A novel imaging technology, digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), is a technique that overcomes the tissue superposition limitation of conventional mammography by acquiring a limited number of X-ray projections from a narrow angular range, and combining these projections to reconstruct a pseudo-3D image. The emergence of DBT as a potential replacement or adjunct to mammographic screening mandates that solutions be found to two of its major limitations, namely X-ray scatter and mono-energetic reconstruction methods. A multi-faceted software-based approach to enhance the image quality of DBT imaging has the potential to increase the sensitivity and specificity of breast cancer detection and diagnosis. A scatter correction (SC) algorithm and a spectral reconstruction (SR) algorithm are both ready for implementation and clinical evaluation in a DBT system and exhibit the potential to improve image quality. A principal component analysis (PCA) based model of breast shape and a PCA model of X-ray scatter optimize the SC algorithm for the clinical realm. In addition, a comprehensive dosimetric characterization of a FDA approved DBT system has also been performed, and the feasibility of a new dual-spectrum, single-acquisition DBT imaging technique has also been evaluated.

In recent years, the growing importance of environmental and social issues has put pressure on companies to implement environmental and social systems. With the pressure on companies to improve environmental performance, environmental management accounting can provide a valuable tool that enables companies to respond to environmental challenges. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between environmental performance and economic performance in the South African mining industry and also to identify and evaluate the opportunities to improve both a company's environmental performance and economic performance. In this study, scatter plot diagrams were used to determine the relationship between environmental performance and economic performance in the South African mining industry. Ten South African mining companies were selected for the study and their financial information as well as environmental information for the period 2005 to 2009 was used. After the analysis of the scatter plot diagrams was done, it was found that it pays to be green for coal–mining companies, but not for gold– and platinum–mining companies. This study also identified that environmental management accounting is essential to identify and effectively manage environmental costs to improve environmental performance and that it is a very important tool to help companies to implement environmentally friendly programmes for ensuring a company's long–term strategic position. Despite all the risks and challenges facing the mining industry, opportunities to improve a company's environmental performance and economic performance, include emissions trading, development of new technologies, investing in projects in renewable energy and an increase in demand of mining products due to the effects of climate change. ii The value of the study is that it is the first study to investigate the relationship between environmental performance and economic performance in the South African mining industry. This study is also unique as it takes into account how investors see the company in terms of environmental performance. This study uses economic performance measures from an internal and external point of view and not merely from an internal point of view like the previous studies. Companies in the mining industry as well as investors can use the findings presented in this study to realise the importance of preserving the environment as well as the importance of triple bottom line accounting. / Thesis (M.Com. (Management Accounting))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

In recent years, the growing importance of environmental and social issues has put pressure on companies to implement environmental and social systems. With the pressure on companies to improve environmental performance, environmental management accounting can provide a valuable tool that enables companies to respond to environmental challenges. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between environmental performance and economic performance in the South African mining industry and also to identify and evaluate the opportunities to improve both a company's environmental performance and economic performance. In this study, scatter plot diagrams were used to determine the relationship between environmental performance and economic performance in the South African mining industry. Ten South African mining companies were selected for the study and their financial information as well as environmental information for the period 2005 to 2009 was used. After the analysis of the scatter plot diagrams was done, it was found that it pays to be green for coal–mining companies, but not for gold– and platinum–mining companies. This study also identified that environmental management accounting is essential to identify and effectively manage environmental costs to improve environmental performance and that it is a very important tool to help companies to implement environmentally friendly programmes for ensuring a company's long–term strategic position. Despite all the risks and challenges facing the mining industry, opportunities to improve a company's environmental performance and economic performance, include emissions trading, development of new technologies, investing in projects in renewable energy and an increase in demand of mining products due to the effects of climate change. ii The value of the study is that it is the first study to investigate the relationship between environmental performance and economic performance in the South African mining industry. This study is also unique as it takes into account how investors see the company in terms of environmental performance. This study uses economic performance measures from an internal and external point of view and not merely from an internal point of view like the previous studies. Companies in the mining industry as well as investors can use the findings presented in this study to realise the importance of preserving the environment as well as the importance of triple bottom line accounting. / Thesis (M.Com. (Management Accounting))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

国立情報学研究所で電子化したコンテンツを使用している。

The images in positron emission tomography (PET) represent three dimensional dynamic distributions of biologically interesting molecules labelled with positron emitting radionuclides (radiotracers). Spatial localisation of the radio-tracers is achieved by detecting in coincidence two collinear photons which are emitted when the positron annihilates with an ordinary electron. In order to obtain quantitatively accurate images in PET, it is necessary to correct for the effects of photon attenuation within the subject being imaged. These corrections can be obtained using singles-mode photon transmission scanning. Although suitable for small animal PET, these scans are subject to high amounts of contamination from scattered photons. Currently, no accurate correction exists to account for scatter in these data. The primary purpose of this work was to implement and validate an analytical scatter correction for PET transmission scanning. In order to isolate the effects of scatter, we developed a simulation tool which was validated using experimental transmission data. We then presented an analytical scatter correction for singles-mode transmission data in PET. We compared our scatter correction data with the previously validated simulation data for uniform and non-uniform phantoms and for two different transmission source radionuclides. Our scatter calculation correctly predicted the contribution from scattered photons to the simulated data for all phantoms and both transmission sources. We then applied our scatter correction as part of an iterative reconstruction algorithm for simulated and experimental PET transmission data for uniform and non-uniform phantoms. We also tested our reconstruction and scatter correction procedure using transmission data for several animal studies (mice, rats and primates). For all studies considered, we found that the average reconstructed linear attenuation coefficients for water or soft-tissue regions of interest agreed with expected values to within 4%. Using a 2.2 GHz processor, the scatter correction required between 6 to 27 minutes of CPU time (without any code optimisation) depending on the phantom size and source used. This extra calculation time does not seem unreasonable considering that, without scatter corrections, errors in the reconstructed attenuation coefficients were between 18 to 45% depending on the phantom size and transmission source used.

A análise da continuidade espacial inclui uma série de ferramentas para estimar e modelar a continuidade de variáveis aleatórias regionalizadas. Ela é a base para muitas das avaliações de depósitos minerais baseadas na geoestatísitca. O modelo ajustado é de grande importância e influencia nos resultados em vários algoritmos de krigagem e simulações subsequentes. Tanto os softwares acadêmicos e comerciais podem melhorar no desenvolvimento dos gráficos, na interatividade com o usuário e no uso de formas automáticas de modelagem. O SGeMS (Stanford Geoestatistical Modeling Software) é um programa gratuito usado entre a comunidade de geoestatísticos ao qual tem um grande potencial de desenvolvimento, mas que, no entanto, ainda não possui todas as ferramentas de análise da continuidade espacial incorporadas. Diferentemente do SGeMS, o GSLIB é uma boa biblioteca gratuita para análise geoestatística e é mais completa, mas as estradas do programa são modificadas pela edição de arquivos .txt e usando linhas de comando o que torna a utilização do software pouco amigável com o usuário, apesar da robustez e qualidade dos programas da biblioteca. Dada as limitações dos mais usados e completos softwares gratuitos de geoestatística, essa dissertação objetiva a transcrição e adaptação do algoritmo do GSLIB (GamV .f) para o software SGeMS, modificando a lógica de programação para criar diferentes ferramentas auxiliares como h-scatterplots e mapas de variograma e covariograma. Os resultados demonstraram que a adaptação de algoritmos antigos leva a uma solução gratuita. Além disso, um algoritmo para a otimização da modelagem de variogramas pelo método dos mínimos quadrados foi desenvolvido. As rotinas foram desenvolvidas ambas em C++ e em Python. Os algoritmos foram validados com os valores obtidos pelo software GSLIB. Todos os desenvolvimentos dos plug-ins foram testados e validados usando dois casos ilustrativos: um depósito de ferro e um caso polimetálico. Os resultados provaram ser consistentes e similares com aqueles obtidos com softwares comerciais e renomados. / The spatial continuity analysis includes a serie of tools to estimate and model the continuity of regionalized random variables. It is the basics for many mineral deposit evaluation methods based on geostatistics. The model adjusted is of paramount importance and influences the results in many subsequent kriging and simulation algorithms. Both commercial and academic softwares can be improved in graphics, users interactivity with and automated tools for modeling spatial continuity. SGeMS (Stanford Geoestatistical Modeling Software) is a freeware program used among the geostatistical community which has an extremely potential for development however it does not have enough variographic or graphical tools. Unlike SGeMS, GSLIB is a good and more complete free library for geostatistical analysis, however the program inputs are modified by editing of .txt files and uses DOS command lines. This makes the software less user friendly, despite its robustness and quality. Given the limitation on both most used and complete freeware geostatistical softwares, this dissertation aims at transcripting and adpating an algorithm from GSLIB(GamV.f) into SGeMS software, handling the programming logic to create different auxiliary tools as h-scatterplot and variomaps. The results demonstrated that the adaptation of the old and stable algortihms lead to an inexpensive solution. Futhermore, an algorithm was developed for optimizing variogram modeling based on weigthed least squares method. The routines were developed in both C++ and Phyton. The algorithms were validated against actual values generated by GSLIB. All developed of plug-ins were tested and validated using two illustration studies: an iron ore deposit and a polymetallic one. The results proved to be consistent and similar to the ones obtained by commercial well known sofwares.

Incoherent scatter radar (ISR) measurements were used in conjunction with plasma simulations to study two micro-scale plasma processes that commonly occur in the auroral ionosphere. These are 1) ion acoustic turbulence and 2) Langmuir turbulence. Through an ISR experiment we investigated the dependence of ion acoustic turbulence on magnetic aspect angle. The results showed a very strong aspect angle sensitivity which could be utilized to classify the turbulence according to allowable generation mechanisms and sources of free energy. In addition, this work presents results that led to the discovery of a new type of ISR echo, explained as a signature of cavitating Langmuir turbulence. A number of incoherent scatter radar experiments, exploiting a variety of beam and pulse patterns, were designed or revisited to investigate the Langmuir turbulence underlying the radar echoes. The experimental results revealed that Langmuir turbulence is a common feature of the auroral ionosphere. The experimental efforts also led to uncovering a relationship between Langmuir turbulence and one type of natural electromagnetic emission that is sometimes detected on the ground, so-called “medium frequency burst”, providing an explanation for the generation mechanism of these emissions. In an attempt to gain insights into the source mechanism underlying Langmuir turbulence, 1-dimensional Zakharov simulations were employed to study the interactions of ionospheric electron beams with a broad range of parameters with the background plasma at the F region peak. A variety of processes were observed, ranging from a cascade of parametric decays, to formation of stationary wave packets and density cavities in the condensate region, and to direct nucleation and collapse at the initial stage of the turbulence. The simulation results were then compared with the ISR measurements where inconsistencies were found in the spectral details and intensity of the simulated and measured Langmuir turbulence echoes, suggesting the possibility that the direct energy for the turbulence was provided by unstable low-energy (5 − 20 eV) electron populations produced locally in the F region of the ionosphere rather than by electron beams originating from the magnetosphere.

The thesis deals with algorithms for detecting anomalies in the data collected by the Problem Solving Tutor research. In the theoretical part, the author introduces the term of anomaly, the ideas of the PROSO research and a detailed overview of existing algorithms to detect anomalies. In the practical part, selected algorithms are implemented. Real outputs and results as well as recommendations to a user are presented in this part, and the chapter is supplemented by a number of graphs. The implemented algorithms are also compared to existing data mining software. An example of working with the data mining tools, applied to the data coming from PROSO, and explanation of their outputs is also part of the thesis. In the summary, the appropriate methodology for behavior analysis and anomaly detection is determinied.

A análise da continuidade espacial inclui uma série de ferramentas para estimar e modelar a continuidade de variáveis aleatórias regionalizadas. Ela é a base para muitas das avaliações de depósitos minerais baseadas na geoestatísitca. O modelo ajustado é de grande importância e influencia nos resultados em vários algoritmos de krigagem e simulações subsequentes. Tanto os softwares acadêmicos e comerciais podem melhorar no desenvolvimento dos gráficos, na interatividade com o usuário e no uso de formas automáticas de modelagem. O SGeMS (Stanford Geoestatistical Modeling Software) é um programa gratuito usado entre a comunidade de geoestatísticos ao qual tem um grande potencial de desenvolvimento, mas que, no entanto, ainda não possui todas as ferramentas de análise da continuidade espacial incorporadas. Diferentemente do SGeMS, o GSLIB é uma boa biblioteca gratuita para análise geoestatística e é mais completa, mas as estradas do programa são modificadas pela edição de arquivos .txt e usando linhas de comando o que torna a utilização do software pouco amigável com o usuário, apesar da robustez e qualidade dos programas da biblioteca. Dada as limitações dos mais usados e completos softwares gratuitos de geoestatística, essa dissertação objetiva a transcrição e adaptação do algoritmo do GSLIB (GamV .f) para o software SGeMS, modificando a lógica de programação para criar diferentes ferramentas auxiliares como h-scatterplots e mapas de variograma e covariograma. Os resultados demonstraram que a adaptação de algoritmos antigos leva a uma solução gratuita. Além disso, um algoritmo para a otimização da modelagem de variogramas pelo método dos mínimos quadrados foi desenvolvido. As rotinas foram desenvolvidas ambas em C++ e em Python. Os algoritmos foram validados com os valores obtidos pelo software GSLIB. Todos os desenvolvimentos dos plug-ins foram testados e validados usando dois casos ilustrativos: um depósito de ferro e um caso polimetálico. Os resultados provaram ser consistentes e similares com aqueles obtidos com softwares comerciais e renomados. / The spatial continuity analysis includes a serie of tools to estimate and model the continuity of regionalized random variables. It is the basics for many mineral deposit evaluation methods based on geostatistics. The model adjusted is of paramount importance and influences the results in many subsequent kriging and simulation algorithms. Both commercial and academic softwares can be improved in graphics, users interactivity with and automated tools for modeling spatial continuity. SGeMS (Stanford Geoestatistical Modeling Software) is a freeware program used among the geostatistical community which has an extremely potential for development however it does not have enough variographic or graphical tools. Unlike SGeMS, GSLIB is a good and more complete free library for geostatistical analysis, however the program inputs are modified by editing of .txt files and uses DOS command lines. This makes the software less user friendly, despite its robustness and quality. Given the limitation on both most used and complete freeware geostatistical softwares, this dissertation aims at transcripting and adpating an algorithm from GSLIB(GamV.f) into SGeMS software, handling the programming logic to create different auxiliary tools as h-scatterplot and variomaps. The results demonstrated that the adaptation of the old and stable algortihms lead to an inexpensive solution. Futhermore, an algorithm was developed for optimizing variogram modeling based on weigthed least squares method. The routines were developed in both C++ and Phyton. The algorithms were validated against actual values generated by GSLIB. All developed of plug-ins were tested and validated using two illustration studies: an iron ore deposit and a polymetallic one. The results proved to be consistent and similar to the ones obtained by commercial well known sofwares.

O presente trabalho trata da solução para o problema da elaboração de programações de transporte do sistema de distribuição de materiais da Força Aérea Brasileira (FAB). Essas programações de transporte consistem em definir os roteiros de entrega e coleta de materiais a serem realizadas simultaneamente em cada local de entrega/coleta a partir de um centro de distribuição, considerando-se a frota de veículos homogênea. Isto é característico de um Problema de Roteirização de Veículos com Coletas e Entregas Simultâneas (PRVCES). A gestão do sistema de distribuição física da FAB considera a complexidade desse sistema e os dados relativos às demandas de transporte de carga em cada um desses locais para elaborar as programações de transporte. Essas programações são elaboradas tendo em vista os limites de capacidade dos veículos, as características físicas das cargas e as prioridades de embarque. O gestor desse sistema possui boa visibilidade das demandas de transporte, porém, devido à grande quantidade de informações disponíveis e à elevada complexidade desse sistema, é impossível elaborarem-se manualmente programações de transporte que resultem em viagens de distribuição eficientes. O PRVCES foi resolvido por meio da meta-heurística Busca Dispersa (do inglês Scatter Search) integrada com a meta-heurística Descida em Vizinhança Variável (do inglês Variable Neighborhood Descent) utilizada como método de melhoria das soluções. Os resultados superaram ou se igualaram a alguns dos obtidos por outros autores para os mesmos problemas de teste com as mesmas restrições, o que demonstra que a Busca Dispersa implementada é competitiva para solucionar o PRVCES. Quanto à aplicação na FAB, os resultados mostraram que a utilização do método de solução desenvolvido resultará em programações de transporte elaboradas em curto tempo de processamento e que estas incidirão positivamente sobre a eficiência do sistema de distribuição de materiais da FAB. / This work deals with the solution to the problem of drawing up transport schedules in the material distribution system of the Brazilian Air Force (BAF). These transport schedules consist in defining the routes for material pickup and delivery to be accomplished simultaneously in each delivery/pickup location from a distribution center, considering a homogeneous fleet of vehicles. This is characteristic of a Vehicle Routing Problem with Simultaneous Delivery and Pick-up (VRPSDP). The management of the physical distribution of BAF considers the complexity of this system and the data regarding the cargo transport demands in each one of those locations to draw up transport schedules. These schedules are drawn up regarding the capacity limits of the vehicles, the physical characteristics of the cargoes and the shipping priorities. A good visibility of transport demands in each location is available to the manager of this system, but due to the great quantity of data to deal with and the high complexity of the physical distribution system of BAF, it is impossible to draw up transport schedules that result in efficient distribution trips. The VRPSDP was solved by means of the Scatter Search meta-heuristic integrated with the Variable Neighborhood Descent meta-heuristic as the solution improvement method. The results exceeded or equaled some of those obtained by other authors using the same test problems with the same restrictions, what indicates that the implemented Scatter Search is competitive to solve the VRPSDP. As for the application in the BAF, the results showed that using the solution method developed will result in schedules drawn up in short processing time and focused on the efficiency of the material distribution system of the BAF.