Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Technology: Information Technology, Durban Institute of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2005. / Throughout Africa, growing human populations and resulting loss of wildlife habitat is a critical issue for most animal species. It is more and more common for privately owned small or medium sized farms to reintroduce wildlife on their land and such protected areas are fast becoming the only refuges available to wild animals. However a comprehensive understanding of the complex ecological processes taking place is vital for the effective management of restricted areas and the conservation of biodiversity. Due to the enormous complexity of an ecological system and the long periods of the related dynamics, it is very difficult to analyse the interaction between animals and plant populations without suitable computer models. In this thesis, the dynamics between elephant and trees (a major food source) are considered using computer simulations. / M

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. / This thesis done in cooperation with the MOVES Institute. / Despite data indicating more human error accidents occur during NVG flight than in any other flight mode, there are very few simulation tools available to aviators at the unit level that aid them in learning or practicing NVG flight tasks. This thesis examines the potential for a Chromakeyed Augmented Virtual Environment (ChrAVE), consisting only of Commercial-Off-The- Shelf (COTS) hardware, to be used as an NVG flight training platform. It also examines whether or not physically-based light calculations are necessary to produce adequate visual representation of simulated NVG imagery. Twelve subjects performed simulated low-level NVG flight navigation tasks in the ChrAVE. Treatments included questionnaires, vision tests, variation of the physics-based component of the NVG imagery, and performance of an evaluation task that compares standard thresholds between day and NVG navigation. Analysis of data and subject feedback indicate that the ChrAVE has potential as an NVG flight training device, and that physically-based calculations may not be necessary to achieve simulated NVG imagery that is adequate for training. The data also supports the existence of a substantial difference in the subjective evaluation standard between navigation performances based on flight condition. / Captain, United States Army

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering / This dissertation verifies a Computer Simulation Package for modeling pulse transmission over digital subscriber loops. Multigauge sections on subscriber cables can be studied. The model used for each section incorporates skin, proximity and eddy current effects. The model allows important quantities such as near end echo and overall transmission distortion of pulses to be.predicted. An experimental facility has been established in the laboratory for the purpose of validating the results produced by the simulator with results obtained over real cables. The experimental facility has as far as possible been automated by making use of computer controlled equipment for direct setup or the experiment, data transfer, and analysis. The results obtained from the pulse propagation program and that obtained from measurements are in close. agreement, rendering the Computer Simulation Package useful for analysing the performance of multi gauge digital subscriber loops. / AC 2018

A project report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering. / Urban stormwater drainage designers and planners are having to deal with the dramatic effect that urbanization has on the hydrological regime. To cope economically with the increases in runoff volumes and peaks due to urbanization, more sophisticated approaches are required for the design and planning of stormwater drainage systems. [Abbreviated abstract. Open document to view full version] / AC2017

Photocopy of typescript. / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

by Kwok-Piu Lam. / Bibliography: leaf 78 / Thesis (M.Ph.) -- Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1984

by Lee On Yin, Francis. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1988. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 104).

by Joseph Chun-kong Chan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 117-124). / Abstract also in Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Acknowledgments --- p.iv / List of Figures --- p.xi / List of Tables --- p.xii / List of Algorithms --- p.xiii / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Motivation --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Related Work --- p.5 / Chapter 1.3 --- Contributions --- p.7 / Chapter 1.4 --- Organization of the Thesis --- p.9 / Chapter 2 --- Contact Modeling: Kinematics --- p.11 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.11 / Chapter 2.2 --- Contact Kinematics between Two Rigid Bodies --- p.14 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Contact Modes --- p.14 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Montana's Contact Equations --- p.15 / Chapter 2.3 --- Finger Kinematics --- p.18 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Finger Forward Kinematics --- p.19 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Finger Jacobian --- p.21 / Chapter 2.4 --- Grasp Kinematics between a Finger and an Object --- p.21 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Velocity Transformation between Different Coordinate Frames --- p.22 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Grasp Kinematics for the zth Contact --- p.23 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Different Fingertip Models and Different Contact Modes --- p.25 / Chapter 2.5 --- Velocity Constraints of the Entire System --- p.28 / Chapter 2.6 --- Summary --- p.29 / Chapter 3 --- Contact Modeling: Dynamics --- p.31 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.31 / Chapter 3.2 --- Multi-fingered Robot Hand Dynamics --- p.33 / Chapter 3.3 --- Object Dynamics --- p.35 / Chapter 3.4 --- Constrained System Dynamics --- p.37 / Chapter 3.5 --- Summary --- p.39 / Chapter 4 --- Collision Modeling --- p.40 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.40 / Chapter 4.2 --- Assumptions of Collision --- p.42 / Chapter 4.3 --- Collision Point Velocities --- p.43 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Collision Point Velocity of the ith. Finger --- p.43 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Collision Point Velocity of the Object --- p.46 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Relative Collision Point Velocity --- p.47 / Chapter 4.4 --- Equations of Collision --- p.47 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Sliding Mode Collision --- p.48 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Sticking Mode Collision --- p.49 / Chapter 4.5 --- Summary --- p.51 / Chapter 5 --- Dynamic Simulation --- p.53 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.53 / Chapter 5.2 --- Architecture of the Dynamic Simulation System --- p.54 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Input Devices --- p.54 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Dynamic Simulator --- p.58 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Virtual Environment --- p.60 / Chapter 5.3 --- Methodologies and Program Flow of the Dynamic Simulator --- p.60 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Interference Detection --- p.61 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Constraint-based Simulation --- p.63 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Impulse-based Simulation --- p.66 / Chapter 5.4 --- Summary --- p.69 / Chapter 6 --- Simulation Results --- p.71 / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.71 / Chapter 6.2 --- Change of Grasping Configurations --- p.71 / Chapter 6.3 --- Rolling Contact --- p.76 / Chapter 6.4 --- Sliding Contact --- p.76 / Chapter 6.5 --- Collisions --- p.85 / Chapter 6.6 --- Dextrous Manipulation Motions --- p.93 / Chapter 6.7 --- Summary --- p.94 / Chapter 7 --- Conclusions --- p.99 / Chapter 7.1 --- Summary of Contributions --- p.99 / Chapter 7.2 --- Future Work --- p.100 / Chapter 7.2.1 --- Improvement of Current System --- p.100 / Chapter 7.2.2 --- Applications --- p.101 / Chapter A --- Montana's Contact Equations for Finger-object Contact --- p.103 / Chapter A.1 --- Local Coordinates Charts --- p.103 / Chapter A.2 --- "Curvature, Torsion and Metric Tensors" --- p.104 / Chapter A.3 --- Montana's Contact Equations --- p.106 / Chapter B --- Finger Dynamics --- p.108 / Chapter B.1 --- Forward Kinematics of a Robot Finger --- p.108 / Chapter B.1.1 --- Link-coordinate Transformation --- p.109 / Chapter B.1.2 --- Forward Kinematics --- p.109 / Chapter B.2 --- Dynamic Equation of a Robot Finger --- p.110 / Chapter B.2.1 --- Kinetic and Potential Energy --- p.110 / Chapter B.2.2 --- Lagrange's Equation --- p.111 / Chapter C --- Simulation Configurations --- p.113 / Chapter C.1 --- Geometric models --- p.113 / Chapter C.2 --- Physical Parameters --- p.113 / Chapter C.3 --- Simulation Parameters --- p.116 / Bibliography --- p.124

Orientador: Aguinaldo Robinson de Souza / Banca: Ignez Caracelli / Banca: Maria Aparecida Z. Bertochi / Banca: Valdecir Farias Ximenes / Banca: Antonio Caliri / Resumo: Este estudo consiste em entender a forma tridimensional de proteínas, investigando padrões de comportamento na área do Nó matemático em relação à proteína real. A abordagem adotada envolveu a aplicação de uma teoria matemática sobre os Nós (Knots) para o entendimento da geometria adotada elas proteínas. No laboratório de simulação computacional da UNESP, campus de Bauru, foi utilizado um microcomputador Pentium com 1GB de RAM. Os softwares utilizados foram: Origin 7.0, pacote da Microsoft Office, CodeBlocks - que é um ambiente de desenvolvimento integrado (IDE) para plataformas Linux -, MAC OS e Windows, que permite escrever aplicativos para ambiente gráficos ou aplicativos de console em linguagem C ou C++, com suporte a múltiplos compiladores como GCC/MinGW, SDCC, intel C++, GNU ARM. Além desses, o software RasMol foi utilizado para visualização das proteínas e o software KnotPlot, para investigação dos Nós matemáticos. O método apresenta o levantamento, tratamento e integração dos dados. Através do software, não foram reconhecidos padrões em proteínas que possuem os Nós. Apresentou-se uma nova abordagem para visualizar alfa hélice, fitas betas e turns. No que diz respeito às distâncias internas, foi possível analisar o comportamento das proteínas e, na topologia matemática a 3, detectou-se similaridade em relação às quantidades de concavidades e pisos. Conclui-se que o programa necessita de parâmetros estabelecidos na literatura para realizar todas as leitura dos resultados apresentado pelo software / Abstract: The present study is at understanding the three-dimensional form of proteins, thus investigating behavioral patterns of the mathematical knot in relation to the actual protein. It was adopted the approach of applying a Math theory about knots for the comprehension of the proteins geometry proteins. In the computer simulation laboratory at UNESP, Bauru campus, it was used a 1 GB RAM PC Pentium, and the software Origin 7.0; Microsoft Office package; CodeBlocks, an integrated development environment for Linux platform; MAC OS and Windows, which allow to write applications for graphic environments or console applications in C or C++ language with support to multiple compilers such as GCC/MinGW, SDCC, Intel C++, and GNU ARM. Besides, the software RasMol was also used for the visualization of the proteins, and KnotPlot for the investigation of mathematical knots. The method presents data gathering, processing and integration. By using the software there were no recognized patterns in proteins with knots, and it was presented a new approach in order to visualize alpha-helix, beta-strands, and turns. In what concerns internal distances, it was possible to analyze the behavior of proteins and, in 3 Math topology, it was detected some similarity in relation to the amount of peaks and troughs. Thus, it was concluded that the program requires parameters established in the literatura in order to perform all reading of the results presented by the software / Doutor

Recently, large amounts of experimental data for complex biological systems have become available. We use tools and algorithms from machine learning to build data-driven predictive models. We first present a novel algorithm to discover gene sequence motifs associated with temporal expression patterns of genes. Our algorithm, which is based on partial least squares (PLS) regression, is able to directly model the flow of information, from gene sequence to gene expression, to learn cis regulatory motifs and characterize associated gene expression patterns. Our algorithm outperforms traditional computational methods e.g. clustering in motif discovery. We then present a study of extending a machine learning model for transcriptional regulation predictive of genetic regulatory response to Caenorhabditis elegans. We show meaningful results both in terms of prediction accuracy on the test experiments and biological information extracted from the regulatory program. The model discovers DNA binding sites ab intio. We also present a case study where we detect a signal of lineage-specific regulation. Finally we present a comparative study on learning predictive models for motif discovery, based on different boosting algorithms: Adaptive Boosting (AdaBoost), Linear Programming Boosting (LPBoost) and Totally Corrective Boosting (TotalBoost). We evaluate and compare the performance of the three boosting algorithms via both statistical and biological validation, for hypoxia response in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.