In this study, I examine how an online cryptocurrency community discusses the issue of climate change. In particular, I examine distinctive themes present within discussions that occur on the r/CryptoCurrency forum hosted by reddit.com. Existing research has demonstrated that there are significant carbon emissions linked to cryptocurrency. However, cryptocurrency primarily exists as a peer-to-peer system, meaning that the individual perceptions of cryptocurrency adopters may provide insight into how to address the emissions problem. Using latent Dirichlet allocation and publicly available textual data from Reddit, I find that Reddit's cryptocurrency community engages in robust discussions pertaining to the energy needed to power cryptocurrency systems, most of which is generated from fossil fuels. Therefore, the discussions identified in this study suggest that the social aspect of cryptocurrency may be important when examining the links between cryptocurrency and climate change since they help identify what subjects related to climate change are important for this community.

A new specialist design role is emerging in the construction industry. The primary task related to this role is focused on the control, development and sharing of geometric information with members of the design team in order to develop a design solution. Individuals engaged in this role can be described as a parametric designers. Parametric design involves the exploration of multiple solutions to architectural design problems using parametric models. In the past these models have been defined by computer programs, nowcommercially available parametric software provides a simpler means of creating these models. It is anticipated that the emergence of parametric designers will spread and a deeper understanding of the role is required. This thesis is aimed at establishing a detailed understanding of the tasks related to this new specialism and to develop a set of considerations that should be made when undertaking these tasks. The position of the parametric designer in architectural practice presents new opportunities in the design process this thesis also aims to capture these. Developments in this field of design are driven by practice. It is proposed that a generalised understanding of applied parametric design is primarily developed through the study of practical experience. Two bodies of work inform this study. First, a detailed analytical review of published work that focuses on the application of parametric technology and originatesfrompractice. This material concentrates on the documentation of case studies from a limited number of practices. Second, a series of case studies involving the author as participant and observer in the context of contemporary practice. This primary research of applied use of parametric tools is documented in detail and generalised findings are extracted. Analysis of the literature from practice and generalisations based on case studies is contrasted with a review of relevant design theory. Based on this, a series of strategies for the parametric designer are identified and discussed.

The past three decades of synaptic research have provided new insights into synapse biology. While synapses are still considered the fundamental connectors between the nerve cells in the central nervous system, they are no longer seen as simple neuron-to-neuron contacts. In fact, the estimated 100 trillion of human synapses are extremely complex, diverse and capable of performing sophisticated computational operations giving rise to advanced repertoires of cognitive and organic behaviours. These intricate synaptic properties mean that existing methodologies for quantifying and characterising synapses are inadequate. Yet, understanding of synapse biology is crucial to deciphering human pathology as disruptions in synapse numbers, architecture and function have already been linked to many human brain disorders. The purpose of this PhD was to evaluate a novel, high-throughput synaptic protein quantification method at a single synapse resolution in human post-mortem brain tissue. The method has already been successfully tested in our laboratory in genetically engineered mice, whereby synapses have been systematically quantified across a large number of areas to generate the first molecular maps of synapses, the synaptome maps. In this project, methods have been developed to label human brain tissue with postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95), the most common postsynaptic protein. We describe the use of PSD-95 combined with confocal microscopy and computational image analysis to quantify synaptic puncta immunofluorescence (IF) parameters in the human brain. In the first part of this study, the new method was used to quantify PSD-95 IF across selected 20 human brain regions to generate first PSD-95 human synaptome map. In the second part, PSD-95 IF was systematically assessed across 16 hippocampal subregions. Finally, we confirmed that our novel synaptic quantification method was sensitive to hippocampal synaptic losses in patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Such a high degree of systematic synapse quantification has not previously been reported in human brain tissue. Our method is a promising approach for synaptic protein quantification in tissue with several potential applications in diagnosis and development of therapeutics for neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Orientador: Edson Antonio Capello Sousa / Banca: José Eduardo Cogo Castanho / Banca: Cleudmar Amaral de Araujo / Resumo: Na biomecânica, a computação tem se tornado uma forte aliada no estudo utilizando-se imagens, pois avanços significativos têm sido verificados devido à evolução das técnicas de aquisição de imagens médicas. Em estruturas ósseas, devido à complexidade das formas geométricas, a obtenção de modelos precisos torna-se um processo difícil, exigindo métodos computacionais igualmente complexos. Por outro lado, a computação gráfica oferece técnicas que possibilitam a adequada manipulação destas imagnes. Entre os diversos métodos existentes, o modelo de contornos ativos, também conhecido como snakes, vem sendo amplamente difundido no processo dd segmentação para extração de estruturas de interesse no contexto médico. Este trabalho utiliza o método de contornos ativos por Fluxo do Vetor Gradiente (GVF) para obtenção das matrizes do contorno de estruturas com geometrias côncavas, neste representado por seções transversais obtidas da tomografia de uma mandíbula humana. Utilizando-se as matrizes obtidas, é gerado um modelo da mandíbula em 3D aplicando-se o método de triangulação foi utilizado o pacote MATLAB®, e para obtenção do modelo tridimensional, foi utilizado o pacote ANSYS®. / Abstract: In biomechanics, the computer has become a strong ally to study using the images, as significant advances have been recorded owing to technical progress of the acquisition of medical images. In bone structures due to the complexity of geometric shapes, to obtain accurate models becomes a difficult processes, requiring equally complex computational methods. On the other hand, offers computer graphics techniques that enable the appropriate handling of these images. Among the various existing methods, the model of active contours, also known as snakes, have been widely disseminated in hte process of segmentation to extract structures of interest medical. This work uses the method of active contours for Gradient Vector Flow (GVF) to obtain the matrices of the outline of structures with concave geometries, this represented by cross sections obtained from the tomography of a human jaw. Using the matrices obtained, it generated a 3D model of the jaw by applying the method of triangulation between adjacent contours. For the process of segmentation and triangulation was performed using MATLAB® application, and for obtaining three-dimensional model was performed using ANSYS® application. / Mestre

Given the ever-growing need for device autonomy and renewable sources of energy, energy harvesting has become an increasingly popular field of research. This research focuses on energy harvesting using the piezoelectric effect, from vibrating membrane structures by converting mechanical energy into electric energy. Specific applications of this research include powering components of bio-inspired micro air vehicles (MAVs), which require long range with as little regular maintenance as possible, and powering sensors for structural health monitoring on otherwise inaccessible locations (the roof of the Denver Int'l Airport is a good example). Coming up with an efficient, high-fidelity model of these systems allows for design optimization without the extensive use of experimental testing, as well as a deeper understanding of the physics involved. These are the twin goals of this research. This work describes a modeling algorithm using COMSOL, a multi-physics software, to predict the structural mechanics of and subsequent power harvested from a piezoelectric patch placed on a prestressed membrane structure. The model is verified by an FE comparison of the modeled system's dynamic response. For a 0.5 x 0.5 x 0.001 m nylon membrane with a 0.1 x 0.1 x 0.001 m piezoelectric patch placed on its corner, a maximum power output of ~10 microwatts was achieved, using a resistance of 100 Ohms and exciting the system around resonance. When the patch was placed on the side of the membrane, the power output was ~100 milliwatts. The ultimate goal is to estimate the energy harvested by a network of these piezoelectric patches and optimize the harvesting system based on the size, shape and location of the patches. / Master of Science

No description available.

Most realistic financial derivatives models are too complex to allow explicit analytic solutions. The computational techniques used to implement those models fall into two broad categories: finite difference methods for the solution of partial differential equations (PDEs) and Monte Carlo simulation. Accordingly, the course consists of two sections. The first half of the course focuses on finite difference methods. The following topics are discussed; Parabolic PDEs, Black-Scholes PDE for European and American options; binomial and trinomial trees; explicit, implicit and Crank- Nicholson finite difference methods; far boundary conditions, convergence, stability, variance bias; early exercise and free boundary conditions; parabolic PDEs arising from fixed income derivatives; implied trees for exotic derivatives, adapted trees for interest rate derivatives. The second half of the course focuses on Monte Carlo. The following topics are discussed; Random number generation and testing; evaluation of expected payoff by Monte Carlo simulation; variance reduction techniques�antithetic variables, importance sampling, martingale control variables; stratification, low-discrepancy sequences and quasi-Monte Carlo methods; efficient evaluation of sensitivity measures; methods suitable for multifactor and term-structure dependent models. Computational Methods of Financial Mathematics is taught by Marcel Blais, a professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

O surgimento de novas substâncias psicoativas (NPS-New Psychoactive Substances) levantou muitas questões no contexto da aplicação da lei e políticas públicas de drogas. De acordo com o Escritório das Nações Unidas sobre Drogas e Crime (UNODC- United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) como uma alternativa às drogas proibidas. Esses novos compostos foram projetados e formulados para escapar à legislação de controle de drogas, criando um fenômeno que se tornou um problema internacional. No Brasil, essas substâncias são controladas e penalmente puníveis, no pela Lei 11.343/2006, também conhecida como Lei de Drogas. Este trabalho traz estudos relativos às catinonas sintéticas com metodologia in silico para investigar mecanismos de detecção e tendência de atuação no organismo humano. No estudo relacionado à detecção utilizamos a reação dessas drogas com o isotiocianato de fluoresceína (FITC Fluorescein isothiocyanate). Para essa proposta foram feitos estudos de viabilidade de métodos de cálculo, análise conformacional do FITC, avaliação energética da reação com as catinonas e os espectros de emissão. Em relação à viabilidade dos métodos de cálculo temos que a otimização prévia dos compostos envolvidos com o semi-empírico PM6 e posterior refinamento com o método B3LYP/6-31G** foram adequados para os cálculos. A avaliação energética mostrou que a reação é favorável para anfetaminas, aminoácidos e catinonas, e os menores valores foram encontrados no último caso. Nos estudos de emissão obtivemos resultados semelhantes ao perfil energético; no entanto, observamos que os espectros são únicos, representando uma baixa probabilidade de falsos positivos. Avaliações de docking mostraram que as catinonas têm mais afinidade com o receptor dopaminérgico do que suas anfetaminas homólogas, confirmando dados experimentais relatados na literatura. Por fim, os estudos realizados neste trabalho demonstraram a importância e a capacidade dos métodos in silico que apresentam grau potencial na área e que podem ser amplamente utilizados em investigações com diferentes propósitos no campo forense. / The emergence of new psychoactive substances (NPSs) has raised many issues in the context of law enforcement and public drug policies. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), NPS were created as an alternative to forbidden drugs. These new compounds were designed and formulated to escape the drug control legislation, creating a phenomenon that has become an international problem. In Brazil, these substances are controlled and punishable by Law 11,343 / 2006, also known as the Drug Law. This work presents studies on synthetic cathinones with in silico methodology to investigate mechanisms of detection and tendency of action in the human organism. In the detection-related study, we used the reaction of these drugs with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). For this proposal were made studies regarding to the viability of the calculation methods, FITC conformational analysis, energetic evaluation of the reaction with the cathinones and the emission spectra. In relation to the viability of the calculation methods we have that the previous optimization of the compounds involved with the semi-empirical PM6 and subsequent refinement with the B3LYP / 6-31G ** method were adequate for the calculations. The energetic evaluation showed that the reaction is favorable for amphetamines, amino acids and cathinones, and the lowest values were found in the last case. In the emission studies we obtained similar results to the energy profile; however, we observed that the spectra are unique representing a low probability of false positive. Docking evaluations have shown that cathinones have more affinity to the dopaminergic receptor than their homologous amphetamines, confirming experimental data reported in the literature. Finally, the studies carried out in this work demonstrated the importance and the capacity of the in silico methods that present with potential grade in the area and that can be widely used in investigations with different purposes in the forensic field.

"The time-of-arrival (ToA)-based localization technique performs superior in line-of-sight (LoS) conditions, and its accuracy degrades drastically in proximity of micro-metals and human body, when LoS conditions are not met. This calls for modeling and formulation of Direct Path (DP) to help with mitigation of ranging error. However, the current propagation tools and models are mainly designed for telecommunication applications via focus on delay spread of wireless channel profile, whereas ToA-based localization strive for modeling of DP component. This thesis provides a mitigation to the limitation of existing propagation tools and models to computationally capture the effects of micro-metals and human body on ToA-based indoor localization. Solutions for each computational technique are validated by empirical measurements using Ultra-Wide-Band (UWB) signals. Finite- Difference-Time-Domain (FDTD) numerical method is used to estimate the ranging errors, and a combination of Uniform-Theory-of-Diffraction (UTD) ray theory and geometrical ray optics properties are utilized to model the path-loss and the ToA of the DP obstructed by micro- metals. Analytical UTD ray theory and geometrical ray optics properties are exploited to model the path-loss and the ToA of the first path obstructed by the human body for the scattering scenarios. The proposed scattering solution expanded to analytically model the path-loss and ToA of the DP obstructed by human body in angular motion for the radiation scenarios."

O surgimento de novas substâncias psicoativas (NPS-New Psychoactive Substances) levantou muitas questões no contexto da aplicação da lei e políticas públicas de drogas. De acordo com o Escritório das Nações Unidas sobre Drogas e Crime (UNODC- United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) como uma alternativa às drogas proibidas. Esses novos compostos foram projetados e formulados para escapar à legislação de controle de drogas, criando um fenômeno que se tornou um problema internacional. No Brasil, essas substâncias são controladas e penalmente puníveis, no pela Lei 11.343/2006, também conhecida como Lei de Drogas. Este trabalho traz estudos relativos às catinonas sintéticas com metodologia in silico para investigar mecanismos de detecção e tendência de atuação no organismo humano. No estudo relacionado à detecção utilizamos a reação dessas drogas com o isotiocianato de fluoresceína (FITC Fluorescein isothiocyanate). Para essa proposta foram feitos estudos de viabilidade de métodos de cálculo, análise conformacional do FITC, avaliação energética da reação com as catinonas e os espectros de emissão. Em relação à viabilidade dos métodos de cálculo temos que a otimização prévia dos compostos envolvidos com o semi-empírico PM6 e posterior refinamento com o método B3LYP/6-31G** foram adequados para os cálculos. A avaliação energética mostrou que a reação é favorável para anfetaminas, aminoácidos e catinonas, e os menores valores foram encontrados no último caso. Nos estudos de emissão obtivemos resultados semelhantes ao perfil energético; no entanto, observamos que os espectros são únicos, representando uma baixa probabilidade de falsos positivos. Avaliações de docking mostraram que as catinonas têm mais afinidade com o receptor dopaminérgico do que suas anfetaminas homólogas, confirmando dados experimentais relatados na literatura. Por fim, os estudos realizados neste trabalho demonstraram a importância e a capacidade dos métodos in silico que apresentam grau potencial na área e que podem ser amplamente utilizados em investigações com diferentes propósitos no campo forense. / The emergence of new psychoactive substances (NPSs) has raised many issues in the context of law enforcement and public drug policies. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), NPS were created as an alternative to forbidden drugs. These new compounds were designed and formulated to escape the drug control legislation, creating a phenomenon that has become an international problem. In Brazil, these substances are controlled and punishable by Law 11,343 / 2006, also known as the Drug Law. This work presents studies on synthetic cathinones with in silico methodology to investigate mechanisms of detection and tendency of action in the human organism. In the detection-related study, we used the reaction of these drugs with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). For this proposal were made studies regarding to the viability of the calculation methods, FITC conformational analysis, energetic evaluation of the reaction with the cathinones and the emission spectra. In relation to the viability of the calculation methods we have that the previous optimization of the compounds involved with the semi-empirical PM6 and subsequent refinement with the B3LYP / 6-31G ** method were adequate for the calculations. The energetic evaluation showed that the reaction is favorable for amphetamines, amino acids and cathinones, and the lowest values were found in the last case. In the emission studies we obtained similar results to the energy profile; however, we observed that the spectra are unique representing a low probability of false positive. Docking evaluations have shown that cathinones have more affinity to the dopaminergic receptor than their homologous amphetamines, confirming experimental data reported in the literature. Finally, the studies carried out in this work demonstrated the importance and the capacity of the in silico methods that present with potential grade in the area and that can be widely used in investigations with different purposes in the forensic field.