abstract: A converging operations approach using response time distribution modeling was adopted to better characterize the cognitive control dynamics underlying ongoing task cost and cue detection in event based prospective memory (PM). In Experiment 1, individual differences analyses revealed that working memory capacity uniquely predicted nonfocal cue detection, while proactive control and inhibition predicted variation in ongoing task cost of the ex-Gaussian parameter associated with continuous monitoring strategies (mu). In Experiments 2A and 2B, quasi-experimental techniques aimed at identifying the role of proactive control abilities in PM monitoring and cue detection suggested that low ability participants may have PM deficits during demanding tasks due to inefficient monitoring strategies, but that emphasizing importance of the intention can increase reliance on more efficacious monitoring strategies that boosts performance (Experiment 2A). Furthermore, high proactive control ability participants are able to efficiently regulate their monitoring strategies under scenarios that do not require costly monitoring for successful cue detection (Experiment 2B). In Experiments 3A and 3B, it was found that proactive control benefited cue detection in interference-rich environments, but the neural correlates of cue detection or intention execution did not differ when engaged in proactive versus reactive control. The results from the current set of studies highlight the importance of response time distribution modeling in understanding PM cost. Additionally, these results have important implications for extant theories of PM and have considerable applied ramifications concerning the cognitive control processes that should be targeted to improve PM abilities. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Psychology 2015

The Diploma thesis deals with reconstruction of Missing data of an Image. It is done by the use of appropriate Mathematical theory and numerical algorithm to reconstruct missing information. The result of this implementation is the reconstruction of missing image information. The thesis also compares different numerical methods, and see which one of them perform best in terms of efficiency and accuracy of the given problem, hence it is used for the reconstruction of missing data.

Every moment of every day, at least hundreds of thousands of tires roll across a surface throughout the world. Tires are indisputably important in our daily life. The tire's primary component is rubber, which consumes energy when it rotates on a substrate due to the viscoelastic material's internal friction: a phenomenon referred to as rolling resistance. The interaction between the tire and the road surface is one of the most intricate and crucial phenomena in an automobile, because it is responsible for creating forces, moments, and deformation in the tire. Additionally, the road's roughness interacts with the tire and contributes significantly to its performance. This dissertation aims to develop a comprehensive physics-based model for predicting the rolling resistance of a viscoelastic material due to dynamic deformations caused by tire rotation using an analytical approach. The model was developed by proposing a Gaussian wave function propagating across a tire circumference's viscoelastic medium. The wave function was selected to describe the displacement field produced by tire-road interaction. Additionally, by adopting a multi-scale modeling technique, the model was upgraded to estimate rolling resistance while taking into account surface roughness at all length scales, from macroscopic to microscopic. Additionally, another mathematical model was developed using the Fourier series approach to evaluate the steady-state stress response and energy dissipation for any harmonic and non-harmonic periodic strain signals. Additionally, the dissertation strove to build a continuum damage mathematical model using a combined testing/modeling methodology to predict the aging of Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR) after continuous exposure to the atmosphere. The obtained model was developed through the implementation of optimization techniques while formulating a mathematical model, which was then combined with a physics-based model to predict rolling resistance while taking into account rubber aging. Calibration of hyperelastic and viscoelastic material models with testing data was performed using an optimization technique that yielded sufficient results. The results of all mathematical models obtained in this dissertation are reported subsequently. The stress response of a viscoelastic material under harmonic and non-harmonic strain input yielded good agreement with the FEA model obtained using ABAQUS. The rolling resistance behavior under various operating conditions, including texture and aging effects, was reported, and the results aligned with the experimental results found in the literature. / Doctor of Philosophy / Every moment of every day, hundreds of thousands of automobile tires roll across a surface somewhere in the world. A tire is an undeniably important part of everyday life. Rubber is the tire's main component, and when it rotates on a surface, it loses energy, resulting in a force that resists motion, known as rolling resistance force. The contact between the tire and the road is one of the most complicated and important phenomena that happens in an automobile because it is responsible for the vehicle's dynamic performance in areas such as acceleration, stopping distance, and stability. Another factor that affects tire and car performance and should be taken into account is the road's roughness. This dissertation used an analytical method to come up with an accurate physics-based model for predicting the rolling resistance force of a viscoelastic material caused by tire rotation. The model was developed by assuming a Gaussian wave function would move across the tire circumference. Additionally, using a multi-scale modeling technique, the model was improved so that it could calculate the value of rolling resistance force considering surface roughness in all lengths of scale. This project also developed an additional mathematical model using the Fourier series method to determine how the stress response and energy dissipation would behave for any harmonic and nonharmonic periodic strain signals. Additionally, the dissertation presents the developing of a continuum damage mathematical model that could predict the material property of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) after being exposed to the air for a long time (i.e., aged). The model was developed based on experimental data and optimization techniques. This model was then combined with a physics-based model to predict rolling resistance force while taking aging into account. The material models were defined using an optimization method that yielded good results. The stress response of a viscoelastic material when it was subjected to harmonic and non-harmonic strain was in good agreement with the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) model made with ABAQUS. Rolling resistance behavior was observed, and the results were consistent with those found in the literature.

Σκοπός της παρούσας Διπλωματικής Εργασίας είναι η ανάπτυξη συγκεκριμένης μεθοδολογίας και αλγορίθμων ψηφιακής επεξεργασίας εικόνων για την αυτόματη εκτίμηση των διαμέτρων αγγείων σε οφθαλμολογικές εικόνες. Η συγκεκριμένη μέτρηση της διαμέτρου των αγγείων διαδραματίζει σημαντικό ρόλο στην έγκαιρη διάγνωση παθήσεων καθώς έχει αποδειχθεί ότι υπάρχει συσχετισμός μεταξύ των μεταβολών των τιμών των εν λόγω διαμέτρων και της εμφάνισης αλλοιώσεων στον αμφιβληστροειδή. Στα πλαίσια της εργασίας, υλοποιήθηκαν δύο μεθοδολογίες για τον υπολογισμό των διαμέτρων αγγείων οφθαλμολογικών εικόνων, οι οποίες συλλέγονται με χρήση κάμερας πυθμένα (fundus camera). Η πρώτη μεθοδολογία στηρίζεται στην εύρεση των σημείων που αποτελούν τους κεντρικούς άξονες των υπό εξέταση αγγείων με χρήση διαφορικού λογισμού. Ακολούθως, σε κάθε σημείο που ανήκει σε κεντρικό άξονα αγγείου, υπολογίζονται οι παράμετροι μιας συνάρτησης. Η εν λόγω συνάρτηση περιγράφει βέλτιστα τα επίπεδα φωτεινότητας της εικόνας κατά μήκος του ευθύγραμμου τμήματος που διέρχεται από το σημείο και είναι κάθετο στο αγγείο. H εύρεση των παραμέτρων της συνάρτησης πραγματοποιείται με χρήση τεχνικών βελτιστοποίησης. Το τελικό βήμα της μεθοδολογίας είναι η εκτίμηση της διαμέτρου των αγγείων από τις τιμές των παραμέτρων που έχουν υπολογιστεί. Η δεύτερη μεθοδολογία στηρίζεται στον αλγόριθμο που προτείνει ο P.H. Gregson. Αρχικά, πραγματοποιείται κατάτμηση της εικόνας με κατωφλίωση και εφαρμόζονται μορφολογικοί τελεστές συστολής και διαστολής στην εικόνα. Στη συνέχεια, εφαρμόζεται ο αλγόριθμος λέπτυνσης (thinning algorithm) με σκοπό την εύρεση των κεντρικών αξόνων των αγγείων και τέλος εκτιμάται η διάμετρος σε κάθε σημείο του κεντρικού άξονα με χρήση των επιπέδων του γκρίζου των εικονοστοιχείων που κείνται στην ευθεία που είναι κάθετη στο αγγείο σε κάθε σημείο του. / The scope of this Thesis is the development of a methodology and advance image processing techniques in order to automatically estimate vessel diameters in ophthalmological images. Motivation for the thesis is the fact that the measurement of vessel diameter plays significant role in the seasonable diagnosis of vascular disorders, as it is believed to be a relation between the variation in diameters and the detection of retinal disorders. In this thesis, two methodologies are developed in order to be applied in ophthalmological images that are collected by using a fundus camera. The first methodology is based on the detection of the pixels that constitute the centerlines of vessels, by using differential calculus. Specifically, at each pixel that belongs to a centerline of vessel, the parameters of a specific function are calculated. This function describes as accurately as possible the intensity levels along the segment that passes through the specific pixel and is perpendicular to the vessel. The parameters of this function are estimated using optimization techniques. The final step of the methodology is the assessment of the diameters of vessels using the values of the parameters. The second methodology is based on the algorithm that P.H.Gregson has proposed. At first, the vessels are detected by tresholding and a morphological closing algorithm is applied. Then, a thinning algorithm is used in order to detect the pixels that constitute the centerlines of the vessels and ultimately the diameter at each pixel of the centerlines is assessed using the gray levels of the pixels that constitute the segment that is perpendicular to the vessel at each specific pixel.