Thesis (doctoral)--Universität Köln.

An experiment involving two treatment groups compared whole wheat diet and refined wheat diet on different sets of mice. Of interest were the differences by treatment of the levels of hundreds of bacteria in the guts of the mice. It was desired to determine the statistical significance of not only the individual bacteria, but also the families of bacteria. These family relationships are represented in a phylogenetic tree, and it was determined helpful to color the branches of bacteria based on the significance of their corresponding families. Calculating these p-values and coloring the branches by hand would not be a quick process. An automated method would greatly increase the efficiency of these calculations. To handle this problem, SigTree, an R package, was written. The p-values for individual bacteria (tips) are combined up the tree using meta-analysis methods, and significance is visualized on a color scale in a revised phylogenetic tree plot. SigTree is able to handle not only the motivating mouse diet experiment, but also experiments that fall into the general framework of having significance tests (and resulting p-values) on each tip in a phylogenetic tree.

No description available.

No description available.

Most of the hardware products today, especially those that people interact with, are controlled by software. There are many devices with inbuilt software which many people do not bother to notice. Software may be critical in terms of strict quality requirements due to failures which enable risks of endangering the production and more importantly the lives of people. The testing team of Westermo Network Technologies AB faced a challenge with not being able to identify the coverage of tested cases in software. Identifying the coverage of total executed test cases enables the possibility of knowing the potential future quality of a software. By reaching such a stage a software will likely not suffer from failures due to higher quality, therefore the lives of people and the production at stake will not get harmed. The essential problem is that test cases are both tested and skipped, which makes it more difficult for the company to identify what has been actually tested and skipped. The purpose of this thesis is to identify and calculate the coverage of test cases, the process was mainly to understand the essence in the identification of executed test cases. The ethical aspect of putting people's lives at stake is what inspired us to investigate software failures. Software is typically tested before a release, therefore our investigation was to research testing process of software. When investigating test result over many days and test systems we developed a coverage calculator system which helps Westermo to decide and determine the release of tested software, either the software test result is acceptable for a release or not.

<p> Codes with a tree structure find wide use in data compression and error correction. It is generally impractical to view and weigh all the branches in a code tree, so a search algorithm is employed which considers some but not others in a predetermined fashion. Traditionally, the efficiency of code tree search algorithms has been measured by the number of tree branches visited for a given level of performance. This measure does not indicate the true consumption of resources. Cost functions are defined based on the number of code tree paths retained, S, the length of the paths, L, and the number of code tree branches searched per branch released as output, E[C]. Using these cost functions, most of the existing algorithms as well as some new algorithms proposed here are compared.</p> <p> These new algorithms include three metric-first algorithms. The first one, the merge algorithm, uses, in addition to the main list used by the stack algorithm, an auxiliary list to store paths. The merge algorithm reduces the dependence on S for the product resource cost from O(S^2) for the stack algorithm to O(S^4/3 ) for the merge algorithm. A generalization of this algorithm reduces the product cost to O(S log S). The second algorithm uses a class of height-balanced trees, known as AVL trees, to store code tree paths, resulting in an alternate method to the merge algorithm achieving O(S log S) cost.</p> <p> The third algorithm, using the concepts of dynamic hashing and trie searching, provides important modifications to the Jelinek bucket algorithm by incorporating dynamic splitting and merging of buckets. This strategy provides a balanced data structure and reduces the product cost still further compared to the first two algorithms.</p> <p> We next turn to analysis of the number of nodes visited during a search. Using the theory of multitype branching processes in random environments an equation for node computation is derived for asymmetric source coding by the single stack algorithm. This equation is shown to be the stochastic analog of an equation for symmetric sources. Simulation results, obtained by encoding the Hamming source by the single stack algorithm, are used to optimize the performance of the algorithm with respect to the bias factor, stack length, and limit on computation. A modification to the algorithm that raises the barrier during forward motion provides a better distortion performance.</p> <p> The metric-first stack algorithm is used to encode a voiced speech sound. From experimental evidence, it is shown how to optimize the algorithm's SNR performance with respect to the algorithm's storage, execution time, and node computation. For each of these, the optimal parameterizing of the algorithm differs markedly. Similarities are pointed out between the results for speech and earlier theoretical results for the binary i.i.d. source with Hamming distortion measure. It is shown that metric-first algorithms may perform better with "real life" sources like speech than they do with artificial sources, and in view of this the algorithms proposed here take on added significance.</p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Dans le cadre de cette thèse, nous considérons la complexité paramétrée de problèmes NP-complets. Plus précisément, nous nous intéressons à l'existence d'algorithmes de noyau polynomiaux pour des problèmes d'édition de graphes et de contraintes. Nous introduisons en particulier la notion de branches, qui permet d'obtenir des algorithmes polynomiaux pour des problèmes d'édition de graphes lorsque la classe de graphes cible respecte une décomposition d'adjacence. Cette technique nous permet ainsi d'élaborer les premiers algorithmes de noyaux polynomiaux pour les problèmes Closest 3-Leaf Power, Cograph Edition et Proper Interval Completion. Ces résultats constituent les premiers noyaux polynomiaux pour ces problèmes. Concernant les problèmes d'édition de contraintes, nous étendons la notion de Conflict Packing, qui a déjà été utilisée dans quelques problèmes paramétrés et permet d'élaborer des algorithmes de noyau linéaires pour différents problèmes. Nous présentons un noyau linéaire pour le problème Feedback Arc Set in Tournaments, et adaptons les techniques utilisées pour obtenir un noyau linéaire pour le problème Dense Rooted Triplet Inconsistency. Dans les deux cas, nos résultats améliorent la meilleure borne connue, à savoir un noyau quadratique. Finalement, nous appliquons cette technique sur les problèmes Betweenness in Tournaments et Dense Circular Ordering, obtenant à nouveau des noyaux linéaires, qui constituent les premiers algorithmes de noyau polynomiaux connus pour ces problèmes. / In this thesis, we study the parameterized complexity of several NP-complete problems. More precisely, we study the existence of polynomial kernels for graph and constraints modification problems. In particular, we introduce the concept of branches, which provides polynomial kernels for some graph modification problems when the target graph class admits a so-called adjacency decomposition. This technique allows us to obtain the first known polynomial kernels for the Closest 3-Leaf Power, Cograph Edition and Proper Interval Completion problems. Regarding constraint modification problems, we develop and push further the concept of Conflict Packing, a technique that has already been used in a few parameterized problems and that provides polynomial kernels for several problems. We thus present a linear vertex-kernel for the Feedback Arc Set in Tournaments problem, and adapt these techniques to obtain a linear vertex-kernel for the Dense Rooted Triplet Inconsistency problem as well. In both cases, our results improve the best known bound of $O(k^2)$ vertices. Finally, we apply the Conflict Packing technique on the Betweenness in Tournaments and Dense Circular Ordering problems, obtaining once again linear vertex-kernels. To the best of our knowledge, these results constitute the first known polynomial kernels for these problems.

Understanding the complex growth process of dendritic arbors is essential for the medical field and disciplines like Biology and Neurosciences. The establishment of the dendritic patterns has received increasing attention from experimental researchers that seek to determine the cellular mechanisms that play a role in the growth of neural trees. Our goal in this thesis was to prove the recurrence formula for the probability distribution of all possible neural trees, as well as the formulas of the expected number of active branches and their variances. We also derived formulas for the spatial locations of the optimal targeting region for a tree with branching probability. These formulas were necessary for the simplified stochastic computational model that Osan et al have developed in order to examine how changes in branching probability influence the success of targeting neurons located at different distances away from a starting point.

Com as oscilações de ordem política e econômica é necessário mais atenção na gestão das corporativas. A falta ou o aprimoramento do uso das ferramentas de gestão nas cooperativas gaúchas foi a origem deste estudo, que se caracteriza por ser uma pesquisa survey exploratória e descritiva, com abordagem quantitativa. A coleta dos dados ocorreu através da aplicação de questionários junto aos dirigentes de 192 cooperativas gaúchas de primeiro grau do Sistema OCERGS/SESCOOP/RS de 2017, ou seja, 49,23% do total do universo das cooperativas do estado do Rio Grande do Sul. O objetivo geral é identificar as práticas de gestão e governança corporativas utilizadas pelas cooperativas, algumas são: há separação entre os cargos do "Presidente do Conselho de Administração" e "Diretor Presidente" em 54,01% das cooperativas gaúchas; 46,45% delas não possuem comitês; as cooperativas estão alinhadas aos princípios da governança: transparência, equidade, prestação de contas e responsabilidade corporativa. Os objetivos específicos são mapear o perfil das cooperativas por ramos do cooperativismo, levantar os indicadores de desempenho mais utilizados e verificar a frequência com que os indicadores de desempenho são medidos pelas cooperativas do estado. Quanto ao mapeamento do perfil das cooperativas gaúchas por ramos do cooperativismo, pode-se observar que em “número de associados”, “número de colaboradores”, “número de cooperativas”, “faturamento anual” e “tempo de trabalho na cooperativa” os ramos que se destacam em todos os quesitos são agropecuário e crédito. Os outros dois objetivos específicos dizem respeito aos indicadores de desempenho e foram medidos com escala nominal variando entre “até 1 mês” (1) e “nunca” (6). Os indicadores financeiros utilizados por 100% das cooperativas é o “índice geral de inadimplência”. O “resultado líquido/ faturamento bruto mensal” é o indicador medido com frequência maior, seguido por “índice geral de margem bruta/ receita líquida” e o “índice de despesa operacional/ receita líquida”. Os indicadores dos clientes medidos pelas cooperativas com maior frequência são “vendas efetivas/ número de contratos” e “número de associados”. O indicador dos clientes utilizado por 96,8% das cooperativas gaúchas é “número de associados”. Os indicadores dos processos internos que apresentam maior frequência de utilização são “custos administrativos/ retorno” e “percentual de entregas realizadas no prazo”. O indicador dos processos internos utilizado pelo maior número de cooperativas gaúchas é “sobras para associados”. O indicador de aprendizado e crescimento utilizado pelo maior número de cooperativas (178 e corresponde a 96,7%) é “rotatividade”. Os indicadores de aprendizado e crescimento medidos com frequência maior - até 1 mês - pelas cooperativas do Rio Grande do Sul são “produção” (111 cooperativas e corresponde a 60%) e “receita/ número de colaboradores” (109 cooperativas e corresponde a 59,2%). Em suma, apesar de algumas práticas já existirem nas cooperativas gaúchas, constatou-se que ainda falta implantar, em muitas delas, o sistema de gestão e governança corporativa conforme o Código das Melhores Práticas de Governança. Tanto a teoria, quanto a prática, comprovaram que as ações de gestão e governança se entrelaçam, entretanto existem carências nas cooperativas, tais como a necessidade de mais profissionalismo; políticas de treinamento; implantação de comitês; uso de mecanismos de controle de gestão e padronização dos códigos, dentre eles, o código das melhores práticas por ramos do cooperativismo. A adoção de mais práticas de gestão e governança, levaria as cooperativas do RS, a maior crescimento, desenvolvimento e melhores resultados. Os dirigentes mostraram-se receptivos à pesquisa e relataram a necessidade de novas, frequentes e continuadas pesquisas, o que demonstra a importância e a carência do cooperativismo. / With the oscillations of political and economic order, more attention is needed in corporate management. The lack or improvement of the use of management tools in gaucho cooperatives was the origin of this study, which is characterized by being an exploratory and descriptive survey research, with a quantitative approach. Data were collected through the application of questionnaires to the directors of 192 first-degree cooperatives from the OCERGS/SESCOOP/RS System of 2017, or 49,23% of the cooperatives in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The main objective is to identify the management and corporate governance practices used by the cooperatives, some of them are: the "Chairman of the Board of Directors" and the "Chief Executive Officer" positions are divided into 54,01% of the cooperatives in Rio Grande do Sul; 46,45% of them do not have committees; cooperatives are aligned with the principles of governance: transparency, fairness, accountability and corporate responsibility. The specific objectives are to map the profile of cooperatives by branches of cooperativism, to raise the most used performance indicators and to verify the frequency with which performance indicators are measured by state cooperatives. As to the mapping of the profile of the cooperatives in the branches of cooperativism, it can be observed that in "number of associates", "number of employees", "number of cooperatives", "annual turnover" and "working time in cooperative". Branches that stand out in all the questions are agricultural and credit. The other two specific objectives relate to performance indicators and were measured with a nominal scale ranging from "up to 1 month" (1) to "never" (6). The financial indicators used by 100% of the cooperatives are the "general default index". "Net income/ gross monthly income" is the indicator measured with a higher frequency, followed by "gross margin/ net revenue" and "operating expense/ net revenue". The indicators of clients measured by cooperatives more frequently are "effective sales/ number of contracts" and "number of associates". The customer indicator used by 96,8% of the gaucho cooperatives is "number of associates". The indicators of the most frequently used internal processes are "administrative costs/ return" and "percentage of deliveries made on time". The indicator of internal processes used by the largest number of gaucho cooperatives is "leftovers for associates". The indicator of learning and growth used by the largest number of cooperatives (178 and corresponds to 96,7%) is "turnover". The indicators of learning and growth measured more frequently (up to 1 month) by cooperatives in Rio Grande do Sul are "production" (111 cooperatives and corresponds to 60%) and "revenue/ number of employees" (109 cooperatives and corresponds to 59,2%). In short, although some practices already exist in the cooperatives in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, it has been found that the management and corporate governance system in accordance with the Code of Best Governance Practices still needs to be implemented. Both theory and practice have shown that management and governance actions intertwine, but there are shortcomings in cooperatives, such as the need for more professionalism; training policies; implementation of committees; use of management control mechanisms and standardization of codes, among them, the code of best practices by branches of cooperativism. The adoption of more management and governance practices would lead RS cooperatives to greater growth, development and better results. The leaders were receptive to the research and reported the need for new, frequent and continuous research, which demonstrates the importance and the lack of cooperativism.

Neste trabalho, o objetivo foi explicitar a relevância relativa das pequenas indústrias de Ribeirão Preto de 1870 a 1930 em seu desenvolvimento econômico e crescimento urbano. Dentro da metodologia de pesquisa foi feita uma divisão em três períodos de 20 anos cada um (1870 a 1890, 1891 a 1910 e 1911 a 1930). Os dados levantados foram tabulados em tabelas, subdivididas em cinco colunas: Nome da Empresa, Classe de Produto Fabricado, Duração Aproximada, Endereço e Nacionalidade(s) do(s) Empresário(s) e para as Tabelas de 1911 a 1930 foram acrescidas duas colunas - Quantidade de Operários e Valores de Capital. Devido à diversidade de 68 classes de empresas fabricantes de 114 produtos diferentes entre a amostragem de 551 pequenas indústrias, foi feita uma divisão em 10 novas tabelas, dos seguintes ramos industriais: (Móveis, Roupas e Calçados, Alimentos, Materiais Ferrosos, Bebidas, Minerais Não Metálicos, Químicos, Gráficas, Carroças e Acessórios e Produtos Diversos). As pequenas indústrias foram caracterizadas pelo uso de matérias-primas obtidas localmente, o predomínio de bens de consumo não duráveis, sua instalação em locais não separados, mas anexos às casas dos empresários, de usos limitados de tecnologia e de máquinas complexas e muito dependente de ferramentas rústicas e da habilidade técnica e manual do operário, uso de fontes de energia a base de lenha, hidráulicas e elétrica e meios de transportes movidos por animais. No segundo, terceiro e quarto capítulos, cada um referente a um dos três períodos, foram feitas análises específicas das 30 tabelas iniciadas por contextualizações históricas e econômicas e, depois, foram construídas tabelas de fases comparativas entre dois períodos (de 1890 a 1910 sobre 1870 a 1890 e de 1911 a 1930 sobre 1891 a 1910) das classes de produtos fabricados com maior quantidade numérica de empresas. E com as tabelas de 1911 a 1930 foram acrescentadas análises sobre a quantidade numérica individual e média de operários, valor de capital e de valor de capital por operário. Os resultados encontrados estão na análise geral do quinto e último capítulo: como a ocorrência das empresas comerciais fabricantes de produtos e que comercializavam mercadorias não produzidas por elas e das pequenas indústrias e prestadoras de serviços, oferta produtiva com ênfase na encomenda prévia do consumidor, (duração de 7,35 anos, valor de capital de 41:032$477 (em mil réis), mão de obra de 8,74 operários, ambos em média), nacionalidade dos empresários (com predomínio na sequência de italianos, brasileiros e portugueses), alheamento do consumo das classes econômicas média e alta ribeirão-pretanas preterida pelos produtos importados, pequena concorrência externa e interna, exceto com a produção doméstica de subsistência e nas classes de produtos fabricados com maior quantidade de empresas. E com a distribuição geográfica dessa produção nos espaços rural e urbano, nas três regiões do município (Centro, subúrbio e periferia), em especial para a efetivação do urbano na segunda, e também concretizada no predomínio de 40 gêneros industriais de origem urbana sobre as 28 de início rural, mas com adaptações para seus usos urbanos. Essa situação possibilitou a configuração do disperso distrito urbano de pequenas indústrias do Centro, Campos Elíseos, Vila Tibério e Barracão. / In this work, the objective was to explain the relative relevance of the small industries of Ribeirão Preto from 1870 to 1930 in their economic development and urban growth. Within the research methodology was divided into three periods of 20 years each (1870 to 1890, 1891 to 1910 and 1911 to 1930). The data collected were tabulated in tables, subdivided into five columns: Company Name, Manufactured Product Class, Approximate Duration, Address and Nationality (s) of the Entrepreneur (s) and Tables from 1911 to 1930 were added two Columns - Quantity of Workers and Capital Values. Due to the diversity of 68 classes of manufacturing companies of 114 different products among the sample of 551 small industries, a division was made in 10 new tables of the following industrial branches: (Furniture, Clothing, Food, Ferrous Materials, Beverages, Nonmetallic Minerals, Chemicals, Graphics, Carts and Accessories and Miscellaneous Products). The small industries were characterized by the use of raw materials obtained locally, the predominance of non-durable consumer goods, their installation in places not separate, but attached to the houses of entrepreneurs, limited uses of technology and complex machines and very dependent on Rustic tools and the technical and manual skill of the worker, use of power sources based on firewood, hydraulic and electric and animal transport means. In the second, third, and fourth chapters, each relating to one of the three periods, specific analyzes of the 30 tables initiated by historical and economic contextualizations were made, and then tables of comparative phases were constructed between two periods (from 1890 to 1910 on 1870 To 1890 and from 1911 to 1930 from 1891 to 1910) of the classes of products manufactured with the greatest number of companies. And with the tables from 1911 to 1930 were added analyzes on the individual and average number of workers, capital value and capital value per worker. The results are found in the general analysis of the fifth and final chapter: such as the occurrence of commercial companies that produce products and that commercialized goods not produced by them and small industries and service providers, productive supply with emphasis on the previous ordering of the consumer, Duration of 7.35 years, capital value of 41: 032 $ 477 (in milreis), labor of 8.74 workers, both on average), nationality of entrepreneurs (predominantly following Italians, Brazilians and Portuguese) , A shift away from the consumption of the middle and upper middle-income classes, which is neglected by imported products, and external and internal competition, with the exception of domestic subsistence production and product classes with a larger number of companies. And with the geographic distribution of this production in rural and urban spaces, in the three regions of the municipality (Center, suburb and periphery), especially for the urbanization in the second, and also materialized in the predominance of 40 industrial genera of urban origin over 28 of rural beginning, but with adaptations for its urban uses. This situation made possible the configuration of the dispersed urban district of small industries of the Center, Campos Elíseos, Vila Tiberio and Barracão.