The brightness and variability of the atmosphere in the thermal infrared poses obstacles to precision photometry measurements. The need to remove atmospheric effects calls for the use of a comparison star, but it is usually impossible to fit both science and comparison targets on current long-wavelength (> 2 mu m) detectors. We present a new pointing mode at the Large Binocular Telescope, which has twin 8.4-m primary mirrors that can be pointed up to similar to 2 arcminutes apart and allow the placement of both targets on a small-field infrared detector. We present an observation of the primary transit of an exoplanet in front of its host star, and use it to provide preliminary constraints on the attainable photometric precision.

Movement between spaces ordinarily creates an in-between place in space, a place which is neither the precise place of departure nor the precise place of arrival, but is related to both. This generates another re- ality, a short-lived, momentary transitional place. Every day people travel great distances from one edge of the city to another by means of public transportation. We move through spaces such as airports, train and bus stations which exist as purely transitional spaces, and ironically many of these environments have certain emptiness about them even though there is a large convergence of people that come through these spaces on a daily basis. This thesis presents an architectural proposal that addresses the issues of transitional locations, by identifying the architectural possibilities within a liminal context. I investigate how architecture and infrastructure can be integrated by allowing for programmatic hybridization in a South African urban context of the Johannesburg inner city. I propose a multimodal transit station where different modes of public transport intersect. The site is the existing Westgate station in the south western corner of the inner city of Johannesburg. The objectives of the building are to facilitate the functional aims of a multimodal transit station, to establish the station as a destination and to enable connection and exchange between different people. These are achieved by upgrading the existing public transport facilities and introducing educational, commercial, and recreational functions This architectural exploration aims to enrich public life in transitional spac- es of urban settings. Many of the challenges associated with the typolo- gy of transit, including the sense of void and isolation that comes with mobility nodes that act as merely a transit zone, are addressed through the integration of mixed programmes that will enhance public space and create opportunity to linger. The aim is to provide an attractive and lively pedestrian environment starting at the transit station to make the experi- ence of arrival and being in the area a satisfying one.

Introduction: Our knowledge of normal human colonic motility remains incomplete. Historically, this has been due to the relative inaccessibility of this organ for study, and the lack of standardisation of methods used to investigate it. Recent device development has provided us with advanced tools by which to assess colonic motility, namely pancolonic manometry, and the wireless motility capsule (WMC). Using traditional diagnostic tests, a subgroup of patients presenting with severe intractable symptoms, but without organic disease, are found to have slow transit constipation (STC). This is believed to be primarily due to colonic dysmotility, although colonic motor functions remain poorly understood in this group also. Aims: The principal aims of this thesis were to: (1) explore the effect of pancolonic manometric recording technique on colonic motility; (2) describe pancolonic motility in STC, compared to healthy control subjects; (3) using the wireless motility capsule (WMC), validate the precise location of the pH fall around the ileo-caecal junction as a landmark for measuring colonic motility; (4) obtain normative data for colonic motility (transit and contractility) and intraluminal pH in a large cohort of healthy volunteers using the WMC, and compare this to patients with STC. Methods: The following methods were used: (1) prolonged pancolonic manometry in healthy volunteers and patients with STC; (2) a dual scintigraphic technique, involving radioactive-labelling of the WMC in healthy volunteers; (3) wireless motility capsule studies of colonic motility in healthy volunteers and in patients with STC. Results: Colonic manometric recording technique (bowel preparation or not, and different catheter types) significantly influences some characteristics of propagating sequence (PS) activity, including frequency, amplitude, polarity, relationship between consecutive PSs, and circadian rhythm. Patients with STC display dysregulated colonic motor function represented by disorganised spatiotemporal patterning and loss of 'regional linkage' among PSs. The fall in pH measured by the WMC was confirmed to be either in the caecum, ascending colon, or as the capsule moved from the caecum to the ascending colon. Using the WMC, the upper limit of normal colonic transit time (CTT) was found to be 51 h; however, CTT is not a continuous variable and exhibits peaks every 24 h. CTT is significantly prolonged in females and affected by the study protocol employed. In patients with STC, colonic contractility (motility index) is increased in comparison with healthy controls, and intraluminal pH is more acidic in the proximal colon, and more alkaline in the distal colon. Conclusions: The method of pancolonic manometry requires standardisation. However, novel metrics derived from prolonged pancolonic recordings have improved our understanding of the physiology of colonic motor function in health, and also pathophysiology in constipation. The WMC provides an alternative, less invasive method to investigate colonic motility; this technique also requires standardisation, but early results in patients with STC complement those from manometry, and also reveal alterations in intraluminal pH that may be of pathophysiological significance.

Freight transportation is a significant component of the nation’s economy. However, the augmented volume of the freight movements contributed to continuously increasing congestion on the urban road networks, that affects the timeliness and reliability of freight transportation. In addition, congestion has a negative impact on the transit operations as well. Various studies conducted on multi-modal corridors recognized the importance of the simultaneous performance of freight and transit operations. Thus, Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) components, such as Freight Signal Priority (FSP) and Transit Signal Priority (TSP), present traffic operations strategies "shaped" to give priority, reduce delay and travel time, and overall improve the performance of freight and transit movements, respectively. The primary objective of the thesis refers to evaluate possible improvements in freight mobility, while sustaining good transit services and minimizing congestion on the multi-modal corridor, through simultaneous implementation of the FSP and the TSP. The effectiveness of the newly established criteria was evaluated through real-world case study on a micro-simulation platform. The results showed significant improvements on all the vehicle movements. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2019. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

This study examines how a shuttle system can meet transportation needs in Pittsburg. A circulator shuttle connecting major commercial nodes, public facilities, and residential locations, can increase travel options and improve accessibility to key locations. A review of best practices and transit planning standards provides a means to determine the cost of a shuttle service. The base costs of service are then applied to three alternatives for different shuttle route alignments: 1) a north-south route along Railroad Avenue only, 2) a north-south route along Railroad Avenue and an east-west route to Century Plaza, and 3) a north-south route along Railroad Avenue and an east-west route to Century Plaza that also links to Los Medanos College. Each alternative presents the basic system characteristics, which include travel time between proposed stops; the difference in shuttle and automobile travel times; ridership along each route; and cost evaluation of service. Alternatives are evaluated based on comparisons of benefits and costs they can produce in the current environment. Alternative 3 provides the greatest coverage, has the largest potential ridership, and provides access to other major destinations in the eastern half of the city. This should be the ultimate vision for the shuttle service. However, fiscal uncertainties at the moment suggest that it is prudent to select the least expensive alternative, Alternative 1, and slowly branch out the system over time. This would create opportunities for the shuttle system to expand with the future growth of central Pittsburg.

La photométrie des transits permet de détecter des planètes extrasolaires en mesurant leur rayon. Dans cet objectif, le télescope spatial CoRoT (Convection, Rotation et Transit planétaires), lancé en décembre 2006, est doté d'un photomètre de haute précision permettant à la fois l'étude de la structure interne des étoiles par astérosismologie et la détection de planètes par la méthode des transits. Pour cette thèse, j'ai développé différents outils informatiques permettant la détection, l'analyse détaillée de transits dans les courbes de lumière de CoRoT. J'ai appliqué ces outils aux quelques 12 000 étoiles observées durant chacune des dix premières campagnes d'observation. La collaboration des équipes de détection et de suivi au sol par d'autres méthodes d'observation a permis, à ce jour, la découverte de quinze planètes et deux naines brunes.Il est possible de contraindre les modèles de ces exoplanètes grâce à la connaissance des paramètres (masse, rayon): gazeuses, de glace, telluriques, ou d'autres types mixtes.La recherche de planètes rocheuses en particulier est un objectif motivé tant par la rareté des détections de ces objets jusqu'à présent (liée à leur faibles rayon et masse), que par la grande variété potentielle de leur nature.Ainsi, la découverte de CoRoT-7b, la première exoplanète compatible avec un modèle rocheux et dont le rayon (1,6 rayon terrestre) et la masse (environ 7 masses terrestres) ont pu être mesurés, a permis d'élaborer un modèle physique auquel j'ai contribué.J'ai étudié la possibilité d'observer cette planète très chaude en proche infrarouge avec le JWST, au cours de son orbite, afin d'estimer le contraste de température entre les faces jour et nuit. Ceci doit permettre de confirmer / invalider notre modèle qui suppose l'absence d'une atmosphère suffisamment dense pour redistribuer la chaleur à la surface de CoRoT-7b.

As multiprocessor system size scales upward, two important aspects of multiprocessor systems will generally get worse rather than better: (1) interprocessor communication latency will increase and (2) the probability that some component in the system will fail will increase. These problems can prevent us from realizing the potential benefits of large-scale multiprocessing. In this report we consider the problem of designing networks which simultaneously minimize communication latency while maximizing fault tolerance. Using a synergy of techniques including connection topologies, routing protocols, signalling techniques, and packaging technologies we assemble integrated, system-level solutions to this network design problem.

Walking to transit stations is proposed as one of the strategies to increase the use of transit. Urban planners, transportation planners, environmentalists, and health professionals encourage and support environmental interventions that can reduce the use of cars for all kinds of trips and use alternative modes of travel such as walking, biking, and mass-transit. This study investigates the influence of the built-environment on walking to transit stations. Transit-oriented communities at quarter and half-mile distances from the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) station in Dallas, Texas, were analyzed to identify the relation of various constructs of built-environment on walking to the DART stations. Twenty-one pedestrian indices were reviewed to develop a comprehensive list of 73 built-environment variables used to measure the suitability to walk. This study aims to objectively measure built-environment using spatial data. Based on this criterion the total number of variables was narrowed to 32. Walking to transit, calculated as a percentage of transit users who walk to the DART LRT stations, was used as the dependent variable. The number of stations in operation and used for analysis in this study is 20(n). Therefore, bootstrapping was used to perform the statistical analysis for this study. The final pattern of variable grouping for the quarter-mile and the half-mile analysis revealed four principal components: Vehicle-Oriented Design, Density, Diversity, and Walking-Oriented Design. Bootstrap regression revealed that density ( = -0.767) was the only principal component that significantly (p<0.05) explained walking to transit station at quarter-mile distance from the station. At half-mile distance built-environment variables did not report any significant relation to walking to transit. The present study revealed that mere increase of density should not be taken as a proxy of increase in walking. Environmental interventions that can promote walking should be identified even at locations with high density. Further studies should use advanced statistical techniques such as Hierarchical Linear Modeling or Structural Equation Modeling to test the relationship of both the principal components and the individual variables that define the principal component to clearly understand the relationship of built-environment with walking to transit station.

In order for a city to maintain keep continuous development, it must have a convenient public transportation system. Of all the public transportation, the MRT is one of the most important transportation because it is not affected by any traffic jams and it even saves you the trouble of looking for a parking space. Therefore, the convenience of the MRT will make it the choice of residents in general. In this research, it appears that the population in Kaohsiung is rapidly increasing. According to the statistics, the population from 1991 to 2006 has increased from 100,000 to 118,281. Tsoying District appears to have increased the most from 70,000 to 74,847. However, the data shows that the other districts remain stable. So that the traditional area shows moving out due to the limitation of land. Because of the land plan anew still have a land not to develop around Tsoying District, therefore the surrounding suburb and district has people moving into the area. That¡¦s why this area is targeted among as a Kaohsiung MRT Exit area. (R13) The MRT will run business from the end of 2007. The consumer behavior of purchasing house around the MRT exit area and the real estate agency face and handle the changes to promote the product itself. To combine the theory and the practicality of this marketing. We use the 4Ps: Product, Place, Promotion and the Price. This research shows that real estate is a high involvement purchasing behavior, this is deal with million to billion, different consumers have their different needs and request. First-time buyer will be concerned with the total price, bank loan and bank interest. People who already have a house or they want to trade into a bigger house will be concerned with the functionality of this living area, the standard of life, the environment and schools. For the Mansion Group, people will be concerned with the location and uniqueness. Therefore, real estate agents need to focus on their Target Market in order to create niches.

The Ambleside waterfront, District of West Vancouver, has the potential to act as the armature for a water-borne transit link from this established neighbourhood to the Central Business District (C.B.D.) of Vancouver. By in-filling the under-used spaces and redeveloping several existing sites, the optimum employment of this historically ferry serviced waterfront may once again come to the fore. As every transit trip begins with a pedestrian event, a key component of this project is re-establishing and enhancing the pedestrian connections through the commercial/ residential centre and along the linear shore park. Using, and studying how, the principles of Transit Oriented Development (T.O.D.) fit in the Ambleside context is also central to this project. In the design careful attention will be made to the comfort and safety of the pedestrian realm by resolving conflicts between a transportation system and the retaining of the special character of Ambleside. The transit facilities will be appropriate to the site and sufficient in scale to accommodate the passenger loads. Care will be also be made towards the enhancement of the site’s ecological functioning. This project is about the planning and design for more livable and complete communities. The results of policy review and site analysis will be elaborated through design. It is hoped that the finding will be applicable to similar transit nodes and waterfronts.