The Birnbaum importance (BI) is a well-known measure that evaluates the relative contribution of components to system reliability. It has been successfully applied to tackling some reliability problems. This dissertation investigates two topics related to the BI in the reliability field: the patterns of component BIs and the BI-based heuristics and meta-heuristics for solving the component assignment problem (CAP).There exist certain patterns of component BIs (i.e., the relative order of the BI values to the individual components) for linear consecutive-k-out-of-n (Lin/Con/k/n) systems when all components have the same reliability p. This study summarizes and annotates the existing BI patterns for Lin/Con/k/n systems, proves new BI patterns conditioned on the value of p, disproves some patterns that were conjectured or claimed in the literature, and makes new conjectures based on comprehensive computational tests and analysis. More importantly, this study defines a concept of segment in Lin/Con/k/n systems for analyzing the BI patterns, and investigates the relationship between the BI and the common component reliability p and the relationship between the BI and the system size n. One can then use these relationships to further understand the proved, disproved, and conjectured BI patterns.The CAP is to find the optimal assignment of n available components to n positions in a system such that the system reliability is maximized. The ordering of component BIs has been successfully used to design heuristics for the CAP. This study proposes five new BI-based heuristics and discusses their corresponding properties. Based on comprehensive numerical experiments, a BI-based two-stage approach (BITA) is proposed for solving the CAP with each stage using different BI-based heuristics. The two-stage approach is much more efficient and capable to generate solutions of higher quality than the GAMS/CoinBonmin solver and a randomization method.This dissertation then presents a meta-heuristic, i.e., a BI-based genetic local search (BIGLS) algorithm, for the CAP in which a BI-based local search is embedded into the genetic algorithm. Comprehensive numerical experiments show the robustness and effectiveness of the BIGLS algorithm and especially its advantages over the BITA in terms of solution quality.

The segmentation problem arises in the elaboration of a radiation therapy plan. After the cancer has been diagnosed and the radiation therapy sessions have been prescribed, the physician has to locate the tumor as well as the organs situated in the radiation field, called the organs at risk. The physician also has to determine the different dosage he wants to deliver in each of them and has to define a lower bound on the dosage for the tumor (which represents the minimum amount of radiation that is needed to have a sufficient control of the tumor) and an upper bound for each organ at risk (which represents the maximum amount of radiation that an organ can receive without damaging). Designing a radiation therapy plan that respects these different bounds of dosage is a complex optimization problem that is usually tackled in three steps. The segmentation problem is one of them.<p><p>Mathematically, the segmentation problem amounts to decomposing a given nonnegative integer matrix A into a nonnegative integer linear combination of some binary matrices. These matrices have to respect the consecutive ones property. In clinical applications several constraints may arise that reduce the set of binary matrices which respect the consecutive ones property that we can use. We study some of them, as the interleaf distance constraint, the interleaf motion constraint, the tongue-and-groove constraint and the minimum separation constraint.<p><p>We consider here different versions of the segmentation problem with different objective functions. Hence we deal with the beam-on time problem in order to minimize the total time during which the patient is irradiated. We study this problem under the interleaf distance and the interleaf motion constraints. We consider as well this last problem under the tongue-and-groove constraint in the binary case. We also take into account the cardinality and the lex-min problem. Finally, we present some results for the approximation problem. <p><p>/Le problème de segmentation intervient lors de l'élaboration d'un plan de radiothérapie. Après que le médecin ait localisé la tumeur ainsi que les organes se situant à proximité de celle-ci, il doit aussi déterminer les différents dosages qui devront être délivrés. Il détermine alors une borne inférieure sur le dosage que doit recevoir la tumeur afin d'en avoir un contrôle satisfaisant, et des bornes supérieures sur les dosages des différents organes situés dans le champ. Afin de respecter au mieux ces bornes, le plan de radiothérapie doit être préparé de manière minutieuse. Nous nous intéressons à l'une des étapes à réaliser lors de la détermination de ce plan: l'étape de segmentation.<p><p>Mathématiquement, cette étape consiste à décomposer une matrice entière et positive donnée en une combinaison positive entière linéaire de certaines matrices binaires. Ces matrices binaires doivent satisfaire la contrainte des uns consécutifs (cette contrainte impose que les uns de ces matrices soient regroupés en un seul bloc sur chaque ligne). Dans les applications cliniques, certaines contraintes supplémentaires peuvent restreindre l'ensemble des matrices binaires ayant les uns consécutifs (matrices 1C) que l'on peut utiliser. Nous en avons étudié certaines d'entre elles comme celle de la contrainte de chariots, la contrainte d'interdiciton de chevauchements, la contrainte tongue-and-groove et la contrainte de séparation minimum.<p><p>Le premier problème auquel nous nous intéressons est de trouver une décomposition de la matrice donnée qui minimise la somme des coefficients des matrices binaires. Nous avons développé des algorithmes polynomiaux qui résolvent ce problème sous la contrainte de chariots et/ou la contrainte d'interdiction de chevauchements. De plus, nous avons pu déterminer que, si la matrice donnée est une matrice binaire, on peut trouver en temps polynomial une telle décomposition sous la contrainte tongue-and-groove.<p><p>Afin de diminuer le temps de la séance de radiothérapie, il peut être désirable de minimiser le nombre de matrices 1C utilisées dans la décomposition (en ayant pris soin de préalablement minimiser la somme des coefficients ou non). Nous faisons une étude de ce problème dans différents cas particuliers (la matrice donnée n'est constituée que d'une colonne, ou d'une ligne, ou la plus grande entrée de celle-ci est bornée par une constante). Nous présentons de nouvelles bornes inférieures sur le nombre de matrices 1C ainsi que de nouvelles heuristiques.<p><p>Finalement, nous terminons par étudier le cas où l'ensemble des matrices 1C ne nous permet pas de décomposer exactement la matrice donnée. Le but est alors de touver une matrice décomposable qui soit aussi proche que possible de la matrice donnée. Après avoir examiné certains cas polynomiaux nous prouvons que le cas général est difficile à approximer avec une erreur additive de O(mn) où m et n représentent les dimensions de la matrice donnée. / Doctorat en Sciences / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

La distillation réactive est l’un des procédés chimiques intensifiés les plus reconnus, qui intègre la séparation et la réaction au sein d’un même appareil. Les principaux avantages de la distillation réactive concerne l’amélioration de la conversion de la réaction, la diminution significative des investissements, des coûts de fonctionnement, de la consommation énergétique, et de la production de sous produits. Une méthodologie de conception systématique, générale et hiérarchisée de la distillation réactive discontinue avec des réactions consécutives est présentée dans ce manuscrit. La méthode élaborée est présentée sur la transestérification du carbonate de diméthyle par le procédé de distillation réactive discontinue dans une colonne avec un bac intermédiaire. Après l’acquisition de données phisicochimiques de base nécessaire à notre méthode, une nouvelle méthode de l’analyse de faisabilité pour les systèmes multiréactifs et multiconstituant a été développée. L’étape suivante est l’analyse de sensibilité afin d’explorer les effets des paramètres du procédé. Une configuration faisable, qui est entièrement réactive avec une alimentation dans la partie supérieure et inférieure de la colonne et avec un bac intermédiaire a été choisie et étudiée au cours de l’analyse de sensibilité par des simulations rigoureuses effectuées en utilisant le logiciel ProSIM Batch. / Reactive distillation, a process integrating separation and reaction in a single unit, is one of the best known intensified chemical processes. Major advantages of reactive distillation include higher conversion, reduced investment, operating costs, energy consumption, and quantity of secondary products. A systematic and hierarchic general methodology for conceptual design of multireactive batch reactive distillation (BRD) is presented in this manuscript. The elaborated method is presented on the transesterification of dimethyl carbonate by the process of batch reactive distillation in a middle vessel column.After collecting the physico-chemical basic data necessary for our method, the new method of feasibility analysis for multicomponent and multireactive systems has been developed. The next step is the sensibility analysis, when the effects of the process parameters are analysed. As a configuration feasible a fully reactive configuration of middle vessel column with entrainer feeding to the upper and lower column sections is studied by simulations using ProSIM Batch.

The present thesis focuses on semiotic aspects of note-taking in consecutive interpreting, in particular with respect to the process of semiosis and factors influencing the interpreters' conception of their notes. Chapter 1 mentions the basic features of note-taking in order to trace its semiotic characteristics in the following parts of the thesis. In Chapter 2, the notes as a specific semiotic system are briefly discussed within the framework of the second Peircean trichotomy of signs (cases of iconicity, indexicality and symbolicity are demonstrated) and in terms of their function, productivity and spatial settings. After these general considerations, Chapter 3 introduces the main theoretical approaches to the technique of note-taking (principally those of the Geneva and Heidelberg schools) including the issues of the languages involved in interpreting or the nature of signs. As the accent is on the process of semiosis (apprehension of signs by interpreters, generating signs according to the meaning of the speech and searching for the motivation for the interpreters' concrete choices of signs and their form), the chapter lists some basic signs and methods well- tested by practitioners. The signs are also analysed in terms of their origin and possibilities of expansion (composition, derivation...

O ensino de Interpretação em universidades brasileiras tem crescido a cada ano. No entanto, pouco se sabe a respeito dos métodos utilizados por professores de interpretação, que normalmente reproduzem a maneira como aprenderam ou utilizam exemplos de sua prática na profissão. Este trabalho pretende dar um passo em direção à pesquisa em formação de intérpretes, apresentando a discussão sobre o ensino de interpretação ser precedido pela interpretação consecutiva. Utilizando as metodologias de Linguística de Corpus, que investiga o produto de interpretações de alunos, em interação com as Entrevistas Retrospectivas, que investiga o processo de interpretar desses mesmos alunos, todos de um curso de Graduação em Tradução e Interpretação da cidade de São Paulo, demonstraremos as diferenças e semelhanças entre alunos iniciantes e concluintes, em relação aos padrões linguísticos produzidos e parâmetros que nos ajudam a avaliar a qualidade de sua produção, encontrados no CEIS Corpus de Ensino de Interpretação Simultânea. Os resultados demonstram que a interpretação consecutiva não é pré-requisito para a interpretação simultânea. Na triangulação entre produto e processo, observamos que os processos cognitivos envolvidos em cada modalidade da interpretação são os fatores que influenciam sua produção enquanto aprendizes, e não a desverbalização ou análise do texto de partida. É necessário, portanto, pensarmos no desenvolvimento de um currículo que promova a formação do intérprete nos modos de simultânea e consecutiva paralelamente. Ao final, sugerimos aplicações da Linguística de Corpus para pesquisas com o CEIS e sua utilização para melhores práticas educacionais na formação de intérpretes. / Interpreting education has widened its scope in Brazilian universities year after year. However, the methods for teaching used by interpreting teachers are not very known, leading them to reproduce the way they have been taught or examples of their professional practice. This work aims at opening up the research path to interpreting education, discussing if consecutive should be a pre-requisite to simultaneous. Corpus Linguistics is one of the methodologies for this study, to investigate the production of interpreting students, in an interaction with another methodology, the Retrospective Interviews, which investigates interpreting processes. The subjects of this study are interpreting students from an undergraduate Translation & Interpretation program from São Paulo, Brazil. In this study, we show the similarities and differences of linguistic patterns produced by beginners and veteran students. In addition, we provide the corpus analysis of previously established parameters to quality assessment of students production at CEIS Simultaneous Interpreting Learners Corpora (Corpora de Ensino de Interpretação Simultânea). Results show consecutive interpreting teaching is not a pre-requisite to simultaneous interpreting. In the triangulation across product and process, we find out that the cognitive processes evolved in interpreting modes are the factors that influence learners production, covering the effects of deverbalization or source text analysis. It is demanding, though, to develop the interpreting curriculum to promote simultaneous and consecutive teaching in parallel. Last, but not least, we suggest Corpus Linguistics use and application to CEIS expansion and optimal educational practices for interpreting teaching.

為因應預測目的不同，有時需要各種預測水平{\rm (forecast horizon)} ，例如，月預測可供進料、生產、補貨及倉儲之參考，年預測則可作為產 能規畫、產品線規畫、投資決策等之準則。然而，預測結構卻會因水平的 不同而彼此相異，以致產生諸多預測值的矛盾。有鑑於此，本研究主要以 一簡單且具理論基礎的整合{\rm intergration)} 過程，解決預測值互相 矛盾的問題。由於年資料通常屬於連續性模式，月資料則多為季節性模式 ，兩者透過的轉移函數形態截然不同，而且在解釋變數的選取上更是迥異 ，因此，需要經由加權平均的整合，才能使月預測值的加總等於年預測值 。至於權數的決定則以離散程度為準則，由於年資料為月資料的加總，兩 者均值相差甚多，故以變異係數為測量離散情形的標準。本研究主要乃遵 循{\rm Box-Jenkins} 的模式建立法則，構建連續性轉移函數模式及季節 性、轉移函數模式，並加以整合調整。在實證分析中以台灣啤酒銷售量為 例說明預測流程，年銷量預測方面以國民所得為解釋變數; 月銷量預測方 面則以氣溫為解釋變數，最後以加權平均將兩者整合調整。

El tema d'aquesta tesi és l'enumeració de permutacions amb subseqüències prohibides respecte a certs estadístics, i l'enumeració de permutacions que eviten subseqüències generalitzades.Després d'introduir algunes definicions sobre subseqüències i estadístics en permutacions i camins de Dyck, comencem estudiant la distribució dels estadístics -nombre de punts fixos' i -nombre d'excedències' en permutacions que eviten una subseqüència de longitud 3. Un dels resultats principals és que la distribució conjunta d'aquest parell de paràmetres és la mateixa en permutacions que eviten 321 que en permutacions que eviten 132. Això generalitza un teorema recent de Robertson, Saracino i Zeilberger. Demostrem aquest resultat donant una bijecció que preserva els dos estadístics en qüestió i un altre paràmetre. La idea clau consisteix en introduir una nova classe d'estadístics en camins de Dyck, basada en el que anomenem túnel.A continuació considerem el mateix parell d'estadístics en permutacions que eviten simultàniament dues o més subseqüències de longitud 3. Resolem tots els casos donant les funcions generadores corresponents. Alguns casos són generalitzats a subseqüències de longitud arbitrària. També descrivim la distribució d'aquests paràmetres en involucions que eviten qualsevol subconjunt de subseqüències de longitud 3. La tècnica principal consisteix en fer servir bijeccions entre permutacions amb subseqüències prohibides i certs tipus de camins de Dyck, de manera que els estadístics en permutacions que considerem corresponen a estadístics en camins de Dyck que són més fàcils d'enumerar.Tot seguit presentem una nova família de bijeccions del conjunt de camins de Dyck a sí mateix, que envien estadístics que apareixen en l'estudi de permutacions amb subseqüències prohibides a estadístics clàssics en camins de Dyck, la distribució dels quals s'obté fàcilment. En particular, això ens dóna una prova bijectiva senzilla de l'equidistribució de punts fixos en les permutacions que eviten 321 i en les que eviten 132. A continuació donem noves interpretacions dels nombres de Catalan i dels nombres de Fine. Considerem una classe de permutacions definida en termes d'aparellaments de 2n punts en una circumferència sense creuaments. N'estudiem l'estructura i algunes propietats, i donem la distribució de diversos estadístics en aquests permutacions.En la següent part de la tesi introduïm una noció diferent de subseqüències prohibides, amb el requeriment que els elements que formen la subseqüència han d'aparèixer en posicions consecutives a la permutació. Més en general, estudiem la distribució del nombre d'ocurrències de subparaules (subseqüències consecutives) en permutacions. Resolem el problema en diversos casos segons la forma de la subparaula, obtenint-ne les funcions generadores exponencials bivariades corresponents com a solucions de certes equacions diferencials lineals. El mètode està basat en la representació de permutacions com a arbres binaris creixents i en mètodes simbòlics.La part final tracta de subseqüències generalitzades, que extenen tant la noció de subseqüències clàssiques com la de subparaules. Per algunes subseqüències obtenim nous resultats enumeratius. Finalment estudiem el comportament assimptòtic del nombre de permutacions de mida n que eviten una subseqüència generalitzada fixa quan n tendeix a infinit. També donem fites inferiors i superiors en el nombre de permutacions que eviten certes subseqüències.

In this paper, we will review two fundamental counting methods: inclusionexclusion and pigeonhole principles. The inclusion-exclusion principle considers the elements of the sets satisfied some conditions, and avoids repeat counting by disjoint sets. We also use the inclusion-exclusion principle to solve the problems of Euler phi function and the number of onto functions in number theory, and derangement and the number of nonnegative integer solutions of equations in combinatorics. We derive the closed-form formula to those problems. For the forbidden positions problems, we use the rook polynomials to simplify the counting process. We also show the form of the inclusion-exclusion principle in probability, and use it to solve some probability problems. The pigeonhole principle is an easy concept. We can establish some sets and use the pigeonhole principle to discuss the extreme value about the number of elements. Choose the pigeons and pigeonholes, properly, and solve problems by the concept of the pigeonhole principle. We also introduce the Ramsey theorem which is an important application of the pigeonhole principle. This theorem provides a method to solve problems by complete graph. Finally, we give some contest problems about the inclusion-exclusion and pigeonhole principles to show how those principles are used.

This thesis aims to explore the complex role of consecutive interpreters in relation to context. Context shapes how interpreters are positioned within an interaction, conceived of as a multi-level framework comprising the textual level, the interactional level, and the institutional level. The empirical focus is interpreting in seminars run by a Turkish public institution and supported by an international organization in the framework of the country’s development towards EU accession. The case study relies on the triangulation of several types of data, different research methods and settings in order to provide a deeper understanding of the interpreter’s role in context. In accordance with the fieldwork strategy, the focus is on naturally occurring data, including user and interpreter surveys, interviews, and video-recordings of interpreted interactions. The findings of the study reveal that there may be a gap between the general role definitions of interpreters and the strategies they are expected to adopt. User expectations vary depending on situational factors and the role perceptions of interpreters do not necessarily match reality. The analysis of the interpreter’s role in two different events exhibiting a varying degree of formality and interactivity but sharing the same institutional context, interpreting mode, and interpreter, demonstrates the influence of context on the interpreter’s role.

O ensino de Interpretação em universidades brasileiras tem crescido a cada ano. No entanto, pouco se sabe a respeito dos métodos utilizados por professores de interpretação, que normalmente reproduzem a maneira como aprenderam ou utilizam exemplos de sua prática na profissão. Este trabalho pretende dar um passo em direção à pesquisa em formação de intérpretes, apresentando a discussão sobre o ensino de interpretação ser precedido pela interpretação consecutiva. Utilizando as metodologias de Linguística de Corpus, que investiga o produto de interpretações de alunos, em interação com as Entrevistas Retrospectivas, que investiga o processo de interpretar desses mesmos alunos, todos de um curso de Graduação em Tradução e Interpretação da cidade de São Paulo, demonstraremos as diferenças e semelhanças entre alunos iniciantes e concluintes, em relação aos padrões linguísticos produzidos e parâmetros que nos ajudam a avaliar a qualidade de sua produção, encontrados no CEIS Corpus de Ensino de Interpretação Simultânea. Os resultados demonstram que a interpretação consecutiva não é pré-requisito para a interpretação simultânea. Na triangulação entre produto e processo, observamos que os processos cognitivos envolvidos em cada modalidade da interpretação são os fatores que influenciam sua produção enquanto aprendizes, e não a desverbalização ou análise do texto de partida. É necessário, portanto, pensarmos no desenvolvimento de um currículo que promova a formação do intérprete nos modos de simultânea e consecutiva paralelamente. Ao final, sugerimos aplicações da Linguística de Corpus para pesquisas com o CEIS e sua utilização para melhores práticas educacionais na formação de intérpretes. / Interpreting education has widened its scope in Brazilian universities year after year. However, the methods for teaching used by interpreting teachers are not very known, leading them to reproduce the way they have been taught or examples of their professional practice. This work aims at opening up the research path to interpreting education, discussing if consecutive should be a pre-requisite to simultaneous. Corpus Linguistics is one of the methodologies for this study, to investigate the production of interpreting students, in an interaction with another methodology, the Retrospective Interviews, which investigates interpreting processes. The subjects of this study are interpreting students from an undergraduate Translation & Interpretation program from São Paulo, Brazil. In this study, we show the similarities and differences of linguistic patterns produced by beginners and veteran students. In addition, we provide the corpus analysis of previously established parameters to quality assessment of students production at CEIS Simultaneous Interpreting Learners Corpora (Corpora de Ensino de Interpretação Simultânea). Results show consecutive interpreting teaching is not a pre-requisite to simultaneous interpreting. In the triangulation across product and process, we find out that the cognitive processes evolved in interpreting modes are the factors that influence learners production, covering the effects of deverbalization or source text analysis. It is demanding, though, to develop the interpreting curriculum to promote simultaneous and consecutive teaching in parallel. Last, but not least, we suggest Corpus Linguistics use and application to CEIS expansion and optimal educational practices for interpreting teaching.