On January 29-30, 2008 a squall line of thunderstorms moved through the Ohio Valley resulting in four deaths and one injury. Such events highlight the importance of accurate forecasting for public safety. Mesoscale Modeling plays an important role in any forecast of a potential squall line. The focus of this study was to examine the performance of several parameterization scheme combinations in the Weather Research and Forecasting Model version three (WRF) as they related to this event. These examinations included cloud microphysics (WRF Single-Moment 3-class, 6-class, and Goddard), cumulus parameterization (Kain-Fritsch and Bets-Miller-Janjic) and planetary boundary layer schemes (Yonsei-University and Mellor-Yamada-Janjic). A total of 12 WRF simulations were conducted for all potential scheme combinations. Data from the WRF simulations for several locations in south central Kentucky were analyzed and compared using Kentucky Mesonet observations for four locations: Bowling Green, Russellville, Murray and Liberty, KY. A fine model resolution of 1 km was used over these locations. Coarser resolutions of 3 km and 9 km were used on the outer two domains, which encompassed the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys. The model simulation performance was assessed using established statistical measures for the above four locations and by visually comparing the North American Regional Reanalysis dataset (NARR) along with modeled simulations. The most satisfactory scheme combination was the WRF Single-Moment 3-class Microphysics scheme, Kain-Fritsch cumulus parameterization scheme and Yonsei University scheme for the planetary boundary layer. The planetary boundary layer schemes were noted to have the greatest influence in determining the most satisfactory model simulations. There was limited influence from different selections of microphysics and cumulus parameterization schemes. The preferred physics parameters from these simulations were then used in six additional simulations to analyze the affect different initialization data sets have with regards to model output. Data sets used in these simulations were the Final Operational Analysis global data, North American Regional Reanalysis (3 and 6 hour) and the North American Mesoscale Model at 1, 3 and 6 hour timesteps, for a total of six simulations. More timesteps or an increase in model resolution did not materially improve the model performance.

Spatio-temporal control of the self-ordered structures by use of the time-dependent oscillatory fields of zero-time average, either deterministic (temporally regular) or noisy (temporally irregular) ones, has today become a fundamental field of multidisciplinary research in a wide variety of the highly nonlinear systems of the different physical origin. The self-ordered bistable fronts in the essentially dissipative systems of the reaction-diffusion type, that are formulated by parabolic partial differential equations, are investigated in the dissertation. The objective of the research is to investigate new possibilities of controlling the directed net motion of the self-ordered bistable fronts by the deterministic and stochastic zero-mean ac forces using computer modeling and analytic tools. In order to achieve the objective mathematical and numerical models were applied, computer software was created and new possibilities of controlling the directed net motion of bistable fronts by use of the zero-average periodic, quasi-periodic and bounded noise fields were investigated. / Savaime susidarančių lokalizuotų struktūrų valdymas deterministiškai (reguliariai) arba stochastiškai (atsitiktinai) osciliuojančiais laukais, kurių vidutinė vertė yra nulis, yra plačiai paplitęs įvairiose terpėse. Disertacijoje nagrinėjami savame susidarantys bistabilūs frontai disipatyviose sistemose, kurios aprašomos netiesinėmis parabolinėmis diferencialinėmis lygtimis su dalinėmis išvestinėmis. Disertacijos tikslas yra ištirti kryptingo bistabilių frontų dreifo valdymo nuliniais laukais galimybes, taikant kompiuterinį modeliavimą bei analitinius metodu. Tikslui pasiekti buvo sudaryti matematinis bei skaitinis modeliai, sukurta programinė įranga ir skaitiškai ištirtos savaiminių bistabilių frontų valdymo galimybės, naudojant periodinius, kvaziperiodinius ir stochastinius nulinius laukus.

Savaime susidarančių lokalizuotų struktūrų valdymas deterministiškai (reguliariai) arba stochastiškai (atsitiktinai) osciliuojančiais laukais, kurių vidutinė vertė yra nulis, yra plačiai paplitęs įvairiose terpėse. Disertacijoje nagrinėjami savame susidarantys bistabilūs frontai disipatyviose sistemose, kurios aprašomos netiesinėmis parabolinėmis diferencialinėmis lygtimis su dalinėmis išvestinėmis. Disertacijos tikslas yra ištirti kryptingo bistabilių frontų dreifo valdymo nuliniais laukais galimybes, taikant kompiuterinį modeliavimą bei analitinius metodu. Tikslui pasiekti buvo sudaryti matematinis bei skaitinis modeliai, sukurta programinė įranga ir skaitiškai ištirtos savaiminių bistabilių frontų valdymo galimybės, naudojant periodinius, kvaziperiodinius ir stochastinius nulinius laukus. / Spatio-temporal control of the self-ordered structures by use of the time-dependent oscillatory fields of zero-time average, either deterministic (temporally regular) or noisy (temporally irregular) ones, has today become a fundamental field of multidisciplinary research in a wide variety of the highly nonlinear systems of the different physical origin. The self-ordered bistable fronts in the essentially dissipative systems of the reaction-diffusion type, that are formulated by parabolic partial differential equations, are investigated in the dissertation. The objective of the research is to investigate new possibilities of controlling the directed net motion of the self-ordered bistable fronts by the deterministic and stochastic zero-mean ac forces using computer modeling and analytic tools. In order to achieve the objective mathematical and numerical models were applied, computer software was created and new possibilities of controlling the directed net motion of bistable fronts by use of the zero-average periodic, quasi-periodic and bounded noise fields were investigated.

The objective of this study was to: (1) model the course of the lingual nerve (LN) in the third molar region using digitized data and (2) investigate landmarks to aid in predicting the position of LN. A MicroScribe 3-DX digitizer and Autodesk® Maya® 8.5 were used to create 3-D in-situ models of LN for seven human cadaveric specimens. Regression analysis demonstrated that an anteriorly positioned lingula is directly proportional to the vertical distance of the LN relative to the alveolar crest (p < 0.05). A superiorly positioned mylohyoid ridge was also directly proportional to the vertical distance of the LN relative to the alveolar crest (p < 0.05). The LN is positioned closer to the alveolar crest in specimens where the mylohyoid ridge is positioned superiorly (p = 0.001). This study demonstrated a novel way of quantifying the relative position of the LN using 3-D computer modeling.

The objective of this study was to: (1) model the course of the lingual nerve (LN) in the third molar region using digitized data and (2) investigate landmarks to aid in predicting the position of LN. A MicroScribe 3-DX digitizer and Autodesk® Maya® 8.5 were used to create 3-D in-situ models of LN for seven human cadaveric specimens. Regression analysis demonstrated that an anteriorly positioned lingula is directly proportional to the vertical distance of the LN relative to the alveolar crest (p < 0.05). A superiorly positioned mylohyoid ridge was also directly proportional to the vertical distance of the LN relative to the alveolar crest (p < 0.05). The LN is positioned closer to the alveolar crest in specimens where the mylohyoid ridge is positioned superiorly (p = 0.001). This study demonstrated a novel way of quantifying the relative position of the LN using 3-D computer modeling.

L’objectif général de ma thèse est de développer une modélisation spatialisée à l’échelle d’un versant, afin de mieux rendre compte des principales voies de transfert des pesticides dans les terrains agricoles. Je cherche à adopter une approche simplifiée, mais qui permet néanmoins de représenter les discontinuités existantes (parcelles, fossés, talus … etc). En effet, on souhaite pouvoir quantifier les mécanismes du transfert des pesticides en prenant en compte l’influence des éléments du paysage (parcelles, fossés, bandes enherbées …etc) sur la partition des transferts d’eau et de pesticides en surface et en subsurface. On s’appuie pour ce développement sur les données acquises sur le bassin versant expérimental de la Morcille (69), qui servent à fournir des ordres de grandeur et un cadre pour tester la pertinence des développements effectués. Une synthèse bibliographique sur les processus en jeu et les modèles existants a conduit au choix de la plateforme de modélisation hydrologique CMF, développée à l’université de Giessen (Kraft, 2012). Cette dernière permet une modélisation orientée objet d’un système hydrologique (colonne de sol, versant, bassin versant ...etc) et propose une grande variété d’équations physiques pour la représentation des processus hydrologiques. Le travail est mené sur trois étapes, une première consiste à l’évaluation du comportement de la plateforme et la validation de sa réponse via la comparaison dans un premier temps via un modèle 1D suite à une comparaison avec Hydrus1D. Dans un second temps, nous avons mené des simulations en 2D en comparant avec le modèle Cathy en se basant sur les travaux de Sulis et al. (2010) et avec Hydrus2D (Simunek et al., 1999 & Simunek et al., 2001) sur un versant inspiré du versant expérimental de la Morcille. La deuxième étape consiste à la prise en compte des écoulements préférentiels dans certains types de sol structurés, nous paraît nécessaire pour une meilleure représentation des processus en jeu. La représentation du transfert préférentiel des produits phytosanitaires via les macropores vers la ressource en eau représente encore un défi pour la recherche. L’approche à double perméabilité (DP) choisie contient le développant d’une nouvelle fonction d’infiltration dans les macropores. Notre modèle DP contient également deux fonctions alternatives d’échange matrice-macropores ; la première est proportionnelle à la différence des teneurs en eau des deux compartiments du sol (Philip, 1968). La deuxième fonction d’échange est une onde diffusante basée sur l’approche présentée par van Genuchten (1993). La dernière partie de la thèse consiste en la modélisation des solutés suivant successivement les deux approches : simple porosité et double perméabilité, en considérant le transport des solutés par convection et une adsorption linéaire. La validation de notre approche de modélisation est menée en comparant avec les simulations d’Hydrus1D/2D. / The aim of my thesis is to develop a spatial scale modeling of a catchment, to better reflect the main pathways of pesticides in agricultural lands. We are looking to adopt a simplified approach, yet it allows to represent the existing discontinuities (plots, ditches, embankments ... etc). Indeed, we wish to quantify the mechanisms of transfer of pesticides taking into account the influence of landscape features (patches, ditches, grass strips ... etc) on the partition of water transfers and pesticides in surface and subsurface. It relies for this development on the acquired data on the experimental watershed Morcille (69), which serve to provide orders of magnitude and a framework to test the relevance of business developments. A literature review on the processes involved and the existing models led to the choice of hydrological modeling framework CMF, developed at the University of Giessen (Kraft, 2012). CMF allows for object oriented modeling of a hydrologic system (soil column, slope, watershed etc.) and offers a wide variety of physical equations for the representation of hydrological processes. The work is conducted in three steps, the first involves assessing the behavior of CMF and validating its response via the comparison initially via a 1D model following a comparison with Hydrus1D. Secondly, we conducted 2D simulations comparing with the Cathy model based on the work of Sulis et al. (2010) and Hydrus2D (Simunek et al., 1999 & Simunek et al., 2001) on a hillslope inspired from the experimental slope of Morcille. The second step is to take account of preferential flow in certain types of structured soil, seems necessary for better representation of the processes. The representation of the preferential transfer of pesticides through macropores to water resources is still a research challenge. The dual permeability approach (DP) contains selected developing the infiltration of a new function in the macropores. Our DP model also contains two alternative exchange functions matrix-macropores; the first one is proportional to the difference of the water contents of the two compartments of the soil (Philip, 1968). The second exchange function is a diffusing wave based on the approach outlined by van Genuchten (1993). The last part of the thesis consists in the modeling of solutes successively following two approaches: single dual porosity and permeability, considering the convective transport of solutes and a linear adsorption. The validation of our modeling approach is conducted by comparing with the Hydrus1D / 2D simulations.

Para melhorar a visualização das pequenas estruturas anatômicas importantes para o diagnóstico do câncer de mama e otimizar o processamento das mamografias pelos sistemas computadorizados de auxílio ao diagnóstico (CAD), foi desenvolvido um dispositivo, baseado na tecnologia slit, que melhora a aquisição dos mamogramas. Este dispositivo reduz a radiação espalhada e o tamanho do foco e foi projetado a partir de um modelo computacional. O modelo adotado permite quantificar o valor desses parâmetros para qualquer sistema radiológico, qualquer espessura de tecidos moles radiografada e qualquer tensão aplicada ao tubo de raios-X. O dispositivo foi implementado e testado, quantificando as melhorias obtidas. As imagens geradas foram comparadas com as fornecidas pelos sistemas mamográficos convencionais. O modelo serviu para estudar também a interferência do espalhamento sobre o desempenho dos algoritmos usados nos sistemas de diagnóstico auxiliado por computador (CAD). / In order to improve the visualization of the small and important anatomical structures for breast cancer diagnosis and to optimize the image processing of mammograms by the computer aided diagnosis systems (CAD), a device that comes from slit technology was developed to improve the acquisition of mammograms. This device reduces the amount of scattered radiation and the focus size and it can be projected from a computational model. This model allows quantifying the value of those parameters, scattered radiation and the focus size, for any radiological system, any X-rayed soft tissue thickness and any tension applied to the X-ray tube. The device was implemented and tested quantifying the obtained improvements. The generated images were compared to the supplied for conventional mammography systems. The model was also good for studying interference on the algorithms used in the computer aided diagnosis systems (CAD).

Orientador: Jose Raimundo de Oliveira / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Eletrica e de Computação / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-04T08:07:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 AlvarezMamani_AnaBeatriz_M.pdf: 3814133 bytes, checksum: 31badc94a32b076eeceae360c121c7d5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2004 / Resumo: Este trabalho aborda a aplicação de diversos esquemas que usam redes neurais para identificação de sistemas e controle de velocidade, objetivando tornar o controle do sistema mais robusto às variações paramétricas, aos distúrbios de medida, e principalmente compensar os efeitos não lineares do ganho dependente da faixa de operação inerentes aos sistemas de velocidade. Para os testes e simulações foi utilizado um automodelo com motor CC. Diferentes bibliotecas do Matlab/Simulink foram utilizadas nas estações de controle para auxiliar nas atividades de simulação. Os resultados mostram um bom desempenho das RNAs na identificação de elementos não lineares, e garantem uma significativa redução do erro do valor predito da velocidade de saída. Os resultados obtidos com o controlador neural por linearização feedback foram aceitáveis e suficientes para o nosso objetivo / Abstract: This work studies the application of projects that use neural networks for identification systems and control of speed, to make the system control more robust to the parametric and measure variations, and mainly to compensate the non-linear effect of the gain related to the inherent range of operation to the speed systems. For simulation and test an automodel with a DC motor was used. Several libraries of the Matlab/Simulink were used in the control stations to assist the activities of simulation. The results show an excellent performance of the RNA¿s in the identification of non-linear elements, and promise a significant reduction of the error of the predicted value of the speed. The results gotten with the neural controller for linearization feedback were acceptable and enough for our objective / Mestrado / Engenharia de Computação / Mestre em Engenharia Elétrica

Plasma membrane transport proteins play a crucial role in all cells by conferring to the cell surface a selective permeability to a wide range of ions and small molecules. The activity of these transporters is often regulated by controlling their amount at the plasma membrane, via intracellular trafficking. The recent boom in the numbers of crystallized transporters shows that many of them that belong to different functional families with little sequence similarity adopt the same structural fold implying a conserved transport mechanism. These proteins belong to the APC (Amino acid-Polyamine-organoCation) superfamily and their fold is typified by the bacterial leucine transporter LeuT. This LeuT fold is characterized by inverted structural repeats of 5 transmembrane domains that harbor the central substrate-binding site and a pseudo-symmetry axis parallel to the membrane. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae possesses about 16 amino acid permeases (yAAPs) that belong to the APC superfamily and that display various substrate specificity ranges and affinities. Topological, mutational analysis and in silico data indicate that yAAPS adopt the LeuT fold.<p><p>In this work we combined computational modeling and yeast genetics to study substrate binding by yAAPs and the endocytosis of these transporters in response to substrate transport. In the first part of this work, we analyzed the selective recognition of arginine by the yeast specific arginine permease, Can1. We constructed three-dimensional models of Can1 using as a template the recently resolved structure of AdiC, the bacterial arginine:agmatine antiporter, which is also a member of the APC superfamily. By comparison of the binding pockets of Can1 and Lyp1, the yeast specific lysine permease, we identified key residues that are involved in the recognition of the main and side chains of arginine. We first showed that the network of interactions of arginine in Can1 is similar to that of AdiC, and that the selective recognition of arginine is mediated by two residues: Asn 176 and Thr 456. Substituting these residues by their corresponding residues in Lyp1 converted Can1 into a specific lysine permease. In the second part of this work, we studied the regulation of two permeases, Can1 and the yeast general amino acid permease, Gap1. In the presence of their substrates, Gap1 and Can1 undergo ubiquitin-dependent endocytosis and targeting to the vacuolar lumen for degradation. We showed that this downregulation is not due to intracellular accumulation of the transported amino acids but to transport catalysis itself. By permease structural modeling, mutagenesis, and kinetic parameter analysis, we showed that Gap1 and Can1 need to switch to an intermediary conformational state and persist a minimal time in this state after binding the substrate to trigger their endocytosis. This down-regulation depends on the Rsp5 ubiquitin ligase and involves the recruitment of arrestin-like adaptors, resulting in the ubiquitylation and endocytosis of the permease.<p><p>Our work shows the importance of the structural analysis of yAAPs to get further insight into the different aspects of their function and regulation. We validate the use of a bacterial APC transporter, AdiC, to construct three-dimensional models of yAAPs that can be used to guide experimental analyses and to provide a molecular framework for data interpretation. Our results contribute to a better understating of the recognition mode of amino acids by their permeases, and the regulation of this transport in response to substrate binding. / Doctorat en Sciences / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Las técnicas ablativas basadas en energía por radiofrecuencia (RF) se emplean con el fin de lograr un calentamiento seguro y localizado en el tejido biológico. En los últimos años ha habido un rápido crecimiento en el número de nuevos procedimientos médicos que hacen uso de dichas técnicas, lo cual ha ido acompañado de la aparición de nuevos diseños de electrodos y protocolos de aplicación de energía. Sin embargo, existen todavía muchas incógnitas sobre el verdadero comportamiento electro-térmico de los aplicadores de energía, así como de la interacción energía-tejido en aplicaciones concretas. El principal propósito de esta Tesis Doctoral es adquirir un mejor conocimiento de los fenómenos eléctricos y térmicos involucrados en los procesos de calentamiento de tejidos biológicos mediante corrientes de RF. Esto permitirá, por un lado, mejorar la eficacia y seguridad de las técnicas actualmente empleadas en la clínica en campos tan diferentes como la cirugía cardiaca, oncológica o dermatológica; y por otro, sugerir mejoras tecnológicas para el diseño de nuevos aplicadores. La Tesis Doctoral combina dos metodologías ampliamente utilizadas en el campo de la Ingeniería Biomédica, como son el modelado computacional (matemático) y la experimentación (ex vivo e in vivo). En cuanto al área cardiaca, la investigación se ha centrado, por una parte, en mejorar la ablación intraoperatoria de la fibrilación auricular por aproximación epicárdica, es decir, susceptible de ser realizada de forma mínimamente invasiva. Para ello, se ha estudiado mediante modelos matemáticos un sistema de medida de la impedancia epicárdica como método de valoración de la cantidad de grasa previo a la ablación. Por otra parte, se ha estudiado cómo mejorar la ablación de la pared ventricular por aproximación endocárdica-endocárdica (septo interventricular) y endocárdica-epicárdica (pared libre del ventrículo). Con este objetivo, se han comparado mediante modelado por computador la eficacia de los modos de ablación bipolar y unipolar en términos de la transmuralidad de la lesión en la pared ventricular. En lo que respecta al área de cirugía oncológica, la investigación se ha centrado en la resección hepática asistida por RF. Las técnicas de calentamiento por RF deberían ser capaces de minimizar el sangrado intraoperatorio y sellar vasos y ductos mediante la creación de una necrosis coagulativa por calentamiento. Si este calentamiento se produce en las cercanías de grandes vasos, existe un problema potencial de daño a la pared de dicho vaso. En este sentido, se ha evaluado con modelos matemáticos y experimentación in vivo si el efecto del flujo de sangre dentro de un gran vaso es capaz de proteger térmicamente su pared cuando se realiza una resección asistida por RF en sus cercanías. Además, se ha realizado un estudio computacional y experimental ex vivo e in vivo del comportamiento electro-térmico de aplicadores de RF bipolares internamente refrigerados, puesto que representan una opción más segura frente a los monopolares en la medida en que las corrientes de RF fluyen casi exclusivamente por el tejido biológico situado entre ambos electrodos. Respecto al área dermatológica, la investigación se ha centrado en mejorar el tratamiento de enfermedades o desórdenes del tejido subcutáneo (tales como lipomatosis, lipedema, enfermedad de Madelung y celulitis) mediante el estudio teórico de la dosimetría correcta en cada caso. Para ello, se han evaluado los efectos eléctricos, térmicos y termo-elásticos de dos estructuras diferentes de tejido subcutáneo durante el calentamiento por RF, y se ha cuantificado el daño térmico producido en ambas estructuras tras dicho calentamiento / González Suárez, A. (2014). Computational Models and Experimentation for Radiofrequency-based Ablative Techniques [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/36502 / TESIS