[ES] La selección de gametos de alta calidad es un requisito indispensable a tener en cuenta en los programas de reproduccion asistida. El desarrollo de herramientas biotecnológicas como la criopreservación de gametos, juega un papel importante en la producción acuicola y en la formación de bancos de germoplasma, que contribuiran luego en la mejora genética de las poblaciónes de peces, principalmente aquellas en peligro y que pudieran estar más afectadas ante futuros cambios climáticos. En la primera fase de esta tesis realizada en la Unesp, se trabajó con una especie neotropical de elevada importancia económica para la region Suramericana. La segunda fase realizada en la UPV se trabajó con la Anguila europea (Anguilla anguilla), una especie clasificada en la Lista Roja de la (UICN) como especie "en peligro crítico de extinción". En la primera fase se buscó caracterizar la composición bioquímica del plasma y las características seminales de la especie para evaluar las posibles relaciones entre estos parámetros. El plasma seminal estuvo principalmente compuesto por iones de sodio (Na+) y dentro de los componentes orgánicos sobresalieron las proteínas totales y la glucosa. A través del análisis de componentes principales (PCA) se observó que la motilidad tenía una fuerte correlación positiva con el tiempo de motilidad, la concentración de espermatozoides y las proteínas totales. Estos análisis sirvieron de base para la creación de una solución diluyente utilizada posteriormente en la sustancia crioprotectora. Luego se determinó la influencia del plasma seminal como constituyente de la solución crioprotectora en la criopreservación de semen de P. reticulatum. Se utilizaron tres tratamientos: glucosa 5% + metanol 10% (T1), a este crioprotector se le agregó 30% de plasma seminal natural (T2) y 30% de plasma seminal artificial en base a los resultados de los componentes bioquímicos del plasma determinados para la especie en el experimento anterior (T3). Se evaluaron parámetros de motilidad espermática, capacidad fecundante del semen criopreservado, así como fragmentación del ADN. El tratamiento T1 resultó con los mejores valores de motilidad seguido del T2, y la capacidad fertilizante de estos dos tratamientos fue similar al control, sin embargo, el tratamiento T2 mostró menos daño en el ADN. Mediante el PCA se demostró que T1 tenía una mejor relación positiva con la fertilidad y la motilidad total y progresiva. Finalmente, evaluamos las estructuras de las subpoblaciones espermáticas en cada uno de los tratamientos utilizados. Mediante análisis multivariado en dos etapas, fue posible determinar tres subpoblaciones espermáticas en el semen crioconservado de la especie, SP1 (rápido-lineal), SP2 (rápido-no lineal) y SP3 (lento-lineal). T1 presentó el mayor porcentaje de SP1, siendo confirmado por la efectividad en la protección de las células de este tratamiento en el proceso de criopreservación de la especie. En la segunda fase que se está llevó a cabo en la UPV, el objetivo general fue determinar el efecto de la temperatura y el pH del agua de mar sobre la motilidad de los espermatozoides en la Anguila europea. Se determinó que el bajo pH del agua de mar (6.5-7.4) disminuyó la motilidad de los espermatozoides de anguila en comparación con el control (pH= 8.2). Cuando estudiamos el efecto combinado del pH del plasma seminal artificial y el pH de ASW (7.8 y 8.2), no encontramos diferencias estadísticas en la motilidad y cinética de los espermatozoides en relación con el pH del plasma seminal artificial, pero sí el pH del agua de mar. Se encontraron valores más altos de motilidad total (MOT), FA(rápidos) y ME (médios) con un pH de 8.2 que con un pH de 7.8. En contraste, la temperatura del agua de mar no afectó los parámetros de motilidad de los espermatozoides o la longevidad de los espermatozoides en el contexto del cambio climático. / [CA] La selecció de gàmetes d'alta qualitat és un requisit indispensable a tenir en compte en els programes de reproducció assistida. El desenvolupament d'eines biotecnològiques com la criopreservació de gàmetes, juga un paper important en la producció aqüicola i en la formació de bancs de germoplasma, que contribuiran després a la millora genètica de les població de peixos, principalment aquelles en perill i que poguessin estar més afectades davant de futurs canvis climàtics. A la primera fase d'aquesta tesi realitzada a la Unesp, es va treballar amb una espècie neotropical d'elevada importància econòmica per a la regió sud-americana. La segona fase realitzada a la UPV es va treballar amb l'Anguilla europea (Anguilla anguilla), una espècie classificada a la Llista Vermella de la (UICN) com a espècie "en perill crític d'extinció". A la primera fase es va buscar caracteritzar la composició bioquímica del plasma i les característiques seminals de l'espècie per avaluar les possibles relacions entre aquests paràmetres. El plasma seminal va estar principalment compost per ions de sodi (Na+) i dins dels components orgànics van sobresortir les proteïnes totals i la glucosa. A través de l'anàlisi de components principals (PCA), es va observar que la motilitat tenia una forta correlació positiva amb el temps de motilitat, la concentració d'espermatozoides i les proteïnes totals. Aquestes anàlisis van servir de base per a la creació d'una solució diluent utilitzada posteriorment a la substància crioprotectora. Després es va determinar la influència del plasma seminal com a constituent de la solució crioprotectora en la criopreservació de semen de P. reticulatum. Es van utilitzar tres tractaments: glucosa 5% + metanol 10% (T1), a aquest crioprotector se li va afegir 30% de plasma seminal natural (T2) i 30% de plasma seminal artificial sobre la base dels resultats dels components bioquímics del plasma determinats per a l'espècie a l'experiment anterior (T3). S'avaluaren paràmetres de motilitat espermàtica, capacitat fecundant del semen criopreservat, així com fragmentació de l'ADN. El tractament T1 va resultar amb els millors valors de motilitat seguit del T2, i la capacitat fertilitzant d'aquests dos tractaments va ser similar al control, però el tractament T2 va mostrar menys mal a l'ADN. Mitjançant el PCA es va demostrar que T1 tenia una millor relació positiva amb la fertilitat i la motilitat total i progressiva. Finalment, avaluem les estructures de les subpoblacions espermàtiques a cadascun dels tractaments utilitzats. Mitjançant anàlisi multivariada en dues etapes, va ser possible determinar tres subpoblacions espermàtiques en el semen crioconservat de l'espècie, SP1 (ràpid-lineal), SP2 (ràpid-no lineal) i SP3 (lent-lineal). T1 va presentar el percentatge més gran de SP1, i va ser confirmat per l'efectivitat en la protecció de les cèl·lules d'aquest tractament en el procés de criopreservació de l'espècie. A la segona fase que es va dur a terme a la UPV, l'objectiu general va ser determinar l'efecte de la temperatura i el pH de l'aigua de mar sobre la motilitat dels espermatozoides a l'Anguila europea. Es va determinar que el pH baix de l'aigua de mar (6.5-7.4) va disminuir la motilitat dels espermatozoides d'anguila en comparació del control (pH= 8.2). Quan estudiem l'efecte combinat del pH del plasma seminal artificial i el pH d'ASW (7.8 i 8.2), no trobem diferències estadístiques en la motilitat i la cinètica dels espermatozoides en relació amb el pH del plasma seminal artificial, però sí el pH de l'aigua de mar. Es van trobar valors més alts de motilitat total (MOT), FA(ràpids) i ME (metges) amb un pH de 8.2 que amb un pH de 7.8. En contrast, la temperatura de l'aigua de mar no va afectar els paràmetres de motilitat dels espermatozous o la longevitat dels espermatozous en el context del canvi climàtic. / [EN] The selection of high-quality gametes is an essential requirement to take into account in assisted reproduction programs. The development of biotechnological tools such as cryopreservation of gametes plays an important role in aquaculture production and in the formation of germplasm banks, which will later contribute to the genetic improvement of fish populations, mainly those in danger and that could be more affected by future climate changes. In the first phase of this thesis carried out at Unesp, we worked with a neotropical species of high economic importance for the South American region. The second phase carried out at the UPV worked with the European Eel (Anguilla anguilla), a species classified on the (IUCN) Red List as a "critically endangered" species. In the first phase, we sought to characterize the biochemical composition of the plasma and the seminal characteristics of the species to evaluate the possible relationships between these parameters. The seminal plasma was mainly composed of sodium ions (Na+) and within the organic components, total proteins and glucose stood out. Through principal component analysis (PCA) it was observed that motility had a strong positive correlation with motility time, sperm concentration and total proteins. These analyzes served as the basis for the creation of a diluent solution later used in the cryoprotective substance. Then the influence of seminal plasma as a constituent of the cryoprotectant solution in the cryopreservation of P. reticulatum semen was determined. Three treatments were used: 5% glucose + 10% methanol (T1), 30% natural seminal plasma (T2) and 30% artificial seminal plasma were added to this cryoprotectant based on the results of the determined biochemical components of the plasma. for the species in the previous experiment (T3). Parameters of sperm motility, fertilizing capacity of cryopreserved semen, as well as DNA fragmentation were evaluated. Treatment T1 resulted with the best motility values followed by T2, and the fertilizing capacity of these two treatments was similar to the control, however, treatment T2 showed less DNA damage. Using PCA, it was shown that T1 had a better positive relationship with fertility and total and progressive motility. Finally, we evaluated the structures of the sperm subpopulations in each of the treatments used. Through two-stage multivariate analysis, it was possible to determine three sperm subpopulations in the cryopreserved semen of the species, SP1 (fast-linear), SP2 (fast-nonlinear) and SP3 (slow-linear). T1 presented the highest percentage of SP1, being confirmed by the effectiveness in protecting the cells of this treatment in the cryopreservation process of the species. In the second phase that is being carried out at the UPV, the general objective was to determine the effect of temperature and pH of seawater on sperm motility in the European Eel. It was determined that the low pH of seawater (6.5-7.4) decreased the motility of eel sperm compared to the control (pH= 8.2). When we studied the combined effect of the pH of the artificial seminal plasma and the pH of ASW (7.8 and 8.2), we did not find statistical differences in the motility and kinetics of the sperm in relation to the pH of the artificial seminal plasma, but we did find the pH of the water of sea Higher values of total motility (MOT), FA (fast) and ME (medium) were found at a pH of 8.2 than at a pH of 7.8. In contrast, seawater temperature did not affect sperm motility parameters or sperm longevity in the context of climate change. / I also thank the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES/PROEX) (N° 88887.302629/2018-00), National Council for Scientific, Technological Development CNPq (N° 200452/2022-3) and the Brazilian fostering agencies Foundation for Research Support of the State of Sao Paulo FAPESP (N° 2020/15020-0), for its financial support in Brazil. In Spain, the ThinkInAzul programme, supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MCIN) with funding from the European Union NextGenerationEU (PRTR-C17.I1) and the Generalitat Valenciana (THINKINAZUL/2021/012) to SEASPERM, which has made it possible the preparation of this work. To the AUIP (Ibero-American Postgraduate University Association) for the Academic Mobility scholarship between Institutions Associated with the AUIP 2022 / Padilla Sánchez, M. (2023). Sperm Quality and Cryopreservation in Teleost: Effect of Seminal Plasma Component and Climate Change [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/201549

Le colostrum de la vache est indispensable pour la santé et le bon développement de son veau, mais plus spécialement sa teneur en immunoglobulines et sa composition nutritionnelle. Puisque la circulation sanguine de la vache et du veau sont séparés durant la gestation, la consommation d’un colostrum de qualité rapidement après la naissance assure une réduction des taux de morbidité et de mortalité pour le veau immunonaïf et dont le rumen est sous-développé. Une hypothèse concernant la composition de la diète en prévêlage a été émise, supposant que celle-ci causerait une certaine variation de la composition du colostrum en immunoglobuline G (IgG) ainsi qu’en d’autres nutriments tels que la vitamine B12. L’objectif de cette étude était de déterminer les facteurs nutritionnels en prévêlage qui influencent les concentrations colostrales en vitamine B12 et en IgG. Au total, 62 troupeaux laitiers commerciaux du Québec ont été recrutés et les données de 51 de ces derniers ont été analysées dans le cadre de cette étude observationnelle. Dans chaque troupeau, de 3 à 12 vaches de 0 à 33 jours avant le vêlage ont été recrutées, pour un total de 494 vaches. Avant le vêlage, les vaches ont subi une prise de sang, leur poids corporel a été estimé et tous les ingrédients de la ration donnée aux vaches ont été échantillonnés et leurs quantités offertes respectives prises en note. Sur les 62 troupeaux initiaux, 22 possédaient un supplément en vitamine B12 dans la ration en prévêlage, alors que 40 troupeaux, non. Les producteurs ont prélevé un échantillon de colostrum issu de la première traite après le vêlage et ont rempli un questionnaire concernant la gestion du colostrum de chaque vache. Les échantillons de colostrum ont été analysés pour déterminer leur concentration en IgG et en vitamine B12. Les rations ont été reconstituées avant l’analyse de la composition nutritionnelle par chimie humide. Nos résultats suggèrent que la vitamine B12 dans le colostrum est positivement associée aux fibres alimentaires, ainsi qu’aux concentrations de phosphore, de cuivre et de zinc, et négativement associée à l’amidon, au gras et aux glucides non-fibreux de la ration. Une relation positive a également été observée entre la concentration colostrales en vitamine B12 et la supplémentation en vitamine B12 ainsi qu’avec les acides gras non estérifiés dans le plasma avant le vêlage. Une période de tarissement de plus de 65 jours a été associée à une plus faible concentration colostrale en vitamine B12 et les vaches entamant leur deuxième et troisième lactation comptaient des concentrations colostrales en vitamine B12 supérieures à celles des vaches de quatrième lactation en plus. La concentration sanguine en β-hydroxybutyrate de la vache avait un impact négatif sur la concentration colostrale en IgG. Il y a également été observée un impact négatif des pourcentages de suppléments protéiques et de minéraux sur la concentration colostrale en IgG, et une association positive entre cette concentration avec le pourcentage de supplément énergétique commerciaux. Nos modèles multivariés mixtes permettent d’expliquer 33 et 16% (pseudo-R2), respectivement, de la variation des concentrations colostrales en vitamine B12 et en IgG. Cela suggère donc que d’autres facteurs n’étant pas inclus dans l’étude actuelle ont un impact sur la variation de la concentration colostrale en vitamine B12 et en IgG. / The cow’s colostrum is crucial for the calf’s health and proper development, but especially its immunoglobulin content as well as nutrient composition. Since the dam and her calf’s blood supply are separate in utero, consumption of a good quality colostrum rapidly after birth reduces morbidity and mortality rates for the immunonaive and ruminally underdeveloped calf. Precalving dietary composition has been hypothesized as causing variation of colostrum composition in immunoglobulin G (IgG) and other nutrients such as vitamin B12. The objective of this study was to determine the variation of colostral vitamin B12 and IgG concentrations explained by the precalving dietary composition. A total of 62 Quebec commercial dairy herds were enrolled and the data of 51 of those herds was analyzed in this observational study. In each herd, 3 to 12 cows ranging from 0 to 33 days precalving were enrolled, for a total of 494 cows. Before calving, cows were blood sampled, body weight was estimated, and all dietary ingredients given to the cows were sampled, and their respective quantities offered were recorded. Of the initial 62 herds enrolled, 22 herds fed a vitamin B12 supplement in precalving, whereas the remaining 40 herds did not. Producers were asked to take a sample of colostrum at the first milking after calving and to complete a questionnaire regarding the colostrum management of each cow. Colostrum samples were analyzed for their IgG and vitamin B12 concentrations. Rations were reconstituted prior to nutrient composition analysis by wet chemistry. Our results suggest that vitamin B12 in colostrum was positively associated with the dietary fiber, as well as the dietary phosphorous, copper and zinc concentrations, and negatively with dietary starch, fat and non-fiber carbohydrates. A positive relationship was also observed between colostral vitamin B12 concentration and dietary vitamin B12 supplementation and precalving plasma non-esterified fatty acids. A dry period of more than 65 days was associated with lower colostral vitamin B12, and cows beginning their second and third lactations had a colostral vitamin B12 concentration above those of fourth and more lactation. Cow blood β-hydroxybutyrate concentration had a negative impact on colostral IgG concentration. There was a negative association with the percentage of protein and mineral supplements and a positive relationship with the percentage of commercial energy supplement on IgG concentration in colostrum. Our models explained respectively 33 and 16% (pseudo-R2) of the colostral vitamin B12 and IgG concentration variation. Thus, it suggests that other factors not included in the current assessment have an impact on colostral vitamin B12 and IgG concentration variation.

In dieser Arbeit werden - basierend auf dem Langsamkeitsprinzip - Modelle und Algorithmen für das auditorische System entwickelt. Verschiedene experimentelle Ergebnisse, sowie die erfolgreichen Ergebnisse im visuellen System legen nahe, dass, trotz der unterschiedlichen Beschaffenheit visueller und auditorischer sensorischer Signale, das Langsamkeitsprinzip auch im auditorischen System eine bedeutsame Rolle spielen könnte, und vielleicht auch im Kortex im Allgemeinen. Es wurden verschiedene Modelle für unterschiedliche Repräsentationen des auditorischen Inputs realisiert. Es werden die Beschränkungen der jeweiligen Ansätze aufgezeigt. Im Bereich der Signalverarbeitung haben sich das Langsamkeitsprinzip und dessen direkte Implementierung als Signalverarbeitungsalgorithmus, Slow Feature Analysis, über die biologisch inspirierte Modellierung hinaus als nützlich erwiesen. Es wird ein neuer Algorithmus für das Problem der nichtlinearen blinden Signalquellentrennung beschrieben, der auf einer Kombination von Langsamkeitsprinzip und dem Prinzip der statistischen Unabhängigkeit basiert, und der anhand von künstlichen und realistischen Audiosignalen getestet wird. Außerdem wird die Open Source Software Bibliothek Modular toolkit for Data Processing vorgestellt. / In this thesis we develop models and algorithms based on the slowness principle in the auditory domain. Several experimental results as well as the successful results in the visual domain indicate that, despite the different nature of the sensory signals, the slowness principle may play an important role in the auditory domain as well, if not in the cortex as a whole. Different modeling approaches have been used, which make use of several alternative representations of the auditory stimuli. We show the limitations of these approaches. In the domain of signal processing, the slowness principle and its straightforward implementation, the Slow Feature Analysis algorithm, has been proven to be useful beyond biologically inspired modeling. A novel algorithm for nonlinear blind source separation is described that is based on a combination of the slowness and the statistical independence principles, and is evaluated on artificial and real-world audio signals. The Modular toolkit for Data Processing open source software library is additionally presented.

Der Fokus dieser Dissertation liegt auf den Verbindungen zwischen ICA (Independent Component Analysis - Unabhängige Komponenten Analyse) und SFA (Slow Feature Analysis - Langsame Eigenschaften Analyse). Um einen Vergleich zwischen beiden Methoden zu ermöglichen wird CuBICA2, ein ICA Algorithmus basierend nur auf Statistik zweiter Ordnung, d.h. Kreuzkorrelationen, vorgestellt. Dieses Verfahren minimiert zeitverzögerte Korrelationen zwischen Signalkomponenten, um die statistische Abhängigkeit zwischen denselben zu reduzieren. Zusätzlich wird eine alternative SFA-Formulierung vorgestellt, die mit CuBICA2 verglichen werden kann. Im Falle linearer Gemische sind beide Methoden äquivalent falls nur eine einzige Zeitverzögerung berücksichtigt wird. Dieser Vergleich kann allerdings nicht auf mehrere Zeitverzögerungen erweitert werden. Für ICA lässt sich zwar eine einfache Erweiterung herleiten, aber ein ähnliche SFA-Erweiterung kann nicht im originären SFA-Sinne (SFA extrahiert die am langsamsten variierenden Signalkomponenten aus einem gegebenen Eingangssignal) interpretiert werden. Allerdings kann eine im SFA-Sinne sinnvolle Erweiterung hergeleitet werden, welche die enge Verbindung zwischen der Langsamkeit eines Signales (SFA) und der zeitlichen Vorhersehbarkeit desselben verdeutlich. Im Weiteren wird CuBICA2 und SFA kombiniert. Das Resultat kann aus zwei Perspektiven interpretiert werden. Vom ICA-Standpunkt aus führt die Kombination von CuBICA2 und SFA zu einem Algorithmus, der das Problem der nichtlinearen blinden Signalquellentrennung löst. Vom SFA-Standpunkt aus ist die Kombination eine Erweiterung der standard SFA. Die standard SFA extrahiert langsam variierende Signalkomponenten die untereinander unkorreliert sind, dass heißt statistisch unabhängig bis zur zweiten Ordnung. Die Integration von ICA führt nun zu Signalkomponenten die mehr oder weniger statistisch unabhängig sind. / Within this thesis, we focus on the relation between independent component analysis (ICA) and slow feature analysis (SFA). To allow a comparison between both methods we introduce CuBICA2, an ICA algorithm based on second-order statistics only, i.e.\ cross-correlations. In contrast to algorithms based on higher-order statistics not only instantaneous cross-correlations but also time-delayed cross correlations are considered for minimization. CuBICA2 requires signal components with auto-correlation like in SFA, and has the ability to separate source signal components that have a Gaussian distribution. Furthermore, we derive an alternative formulation of the SFA objective function and compare it with that of CuBICA2. In the case of a linear mixture the two methods are equivalent if a single time delay is taken into account. The comparison can not be extended to the case of several time delays. For ICA a straightforward extension can be derived, but a similar extension to SFA yields an objective function that can not be interpreted in the sense of SFA. However, a useful extension in the sense of SFA to more than one time delay can be derived. This extended SFA reveals the close connection between the slowness objective of SFA and temporal predictability. Furthermore, we combine CuBICA2 and SFA. The result can be interpreted from two perspectives. From the ICA point of view the combination leads to an algorithm that solves the nonlinear blind source separation problem. From the SFA point of view the combination of ICA and SFA is an extension to SFA in terms of statistical independence. Standard SFA extracts slowly varying signal components that are uncorrelated meaning they are statistically independent up to second-order. The integration of ICA leads to signal components that are more or less statistically independent.

In forensic autopsies, accurately estimating the postmortem interval (PMI) is crucial. Traditional methods, relying on physical parameters and police data, often lack precision, particularly after approximately two days have passed since the person's death. New methods are increasingly focusing on analyzing postmortem metabolomics in biological systems, acting as a 'fingerprint' of ongoing processes influenced by internal and external molecules. By carefully analyzing these metabolomic profiles, which span a diverse range of information from events preceding death to postmortem changes, there is potential to provide more accurate estimates of the PMI. The limitation of available real human data has hindered comprehensive investigation until recently. Large-scale metabolomic data collected by the National Board of Forensic Medicine (RMV, Rättsmedicinalverket) presents a unique opportunity for predictive analysis in forensic science, enabling innovative approaches for improving  PMI estimation. However, the metabolomic data appears to be large, complex, and potentially nonlinear, making it difficult to interpret. This underscores the importance of effectively employing machine learning algorithms to manage metabolomic data for the purpose of PMI predictions, the primary focus of this project.  In this study, a dataset consisting of 4,866 human samples and 2,304 metabolites from the RMV was utilized to train a model capable of predicting the PMI. Random Forest (RF) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models were then employed for PMI prediction. Furthermore, feature selection and incorporating sex and age into the model were explored to improve the neural network's performance.  This master's thesis shows that ANN consistently outperforms RF in PMI estimation, achieving an R2 of 0.68 and an MAE of 1.51 days compared to RF's R2 of 0.43 and MAE of 2.0 days across the entire PMI-interval. Additionally, feature selection indicates that only 35% of total metabolites are necessary for comparable results with maintained predictive accuracy. Furthermore, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) reveals that these informative metabolites are primarily located within a specific cluster on the first and second principal components (PC), suggesting a need for further research into the biological context of these metabolites.  In conclusion, the dataset has proven valuable for predicting PMI. This indicates significant potential for employing machine learning models in PMI estimation, thereby assisting forensic pathologists in determining the time of death. Notably, the model shows promise in surpassing current methods and filling crucial gaps in the field, representing an important step towards achieving accurate PMI estimations in forensic practice. This project suggests that machine learning will play a central role in assisting with determining time since death in the future.

Researchers perform multivariate techniques MANOVA, discriminant analysis and factor analysis. The most common applications in social science are to identify and test the effects from the analysis. The use of this multivariate technique is uncommon in investigating the effects of power usage and Province in South Africa on the amounts of the five power modes. This dissertation discusses this issue, the methodology and practical problems of the three multivariate techniques. The author examines the applications of each technique in social public research and comparisons are made between the three multivariate techniques. This dissertation concludes with a discussion of both the concepts of the present multivariate techniques and the results found on the use of the three multivariate techniques in the energy household consumption. The author recommends focusing on the hypotheses of the study or typical questions surrounding of each technique to guide the researcher in choosing the appropriate analysis in the social research, as each technique has some strengths and limitations. / Statistics / M. Sc. (Statistics)

The large potential of big data and how it has brought value into various industries have been established in research. Since big data has such large potential if handled and analyzed in the right way, revealing information to support decision making in an organization, this thesis is conducted as a case study at an automotive manufacturer with access to large amounts of customer usage data of their vehicles. The reason for performing an analysis of this kind of data is based on the cornerstones of Total Quality Management with the end objective of increasing customer satisfaction of the concerned products or services. The case study includes a data analysis exploring how and if patterns about what affects fuel consumption can be revealed from aggregated customer usage data of trucks linked to truck applications. Based on the case study, conclusions are drawn about how a company can use this type of analysis as well as how to handle the data in order to turn it into business value. The data analysis reveals properties describing truck usage using Factor Analysis and Principal Component Analysis. Especially one property is concluded to be important as it appears in the result of both techniques. Based on these properties the trucks are clustered using k-means and Hierarchical Clustering which shows groups of trucks where the importance of the properties varies. Due to the homogeneity and complexity of the chosen data, the clusters of trucks cannot be linked to truck applications. This would require data that is more easily interpretable. Finally, the importance for fuel consumption in the clusters is explored using model estimation. A comparison of Principal Component Regression (PCR) and the two regularization techniques Lasso and Elastic Net is made. PCR results in poor models difficult to evaluate. The two regularization techniques however outperform PCR, both giving a higher and very similar explained variance. The three techniques do not show obvious similarities in the models and no conclusions can therefore be drawn concerning what is important for fuel consumption. During the data analysis many problems with the data are discovered, which are linked to managerial and technical issues of big data. This leads to for example that some of the parameters interesting for the analysis cannot be used and this is likely to have an impact on the inability to get unanimous results in the model estimations. It is also concluded that the data was not originally intended for this type of analysis of large populations, but rather for testing and engineering purposes. Nevertheless, this type of data still contains valuable information and can be used if managed in the right way. From the case study it can be concluded that in order to use the data for more advanced analysis a big-data plan is needed at a strategic level in the organization. The plan summarizes the suggested solution for the managerial issues of the big data for the organization. This plan describes how to handle the data, how the analytic models revealing the information should be designed and the tools and organizational capabilities needed to support the people using the information.

Ο στόχος αυτής της εργασίας ήταν η αναγνώριση έξι βασικών κινήσεων του χεριού με χρήση δύο συστημάτων. Όντας θέμα διεπιστημονικού επιπέδου έγινε μελέτη της ανατομίας των μυών του πήχη, των βιοσημάτων, της μεθόδου της ηλεκτρομυογραφίας (ΗΜΓ) και μεθόδων αναγνώρισης προτύπων. Παράλληλα, το σήμα περιείχε αρκετό θόρυβο και έπρεπε να αναλυθεί, με χρήση του EMD, να εξαχθούν χαρακτηριστικά αλλά και να μειωθεί η διαστασιμότητά τους, με χρήση των RELIEF και PCA, για βελτίωση του ποσοστού επιτυχίας ταξινόμησης. Στο πρώτο μέρος γίνεται χρήση συστήματος ΗΜΓ της Delsys αρχικά σε ένα άτομο και στη συνέχεια σε έξι άτομα με το κατά μέσο όρο επιτυχημένης ταξινόμησης, για τις έξι αυτές κινήσεις, να αγγίζει ποσοστά άνω του 80%. Το δεύτερο μέρος περιλαμβάνει την κατασκευή αυτόνομου συστήματος ΗΜΓ με χρήση του Arduino μικροελεγκτή, αισθητήρων ΗΜΓ και ηλεκτροδίων, τα οποία είναι τοποθετημένα σε ένα ελαστικό γάντι. Τα αποτελέσματα ταξινόμησης σε αυτή την περίπτωση αγγίζουν το 75%. / The aim of this work was to identify six basic movements of the hand using two systems. Being an interdisciplinary topic, there has been conducted studying in the anatomy of forearm muscles, biosignals, the method of electromyography (EMG) and methods of pattern recognition. Moreover, the signal contained enough noise and had to be analyzed, using EMD, to extract features and to reduce its dimensionality, using RELIEF and PCA, to improve the success rate of classification. The first part uses an EMG system of Delsys initially for an individual and then for six people with the average successful classification, for these six movements at rates of over 80%. The second part involves the construction of an autonomous system EMG using an Arduino microcontroller, EMG sensors and electrodes, which are arranged in an elastic glove. Classification results in this case reached 75% of success.

Thèse de doctorat à mi-chemin entre la recherche fondamentale et appliquée. Les champs disciplinaires sont principalement la biomécanique, l'ergonomie physique ou encore l'anatomie. Réalisé en cotutelle avec le professeur Paul Allard et Mickael Begon. / An occupation that requires handling loads combined with large elevation of the arms is associated with the occurrence of shoulders musculoskeletal disorder. The analysis of these joint movements is essential because it helps to quantify the stress applied to the musculoskeletal structures. This thesis provides an innovative model which allows the estimation of the shoulder complex kinematics and used it to analyze the joints kinematics during lifting tasks. It is organized into three sub-objectives. The first aim is the development and validation of a kinematic model the most representative as possible of the shoulder complex anatomy while correcting soft tissue artifacts through the use of global optimization. This model included a scapulothoracic closed loop, which constrains a scapular dot contact to be coincident with thoracic gliding plane modeled by a subject-specific ellipsoid. In the validation process, the reference model used the gold standard for direct measurements of bone movements. In dynamic movements, the closed loop model developed generates barely more kinematic errors that errors obtained for the study of standard movements by existing models. The second aim is to detect and quantify the shoulder articular movements influenced by the combined effects of two risk factors: task height and load weight. The results indicate that many peaks of joint angles are influenced by the interaction of height and weight. According to the different initial and deposits heights when the weight increases, the kinematics changes are substantial, in number and magnitude. The kinematic strategies of participants are more consistent when the weight of load increase for initial height lift at hips level compared to shoulders level, and for a deposit at eye level compared to shoulders. The third aim is to investigate the magnitude and temporality of the maximum peak vertical acceleration of the box. The significant joints movements are characterized with a principal component analysis of joint angle values collected at this instant. In particular, this study highlights that elbow flexion and thoraco-humeral elevation are two correlated invariant joint movements to all lifting tasks whatever the initial and deposit height, and weight of the load. The realism of the developed shoulder model and kinematics analyzes open perspectives in occupational biomechanics and contribute to risk prevention efforts in health and safety. / Une activité professionnelle qui exige de manipuler des charges combinée à de grandes élévations des bras augmente les chances de développer un trouble musculo-squelettique aux épaules. L’analyse de ces mouvements articulaires est essentielle car elle contribue à quantifier les contraintes appliquées aux structures musculo-squelettiques. Cette thèse propose un modèle innovant qui permet l’estimation de la cinématique du complexe de l’épaule, et l’utilise ensuite afin d’analyser la cinématique de levers de charge. Elle s’organise en trois sous-objectifs. Le premier concerne le développement et la validation d’un modèle cinématique le plus représentatif possible de l’anatomie du complexe de l’épaule tout en corrigeant les artéfacts des tissus mous par une optimisation multi-segmentaire. Ce modèle avec une fermeture de boucle scapulo-thoracique, impose à un point de contact scapulaire d’être coïncident au plan de glissement thoracique modélisé par un ellipsoïde mis à l’échelle pour chaque sujet. Le modèle qui a été utilisé comme référence lors des comparaisons du processus de validation bénéficie du « gold standard » de mesures directes des mouvements osseux. Le modèle développé en boucle fermée génère à peine plus d’erreurs cinématiques lors de mouvements dynamiques que les erreurs obtenues par les modèles existants pour l’étude de mouvements standards. Le second identifie et quantifie les mouvements articulaires de l’épaule influencés par la combinaison des effets de deux facteurs de risques : les hauteurs importantes d’agencement de la tâche (hauteurs de saisie et de dépôt) et les masses de charges (6 kg, 12 kg et 18 kg). Les résultats indiquent qu’il existe de nombreux pics d’angles articulaires qui sont influencés par l’interaction des deux effets. Lorsque la masse augmente, les modifications cinématiques sont plus importantes, en nombre et en amplitude, selon les différentes hauteurs de saisies et de dépôts de la charge. Les participants varient peu leur mode opératoire pour une saisie à hauteur des hanches en comparaison des épaules, et pour un dépôt à hauteur des yeux en comparaison aux épaules avec une charge plus lourde. Un troisième s’intéresse au pic maximal d’accélération verticale de la charge dans son intensité et sa temporalité. Basée sur une analyse en composante principale des valeurs d’angles articulaires à cet instant, elle permet de caractériser les mouvements articulaires significatifs. Cette étude met notamment en évidence que la flexion du coude et l’élévation thoraco-humérale sont deux mouvements articulaires corrélés invariants à toutes les tâches de lever en hauteur quelles que soient la hauteur de dépôt et la masse de la charge. Le souci de réalisme du modèle développé et les analyses cinématiques menées ouvrent des perspectives en biomécanique occupationnelle et participent à l’effort de prévention des risques en santé et sécurité.

A substantial number of works have aimed at modeling the receptive field properties of the primary visual cortex (V1). Their evaluation criterion is usually the similarity of the model response properties to the recorded responses from biological organisms. However, as several algorithms were able to demonstrate some degree of similarity to biological data based on the existing criteria, we focus on the robustness against loss of information in the form of occlusions as an additional constraint for better understanding the algorithmic level of early vision in the brain. We try to investigate the influence of competition mechanisms on the robustness. Therefore, we compared four methods employing different competition mechanisms, namely, independent component analysis, non-negative matrix factorization with sparseness constraint, predictive coding/biased competition, and a Hebbian neural network with lateral inhibitory connections. Each of those methods is known to be capable of developing receptive fields comparable to those of V1 simple-cells. Since measuring the robustness of methods having simple-cell like receptive fields against occlusion is difficult, we measure the robustness using the classification accuracy on the MNIST hand written digit dataset. For this we trained all methods on the training set of the MNIST hand written digits dataset and tested them on a MNIST test set with different levels of occlusions. We observe that methods which employ competitive mechanisms have higher robustness against loss of information. Also the kind of the competition mechanisms plays an important role in robustness. Global feedback inhibition as employed in predictive coding/biased competition has an advantage compared to local lateral inhibition learned by an anti-Hebb rule.