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Composite panel structure optimization is commonly decomposed into panel optimization subproblems, with specified local loads, resulting in manufacturing incompatibilities between adjacent panel designs. Using genetic algorithms to optimize local panel stacking sequences allows panel populations of stacking sequences to evolve in parallel and send migrants to adjacent panels, so as to blend the local panel designs globally. The blending process is accomplished using the edit distance between individuals of a population and the set of migrants from adjacent panels. The objective function evaluating the fitness of designs is modified according to the severity of mismatches detected between neighboring populations. This lays the ground work for natural evolution to a blended global solution without leaving the paradigm of genetic algorithms. An additional method applied here for constructing globally blended panel designs uses a parallel decomposition antithetical to that of earlier work. Rather than performing concurrent panel genetic optimizations, a single genetic optimization is conducted for the entire structure with the parallelism solely within the fitness evaluations. A guide based genetic algorithm approach is introduced to exclusively generate and evaluate valid globally blended designs, utilizing a simple master-slave parallel implementation, implicitly reducing the size of the problem design space and increasing the quality of discovered local optima. / Ph. D.

Composite panel structure optimization is commonly decomposed into panel optimization subproblems, with specified local loads, resulting in manufacturing incompatibilities between adjacent panel designs. Using genetic algorithms to optimize local panel stacking sequences allows panel populations of stacking sequences to evolve in parallel and send migrants to adjacent panels, so as to blend the local panel designs globally. The blending process is accomplished using the edit distance between individuals of a population and the set of migrants from adjacent panels. The objective function evaluating the fitness of designs is modified according to the severity of mismatches detected between neighboring populations. This lays the ground work for natural evolution to a blended global solution without leaving the paradigm of genetic algorithms. An additional method proposed here for constructing globally blended panel designs uses a parallel decomposition antithetical to that of earlier work. Rather than performing concurrent panel genetic optimizations, a single genetic optimization is conducted for the entire structure with the parallelism solely within the fitness evaluations. A guide based genetic algorithm approach is introduced to exclusively generate and evaluate valid globally blended designs, utilizing a simple master-slave parallel implementation, implicitly reducing the size of the problem design space and increasing the quality of discovered local optima. / Master of Science

In this era of increasingly rapid availability of resources of all kinds, a widespread need to characterize, filtrate, use, and evaluate what could be necessary and useful becomes a crucially vital everyday task. Neither research in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) nor in cognitive science (CogSci) is an exception (let alone within a crossing of both paths). A promised goal of AI was to primarily focus on the study and design of intelligent artifacts that show aspects of human-like general intelligence (GI). That is, facets of intelligence similar to those exhibited by human beings in solving problems related to cognition. However, the focus in achieving AI’s original goal is scattered over time. The initial ambitions in the 1960s and 1970s had grown by the 1980s into an "industry", where not only researchers and engineers but also entire companies developed the AI technologies in building specialized hardware. But the result is that technology afforded us with many, many devices that allegedly work like humans, though they can only be considered as life facilitators (if they even do). This is mainly due to, I propose, basic changes on viewing what true essences of intelligence should have been considered within scientific research when modeling systems with GI capacities. A modern scientific approach to achieving AI by simulating cognition is mainly based on representations and implementations of higher cognition in artificial systems. Luckily, such systems are essentially designed with the intention to be acquired with a "human like" level of GI, so that their functionalities are supported by results (and solution methodologies) from many cognitive scientific disciplines. In classical AI, only a few number of attempts have tried to integrate forms of higher cognitive abilities in a uniform framework that model, in particular, cross-domain reasoning abilities, and solve baffling cognition problems —the kind of problems that a cognitive being (endowed with traits of GI) could only solve. Unlike classical AI, the intersection between the recent research disciplines: artificial general intelligence (AGI) and CogSci, is promising in this regard. The new direction is mostly concerned with studying, modeling, and computing AI capabilities that simulate facets of GI and functioning of higher cognitive mechanisms. Whence, the focus in this thesis is on examining general problem solving capabilities of cognitive beings that are both: "human-comparable" and "cognitively inspired", in order to contribute to answering two substantial research questions. The first seeks to find whether it is still necessary to model higher cognitive abilities in models of AGI, and the second asks about the possibility to utilize cognitive mechanisms to enable cognitive agents demonstrate clear signs of human-like (general) intelligence. Solutions to cross-domain reasoning problems (that characterize human-like thinking) need to be modeled in a way that reflects essences of cognition and GI of the reasoner. This could actually be achieved (among other things) through utilizing cross-domain, higher cognitive mechanisms. Examples of such cognitive mechanisms include analogy-making and concept blending (CB), which are exceptional as active areas of recent research in cognitive science, though not enough attention has been given to the rewards and benefits one gets when they interact. A basic claim of the thesis is that several aspects of human-comparable level of GI are based on forms of (cross-domain) representations and (creative) productions of conceptions. The thesis shows that computing these aspects within AGI-based systems is indispensable for their modeling. In addition, the aspects can be modeled by employing certain cognitive mechanisms. The specific examples of mechanisms most relevant to the current text are computation of generalizations (i.e. abstractions) using analogy-making (i.e. transferring a conceptualization from one domain into another domain) and CB (i.e. merging parts of conceptualizations of two domains into a new domain). Several ideas are presented and discussed in the thesis to support this claim, by showing how the utilization of these mechanisms can be modeled within a logic-based framework. The framework to be used is Heuristic-Driven Theory Projection (HDTP), which can model solutions to a concrete set of cognition problems (including creativity, rationality, noun-noun combinations, and the analysis of counterfactual conditionals). The resulting contributions may be considered as a necessary, although not by any means a sufficient, step to achieve intelligence on a human-comparable scale in AGI-based systems. The thesis thus fills an important gap in models of AGI, because computing intelligence on a human-comparable scale (which is, indeed, an ultimate goal of AGI) needs to consider the modeling of solutions to, in particular, the aforementioned problems.

Le but principal de la thèse de recherche est celui d’analyser les mécanismes cognitifs et linguistiques à la base des métaphores « d’invention et défigées » en utilisant une approche qui vise à mélanger la théorie de la métaphore conceptuelle de Lakoff et Johnson (1980 et 1999), la théorie de l’intégration conceptuelle de Turner et Fauconnier (2002) et la théorie de l’analogie de Monneret (2004 et 2014). Pour mettre à l’épreuve le fonctionnement de la complémentarité de ces trois modèles, nous avons choisi d’utiliser deux textes littéraires de langue allemande des années 1980-1990 qui sont «Kassandra» (1983) de Christa Wolf et «Minotaurus. Eine Ballade» (1985) de Friedrich Dürrenmatt. Pour identifier le degré de figurativité des métaphores à l’intérieur des textes trois méthodologies ont été mise en place : les interviews des locuteurs allemands ; la consultation des dictionnaires en langue allemande et une observation des éléments présents à l’intérieur de la métaphore à travers la méthodologie MIPVU (Steen et al., 2010). L’analyse nous permet de comprendre le fonctionnement des métaphores dans les textes et les symboles culturels utilisés par les écrivains. De plus, cette recherche vise à montrer l’usage des « frames » et des « blends » conceptuels qui structurent notre cognition. / The main aim of this PhD thesis is the analysis of the cognitive and linguistic mechanisms within the creative and delexicalised metaphors using a mixed approach of Lakoff and Johnson’s (1980 and 1999) theory of conceptual metaphor; the Fauconnier and Turner’s (2002) theory of blending and the Monneret’s (2004 and 2014) theory of analogy. To test the complementariness of these three models, we have chosen two German literary texts from 1980 to 1990 that are «Kassandra» (1983) by Christa Wolf and «Minotaurus: eine Ballade» (1985) by Friedrich Dürrenmatt. To identify the degree of figurativeness of the metaphors within these texts, we have used three methodologies: the interviews to German speakers; the consultation of the German language dictionaries and the observation of the elements within metaphors through the MIPVU methodology (Steen et al., 2010). The analysis allows us to understand how metaphors work in the different texts and how cultural symbols are used by authors. Additionally, this research aims to show how the use of conceptual «frames» and conceptual «blends» that structure our cognition. / Lo scopo centrale della tesi di ricerca è quello di analizzare i meccanismi cognitivi e linguistici alla base delle metafore «d’invenzione e delessicalizzate» utilizzando un approccio che miri a fondere la teoria della metafora concettuale di Lakoff e Johnson (1980 e 1999), la teoria dell’integrazione concettuale di Fauconnier e Turner (2002) e la teoria dell’analogia di Monneret (2004 e 2014). Per mettere alla prova il funzionamento della complementarietà di questi tre modelli, è stato scelto di utilizzare due testi letterari di lingua tedesca degli anni 1980-1990 che sono «Kassandra» (1983) di Christa Wolf e «Minotaurus. Eine Ballade» (1985) di Friedrich Dürrenmatt. Per identificare il grado di figuratività delle metafore all’interno dei testi sono state messe in atto tre metodologie: le interviste ai parlanti tedeschi; la consultazione dei dizionari in lingua tedesca e un’osservazione degli elementi presenti all’interno della metafora attraverso la metodologia MIPVU (Steen et al., 2010). L’analisi ci permette di comprendere il funzionamento delle metafore all’interno dei testi e come sono utilizzati i simboli culturali da parte dei singoli autori. In più, questa ricerca rappresenta, quindi, un tentativo di comprendere l’uso dei «frame» e dei «blend» concettuali che strutturano la nostra cognizione.

随着社会的发展，尤其是互联网的发展，很多语言每年都涌现出了不少新词汇。词语是每个语言最基本也是最重要的组成部分，因此分析这些新词汇的结构特点以及构词法是很有意义的。这篇文章分析了2014年出现在中文里的新词汇和它们的构词方式，论文的目的是为了更好地了解中文词汇的发展和特点。本文以《2014汉语新词语》中公布的2014年出现的新词汇作为语料进行分析，发现了以下两个主要特点：第一，合成法，派生法，缩略法是2014年产生的新词汇的主要构词方式；第二， 百分之七十二的新词汇是多音节词（包含三个或者三个以上音节），而百分之八十的是名词。这些特点说明中文词汇现阶段的特点和发展趋势，跟传统的中文词汇有不同之处。 / The aim of this thesis was to investigate how new Chinese words are formed and to examine the linguistic patterns among them. This thesis focused on the analysis of Chinese words formed in 2014. The quantitative data for the analysis included a collection of 423 new Chinese words from the book 2014 汉语新词语 (hànyǔxīn cíyǔ) by Hou and Zhou. Parts of speech and number of syllables in the new words were investigated, although the focus was on word-formation processes. A discussion of derivation, blending, abbreviation, analogy, borrowing, change of meaning, compounding and inventions is also included. The share of each word-formation process used for each of the new words was presented statistically in order to reveal the significance of each word-formation process. The analysis showed that compounding, derivation and abbreviation were the major word-formation processes in 2014. The study also suggests that words formed by derivation and analogy were much more frequent in 2014, in comparison to previous studies. Furthermore, the ways words are formed in Chinese are changing and evolving, as some word-formation processes are becoming more frequently used in the formation of new words.

This paper deals step by step with process of stitching images taken by perspective camera rotated by its optical center into the panoramic image. There are described keypoint searching algorhytms, possibilities of calculating homography matrix and methods of eliminating unwanted seams between source images in final panoramic image. A part of this paper is also standalone application in which are implemented some algorhytms described in the work.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Chemical Engineering / Mary E. Rezac / Polyimide membranes have been used extensively in gas separation applications because of their attractive gas transport properties and the ease of processing these materials. Other applications of membranes, such as membrane reactors, which could compete with more traditional packed and slurry bed reactors across a wider range of environments, could benefit from improvements in the thermal and chemical stability of polymeric membranes. This work focuses on blending polyimide and polybenzimidazole polymers to improve the thermal and chemical stability of polyimide membranes while retaining the desirable characteristics of the polyimide. Blended dense films and asymmetric membranes were fabricated and characterized. Dense film properties are useful for studying intrinsic properties of the polymer blends. Transport properties of dense films were characterized from room temperature to 200°C. Properties including miscibility, density, chain packing and thermal stability were investigated. A process for fabricating flat sheet blended integrally skinned asymmetric membranes by phase inversion was developed. The transport properties of membranes were characterized from room temperature to 300°C. A critical characteristic of gas separation membranes is selectivity. Post-treatments including thermal annealing and vapor and liquid surface treatments were investigated to improve the selectivity of blended membranes. Vapor and liquid surface treatments with common, benign solvents including an alkane, an aldehyde and an alcohol resulted in improvements in selectivity.

Breed has a concept and a main goal, to be unpredictable and visually impressive. The idea that it was built on was to try to create a collection with the method of breeding and the rules of genetics. At first, twelve individuals were created. They were all given characteristics – “genes”, handed out in a random way, decided by the toss of a dice. The individuals bred and were blended into a second generation, who thereafter procreated into a third. This third generation of eight characters, four females and four males, carry genes and features from their ancestors. They have been twisted, mutated and mixed, just like in nature. It is voluminous line-up with clashes between references, colours and styles. The challenge has been to let chance take decisions and to do something that was unexpected and was going to give an unpredictable result. Breed has not been done for a commercial destination but would be suitable for styling artists, editorials for fashion magazines, costumes in music videos or artistic films. The method is supposed to make people interested, the result is supposed to give the onlooker a smaller chock, a tingling sensation and the impression of a new subculture, a modern day tribe or a new breed. Or simply “What crazy person made this?”

Master of Arts / Department of Communication Studies, Theatre, and Dance / Nicole Laster / This study examines the effect of using a combination of narrative and statistical evidence on persuasion. Literature is divided on whether narrative or statistical evidence is more persuasive. There are a number of explanations to support both arguments, but arguing that one is superior may be flawed because these evidence types function differently and are not necessarily competitive. A few studies support the use of both narratives and statistics together, but none of these studies address the proportions when combining the two evidence types. This study fills the gap by creating messages with different degrees of anecdotal and statistical evidence. Conditions range from full anecdotal support to full statistical support and include three blended conditions (25/75, 50/50, 75/25). A total of 384 participants were surveyed via a national survey company. Results indicate that evidence type (narratives or statistics) and the various blends of evidence type do not change the persuasive effectiveness of a claim. While supporting persuasive claims with some kind of evidence is imperative, general populations do not favor one evidence type (narratives or statistics) over the other, and in fact, may be split in what they find more effective. Nor do people believe that evidence types function all that differently—at least when it comes to the support they provide for claims from livestock producers. Results, implications and recommendations for future research are discussed in detail.