L'exploitation minière des sables bitumineux requiert une succession de nombreuses opérations pour séparer le bitume, l'eau et le sable. La séparation solide/liquide fait intervenir un hydrocyclone. Afin de limiter l'ajout d'eau, l'hydrocyclone doit fonctionner dans des conditions inhabituelles correspondant à une concentration élevée à l'alimentation. Une étude expérimentale a permis de caractériser l'ensemble des régimes de fonctionnement, l'influence de la concentration et des caractéristiques géométriques. De plus, des simulations numériques ont été réalisées avec NEPTUNE_CFD@Tlse. Deux méthodes sont proposées pour modéliser les comportements observés à faible et à forte concentration. Les résultats numériques sont en bon accord avec les expériences sur toute la gamme de concentration. L'étude des phénomènes locaux permet une meilleure compréhension des mécanismes de séparation. / Tar sands beneficiation requires a series of processing steps for separation of bitumen, water and sand particles. In this process, hydrocyclones are used to separate sand from water and bitumen, thereby recovering additional bitumen and concentrating sand particles before sending them off to tailing ponds. In order to reduce fresh water consumption (environmental policy), hydrocyclones need to operate with high feed solids content, say 50% in mass, which lays outside their standard operating regime. The response and performance of hydrocyclones need to be understood under such stringent operating conditions. A pilot scale experiment was commissioned for testing a 100mm diam. hydrocyclone under different operating regimes of discharge and measuring the corresponding separation performance. Feed solids concentration and geometrical properties were varied extensively. Separation performance indicators, including partition curve, cut-size, sharpness index and water recovery to underflow were obtained by standard data reconciliation. The experimental data provided all the information required to test the CFD model that was derived to simulate the hydrocyclone. Eulerian simulations of the three-dimensional liquid-solid flow inside the hydrocyclone were carried out, using a multi-fluid model (NEPTUNE_ CFD@Tlse). The actual geometrical features and operating conditions of the hydrocyclone were accurately matched in the simulations. Two simulation approaches have been proposed for hydrocyclone modelling, depending on their operating under dilute conditions, with a spray discharge or dense conditions, with a rope discharge. Numerical simulation results are in good agreement with experiments. Local analysis of hydrodynamic features yields new insights into the behaviour of hydrocyclones at high feed solids concentration.

In this dissertation, the problem of partitioning a set of treatments with respect to a control treatment is considered. Starting in 1950's a number of researchers have worked on this problem and have proposed alternative solutions. In Tong (1979), the authors proposed a formulation to solve this problem and hundreds of researchers and practitioners have used that formulation for the partition problem. However, Tong's formulation is somewhat rigid and misleading for the practitioners, if the distance between the ``good'' and the ``bad'' populations is large. In this case, the indifference zone gets quite large and the undesirable feature of the Tong's formulation to partition the populations in the indifference zone, without any penalty, can potentially lead Tong's formulation to produce misleading partitions. In this dissertation, a generalization of the Tong's formulation is proposed, under which, the treatments in the indifference zone are not partitioned as ``good'' or ``bad'', but are partitioned as a identifiable set. For this generalized partition, a fully sequential and a two-stage procedure is proposed and its theoretical properties are derived. The proposed procedures are also studied via Monte Carlo Simulation studies. The thesis concludes with some non-parametric partition procedures and the study of robustness of the various available procedures in the statistical literature.

<p>Fitting statistical models is computationally challenging when the sample size or the dimension of the dataset is huge. An attractive approach for down-scaling the problem size is to first partition the dataset into subsets and then fit using distributed algorithms. The dataset can be partitioned either horizontally (in the sample space) or vertically (in the feature space), and the challenge arise in defining an algorithm with low communication, theoretical guarantees and excellent practical performance in general settings. For sample space partitioning, I propose a MEdian Selection Subset AGgregation Estimator ({\em message}) algorithm for solving these issues. The algorithm applies feature selection in parallel for each subset using regularized regression or Bayesian variable selection method, calculates the `median' feature inclusion index, estimates coefficients for the selected features in parallel for each subset, and then averages these estimates. The algorithm is simple, involves very minimal communication, scales efficiently in sample size, and has theoretical guarantees. I provide extensive experiments to show excellent performance in feature selection, estimation, prediction, and computation time relative to usual competitors.</p><p>While sample space partitioning is useful in handling datasets with large sample size, feature space partitioning is more effective when the data dimension is high. Existing methods for partitioning features, however, are either vulnerable to high correlations or inefficient in reducing the model dimension. In the thesis, I propose a new embarrassingly parallel framework named {\em DECO} for distributed variable selection and parameter estimation. In {\em DECO}, variables are first partitioned and allocated to m distributed workers. The decorrelated subset data within each worker are then fitted via any algorithm designed for high-dimensional problems. We show that by incorporating the decorrelation step, DECO can achieve consistent variable selection and parameter estimation on each subset with (almost) no assumptions. In addition, the convergence rate is nearly minimax optimal for both sparse and weakly sparse models and does NOT depend on the partition number m. Extensive numerical experiments are provided to illustrate the performance of the new framework.</p><p>For datasets with both large sample sizes and high dimensionality, I propose a new "divided-and-conquer" framework {\em DEME} (DECO-message) by leveraging both the {\em DECO} and the {\em message} algorithm. The new framework first partitions the dataset in the sample space into row cubes using {\em message} and then partition the feature space of the cubes using {\em DECO}. This procedure is equivalent to partitioning the original data matrix into multiple small blocks, each with a feasible size that can be stored and fitted in a computer in parallel. The results are then synthezied via the {\em DECO} and {\em message} algorithm in a reverse order to produce the final output. The whole framework is extremely scalable.</p> / Dissertation

Estudos de coeficiente de partição mostram que o valor de Kp do metal pode variar ordens de grandeza conforme as características físico-químicas do solo. Portanto, o Kp é um parâmetro sensível no modelo de avaliação de risco à saúde humana, e normalmente é um valor nominal adotado por agências ambientais que pode não representar adequadamente o solo em estudo e implicar erros no cálculo do risco. Este trabalho tem como objetivos: avaliar a contaminação do solo adjacente à usina termoelétrica de Figueira por metais tóxicos; determinar o Kp dos metais As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb e Zn no solo pela razão entre a concentração do metal obtida por digestão com HNO3 concentrado e a concentração do metal obtida por extração com EDTA 0,05 mol L-1 (KpEDTA) ou Ca(NO3)2 0,1 mol L-1 (KpCa(NO3)2); e avaliar a influência do uso dos diferentes valores de Kp no modelo de avaliação de risco à saúde humana C-Soil no cálculo do risco. As principais conclusões foram: os metais contaminantes do solo de Figueira foram As, Cd, Mo, Pb e Zn, e o As foi o elemento mais crítico; tanto o valor de KpCa(NO3)2 quanto o de KpEDTA poderiam ser utilizados no cálculo do risco à saúde humana, no caso de Figueira, exceto para o Pb, mas o KpEDTA seria mais recomendado, por apresentar valores com menor dispersão; os valores nominais de KpCSoil dos metais poderiam ser utilizados para o cálculo de risco à saúde humana no caso de Figueira, ou seja, não teria necessidade de se determinar valores de Kp locais (KpEDTA e KpCa(NO3)2), exceto para o Pb. / Studies of partition coefficient show that Kp values of metals can vary orders of magnitude according to the soil physical-chemistry characteristics. Therefore, the Kp is a sensible parameter in human health risk assessment model. In general, a default value is adopted by environmental agencies and often it is not represent suitably the soil studied and can cause errors in the risk calculation. The objectives of this work are: evaluate the heavy metals soil contamination around the Figueira coal-fired power plant; determine the metal Kp of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb and Zn in soil by the ratio between the metal concentration obtained by concentrate HNO3 digestion and the metal concentration obtained by extraction with EDTA 0,05 mol L-1 (KpEDTA) or Ca(NO3)2 0,1 mol L-1 (KpCa(NO3)2); and evaluate the influence of the application of different Kp values in human health risk assessment C-Soil model in risk calculation. The main conclusions of the present study were: As, Cd, Mo, Pb e Zn were the Figueira soil metal contaminants, being As the pollunt of major human health concern; either KpCa(NO3)2 or KpEDTA values could be used for human health risk calculation, in Figueira case, except for Pb, and the KpEDTA values were preferably recommended due to the less dispersion of their values; the KpCSoil metals default values could be applied for the human health risk calculation in Figueira case, in other words, it would not have necessity to determine Kp values of region (KpEDTA and KpCa(NO3)2), except to Pb.

Este trabalho consiste em introduzir uma nova abordagem de representação de superfície no ambiente de simulação Freeflow2D. Consiste em usar Partição da Unidade Implícita para estimar da superfície a geometria, normais e curvatura. Procurando se valer das vantagens de métodos do tipo meshless (sem malha) conservando no entanto a malha Lagrangiana, no interesse de manter o fácil acesso de vizinhança, inserção e eliminação de pontos / The objective of this work is to introduce a new approache of surface representation within the Freeflow system. It consists of using implicit functions by means of Partition of Unit Implicit to estimate surface geometry, normals and curvature. Aiming at the advantages of meshless methods of surface representation whilst keeping the Lagrangian mesh in order to preserve ease of access of geometric vicinity, particle insertion and removal

A atual situação sócio econômica do país tem levado as empresas construtorasa buscarem eficiência no seu processo de produção. Nesse contexto, o uso das chapas de gesso acartonado como componente de vedação vertical interna vem se tornando cada vez mais intenso, substituindo a tradicional vedação em alvenaria. Apesar da utilização crescente desse componente, há uma carência no país sobre o conhecimento da tecnologia construtiva das divisórias de gesso acartonado, que já é largamente difundida em vários países. Dessa forma, o presente trabalho caracteriza o método construtivo da vedação vertical interna de chapas de gesso acartonado, abordando sobre o seu desempenho; analisando os materiais, componentes, equipamentos e ferramentas necessários para a sua execução; apresentando os procedimentos de montagem da divisória e propondo algumas diretrizes para a elaboração de um projeto para produção e o estabelecimento de parâmetros de controle durante o processo de execução. Espera-se dessa forma contribuir para o avanço da tecnologia de produção das vedações verticais e, em especial, das divisórias de gesso acartonado. / Due to the current social and economic situation in Brazil, building construction companies are seeking ways to improve efficiency in their production processes. For this reason, gypsum plasterboard is beginning to be widely used for internal walls as a substitute for traditional masonry. In spite of the increasing utilization of this component, which is common in other countries, little research regarding gypsum plasterboard construction technology has been carried out here. In this way, this study deals with the gypsum plasterboard construction method, analyzing its performance, materials, components, equipment and tools required for installation. It also describes the procedure for assembling these partitions. Finally, some guidelines for the production design elaboration and the parameters to help to control the execution process are proposed. This study aims to contribute to improving internal wall technologies, especially gypsum plasterboard partition construction.

Nesta tese estudamos o conceito de grau de um morfismo irredutível em ${m mod}A$ relacionado ao conceito de teoria de partições pós-projetiva e pré-injetiva de uma álgebra de artin $A$. Introduzimos o conceito de grau de um morfismo irredutível em relação a uma categoria ${\\mathfrak D}$ de ${m ind}A$ e estudamos o caso em que ${\\mathfrak D}$ é um elemento da partição ${\\bf P_0}, \\cdots, {\\bf P_{\\infty}}$. Dentro do contexto de grau de um irredutível em relação a uma subcategoria resolvemos um problema proposto por Chaio, Le meur e Trepode em \\cite. Utilizando as partições pós-projetiva e pré-injetiva obtemos outra demonstração para a caracterização de álgebras de tipo finito obtida em \\cite e obtemos uma caracterização semelhante para subcategorias de módulos $\\Delta$-bons de tipo finito de ${m mod}A$ tal que $A$ é uma álgebra quasi-hereditária. Também utilizamos a teoria de partições para provar que, dada uma álgebra quasi-hereditária $A$ e ${\\cal F}(\\Delta) \\subseteq {m mod}A$, se $({m rad}_{\\Delta}^{\\infty})^2=0$ então ${\\cal F}(\\Delta)$ é de tipo finito. / In this thesis we analyse the concept of the degree of an irreducible morphism associated to the theory of postprojective and preinjective partitions. We introduce the idea of the degree of an irreducible morphism with respect to a subcategory ${\\mathfrak D}$ and we study the case in which ${\\mathfrak D}$ is an element of the postprojective partition ${\\bf P_0}, \\cdots, {\\bf P_{\\infty}}$. By using the concept of the degree of an irreducible morphism with respect to a subcategory ${\\mathfrak D}$ we present a solution to a problem recently proposed by Chaio, Le Meur and Trepode in \\cite. We also use the theory of postprojective and preprojective partitions to give another proof to the characterization of finite type algebras obtained by Chaio and Liu in \\cite and we apply similar techniques to obtain a characterization of finite type ${\\cal F}(\\Delta)$ subcategories where ${\\cal F}(\\Delta)$ is the subcategory of $\\Delta$-good modules of the category of finitely generated modules over a quasi-hereditary algebra. We also prove that given a quasi-hereditary algebra $A$ and ${\\cal F}(\\Delta) \\subseteq {m mod}A$, if $({m rad}_{\\Delta}^{\\infty})^2=0$ then ${\\cal F}(\\Delta)$ is of finite type.

Predictable, robust genetic parts including constitutive promoters are one of the defining attributes of synthetic biology. Ideally, candidate promoters should cover a broad range of expression strengths and yield homogeneous output, whilst also being orthogonal to endogenous regulatory pathways. However, such libraries are not always readily available in non-model organisms, such as the industrially relevant genus Geobacillus. A multitude of different approaches are available for the identification and de novo design of prokaryotic promoters, although it may be unclear which methodology is most practical in an industrial context. Endogenous promoters may be individually isolated from upstream of well-understood genes, or bioinformatically identified en masse. Alternatively, pre-existing promoters may be mutagenised, or mathematical abstraction can be used to model promoter strength and design de novo synthetic regulatory sequences. In this investigation, bioinformatic, mathematic and mutagenic approaches to promoter discovery were directly compared. Hundreds of previously uncharacterised putative promoters were bioinformatically identified from the core genome of four Geobacillus species, and a rational sampling method was used to select sequences for in vivo characterisation. A library of 95 promoters covered a 2-log range of expression strengths when characterised in vivo using fluorescent reporter proteins. Data derived from this experimental characterisation were used to train Artificial Neural Network, Partial Least Squares and Random Forest statistical models, which quantifiably inferred the relationship between DNA sequence and function. The resulting models showed limited predictive- but good descriptive-power. In particular, the models highlighted the importance of sequences upstream of the canonical -35 and -10 motifs for determining promoter function in Geobacillus. Additionally, two commonly used mutagenic techniques for promoter production, Saturation Mutagenesis of Flanking Regions and error-prone PCR, were applied. The resulting sequence libraries showed limited promoter activity, underlining the difficulty of deriving synthetic promoters in species where understanding of transcription regulation is limited. As such, bioinformatic identification and deep-characterisation of endogenous promoter elements was posited as the most practical approach for the derivation of promoter libraries in non-model organisms of industrial interest.

First of all, the PDE form of the classical level set function phi is parameterized with an analytical form of Radial Basis Function (RBF), which is real-valued and continuously differentiable. Such that the upwind scheme, extension velocity and reinitialization algorithms in solving the discrete Hamilton-Jacobi equation can be waived in the numerical process, the whole framework is transformed into a standard mathematical programming problem in which the linear objective function can be directly optimized by a gradient algorithm - shape sensitivity. The minimization of the mean compliance is studied and presented to demonstrate the advantages of the parametrical method. / Parametrization substantially reduces the complexity of the original discrete PDE level set method. However, the result shows that the high number of RBF knots leads to dense coefficient matrices. Thus, it induces numerical instabilities, slow convergence and less accuracy in the process. Consequently, we then study the distribution of knots density for faster computation. By updating the movement of the knot, the knot moves towards the position where the change is directly determined by the shape sensitivity. In such case, we may use lesser number of knots to describe the properties of the system while the smoothness of the implicit function is satisfied. The sensitivity study is evaluated carefully and discussed in detail. Results show a significant improvement in the computational speed and stability. / The study found significant improvement obtained in the structural optimization with the parametric level set method, both the stability and efficiency were given as the benefits of using the method of the parametrization. / Traditional structural optimization approaches can be referred to as sizing optimization, since their design variables are the proportions of the structure or material. A major restriction in the sizing problem is that the shape and the topology of the structure are fixed a priori. Undoubtedly, changes in shape (e.g., curved boundary) and topology (e.g., holes in a member) could produce more significant improvement in dynamic performance than modifications in size alone. A recent development of shape and topology optimization based on the implicit moving boundaries with the use of the renowned level set method is regarded as one of the most sophisticated methods in handling the change of the structural topology. In this thesis, we study the parametrization of the classical level set method for the structural optimization and the associated computational methodology. / Usually, a large-scale model will lead to bulk coefficient matrices in the RBF optimization and the linear function normally require O (N3) flops and O (N2) memory while processing. It is becoming impractical to solve as N goes over 10,000. In fact, the dense system equation matrix frequently leads to the numerical instabilities and the failure of the optimization. Finally, we introduce the method of Partition of Unity (POU) to deal with this problem. POU is often used in 3D reconstruction of implicit surfaces from scattered point sets. It breaks the global domain into smaller overlapping subdomains such that the implicit functions can be more efficiently interpolated. Meanwhile, the global solution is obtained by blending all the local solutions with a set of weighting functions. The algorithm of POU is presented here, and we analyze and discuss the numerical results accordingly. / Ho, Hon Shan. / Adviser: Michael Y. Wang. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-03, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 106-119). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

O grande magmatismo intracontinental ocorrido a 133 Ma na Bacia do Paraná foi desenvolvido por um sistema fissural no qual a interação da Pluma Tristão da Cunha na base da litosfera (com ou sem contaminação crustal) gerou derrames, diques e sills no Brasil, nos Estados do RS, SC, PR, SP, MT, MS e GO, e em parte do Paraguai, Argentina e Uruguai. Na Formação Serra Geral, representativa deste intenso magmatismo, foram coletadas amostras de sills (RS, PR, SP e GO) cristalizados entre os sedimentos Paleozóicos pré-vulcânicos da Bacia do Paraná. Já haviam sido realizados diversos estudos geoquímicos a partir da década de 80 com objetivo de identificar as variações químicas de diques, derrames e sills da Formação Serra Geral. No entanto, a utilização de novas técnicas analíticas (EPMA e LA-ICP-MS), utilizadas no presente estudo, proporcionaram o entendimento das variações químicas de forma pontual em minerais ígneos. A geoquímica dos sills estudados caracteriza-os como sub-alcalinos toleíticos continentais que variam de basaltos a andesitos basáltico. Assim, podendo ser divididos em dois grupos químicos: sills do Rio Grande do Sul (baixo TiO2 < 2 wt.%, com concentrações inferiores de P2O5, Nb, Sr, Zr, Zn, Y e Pb e concentrações superiores de Rb, Th, U, e Cs) e sills do Paraná, São Paulo e Goiás (alto TiO2 >2 wt.%, de geoquímica oposta). Petrograficamente, os sills do RS possuem granulação mais fina, ocorrência restrita de cobre nativo e distribuição modal elevada para plagioclásios cálcicos, quando comparados ao sills do PR, SP e GO. A determinação geoquímica por micro-análise em plagioclásios e clinopiroxênios demonstra que as variações químicas identificadas em rocha total são relatas as modificações químicas ocorridas nestes minerais. Variações do coeficiente de partição (KD) de elementos traços compatíveis em diversas zonas de cristais de plagioclásio e clinopiroxênio possuem correlação na substituição dos elementos Ca, Na, Al, Fe e Mg nos sistemas NaAlSi3O8-CaAl2Si2O8 e Mg2Si2O6-CaMgSi2O6-CaFeSi2O6- Fe2Si2O6, respectivamente. Coeficientes de partição de cristais de plagioclásio e clinopiroxênio agora são determinados em diferentes porções de núcleo, intermédio e borda aprimorando o conhecimento da variação do KD até então determinado como um único valor apenas para o cristal. / The large intracontinental magmatism occurred at 133 Ma in the Paraná Basin was developed by a fissure system in which the interaction of Tristan da Cunha plume at the base of the lithosphere (with or without crustal contamination) caused lava flows, dikes and sills in the RS, SC, PR, SP, MT, MS and GO and part of Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay. In the Serra Geral Formation, representative of intense magmatism, sills crystallized samples were collected (RS, PR, SP and GO) between the Paleozoic prevolcanic sediments of Paraná basin. Several geochemical studies have been carried out since the 80's in order to identify the chemical variations of dikes, sills and lava flows of the Serra Geral Formation. However, the use of new analytical techniques (EPMA and LA-ICP-MS) provided the study of chemical variations in a timely manner in igneous minerals. The geochemistry of the sills studied characterized them as sub-alkaline continental tholeiitic basalts ranging from the basalt to basaltic andesites. Divided into two chemical groups: sills of Rio Grande do Sul (low TiO2 <2 wt.%, With lower concentrations of P2O5, Nb, Sr, Zr, Zn, Y and Pb and higher concentrations of Rb, Th, U, and Cs) and sills of Parana, Sao Paulo and Goiás (high TiO2> 2 wt.%, geochemical opposite). Petrographically the sills of the RS have finer grain, restricted occurrence of native copper and modal higher to calcic plagioclase, compared to the sills of the PR, SP and GO. Geochemical determination by micro-analysis in plagioclases and clinopyroxenes show that the chemical variations identified in whole rock we describe the chemical changes occurring in these minerals. Variations of the partition coefficient (KD) of compatible trace elements in various parts of crystals of plagioclase and clinopyroxene were correlated in the replacement of Ca, Na, Al, Fe and Mg systems NaAlSi3O8-CaAl2Si2O8 and Mg2Si2O6-CaMgSi2O6-CaFeSi2O6-Fe2Si2O6, respectively. Partition coefficients of crystals of plagioclase and clinopyroxene are now determined in different portions of core, intermediate and rim enhance knowledge of the variation of KD previously determined as a single value only to the crystal.