In this thesis, we will study bio-mathematics. We will introduce differential equations, biological applications, and simulations with emphasis in molecular events. One of the first courses of action is to introduce and construct a mathematical model of our biological element. The biological element of study is the Hepatitis C virus. The idea in creating a mathematical model is to approach the biological element in small steps. We will first introduce a block (schematic) diagram of the element, create differential equations that define the diagram, convert the dimensional equations to non-dimensional equations, reduce the number of parameters, identify the important parameters, and analyze the results. These results will tell us which variables must be adjusted to prevent the Hepatitis C virus from becoming chronic.

This dissertation reports on the results of a study into the characteristics of epistemic topoi and the methods of their identification in a corpus of biomedical publications. The study was conceived in response to the need for a systematized description of the organization of argumentative text and discourse. This need is well recognized in knowledge-intensive fields: information processing, storage, and retrieval; corpus analysis and natural language processing; data mining, knowledge management and translation; professional training and education. The study followed the design of a situated study combined with a methodological inquiry. I used inductive methods to describe the features and functions of recurrent patterns of argumentative and linguistic organization. This part of the study consisted in close reading of a corpus of fifty-five NTG papers and rhetorical and linguistic annotation of seventeen clinical studies (45,599 words) selected from the corpus. The data was generated by means of rhetorical and linguistic analysis. Visual annotation played an essential role in the identification and description of the argumentative patterns, complementing the traditional methods of corpus analysis. Forty-eight basic and nine composite epistemic topoi forming the superstructure of the papers were identified in the corpus. The topoi were found to be loosely associated with the IMRD structure and signalled with configurations of lexicogrammatical, semantic, deictic, and coreferential features. The topoi were classified according to the modes of reasoning and textual and discursive functions. The obtained results confirmed earlier insights into the links of linguistic patterning with text and discourse semantics. A significant outcome of the linguistic analysis is a catalogue of linguistic features that were found to have regular links with the topoi in the corpus. The role of linguistic configurations as identifiers of argumentative meanings makes them a valuable medium of text and discourse analysis. By linking the argumentative meanings to the surface features of text and discourse, the analysis of linguistic configurations presents informatics practitioners with an alternative to the current methods of natural language processing and knowledge management. The catalogue of linguistic features and a detailed description of the study design make the presented findings amenable to secondary analysis, extrapolation, and generalization. The auxiliary objectives of this study were a survey of argumentative practices represented in the corpus and a review of the state of epistemic research. The results of the survey and review suggest that agonistic reasoning practices and over-reliance on reductionist models have negative implications for research writing and communication. Specifically, they hamper analysis of argumentative organization of natural text and discourse. As an alternative to agonistic argumentation, I propose an argumentation model based on Aristotle’s and Kneale’s conceptions of situated knowledge and learning. The model of textual and discursive organization that accommodates situated knowledge and learning is political stasis. This model can be used as a heuristic and analytic tool. In this dissertation I use it as an explanatory conception and as a system of reference points for identifying significant research trends both in argumentation studies and in clinical NTG research.

This practice-led PhD project consists of two sections: the first examines a breakdown of the components of film genre to be used as practical guideposts for my own creative practice as a screenwriter and (hopefully in the future) for other screenwriters; the second section contains my practical application – first acts of three screenplays that are constructed utilizing my research and subsequent assessments. Using a theoretic construct presented in the area of philosophy in the 1990s by cognitive theorist Gilles Fauconnier called ‘mental space’, a concept exploring a person’s natural inclination to construct a comprehensible idealized cognitive model (ICM) of any given situation in order to understand his or her role in it (Fauconnier 1994:8), I examine how Fauconnier’s concept can be applied to building a film narrative and specifically how it can be applied to a screenwriter’s understanding and breaking down of the components of film genre. I also employ the work of scholars focused on the audience’s reception, especially the reception of film genre. In the practical section of my practice-led PhD, the writing of the first acts of three screenplays that share location, similar core cast of characters and plot points but are constructed in three distinctly different film genres (western, horror, romantic comedy), I endeavor to apply elements I have termed the ‘mental space of film genre’ in order to determine the adjustments and changes necessary to move narrative from one genre to another in order to fulfill various genre perimeters and genre expectations. This work is meant to increase a screenwriter’s technical skills in the craft of screenwriting.

Flood literature presents an inconsistent account of post-disaster distress; debating whether distress is pathological or normal and attempting to understand distress in terms of disaster variables. The literature therefore provides little guidance as to how to formulate difficulties in a clinically meaningful way reflective of individual’s experiences. The SPAARS model is presented as a model by which to reconcile these differences and quantitative support for its concepts were studied within two flooded samples. Participants who were flooded in Carlisle in 2005 (n=32) and participants flooded in Morpeth in 2008 (n=29) provided two samples at different stages in flood recovery and facilitated a quasi-longitudinal sample for comparison of flood-related distress over time. Participants were asked to complete a survey pertaining to: basic emotions experienced during the flood event, basic emotions experienced after the flood, Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R), Regulation of Emotions Questionnaire (REQ) and the Trauma Symptom Inventory (TSI). Findings suggest that a third of participants who were flooded experienced clinically significant levels of distress, even after four years. Both samples showed higher levels of impact symptoms on the IES compared to symptoms on the TSI. Anxiety and anger were significant in reported flood experiences both during and after the flooding. Flood-related variables and previous experiences had no effect on increased distress but greater use of internal-dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies was related to increased impact and distress symptoms. Study findings and the SPAARS model are discussed in relation to previous flooding and PTSD literature, as well as clinical implications for the treatment of post-disaster distress and for the future management of flood-affected populations.

In this thesis we address problems related to the verification of software-based systems. We aremostly interested in the (safe) design of decision procedures used in verification. In addition, we alsoconsider a modularity problem for a modeling language used in the Why verification platform.Many verification problems can be reduced to a satisfiability problem modulo theories (SMT). In orderto build satisfiability procedures Armando et al. have proposed in 2001 an approach based on rewriting.This approach uses a general calculus for equational reasoning named paramodulation. In general, afair and exhaustive application of the rules of paramodulation calculus (PC) leads to a semi-decisionprocedure that halts on unsatisfiable inputs (the empty clause is then generated) but may diverge onsatisfiable ones. Fortunately, it may also terminate for some theories of interest in verification, and thusit becomes a decision procedure. To reason on the paramodulation calculus, a schematic paramodulationcalculus (SPC) has been studied, notably to automatically prove decidability of single theories and oftheir combinations. The advantage of SPC is that if it halts for one given abstract input, then PC haltsfor all the corresponding concrete inputs. More generally, SPC is an automated tool to check propertiesof PC like termination, stable infiniteness and deduction completeness.A major contribution of this thesis is a prototyping environment for designing and verifying decisionprocedures. This environment, based on the theoretical studies, is the first implementation of theschematic paramodulation calculus. It has been implemented from scratch on the firm basis provided bythe Maude system based on rewriting logic. We show that this prototype is very useful to derive decidabilityand combinability of theories of practical interest in verification. It helps testing new saturationstrategies and experimenting new extensions of the original (schematic) paramodulation calculus.This environment has been applied for the design of a schematic paramodulation calculus dedicated tothe theory of Integer Offsets. This contribution is the first extension of the notion of schematic paramodulationto a built-in theory. This study has led to new automatic proof techniques that are different fromthose performed manually in the literature. The assumptions to apply our proof techniques are easyto satisfy for equational theories with counting operators. We illustrate our theoretical contribution ontheories representing extensions of classical data structures such as lists and records.We have also addressed the problem of modular specification of generic Java classes and methods.We propose extensions to the Krakatoa Modeling Language, a part of the Why platform for provingthat a Java or C program is a correct implementation of some specification. The key features arethe introduction of parametricity both for types and for theories and an instantiation relation betweentheories. The proposed extensions are illustrated on two significant examples: the specification of thegeneric method for sorting arrays and for generic hash map.Both problems considered in this thesis are related to SMT solvers. Firstly, decision procedures areat the core of SMT solvers. Secondly, the Why platform extracts verification conditions from a sourceprogram annotated by specifications, and then transmits them to SMT solvers or proof assistants to checkthe program correctness.

Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools are today very capable computer programs supporting electronic engineers with the design of printed circuit board (PCB). All tools have their strengths and weaknesses; when choosing the right tool many factors needs to be taken into consideration aside from the tools themselves. Companies need to focus on the product and revenues for a business to be viable. Depending on the knowledge and strengths of the company, the choice of tools varies. The decision should be based on the efficiency of the tools and the functions necessity for the company rather than the price tags. The quality and availability of support for the tools, training costs, how long will it take to put the tool in operation and present or future collaboration partners is equally important factors when deciding the right tool. The absence of experience and knowledge of the current tool within a company is a factor which could affect important operation; therefore it is important to provide training and education on how to use the tool to increase its efficiency. Providing training and education can be a large expense, but avoids changes within and makes the business competitive. The choice of EDA tool should be based on the employed engineer’s current knowledge and experience of the preferred tool. If the employed engineer’s knowledge and experience varies too much, it might be preferable to make a transition to one of the tool by training and education. Product lifecycle management (PLM) is a data management system and business activity management system which focuses on the lifecycle of a product. To manage the lifecycle of a product it is necessary to split the lifecycle into stages and phases for a more manageable and transparent workflow. By overseeing a product’s entire lifecycle there are benefits which affects many areas. PLM greatest benefits for EDA are collaboration across separate groups and companies by working together through a PLM platform, companies can forge strong design chains that combine their best capabilities to deliver the product to the customers. This report is a study on evaluating which EDA suits the company with consideration of the employed engineer’s demands, requests and competence. The interests in PLM made the company suggest a short theory study on PLM and EDA benefits.

This dissertation reports on the results of a study into the characteristics of epistemic topoi and the methods of their identification in a corpus of biomedical publications. The study was conceived in response to the need for a systematized description of the organization of argumentative text and discourse. This need is well recognized in knowledge-intensive fields: information processing, storage, and retrieval; corpus analysis and natural language processing; data mining, knowledge management and translation; professional training and education. The study followed the design of a situated study combined with a methodological inquiry. I used inductive methods to describe the features and functions of recurrent patterns of argumentative and linguistic organization. This part of the study consisted in close reading of a corpus of fifty-five NTG papers and rhetorical and linguistic annotation of seventeen clinical studies (45,599 words) selected from the corpus. The data was generated by means of rhetorical and linguistic analysis. Visual annotation played an essential role in the identification and description of the argumentative patterns, complementing the traditional methods of corpus analysis. Forty-eight basic and nine composite epistemic topoi forming the superstructure of the papers were identified in the corpus. The topoi were found to be loosely associated with the IMRD structure and signalled with configurations of lexicogrammatical, semantic, deictic, and coreferential features. The topoi were classified according to the modes of reasoning and textual and discursive functions. The obtained results confirmed earlier insights into the links of linguistic patterning with text and discourse semantics. A significant outcome of the linguistic analysis is a catalogue of linguistic features that were found to have regular links with the topoi in the corpus. The role of linguistic configurations as identifiers of argumentative meanings makes them a valuable medium of text and discourse analysis. By linking the argumentative meanings to the surface features of text and discourse, the analysis of linguistic configurations presents informatics practitioners with an alternative to the current methods of natural language processing and knowledge management. The catalogue of linguistic features and a detailed description of the study design make the presented findings amenable to secondary analysis, extrapolation, and generalization. The auxiliary objectives of this study were a survey of argumentative practices represented in the corpus and a review of the state of epistemic research. The results of the survey and review suggest that agonistic reasoning practices and over-reliance on reductionist models have negative implications for research writing and communication. Specifically, they hamper analysis of argumentative organization of natural text and discourse. As an alternative to agonistic argumentation, I propose an argumentation model based on Aristotle’s and Kneale’s conceptions of situated knowledge and learning. The model of textual and discursive organization that accommodates situated knowledge and learning is political stasis. This model can be used as a heuristic and analytic tool. In this dissertation I use it as an explanatory conception and as a system of reference points for identifying significant research trends both in argumentation studies and in clinical NTG research.

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Thorough layout verification of superconductor integrated circuits goes beyond design rule checking and parameter value extraction. The former is used to verify adherence to process design rules, and the latter to determine the element values of components such as inductors and resistors and Josephson junction critical currents. Still, neither gives much warning against subtle layout errors that could result in unintended parasitic elements, or a circuit that does not reflect the original circuit topology. A specialized implementation for Cadence Virtuoso allows layout-versus-schematic verification, but it is limited both to commercial software and in terms of its usefulness. Parameter extraction software such as InductEx is used to extract the component element values of a circuit from its layout if the circuit topology is provided as a netlist, which is mostly created by the designer. However, the element values are extracted for the supplied topology, even if a layout mistake such as creating a connection to the wrong node or a mistake in the netlist results in a model mismatch. After a failed verification, further diagnosis is required to determine whether the error is indeed in the layout or in the input topology - prolonging the verification process significantly. Here we present a free-standing layout-versus-schematic verification toolkit for superconductive integrated circuits, and discuss its implementation after systematically considering the algorithms at its core. We demonstrate results of the layout-versus-schematic verification and how the layout-versus-schematic toolkit is used as a whole in conjunction with InductEx to perform automated parameter extraction for cell-level layout verification. The current version of this toolkit provides the user with three stand-alone tools that are best used in conjunction with InductEx: A GDSII file flattener, a layout-to-schematic netlist extractor (with the option of viewing a pictorial reconstruction of the netlist and schematic) and a netlist comparison tool by which the user can determine whether a layout agrees with an input schematic. We conclude that the netlist comparison and viewing tool provides a valuable method for expediting the layout verification process, making it more efficient and minimizing the chances of mistakes. In its current form the layout-to schematic tool is still limited in that it cannot yet fully support circuits with mutual coupling. Although many improvements can still be made to this toolkit, the implemented version of these tools can already provide great benefit to Rapid Single Flux quantum (RSFQ) cell designers. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Deeglike uitleg verifikasie van supergeleier geïntegreerde stroombane strek verder as bloot die nasien van ontwerpreëls en die onttrekking van parameter waardes. Eersgenoemde word gebruik om vas te stel of daar voldoen word aan die proses se ontwerpreëls, en laasgenoemde om die waardes van komponente soos induktors en resistors en die kritiese strome van Josephson aansluitings te bepaal. Nogtans bied nie een van hulle veel waarskuwing teen subtiele uitlegfoute wat onbeplande parasitiese elemente kan veroorsaak nie, of teen ‘n stroombaan wat nie die oorspronklike stroombaan topologie weerspieël nie. ‘n Gespesialiseerde implementasie van Cadence Virtuoso maak LVS (layout-versus-schematic) verifikasie moontlik, maar dit is beperk tot kommersiële sagteware en ook beperk in terme van bruikbaarheid. Parameter onttrekking sagteware soos InductEx word gebruik om waardes van die komponent-elemente van ‘n stroombaan vanuit die uitleg te onttrek wanneeer die stroombaan topologie as ‘n netlist, wat meestal deur die ontwerper geskep is, voorsien word. Die elementwaardes word egter onttrek volgens die topologie wat verskaf is, al is daar uitlegfoute, soos byvoorbeeld wanneer ‘n koppeling met ‘n verkeerde node plaasvind, of wanneer daar netlist foute is wat modelteenstrydighede veroorsaak. Na ‘n mislukte verifikasie poging word verdere diagnostiese stappe gedoen om te bepaal of die fout in die uitleg lê, of in die spesifieke topologie wat verskaf is, wat natuurlik die verifikasieproses aansienlik verleng. Hier stel ons ‘n vrystaande LVS verifikasie sagteware-pakket vir supergeleier geïntegreerde stroombane bekend, en bespreek, deur middel van die algoritmes wat die kern daarvan uitmaak, die implementering van hierdie sagteware-toestel. Ons bied die resultate van die LVS verifikasie aan en wys hoe die LVS sagteware toestel as geheel saam met InductEx gebruik kan word om automatiese parameter uittrekking vir sel-vlak uitleg verifikasie te berwerkstellig. Die huidige weergawe van die pakket bied die verbruiker drie alleenstaande programme wat verkieslik saam met InductEx gebruik moet word: ‘n GDSII “file flattener”, ‘n uitleg-tot-schematiese diagram netlist ekstraktor (met die opsie om ‘n herkonstruktueerde beeld van netlist en skematiese diagram te besigtig) en ‘n netlist vergelyking toestel waarmee die verbruiker kan vasstel of ‘n uitleg met ‘n oorspronklike skematiese diagram ooreenstem. Ons lei af dat die netlist vergelyking toestel ‘n waardevolle metode bied om die uitleg verifikasie proses te bespoedig en vergemaklik en die kanse van foute te minimaliseer. In sy huidige vorm is die uitleg-tot-skematiese diagram toestel beperk omdat dit nog nie stroombane met koppeling kan steun nie.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T15:13:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 tese alexandre educacao.pdf: 596716 bytes, checksum: da5dec98baf61ff2efbf19cb884d82e7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-08-21 / Culture and educational processes is the line of research that is linked to this thesis, which is the object of study the aesthetic form of the toy. It is to build a critical reflection on the aesthetic dimension of the toy, by the fundamental qualities that the artifact playful takes on the field of aesthetic form. It is a theoretical study that has philosophical underpinnings in the criticism of the Kant and the Critical Theory. The exhibition part of the there is that the toy is a radical experiment with the aesthetic form in the objective world in which the child lives. Experience that is mediated by the contradictions of modern society, turning the relationship with the aesthetic form of a rapprochement between art, aesthetics and entertainment devices, trying to autonomy among the heteronymous conditions given by the ability of the child's own layout. The work points to the existence of a potential subversive reproductive of the schematic in the aesthetic dimension of the toy in search of his liberating / Cultura e processos educacionais é a linha de pesquisa a que se vincula esta tese, que tem como objeto de estudo a forma estética do brinquedo. Trata-se de construir uma reflexão crítica sobre a dimensão estética do brinquedo, mediante as qualidades fundamentais que o artefato lúdico assume sob o domínio da forma estética. É um estudo teórico que tem fundamentos filosóficos no criticismo em Kant e na Teoria Crítica. A exposição parte da tese de que o brinquedo é uma experiência radical com a forma estética no mundo objetivo em que a criança vive. Experiência que é mediada pelas contradições da sociedade atual, convertendo a relação com a forma estética em uma aproximação entre arte, estética e artefatos lúdicos, buscando assim autonomia em meio às condições heterônomas dadas pela capacidade de esquematização da própria criança. O trabalho aponta para a existência de um potencial subversivo de reapropriação do esquematismo no âmbito da dimensão estética do brinquedo em busca de seu caráter emancipatório

The learning demands placed on young children by current language organization techniques used to organize language concepts in AAC systems, are high. This influences the ease of learning and the accuracy with which AAC users use their AAC systems. It is therefore important to investigate the way in which children relate to different language organization techniques to better understand the learning demands placed on them in using these techniques. The aim of this study was to investigate the difference between two groups of 4-year old children’s accuracy levels when locating vocabulary in AAC technologies. The study is a replication of a part of the study conducted by Light, Drager, McCarthy, Mellot, Millar, Parrish, Parsons, Roads, Ward and Welliver (2004). Each group of subjects was assigned a specific language organization technique, i.e. schematic and taxonomic grid organization. The children had to locate vocabulary on a dynamic display system, i.e. the Dynamo. This study considered the language organization technique that best reflects the child’s developmental level. Sixteen subjects, 8 in each group, participated in 4 learning and testing sessions and 1 generalization session. The results revealed that there was no difference in the performance of the children in the two groups. This was in accordance with Light et al.’s (2004) results who also observed no difference in the 4-year-old’s performance with the schematic and taxonomic organization techniques. These results were in contrast with the literature on young children’s semantic organization, which illustrates that preschool children tend to use schematic organizations and begin to use taxonomic organizations once they reach school-age. Recommendations for future research are provided. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC) / unrestricted