C and 150 rpm. The enzyme loading was 60 FPU/g cellulose. Overall, calcium hydroxide pretreatment resulted in the lowest delignification and structural carbohydrates after pretreatment, as well as lowest glucose yield; In addition to having a higher cost and carbon dioxide emission then sodium and potassium hydroxides. Sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide had similar performance in terms of composition changes due to pretreatment and glucose yield after enzymatic hydrolysis.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-03-20Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:19:27Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 lucks_mb_dr_ilha.pdf: 2462450 bytes, checksum: 86757d12f991c55cad8d80bcd63f9b61 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Neste trabalho, apresenta-se o desenvolvimento de redes de base radial em tecnologia CMOS. Para tanto, dois circuitos unidimensionais, denominados RBF1 e RBF2, são propostos. Sua funcionalidade é demonstrada por meio de simulações SPICE e também pela sua implementação prática com a utilização de conjuntos de MOSFETs presentes em circuitos integrados comerciais. Demonstra-se também o desenvolvimento dos circuitos para o caso multidimensional, com o uso de simulações SPICE e a implementação de um circuito RBF1 bidimensional. Além disso, são apresentadas versões dos circuitos RBF1 e RBF2 para tecnologia BiCMOS. Os circuitos propostos são utilizados no projeto de redes de base radial bidimensionais em processo CMOS AMS 0.35 μm. No intuito de testar sua funcionalidade, as redes foram simuladas para algumas aplicações, apresentando bons resultados. A questão da quantização no armazenamento dos parâmetros das redes de base radial e da sua influência na aproximação de funções também é tratada na tese. Foram realizadas várias simulações com diferentes níveis de quantização para algumas tarefas de aproximação de funções. Os resultados obtidos mostram que, mesmo com uma quantização severa, as redes apresentam a capacidade de aproximação de funções, porém de maneira limitada, ou seja, o erro obtido aumenta para um número menor de níveis de quantização. A quantização dos parâmetros diminui o tamanho da memória e a complexidade necessária para armazenar os parâmetros das redes, permitindo a implementação de circuitos compactos e adequados para aplicações de baixo consumo de potência. / In this work, we present the development of radial basis function circuits in CMOS technology. Two one-dimensional circuits, namely RBF1 and RBF2, are proposed for radial basis function realization, and their functionality is demonstrated by SPICE simulations and by their implementation with commercial MOSFET array integrated circuits. Multidimensional capability is demonstrated by the implementation of a bidimensional RBF1 circuit and by SPICE simulation results. In addition, BiCMOS versions are also presented for RBF1 and RBF2. The proposed cells are used in the design of bidimensional radial basis function neural networks in AMS 0.35μm CMOS process. In order to test their functionality, the networks were simulated for some applications with good results achieved. The issue of parameter quantization and its influence on the network function approximation capability is also dealt with in this dissertation. We carried out several simulations with different levels of quantization. The results obtained show that the network presents a capability of learning functions, even with a severe parameter quantization. As expected, the error increases for less bits of quantization. Nevertheless, the parameter quantization decreases the memory size and complexity necessary for network parameter storage, allowing the implementation of compact circuits and being adequate for low power applications.

The overall point of the study is to describe and understand the endeavours of the pre-school teachers’ trade union to establish professionalism within this field of work, from the end of the 1960s to 2005. In order to shed light on the subject the main questions asked and answered in this study were: How does the pre-school teachers’ trade union act on issues regarding the autonomy of the pre-school teaching profession? To what extent, and in what way, does the pre-school teachers’ trade union strengthen the pre-school teaching profession’s position by differentiating itself from, and/or allying itself with other professional groups? Which knowledge base is the pre-school teachers’ trade union trying to establish and how does the union act on issues concerning the pre-school teaching profession’s knowledge base? How can these endeavours be understood from a gender perspective? The study presents profession and gender theoretical perspectives. It is based on an analysis of trade-union and official documents concerning pre-school, such as government enquiries, general guidelines and formal instructions. The analysis shows that state regulation of pre-school and its teachers has increased over the 45-year period in question. The result of this has been clearer directives but, at the same time, a loss of professional autonomy. The pre-school teachers’ trade unions’ endeavours to establish a professional monopoly through attempting to differentiate the profession by excluding people without a university degree, has been unsuccessful despite exclusion strategies aimed at nursery nurses. A clear effort can be seen to build an alliance with the teachers in compulsory schools. Aside from extending the pre-school teachers’ university training to 3.5 years, it is also evident that the move from care and developmental psychology to pedagogy and learning has been effected through the alliance with the compulsory school teachers. From a gender perspective, the context of pre-school teaching can be seen to have changed symbolically from one primarily intended to provide care and monitor children to a more pedagogical institution. Pre-school teachers have become teachers and children’s learning is emphasised more than their development. Overall this means that the pre-school teachers have a new identity and that pre-school teaching is no longer so clearly a woman’s job.