La synchronisation temporelle est la première opération effectuée par le démodulateur. Elle permet d'assurer que les échantillons transmis aux processus de démodulation puissent réaliser un taux d'erreurs binaires le plus faible.Dans cette thèse, nous proposons l'étude d'algorithmes innovants de synchronisation temporelle à haute performance.D'abord, nous avons proposé des algorithmes exploitant l'information souple du décodeur en plus du signal reçu afin d'améliorer l'estimation aveugle d'un retard temporel supposé constant sur la durée d'observation.Ensuite, nous avons proposé un algorithme original basé sur la synchronisation par lissage à faible complexité.Cette étape a consisté à proposer une technique opérant dans un contexte hors ligne, permettant l'estimation d'un retard aléatoire variable dans le temps via les boucles d'aller-retour sur plusieurs itération. Les performances d'un tel estimateur dépassent celles des algorithmes traditionnels.Afin d'évaluer la pertinence de tous les estimateurs proposés, pour des retards déterministe et aléatoire, nous avons évalué et comparé leurs performances à des bornes de Cramèr-Rao que nous avons développées pour ce cadre. Enfin, nous avons évalué les algorithmes proposés sur des signaux WBAN. / Time synchronization is the first function performed by the demodulator. It ensures that the samples transmitted to the demodulation processes allow to achieve the lowest bit error rate.In this thesis we propose the study of innovative algorithms for high performance time synchronization.First, we propose algorithms exploiting the soft information from the decoder in addition to the received signal to improve the blind estimation of the time delay. Next, we develop an original algorithm based on low complexity smoothing synchronization techniques. This step consisted in proposing a technique operating in an off-line context, making it possible to estimate a random delay that varies over time on several iterations via Forward- Backward loops. The performance of such estimators exceeds that of traditional algorithms. In order to evaluate the relevance of all the proposed estimators, for deterministic and random delays, we evaluated and compared their performance to Cramer-Rao bounds that we developed within these frameworks. We, finally, evaluated the proposed algorithms on WBAN signals.

The unit root revolution in time series modeling has created substantial interest in non- stationarity and its implications for empirical modeling. Beyond the original interest in trend vs. di¤erence non-stationarity, there has been renewed interest in testing and modeling structural breaks. The focus of my dissertation is on testing for departures from stationarity in a broader framework where unit root, mean trends and structural break non-stationarity constitute only a small subset of the possible forms of non-stationarity. In the fi¦rst chapter the most popular testing procedures for the assumption, in view of the fact that general forms of non-stationarity render each observation unique, I develop a testing procedure using a resampling scheme which is based on a Maximum Entropy replication algorithm. The proposed misspecification testing procedure relies on resampling techniques to enhance the informational content of the observed data in an attempt to capture heterogeneity 'locally' using rolling window estimators of the primary moments of the stochastic process. This provides an e¤ective way to enhance the sample information in order to assess the presence of departures from stationarity. Depending on the sample size, the method utilizes overlapping or non-overlapping window estimates. The e¤ectiveness of the testing procedure is assessed using extensive Monte Carlo simulations. The use of rolling non-overlapping windows improves the method by improving both the size and power of the test. In particular, the new test has empirical size very close to the nominal and very high power for a variety of departures from stationarity. The proposed procedure is then applied on seven macroeconomic series in the fourth chapter. Finally, the optimal choice of orthogonal polynomials, for hypothesis testing, is investigated in the last chapter. / Ph. D.

In econometric analysis, the traditional bootstrap and related methods often require the assumption of stationarity. This assumption says that the distribution function of the process remains unchanged when shifted in time by an arbitrary value, imposing perfect time-homogeneity. In terms of the joint distribution, stationarity implies that the date of the first time index is not relevant. There are many problems with this assumption however for time series data. With time series, the order in which random realizations occur is crucial. This is why theorists work with stochastic processes, with two implicit arguments, w and t, where w represents the sample space and t represents the order. The question becomes, is there a bootstrap procedure that can preserve the ordering without assuming stationarity? The new method for maximum entropy ensembles proposed by Dr. H. D. Vinod might satisfy the Ergodic and Kolmogorov theorems, without assuming stationarity. / Master of Science

It is essential to always track maximum power from photovoltaic (PV) sources. Failure to track the global maximum power point under partial shading conditions is one of the major reasons that lead to significant power losses. Several maximum power point tracking methods have been proposed to deal with this problem. However, none of them were able to effectively identify the occurrence of partial shading. With the facility of Matlab modelling and simulation as well as the aid of a constructed solar emulator, the power-voltage characteristics of a PV panel under uniform and non-uniform irradiance conditions have been studied and some useful conclusions have been identified from observation. Based on these conclusions, a novel maximum power point tracking algorithm has been proposed, which is capable of identifying the occurrence of partial shading hence determining the need for a global scan over the operation range of PV panels for the true maximum power point. In the meantime, the effect of PV dynamics, due to the capacitance of PV cells, on maximum power point trackers has been investigated and some initial results and suggestions have been presented in this work.

O rápido declínio na digestibilidade da parede celular, devido à lignificação, dificulta o uso eficiente das gramíneas de clima tropical. Objetivou-se detectar e sequenciar o cDNA completo dos principais genes responsáveis pelo processo de biossíntese da lignina, CCoAOMT, C4H e PAL nas gramíneas Brachiaria brizantha Stapf. cv. Marandu e Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Tanzânia. As amostras das espécies de plantas forrageiras foram coletadas do Campo Agrostológico e levadas, imediatamente, para o laboratório para a extração do RNA total. Após tratamento do RNA total com o kit GeneRacer (Invitrogen), obteve-se o comprimento total 3\' e 5\' do cDNA das forrageiras B. brizantha e P. maximum. Os primers específicos foram delineados com base nas sequências de B. brizantha, P. maximum e milho, depositadas no GenBank, e foram aneladas com os primers 3 e 5 do kit GeneRacer para obtenção do comprimento total do gene. As amplificações foram feitas através PCR qualitativo e os produtos foram purificados, clonados e seqüenciados em ambas direções. Foram encontrados alguns problemas com a otimização na reação de seqüenciamento e obteve-se 67,25 % e 82,22% do gene CCoAOMT, 13,29% e 26,16% do gene PAL e 13,22% do gene C4H em B. brizantha e P. maximum, respectivamente. O sequenciamento dos genes codificantes das enzimas envolvidas no processo de lignificação, apresentaram alta similaridade com as sequências nucleotídicas do milho, e foi possível identificar e classificá-los de acordo com as classes que compõem cada gene. B. brizantha e P. maximum apresentaram 89,6% com CCoAOMT 1 e 88,3% com CCoAOMT 3, 96% e 95% com PAL1 e 96% com C4H1, respectivamente. Ao analisar as similaridades das sequências nucleotídicas dos fragmentos sequenciados, para os genes CCoAOMT, PAL e C4H, entre as demais gramíneas amplamente estudadas, encontrou-se 91% e 91,14% CCoAOMT do arroz, 79,6% e 82% CCoAOMT do trigo, 94,33 e 94,2% CCoAOMT do sorgo, 87 e 86% CCoAOMT da aveia, 90% e 94,25% PAL do arroz, 82% e 93,33% PAL do trigo, 92 % e 89,5% PAL da aveia, 94,33 e 95% PAL do sorgo, 97% e 91% PAL cana-de-açúcar, 90% e 93% PAL da cevada, 76% C4H do arroz, 94% C4H do sorgo, 89% C4H do trigo e 87% C4H da cevada, em B. brizantha e P. maximum, respectivamente. A altíssima similaridade encontrada entre os fragmentos dos genes da via dos fenilpropanóides em B. brizantha e P. maximum, principalmente com o milho e arroz que possuem seu genoma em avançado estudo e conhecimento, possibilitam o uso do banco de dados destas espécies para estudos futuros de biologia molecular. / The rapid decline in digestibility of cell wall, due to lignification, hinders the efficient use of tropical grasses. The objective was to detect and sequence the complete cDNA of the major genes responsible for lignin biosynthesis process, CCoAOMT, PAL and C4H in grasses Brachiaria brizantha Stapf. cv. Marandu and Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Tanzania. Samples of fodder plant species were collected from the field agrostology and taken immediately to the laboratory for extraction of total RNA. After treatment of total RNA with the Generac kit (Invitrogen), we obtained the full length 3\'and 5\' cDNA of forage B. brizantha and P. maximum. The specific primers were designed based on sequences of B. brizantha, P. maximum and corn, deposited in GenBank, and were ringed with primers 3 \'and 5\' of the Generac kit to obtain the total length of the gene. The amplifications were performed by qualitative PCR and the products were purified, cloned and sequenced in both directions. We found some problems with optimization in the sequencing reaction and obtained 67.25% and 82.22% of the CCoAOMT gene, 13.29% and 26.16% of PAL gene and 13.22% of the C4H gene in B. brizantha and P. maximum, respectively. The sequencing of genes encoding enzymes involved in lignification, showed high similarity with the nucleotide sequences of maize, and it was possible to identify and classify them according to the classes that make up each gene. B. brizantha and P. maximum 89.6% presented with CCoAOMT 1 and 88.3% with CCoAOMT 3, 96% and 95% to 96% with PAL1 and C4H1, respectively. By analyzing the similarities of the nucleotide sequences of the fragments sequenced, the genes for CCoAOMT, PAL and C4H, among the other grasses studied extensively, met 91% and 91.14% of the rice CCoAOMT, 79.6% and 82% of the CCoAOMT wheat, 94.33% and 94.2 CCoAOMT sorghum, 87 and 86% oat CCoAOMT, 90% and 94.25% of the rice PAL, 82 PAL% and 93.33% for wheat, 92% and 89.5 PAL% oats, 95% and 94.33 PAL sorghum, 97% and 91% PAL cane sugar, 90% and 93% PAL barley, rice 76% C4H, C4H 94% sorghum, 89% the C4H C4H wheat and barley 87% in B. brizantha and P. maximum, respectively. The high similarity found among the fragments of the genes of the phenylpropanoid pathway in B. brizantha and P. maximum, especially with corn and rice that have their genome in advanced study and knowledge can enable the use of the database of these species for future studies of molecular biology.

Submitted by Cláudia Bueno (claudiamoura18@gmail.com) on 2016-03-10T18:09:47Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Diogo Silva Santos - 2015.pdf: 1506630 bytes, checksum: ad4d5cea1bf639548aa84a33111e32a7 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2016-03-14T14:20:43Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Diogo Silva Santos - 2015.pdf: 1506630 bytes, checksum: ad4d5cea1bf639548aa84a33111e32a7 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-14T14:20:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Diogo Silva Santos - 2015.pdf: 1506630 bytes, checksum: ad4d5cea1bf639548aa84a33111e32a7 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-10-20 / We evaluated the effects of adding soybean meal (SM) as an additive sequestrant of moisture and nutrient source in mombasa grass silage, compared to standard fermentation and in situ degradability of silage with different levels of inclusion of soybean meal. The experiment was conducted at Fazenda AJR, in the municipality of Goiás, Goiás.The treatments used were composed of four levels of inclusion of SM 0%, 10%, 15% and 20%.The experimental design was completely randomized, with four treatments and four replicates.The mombasa grass featured 24.8% DM cutting time and was silage in silos, PVC minis closed during 65 days.After the opening of the minis silos were performed to determine the losses weighing through the quantification of effluent production and losses by gas.Samples were collected for further analysis of ammoniacal nitrogen, pH and soluble carbohydrates, as well as the chemical composition-mycotoxin (s), degradability in situ.The addition of the additive has increased the level of DM and was efficient in the control of effluents and gaseous losses.The additive allowed great recovery rates of DM.The addition of SM favored the increase of lactic, acetic acid and butyric acid and propionic concentrations, reflecting the improvement of the fermentation of silage profile.The addition of the SM has provided greater total carbohydrates content in all levels of inclusion.Silages containing SM had highercrude protein (CP) content, as well as lower fiber content in a neutral detergent (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF).The degradability of the DM, NDF and CP improved linearly according to the addition of SM, reaching degradabilities potential and specific degradabilities best, with the inclusion of 20% of SM.The addition of soybean meal provided silage well preserved, with minimal loss of DM and still contributed significantly to the improvement of the nutritional value of silage. / Foram avaliados os efeitos da adição de farelo de soja (FS) como aditivo sequestrante de umidade e fonte de nutrientes na ensilagem de capim-mombaça, em relação ao padrão fermentativo e a degradabilidade in situ das silagens com diferentes níveis de inclusão de farelo de soja.. O experimento foi conduzido na Fazenda AJR, no município de Goiás, GO. Os tratamentos utilizados foram constituídos por quatro níveis de inclusão de FS 0%, 10%, 15% e 20%. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental inteiramente ao acaso, com quatro tratamentos e quatro repetições. O capim-mombaça apresentava 24,8% de MSno momento do corte e foi ensilado em mini silos de PVC, permanecendo fechados durante 65 dias. Após a abertura dos mini silos foram realizadas pesagens para a determinação das perdas através da quantificação da produção por efluentes e das perdas por gases. Amostras foram coletadas para posteriores análises de nitrogênio amoniacal, pH e carboidratos solúveis, bem como a composição químicobromatológica, degradabilidade in situ. A adição do aditivo aumentou o teor de MS e foi eficiente no controle de perdas por efluentes e gases. O aditivo permitiu ótimos índices de recuperação de MS. A adição de FS favoreceu o aumentodas concentrações de ácido lático, acético e butírico e diminuindo as concentrações de propiônico, refletindo na melhoria do perfil fermentativo das silagens. A adição do FS proporcionou maior teor de carboidratos totais, em todos os níveis de inclusão. As silagens contendo FS apresentaram maior teor de proteína bruta (PB), além de menor teor de fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e fibra em detergente ácido (FDA). A degradabilidade da MS, FDN e PB melhorou linearmente de acordo com a adição de FS, atingindo melhores degradabilidades potenciais e degradabilidades especificas, com a inclusão de 20% de FS. A adição de farelo de soja proporcionou silagens bem conservadas, com mínimas perdas de MS e ainda contribuiu de forma significativa para a melhoria do valor nutritivo das silagens.

O rápido declínio na digestibilidade da parede celular, devido à lignificação, dificulta o uso eficiente das gramíneas de clima tropical. Objetivou-se detectar e sequenciar o cDNA completo dos principais genes responsáveis pelo processo de biossíntese da lignina, CCoAOMT, C4H e PAL nas gramíneas Brachiaria brizantha Stapf. cv. Marandu e Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Tanzânia. As amostras das espécies de plantas forrageiras foram coletadas do Campo Agrostológico e levadas, imediatamente, para o laboratório para a extração do RNA total. Após tratamento do RNA total com o kit GeneRacer (Invitrogen), obteve-se o comprimento total 3\' e 5\' do cDNA das forrageiras B. brizantha e P. maximum. Os primers específicos foram delineados com base nas sequências de B. brizantha, P. maximum e milho, depositadas no GenBank, e foram aneladas com os primers 3 e 5 do kit GeneRacer para obtenção do comprimento total do gene. As amplificações foram feitas através PCR qualitativo e os produtos foram purificados, clonados e seqüenciados em ambas direções. Foram encontrados alguns problemas com a otimização na reação de seqüenciamento e obteve-se 67,25 % e 82,22% do gene CCoAOMT, 13,29% e 26,16% do gene PAL e 13,22% do gene C4H em B. brizantha e P. maximum, respectivamente. O sequenciamento dos genes codificantes das enzimas envolvidas no processo de lignificação, apresentaram alta similaridade com as sequências nucleotídicas do milho, e foi possível identificar e classificá-los de acordo com as classes que compõem cada gene. B. brizantha e P. maximum apresentaram 89,6% com CCoAOMT 1 e 88,3% com CCoAOMT 3, 96% e 95% com PAL1 e 96% com C4H1, respectivamente. Ao analisar as similaridades das sequências nucleotídicas dos fragmentos sequenciados, para os genes CCoAOMT, PAL e C4H, entre as demais gramíneas amplamente estudadas, encontrou-se 91% e 91,14% CCoAOMT do arroz, 79,6% e 82% CCoAOMT do trigo, 94,33 e 94,2% CCoAOMT do sorgo, 87 e 86% CCoAOMT da aveia, 90% e 94,25% PAL do arroz, 82% e 93,33% PAL do trigo, 92 % e 89,5% PAL da aveia, 94,33 e 95% PAL do sorgo, 97% e 91% PAL cana-de-açúcar, 90% e 93% PAL da cevada, 76% C4H do arroz, 94% C4H do sorgo, 89% C4H do trigo e 87% C4H da cevada, em B. brizantha e P. maximum, respectivamente. A altíssima similaridade encontrada entre os fragmentos dos genes da via dos fenilpropanóides em B. brizantha e P. maximum, principalmente com o milho e arroz que possuem seu genoma em avançado estudo e conhecimento, possibilitam o uso do banco de dados destas espécies para estudos futuros de biologia molecular. / The rapid decline in digestibility of cell wall, due to lignification, hinders the efficient use of tropical grasses. The objective was to detect and sequence the complete cDNA of the major genes responsible for lignin biosynthesis process, CCoAOMT, PAL and C4H in grasses Brachiaria brizantha Stapf. cv. Marandu and Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Tanzania. Samples of fodder plant species were collected from the field agrostology and taken immediately to the laboratory for extraction of total RNA. After treatment of total RNA with the Generac kit (Invitrogen), we obtained the full length 3\'and 5\' cDNA of forage B. brizantha and P. maximum. The specific primers were designed based on sequences of B. brizantha, P. maximum and corn, deposited in GenBank, and were ringed with primers 3 \'and 5\' of the Generac kit to obtain the total length of the gene. The amplifications were performed by qualitative PCR and the products were purified, cloned and sequenced in both directions. We found some problems with optimization in the sequencing reaction and obtained 67.25% and 82.22% of the CCoAOMT gene, 13.29% and 26.16% of PAL gene and 13.22% of the C4H gene in B. brizantha and P. maximum, respectively. The sequencing of genes encoding enzymes involved in lignification, showed high similarity with the nucleotide sequences of maize, and it was possible to identify and classify them according to the classes that make up each gene. B. brizantha and P. maximum 89.6% presented with CCoAOMT 1 and 88.3% with CCoAOMT 3, 96% and 95% to 96% with PAL1 and C4H1, respectively. By analyzing the similarities of the nucleotide sequences of the fragments sequenced, the genes for CCoAOMT, PAL and C4H, among the other grasses studied extensively, met 91% and 91.14% of the rice CCoAOMT, 79.6% and 82% of the CCoAOMT wheat, 94.33% and 94.2 CCoAOMT sorghum, 87 and 86% oat CCoAOMT, 90% and 94.25% of the rice PAL, 82 PAL% and 93.33% for wheat, 92% and 89.5 PAL% oats, 95% and 94.33 PAL sorghum, 97% and 91% PAL cane sugar, 90% and 93% PAL barley, rice 76% C4H, C4H 94% sorghum, 89% the C4H C4H wheat and barley 87% in B. brizantha and P. maximum, respectively. The high similarity found among the fragments of the genes of the phenylpropanoid pathway in B. brizantha and P. maximum, especially with corn and rice that have their genome in advanced study and knowledge can enable the use of the database of these species for future studies of molecular biology.

O trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar algumas variáveis estruturais e bromatológicas de Panicum maximum Jacq cv. Massai submetido a quatro doses de nitrogênio (0, 40, 80 e120 mg/dm3) e três momentos de aplicação após o corte (um, três, e sete dias), divididos em três cortes, em um esquema fatorial 4 x 3, em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições. O incremento nas taxas de aparecimento foliar (TApF), alongamento foliar (TAIF) e aparecimento de perfilhos (TApP), no número de folhas vivas (NFV), no comprimento final da folha (CFF), na densidade populacional de perfilhos (DPP), na produção de matéria seca de folha total (MSFT) e nos teores de proteína bruta (PB), foi de 79%, 115%, 42%, 23%, 48%, 65%, 770% e 35%, respectivamente para a dose de 120 mg/dm3 em relação à ausência de adubação nitrogenada. O filocrono (fil), a duração de vida da folha (DVF), a fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e a fibra em detergente acido (FDA), apresentaram decréscimo de 58%, 47%, 6% e 9%, respectivamente, com a adição de N. A taxa de alongamento de colmo (TAlC) não respondeu a adubação nitrogenada. Apenas o CFF, a TAlC e a MSFT responderam às épocas de aplicação de N após o corte, com valores pouco expressivos. A adubação nitrogenada exerce efeito positivo sobre as variáveis estudadas, porém novos estudos devem ser conduzidos para a definição da época de adubação de N após o corte, em que o nutriente seja melhor aproveitado pelas plantas. / This work was carried out to evaluate same morphogenic, structural, bromatologic and productive variables of the Panicum maximum Jacq cv. Massai in response to four nitrogen doses (0, 40, 80 and 120 mg/dm3) and with three application times after cutting (one, three and seven days) in a 4 x 3 factorial treatment combination, in a completely randomized design, with four replications. The increase in therates of leaf appearance (LAR), leaf elongation (LER) and tillering (TR), number of live leaves (NLL), final leaf length (FLL), tiller population density (TPD), dry matter total leaf production (DMTLP) and crude protein (CP) levels was 79%, 115%, 42%, 23%, 48%, 65%, 770% and 35%, respectively for the dose of 120 mg/dm3 regarding the absence of fertilization. The phyllochron (phy) showed a decrease of 58%, the leaf life span (LLS) of 47%, the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of 6% and acid detergent fiber (ADF) of 9%, with N addition. The stem elongation rate (SER) didnot respond to nitrogen fertilization. Only the FLL, the SER and DMTLP responded times of N application after cutting, with little significant values. Nitrogen fertilization has a positive effect on the variables studied, but news studies should be conducted to better define the time of N application after cutting, for better utilization of this nutrient by plants.

Every dam must be capable of safely passing a predetermined flood magnitude. For high-hazard dams, it is a common practice to require that this flood be the Probable Maximum Flood (PMF). The determination of the PMF starts with the determination of the Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP). We used the generalized estimates of the PMP as outlined in Hydrometeorological Report (HMR) 49. In this study we used the storm event model approach to convert the PMP into PMF. Different synthetic unit hydrograph (SUH) techniques were then used in the conversion process. The Soil Conservation Service (SCS) curve number method was used to estimate the losses, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) lag time relationship was used as the basis for estimating the time parameters for the different (SUH) methods. The objectives of this study were 1) to evaluate the theoretical and empirical basis for the SUH methods that are commonly used for Utah PMF determinations; 2) to compare the PMF determinations for representative Utah watersheds based on alternative SUH methods using Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques, and to explore the effects of parameter uncertainty ; and 3) to make recommendations for the selection and use of SUH methods for Utah PMF determinations. An interactive PMF modeling system was formulated. The modeling system processes the different databases and estimates the parameters required for HEC 1 model input to produce the PMF hydrograph. Five SUHs were used, tbe SCS, Clark, Snyder, USBR, and the Corps of Engineers (COE) LA valley S-graph. Seven representative Utah high-hazard dam sites were selected and used in the evaluation of the five SUH techniques, focusing on their procedure, practice and applicability, and analytical and empirical evaluations. GIS procedures proved to be a very efficient and flexible means for obtaining rainfall-runoff model inputs. Deviation of the site-specific time-area curve from the default curve in HEC 1 leads to errors in the peak flow estimate. In the absence of suitable events for site-specific development of unit hydrographs, the USBR SUH technique is to be used, but careful consideration should be given to the appropriateness of the use of local storm K, values for Utah local storm PMFs.

Worst-case analysis is often meaningless in practice. Some problems never reach the anticipated worst-case complexity. Other solutions get bogged down with impractical constants during implementation, despite having favorable asymptotic running times. In this thesis, we investigate these contrasts in the context of finding maximum flows in planar digraphs. We suggest analytic techniques that adapt to the problem instance, and present a structural property that concludes equivalence between shortest paths and maximum st-flow in planar graphs. The best known algorithm for maximum st-flow in directed planar graphs is an augmenting- paths algorithm with O(n) iterations. Using dynamic trees, each iteration can be implemented in O(log n) time. Long before, Itai and Shiloach showed that when s and t are on the boundary of a common face, the O(n)-iteration augmenting-paths algorithm is equivalent to Dijkstra's algorithm in the graph���s dual: the max st-planar st-flow problem can be solved with one single-source shortest-path computation. In this thesis we show that (a) when s and t are separated by p faces, the max st-flow can be found with at most 2p single-source shortest-path computations, which, using the linear-time shortest-paths algorithm for planar graphs, results in an O(np)-time algorithm, and (b) that the equivalence between augmenting-paths and Dijkstra's extends to the most general non-st-planar digraphs, using their half-infinite universal cover graph. / Graduation date: 2013