Now a days, Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras are installedeverywhere in public places to monitor illegal activities like armedrobberies. Mostly CCTV footages are used as post evidence after theoccurrence of crime. In many cases a person might be monitoringthe scene from CCTV but the attention can easily drift on prolongedobservation. Eciency of CCTV surveillance can be improved by in-corporation of image processing and object detection algorithms intomonitoring process.The object detection algorithms, previously implemented in CCTVvideo analysis detect pedestrians, animals and vehicles. These algo-rithms can be extended further to detect a person holding weaponslike rearms or sharp objects like knives in public or restricted places.In this work the detection of weapon from CCTV frame is acquiredby using Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) as feature vector andarticial neural networks performing back-propagation algorithm forclassication.As a weapon in the hands of a human is considered to be greaterthreat as compared to a weapon alone, in this work the detection ofhuman in an image prior to a weapon detection has been found advan-tageous. Weapon detection has been performed using three methods.In the rst method, the weapon in the image is detected directly with-out human detection. Second and third methods use HOG and back-ground subtraction methods for detection of human prior to detectionof a weapon. A knife and a gun are considered as weapons of inter-est in this work. The performance of the proposed detection methodswas analysed on test image dataset containing knives, guns and im-ages without weapon. The accuracy rate 84:6% has been achievedby a single-class classier for knife detection. A gun and a knife havebeen detected by the three-class classier with an accuracy rate 83:0%.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Chemistry / Daniel A. Higgins / This dissertation describes the application of single molecule spectroscopy and tracking to investigations of the nanoscale properties of thin-film chemical gradients and the transport dynamics of molecules dispersed within and upon these gradients. Chemical gradients are surface bound materials that incorporate gradually changing chemical and/or physical properties. A continuous and gradual change in the properties of gradients are expected and often required for their intended applications, which range from directed growth of cell colonies to combinatorial materials science. In reality, such conditions are almost never met due to spontaneous demixing and dewetting processes that can lead to properties variations on microscopic length scales. A better understanding on the properties of chemical gradients on microscopic length scales will aid in the production of better engineered materials. Single molecule spectroscopy (SMS) allows for gradient properties to be probed on nanometer-to-micrometer length scales. In this dissertation, quantitative measurements of gradient polarity (i.e., dielectric properties) are made along a sol-gel derived thin film that incorporates a macroscopic polarity gradient. These measurements report on the microscopic heterogeneity of the gradient film, and point to the occurrence of phase separation of the polar and nonpolar components along the gradient. Single molecule tracking (SMT) provides an important means to examine the dynamics of molecular mass transport in thin films and on surfaces. In this dissertation, SMT is employed to study mass transport in thin water films condensed over monolayer wettability gradients under ambient environments. The results show that the rate and the mechanism of molecular transport depend on the surface wettability, and on the ambient relative humidity. Finally, wettability gradients have been broadly used to drive the transport of liquid droplets. In this dissertation, these applications are extended to achieve spontaneous stretching of DNA by the propulsion of liquid droplets along the gradient. Single molecule fluorescence imaging of DNA stretched along these gradients demonstrates that hydrophobic surfaces play an important role in DNA stretching. The study also shows the surface tension force acting at the gradient-droplet contact line (interface) to be responsible for DNA elongation and alignment. Overall, single molecule methods have been shown to be highly useful for better understanding the properties of chemical gradients as described in this dissertation.

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The natural world consists of a vast array of forms, some more plentiful than others, yet our understanding of the processes responsible the production of biological diversity remains surprisingly limited. Here I combine novel datasets with powerful phylogenetic modeling techniques and computer simulations to test the effects of both biotic and abiotic factors on the dynamics of species radiations and the evolution of organism traits in birds. In the first part of this thesis, I develop our understanding of the importance of abiotic factors for diversification by showing that in the early stages of lineage diversification at least, rapid adaptation to novel climatic conditions is likely to represent a prominent driver of avian diversification. In the second part I concentrate on the role of biotic factors, in particular that of sexual selection. I show that not only is sexual selection associated with accelerated rates of speciation and secondary sympatry—as well as faster rates of net diversification across the entire avian tree of life—but also that across-species variation in rates of phenotypic evolution is best understood with reference to the focus and intensity of sexual selection. Finally, given that the relative importance of such processes appears to vary predictably across latitudes, in the final part of the thesis I argue that latitudinal differences in the speciation process offers a potentially powerful explanation for conflicting viewpoints regarding the contribution of speciation to high tropical diversity. Overall, this work provides fresh insight into the processes governing broad-scale patterns in biodiversity.

Latitudinal diversity gradient is one of the oldest known trends in the distribution of life on the Earth. Scientists have been trying to find causes of its formation for more than two hundred years. There are several hypotheses suggested to explain this gradient. Recently, it is one of the main themes of discussion among ecologists and evolutionary biologists. By this Thesis, I will try to contribute to understanding of processes that generate the latitudinal diversity gradient. Particularly, I study if there is a relationship between ambient temperature and diversification rate. Is this relationship different for individual groups of animals? I choose birds as a model group. Specifically, these six families of birds: Accipitridae, Columbidae, Furnariidae, Picidae, Psittacidae and Strigidae. These groups include more than 1500 species. Each of them has the same universal gradient of diversity, with the highest diversity concentrated in the tropics. My objective was to find out, whether the universal gradients of bird's diversity had been shaped by the same historical processes. Or alternatively, whether different evolutionary trajectories had converged to the same gradients. The main outcome of my work is a discovery that some of the selected families diversified faster in warmer climates...

Phytoliths are mostly formed by groundwater silica carried upwards in a plant's vascular system and consequently accumulated in different parts of the plant. After the plant's death, the phytoliths shaped in specific morphotypes are released into the soil. Phytolith assemblages found in the soil can therefore provide information on the previous vegetation cover. The use of phytoliths as a paleoecological tool is based on their high stability in a broad spectrum of environments, even in arid conditions which are usually not suitable for preservation of pollen grains and plant macro-remains. Analysis of surface phytolith assemblages linked to the parallel study of modern vegetation is offering a good opportunity to refine our knowledge of paleoecosystems of NE Africa by evaluating the interpretation value of the fossil data. Modern phytolith assemblages are usually interpreted by using their phytolith ratio to estimate the density of tree cover, the aridity, and the proportion of C3 and C4 grasses (Barboni et al. 1999). Here we show a comparison of soil phytolith assemblages on a 400 km long climatic gradient reaching from semidesert to short grass savanna. And we also show local variability in phytolith assamblages at one of localities in comparision with grass reference collection. This master...

Canyon shaped reservoirs are characteristic by specific environmental horizontal gradients, so they enable existence of several species of the Daphnia longispina complex in one water body. Due to preference of distinct environmental conditions Daphnia species occurre in the different localities. The aim of my thesis was to analyze detail taxonomical and clonal structure of Daphnia longispina group by ten microsatellite markers on longitudinal gradient and compare it between two consecutive seasons. Simultaneously I received newly discovered divergent mitochondrial lineage from Želivka reservoir. It was confirmed, that the distribution of species and their hybrids in water reservoir was non-concidental and the taxonomic spatial distribution is in two consecutive seasons relatively constant. On the contrary the spatial and temporal distribution of clones was very heterogeneous. Clonal diversity in the interspecific hybrids was lower than in the coexisting parental species. This finding supports the hypothesis, that there exist reproductive barriers between parental genomes. Most of the clones were substantively variable, but several clones that occurred in both seasons in similar localities were found. It is possible that some clones are able of overwintering in hypolimnion and in the spring...

The East Shetland Basin is a superb natural laboratory in which to study the role that normal fault growth and linkage has in determining petroleum prospectivity. Use of several high density 3D seismic volumes and over 250 boreholes permits key aspects of the Late Jurassic rift and its Permo-Triassic precursor to be analysed and its role on hydrocarbon trap formation, reservoir distribution and migration determined. The regional interpretation has revealed the generation of a North Sea archipelago of Upper Jurassic islands, the role of relay ramps in controlling syn-rift sediment dispersal patterns and the impact of normal faults of the later episode crossing and offsetting those generated by the earlier phase. The uplift, erosion and meteoric flushing of Upper Jurassic and older strata within the exposed fault blocks could potentially have huge consequences for the Brent play by enhancing reservoir properties and hence, help identify new play opportunities down-dip of major structures. Fault control on sediment dispersal can also be documented in a more localized study on the Cladhan Field, the site of a pronounced basin-margin relay ramp. This recent discovered set of syn-rift density flows illustrates how the development and distribution of depositional gradients and transport pathways form subtle play types. The Cladhan area is just one of several locations throughout the East Shetland Basin where the interaction of multiple rift phases is influential in the structural feedback after the Upper Jurassic rifting event. The delicate interaction and reactivation of underlying structural trends creates a series of multi-tiered fault block systems which can define several aspects of a petroleum system, depending upon the strike, polarity and level of reactivation of faults from one rift to another. The observations of fault growth and linkage in the Northern North Sea may provide generic lessons that help in determining petroleum prospectivity in other hydrocarbon rift basins (e.g. E. Africa and the N. Atlantic seaboard of North America).

The human visual system gathers information about three-dimensional object shape from a wide range of sources. How effectively we can use these sources, and how they are combined to form a consistent and accurate percept of the 3D world is the focus of much research. In complex scenes inter-reflections of light between surfaces (mutual illumination) can occur, creating chromatic illumination gradients. These gradients provide a source of information about 3D object shape, but little research has been conducted into the capabilities of the visual system to use such information. The experiments described here were conducted with the aim of understanding the influence of chromatic gradients from mutual illumination on 3D shape perception. Psychophysical experiments are described that were designed to investigate: If the human visual system takes account of mutual illumination when estimating 3D object shape, and how this might occur; How colour shading cues are integrated with other shape cues; The relative influence on 3D shape perception of achromatic (luminance) shading and chromatic shading from mutual illumination. In addition, one chapter explores a selection of mathematical models of cue integration and their applicability in this case. The results of the experiments suggest that the human visual system is able to quickly assess and take account of colour mutual illuminations when estimating 3D object shape, and use chromatic gradients as an independent and effective cue. Finally, mathematical modelling reveals that the chromatic gradient cue is likely integrated with other shape cues in a way that is close to statistically optimal.

Master of Science / Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering / Philip Barnes / Sediment is a large pollutant concern for the United States and is a major impairment source in water bodies (MARC 2013). Rivers and streams assessed in Kansas resulted in 87.8% being considered impaired, as well as 97.8% of the assessed lakes, reservoirs, and ponds (EPA 2012d). Tuttle Creek Reservoir is filling with sediment faster than any other federal reservoir in the region. Due to the importance of Tuttle Creek Reservoir, limiting the water impairments has been made a priority. The tributaries feeding the reservoir are all considered impaired, and TMDLs should be developed to limit the amount of sediment allowed in the water body. This study focuses on the stream energy and sediment loads occurring in a watershed in northeast Kansas over a six year period. When bankfull conditions occur, significant amounts of work are performed on the stream and excessive erosive forces may occur. The estimated bankfull discharge was 6.5 m3/s, and this event occurred every year except in 2012. At the same location the bankfull discharge was estimated, automated and grab water samples were collected and stream power was calculated. The samples were analyzed for total suspended sediment, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus, and the total annual loads were estimated. The total sediment load occurring in the watershed was 10,298,283 kilograms. The nutrient loads occurring were 78,213 kg of TN and 22,625 kg TP. Elevations were measured at equal intervals in a sub-watershed. Energy gradients were calculated, and it was observed that many of the gradients could create favorable conditions for sediment erosion to occur. The stream power estimate was 26.85 kg/m/s. At this stage larger sediment particles and load could be transported. A gully formed by overland flow entering the stream was also measured to estimate amounts of sediment being contributed from gully side conveyances within the watershed. The estimated sediment loss from the gully was 1,693,899 kg. Results of this study could help improve water quality and help quantify the amount of sediment being carried from the watershed and streambanks, so BMPs and other design features may be implemented.