Real estate remains to be a major component of wealth for households as the market value of houses continues to rise noticeably again, as before the global recession 2007. Understanding households’ responses to changes of house prices and interest rates is important as fluctuations of these kind affect their preferences of saving. This thesis examines the impact of house price- and interest rate changes on household savings with the usage of secondary panel data from seven European countries. Providing a definite estimation of the interest elasticity of saving for households is not conceivable with any confidence considering the difficulties in estimating differential behavior. In accordance to previous studies the result of house prices is significant negative regarding household savings. However, the repo rate contradicts earlier results with a significant negative correlation toward household savings indicating an increased confidence due to a behavioral shift. In conclusion, this study shows that internal effects are of great importance as several factors suffer from high internal impact.

Uncertainty in the sizing of breast cancer masses is a major issue in breast screening programs, as there is a tendency to severely underestimate the sizing of malignant masses, especially with ultrasound imaging as part of the standard triple assessment. Due to this issue about 20% of all surgically treated women have to undergo a second resection, therefore the aim of this thesis is to address this issue by developing novel image analysis methods. Ultrasound elasticity imaging has been proven to have a better ability to differentiate soft tissues compared to standard B-mode. Thus a novel segmentation algorithm is presented, employing elasticity imaging to improve the sizing of malignant breast masses in ultrasound. The main contributions of this work are the introduction of a novel filtering technique to significantly improve the quality of the B-mode image, the development of a segmentation algorithm and their application to an ongoing clinical trial. Due to the limitations of the employed ultrasound device, the development of a method to improve the contrast and signal to noise ratio of B-mode images was required. Thus, an autoregressive model based filter on the radio-frequency signal is presented which is able to reduce the misclassification error on a phantom by up to 90% compared to the employed device, achieving similar results to a state-of-the art ultrasound system. By combining the output of this filter with elasticity data into a region based segmentation framework, a computationally highly efficient segmentation algorithm using Graph-cuts is presented. This method is shown to successfully and reliably segment objects on which previous highly cited methods have failed. Employing this method on 18 cases from a clinical trial, it is shown that the mean absolute error is reduced by 2 mm, and the bias of the B-Mode sizing to underestimate the size was overcome. Furthermore, the ability to detect widespread DCIS is demonstrated.

An active particle converts energy to motion. An active suspension is a population of active particles, typically microscale, that are immersed in a viscous and/or elastic medium. This thesis is about the statistics of active suspensions. Unlike a suspension at thermodynamic equilibrium, we show that an active suspension inherently has non-Gaussian fluctuations due to an interplay between self-driven constituents and microscopic physics. Consequently, the diffusion of a tracer in an active suspension is not Gaussian. Our results explain some experiments with active suspensions that contain either swimming microorganisms or molecular motors. We provide different models for the fluctuations in dilute active suspensions, ranging from phenomenological to exact. The fundamental ingredient of such non-Gaussian fluctuations is an ultraslow convergence to the central limit theorem caused by truncated power-laws. Without any truncation, there is an intimate relation to the generalized central limit theorem. We suggest similar effects occur in many other systems. These may be associated with probability distributions that appear to be exponential.

Research into the processing conditions and parameters of polymeric nanocomposites has always been challenging to scientists and engineers alike. Many have developed tools and procedures to allow materials to be exploited and their properties improved with the addition of nanofillers to achieve the desired end material for various applications. Initial trials are mostly conducted using conventional small scale experiments using specialised equipment within the laboratory that can replicate the larger industrial equipment. This is a logical approach as it could save time and costs as many nanocomposites are relatively expensive to produce. Experiments have previously been done using the likes of the Haake twin screw extruder to manufacture nanocomposites within the laboratory but this research project has used a novel minimixer specifically developed to replicate mixing like large twin screw extrusion machines. The minimixer uses a twin paddle system for high shear mixing in conjunction with a single screw thus theoretically allowing an infinitely long recirculation. It is this ability to mix intensely whilst allowing for as long as desired recirculation which enables the replication in this very small mixer (10-30g capacity) of the mixing conditions in a large twin screw extruder. An added feature of the minimixer is that it can undertake inline data analysis in real time. The main experiments were conducted using a comprehensive DOE approach with several different factors being used including the temperature, screw speed, residence time, clay and compatibiliser loading and two polymer MFI's. The materials used included PP, Cloisite 20A, Polybond 3200, PET, Somasif MTE, Polyurethane 80A and Single / Multi-walled Carbon nanotubes. Detailed experimental results highlighted that rheological analysis of the nanocomposite materials as an initial testing tool were accurate in determining the Elastic and Loss modulus values together with the Creep and Recovery, Viscosity and Phase Angle properties in the molten state. This approach was also used in an additional set of experiments whereby the temperature, speed, residence time and compatibiliser were kept constant but the clay loading was increased in 1% wt. increments. These results showed that the G' & G'' values increased with clay loading. Another important finding was the bi-axial stretching step introduced after the processing stage of the nanocomposite materials which highlighted a further improvement in the modulus values using rheological testing. Other tests included using inline monitoring to look into both the viscosity and ultrasound measurements in real time of the molten polymer nanocomposite through a slit die attachment to the minimixer.

Given their potential applications for a number of engineering purposes, the geomechanics of shale reservoirs is becoming one of the most important issues in modern geomechanics. Borehole stability modeling, geophysics, shale oil and shale gas reservoirs, and underground storage of CO2 and nuclear waste are some of these potential applications to name a few. The growing interest in these reservoirs, as a source for hydrocarbons production, has resulted in an increasing demand for fundamental material property data. Laboratory analysis and constitutive models have shown that rock elastic and deformational properties are not single-value, well-defined parameters for a given rock. Finding suitable values for these parameters is of vital importance in many geomechanical applications. In this thesis an extensive experimental program to explore geomechanical properties of shale was developed. A series of triaxial tests were performed in order to evaluate the elasticity, yielding, and failure response of Marcellus shale specimens as a function of pressure, temperature, and bedding angle. Additional characterization includes mineralogy, porosity, and fabric. Rock samples used in this study came from three different locations and depths: one actual reservoir (~7,500 ft. deep), and two outcrops (~300 ft. and ~0 ft. deep).

Cette étude se place dans le cadre du guidage des thérapies par ultrasons focalisés de haute intensité (HIFU). L’utilisation de l’échographie pour le guidage permet une visualisation temps réel mais un faible contraste. Afin de compenser ce manque de vision du traitement, deux études ont été mises en place. La première sur l’utilité de l’élastographie par compression manuelle en temps réel (23 à 60 images par seconde) a été réalisée et validée par deux protocoles in vivo. L’un a été effectué afin de visualiser des tumeurs VX2 dans le foie chez le lapin de manière extracorporelle et per-opératoire en utilisant une sonde de diagnostique linéaire (12MHz). L’autre a été réalisé sur des porcs avec la même sonde et avec une sonde d'imagerie sectorielle (7,5 MHz) placée au centre du transducteur HIFU. Une comparaison a été menée avec des images IRM des mêmes lésions réalisées après prélèvement de l’organe traité. Dans les deux cas, les élastogrammes assurent une meilleure visualisation des dimensions de la lésion (R=0,70) et un contraste plus important (23dB) en comparaison de l’échographie (R=0,65, contraste=3dB). La dernière partie de ces travaux a permis de démontrer que le signal ultrasonore rétrodiffusé par les tissus du foie change avec la température. Lors d’expériences in vitro et in vivo sur du foie de porc, ce changement de signal se corrèle (R=0,85) avec une hausse de température mesurée par un thermocouple positionné dans la zone focale du transducteur. Cette relation est linéaire positive in vitro et négative in vivo. Cette relation permet de calculer des images de température sur une plage de température allant de 20 à 100°C avec une précision de 5°C. / This study takes place under the guidance of high intensity focused ultrasound therapies (HIFU). The use of ultrasound for guidance allows real time monitoring, but low contrast. To compensate this lack of vision, two studies were set up. The first set up was used to evaluated usefulness of hand-held elastography in real time (23 to 60 frames per second) performed and validated by two in vivo protocols. One was performed to visualize VX2 tumors in the rabbit liver so extracorporeal and intraoperative using a diagnostic linear probe (12MHz). The other was carried out on pigs with the same probe but also with a sectorial imaging probe (7.5 MHz) placed in the center of the HIFU transducer. A comparison was conducted with MRI images of the same lesions performed after removal of the treated organ. In both cases, elastograms provide better visualization of the lesion size (R = 0.70) and higher contrast (23dB) compared to ultrasound (R = 0.65, contrast = 3dB). The last part of this work demonstrated that the ultrasound backscattered signal of the liver tissue changed with the temperature. In experiments on in vitro and in vivo pig livers, this changed of signal is linear and correlated (R = 0.85) with a rise in temperature measured by a thermocouple positioned in the focal zone of the transducer. The relation between backscattered signal and temperature is positive in vitro and negative in vivo. This relationship is linear and used to calculate temperature images with a range of 20 to 100 ° C and an accuracy of 5 ° C.

Les méthodes classiques de résolution des équations de l'élasticité linéaire sont les méthodes éléments finis. Ces méthodes produisent de très bons résultats et sont très largement analysées mathématiquement pour l'étude des déformations solides. Pour des problèmes de couplage solide/fluide, pour des situations réalistes en présence de discontinuités (modélisation des fronts de gel dans les sols humides), ou bien encore pour des domaines de calcul mieux adaptés aux maillages non conformes, il parait intéressant de disposer de solveurs Volumes Finis. Les méthodes Volumes Finis sont très largement utilisées en mécanique des fluides. Appliquées aux problèmes de convection, elles sont bien adaptées à la capture de solutions présentant des discontinuités et ne nécessitent pas de maillages conformes. De plus, elles présentent l'avantage de conserver au niveau discret les flux à travers les interfaces du maillage. C'est pourquoi sont développées et testées, dans cette thèse, plusieurs méthodes de volumes finis, qui permettent de traiter le problème de l'élasticité. On a, dans un premier temps, mis en œuvre la méthode LSGR (Least Squares Gradient Reconstruction), qui reconstruit des gradients par volumes à partir d'une formule de moindres carrés pondérés sur les volumes voisins. Elle est testée pour des maillages tétraédriques non structurés, et montre un ordre 1 de convergence. La méthode des Volumes Finis mixtes est ensuite présentée, basée sur la conservation d'un flux "pénalisé" à travers les interfaces. Cette pénalisation impose une contrainte sur le type de maillage utilisé, et des tests sont réalisés en 2d avec des maillages structurés et non structurés de quadrangles. On étend ensuite la méthode des Volumes Finis diamants à l'élasticité. Cette méthode détermine un gradient discret sur des sous volumes associés aux interfaces à partir de l'interpolation de la solution aux sommets du maillage. La convergence théorique est prouvée sous réserve de vérifier une condition de coercivité. Les résultats numériques, en 2d pour des maillages non structurés, conduisent à un ordre de convergence meilleur que celui prouvé. Enfin, la méthode DDFV (Discrete Duality Finite Volume), qui est une extension de la méthode Diamant, est présentée. Elle est basée sur une correspondance entre plusieurs maillages afin d'y construire des opérateurs discrets en "dualité discrète". On montre que la méthode est convergente d'ordre 1. Les illustrations numériques, réalisées en 2d et en 3d pour des maillages non structurés, montrent une convergence d'ordre 2, ce qui est fréquemment observé pour cette méthode. / Finite element methods are conventionally used for solving linear elasticity equations. These methods produce very good results and are widely analyzed from a mathematical point of view to study solid deformations. It seems interesting to have Finite Volume solvers for coupled solid/fluid problems, realistic situations in presence of discontinuities (freezing fronts modeling in wet soils), or even to compute fields better suited to non-conforming meshes. Finite Volume methods are widely used in fluid mechanics. Applied to convection problems, they are well suited to compute solutions with discontinuities and do not require mesh conformity. Moreover, they have the advantage of preserving discrete flows across the interfaces of the mesh. Therefore, we develop and test in this thesis several finite volume methods for solving the elasticity problem. First of all, we implement the LSGR method (Least Squares Gradient Reconstruction), which reconstructs gradients by volume from a weighted least squares formula on neighboring volumes. This method has been successfully tested for unstructured tetrahedral meshes, and shows a first-order convergence rate. Then, we present the Mixed Finite Volume method, based on the conservation of a "penalized" flow across the interfaces. The penalty term imposes a constraint on the type of meshes, and numerical tests are performed in 2D with structured and unstructured quadrangles. Afterwards, we extend the diamond-cell Finite Volume method to the elasticity. This method computes a discrete gradient on sub-volumes related to the interfaces from the interpolation of the solution at vertices. The theoretical convergence is proved under a coercivity condition. The numerical results, achieved in 2d for unstructured meshes, give a second-order convergence rate. Finally, we present the DDFV method (Discrete Duality Finite Volume), which is an extension of the precedent one. This method is based on a correspondence between several meshes in order to construct discrete operators on "discrete duality". We show that the DDFV scheme is a first-order convergent method. The 2d and 3d numerical tests on unstructured meshes show a second-order convergence rate, which is a classical result for this method.

L'objectif de ce mémoire de recherche est de déterminer les propriétés acoustiques des milieux poroélastiques à partir d'une démarche multi-échelle et multi-physique. Il traite d'échantillons réels de mousses, à cellules ouvertes ou partiellement fermées, dont les propriétés microstructurales sont caractérisées par des techniques d'imagerie. Cette information est utilisée afin d'identifier une cellule périodique idéalisée tridimensionnelle, qui soit représentative du comportement acoustique du milieu poreux réel. Les paramètres gouvernant les propriétés acoustiques du milieu sont obtenus en appliquant la méthode d'homogénéisation des structures périodiques. Dans une première étape, la structure des mousses est supposée indéformable. Il a été montré que pour le cas d'une distribution étroite de tailles caractéristiques de la géométrie locale, le comportement macroscopique d'une mousse à cellule ouverte peut être calculé à partir des propriétés géométriques locales de manière directe. Dans le cas d'une distribution étendue, le comportement acoustique du milieu est gouverné par des tailles critiques qui sont déterminées à partir de la porosité et de la perméabilité statique pour une mousse à cellules ouvertes ; pour une mousse à cellules partiellement fermées il est nécessaire d'identifier en plus une dimension connue de la géométrie locale. Nos résultats sont comparés avec succès à des données expérimentales obtenues par des mesures au tube d'impédance. Dans une seconde étape, les propriétés élastiques effectives du milieu poreux sont déterminées. Une modélisation par éléments finis de la cellule représentative a été mise en œuvre. Les paramètres élastiques calculés sont finalement comparés avec les données de la littérature, ainsi qu'à des essais mécaniques / This work aims at determining the acoustical properties of poro-elastic media through a multi-scale method. Some imaging techniques (tomography and micrographs) allow to estimate some quantitative microstructure properties of foams containing open or partially closed cells. These properties are used in order to clarify the features of a representative three-dimensional unit cell of a periodic structure, which mimics the behaviour of the real foam. All parameters controlling the acoustical properties of the porous foam are obtained by using the homogenization of periodic structures. In a first step, the structure of the foam is assumed to be rigid. It was shown that, in the case of a narrow distribution of the characteristic size of the local geometry, a direct computation of the macroscopic behaviour from the local geometrical properties is consistent with the measured acoustical properties. For a wide distribution of pore size, the acoustical behaviour is controlled by critical sizes that are obtained from porosity and static permeability for an open-cell foam, while for partially closed cells, the identification of a complementary characteristic dimension within the pores becomes necessary (e.g. closure rate of membranes). Our results compare well with data obtained from an impedance tube set-up. In a second step, effective elastic properties are computed through a modelling of the foam structure by finite elements. The computed elastic parameters are finally compared with data coming from the literature and with results of mechanical tests

Title: Efficacy of post - isometric relaxation technique on muscle tissue and its viscoelastic properties after physical activity. Objective: This study is a pilot analytical and comparative study. The first aim of this thesis was evaluation of the effect of post-isometric relaxation technique on properties of muscle tissue after physical activity. The second aim of this thesis is to present a literature review regarding this topic using literature available. Methods: This study took place in the laboratory of kinesiology at UK FTVS. Six participants were measured prior to Wingate test, after Wingate test and after post- isometric relaxation or rest. Experimental lower extremity was applied post-isometric relaxation technique and the control lower extremity was not. Muscle tonus of the soleus muscle was measured with myotonometric device developed by Šifta. The final data were processed in the special software in Matlab and the obtained hysteresis curves were used for results analysis. Results: This study had three hypotheses and none of them was confirmed during the measuremets. The first hypothesis pressumed that muscle tonus will increase after the Wingate test, but it was not confirmed and thus further measurements were strongly influenced in the sense that post-isometric relaxation was not...

The aim of the thesis is to define the relevant market in railway transportation on the route Prague - Košice. In the theoretical part we describe the concept of relevant market, its use and importance for competition policy. We explain methods used for defining the relevant market and focus on the SSNIP test and its practical application, critical loss analysis. In the empirical part we conduct a consumer survey among passenger on the route Prague - Košice and use its results to compute elasticity of demand for rail transportation on the route Prague - Košice and then we perform critical loss analysis. JEL Classification C80, C81, D42, D47,K21, L41, L92 Keywords relevant market, SSNIP test, critical loss analysis, critical elasticity, critical loss Author's e-mail juhasova.zuzana@gmail.com Supervisor's e-mail vacek@fsv.cuni.cz