It is nice to give animators artistic freedom, but having to animate every bounce, sway, and counter-balancing movement of a rider on a horse isn't freedom at all. It is painstaking labor that could easily be prevented with an effective character setup. If an animation piece is only going to have a few shots with a horse and rider, then the trouble of setting up an automated character rig is not practical, but if there are a significant amount of shots with a horse and rider galloping across the prairie, doing death defying stunts, and walking for an extended time into the sunset then there needs to be a way to automate the reactions of the rider to the horse. This thesis focuses on what parts of a horse one can analyze to know at what point a rider will lean forward, bounce up from the saddle, or in any way react to a variety of different horse movements. The automated character setup, or rig, makes animating a rider on a horse much more efficient.

This dissertation discusses two independent topics: a resource-constrained shortest-path problem (RCSP) and a literature review on scheduling problems involving sequence-dependent setup (SDS) times (costs). RCSP is often used as a subproblem in column generation because it can be used to solve many practical problems. This dissertation studies RCSP with multiple resource constraints on an acyclic graph, because many applications involve this configuration, especially in column genetation formulations. In particular, this research focuses on a dynamic RCSP since, as a subproblem in column generation, objective function coefficients are updated using new values of dual variables at each iteration. This dissertation proposes a pseudo-polynomial solution method for solving the dynamic RCSP by exploiting the special structure of an acyclic graph with the goal of effectively reoptimizing RCSP in the context of column generation. This method uses a one-time “preliminary” phase to transform RCSP into an unconstrained shortest path problem (SPP) and then solves the resulting SPP after new values of dual variables are used to update objective function coefficients (i.e., reduced costs) at each iteration. Network reduction techniques are considered to remove some nodes and/or arcs permanently in the preliminary phase. Specified techniques are explored to reoptimize when only several coefficients change and for dealing with forbidden and prescribed arcs in the context of a column generation/branch-and-bound approach. As a benchmark method, a label-setting algorithm is also proposed. Computational tests are designed to show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms and procedures. This dissertation also gives a literature review related to the class of scheduling problems that involve SDS times (costs), an important consideration in many practical applications. It focuses on papers published within the last decade, addressing a variety of machine configurations - single machine, parallel machine, flow shop, and job shop - reviewing both optimizing and heuristic solution methods in each category. Since lot-sizing is so intimately related to scheduling, this dissertation reviews work that integrates these issues in relationship to each configuration. This dissertation provides a perspective of this line of research, gives conclusions, and discusses fertile research opportunities posed by this class of scheduling problems. since, as a subproblem in column generation, objective function coefficients are updated using new values of dual variables at each iteration. This dissertation proposes a pseudo-polynomial solution method for solving the dynamic RCSP by exploiting the special structure of an acyclic graph with the goal of effectively reoptimizing RCSP in the context of column generation. This method uses a one-time

At ABB’s high voltage cable factory in Karlskrona, there is a line production that is regarded as a bottleneck. The production rate at this workplace as well as the large variations of setups has created two major problems. The first problem is that it has become difficult for the planning department to determine the lead times for delivery to the customers. The other problem is that the long setup times has made this line production the bottleneck of the whole production. The factory at ABB HVC includes a number of line productions, where each line has their own purpose and value adding processes. The armoring line AR50 that this project has the focus to improve has the last value adding processes for the factory’s main product. The factory’s main product is the Cross-Linked Polyethylene cable, shortened XLPE. There are several different advantages with the XLPE-cable system. First of all they are maintenance-free and environmentally friendly. The main reason that the XLPE-cable is environmentally friendly is because it have low electrical losses. Since the submarine cables are underground the cables are invisible and not effected by weather conditions. This project implements the method SMED as well as various methods from the LEAN transcript in order to reduce the setup times and create a more stable and effficient production. An Ishikawa diagram were used in order to determine the root causes of the problems. Later both technical and management solutions were proposed and implemented. The project has concluded impressive results regarding setup time reduction and annual cost savings. It also enlightens the large potential for further improvement. This project will be continued during the year of 2014 in order to implement the proposed solutions. The future improvements are not just technical but also related to management and group dynamics.

Lung cancer is the most deadly cancer in the United States. Radiation therapy uses ionizing radiation with high energy to destroy lung tumor cells by damaging their genetic material, preventing those cells from reproducing. The most challenging aspect of modern radiation therapy for lung cancer is the motion of lung tumors caused by patient breathing during treatment. Most gating based radiotherapy derives the tumor motion from external surrogates and generates a respiratory signal to trigger the beam. We propose a method that monitors internal diaphragm motion, which can provide a respiratory signal that is more highly correlated to lung tumor motion compared to the external surrogates. We also investigate direct tracking of the tumor in fluoroscopic video imagery. We tracked fixed tumor contours in fluoroscopic videos for 5 patients. The predominant tumor displacements are well tracked based on optical flow. Some tumors or nearby anatomy features exhibit severe nonrigid deformation, especially in the supradiaphragmatic region. By combining Active Shape Models and the respiratory signal, the deformed contours are tracked within a range defined in the training period. All the tracking results are validated by a human expert and the proposed methods are promising for applications in radiotherapy. Another important aspect of lung patient treatment is patient setup verification, which is needed to reduce inter- and intra-fractions geometry uncertainties and ensure precise dose delivery. Currently, there is no universally accepted method for lung patient verification. We propose to register 4DCT and 2D x-ray images taken before treatment to derive the couch shifts necessary for precise radiotherapy. The proposed technique leads to improved patient care.

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Photoluminescence (PL) is an optical emission induced by photon absorption in a material where electrons are excited from the ground state to excited states, then relax to the lowest excited states and recombine radiatively. The PL emission provides vital information on bandgap energy, material purity and crystal quality. In this project, a PL characterization system, also capable of electroluminescence (EL) measurements, was designed and assem- bled to measure optoelectronic device structures with the capabilities of recording PL or EL spectra as well as micrometer-resolved PL or EL maps on device structures or active components. In order to realize the system with the above functions, an optical setup and a monochro- mator were used to achieve micrometer-range resolution and reasonable signal-to-noise ra- tio. A hardware control platform needed to be designed and assembled to control the precise movement of the sample stage and monochromator as well as for acquiring the signal. A PC-based control software were developed for fully automatic measurements . Furthermore, adequate alignment and calibration methods had to be developed to tune the optical path, monochromator and control program. The setup employs the basic ideas of confocal microscopy, with the parallel laser input focused on the sample surface with a spot diameter of 0.78 μm. A Czerny Turner diffraction grating based monochromator is used to measure PL emissions. A 532 nm laser diode and an InGaAs or Si detector are applied in the system for spectral range of detection of at least 850- 1600 nm, i.e. covering the important data and tele communication bands. The project builds on a platform containing EasyDrivers, an Anduino Uno micro-controller and a Labview based operation software, together working with an amplifier circuit for stepper motors actuation and signal acquisition. Finally, different quantum well samples were measured, showing that the wavelength accuracy and resolution as well as the program flexibility meet the specifications of the setup.

Background: Morphological changes of Human Immunodeficiency Virus lipodystrophy syndrome (HIV LDS) are said to be the new face of HIV / Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) which may negatively influence the adherence to Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART). Methods of assessing HIV LDS vary among researchers and practitioners who make it difficult to compare incidence and prevalence figures among clinics in South Africa. Instruments available in other countries to assess HIV LDS are costly and time consuming for the clinical setup. A standard, objective and practical instrument is needed for the South African clinical setup to address this problem. Objectives: The primary objective of the study was to assess the agreement between methods routinely used to classify HIV LDS in the clinical setup (i.e. National Cholesterol Education Programme [NCEP] criteria, subjective self-reporting and routine anthropometry) to a published, objective case definition using diagnostic testing. The secondary objective was to develop and cross-validate a classification instrument for HIV LDS utilising parameters from the studied test methods. Design and sample: The study was a cross-sectional, analytical and non-experimental analysis of 1421 HIV positive adult patients (69% female) enrolled on HAART. Of the 283 subjects who met the inclusion criteria, 253 consented to participate. Purposeful sampling was performed dividing the study population into a case (n=79) - and control (n=73) group according to a screening process. The dichotomous outcome (HIV LDS (+) or – Ө) of the tests – and reference method was statistically analysed by means of diagnostic testing. The new classification instrument was developed using logistic regression on all the variables and validated with a cross-validation technique. Setting: Outpatient clinic at Kalafong Hospital, Gauteng Province, South Africa. Results: Primary objective: The diagnostic properties (sensitivity, specificity, Kappa coefficient and p-value for McNemar’s test respectively) of the test methods were as follows: NCEP criteria: (45%, 83%, 0.29 and 0.54); subjective self-reporting (74%, 59%, 0.26 and 0.00); Kotler anthropometry (71%, 52%, 0.18 and 0.00); routine anthropometry (62%, 54%, 0.12 and 0.00); and Dong&Hendricks anthropometry: (10%, 88%, 0.00 and 0.00). Secondary objective: A new, simple classification instrument (with limited blood samples) had the following diagnostic properties: (sensitivity 81% [71% validated], specificity 79% [75% validated], Kappa 0.54 [0.41 validated], McNemar’s test of symmetry p=0.00, and the area under the receiver operating curve [AUC] was 0.88). A classification instrument without blood samples had a sensitivity of 69%, specificity of 67%, Kappa = 0.310, McNemar’s p= 0.00 and AUC= 0.75). Conclusion: In a resource limited setting the NCEP criteria appears to be the “best” among the methods tested for identifying HIV LDS. Two newly developed instruments showed even better diagnostic properties. Use of these might lead to an accurate, consistent detection of HIV LDS in the typical South African setting. However, practical implications to the individual and the health care system still need to be investigated further. The results can also be used in longitudinal studies. / Dissertation (MDietetics)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Human Nutrition / unrestricted

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Switched reluctance machines are becoming more prevalent in various motor drive applications due to their simple construction, robust design, fault tolerant operation, and relatively low-cost construction. There are nonetheless some drawbacks to the switched reluctance machines operational behavior which limit its potential market penetration. The electromagnetic torque ripple is one of those limitations. However, unlike most four-quadrant variable speed electric motors, switched reluctance machines need additional control considerations to operate in generating mode to maximize power returned while minimizing torque ripple. The goal of this thesis is to explore different control schemes which are used in motoring mode and compare their performance in generating mode for different operational points. Using the lessons learned from the comparisons in generating mode, key optimizations objectives are established to improve the switched reluctance machines performance for generating applications. A multi-objective optimizer is used to select conduction angles using established objectives of maximizing torque and minimizing torque ripple. The proposed generating-specific objectives are compared to the motoring-specific objectives to validate the generating performance improvement for a wide torque-speed range. Finally, a setup is constructed to validate the generating performance of a 3-phase 12/8 SRM using the new optimization objectives and it is compared with conventional objectives. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)