Dissertation (Ph.D.).--University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at San Antonio, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Sc.). / Written for the Medical Physics Unit. Title from title page of PDF (viewed 2008/05/29). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.) -- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 2006. / Vita. Bibliography: pp. 73-78

We elucidate the differences between absolute and intensity-based limits of CO2 emission when there is uncertainty about the future. We demonstrate that the two limits are identical under certainty, and rigorously establish their relative attractiveness under two criteria: preservation of expectations—the minimization of the difference between the actual level and the initial expectation of abatement associated with a one-shot emission target, and temporal stability—the minimization of the variance of abatement due to fluctuations in emissions and GDP over time. Empirical tests of these theoretical propositions indicate that intensity caps are preferable for a broad range of emission reduction commitments. This finding is robust for developing countries, but is more equivocal for developed economies. / Abstract in HTML and technical report in PDF available on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change website (http://mit.edu/globalchange/www/). / ISW was supported by U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science (BER) Grant No. DE-FG02-02ER63484. ADE and JMS were supported by the MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change, funded through a government-industry partnership including U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science (BER) Grant No. DE-FG02-94ER61937, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Cooperative Agreement No. XA-83042801-0, and a group of corporate sponsors from the U.S. and other countries.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, Psychology Department, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

Η ραγδαία ανάπτυξη της τεχνολογίας όπως είναι φανερό δεν άφησε ανεπηρέαστο τον τομέα των τηλεπικοινωνιών. Κάνοντας μια ιστορική αναδρομή στις ασύρματες επικοινωνίες διαπιστώνουμε τις θεωρίες του Faraday και του Maxwell οι οποίες αποτέλεσαν για τους Hertz και Marconi το υπόβαθρο για τις πρώτες σημαντικές εφαρμογές. Επίσης, γίνεται αναφορά στον τρόπο διάδοσης των ηλεκτρομαγνητικών κυμάτων καθώς και σε φαινόμενα διάθλασης και ανάκλασης που παρατηρούνται κατά τη μετάδοση αυτών. Καθοριστική επίδραση στα φαινόμενα αυτά αποδεικνύεται να έχει η ιονόσφαιρα. Ιδιαίτερη αναφορά γίνεται στα διάφορα μοντέλα διάδοσης ραδιοσήματος γνωστά ως RF models και στα διάφορα βασικά χαρακτηριστικά αυτών τα οποία και αναλύονται. Με βάση τις ιδιότητες αυτών των μοντέλων σε συνδυασμό με τις γεωγραφικές και λοιπές διαφοροποιήσεις κάθε περιοχής γίνεται η επιλογή του καταλληλότερου μοντέλου από τον ερευνητή. Το βασικό θεωρητικό μοντέλο είναι αυτό του ελεύθερου χώρου και είναι εξαιρετικά χρήσιμο καθώς με εφαρμογή του τύπου του προκύπτει η τιμή της μέσης εξασθένησης που αποτελεί και την τιμή αναφοράς για τη σύγκριση με τα υπόλοιπα μοντέλα. Το 1982 έχουμε την ουσιαστική αντικατάσταση της πρώτης αναλογικής γενιάς κινητής τηλεφωνίας από τη δεύτερη ψηφιακή γενιά που σήμανε και τη γέννηση του GSM. Η τεχνολογία GSM εξασφαλίζει πληθώρα υπηρεσιών δεδομένων επιλύοντας προβλήματα περιορισμού της εμβέλειας των κινητών εντός των συνόρων καθώς και περιορισμούς του τεχνικού εξοπλισμού στα ιδιαίτερα χαρακτηριστικά του κάθε συστήματος κινητής τηλεφωνίας. Παρατηρώντας την αρχιτεκτονική του GSM δικτύου ιδιαίτερη προσοχή δίνεται σε ζητήματα ραδιο-ζεύξης και σε άλλα ζητήματα δικτύου. Τέλος, μέσω πειραματικών μετρήσεων που πραγματοποιήθηκαν στη περιοχή Πατρών με στόχο τον προσδιορισμό της έντασης του σήματος που καταφθάνει στο δέκτη προκύπτουν σημαντικά συμπεράσματα σχετικά με παράγοντες που συμβάλλουν στην εξασθένηση του σήματος. Εμπόδια που παρεμβάλλονται μεταξύ πομπού και δέκτη αποτελούν μία κύρια αιτία εξασθένησης, ενώ την εμφάνισή του κάνει και το φαινόμενο Doppler. / The rapid development of technology as it appears did not leave unaffected the sector of telecommunications. Making a historical overview of wireless communications we can see the theories of Faraday and Maxwell that were for Hertz, and Marconi the basis for the first important applications. Also reference is made to the method of dissemination of electromagnetic waves as well as reflection and refraction phenomena observed during their transmission. It has been demonstrated that ionosphere has decisive influence on these phenomena. Particular reference is made to the various models of radio signal transmission known as RF models and to their several key features which are also analyzed. Based on the properties of these models in combination with the geographical and other variations of each area the choice of the best model is made by the researcher. The basic theoretical model is that of free space and is very useful as by implementation of its formula the average value of attenuation can be found which is the reference value for comparison with other models. In 1982, we have the substantial replacement of the first analogue generation mobile telephony by the second digital generation which marked also the birth of GSM. The GSM technology provides multiple data services solving many problems that have to do with limiting the range of mobiles within borders and limitations of the technical equipment to the specific characteristics of each mobile communication system. Looking at the architecture of GSM network special attention is given to issues of radio link and other network issues. Finally, through experimental measurements made in the area of Patras to identify the intensity of the signal that arrives at the receiver important conclusions come up about factors that contribute to the attenuation of the signal. Obstacles between transmitter and receiver are a main cause of attenuation, while the phenomenon Doppler makes also its appearance.

While many studies have been conducted in channels that are fully open or entirely covered with ice, little has been examined in channels with border ice. To begin filling in this gap in knowledge, experiments were conducted in the Hydraulics Research Testing Facility at the University of Manitoba in a 1.2m wide, 14m long flume to assess the impact of Froude number, coverage ratio and bed-to-ice roughness ratio on the hydraulic characteristics of channels with border ice cover. Acoustic Doppler velocimetry was used to collect detailed 3D velocity data over a cross section of the flume which facilitated the analysis of velocity and turbulence intensity fields as well as the shear stress distribution. The data collected thus far represents the most complete experimental dataset of measured water velocities in a channel with a border ice cover. / February 2016

A lipemia pós-prandial (LPP) se caracteriza pelo aumento das concentrações de lipídeos sanguíneos, provocado por meio de refeição ou jejum e está diretamente relacionada com o sedentarismo e a formação da placa aterosclerótica. A adolescência é um período crítico no controle do peso e a inatividade física está associada com desenvolvimento de doenças cardiovasculares (DCV) prematuras. O exercício atua como um importante agente protetor contra o desenvolvimento e progressão de diversas doenças crônicas. Apesar dos efeitos do exercício sobre a LPP serem relativamente bem descritos, os seus efeitos sobre crianças e adolescentes têm sido negligenciados. Além disso, um dos aspectos intervenientes sobre a LPP é a intensidade de exercício. Dessa forma, o objetivo do estudo foi verificar os efeitos do exercício de intensidade média e alta na lipemia e glicemia pós-prandiais em adolescentes eutróficos saudáveis após refeição hiperlipídica. Treze adolescentes do sexo masculino, com idade entre 12 e 16 anos, foram selecionados e realizaram três protocolos: exercício de média intensidade (MI), exercício de alta intensidade (AI) e repouso (REP). No MI, os participantes pedalaram durante 45 minutos a 10% abaixo do 2° limiar ventilatório, seguidos de 180 minutos de repouso. No AI, os participantes pedalaram a 10% acima do 2° limiar ventilatório até alcançarem o mesmo gasto energético do MI. No REP, os participantes permaneceram em repouso durante todo o período. Foi fornecida uma refeição rica em gordura após cada protocolo. Amostras de sangue foram coletadas nos tempos 0 (jejum), 45min (logo após exercício), 105min (1h após a refeição), 135min, 165min, 195min e 225min em cada protocolo. Os níveis de triglicerídeos (TG), colesterol total (CT), HDL, LDL e glicose foram mensurados. Não houve diferenças entre as condições em relação aos níveis de CT, HDL, LDL e glicose. Foi encontrada uma redução significativa (p<0,05) nos níveis de TG (mg/dl) na condição MI quando comparado ao REP e AI no minuto 105 (70,1 + 10,3 vs. 92,2 + 32,4 e 82,2 +10,4) e 135 (68,4 + 14,4 vs. 97,3 + 15,6 e 91,54 + 24,9), respectivamente, e no minuto 165 entre REP e MI (103,14 + 24,2 vs. 82,4 + 18,8). A área sob a curva de TG (mg/dl/min) no MI foi 17,19% significativamente inferior quando comparado ao REP (16.437 vs 19.848) e 12,82% inferior quando comparado ao AI (16.437 vs 18.856). Em conclusão, o exercício de MI mostrou-se eficaz na redução dos triglicerídeos pós-prandiais em adolescentes saudáveis, quando comparado ao repouso e ao exercício de AI. / Postprandial lipemia (PPL) is characterized by increased concentrations of blood lipids, caused by meal or fasting and is directly related to a sedentary lifestyle and the formation of atherosclerotic plaque. Adolescence is a critical period in weight and physical inactivity is associated with premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) development. Exercise acts as an important protective mediator against the development and progression of several chronic diseases. Despite the effects of exercise on LPP are relatively well described, its effects on children and adolescents have been neglected. Moreover, one of the factors on aspects LPP is the intensity of exercise. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of exercise of medium and high intensity on postprandial lipemia and glycemia in healthy normal adolescents after a high fat meal. Thirteen male adolescents, aged between 12 and 16 years, were selected and performed three protocols: exercise of moderate intensity (MI), high-intensity exercise (HI) and rest (RES). In MI, participants cycled for 45 minutes at 10% below 2nd ventilatory threshold, followed by 180 minutes of rest. In HI, participants cycled at 10% above the 2nd ventilatory threshold in order to achieve the same energy expenditure MI. RES, the participants remain at rest during the entire period. A high fat meal was provided after each protocol. Blood samples were collected at 0 (fasting), 45min (after exercise), 105min (1h after the meal), 135min, 165min, 195min and 225min in each protocol. Triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), HDL, LDL and glucose were measured. There were no differences between conditions in relation to the levels of TC, HDL, LDL and glucose. A significant reduction (p <0.05) was found in the levels of TG (mg / dL) in the condition MI when compared to the REP and HI at 105 minutes (70.1 ± 10.3 vs. 92.2 + 32.4 and 82.2 +10.4) and 135 (14.4 vs. 68.4 +. 97.3 + 15.6 + 24.9 and 91.54), respectively, and at 165 minutes between REP and MI (24.2 vs 103.14 +. 82.4 + 18.8). The area under the curve of TG (mg / dl / min) in MI was 17.19% significantly lower when compared to REP (16,437 vs 19,848) and 12.82% lower when compared to HI (16,437 vs 18,856). In conclusion, the MI exercise was effective in reducing the postprandial triglyceride levels in healthy adolescents, when compared at rest and during HI exercise.

Le défi de cette thèse est de reconstruire la géométrie 3D de la végétation à partir des données de distance et d'intensité fournies par un scanner de type LiDAR. Une méthode de « shape-from-shading » par propagation est développée pour être combinée avec une méthode de fusion de données type filtre de Kalman pour la reconstruction optimale des surfaces foliaires.-Introduction-L'analyse des données LiDAR nous permet de dire que la qualité du nuage de point est variable en fonction de la configuration de la mesure : lorsque le LiDAR mesure le bord d'une surface ou une surface fortement inclinée, il intègre dans sa mesure une partie de l'arrière plan. Ces configurations de mesures produisent des points aberrants. On retrouve souvent ce type de configuration pour la mesure de feuillages puisque ces derniers ont des géométries fragmentées et variables. Les scans sont en général de mauvaise qualité et la quantité d'objets présents dans le scan rend la suppression manuelle des points aberrants fastidieuse. L'objectif de cette thèse est de développer une méthodologie permettant d'intégrer les données d'intensité LiDAR aux distances pour corriger automatiquement ces points aberrants. -Shape-From-Shading-Le principe du Shape-From-Shading (SFS) est de retrouver les valeurs de distance à partir des intensités d'un objet pris en photo. La caméra (capteur LiDAR) et la source de lumière (laser LiDAR) ont la même direction et sont placés à l'infini relativement à la surface, ce qui rend l'effet de la distance sur l'intensité négligeable et l'hypothèse d'une caméra orthographique valide. En outre, la relation entre angle d'incidence lumière/surface et intensité est connue. Par la nature des données LiDAR, nous pourrons choisir la meilleure donnée entre distance et intensité à utiliser pour la reconstruction des surfaces foliaires. Nous mettons en place un algorithme de SFS par propagation le long des régions iso-intenses pour pouvoir intégrer la correction de la distance grâce à l'intensité via un filtre de type Kalman. -Design mathématique de la méthode-Les morceaux de surface correspondant aux régions iso-intenses sont des morceaux de surfaces dites d'égales pentes, ou de tas de sable. Nous allons utiliser ce type de surface pour reconstruire la géométrie 3D correspondant aux images d'intensité.Nous démontrons qu'à partir de la connaissance de la 3D d'un bord d'une région iso-intense, nous pouvons retrouver des surfaces paramétriques correspondant à la région iso-intense qui correspondent aux surfaces de tas de sable. L'initialisation de la région iso-intense initiale (graine de propagation) se fait grâce aux données de distance LiDAR. Les lignes de plus grandes pentes de ces surfaces sont générées. Par propagation de ces lignes (et donc génération du morceau de la surface en tas de sable), nous déterminons l'autre bord de la région iso-intense. Puis, par itération, nous propagerons la reconstruction de la surface. -Filtre de Kalman-Nous pouvons considérer cette propagation des lignes de plus grande pente comme étant le calcul d'une trajectoire sur la surface à reconstruire. Dans le cadre de notre étude, la donnée de distance est toujours disponible (données du scanner 3D). Ainsi il est possible de choisir, lors de la propagation, quelle donnée (distance ou intensité) utiliser pour la reconstruction. Ceci peut être fait notamment grâce à une fusion de type Kalman. -Algorithme-Pour procéder à la reconstruction par propagation, il est nécessaire d'hiérarchiser les domaines iso-intenses de l'image. Une fois que les graines de propagation sont repérées, elles sont initialisées avec l'image des distances. Enfin, pour chacun des nœuds de la hiérarchie (représentant un domaine iso-intense), la reconstruction d'un tas de sable est faite. C'est lors de cette dernière étape qu'une fusion de type Kalman peut être introduite. / The challenge of this thesis is reconstruct the 3D geometry of vegetation from distance and intensity data provided by a 3D scanner LiDAR. A method of “Shape-From-Shading” by propagation is developed to be combined with a fusion method of type “Kalman” to get an optimal reconstruction of the leaves. -Introduction-The LiDAR data analysis shows that the point cloud quality is variable. This quality depends upon the measurement set up. When the LiDAR laser beam reaches the edge of a surface (or a steeply inclined surface), it also integrate background measurement. Those set up produce outliers. This kind of set up is common for foliage measurement as foliages have in general fragmented and complex shape. LiDAR data are of bad quality and the quantity of leaves in a scan makes the correction of outliers fastidious. This thesis goal is to develop a methodology to allow us to integrate the LiDAR intensity data to the distance to make an automatic correction of those outliers. -Shape-from-shading-The Shape-from-shading principle is to reconstruct the distance values from intensities of a photographed object. The camera (LiDAR sensor) and the light source (LiDAR laser) have the same direction and are placed at infinity relatively to the surface. This makes the distance effect on intensity negligible and the hypothesis of an orthographic camera valid. In addition, the relationship between the incident angle light beam and intensity is known. Thanks to the LiDAR data analysis, we are able to choose the best data between distance and intensity in the scope of leaves reconstruction. An algorithm of propagation SFS along iso-intense regions is developed. This type of algorithm allows us to integrate a fusion method of type Kalman. -Mathematical design of the method-The patches of the surface corresponding to the iso-intense regions are patches of surfaces called the constant slope surfaces, or sand-pile surfaces. We are going to use those surfaces to rebuild the 3D geometry corresponding to the scanned surfaces. We show that from the knowledge of the 3d of an iso-intensity region, we can construct those sand-pile surfaces. The initialization of the first iso-intense regions contour (propagation seeds) is done with the 3D LiDAR data. The greatest slope lines of those surfaces are generated. Thanks to the propagation of those lines (and thus of the corresponding sand-pile surface), we build the other contour of the iso-intense region. Then, we propagate the reconstruction iteratively. -Kalman filter-We can consider this propagation as being the computation of a trajectory on the reconstructed surface. In our study framework, the distance data is always available (3D scanner data). It is thus possible to choose which data (intensity vs distance) is the best to reconstruct the object surface. This can be done with a fusion of type Kalman filter. -Algorithm-To proceed a reconstruction by propagation, it is necessary to order the iso-intensity regions. Once the propagation seeds are found, they are initialized with the distances provided by the LiDAR. For each nodes of the hierarchy (corresponding to an iso-intensity region), the sand-pile surface reconstruction is done. -Manuscript-The thesis manuscript gathers five chapters. First, we give a short description of the LiDAR technology and an overview of the traditional 3D surface reconstruction from point cloud. Then we make a state-of-art of the shape-from –shading methods. LiDAR intensity is studied in a third chapter to define the strategy of distance effect correction and to set up the incidence angle vs intensity relationship. A fourth chapter gives the principal results of this thesis. It gathers the theoretical approach of the SFS algorithm developed in this thesis. We will provide its description and results when applied to synthetic images. Finally, a last chapter introduces results of leaves reconstruction.

In recent years there has been a surge in interest concerning high intensity intermittent exercise training (HIT) due to its ability to confer rapid notable cardio-metabolic health benefits. Specifically, HIT has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and glycaemic control as well as other cardiovascular health factors after just 2 weeks of training (typically 6 training sessions). This thesis investigated the potential therapeutic role of HIT training within obese cohorts specifically addressing metabolic health, inclusive of inflammatory profiles and glycaemic control.