The hybridization of soft computing methods of Radial Basis Function (RBF) neural networks, Multi Layer Perceptron (MLP) neural networks with back-propagation learning, fuzzy sets and rough sets are studied in the scope of this thesis. Conventional MLP, conventional RBF, fuzzy MLP, fuzzy RBF, rough fuzzy MLP, and rough fuzzy RBF networks are compared. In the fuzzy neural networks implemented in this thesis, the input data and the desired outputs are given fuzzy membership values as the fuzzy properties &ldquo / low&rdquo / , &ldquo / medium&rdquo / and &ldquo / high&rdquo / . In the rough fuzzy MLP, initial weights and near optimal number of hidden nodes are estimated using rough dependency rules. A rough fuzzy RBF structure similar to the rough fuzzy MLP is proposed. The rough fuzzy RBF was inspected whether dependencies like the ones in rough fuzzy MLP can be concluded.

As the convergence of multiple functions in a single electronic device drives current electronic trends, the need for increasing integration density is becoming more emphasized than in the past. To keep up with the industrial need and realize the new system integration law, three-dimensional (3-D) integration called System-on-Package (SoP) is becoming necessary. However, the commercialization of 3-D integration should overcome several technical barriers, one of which is the difficulty for the electrical design of interconnections. The 3-D interconnection design is difficult because of the modeling challenge of electrical coupling from the complicated structures of a large number of interconnections. In addition, mixed-signal design requires broadband modeling, which covers a large frequency spectrum for integrated microsystems. By using currently available methods, the electrical modeling of 3-D interconnections can be a very challenging task. This dissertation proposes a new method for constructing a broadband model of a large number of 3-D interconnections. The basic idea to address the many interconnections is using modal basis functions that capture electrical effects in interconnections. Since the use of global modal basis functions alleviates the need for discretization process of the interconnection structure, the computational cost is reduced considerably. The resultant interconnection model is a RLGC model that describes the broadband electrical behavior including losses and couplings. The smaller number of basis functions makes the interconnection model simpler, and therefore allows the generation of network parameters at reduced computational cost. Focusing on the modeling of bonding wires in stacked ICs and through-silicon via (TSV) interconnections, this research validates the interconnection modeling approach using several examples from 3-D full-wave EM simulation results.

The thesis reports a contribution to the development of neural-like network- based element-free methods for the numerical simulation of some non-Newtonian fluid flow problems. The numerical approximation of functions and solution of the governing partial differential equations are mainly based on radial basis function networks. The resultant micro-macroscopic approaches do not require any element-based discretisation and only rely on a set of unstructured collocation points and hence are truly meshless or element-free. The development of the present methods begins with the use of the multi-layer perceptron networks (MLPNs) and radial basis function networks (RBFNs) to effectively eliminate the volume integrals in the integral formulation of fluid flow problems. An adaptive velocity gradient domain decomposition (AVGDD) scheme is incorporated into the computational algorithm. As a result, an improved feed forward neural network boundary-element-only method (FFNN- BEM) is created and verified. The present FFNN-BEM successfully simulates the flow of several Generalised Newtonian Fluids (GNFs), including the Carreau, Power-law and Cross models. To the best of the author's knowledge, the present FFNN-BEM is the first to achieve convergence for difficult flow situations when the power-law indices are very small (as small as 0.2). Although some elements are still used to discretise the governing equations, but only on the boundary of the analysis domain, the experience gained in the development of element-free approximation in the domain provides valuable skills for the progress towards an element-free approach. A least squares collocation RBFN-based mesh-free method is then developed for solving the governing PDEs. This method is coupled with the stochastic simulation technique (SST), forming the mesoscopic approach for analyzing viscoelastic flid flows. The velocity field is computed from the RBFN-based mesh-free method (macroscopic component) and the stress is determined by the SST (microscopic component). Thus the SST removes a limitation in traditional macroscopic approaches since closed form constitutive equations are not necessary in the SST. In this mesh-free method, each of the unknowns in the conservation equations is represented by a linear combination of weighted radial basis functions and hence the unknowns are converted from physical variables (e.g. velocity, stresses, etc) into network weights through the application of the general linear least squares principle and point collocation procedure. Depending on the type of RBFs used, a number of parameters will influence the performance of the method. These parameters include the centres in the case of thin plate spline RBFNs (TPS-RBFNs), and the centres and the widths in the case of multi-quadric RBFNs (MQ-RBFNs). A further improvement of the approach is achieved when the Eulerian SST is formulated via Brownian configuration fields (BCF) in place of the Lagrangian SST. The SST is made more efficient with the inclusion of the control variate variance reduction scheme, which allows for a reduction of the number of dumbbells used to model the fluid. A highly parallelised algorithm, at both macro and micro levels, incorporating a domain decomposition technique, is implemented to handle larger problems. The approach is verified and used to simulate the flow of several model dilute polymeric fluids (the Hookean, FENE and FENE-P models) in simple as well as non-trivial geometries, including shear flows (transient Couette, Poiseuille flows)), elongational flows (4:1 and 10:1 abrupt contraction flows) and lid-driven cavity flows.

A aproximação fisionômica é o método que busca, a partir do crânio, simular a fotografia de um indivíduo quando em vida. Deve ser empregada como último recurso, na busca de desaparecidos, quando não houver possibilidade de aplicação de um método válido de identificação. O objetivo deste estudo foi obter a aproximação fisionômica, a partir de um crânio seco e de tomografia computadorizada multislice de indivíduos vivos, através da função de base radial hermitiana (FBRH). Constituiu-se também em avaliar o resultado da mesma quanto ao reconhecimento. Na primeira etapa do estudo, foi utilizada a imagem escaneada de um crânio seco, de origem desconhecida, com o intuito de avaliar se a quantidade de pontos obtidos seria suficiente para aplicação da FBRH e consequente reconstrução da superfície facial. Na segunda fase, foram utilizadas três tomografias de indivíduos vivos, para análise da semelhança alcançada entre a face escaneada e as aproximações faciais. Nesta etapa, foi aplicada uma associação de diferentes metodologias já publicadas, para reconstrução de uma mesma região da face, a partir de um mesmo crânio. Na última etapa, foram simuladas situações de reconhecimento com familiares e amigos dos indivíduos doadores das tomografias. Observou-se que a metodologia de FBRH pode ser empregada em aproximação fisionômica. Houve reconhecimento positivo nos três sujeitos estudados, sendo que, em dois deles, os resultados foram ainda mais significativos. Desta forma, conclui-se que a metodologia é rápida, objetiva e proporciona o reconhecimento. Esta permite a criação de múltiplas versões de aproximações fisionômicas a partir do mesmo crânio, o que amplia as possibilidades de reconhecimento. Observou-se ainda que a técnica não exige habilidade artística do profissional. / Facial approximation works by building the visual face up from the skull. This method should be performed as last resort, to carry out for missing persons, when there is no other primary identification method avaliable. The purpose of this study was to introduce a new computerized method with hermite radial basis function (HRBF) for facial approximation using dry skull and computed tomography (CT). The same was also evaluated as a result of the recognition. Firstly, a scan of a dry unidentified skull image was used in order to assess if the amount of points would be sufficient for HRBF methodology and subsequent reconstruction of the facial surface. In second, three CT scans of living individuals were used to evaluate the similarity achieved between the real face scanned and facial approximations. An association of different facial structures reconstruction techniques already published for the same region of the face was applied for the same skull. Moreover, some situations from developed facial approximations were simulated, as recognition by a relative or parent, on a face pool-test. Results from the study showed that the purposed methodology can be used for facial approximation. At the three cases a correct approximation identification as one of a few possible matches to the missing person happened. In two of them, the results were consistently better at identifying the correct approximation. In conclusion, the proposed methodology is fast, objective and reaches visual identification. It is possible to perform multiple versions of the same skull, changing the selected data into the system, which maximizes the chances of establishing recognition of the target face. It was also observed that the technique does not need artistic interpretation.

A aproximação fisionômica é o método que busca, a partir do crânio, simular a fotografia de um indivíduo quando em vida. Deve ser empregada como último recurso, na busca de desaparecidos, quando não houver possibilidade de aplicação de um método válido de identificação. O objetivo deste estudo foi obter a aproximação fisionômica, a partir de um crânio seco e de tomografia computadorizada multislice de indivíduos vivos, através da função de base radial hermitiana (FBRH). Constituiu-se também em avaliar o resultado da mesma quanto ao reconhecimento. Na primeira etapa do estudo, foi utilizada a imagem escaneada de um crânio seco, de origem desconhecida, com o intuito de avaliar se a quantidade de pontos obtidos seria suficiente para aplicação da FBRH e consequente reconstrução da superfície facial. Na segunda fase, foram utilizadas três tomografias de indivíduos vivos, para análise da semelhança alcançada entre a face escaneada e as aproximações faciais. Nesta etapa, foi aplicada uma associação de diferentes metodologias já publicadas, para reconstrução de uma mesma região da face, a partir de um mesmo crânio. Na última etapa, foram simuladas situações de reconhecimento com familiares e amigos dos indivíduos doadores das tomografias. Observou-se que a metodologia de FBRH pode ser empregada em aproximação fisionômica. Houve reconhecimento positivo nos três sujeitos estudados, sendo que, em dois deles, os resultados foram ainda mais significativos. Desta forma, conclui-se que a metodologia é rápida, objetiva e proporciona o reconhecimento. Esta permite a criação de múltiplas versões de aproximações fisionômicas a partir do mesmo crânio, o que amplia as possibilidades de reconhecimento. Observou-se ainda que a técnica não exige habilidade artística do profissional. / Facial approximation works by building the visual face up from the skull. This method should be performed as last resort, to carry out for missing persons, when there is no other primary identification method avaliable. The purpose of this study was to introduce a new computerized method with hermite radial basis function (HRBF) for facial approximation using dry skull and computed tomography (CT). The same was also evaluated as a result of the recognition. Firstly, a scan of a dry unidentified skull image was used in order to assess if the amount of points would be sufficient for HRBF methodology and subsequent reconstruction of the facial surface. In second, three CT scans of living individuals were used to evaluate the similarity achieved between the real face scanned and facial approximations. An association of different facial structures reconstruction techniques already published for the same region of the face was applied for the same skull. Moreover, some situations from developed facial approximations were simulated, as recognition by a relative or parent, on a face pool-test. Results from the study showed that the purposed methodology can be used for facial approximation. At the three cases a correct approximation identification as one of a few possible matches to the missing person happened. In two of them, the results were consistently better at identifying the correct approximation. In conclusion, the proposed methodology is fast, objective and reaches visual identification. It is possible to perform multiple versions of the same skull, changing the selected data into the system, which maximizes the chances of establishing recognition of the target face. It was also observed that the technique does not need artistic interpretation.

Neste trabalho é proposta uma plataforma robótica móvel, concebida de maneira modular e hierárquica, visando o estudo de diversos aspectos aplicados à navegação, tanto autônoma quanto semi-autônoma, em ambientes internos. O sistema proposto possibilita a implementação de arquiteturas reativas e híbridas com aprendizagem, sendo a importância e limitações desta última discutidas. Utilizando a plataforma desenvolvida, uma aplicação de navegação robótica com aprendizagem supervisionada é realizada, usando sensores de ultra-som e através de tele-operação. O objetivo é fazer com que o agente associe, em tempo real, suas próprias respostas sensoriais com as ações motoras realizadas pelo tele-operador, permitindo que a tarefa seja repetida autonomamente com alguma generalização. Para realizar tal mapeamento, uma rede de função de base radial (RBF), usando um algoritmo de aprendizado seqüencial, é apresentada e utilizada. / This work presents a mobile robotic platform, built as a modular and hierarchical approach, aiming at the study of several aspects of indoor navigation. The proposed system allows the implementation of reactive and hybrid architectures with learning, for autonomous or semi-autonomous navigation. The importance and limitations of the learning characteristics are discussed. An application of robotic navigation with supervised learning is implemented using ultrasonic sensors and teleoperation. The aim is the agent to associate, in real time, its own sensorial perception to the motor actions realized by a teleoperator, allowing the task to be repeated in an autonomous way, with some generalization. To make the corresponding mapping, a radial basis function network (RBF), trained by a sequential learning algorithm, is presented and used.

Radial basis function methods exhibit several very attractive properties such as a high order convergence of the approximated solution and flexibility to the domain geometry. However the method in its classical formulation becomes impractical for problems with relatively large numbers of degrees of freedom due to the ill-conditioning and dense structure of coefficient matrix. To overcome the latter issue we employ a localisation technique, namely a partition of unity method, while the former issue was previously addressed by several authors and was of less concern in this thesis. In this thesis we develop radial basis function partition of unity methods for partial differential equations arising in financial mathematics and glaciology. In the applications of financial mathematics we focus on pricing multi-asset equity and credit derivatives whose models involve several stochastic factors. We demonstrate that localised radial basis function methods are very effective and well-suited for financial applications thanks to the high order approximation properties that allow for the reduction of storage and computational requirements, which is crucial in multi-dimensional problems to cope with the curse of dimensionality. In the glaciology application we in the first place make use of the meshfree nature of the methods and their flexibility with respect to the irregular geometries of ice sheets and glaciers. Also, we exploit the fact that radial basis function methods are stated in strong form, which is advantageous for approximating velocity fields of non-Newtonian viscous liquids such as ice, since it allows to avoid a full coefficient matrix reassembly within the nonlinear iteration. In addition to the applied problems we develop a least squares radial basis function partition of unity method that is robust with respect to the node layout. The method allows for scaling to problem sizes of a few hundred thousand nodes without encountering the issue of large condition numbers of the coefficient matrix. This property is enabled by the possibility to control the coefficient matrix condition number by the rate of oversampling and the mode of refinement.

The aim of this thesis is to analyze two major indicators representing the processes of natural changes in population, which are not influenced by age structure -- age specific fertility rate and age specific mortality rate and to introduce functional data analysis, which has recently become increasingly applied in many scientific fields. The functional data analysis is introduced on the Czech demographic data set for more than last sixty years. The thesis briefly describes historical development of mortality and fertility and also describes selected methods of functional data analysis by using statistical program R. Functional data analysis provides a wide variety of graphics tools to explore the data which we called functional and help us to explore all typical and atypical features, identify outliers etc.

Em Computação Gráfica, campos vetoriais possuem diversas aplicações desde a síntese e mapeamento de texturas à animações de fluidos, produzindo efeitos amplamente utilizados na indústria do entretenimento. Para produzir tais campos, é preferível o uso de ferramentas de design em vez de simulações numéricas não só devido ao menor custo computacional mas, principalmente, por prover liberdade ao artista ao sintetizar o campo de acordo com a sua necessidade. Atualmente, na literatura, existem bons métodos de design de campos vetoriais em superfícies de objetos tridimensionais porém, o design no interior desses objetos ainda é pouco estudado, principalmente quando o campo de interesse possui propriedades específicas. O objetivo deste trabalho é desenvolver uma técnica para sintetizar campos vetoriais, com características do movimento de fluidos incompressíveis, no interior de domínios. Em uma primeira etapa, o método consiste na interpolação dos vetores de controle, com uma certa propriedade desejada, em todo o domínio. Posteriormente, o campo obtido é modificado para respeitar a geometria do contorno. / Vector fields are important to an wide range of applications on the field of Computer Graphics, from the synthesis and mapping of textures to fluid animation, producing effects widely used on the entertainment industry. To produce such fields, design tools are prefered over numerical simulations not only for its lower computational cost, but mainly by providing freedom to the artist in the creation process. Nowadays, good methods of vector field design over surfaces exist in literature, however there is only a few studies on the synthesis of vector fields of the interior of objects and even fewer when specific properties of the field are required. This work presents a technique to synthesize vector fields with properties of imcompressible fluids motion in the interior of objects. On a first step, the method consists in interpolating control vectors with a certain desired property throughout the whole domain and later the resulting field is modified to properly fit the boundary geometry of the object.

[pt] Neste trabalho é apresentada a análise e síntese de redes refletoras para aplicações espaciais. Redes refletoras são abordadas para expor de forma sucinta suas aplicações, geometrias, métodos de análise e de síntese de diagramas de irradiação. O método do circuito equivalente é utilizado para a formulação da função diádica de Green, possibilitando estabelecer relações entre os campos eletromagnéticos e as densidades superficiais de corrente elétrica em meios estratificados e constituídos por diversas metalizações. Validações numéricas são realizadas através da determinação das constantes de propagação em estruturas slab e guia de onda parcialmente preenchido, formadas por paredes metálicas com condutividade infinita. Análises de redes refletoras com poucos elementos são realizadas empregando-se o método dos momentos para calcular numericamente as densidades superficiais de corrente elétrica que fluem sobre os patches. Adicionalmente, propõe-se a aplicação de uma função base de domínio completo com condição de borda segmentada para modelar o comportamento impulsivo da densidade de corrente nas bordas dos espalhadores. Diferentes curvas de fase são obtidas através da técnica de variação das dimensões físicas dos espalhadores metálicos, considerando o campo elétrico total composto pelos campos espalhado, refletido e difratado, devido às posições espaciais dos patches. Softwares comerciais são utilizados nas verificações dos resultados obtidos. Por fim, o conceito de defasagem progressiva e o método de enxame de partículas foram aplicados para se determinar a fase desejada em cada célula. Assim, as curvas de fase são interpoladas e utilizadas para projetar as dimensões dos elementos impressos e garantir a distribuição de fase calculada sobre a superfície da rede refletora, de forma a reproduzir os diagramas desejados. / [en] This thesis presents the analysis and synthesis of reflectarrays for space applications. A review of the state-of-the-art of reflectarrays is presented and the applications, geometries, methods of analysis and methods of synthesis are discussed. Dyadic Green s function is formulated using the equivalent circuit method to describe the relation between electromagnetic fields and electrical current densities in structures composed of stratified media and several metallizations. Slab and partially-filled waveguide formed by metallic walls with infinite conductivity are analyzed to validate the formulation. Analyses of reflectarrays with few elements are performed using the method of moments to numerically calculate the densities of electric current that flow on the patches. Additionally, entire-domain basis function with segmented edge condition to model the impulsive behavior of current density at the edges of the scatterers is proposed. Different phase curves are obtained due to the patches positions in the reflectarray using the variable size technique. Phase curves are calculated considering a total electric field composed of scattered, reflected and diffracted fields. Commercial software is used to verify the obtained results. Finally, the desired phase in each cell is determined using the progressive phase concept and the particle swarm optimisation method. The phase curves are used to design the dimensions of the printed elements, and, thus, ensure the desired phase distribution on the surface of the reflectarrays, and, consequently, the specified radiation pattern.