The present research is a targeted endeavor to study the underlying characteristics and novel applications of millimeter (mm) wave through terahertz (THz) spectrum of electromagnetic (EM) energy. Focused thereof are the following specific tasks broadly considered pertinent to the said EM spectral range: (i) To elucidate the material characteristics vis-à-vis the interaction with EM energy at the test frequencies; (ii) to identify biomedical applications based on the material characteristics studied and applied to biomedia; and (iii) to model the wireless communication channels supporting EM waves at the test frequency bands of interest. Commensurate with the scope as above, the objectives of the research are as follows: / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Cardiac auscultation, an important part of the physical examination, is difficult for many primary care providers. As a result, diagnoses are missed or auscultatory signs misinterpreted. A reliable, automated means of interpreting cardiac auscultation should be of benefit to both the primary care provider and to patients. This paper explores a novel approach to this problem and develops an algorithm that can be expanded to include all the necessary electronics and programming to develop such a device. The algorithm is explained and its shortcomings exposed. The potential for further development is also expounded. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

How does spatial organization of objects affect the perceptual processing of a scene? Surprisingly, little research has explored this topic. A few studies have reported that, when simple, homogenous stimuli (e.g., dots), are presented in a regular formation, they are judged to be more numerous than when presented in a random configuration (Ginsburg, 1976; 1978). However, these results may not apply to real-world objects. In the current study, fewer objects were believed to be on organized desks than their disorganized equivalents. Objects that are organized may be more likely to become integrated, due to classic Gestalt principles. Consequently, visual search may be more difficult. Such object integration may diminish saliency, making objects less apparent and more difficult to find. This could explain why, in the present study, objects on disorganized desks were found faster. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Studies exploring facial emotion recognition (FER) abilities in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) samples have yielded inconsistent results despite the widely-accepted finding that an impairment in emotion recognition is a core component of ASD. The current study aimed to determine if an FER task featuring both unfamiliar and familiar faces would highlight additional group differences between ASD children and typically developing (TD) children. We tested the two groups of 4- to 8-year-olds on this revised task, and also compared their resting-state brain activity using electroencephalogram (EEG) measurements. As hypothesized, the TD group had significantly higher overall emotion recognition percent scores. In addition, there was a significant interaction effect of group by familiarity, with the ASD group recognizing emotional expressions significantly better in familiar faces than in unfamiliar ones. This finding may be related to the preference of children with autism for people and situations which they are accustomed to. TD children did not demonstrate this pattern, as their recognition scores were approximately the same for familiar faces and unfamiliar ones. No significant group differences existed for EEG alpha power or EEG alpha asymmetry in frontal, central, temporal, parietal, or occipital brain regions. Also, neither of these EEG measurements were strongly correlated with the group FER performances. Further evidence is needed to assess the association between neurophysiological measurements and behavioral symptoms of ASD. The behavioral results of this study provide preliminary evidence that an FER task featuring both familiar and unfamiliar expressions produces a more optimal assessment of emotion recognition ability. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2017. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

This dissertation introduces our work on face recognition using a novel approach based on creating 3D face model from 2D face images. Together with the pose angle estimation and illumination compensation, this method can be used successfully to recognize 2D faces with 3D recognition algorithms. The results reported here were obtained partially with our own face image database, which had 2D and 3D face images of 50 subjects, with 9 different pose angles. It is shown that by applying even the simple PCA algorithm, this new approach can yield successful recognition rates using 2D probing images and 3D gallery images. The insight gained from the 2D/3D face recognition study was also extended to the case of involving 2D probing and 2D gallery images, which offers a more flexible approach since it is much easier and practical to acquire 2D photos for recognition. To test the effectiveness of the proposed approach, the public AT&T face database, which had 2D only face photos of 40 subjects, with 10 different images each, was utilized in the experimental study. The results from this investigation show that with our approach, the 3D recognition algorithm can be successfully applied to 2D only images. The performance of the proposed approach was further compared with some of the existing face recognition techniques. Studies on imperfect conditions such as domain and pose/illumination variations were also carried out. Additionally, the performance of the algorithms on noisy photos was evaluated. Pros and cons of the proposed face recognition technique along with suggestions for future studies are also given in the dissertation. / by Guan Xin. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2012. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

In order to facilitate the development, discussion, and advancement of the relatively new subfield of Artificial Intelligence focused on generating narrative content, the author has developed a pattern language for generating narratives, along with a new categorization framework for narrative generation systems. An emphasis and focus is placed on generating the Fabula of the story (the ordered sequence of events that make up the plot). Approaches to narrative generation are classified into one of three categories, and a pattern is presented for each approach. Enhancement patterns that can be used in conjunction with one of the core patterns are also identified. In total, nine patterns are identified - three core narratology patterns, four Fabula patterns, and two extension patterns. These patterns will be very useful to software architects designing a new generation of narrative generation systems. / by Samuel Greene. / Thesis (M.S.C.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.

The literature regarding biological motion suggests that people may accurately identify and recognize the gender of others using movement cues in the absence of typical identifiers. This study compared identification and gender judgments of traditional point-light stimuli to skeleton stimuli. Controlling for previous experience and execution of actions, the frequency and familiarity of movements was also considered. Watching action clips, participants learned to identify 4 male and 4 female actors. Participants then identified the corresponding point-light or skeleton displays. Although results indicate higher than chance performance, no difference was observed between stimuli conditions. Analyses did show better gender recognition for common as well as previously viewed actions. This suggests that visual experience influences extraction and application of biological motion. Thus insufficient practice in relying on movement cues for identification could explain the significant yet poor performance in biological motion point-light research. / by Sara Manuel. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2012. Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-04T18:57:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_caio_godinho_2014.pdf: 2200918 bytes, checksum: aa8817dd5a147c8a2d55413e1a796132 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-03-18 / Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae 7448 e uma bactéria patogênica e parasita obrigatória do trato respiratório de suínos. A compreensão de seus mecanismos de regulação gênica é ainda incompleta e incapaz de explicar a dinâmica observada na expressão de seus genes. Diversos elementos podem exercer funções regulatórias da expressão gênica em bactérias, dentre eles os ncRNAs. Este trabalho reporta a identificação e classificaçãao de 48 regiões no genoma de M. hyopneumoniae 7448 suscetíveis a abrigarem novos genes de ncRNA. Para isso foram utilizadas técnicas de modelagem estocástica e diversas outras ferramentas computacionais. Duas importantes ferramentas foram desenvolvidas no decorrer desta dissertação, sendo uma para a inferência de conservação evolutiva em regiões intergênicas e a outra { denominada FraPS { uma melhoria na delimitação genômica dos candidatos a ncRNA. Os resultados corroboram com a hipótese da existência de ncRNAs como elementos reguladores da expressão gênica na bactéria estudada, exercendo papeis fundamentais na sobrevivência e patogenicidade da mesma. Genes de adesinas, lipoproteínas, e do complexo de transporte ABC foram encontrados entre os possíveis genes-alvo a regulação via ncRNA, resultado que auxilia o planejamento de experimentos moleculares para o estudo da regulação por ncRNAs em micoplasmas.

Shi, Xingang. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 135-152). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

by Tham Yiu-Man. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1993. / Includes bibliographical references. / Abstract --- p.i / Acknowledgements --- p.iii / Table of Contents --- p.iv / Chapter Chapter I --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Introduction --- p.1-1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Survey on Chinese Character Recognition --- p.1-4 / Chapter 1.3 --- Methodology Adopts in Our System --- p.1-7 / Chapter 1.4 --- Contributions and Organization of the Thesis --- p.1-11 / Chapter Chapter II --- Pre-processing and Stroke Extraction / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.2-1 / Chapter 2.2 --- Thinning --- p.2-1 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Introduction to Thinning --- p.2-1 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Proposed Thinning Algorithm Cater for Stroke Extraction --- p.2-6 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Thinning Results --- p.2-9 / Chapter 2.3 --- Stroke Extraction --- p.2-13 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Introduction to Stroke Extraction --- p.2-13 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Proposed Stroke Extraction Method --- p.2-14 / Chapter 2.3.2.1 --- Fork point detection --- p.2-16 / Chapter 2.3.2.2 --- 8-connected fork point merging --- p.2-18 / Chapter 2.3.2.3 --- Sub-stroke extraction --- p.2-18 / Chapter 2.3.2.4 --- Fork point merging --- p.2-19 / Chapter 2.3.2.5 --- Sub-stroke connection --- p.2-24 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Stroke Extraction Accuracy --- p.2-27 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Corner Detection --- p.2-29 / Chapter 2.3.4.1 --- Introduction to Corner Detection --- p.2-29 / Chapter 2.3.4.2 --- Proposed Corner Detection Formulation --- p.2-30 / Chapter 2.4 --- Concluding Remarks --- p.2-33 / Chapter Chapter III --- Four Corner Code / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.3-1 / Chapter 3.2 --- Deletion of Hook Strokes --- p.3-3 / Chapter 3.3 --- Stroke Types Selection --- p.3-5 / Chapter 3.4 --- Probability Formulations of Stroke Types --- p.3-7 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Simple Strokes --- p.3-7 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Square --- p.3-8 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Cross --- p.3-10 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Upper Right Corner --- p.3-12 / Chapter 3.4.5 --- Lower Left Corner --- p.3-12 / Chapter 3.5 --- Corner Segments Extraction Procedure --- p.3-14 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Corner Segment Probability --- p.3-21 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Corner Segment Extraction --- p.3-23 / Chapter 3.6 4 --- C Codes Generation --- p.3-26 / Chapter 3.7 --- Parameters Determination --- p.3-29 / Chapter 3.8 --- Sensitivity Test --- p.3-31 / Chapter 3.9 --- Classification Rate --- p.3-32 / Chapter 3.10 --- Feedback by Corner Segments --- p.3-34 / Chapter 3.11 --- Classification Rate with Feedback by Corner Segment --- p.3-37 / Chapter 3.12 --- Reasons for Mis-classification --- p.3-38 / Chapter 3.13 --- Suggested Solution to the Mis-interpretation of Stroke Type --- p.3-41 / Chapter 3.14 --- Reduce Size of Candidate Set by No.of Input Segments --- p.3-43 / Chapter 3.15 --- Extension to Higher Order Code --- p.3-45 / Chapter 3.16 --- Concluding Remarks --- p.3-46 / Chapter Chapter IV --- Relaxation / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.4-1 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Introduction to Relaxation --- p.4-1 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Formulation of Relaxation --- p.4-2 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- Survey on Chinese Character Recognition by using Relaxation --- p.4-5 / Chapter 4.2 --- Relaxation Formulations --- p.4-9 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Definition of Neighbour Segments --- p.4-9 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Formulation of Initial Probability Assignment --- p.4-12 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Formulation of Compatibility Function --- p.4-14 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Formulation of Support from Neighbours --- p.4-16 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Stopping Criteria --- p.4-17 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Distance Measures --- p.4-17 / Chapter 4.2.7 --- Parameters Determination --- p.4-21 / Chapter 4.3 --- Recognition Rate --- p.4-23 / Chapter 4.4 --- Reasons for Mis-recognition in Relaxation --- p.4-27 / Chapter 4.5 --- Introduction of No-label Class --- p.4-31 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- No-label Initial Probability --- p.4-31 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- No-label Compatibility Function --- p.4-32 / Chapter 4.5.3 --- Improvement by No-label Class --- p.4-33 / Chapter 4.6 --- Rate of Convergence --- p.4-35 / Chapter 4.6.1 --- Updating Formulae in Exponential Form --- p.4-38 / Chapter 4.7 --- Comparison with Yamamoto et al's Relaxation Method --- p.4-40 / Chapter 4.7.1 --- Formulations in Yamamoto et al's Relaxation Method --- p.4-40 / Chapter 4.7.2 --- Modifications in [YAMAM82] --- p.4-42 / Chapter 4.7.3 --- Performance Comparison with [YAMAM82] --- p.4-43 / Chapter 4.8 --- System Overall Recognition Rate --- p.4-45 / Chapter 4.9 --- Concluding Remarks --- p.4-48 / Chapter Chapter V --- Concluding Remarks / Chapter 5.1 --- Recapitulation and Conclusions --- p.5-1 / Chapter 5.2 --- Limitations in the System --- p.5-4 / Chapter 5.3 --- Suggestions for Further Developments --- p.5-6 / References --- p.R-1 / Appendix User's Guide / Chapter A .l --- System Functions --- p.A-1 / Chapter A.2 --- Platform and Compiler --- p.A-1 / Chapter A.3 --- File List --- p.A-2 / Chapter A.4 --- Directory --- p.A-3 / Chapter A.5 --- Description of Sub-routines --- p.A-3 / Chapter A.6 --- Data Structures and Header Files --- p.A-12 / Chapter A.7 --- Character File charfile Structure --- p.A-15 / Chapter A.8 --- Suggested Program to Implement the System --- p.A-17