International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 21, 2002 / Town & Country Hotel and Conference Center, San Diego, California / This paper describes the construction of an autonomous soccer playing robot as part of a senior design project at Brigham Young University. Each participating team designed and built a robot to compete in an annual tournament. To accomplish this, each team had access to images received from a camera placed above a soccer field. The creation of image processing and artificial intelligence software were required to allow the robot to perform against other robots in a one-on-one competition. Each participating team was given resources to accomplish this project. This paper contains a summary of the experiences gained by team members and also a description of the key components created for the robot named Prometheus to compete and win the annual tournament.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: trout was conducted at the Jonkershoek trout research station of the Division of Aquaculture, University of Stellenbosch. Treatments consisted of ten experimental diets containing increasing levels of Spirulina (0%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.15%, 0.3%, 0.6%, 1.25%, 2.5%, 5% and 10%). The data was analyzed through means of a one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s pair wise comparison test for significant differences between treatments for the various parameters of flesh pigmentation and growth. The results indicates that the inclusion of Spirulina in the diets of rainbow trout will cause a undesirable yellowing of fillets, particularly at levels of inclusion at 5 percent and above, which may limit its use in diets for rainbow trout. There was an inconsistent increase in b* (yellowblue) and Chroma values with increasing levels of Spirulina inclusion, which may indicate the deposition of carotenoids (yellow-orange colour range) instead of the desired deposition of xanthophylls (pink-red colour range) in the flesh of the rainbow trout. This increase in b* (yellow-blue) values was significantly higher (P<0.05) at inclusion levels above 5 percent. Spirulina had no significant effect on weight gain of rainbow trout at any level of inclusion. No significant differences (P>0.05) were observed in any of the other production performance parameters (growth rate, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, viscerosomatic index, hepatosomatic index, and liver lipid content) that were evaluated. Low mortality rates were observed with no significant differences between treatments. A trend of decreased feed intake with increased levels of Spirulina inclusion became significant at the 2.5 percent level of inclusion, caused by deterioration in the palatability of the feed. A significantly higher dress-out percentage was observed at levels of Spirulina inclusion above 5 percent. A trend of decreased liver lipid content with increased Spirulina inclusion was observed, though not significant at any level of Spirulina inclusion. This observation justifies further investigation because of its potential to improved carbohydrate metabolism in carnivorous fish Results confirm that up to 10% Spirulina can effectively replaced soybean meal in the control diets for rainbow trout while simultaneously improving carcass dress-out at high inclusion levels. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: rantsoen van reënboog forel te evalueer. Die eksperiment is opgestel by die Akwakultuur Divisie, van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch, se navorsingstelsel in Jonkershoek, buite Stellenbosch. Reënboog forel (Oncorhynchus mykiss) vingerlinge van gemiddeld 20 gram is gebruik en ingedeel in 20 ronde tenks volgens kommersieële digthede (250 per tenk). Die rantsoene is gemeng met verskeie vlakke van Spirulina insluiting (0%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.15%, 0.3%, 0.6%, 1.25%, 2.5%, 5% en 10%). Twee herhalings van elke rantsoen is gevolg vir ‘n periode van 3 maande. Die vis is ad lib (volgens behoefte) gevoer, drie maal per dag. Daar was ‘n neiging tot ‘n verhoging in b* (geel-blou) en Chroma waardes met verhoogde insluitingsvlakke van Spirulina. Hierdie is wel ‘n aanduiding van die deponeering van karoteen, maar val in die geel-oranje kleur reeks en is nie die verlangde pienk-rooi (xantofil) kleur in die spier weefsel van die vis nie. Die verhoging in b* (geel-blou) waardes was statisties betekenisvol (P<0.05) bo die 5% insluitings vlak. In vergelyking met die kontrole (0%) rantsoen, was daar geen betekenisvolle massa toename na afloop van die proef tussen die verskeie behandelings nie. Behalwe vir ‘n verskil in voer inname, was daar geen statisties betekenisvolle verskil (P>0.05) waarneembaar tussen die verskillende behandelings ten opsigte van die verskeie produksie prestasie parameters nie. Daar was wel ‘n afnemende neiging in voer inname met verhoogde vlakke van Spirulina wat betekenisvol geraak het bo 2.5% insluitingsvlak. Smaaklikheid kan die moontlike rede hiervoor wees. Baie lae mortaliteite is ervaar by al die insluitings vlakke. Daar was ook ‘n neiging in hoër uitslag persentasie by verhoogde insluitingsvlakke van Spirulina wat betekenisvol geraak het bo 5 % insluiting. ‘n Afnemende vlak van lewer lipied inhoud is waargeneem maar was nie betekenisvol by enige van die insluitingsvlakke nie. Resultate van die proef dui daarop dat 10% Spirulina insluiting effektief kan dien as ‘n gedeeltelike plaasvervanger vir soyaboon meel in forel rantsoene. Die hoër uitslag persentasies hou belofte in. Die onverlangde vergeeling van die filette mag die gebruik van Spirulina beperk by reënboog forel rantsoene veral bo 5 % insluitings vlakke. Die verlaging in lewer lipied vlakke by ‘n verhoging van Spirulina insluiting regverdig vêrdere navorsing oor die potensiaal van Spirulina om die metabolisme van koolhidrate te verbeter by karnivoor visspesies.

Thesis (MScAgric) -- Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Winemakers or producers are under constant pressure to reduce the operational costs for the production of wine. The reason for this being threefold: Firstly, the number of cellars and estates locally, and internationally, has grown immensely. Thus, the competition on both the national and international front has put producers under pressure to reduce their production cost in order to survive the explosion of brand possibilities on the consumer's horizons. Secondly, the exchange rate has been one of the most unpredictable variables which highlight the importance of scenario planning and sufficient financial planning in order to overcome significant exchange rate fluctuations which may cause financial strain for the business. Thirdly, the benefits of using expensive oak barrels for the maturation of premium quality wines are undisputable. These benefits include the clarification and decarbonation of wines, decrease in the astringency of tannins ("softening of tannins"), the evolution of colour, providing complementary oak aromas which increase the complexity and finesse of these wines and stabilising the colloid structure of the maturing wine. The greatest disadvantages remain nevertheless that it is a costly and labour intensive operation. Oak is an essential part of the flavour profile of many premium quality wines, and there is still a growing market demand for these wines. The use of oak barrels for the maturation of premium red wines, incorporates a specific flavour dimension to the wine (and adding value), has been the traditional way of storing wines. Well known cellars and Estates all over the world have build remarkable profiles and identities for their brands. To alter any principles regarding the use of oak will alter the style of the wines and will beyond any doubt influence their brand image negatively. Chapter 1 gives an introduction and the main aims of the study. The phenolic composition of grapes and oak are a complex mixture of different molecules which are discussed in Chapter 2. These include those responsible for the colour (anthocyanins), taste (mainly the tannins) and aroma of the wine. The composition of the oak barrel can be influenced by its origin, seasoning of the oak, toasting of the staves, age of the barrel etc. These factors all affect the chemical composition of the oak (lactones, volatile phenols, carbohydrate volatiles, hydrolysable tannins etc.) and ultimately, the wine. The chemical reactions taking place in wine during ageing are also complex, which makes maturation and research of wine in oak a complex business. The challenge, thus, developed to sustain the flavour profiles (oak attributes) and to reduce the operational costs, without influencing the identity or profile of the brand negatively. The use of oak derived products like chips, dust, blocks, staves, balls and even extracts was proposed, although it is considered by-products of the cooperage profession. Some of the major disadvantages of the use of oak derived products still remain the limited control over the production process. This may lead to inconsistency in the quality of these products. Nevertheless, the use of oak derived products and the availability of these products have grown significantly and with it a need for research on this field. Chapter 3 address the results obtained from the maturation of Pinotage, which is uniquely South African, and Shiraz wines, in different oak type barrels (French vs. American vs. Russian), as well as treatments with various oak derived products, and the influence of these oak products on the evolution of colour, phenolic development and quality of the wines during ageing. The results obtained in this project correlated with findings in the literature. The colour density, percentage of red pigment colour and S02 resistant pigments increased, especially in the first three to six months during ageing in barrels as a result of ellagic tannin extraction from the barrels and polymerisation reactions, but decreased later as maturation progresses as a result of precipitation. In some cases the use of oak increased the colour density significantly with almost 40%. The colour density, total red pigment colour and total phenolic composition decreased during bottle maturation as a result of polymerisation. No significant colour differences between the barrel types could, however, be detected. The use of oak derived products showed the same tendencies for all colour dimensions, although no significant differences could be detected between the treatments. The most significant difference was that new oak barrels contributed more to the development of colour compared to the oak treatments. The Gelatine index gives an indication of the degree of polymerisation of tannins; higher values will indicate tannins which are highly reactive and will cause an astringent mouth feel. The values should decrease as maturation progresses and tannins polymerise. Little differences between barrel types (French vs. American vs. Russian) were found in the one Shiraz, but in the two Pintage wines the index was the lowest in the wines matured in French oak after 36 months bottle ageing. Sensorial tests indicated little quality differences after 36 months between the different oak types The American oak barrels had, in general, a more "oaky bouquet", even after 36 months in the bottle. Pinotage matured with different alternative oak products showed that chips added to barrels tended to give a higher oak aroma, with a lower fruit compared to the other treatments. The same wine matured in new barrels, as expected, also had a very high oak aroma compared to the same wine matured in older barrels. This led to a higher fruit perception in the latter wines. Lees contact is a practice more commonly used in the production of white wines, but may be a dangerous practice in the production of red wines. Chapter 4 reports on the effect of lees contact during ageing of red wine on the micro flora and colour after 12 month maturation. No significant differences in microbial analysis were detected during of barrel maturation between the wines matured in the lees and the filtered wines for acetic acid, yeast and lactic acid bacteria. The initial pH differences during cold maceration and fermentation, however, did influence these numbers, with higher numbers being observed at higher pH values. However, colour differences could be detected. The concentration of yellow brown pigments (measured at 420 nm) was lower in the lees matured wines than in the filtered· wines which underwent malolactic fermentation in the barrel. Other colour differences that could be detected were higher colour density and total red pigment colour in wines as a result of longer skin contact (due to slower alcoholic fermentation rate). Thus, manipulation of the skins during alcoholic fermentation, the use of barrels and/or oak derived products in various stages of vinification and maturation of wines and additional practices as maturation on lees may be thus be used to set a certain style of wine which meet a specific market demand, trend or style. Chapter 5 summarises the results obtained and future research to be done on wood and wine. This study, however, clearly showed that the origin and oak type does not influence the colour as much as the aroma and taste of red wine under South African conditions. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING; Wynmakers of produsente word onder gedurige druk geplaas om die produksiekoste van wyn te verlaag. Die redes hiervoor is drieledig: Eerstens het die getal kelders en landgoedere op nasionale en internasionale vlak geweldig toegeneem. Dus, die kompetisie op beide nasionale en internasionale gebied plaas produsente onder druk om die produksie koste van die wyn te verminder om sodoende finansieel die ontploffing van nuwe moontlike wyne op die horison van die verbruiker te oorleef. Tweedens, die wisselkoers was altyd een van die meer onvoorspelbare veranderlikes wat die belangrikheid van scenario-beplanning en weldeurdagte finansiele beplanning beklemtoon om sodoende groat veranderinge in die wisselkoers, wat moontlike finansiele druk in die besigheid mag veroorsaak, te oorkom. Derdens, een van die grootste uitgawes in die produksie proses van is die verouderingskomponent van kwaliteitswyn. Die voordele van die gebruik van eikehout vate in die verouderingsproses van rooiwyne is welbekend. Hierdie voordele sluit in die suiwering van die wyn in terme van soliede partikels , dekarbonisering (C02-ontgasting}, afname in die vrank smaak ("sagtheid van die tanniene), die ontwikkeling van die kleur van die wyn, toevoeging van komplementere hout boeketstowwe wat bydrae tot die kompleksiteit van die wyn, asook die stabilisering van die kollo"idale struktuur van die wyn. Die grootste nadeel bly, nieteenstaande, die geweldige koste verbonde aan vate, asook die hantering en onderhoud daarvan. Eike hout verwante boeketstowwe is 'n onmisbare komponent van die aroma profiel van baie kwaliteitswyne. Daar is 'n groeiende mark vir hierdie tipe wyne. Die gebruik van eikehout vate vir die veroudering van kwaliteitswyne, behalwe die bydrae van belangrike geurstowwe (een waarde), was nog altyd 'n tradisionele stap in die proses. Beroemde kelders reg oor die wereld het uitmuntende mark identiteite vir hulle self geskep, asook 'n "spesifieke identiteit" vir hulle wyn. Om enige beginsels aangaande die gebruik van eikehout te verander, sal sander twyfel die wynstyl verander en moontlik 'n negatiewe effek op die kelder se identiteit he. Hoofstuk 1 gee 'n inleiding en die hoof doelstellings van die studie. Die fenoliese samestelling van druiwe en eikehout bestaan uit 'n komplekse mengsel van verskillende molekules wat in Hoofstuk 2 beskryf word. Hierdie sluit in daardie verantwoordelik vir die kleur (antosianiene), die smaak (hoofsaaklik tanniene) en die aroma van die wyn. Die samestelling van die eikevat kan beinvloed deur die oorsprong, veroudering van die hout, roostering, ouderdom van die vat ens. Hierdie faktore beinvloed almal die samestelling van die houtvat (laktone, vlugtige fenole, hidroliseerbare tanniene ens.) en uiteindelik, die wyn. Die chemiese reaksies wat plaasvind tydens die veroudering van wyn is ook kompleks, wat die veroudering en navorsing van wyn in vate 'n komplekse proses kan maak. Die uitdaging, dus, het ontstaan om die organoleptiese profiel van die wyn (eikehout boeketstowwe) te behou en terselftertyd die produksiekoste van die wyn te verlaag. Die gebruik van eikehout verwante produkte soos skaafsels, blokkies, stawe en balke en selfs eikehout ekstrakte is aanbeveel, alhoewel dit gesien word as afvalprodukte van die kuiperye Een van die grootste nadele van eikehout alternatiewe produkte is egter die beperkte kwaliteitskontrole oor die produksieproses. Dit mag lei tot wisselvalligheid in die kwaliteit van hierdie produkte. Nieteenstaande het die gebruik van eike houtverwante produkte en die beskikbaarheid van hierdie produkte geweldig toegeneem en tesame daarmee die behoefte aan navorsing hieroor. Hoofstuk 3 bespreek resultate van die gebruik van verskillende eikehout tipe vate (Frans vs Russies vs Amerikaans), asook die gebruik van eikehout verwante produkte, op die kleur ontwikkeling, fenoliese samestelling en kwaliteit van Pinotage (eie aan Suid-Afrika) en Shiraz wyne gedurende vat en bottel veroudering. Die ontwikkeling van kleur het verskeie unieke dimensies en resultate wat verkry is in hierdie projek stem ooreen met literatuur. Die kleurdigtheid, persentasie rooi pigment en 802 weerstandbiedende pigmente het toegeneem met veroudering in houtvate (veral in die eerste drie tot ses maande) as gevolg van ellagitanniene wat geekstraeer word en gepolimerisasie, maar het later gedurende veroudering afgeneem as gevolg van presipitasie reaksies. In sekere gevalle het die kontak met hout die kleurdigtheid met tot 40% vermeerder. Die kleurdighteid, totale rooi pigmente en totale fenole het tydens bottelverouding afgeneem a.g.v. polimerisasie. Geen merkwaardige verskille kon egter tussen die verskillende vattipes gevind word nie. Verskille tussen die houtverwante produkte was ook klein en het diesefde tendense getoon as die vate. Nuwe vate se impak op die kleurprofiel en ontwikkeling van verouderde rooiwyne was egter meer beduidenswaardig as die gebruik van gebruikte vate en behandelings met eikehout verwante produkte. Die gelatien indeks verwys na die toestand van polimerisasie van tanniene. Hoer waardes kan verwag word in jong wyne en dui op hoogs reaktiewe tanniene. Die waarde sal afneem soos tanniene polimere vorm met veroudering en sal dus 'n veel minder vrank mondgevoel tot gevolg he. Klein verskille tussen die vat tipes (Frans vs Amerikaans vs Russies) is opgemerk in die een Shiraz, maar in die twee Pinotage wyne was die indeks die laagste in die wyne verouder in Franse eikehout na 36 maande se bottelveroudering. Sensoriese toetse het aangedui dat daar klein verskille gevind is tussen die verskillende eiketipes. Die wyn verouder in Amerikaanse eik het, in die algemeen, 'n sterker eikehoutkarakter gehad na 36 maande bottelveroudering. Wyn verouder met verskillende alternatiewe houtprodukte het aangetoon dat eikehouskaafels in vate 'n sterker eikehoutkarakter aan die wyn gegee het met 'n laer vrugtige aroma in vergelyking met die ander behandelings. Dieselfde wyn verouder in nuwe vate het oak, soos verwag, 'n sterk hout boeket gehad in vergelyking met die verouder in ouer vate. Dit het dan oak gelei dat laasgenoemde wyne 'n sterker vrug aroma gehad het. Veroudering van wit wyne op moer is 'n algemene praktyk, alhoewel dit minder toegepas word op rooiwyne as gevolg van verwante gevare. Hoofstuk 4 bespreek die effek van moerkontak op die mikrobiese en kleursamestelling van rooiwyn tydens 12 maande se houtveroudering. Geen noemenswaardige verskille is egter verkry tussen die wyne verouder op die moer en die filtreerde wyne vir asynsuur-, melksuurbateriee en gisgetalle nie. Aanvanklike pH verskille tydens koue masserasie en alkoholiese fermentasie het egter hierdie getalle beinvloed, met hoer ·getalle verkry in die hoer pH wyn. Die wyne wat appelmelksuurgisting in die vate ondergaan het en verouder is op die moer het egter 'n laer konsentrasie geelbruin pigmente (gemeet by 420 nm) as die gefiltreerde wyne. Ander kleurverskille sluit in hoer kleurdigtheid en totale rooi pigmente as gevolg van langer dopkontak (stadiger alkoholiese fermentasie). Manipulering van die doppe voor en tydens alkoholiese gisting, die gebruik van eikehoutvate of eikehoutverwante produkte, of kombinasies daarvan tydens verskillende produksie fases en ander praktyke soos moer kontak, kan dus gebruik word am 'n sekere styl wyn op markversoek daar te stel. Hoofstuk 5 som die resultate op, asook toekomstige navorsingsmoontlikhede wat op die gebied van hout en wyn gedoen kan word. Hierdie studie het egter duidelik aangedui dat die eikehout oorsprong en tipe die kleur nie so baie beinvloed soos die aroma en smaak van die wyn onder Suid-Afrikaanse kondisies nie.

Thesis (PhD(Agric)--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The bright colouration of involucral leaves in Leucadendron is unfortunately transient in nature. Undesirable colour changes render this cut flower unmarketable, resulting in a considerable loss of profit. A deeper understanding of the mechanism leading to colour change is needed to form the framework on which future manipulation strategies can be built. Yellow Leucadendron possess the ability to degreen and regreen naturally, a phenomenon linked to the controlled degradation of chlorophyll and the lesser degradation of carotenoids, which then impart the yellow colour. This colour change is directly linked to the development of the inflorescence. Involucral leaves degreen towards anthesis and are entirely yellow at full bloom. They begin to regreen again when the last florets on the cone have wilted. Deconing before flowering completely inhibits the colour change. Deconing at full bloom, results in leaves regreening sooner. Therefore the inflorescence appears to be the origin of the cue for colour change. Any factor that expedites the death of the florets, results in sooner regreening of involucral leaves. Ultra-structurally, the degreening and regreening resulted from a transdifferentiation of mature chloroplasts to gerontoplast-like plastids, which upon regreening completely redifferentiated into fully functional chloroplasts. In the red Leucadendron cultivar Safari Sunset, the photosynthetic pigment degradation pattern is identical to that of yellow cultivars. However, colour expression is complexed by the presence of anthocyanins. Anthocyanin concentration was shown to be directly related to the opening of the flower head rather than to the phenological development of the inflorescence. With opening, the previously shaded inner involucral leaf surfaces are exposed to higher levels of irradiance and respond by turning red, presumably for photoprotection. Similar to yellow cultivars, any factor leading to the death of the florets before flowering, not only prevents the degreening of involucral leaves, but also prevents the opening of the flower head and therefore the associated change in anthocyanin levels. The ecological significance of regreening was also investigated. What does a female Leucadendron plant stand to gain by regreening rather than discarding the involucral leaves? Regreened involucral leaves were shown not to play a significant role in providing photosynthates for the developing cone. Although the presence of regreened involucral leaves were shown to provide protection against high irradiance and radiant heating of the cone, they were not essential to ensure survival of the cone. The small floral bracts were shown to be very capable of adaptation. The most plausible reason for regreening is therefore assumed to be based on a cost-benefit relationship. As most Leucadendron are adapted to grow on very nutrient poor soils, the question should maybe be rephrased. Why waste valuable resources? Sclerophyllous leaves, like the involucral leaves, are costly to make and therefore reusing, rather than discarding them does seem a sensible strategy for survival. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Leucadendron snyblomme word gekenmerk deur die helder kleure van hul omwindselblare. Die helder kleure is egter slegs vir 'n kort periode aanwesig waarna die snyblomme onbemarkbaar word, met aansienlike verlies aan potensiele inkomste. Die ontwikkeling van manipulasies ten einde die bemarkbare periode van Leucadendron te verleng, berus op die verkryging van 'n dieper insig in die meganisme van kleurverandering. Die kleurveranderinge van geel Leucadendron omwindselblare is te wyte aan 'n unieke vermoë tot die gereguleerde degradasie en heropbou van chlorofiele en karotenoiede onder direkte beheer van die ontwikkelende bloeiwyse. Met die aanvang van blom, lei groter proporsionele degradasie van chlorofiele tot geleidelike vergeling van omwindselblare. Die hele blomhofie verkry uiteindelik met volblom 'n helder geel kleur. Sodra die laaste blommetjies doodgaan, neem chlorofiel- en karotenoiedsintese weer in aanvang en binnekort is die omwindselblare weer net so groen soos voor die aanvang van blom. Die geel verkleuring kan verhoed word deur die keël voor blom uit te breek. Enige faktor wat die dood van die blommetjies versnel, asook die uitbreek van keël tydens volblom, lei tot die vroeëre aanvang van vergroening. Die degradasie van plastiedpigmente hang nou saam met die differensiasie van volwasse chloroplaste tot gerontoplast-agtige plastiede wat op hul beurt weer tydens vergroening tot volkome funksionele chloroplaste herdifferensieer. Soortgelyk aan geel Leucadendron kultivars, vind die veranderinge in plastiedpigmente ook plaas tydens blom van die rooi kultivar, Safari Sunset. Kleurveranderinge in 'Safari Sunset' is egter meer ingewikkeld vanweë die aanwesigheid van variërende konsentrasies antosianiene. Antosianienkonsentrasies en rooi kleur neem toe tydens blom vanwee die blootstelling van die beskutte adaksiale binnekante van omwindselblare aan hoe irradiasie met die oopvou van die blomhofie. Die akkumulasie van antosianiene het moontlik 'n fotobeskermende funksie. Kleurveranderinge in 'Safari Sunset' kan, soos in geel kultivars, voorkom word deur blom te verhoed. Antosianiensintese word voorkom deurdat die blomhofie geslote bly en is nie direk gekoppel aan blom soos wat met plastiedpigmente die geval is nie. Die belang van vergroening is ondersoek na aanleiding van die vraag oor wat dit 'n vroulike Leucadendron baat om omwindselblare te behou na die afloop van blom? Die bydrae van foto-assimilasie deur omwindselblare tot die ontwikkeling van keels is beperk. Alhoewel omwindselblare wel keels teen hoe irradiasie en stralingsverhitting beskerm, is die blomskutblare in staat om aan te pas by hierdie kondisies. Die mees waarskynlike verklaring vir die behoud van die omwindselblare na blom berus moontlik op 'n koste-voordele verwantskap. Alhoewel nie essensieel nie, is die beperkte bydrae van die omwindselblare na die afloop van blom tot die oorlewing en welstand van die keel waarskynlik genoegsaam om hul behoud te regverdig. Verskeie Leucadendron spesies groei in gronde wat baie arm is aan nutriente. Sklerefiele blare, soos die van Leucadendron, is verder duur om te vervaardig. Dit maak dus sin om hulle vir meer as een funksie te herontplooi eerder as om hulpbronne te belê in meer gespesialiseerde en minder durende blombykomstighede. Dus dui die behoud van omwindselblare dalk op 'n strategie wat gemik is op die behoud en besparing van beperkte hulpbronne.

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Η υπολογιστική εξισορρόπηση χρώματος είναι ένα βασικό προαπαιτούμενο για πολλές εφαρμογές όρασης μηχανών. Στην εργασία αυτή παρουσιάζονται πολλές πρόσφατες εξελίξεις και οι τελευταίες μέθοδοι εξισορρόπησης χρώματος. Προτείνονται επίσης διαφορετικά κριτήρια για την εκτίμηση των προσεγγίσεων αυτών. Επιχειρείται μια ταξινόμηση των μεθόδων αυτών και αυτές χωρίζονται σε τρεις ομάδες: τις στατικές μεθόδους, τις μεθόδους βασισμένες στο χρωματικό εύρος (gamut-based) και τις μεθόδους βασισμένες στην εκπαίδευση (learning-based). Ακόμη, συζητείται η πειραματική διάταξη συμπεριλαμβανομένης μιας επισκόπησης των δημόσια διαθέσιμων συνόλων δεδομένων εικόνας. Τέλος, γίνεται μια αξιολόγηση των μεθόδων που θεωρούνται αιχμής με βάση δύο σύνολα δεδομένων. / Computational color constancy is a fundamental prerequisite for many computer vision applications. This dissertation presents a survey of many recent developments and state-of-the- art methods. Several criteria are proposed that are used to assess the approaches. A taxonomy of existing algorithms is proposed and methods are separated in three groups: static methods, gamut-based methods and learning-based methods. Further, the experimental setup is discussed including an overview of publicly available data sets. Finally, various freely available methods, of which some are considered to be state-of-the-art, are evaluated on two data sets.

Thesis (PhD (Botany and Zoology))—University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / Females of many bird species prefer to mate with males exhibiting elaborate ornamentation, which serves as an indicator of male quality. Such ornaments, called secondary sexual traits, could act as signals to females that males could confer direct and/or indirect genetic benefits (when offspring inherit superior genes), on offspring. In particular, it has been suggested that these signals relate to male ability to resist infections, as only high quality individuals are able to invest both in high immune defence and elaborate ornament expression. The ostrich (Struthio camelus) is the largest living bird and is a member of the family of flightless birds, the ratites. They are sexually dimorphic, males displaying black plumage, and a pink-coloured neck and bill; whereas females display dull-brown plumage (both sexes have white feathers). Little is known about the mating system of ostriches: they are promiscuous and in the wild, males and females have multiple partners. The communal nesting system of ostriches is unique in that only the major female and major male provide parental care, in the form of incubation and guarding the offspring until independence. Furthermore, a remarkable feature of cohorts is that offspring may differ greatly in size, and these size differences are likely to have a genetic basis arising from differing parental genotypic differences. As a trade-off between immune response and life-history traits has been documented in various bird species, I examined the relationships between male secondary sexual traits (and specifically colouration) and maternal investment; levels of immunocompetence in both parents and chicks; and chick growth. This study showed that females invest more at the egg stage in response to traits involved in the male courtship display: the colour of the neck, white and black body feathers, and the brightness of black feathers. As these traits, which are exposed during the courtship display as well as during male-male interactions, were related to male immune responses, I suggest that only high quality males will be able to display their condition optimally. Chicks with higher growth rates were found to have intermediate responses to stimulation of their humoral immune system with diphtheria and tetanus vaccines, suggesting that not only fitness benefits, but also costs are associated with mounting an immune response; and that variation in humoral responses and growth rates relates to how individuals trade off these costs and benefits. In addition, chick humoral responses were found to be related to the humoral response of both parents, but through different antibody responses (maternal responses to tetanus and paternal responses to diphtheria), suggesting that this component of the immune system is heritable. As the colouration of white feathers predicted chick growth rates, as well as a male’s ability to raise an antibody response, I suggest that this visual cue could serve as a signal to females of male humoral immunocompetence, therefore forming the basis of mate choice whereby females could increase the fitness of their offspring through higher growth rates.

Patterned resistive sheets (PRS) are resistive sheets with periodic patterns which provide further advantages to the functionality of the microbolometer. This study examines the potential of both single- and double-layer designs to achieve spectral selectivity in both broadband and narrowband absorption in the microbolometer's application. First, important design parameters, including rules and processes, are established. These include descriptions of sheet resistance, air gap, material refractive index, thicknesses of dielectric and bolometric layers, mirror, pattern shape and size, and unit cell period. Moreover, interactions among these elements are examined. Second, single-layer designs using dipole and slot PRS are introduced as initial designs for the reduced thermal mass design. Applying holes without changing spectral selectivity are investigated for narrowband application. Moreover, the method to tune the change of spectral selectivity is introduced. Third, newly stacked two-color design is suggested. The out-of-band transmission and reflection characteristics of the dipole and slot PRS are investigated to increase the absorption of each layer. Additionally, different pattern shapes, such as the circular patch and square patch, are investigated for easier fabrication. / text

<p>The Emancipation of Celie: The Color Purple as a womanist Bildungsroman</p><p>The purpose of this essay is to study The Color Purple as a Bildungsroman, focusing on the development of the protagonist, Celie. The Color Purple is related to both the traditional Bildungsroman and to the female Bildungsroman, but the essay shows that it can also be seen as a womanist Bildungsroman. Initially, Celie believes that being a woman inescapably means that she has to serve and obey men and she is oppressed by patriarchy. She is eventually introduced to another way of living by the strong female characters of Sofia and Shug who embrace her in a kind of sisterhood, which is vital for Celie as she has nothing else to help her liberate herself from the patriarchal values that keep her down. In conclusion, this essay shows how Celie has developed from being a young girl, forced to act in an adult way, into a woman who displays signs of all the criteria for having achieved a womanist development: she is grown up (not just acting as though she is), she is in charge of a business, a house and, in short, her life. She is serious, she has a universalist perspective, and most importantly, she loves. Furthermore, the essay highlights which characteristics of her development can be linked to the traditional and the female Bildungsroman and which characteristics can be seen as typical of a womanist Bildungsroman.</p>

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