This thesis presents certain recent methodologies and some new results for the statistical analysis of probability distributions on non-Euclidean manifolds. The notions of Frechet mean and variation as measures of center and spread are introduced and their properties are discussed. The sample estimates from a random sample are shown to be consistent under fairly broad conditions. Depending on the choice of distance on the manifold, intrinsic and extrinsic statistical analyses are carried out. In both cases, sufficient conditions are derived for the uniqueness of the population means and for the asymptotic normality of the sample estimates. Analytic expressions for the parameters in the asymptotic distributions are derived. The manifolds of particular interest in this thesis are the shape spaces of k-ads. The statistical analysis tools developed on general manifolds are applied to the spaces of direct similarity shapes, planar shapes, reflection similarity shapes, affine shapes and projective shapes. Two-sample nonparametric tests are constructed to compare the mean shapes and variation in shapes for two random samples. The samples in consideration can be either independent of each other or be the outcome of a matched pair experiment. The testing procedures are based on the asymptotic distribution of the test statistics, or on nonparametric bootstrap methods suitably constructed. Real life examples are included to illustrate the theory.

Five elementary age students with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities were taught shape identification. A multiple probe design across behaviors, replicated across participants, was used to determine the effectiveness of constant time delay to determine the effectiveness of Constant Time Delay to teach shapes. Nontarget information was included in praise statements. All students met criterion on target information of shape identification. All students increased their ability to identify shape words, spell shape words, tell the number of sides of the shapes when presented and tell the number of angles of shapes presented. Generalization occurred during daily walks through the school and community as well as during the probe sessions.

[Truncated abstract] One common task in Computer Vision is the estimation of three-dimensional surface shape from two-dimensional images. This task is important as a precursor to higher level tasks such as object recognition - since shape of an object gives clues to what the object is - and object modelling for graphics. Many visual cues have been suggested in the literature to provide shape information, including the shading of an object, its occluding contours (the outline of the object that slants away from the viewer) and its appearance from two or more views. If the image exhibits a significant amount of texture, then this too may be used as a shape cue. Here, ‘texture’ is taken to mean the pattern on the surface of the object, such as the dots on a pear, or the tartan pattern on a tablecloth. This problem of estimating the shape of an object based on its texture is referred to as shape-form-texture and it is the subject of this thesis . . . The work in this thesis is likely to impact in a number of ways. The second shape-form-texture algorithm provides one of the most general solutions to the problem. On the other hand, if the assumptions of the first shape-form-texture algorithm are met, this algorithm provides an extremely usable method, in that users should be able to input images of textured objects and click on the frontal texture to quickly reconstruct a fairly good estimation of the surface. And lastly, the algorithm for estimating the transformation between textures can be used as a part of many shape-form-texture algorithms, as well as being useful in other areas of Computer Vision. This thesis gives two examples of other applications for the method: re-texturing an object and placing objects in a scene.

Thesis (M.Sc. Physics and Electronic Engineering)--University of Waikato, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 83-86) Also available via the World Wide Web.

Den här studien undersöker om en spelare skulle känna av en dissonans mellan en avatar med fredligt formspråk och en spelmiljö med aggressivt formspråk. En spelbar artefakt i form av ett 2D äventyrspel skapades med en runt utformad avatar ochspetsigt utformade fiender och miljöer där övriga faktorer försökte hållas neutrala. Fem testpersoner spelade igenom spelet och intervjuades för att ta reda på hur dekände och upplevde spelets olika delar. Resultatet antyder att spelarna inte kände av någon dissonans. Detta spekuleras bero på ett fokus på spelande och förutfattade meningar kring grafikens motiv. Framtida arbeten kan fokusera på fler element än bara formspråk för att överdriva uttrycken och undersöka om en starkare dissonans kan upptäckas av spelare.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-08-29Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:14:30Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 bedim_aap_me_prud.pdf: 2074318 bytes, checksum: 0a64678a6c601b203013952cfdd8a6ba (MD5) / Este trabalho, desenvolvido no contexto da linha de pesquisa “Práticas e processos formativos em Educação”, do Programa de Pós-graduação em Educação – Mestrado da Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, UNESP – Univ. Estadual Paulista, Campus de Presidente Prudente, teve por objetivo investigar quais as contribuições da Webquest “Viajando nas Obras de Arte” no ensino de formas geométricas para crianças do 2º ano do Ensino Fundamental. Assim, situa-se no bojo da Educação Matemática, e sua relevância está em contribuir para ampliar a compreensão sobre o uso do computador na aprendizagem matemática de alunos de 6 a 8 anos. Trata-se de uma pesquisa intervenção, desenvolvida com 12 alunos do 2º. ano do Ensino Fundamental, na faixa etária de 6 a 8 anos, do Colégio de Aplicação João XXIII da Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF), da cidade de Juiz de Fora (MG). Os dados, coletados por meio de observações, produções dos alunos, bem como fotos e vídeos, apontaram que somente a atividade Webquest “Viajando nas obras de Arte” não propiciou que a criança dessa faixa etária vivenciasse os quatro processos que devem estar presentes e articulados no ensino de Geometria, a saber, percepção, construção, representação e concepção. Com ela, conseguimos trabalhar a percepção e habilidades para visualizar as formas geométricas. No entanto, a Webquest não viabilizou a construção e a representação dessas formas. Contemplamos os outros processos com as demais atividades desenvolvidas, uso de material concreto, planificação, produção de desenhos e de narrativas. Com essas últimas, os alunos perceberam, construíram e representaram as formas, e iniciaram a sistematização conceitual... / This paper, developed in the context of the Practices and formative processes in Education research line, from the Pos-graduate Program in Education - Masters Degree of Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, UNESP – Univ. Estadual Paulista, Presidente Prudente Campus, aimed at investigating which attributions of the Traveling with Works of Art Webquest in the teaching of geometric shapes for children from 2nd year of elementary school. Thus, is situated in the midst of Mathematics Education and its relevance lies in the contribution to broaden the comprehension about the use of the computer in the process of learning mathematic of students from 6 to 8 years. Is is an intervention research, which was carried out with 12 students from the 2nd year of the elementary school, aged 6 to 8 years, of the Colégio de Aplicação João XXIII, at the Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF), in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The data, collected through observation, the students' work, as well as photos and videos, pointed that the Webquest alone did not provide the kid of this age with the opportunity to experience the four processes which ought to be present and to be articulated in the teaching of Geometry, which are, perception, construction, representation and conception. Through this, we were able to work the perception and the ability to visualize geometrical shapes. However, the Webquest did not enable the construction and representation of these shapes. We have approached the other processes with the other activities carried out. The use of real materials, planification, drawings and narratives. With the latter, the students realized, constructed and represented the shapes, and started a conceptual sistematization... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Doctor of Philosophy / Physics / Christopher M. Sorensen / We present light scattering studies of irregularly shaped particles which significantly affect the climate. We built and calibrated our apparatus which was able to measure all six independent scattering matrix elements. Our apparatus detects light from 0.32° to 157° simultaneously. We studied all six scattering matrix elements of irregularly shaped Arizona Road Dust which behave differently than those of spheres. We strongly focused on the most important scattering matrix element – the phase function, scattered intensity vs. the scattering angle, which we applied Q-space analysis to. Q-space analysis involves plotting the scattering intensity vs. the magnitude of the scattering wave vector q or qR with R the radius of a particle, on a double logarithmic scale. We measured and studied the phase functions of Al₂O₃ abrasives; compared the scattering from the abrasives with the scattering of spheres. To generalize the study, we collected a large amount of experimental and theoretical data from our group and others and applied Q-space analysis. They all displayed a common scattering pattern. The power law exponents showed a quasi-universal functionality with the internal coupling parameter ρ'. In situ studies of the soot fractal aggregates produced from a burner were also conducted. A power law exponent -1.85 is seen to imply the aggregates have fractal dimension of D[subscript f]=1.85. The overall work presented shows Q-space analysis uncovers patterns common to all particles: a q-independent forward scattering regime is followed by a Guinier regime, a power law regime, and sometimes an enhanced back scattering regime. The description of the patterns applies to spheres as well, except the power law regime has more than a single power law. These simple patterns give a unified description for all particle shapes. Moreover, the power law exponents have a quasi-universal functionality with ρ' for non-fractal aggregates. The absolute value of the exponents start from 4 when ρ' is small. As ρ' increases, the exponents decrease until the trend levels off at ρ'≳10 where the exponents reach a constant 1.75±0.25. All the non-fractal particles fall on the same trend regardless of the detail of their structure.

Orientador: Monica Fürkotter / Banca: Helena Faria de Barros / Banca: Maria Raquel Miotto Morelatti / Resumo: Este trabalho, desenvolvido no contexto da linha de pesquisa "Práticas e processos formativos em Educação", do Programa de Pós-graduação em Educação - Mestrado da Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, UNESP - Univ. Estadual Paulista, Campus de Presidente Prudente, teve por objetivo investigar quais as contribuições da Webquest "Viajando nas Obras de Arte" no ensino de formas geométricas para crianças do 2º ano do Ensino Fundamental. Assim, situa-se no bojo da Educação Matemática, e sua relevância está em contribuir para ampliar a compreensão sobre o uso do computador na aprendizagem matemática de alunos de 6 a 8 anos. Trata-se de uma pesquisa intervenção, desenvolvida com 12 alunos do 2º. ano do Ensino Fundamental, na faixa etária de 6 a 8 anos, do Colégio de Aplicação João XXIII da Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF), da cidade de Juiz de Fora (MG). Os dados, coletados por meio de observações, produções dos alunos, bem como fotos e vídeos, apontaram que somente a atividade Webquest "Viajando nas obras de Arte" não propiciou que a criança dessa faixa etária vivenciasse os quatro processos que devem estar presentes e articulados no ensino de Geometria, a saber, percepção, construção, representação e concepção. Com ela, conseguimos trabalhar a percepção e habilidades para visualizar as formas geométricas. No entanto, a Webquest não viabilizou a construção e a representação dessas formas. Contemplamos os outros processos com as demais atividades desenvolvidas, uso de material concreto, planificação, produção de desenhos e de narrativas. Com essas últimas, os alunos perceberam, construíram e representaram as formas, e iniciaram a sistematização conceitual... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This paper, developed in the context of the "Practices and formative processes in Education" research line, from the Pos-graduate Program in Education - Masters Degree of Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, UNESP - Univ. Estadual Paulista, Presidente Prudente Campus, aimed at investigating which attributions of the "Traveling with Works of Art" Webquest in the teaching of geometric shapes for children from 2nd year of elementary school. Thus, is situated in the midst of Mathematics Education and its relevance lies in the contribution to broaden the comprehension about the use of the computer in the process of learning mathematic of students from 6 to 8 years. Is is an intervention research, which was carried out with 12 students from the 2nd year of the elementary school, aged 6 to 8 years, of the Colégio de Aplicação João XXIII, at the Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF), in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The data, collected through observation, the students' work, as well as photos and videos, pointed that the Webquest alone did not provide the kid of this age with the opportunity to experience the four processes which ought to be present and to be articulated in the teaching of Geometry, which are, perception, construction, representation and conception. Through this, we were able to work the perception and the ability to visualize geometrical shapes. However, the Webquest did not enable the construction and representation of these shapes. We have approached the other processes with the other activities carried out. The use of real materials, planification, drawings and narratives. With the latter, the students realized, constructed and represented the shapes, and started a conceptual sistematization... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Le "Spark Plasma Sintering" est un procédé innovant qui permet de densifier, assembler, forger... tous types de matériaux avec des cinétiques très rapides. Cependant, il nécessite des améliorations pour le contrôle des températures, l'homogénéité microstructurale pour des pièces de formes complexes... et de productivité industrielle. Pour résoudre ces problèmes, un modèle électro-thermo-mécanique-microstructural est identifié : i) pour la partie Thermo-Electrique une instrumentation fine a permis par une approche inverse d'évaluer les résistances de contacts, ii) par essais in-situ de fluage et de compression pour la partie mécanique-microstructurale. Il a permis de trouver des solutions pertinentes pour élaborer des pièces - de microstructure homogène - simultanément en grand nombre (modification du passage du courant électrique) - de formes complexes (intervention de pièces sacrificielles). / The "Spark Plasma Sintering" process allows very high consolidation kinetics (densification, assembly, forging) of materials (powder, porous, nanostructured). However, some difficulties remains on this innovative process, particularly in terms of temperature control, microstructural homogeneity especially for complex shapes ... and industrial productivity. To solve these problems, an electro-thermo-mechanical-microstructural model is identified: i) using a thin instrumentation of the machine for the Thermo-Electric part including a reverse approach to evaluate the contact resistances, ii) by in situ creep and compression tests for mechanical microstructural-part. The resulting model has helped to find solutions for microstructural homogenization of the parts, for simultaneously densify of large numbers of parts (modifying the flow of electric current) and/or complex shapes (intervention sacrificial parts).

Este trabalho apresenta resultados de uma análise teórico-experimental sobre a resistência à compressão de perfis I soldados de aço, formados por chapas cortadas a maçarico. A construção metálica no Brasil utiliza os perfis I soldados formados por chapas cortadas a maçarico em virtude da pouca disponibilidade no mercado dos perfis laminados. Os perfis soldados brasileiros apresentam dimensões (altura, largura de mesa e espessura) diferentes das encontradas nos perfis laminados e soldados, fabricados em outros países. Apresentam-se os principais parâmetros envolvidos na formulação das curvas de resistência à compressão para perfis soldados de pequenas dimensões, tais como: tensões residuais, imperfeições geométricas iniciais e seus efeitos no cálculo da resistência à compressão dos perfis soldados compostos por chapas cortadas a maçarico. Os perfis ensaiados são das séries PS 200x25, PS 225x29 e CS 150x25, sendo que foram obtidos resultados experimentais da força normal crítica e das imperfeições geométricas iniciais para três modelos de cada série com quatro índices de esbeltez diferente. / This work presents results of theoretical and experimental analysis about the compressive strength of steel welded I-shapes manufactured from flame-cut plates. Steel construction in brazil uses these welded I-shapes because of the limited availabilily of hot-rolled shapes in the market. The brazilian welded shapes have dimensions (height, flange width and thickness) that differ from steel welded shapes manufactured in other countries. It presents the main parameters in the formulation of the compressive strength curves for welded shapes of small dimensions as: residual stresses, geometrical initial crookedness and their effects in the evaluation of the compressive strength of the welded shapes manufactured from flame-cut plates. The tested shapes are of PS 200x25, PS 225x29 and CS 150x25 series. Test results were obtained for the critical axial load and the geometrical initial crookedness to three models with four different slenderness ratio in each serie.