Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1984. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 82-83).

Thesis--University of Wisconsin--Madison. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 99-101).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2007. / Title from PDF title page screen. Advisor: Theresa Vaughan; submitted to the Dept. of Mathematics and Statistics. Includes bibliographical references (p. 56).

This thesis presents the results of an investigation into the use of puzzle-based combinatorial structures for erasure correction purposes. The research encompasses two main combinatorial structures: the well-known number placement puzzle Sudoku and a novel three component construction designed specifically with puzzle-based erasure correction in mind. The thesis describes the construction of outline erasure correction schemes incorporating each of the two structures. The research identifies that both of the structures contain a number of smaller sub-structures, the removal of which results in a grid with more than one potential solution - a detrimental property for erasure correction purposes. Extensive investigation into the properties of these sub-structures is carried out for each of the two outline erasure correction schemes, and results are determined that indicate that, although the schemes are theoretically feasible, the prevalence of sub-structures results in practically infeasible schemes. The thesis presents detailed classifications for the different cases of sub-structures observed in each of the outline erasure correction schemes. The anticipated similarities in the sub-structures of Sudoku and sub-structures of Latin Squares, an established area of combinatorial research, are observed and investigated, the proportion of Sudoku puzzles free of small sub-structures is calculated and a simulation comparing the recovery rates of small sub-structure free Sudoku and standard Sudoku is carried out. The analysis of sub-structures for the second erasure correction scheme involves detailed classification of a variety of small sub-structures; the thesis also derives probabilistic lower bounds for the expected numbers of case-specific sub-structures within the puzzle structure, indicating that specific types of sub-structure hinder recovery to such an extent that the scheme is infeasible for practical erasure correction. The consequences of complex cell inter-relationships and wider issues with puzzle-based erasure correction, beyond the structures investigated in the thesis are also discussed, concluding that while there are suggestions in the literature that Sudoku and other puzzle-based combinatorial structures may be useful for erasure correction, the work of this thesis suggests that this is not the case.

Three concepts of ordinal numbers are examined with a view to their intuitiveriess and existence in two principle systems of axiomatic set theory. The first is based on equivalence classes of the similarity relation between well-ordered sets. Two alternatives are suggested in later chapters for overcoming the problems arizing from this definition. Next, ordinal numbers are defined as certain representatives of these equivalence classes,, and one of several such possible definitions is taken for proving the fundamental properties of these ordinals. Finally, a generalization of Peano's axioms provides us with a method of defining ordinal numbers which are the ultimate result of abstractions. / Science, Faculty of / Mathematics, Department of / Graduate

This thesis explores the fundamental properties of the contingent.

The drum set is an evolving instrument and performance concept that for much of its existence has been relegated to a supporting role for an ensemble or soloist in varied mediums, rather than being used, as is well suited for, in a soloistic capacity. Drum set had rather humble beginnings and was often a collection of percussion instruments used only for time-keeping and adding color to the music. However, over time, a considerable amount of solo literature has been composed for drum set and there now exists a substantial repertoire for the varied forms of the instrument. Support for the literature and art form has come from numerous well known composers ranging from John Cage to Stuart Saunders Smith and Frank Zappa. Unfortunately, resistance to performing these solo works comes from a broad-based teaching philosophy that emphasizes teaching rudimental, time-keeping, and stylistic performance practices. In this particular paradigm, soloing is important strictly as improvisation grounded in a thorough understanding of the development of the language of Jazz, rather than as a performance concept. Although this repertoire does include works that address these pedagogical concerns, it also includes some works that present the drum set in more virtuosic solo setting. These compositions offer the performer musical opportunities much like those found in solo works for snare drum, keyboard percussion, timpani, and multiple percussion. While a performer may face an initial challenge in finding quality existing works, he or she can then develop synergy between the interpretive skills developed for orchestral style percussion In this study, the author will examine the body of literature composed for unaccompanied solo drum set. Specific compositions will be identified for their significance in promoting personal growth as a drum set artist. In support of this goal, analysis of the performance practice used in these particular works will be developed. To aid in better organizing the body of literature, the author will categorize

In this dissertation we prove some results about the existence of families of Aronszajn trees on successors of regular cardinals which are pairwise not club isomorphic. The history of this topic begins with a theorem of Gaifman and Specker in the 1960s which asserts the existence from ZFC of many pairwise not isomorphic Aronszajn trees. Since that result was proven, the focus has turned to comparing Aronszajn trees with respect to isomorphisms on a club of levels, instead of on the entire tree. In the 1980s Abraham and Shelah proved that the Proper Forcing Axiom implies that any two Aronszajn trees on the first uncountable cardinal are club isomorphic. This theorem was generalized to higher cardinals in recent work of Krueger. Abraham and Shelah also proved that the opposite holds under diamond principles. In this dissertation we address the existence of pairwise not club isomorphic Aronszajn trees on higher cardinals from a variety of cardinal arithmetic and diamond principle assumptions. For example, on the successor of a regular cardinal, assuming GCH and the diamond principle on the critical cofinality, there exists a large collection of special Aronszajn trees such that any two of them do not contain club isomorphic subtrees.

The maximum likelihood (ML) estimation procedure of Matthews and Crowther (1995: A maximum likelihood estimation procedure when modelling in terms of constraints. South African Statistical Journal, 29, 29-51) is utilized to fit a continuous distribution to a grouped data set. This grouped data set may be a single frequency distribution or various frequency distributions that arise from a cross classification of several factors in a multifactor design. It will also be shown how to fit a bivariate normal distribution to a two-way contingency table where the two underlying continuous variables are jointly normally distributed. This thesis is organized in three different parts, each playing a vital role in the explanation of analysing grouped data with the ML estimation of Matthews and Crowther. In Part I the ML estimation procedure of Matthews and Crowther is formulated. This procedure plays an integral role and is implemented in all three parts of the thesis. In Part I the exponential distribution is fitted to a grouped data set to explain the technique. Two different formulations of the constraints are employed in the ML estimation procedure and provide identical results. The justification of the method is further motivated by a simulation study. Similar to the exponential distribution, the estimation of the normal distribution is also explained in detail. Part I is summarized in Chapter 5 where a general method is outlined to fit continuous distributions to a grouped data set. Distributions such as the Weibull, the log-logistic and the Pareto distributions can be fitted very effectively by formulating the vector of constraints in terms of a linear model. In Part II it is explained how to model a grouped response variable in a multifactor design. This multifactor design arise from a cross classification of the various factors or independent variables to be analysed. The cross classification of the factors results in a total of T cells, each containing a frequency distribution. Distribution fitting is done simultaneously to each of the T cells of the multifactor design. Distribution fitting is also done under the additional constraints that the parameters of the underlying continuous distributions satisfy a certain structure or design. The effect of the factors on the grouped response variable may be evaluated from this fitted design. Applications of a single-factor and a two-factor model are considered to demonstrate the versatility of the technique. A two-way contingency table where the two variables have an underlying bivariate normal distribution is considered in Part III. The estimation of the bivariate normal distribution reveals the complete underlying continuous structure between the two variables. The ML estimate of the correlation coefficient ρ is used to great effect to describe the relationship between the two variables. Apart from an application a simulation study is also provided to support the method proposed. / Thesis (PhD (Mathematical Statistics))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Statistics / unrestricted

The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the relation Z for point sets in a topological space. There were two original goals which caused the study.