When learning a second language, there are elements of a learner's native language that can transfer and are exhibited during production in the second language. This can extend not only to the way things are said but even to gestures that are language- and speech-act-specific. However, there is evidence that the same can occur backwards, that is to say that elements of a second language can be exhibited during production of one's native language (Pavlenko and Jarvis, 2002). This study focuses on English L1 learners of Japanese who have spent significant time both in country and learning the language to see if they exhibit Japanese tendencies when performing apologies in their native English. Comparisons between those with no Japanese experience were made with those who had extensive Japanese experience. Through video recordings of 45 participants engaging in six apology-induced scenarios (non-Japanese, n=24; Japanese, n=21), the participants showed that backward transfer occurs with repetition of IFIDs and nonverbal cues. Further research through different methods can be more telling.

<p>Recent algorithms for video coding achieve a high-quality transmission at moderate bit rates. On the other hand, those coders are very sensitive to transmission errors. Many research projects focus on methods to conceal such errors in the decoded video sequence. </p><p>Motion compensated prediction is commonly used in video coding to achieve a high compression ratio. This thesis proposes an algorithm which uses the motion compensated prediction of a given video coder to predict a sequence of several complete frames, based on the last correctly decoded images, during a transmission interruption. The proposed algorithm is evaluated on a video coder which uses a dense motion field for motion compensation. </p><p>A drawback of predicting lost fields is the perceived discontinuity when the decoder switches back from the prediction to a normal mode of operation. Various approaches to reduce this discontinuity are investigated.</p>

This thesis focuses particularly on the application of chemometrics in the field of analytical chemistry. Chemometrics (or multivariate analysis) consists in finding a relationship between two groups of variables, often called dependent and independent variables. In infrared spectroscopy for instance, chemometrics consists in the prediction of a quantitative variable (the obtention of which is delicate, requiring a chemical analysis and a qualified operator), such as the concentration of a component present in the studied product from spectral data measured on various wavelengths or wavenumbers (several hundreds, even several thousands). In this research we propose a methodology in the field of chemometrics to handle the chemical data (spectrophotometric data) which are often in high dimension. To handle these data, we first propose a new incremental method (step-by-step) for the selection of spectral data using linear and non-linear regression based on the combination of three principles: linear or non-linear regression, incremental procedure for the variable selection, and use of a validation set. This procedure allows on one hand to benefit from the advantages of non-linear methods to predict chemical data (there is often a non-linear relationship between dependent and independent variables), and on the other hand to avoid the overfitting phenomenon, one of the most crucial problems encountered with non-linear models. Secondly, we propose to improve the previous method by a judicious choice of the first selected variable, which has a very important influence on the final performances of the prediction. The idea is to use a measure of the mutual information between the independent and dependent variables to select the first one; then the previous incremental method (step-by-step) is used to select the next variables. The variable selected by mutual information can have a good interpretation from the spectrochemical point of view, and does not depend on the data distribution in the training and validation sets. On the contrary, the traditional chemometric linear methods such as PCR or PLSR produce new variables which do not have any interpretation from the spectrochemical point of view. Four real-life datasets (wine, orange juice, milk powder and apples) are presented in order to show the efficiency and advantages of both proposed procedures compared to the traditional chemometric linear methods often used, such as MLR, PCR and PLSR.

Recent algorithms for video coding achieve a high-quality transmission at moderate bit rates. On the other hand, those coders are very sensitive to transmission errors. Many research projects focus on methods to conceal such errors in the decoded video sequence. Motion compensated prediction is commonly used in video coding to achieve a high compression ratio. This thesis proposes an algorithm which uses the motion compensated prediction of a given video coder to predict a sequence of several complete frames, based on the last correctly decoded images, during a transmission interruption. The proposed algorithm is evaluated on a video coder which uses a dense motion field for motion compensation. A drawback of predicting lost fields is the perceived discontinuity when the decoder switches back from the prediction to a normal mode of operation. Various approaches to reduce this discontinuity are investigated.

The effect of direct, small-scale excitation on the evolution of a plane shear layer which forms at the edge of a backward facing step is investigated experimentally using high resolution particle image velocimetry and hot-wire anemometry. Actuation is effected at frequencies that are over an order of magnitude higher than the characteristic (or natural) formation frequency of the layer by a spanwise array of piezoelectrically-driven synthetic jet actuators that are placed near the edge of the step. The actuation has significant effects on the evolution of both large- and small-scale motions within the shear layer inducing an increase in small-scale dissipation and simultaneous suppression of turbulence production. While the fundamental instabilities that lead to the formation of large scale motions are typically suppressed, low-frequency amplitude-modulation of the actuation signal allows the formation of large scale motions and entrainment which, in concert with the small-scale actuation, lead to enhancement of the turbulent shear stresses throughout the shear layer. Amplitude modulation is also used to assess the effect of flow transients that are induced by step or low duty cycle actuation. The present findings suggest strategies for controlled suppression or enhancement of mixing in the near field of the shear layer.

In this thesis, analysis of the forward backward asymmetry of high energy electron pairs at the CMS - LHC with a centre of mass energy of 7 TeV is presented and the possibility of search for a new neutral weak boson Z&rsquo / via measuring the forward backward asymmetry AFB of high energy electron pairs is discussed. The forward backward asymmetry is a natural result of the interference between the neutral current mediators: Photon and Z boson. A new neutral gauge boson would also interfere with these mediators and this new interference would either enhance the forward backward asymmetry at high energies or suppress it. In this analysis, 4.67 fb&minus / 1 data collected at the CMS experiment in 2011 is used

Backward stochastic differential equations appear in many areas of research including mathematical finance, nonlinear partial differential equations, financial economics and stochastic control. The first existence and uniqueness result for nonlinear backward stochastic differential equations was given by Pardoux and Peng (Adapted solution of a backward stochastic differential equation. System and Control Letters, 1990). They looked for an adapted pair of processes {x(t) / y(t)} / t is in [0 / 1]} with values in Rd and Rd&times / k respectively, which solves an equation of the form: x(t) + int_t^1 f(s,x(s),y(s))ds + int_t^1 [g(s,x(s)) + y(s)]dWs = X. This dissertation studies this paper in detail and provides all the steps of the proofs that appear in this seminal paper. In addition, we review (Cvitanic and Karatzas, Hedging contingent claims with constrained portfolios. The annals of applied probability, 1993). In this paper, Cvitanic and Karatzas studied the following problem: the hedging of contingent claims with portfolios constrained to take values in a given closed, convex set K. Processes intimately linked to BSDEs naturally appear in the formulation of the constrained hedging problem. The analysis of Cvitanic and Karatzas is based on a dual control problem. One of the contributions of this thesis is an algorithm that numerically solves this control problem in the case of constant volatility. The algorithm is based on discretization of time. The convergence proof is also provided.

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Air quality was influenced by many factors, in South Taiwan, air pollutants transportation caused by monsoon or sea-land breeze that may caused high air pollution events. Air pollutant generated by human activity on daytime, then transported and accumulated at sea region by land breeze during the nighttime. Unfortunately, air pollutants that accumulated over sea on night may transport back to land by sea breeze on daytime. Besides, monsoon may carry air pollutants from other regions to South Taiwan and caused high air quality event. Till now, air quality influenced by sea-land breeze and monsoon were not verified in South Taiwan. This study investigated the temporal variation and spatial distribution of air pollutants in the atmosphere around the coastal region of South Taiwan. Ambient air pollutants were simultaneously monitored both inland and offshore. Inland monitoring was conducted at two sites associated with fourteen national air quality monitoring stations, while offshore monitoring was conducted at two sites both in an island and on the boat. A protocol of ambient air quality monitoring was conducted for forty-eight hours. Gaseous air pollutants (i.e. CO, SO2, NOX, THC, and O3) were continuously monitored instrumentally. Data obtained from both inland and offshore monitoring were applied to plot the concentration contour by a software SURFER. Hourly variation of air pollutant concentrations was further used to study the influences of sea-land breezes on the transportation of air pollutants around the coastal region of South Taiwan for different seasons. In August and November, 2006 and May, 2007, sea-land breeze was observed during sampling period and sea breeze arise from 9:00 A.M. to 24:00 P.M. The average wind velocity was 1~4 m/s during the sampling period. In January and March, 2007, prevail wind direction was north direction and northeast direction (270o~30o), that was influenced by northeast monsoon during the sampling period. The average wind velocity was 2~4 m/s. The results showed that distribution of air pollutants, including O3, NOX, THC, and CO influenced by sea-land breezes, particularly for ozone. Air pollutants transported to sea region during the nighttime, and transported back at daytime. This phenomenon cause air pollutants accumulated between Kao-Ping and sea region. In general, NOX generated by transportation and industrial process, thus high concentration of NOX appeared during traffic congestion period and at industry region, mainly Kaohsiung city and Linyuang industrial region. However, sea-land breeze effect upon transportation of air pollutants wasn¡¦t obvious for SO2. High SO2 concentration appeared at Linyuang industrial region and Siaogang at daytime, and transported to region along the coast. During northeastern monsoon season, northeast winds obstructed by Central Mountain Range cause air pollutants accumulated at Kao-Ping region. High NOX concentration appeared at Kaohsiung City and Linyuang industrial region. SO2 accumulated at Siaogang and Linyuang during the nighttime might be caused by high atmospheric pressure system and blew air pollutants to Linbian. CO was accumulated at Siaogang at daytime and transported to Donggang, while THC was accumulated at Donggang whole day.