The U.S. military has an increasing requirement to prepare for and conduct urban operations (UO). This UO requirement spreads across the spectrum of conflict, from high intensity combat to peacekeeping and humanitarian missions (Stability and Support Operations--SASO), often simultaneously. Regardless of which portion(s) of the warfare spectrum U.S. forces are involved in, urban engagements are inevitable and present major challenges. Superior standoff weapons ranges and combined arms tactics are quickly negated in the confined terrain of a complex and usually unfamiliar urban environment. Often considerably more challenging is the ability to differentiate the enemy from noncombatants--endangering our Soldiers and their mission. Conventional forces, armed only with traditional weapons, normally have two options: the threat of a violent response (passive) or the use of deadly force (active). These two extremes have virtually no middle ground. The reluctance of military and/or peacekeeping forces to employ deadly force on unconfirmed enemy targets creates a vulnerability. This vulnerability may be mitigated by equipping a small combat unit (SCU) with a viable alternative to deadly force-- non-lethal weapons (NLWs). Using an imperfect friend or foe identification modeling framework within an agent-based simulation (ABS), an NLW is essentially used to interrogate (determine the intent of the person in order to identify friend or foe) rather than attempt to incapacitate a target. To determine the impacts of employing NLWs in an urban combat environment (with civilians on the battlefield), three factors were varied across 15 design points: the ability of U.S. military forces to positively identify a target, the range of the selected NLW, and the distribution/number of NLWs in an SCU. By replicating each design point and analyzing the resulting output data, the following insights were determined: the use of NLWs does not degrade U.S. survivability; NLWs are essential to neutralizing suicide attacks; and NLWs decrease civilian casualties.

Data conversion is the crucial interface between the real world and digital processing systems. Analogue-to-digital converters and digital-to-analogue converters are two key conversion devices and used as the interface. Up to now, the conventional ADCs based on Nyquist sampling theorem are facing a critical challenge: the resolution and the sampling rate must be radically increased when some applications such as radar detection and ultra-wideband communication emerge. The offset of comparators and the setup time of sample-and-hold circuits, however, limit the resulution and clock rate of ADCs. Alternatively, in some applications such as speech, temperature sensor, etc. signals remain possibly unchanged for prolonged periods with brief bursts of significant activity. If trational ADCs are employed in such circumstances a higher bandwidth is required for transmitting the converted samples. On the other hand, sampling signals with an extremely high clock rate are also required for converting the signals with the feature of sparsity in time domain. The level-crossing sampling scheme (LCSS) is one of the data conversions suitable for converting signals with the sparsity feature and brief bursts of signigicant activity. due to the traditional LCSS with a fixed clock rate being limited in applications a novel irregular data conversion scheme called analogue-to-information system (AIS) is proposed in this thesis. The AIS is typically based upon LCSS, but an adjustable clock generator and a real time data compression scheme are applied to it. As the system-level simulations results of AIS show it can be seen that a data transmission saving rate nearly 30% is achieved for different signals. PLLs with fast pull-in and locking schemes are very important when they are applied in TDMA systems and fequency hopping wireless systems. So a novel triple path nonlinear phase frequency detector (TPNPFD) is also proposed in this thesis. Compared to otherPFDs, the pll-in and locking time in TPNPFD is much shorter. A proper transmission data format can make the recreation of the skipped samples and the reconstruction of the original signal more efficient, i.e. they can be achieved in a minimum number of the received data without increasing much more hardware complexity. So the preliminary data format used for transmitting the converted data from AIS is also given in the final chapter of this thesis for future works.

Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment method that employs high-energy radiation beams to destroy cancer cells by damaging the ability of these cells to reproduce. Thoracic and abdominal tumors may change their positions during respiration by as much as three centimeters during radiation treatment. The prediction of respiratory motion has become an important research area because respiratory motion severely affects precise radiation dose delivery. This study describes recent radiotherapy technologies including tools for measuring target position during radiotherapy and tracking-based delivery systems. In the first part of our study we review three prediction approaches of respiratory motion, i.e., model-based methods, model-free heuristic learning algorithms, and hybrid methods. In the second part of our work we propose respiratory motion estimation with hybrid implementation of extended Kalman filter. The proposed method uses the recurrent neural network as the role of the predictor and the extended Kalman filter as the role of the corrector. In the third part of our work we further extend our research work to present customized prediction of respiratory motion with clustering from multiple patient interactions. For the customized prediction we construct the clustering based on breathing patterns of multiple patients using the feature selection metrics that are composed of a variety of breathing features. In the fourth part of our work we retrospectively categorize breathing data into several classes and propose a new approach to detect irregular breathing patterns using neural networks. We have evaluated the proposed new algorithm by comparing the prediction overshoot and the tracking estimation value. The experimental results of 448 patients’ breathing patterns validated the proposed irregular breathing classifier.

Dans l’Union Européenne, la Commission prépare une réforme de la législation applicable en matière d’immigration et d’asile, face à une montée continue du nombre des immigrés et de demandeurs d’asile. Les difficultés économiques, sociales et politiques que rencontrent un grand nombre d’Etats des continents africain, asiatique et même européen, maintiendront une demande forte d’entrée d’étrangers. Cette situation confrontera l’U.E à la recherche d’un difficile équilibre entre les intérêts nationaux et un certain devoir d’assistance. Ainsi, y’a-t-il une protection suffisante pour les étrangers dans le droit de l’U.E ? Ensuite, y a t-il, un statut général applicable à tous les étrangers ? Il est à noter que les droits des étrangers sont à la fois limités et variables. Limités lorsqu’on confronte le statut des étrangers et celui des citoyens européens ; variables dans la mesure où les étrangers ne se voient pas tous reconnaître les mêmes droits. Ainsi, on estime que l’Union devrait élaborer une politique de migration plus proactive axée sur la gestion et non sur la prévention des mouvements migratoires. Cette politique devrait se fonder sur un cadre définissant clairement les droits des étrangers. Elle devrait garantir aux travailleurs migrants un cadre juridique en matière d’égalité de traitement avec les nationaux. Un cadre commun devrait être élaboré pour les conditions d’entrée et de résidence, à partir d’un consensus entre les pouvoirs publics et les partenaires sociaux concernant les besoins du marché du travail. / In the European Union, the Commission prepares a reform of the legislation on immigration and asylum, vis-a-vis a steady rise in the number of immigrants and asylum seekers. The economic, social and political difficulties, that a large number of States in Africa, Asia and even Europe encounter, will maintain a strong request for entry from abroad. This situation will confront the E.U in search of a difficult balance between the national interests and a duty of care. Thus, is there a sufficient protection for the foreigners in the European Union Law ? Then, is there a general status applicable to all the foreigners ? It should be noted that the rights of foreigners are at the same time limited and variable. Limited when one confronts the status of foreign and that of the European citizens; and variables to the extent that foreigners are not given all the same rights. Thus, it is estimated that the Union should develop a more proactive migration policy based on the management and not on the prevention of the migratory movements. This policy should be based on a clear framework of the aliens ‘rights. It should guarantee to migrant workers a legal framework as regards equal treatment with the nationals. A common framework should be developed in the conditions of entry and residence, starting from a consensus between the public authorities and the social partners concerning the needs of the labor market.

During the onslaught of a storm on the coasts of Taiwan in summer and autumn, large waves and storm surge have often caused beach erosion. In order to mitigate coastal disasters and erosion, soft-options have been promoted in recent years, to fulfill the purpose of shore protection, as well as to meet the new requirements of landscape, ecology and recreation. Consequently, semi-natural approaches have been adopted in stead of the conventional hard-structures. This thesis aims to report a study on the effects of detached submerged breakwater layouts and storm wave types on beach profile changes and berm retreat. In order to establish a practical procedure to assist the assessment of beach profile changes with submerged breakwaters during storm, we first collect and analyze the beach profile change data performed in large wave tanks (CE from the US and PI from Japan), and apply the well known SBEACH model to derive regression relationship between the two key parameters ( and ) in this model against the non-dimensional fall velocity ( ). The suggestion of Larson and Kraus (2000) to include hard bottom option in SBEACH with a set of modified and values, which may be different from that originally developed for a sandy beach environment, is then carried out using the beach profile changes results conducted experimentally with submerged breakwaters (Risio and Lisi, 2010). Consequently, we have conducted the numerical experiments systematically to study the beach profile changes using submerged breakwaters under various environmental combinations (with 10 different offshore distances, 10 breakwater heights, 10 crown widths and 4 types of storm wave conditions derived from storm return periods), from which a new set of and values are derived and used in SBEACH for the investigation of installing submerged breakwaters to mitigate potential beach erosion. Our numerical investigations using SBEACH for a beach with submerged breakwater reveal that: (1) Beach profile changes in erosion (0 m line and berm) and accretion (0 m line) due to regular waves are more significant than that of irregular waves. (2) Storm waves with a long return period cause more erosion to the shoreline (0 m line) and berm, while that with short return period may produce accretion to the shoreline. (3) The further a submerged breakwater away offshore, the more sediment transportation offshore and severe beach and berm erosion. (4).An increase of submerged breakwater height would result in accretion near the 0 line; except during a violent storm event, when an increase of berm height could reduce berm erosion. (5) An increase to the crown width of a submerged breakwater could only become effective to reduce wave energy and berm erosion, if an appropriate breakwater height is used; otherwise, a mere increase in width with insufficient height would increase wave height and berm erosion.

The aim of this study is to examine the role of &lsquo / Turkish Disaster Regulations&rsquo / on architectural design. Although the preliminary aim of Turkish disaster regulations is to provide knowledge for designers and builders to control structural and constructional system of buildings that can resist disasters in the pre-disaster period, these regulations can create some restrictions for architects in their design process. Following an analytical examinations of Turkish disaster regulations that have been developed continuously after different disaster experiences for years from an architectural view, the focus will be given to the 2007 disaster regulation called &lsquo / Specification for Buildings to be Built in Earthquake Areas&rsquo / in order to evaluate critically the limitations of those regulations for architects in their design process. Furthermore, seven types of irregular buildings that are mentioned in 2007 disaster regulation will be examined and discussed in detail.

The aim of this study is to examine the role of &lsquo / Turkish Disaster Regulations&rsquo / on architectural design. Although the preliminary aim of Turkish disaster regulations is to provide knowledge for designers and builders to control structural and constructional system of buildings that can resist disasters in the pre-disaster period, these regulations can create some restrictions for architects in their design process. Following an analytical examinations of Turkish disaster regulations that have been developed continiously after different disaster experiences for years from an architectural view, the focus will be given to the 2007 disaster regulation called &lsquo / Specification for Buildings to be Built in Earthquake Areas&rsquo / in order to evaluate critically the limitations of those regulations for architects in their design process. Furthermore, seven types of irregular buildings that are mentioned in 2007 disaster regulation will be examined and discussed in detail.

The aim of this study was to examine personal running histories of one successful and one less successful Swedish female runner. The focus was on finding the motivating and demotivating factors in becoming a runner, and major differences between the successful and the less successful runner. The theoretical frameworks- transtheoretical model and selfdetermination theory- were used as guides when conducting two narrative interviews. Data analysis was based on the recommendations of the Narrative Oriented Inquiry (NOI) model. Sjuzet and fabula, holistic content and categorical content analyses were the three analyses chosen out of the six recommended in the NOI model. The holistic content analysis resulted in narratives about each participant life background and previous training, personal history to become a runner, and present time and future plans for running. The categorical-content analysis revealed eight motivating factors for running, four demotivating factors for running and three themes contrasting the participants. Results are discussed in relation to the theoretical frameworks and previous research.

Tire bales have become an innovative and cost effective fill material that can be used for the construction of geotechnical structures, like embankments for highway projects. The mechanical and physical properties they present allow them to be suitable for this type of structures, as long as they are provided with an appropriate drainage system. Stability of these structures is controlled by the interface shear strength existing in the contact surfaces between the bales. However, the tire bale has a jagged, uneven and highly variable surface and it presents a number of irregular tire ridges with random dimensions that are difficult to quantify. Due to the flexibility of these ridges, deformation of the interface occurs when a horizontal shear load is applied, and following this deformation the actual displacement of the interface takes place. Freilich (2009) performed large scale tests in the field and in the laboratory to observe the behavior of the whole tire bale structure, which is composed of the tire bale mass and the tire bale interface. Due to the irregular and highly variable surface of the tire bale, the deformations that occur on the ridges along the interface cannot be directly measured and quantified. Following similar concepts of some rock mechanic models, Freilich characterized the tire ridge interface using three parameters and came up with a model. Using these parameters, an ideal interface was constructed where the variability was reduced by incorporating a known geometry, and it can still be characterized in the same manner as that for the tire bale interface. Loads, deformations and displacements occurring along the interface were measured and recorded. From this data, shear strength parameters are defined and incorporated into Freilich’s tire ridge interface model that is used to predict the geometric and mechanical behavior of the irregular ridges controlling the interface shear strength. The behavior predicted from the model is then compared to the recorded data representing the actual geometric and mechanical behavior of the interface with known geometry, where the deformations on the asperities are approximated. This comparison verifies that the consideration of the flexibility from the tire ridges is not entirely described by the tire ridge interface model. Therefore a possible modification, based on the observations recorded, could be found. / text

- / We extend the theory for a novel approach for solving Elliptic Partial Differential Equations.