L'application de méthodes algébriques en musique représente une démarche récente dans la recherche musicale. Une réflexion historique sur l'émergence du concept de structure algébrique en musique met en évidence la place centrale occupée par trois compositeurs/théoriciens du XXe siècle : Milton Babbitt, Iannis Xenakis et Anatol Vieru. À partir de leurs propositions théoriques, cette étude développe une réflexion approfondie sur la notion de théorie musicale dans ses applications aussi bien analytiques que compositionnelles. Elle offre également une formalisation algébrique de la Set Theory et de ses développements transformationnels tout en discutant les rapports entre la tradition analytique américaine et la démarche théorique formelle en Europe. Les concepts abordés permettent de définir la place d'une démarche computationnelle en musicologie et ouvrent des questions philosophiques sur le rapport entre mathématiques et musique.

The automatic extraction of knowledge from the world by a robotic system as human beings interpret their environment through their senses is still an unsolved task in Artificial Intelligence. A robotic agent is in contact with the world through its sensors and other electronic components which obtain and process mainly numerical information. Sonar, infrared and laser sensors obtain distance information. Webcams obtain digital images that are represented internally as matrices of red, blue and green (RGB) colour coordinate values. All this numerical values obtained from the environment need a later interpretation in order to provide the knowledge required by the robotic agent in order to carry out a task. Similarly, light wavelengths with specific amplitude are captured by cone cells of human eyes obtaining also stimulus without meaning. However, the information that human beings can describe and remember from what they see is expressed using words, that is qualitatively. The exact process carried out after our eyes perceive light wavelengths and our brain interpret them is quite unknown. However, a real fact in human cognition is that people go beyond the purely perceptual experience to classify things as members of categories and attach linguistic labels to them. As the information provided by all the electronic components incorporated in a robotic agent is numerical, the approaches that first appeared in the literature giving an interpretation of this information followed a mathematical trend. In this thesis, this problem is addressed from the other side, its main aim is to process these numerical data in order to obtain qualitative information as human beings can do. The research work done in this thesis tries to narrow the gap between the acquisition of low level information by robot sensors and the need of obtaining high level or qualitative information for enhancing human-machine communication and for applying logical reasoning processes based on concepts. Moreover, qualitative concepts can be added a meaning by relating them to others. They can be used for reasoning applying qualitative models that have been developed in the last twenty years for describing and interpreting metrical and mathematical concepts such as orientation, distance, velocity, acceleration, and so on. And they can be also understood by human-users both written and read aloud. The first contributions presented are the definition of a method for obtaining fuzzy distance patterns (which include qualitative distances such as ‘near’, far’, ‘very far’ and so on) from the data obtained by any kind of distance sensors incorporated in a mobile robot and the definition of a factor to measure the dissimilarity between those fuzzy patterns. Both have been applied to the integration of the distances obtained by the sonar and laser distance sensors incorporated in a Pioneer 2 dx mobile robot and, as a result, special obstacles have been detected as ‘glass window’, ‘mirror’, and so on. Moreover, the fuzzy distance patterns provided have been also defuzzified in order to obtain a smooth robot speed and used to classify orientation reference systems into ‘open’ (it defines an open space to be explored) or ‘closed’. The second contribution presented is the definition of a model for qualitative image description (QID) by applying the new defined models for qualitative shape and colour description and the topology model by Egenhofer and Al-Taha [1992] and the orientation models by Hernández [1991] and Freksa [1992]. This model can qualitatively describe any kind of digital image and is independent of the image segmentation method used. The QID model have been tested in two scenarios in robotics: (i) the description of digital images captured by the camera of a Pioneer 2 dx mobile robot and (ii) the description of digital images of tile mosaics taken by an industrial camera located on a platform used by a robot arm to assemble tile mosaics. In order to provide a formal and explicit meaning to the qualitative description of the images generated, a Description Logic (DL) based ontology has been designed and presented as the third contribution. Our approach can automatically process any random image and obtain a set of DL-axioms that describe it visually and spatially. And objects included in the images are classified according to the ontology schema using a DL reasoner. Tests have been carried out using digital images captured by a webcam incorporated in a Pioneer 2 dx mobile robot. The images taken correspond to the corridors of a building at University Jaume I and objects with them have been classified into ‘walls’, ‘floor’, ‘office doors’ and ‘fire extinguishers’ under different illumination conditions and from different observer viewpoints. The final contribution is the definition of a similarity measure between qualitative descriptions of shape, colour, topology and orientation. And the integration of those measures into the definition of a general similarity measure between two qualitative descriptions of images. These similarity measures have been applied to: (i) extract objects with similar shapes from the MPEG7 CE Shape-1 library; (ii) assemble tile mosaics by qualitative shape and colour similarity matching; (iii) compare images of tile compositions; and (iv) compare images of natural landmarks in a mobile robot world for their recognition. The contributions made in this thesis are only a small step forward in the direction of enhancing robot knowledge acquisition from the world. And it is also written with the aim of inspiring others in their research, so that bigger contributions can be achieved in the future which can improve the life quality of our society.

Outcomes Based Education (OBE), has been, since its inception, fraught with problems. OBE in its very nature is complex. To fully embrace this method and ensure its success, schools must be able to make the necessary paradigm shift. This can only be achieved when schools receive relevant and empowering training, support and development. In other words, organisational development must be the key words. The aim of this study is to explore the impact of organisational development interventions on the implementation of OBE. The case study method was employed where it was realised that schools that received organisational development interventions, together with Outcomes Based Education, were able to implement this method with greater understanding, skill, and confidence. The investigation recommends an organisational development design that could be used instead of the cascade model, and provides suggestions on what can be done to ensure a more successful implementation process. / Educational Studies / M. Ed (Education Management)

Este trabalho consiste em investigar as tendências pandiatônicas na obra "Preamble for a Solemn Occasion" para órgão (1953) de Aaron Copland (1900-1990). A análise inclui a busca pelos conteúdos intervalares mais recorrentes, a interação entre a tonalidade harmônica e a tonalidade melódica, e os centros tonais. Os referenciais teóricos utilizados foram os livros Tonality, Atonality e Pantonality de Rudolph Reti (1958), que fundamenta o conceito de pantonalidade, e Analytic Approaches to Twentieth-Century Music de Joel Lester (1989), que elucida acerca da teoria dos conjuntos. / The purpose of this research is to investigate the pandiatonic tendencies of the "Preamble for a Solemn Occasion" for organ (1953) by Aaron Copland (1900-1990). The analysis inc1udes a search for the most recurrent interval collections, the interaction between the harmonic and melodic tonalities, and the tonal centers. The theoretical framework inc1udes the works by Rudolph Reti: Tonality, Atonality e Pantonality (1958) where pantonality is defined, and Analytic Approaches to Twentieth-Century Music by Joel Lester (1989) for set theory analysis.

The axiomatic theory of ` Zelazko defines a variety of general spectra where specified axioms are satisfied. However, there arise a number of spectra, usually defined for a single element of a Banach algebra, that are not covered by the axiomatic theory of ` Zelazko. V. Kordula and V. M¨uller addressed this issue and created the theory of regularities. Their unique idea was to describe the underlying set of elements on which the spectrum is defined. The axioms of a regularity provide important consequences. We prove that the set of Koliha-Drazin invertible elements, which includes the Drazin invertible elements, forms a regularity. The properties of the spectrum corresponding to a regularity are also investigated. / Mathematical Sciences / M. Sc. (Mathematics)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This work aims to evaluate the performance of the loss of field protection methods in synchronous generators. The methods are introduced to make available in a single text the various ways to protect the synchronous generator against the loss of field. The conventional methods have some problems, and the main of them is the improper operation caused by the power stable oscillations. In order to solve or minimize the relay algorithm malfunction, two new methods of loss of field protection are proposed. The first is designed to increase the operational area of the generator on steady state conditions, bounded by the conventional loss of field protection. It was accomplished by modifying the operational characteristic of the mho relay, which is better coordinated with the generator capability curve. The second makes use of loss of field conception in a fuzzy set theory. With the objective to identify the performance of each one, the methods were evaluated through computational simulations of loss of field and stable power oscillation. The methods were set and evaluated according to the generator parameters (Xd and X'd). Since, tests in three machines with different parameters were carried out. So it was possible to conclude that the methods do not behave the same way for different generators parameters. On the other hand, the proposed technique, which is based on the fuzzy set theory was more efficient and not have been affected by the generator parameters and system considered. / Este trabalho visa avaliar o desempenho dos métodos de proteção contra a perda de excitação em geradores síncronos. Os métodos são apresentados de forma a tornar disponível em um único texto as diversas maneiras de se proteger o gerador síncrono contra a perda do seu sistema de excitação. Os métodos convencionais abordados apresentam alguns problemas, sendo o principal, a operação indevida causada por oscilações estáveis de potência. Visando solucionar ou minimizar estes problemas, dois novos métodos de proteção contra a perda de excitação são propostos. O primeiro, objetivando aumentar a área operacional do gerador em regime permanente, restringida pela proteção contra a perda de excitação convencional, por meio de uma característica operacional modificada, melhor coordenada com a curva de capacidade do gerador. O segundo introduz os fundamentos clássicos da proteção contra a perda de excitação na teoria dos conjuntos nebulosos. Com o objetivo de se identificar o desempenho de cada um, os métodos existentes e os propostos foram avaliados por meio de simulações computacionais de perda de excitação e oscilação estável de potência. Como os métodos possuem ajustes em função dos parâmetros do gerador protegido (Xd e X d), realizaram-se testes com três máquinas de parâmetros distintos. Deste modo, foi possível concluir que os métodos não se comportam da mesma maneira para geradores de diferente porte. Por outro lado, a técnica proposta, que tem como base a teoria dos conjuntos nebulosos se mostrou eficiente e não teve seu desempenho afetado pelos parâmetros do gerador e do sistema considerado.

Este trabalho consiste em investigar as tendências pandiatônicas na obra "Preamble for a Solemn Occasion" para órgão (1953) de Aaron Copland (1900-1990). A análise inclui a busca pelos conteúdos intervalares mais recorrentes, a interação entre a tonalidade harmônica e a tonalidade melódica, e os centros tonais. Os referenciais teóricos utilizados foram os livros Tonality, Atonality e Pantonality de Rudolph Reti (1958), que fundamenta o conceito de pantonalidade, e Analytic Approaches to Twentieth-Century Music de Joel Lester (1989), que elucida acerca da teoria dos conjuntos. / The purpose of this research is to investigate the pandiatonic tendencies of the "Preamble for a Solemn Occasion" for organ (1953) by Aaron Copland (1900-1990). The analysis inc1udes a search for the most recurrent interval collections, the interaction between the harmonic and melodic tonalities, and the tonal centers. The theoretical framework inc1udes the works by Rudolph Reti: Tonality, Atonality e Pantonality (1958) where pantonality is defined, and Analytic Approaches to Twentieth-Century Music by Joel Lester (1989) for set theory analysis.

The purpose of this monograph is to make a detailed study about studying of relations. So, we will provide some definitions. Developing this Themes like binary relations, equivalence relations and order relations. At the same we will show ways to represent relations highlighting the representation in the form of graphs. And we will finish the job with Topological Ordering in completing some tasks of a project. / O objetivo desta monografia é fazer um estudo detalhado sobre relações. Para tanto, forneceremos algumas definições. Para o desenvolvimento deste foram abordados temas como relações binárias, relações de equivalência e relações de ordem. No desenvolvimento deste veremos formas de representar as relações dando destaque a representação na forma de Grafos. E finalizamos o trabalho com a Ordenação Topológica na conclusão de algumas tarefas de um projeto.

Esta dissertação apresenta uma abordagem que aplica a Teoria de Projeto Axiomático à especificação de requisitos de sistemas de software visando melhorar a qualidade da solução de projeto desde a análise do problema até identificação dos requisitos efetivamente. O objetivo da abordagem desenvolvida é propor e integrar métodos que permitam o uso de Projeto Axiomático em um processo de Engenharia de Requisitos. A abordagem de especificação de requisitos proposta estabelece a aplicação do Axioma da Independência no estudo de problemas e necessidades do cliente. Desta forma, incluem-se no processo de engenharia de requisitos novos domínios de estudo, o domínio do problema e o domínio do cliente. É estabelecido um modelo de hierarquia para a decomposição de Problemas, Necessidades e Requisitos. Um processo de ziguezagueamento é sugerido para que se possa aplicar a abordagem proposta em conjunto com um processo de desenvolvimento interativo e incremental como o Processo Unificado. Apresenta-se um estudo de caso de um sistema de teste de equipamentos em uma linha de produção. O estudo de caso tem por objetivo demonstrar a aplicação prática da abordagem de especificação de requisitos proposta nesta dissertação. Além disso, apresentam-se os experimentos realizados durante o trabalho de pesquisa e seus resultados. Para exemplificar a execução dos experimentos é demonstrado o processo de especificação de requisitos para um sistema de relatórios de visitas a clientes. Este exemplo ajuda a ilustrar como a abordagem apresentada pode ser utilizada para aumentar a consistência e a qualidade dos requisitos de projetos de software. / This dissertation presents an approach that applies the Axiomatic Design Theory to the specification of software systems requirements. This Approach intends to improve the quality of design solution since its inception, which involves from the problem analysis to the requirements identification. The purpose of the proposed approach is to offer methods that allow the use of axiomatic design in a process of requirements engineering. The proposed requirements specification approach establishes the application of the Axiom of Independence in the study of problems and costumer needs. In this way, new domains, the problem domain and the costumer domain, are included in the requirements engineering process. It is established a hierarchical model for the decomposition of Problems, Needs and Requirements. A zig-zag process is suggested in order to use the propose approach in conjunction with a development process as the Unified Process. It is presented a case study of a system for equipment testing in a production line. The case study aims to demonstrate the practical application of the requirements specification approach proposed in this dissertation. In addition, the results of the experiments performed during the research are presented. The requirements specification process for a reporting system is shown to illustrate the experiments. This example helps billustrate how the proposed approach can be used to increase the consistency and quality of software requirements.

Esta dissertação apresenta uma abordagem que aplica a Teoria de Projeto Axiomático à especificação de requisitos de sistemas de software visando melhorar a qualidade da solução de projeto desde a análise do problema até identificação dos requisitos efetivamente. O objetivo da abordagem desenvolvida é propor e integrar métodos que permitam o uso de Projeto Axiomático em um processo de Engenharia de Requisitos. A abordagem de especificação de requisitos proposta estabelece a aplicação do Axioma da Independência no estudo de problemas e necessidades do cliente. Desta forma, incluem-se no processo de engenharia de requisitos novos domínios de estudo, o domínio do problema e o domínio do cliente. É estabelecido um modelo de hierarquia para a decomposição de Problemas, Necessidades e Requisitos. Um processo de ziguezagueamento é sugerido para que se possa aplicar a abordagem proposta em conjunto com um processo de desenvolvimento interativo e incremental como o Processo Unificado. Apresenta-se um estudo de caso de um sistema de teste de equipamentos em uma linha de produção. O estudo de caso tem por objetivo demonstrar a aplicação prática da abordagem de especificação de requisitos proposta nesta dissertação. Além disso, apresentam-se os experimentos realizados durante o trabalho de pesquisa e seus resultados. Para exemplificar a execução dos experimentos é demonstrado o processo de especificação de requisitos para um sistema de relatórios de visitas a clientes. Este exemplo ajuda a ilustrar como a abordagem apresentada pode ser utilizada para aumentar a consistência e a qualidade dos requisitos de projetos de software. / This dissertation presents an approach that applies the Axiomatic Design Theory to the specification of software systems requirements. This Approach intends to improve the quality of design solution since its inception, which involves from the problem analysis to the requirements identification. The purpose of the proposed approach is to offer methods that allow the use of axiomatic design in a process of requirements engineering. The proposed requirements specification approach establishes the application of the Axiom of Independence in the study of problems and costumer needs. In this way, new domains, the problem domain and the costumer domain, are included in the requirements engineering process. It is established a hierarchical model for the decomposition of Problems, Needs and Requirements. A zig-zag process is suggested in order to use the propose approach in conjunction with a development process as the Unified Process. It is presented a case study of a system for equipment testing in a production line. The case study aims to demonstrate the practical application of the requirements specification approach proposed in this dissertation. In addition, the results of the experiments performed during the research are presented. The requirements specification process for a reporting system is shown to illustrate the experiments. This example helps billustrate how the proposed approach can be used to increase the consistency and quality of software requirements.