Cette thèse étudie le problème de minoration de la hauteur canonique sur les courbeselliptiques. Son résultat diophantien principal utilise des méthodes d’intersectionarithmétique pour retrouver un résultat de Laurent, qui démontrait la conjecturede Lehmer pour les courbes elliptiques à multiplications complexes à un exposant" près, tout en explicitant complètement sa dépendance en divers paramètres liésà la courbe elliptique ; une telle démarche peut être motivée par la conjecture deLang, qui présage une minoration possible de la hauteur canonique proportionnelle,essentiellement, à la hauteur de Faltings de la courbe.Notre dissertation commence toutefois par une partie dédiée à l’explicitation duthéorème de densité de Chebotarev, qui reprend les grandes lignes d’un travail deLagarias et Odlyzko, et s’avère être cruciale dans notre approche du problème deLehmer elliptique. On obtient également des majorations des zéros de Siegel et de lanorme du plus petit idéal premier entrant en jeu dans le théorème de Chebotarev. / In this thesis we consider the problem of lower bounds for the canonical height onelliptic curves, aiming for the conjecture of Lehmer. Our main diophantine result isan explicit version of a theorem of Laurent (who proved this conjecture for ellipticcurves with CM up to a " exponent) using arithmetic intersection, enlightening thedependence with parameters linked to the elliptic curve ; such a result can be motivatedby the conjecture of Lang, hoping for a lower bound proportional to, roughly,the Faltings height of the curve.Nevertheless, our dissertation begins with a part dedicated to a completely explicitversion of the density theorem of Chebotarev, along the lines of a previous workdue to Lagarias and Odlyzko, which will be crucial to investigate the elliptic Lehmerproblem. We also obtain upper bounds for Siegel zeros, and for the smallest primeideal whose Frobenius is in a fixed conjugacy class.

Title: Billiard time machine Author: Jindřich Dolanský Department: Institute of Theoretical Physics Supervisor: doc. RNDr. Jiří Langer, CSc. Supervisor's e-mail address: Jiri.Langer@mff.cuni.cz Abstract: In this work we investigate a simple interacting system of an elastic particle in the non-relativistic spacetime with a nontrivial causal structure realized by a worm- hole with a time shift. We require that standard local physical laws hold, and search for their globally consistent solutions, i.e, we assume the validity of the principle of self-consistency. If there were nontrivial set of initial conditions which would violate this principle, the system would be logically inconsistent. We show that the investigated system is not inconsistent in this sense, i.e., that all standard initial conditions have a globally consistent evolution. Even for the so called dangerous initial conditions which threaten to result into the paradoxical situation a consistent solution exists. In this case, the paradoxical collision-free trajectory is superseded by a special consistent self-colliding trajectory. Moreover, we demonstrate that more than one globally consistent evolution exists for a wide class of initial conditions. Thus, the evolution of the described system is not unique due to the nontrivial causal structure...

The thesis describes theoretical fundamentals of optics and problems of ray-tracing method, ray-triangle intersection computation included. Next section describes concept of three different camera models for ray-tracing method - plain camera, pinehole camea and spherical camera (fish-eye). The thesis comparse properties and capabilities of camera models and their effect to projected image of a scene. The program for raytracing was implemented for purposes of the thesis including implementation of camera models described in the thesis.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Industrial & Manufacturing Systems Engineering / Malgorzata J. Rys / This dissertation is the result of studying different methods of increasing guide sign visibility and legibility to drivers during nighttime, to increase safety on roadways. It also studies intersection lighting to indicate the lighting benefits on nighttime crash frequency reduction. From a survey conducted, practices related to overhead guide sign illumination and retroreflectivity in United States were summarized. A laboratory experiment was conducted to compare light distribution of five light sources: Metal Halide, Mercury Vapor, High Pressure Sodium, induction lighting, and Light Emitting Diode (LED). Cost analysis of the five light sources was performed. Combining results of the laboratory experiment and the cost analysis, induction lighting was recommended for states that want to continue external sign illumination. A retroreflectivity experiment was conducted to compare three types of retroreflective sheeting: Engineering Grade (type I), Diamond Grade (type XI), and High Intensity (type IV), to determine the sheeting that best increases visibility and legibility. Diamond Grade (type XI) was found to be the optimal sheeting that increases visibility and legibility to drivers during nighttime. A glare experiment was conducted to expand the retroreflectivity experiment results. Four sheeting-font combinations of High Intensity (type IV) and Diamond Grade (type XI) materials and Series E (Modified) and Clearview fonts were compared. Results revealed an optimal sheeting-font combination of Diamond Grade (type XI) sheeting and Clearview font which increases the visibility and legibility of guide signs to drivers under presence of oncoming glare source. The Highway Safety Information System (HSIS) database was used to study the effect of intersection lighting on the expected crash frequency. Illuminated intersections showed 3.61% and 6.54% decrease in the expected nighttime crash frequency as compared to dark intersections in Minnesota and California, respectively. In addition, partial lighting at intersections decreases the expected nighttime crash frequency by 4.72% compared to continuous lighting in Minnesota. The recommended sheeting-font combination for Departments of Transportation was Diamond Grade (type XI) and Clearview. This combination will increase signs’ visibility and legibility to drivers, and consequently increase safety on roadways. Adding partial lighting at intersections will reduce the expected nighttime crash frequency, and increase safety on roadways.

This is a semantic study, dealing with style and technique in the short stories of D. B. Z. Ntuli. The study as a whole analyses Ntuli' s first six volumes of short stories. The first chapter is an introduction, dealing with the aim of the study. The second sub-section after aim is Ntuli's biographical notes. Full details of this author from high school attendance to his contribution during his working experience are given. Ntuli's biography is followed by the scope of study. Under this sub-heading, short story volumes to be analysed are clearly stated. The fourth sub-heading is the method of approach and a conclusion. Chapter two deals with various types of repetition, a literary technique. It analyses Ntuli's use of language, and repetition of sentences approaching it from different angles. Chapter three and four deal with choice of words. The former chapter handles the various types of language elements semantically and the latter deals specifically with the ideophone. The ideophone is sub-divided into two sub-sections: classification and usage. Chapter five deals with proverbial expressions and these are sub-divided into two sections: idioms and proverbs. The usage of idiomatic expressions is discussed under: verbs, nouns and qualificatives, while the proverbs are analysed under classification and syntax. Imagery is dealt with in chapter six. Imagery is further sub-divided into four categories: metaphor, simile, personification and symbolism. Style and structure are discussed in chapter seven. In this chapter various elements of language forms are handled: types of sentenceidiophonic; negative forms of the ideophone, with conjunctives; sentences with adverbs; the demonstratives; titles of short story volumes and naming of characters. Chapter eight is the general conclusion, reflecting on Ntuli's style and technique with special emphasis on his unique use of the language. Reference is made to discoveries regarding the author's use of vocabulary, and his techniques in using repetition as well as avoiding it, which is part of his style. His choice of words and how he arranges them on paper is also discussed. Ntuli's choice of titles in naming his short story volumes is summed up showing that these have been influenced by his background. The study concludes by suggesting areas that still require further analysis in Ntuli 's short stories. / African Languages / D. Litt. et Phil. (African Languages)

Strong resonant dipole-dipole interactions in flexible Rydberg aggregates enable the formation of excitons, many-body states which collectively share excitation between atoms. Exciting the most energetic exciton of a linear Rydberg chain whose outer two atoms on one end are closely spaced causes the initiation of an exciton pulse for which electronic excitation and diatomic proximity propagate directed through the chain. The emerging transport of excitation is largely adiabatic and is enabled by the interplay between atomic motion and dynamical variation of the exciton. Here, we demonstrate the coherent splitting of such pulses into two modes, which induce strongly different atomic motion, leading to clear signatures of nonadiabatic effects in atomic density profiles. The mechanism exploits local nonadiabatic effects at a conical intersection, turning them from a decoherence source into an asset. The conical intersection is a consequence of the exciton pulses moving along a linear Rydberg chain and approaching an additional linear, perpendicularly aligned Rydberg chain. The intersection provides a sensitive knob controlling the propagation direction and coherence properties of exciton pulses. We demonstrate that this scenario can be exploited as an exciton switch, controlling direction and coherence properties of the joint pulse on the second of the chains. Initially, we demonstrate the pulse splitting on planar aggregates with atomic motion one-dimensionally constrained and employing isotropic interactions. Subsequently, we confirm the splitting mechanism for a fully realistic scenario in which all spatial restrictions are removed and the full anisotropy of the dipole-dipole interactions is taken into account. Our results enable the experimental observation of non-adiabatic electronic dynamics and entanglement transport with Rydberg atoms. The conical intersection crossings are clearly evident, both in atomic mean position information and excited state spectra of the Rydberg system. This suggests flexible Rydberg aggregates as a test-bench for quantum chemical effects in experiments on much inflated length scales. The fundamental ideas discussed here have general implications for excitons on a dynamic network.

This thesis is split up into two parts each revolving around Floer homology and quantum cohomology of closed monotone symplectic manifolds. In the first part we consider symplectic manifolds obtained by symplectic reduction. Our main result is that a quantum version of an abelianization formula of Martin holds, which relates the quantum cohomologies of symplectic quotients by a group and by its maximal torus. Also we show a quantum version of the Leray-Hirsch theorem for Floer homology of Lagrangian intersections in the quotient. The second part is devoted to Floer homology of a pair of monotone Lagrangian submanifolds in clean intersection. Under these assumptions the symplectic action functional is degenerated. Nevertheless Frauenfelder defines a version of Floer homology, which is in a certain sense an infinite dimensional analogon of Morse-Bott homology. Via natural filtrations on the chain level we were able to define two spectral sequences which serve as a tool to compute Floer homology. We show how these are used to obtain new intersection results for simply connected Lagrangians in the product of two complex projective spaces. The link between both parts is that in the background the same technical methods are applied; namely the theory of holomorphic strips with boundary on Lagrangians in clean intersection. Since all our constructions rely heavily on these methods we also give a detailed account of this theory although in principle many results are not new or require only straight forward generalizations.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of the intersection of race, gender and social class on women leaders’ work experience and career progression in order to come up with strategies for gender transformation at leadership level in corporate South Africa. The problem statement of this research study concerns the indication in the annual report of the Commission for Employment Equity (Department of Labour 2012) that there is under-representation of women, especially African and Coloured women, at top management level relative to the economically active population. The Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill was published in the Government Gazette No. 37005 of 6 November 2013. This Bill aims to enforce compliance with the stipulated minimum representation of women at senior levels in both the private and public sectors. This study, with its objective of reaching an understanding of the impact of the intersection of race, gender and social class on women’s career progression, is therefore timeous. Getting the perspective of woman CEOs across race and class on how to transform gender at leadership level could add an important voice to transformation and could be of benefit to decision makers in business and in government. Based on this problem statement the following research questions were formulated: - To what extent does the intersection of race, social class and gender impact on women CEOs’ experience in their work roles and career progression? - How might an understanding of women leaders’ experiences in their roles assist with strategies to transform gender at leadership level in corporate South Africa? Qualitative research methodology was chosen as the appropriate methodology and grounded theory was employed. Purposive, snowball and theoretical sampling methods were used to identify fourteen participants (13 CEOs and one chairman).The life story method was employed for in-depth semi-structured interviews from which rich descriptive data was collected and which was analysed using grounded theory. Findings confirmed that the intersection of race, gender, age and class does have an impact on women’s career progression and their life experiences. The dominant social identity was race for blacks and gender whites; class and age were the overlay. In terms of strategies for gender transformation, first-order constructs from the participants were related to abstract second-order constructs from the literature, which led to the formulation of the WHEEL Theoretical Model. The theoretical model is an integration of different elements required for the formulation of strategies for gender transformation at leadership level. The different elements were women themselves; domestic and family support; the organisation; society and government. Despite some limitations that were encountered, the aim of the study was achieved by making a contribution not only to the development of theory related to strategies for gender transformation at leadership level, which other scholars can build from, but also to the gaining of insights into the intersection of multiple social identities and their impact which can be used by business leaders and policymakers to address inequalities in organisations. In addition, this research study made various recommendations for future research / Business Management / DBL

Cette thèse est consacrée à étudier les applications potentielles de véhicules autonomes et communications V2X pour construire les systèmes de transport intelligents. Premièrement, le comportement de caravane dans un environnement de véhicule connecté est étudié. Un algorithme de commande de caravane est conçu pour obtenir l'espacement sécuritaire ainsi que la conformité de la vitesse et de l'accélération. Deuxièmement, à plus grande échelle, les caravanes autour d'une intersection sont considérées. Le débit pendant une période de signal de trafic peut être amélioré en tirant profit de la capacité redondante de la route. Dans diverses contraintes, les véhicules peuvent choisir d'accélérer et rejoindre la caravane précédente ou à décélérer de déroger à l'actuel. Troisièmement, une intersection sans signalisation en VANET est considérée. Dans des conditions de faible trafic, les véhicules peuvent réguler leur vitesse avant d'arriver à l'intersection en fonction du temps d'occupation de la zone de conflit (TOZC) stocké au niveau du gestionnaire, afin qu'ils puissent traverser l'intersection sans collision ni arrêt. Le délai peut être réduit en conséquence. Enfin, un algorithme de gestion d'intersection autonome universelle, qui peut fonctionner même avec le trafic lourd, est développé. Le véhicule cherche à sécuriser les fenêtres entrant dans le TOZC. Ensuite, sur la base des fenêtres trouvées et le mouvement du véhicule qui précède, les trajectoires des véhicules peuvent être planifiées en utilisant une méthode de programmation dynamique segmentée. Tous les algorithmes conçus sont testés et vérifiés avec succès par des simulations dans scénarios différents / This thesis is devoted to study the potential applications of autonomous vehicles and V2X communications to construct the intelligent transportation systems. Firstly, the behavior of platoon in connected vehicle environment is studied. A platoon control algorithm is designed to obtain safe spacing as well as accordance of velocity and acceleration for vehicles in the same lane. Secondly, in larger scale, the platoons around an intersection are considered. The throughput in a traffic signal period can be improved by taking advantage of the redundant road capacity. Within diverse constraints, vehicles can choose to accelerate to join in the preceding platoon or to decelerate to depart from the current one. Thirdly, an unsignalized intersection in VANET is considered. In light traffic conditions, vehicles can regulate their velocities before arriving at the intersection according to the conflict zone occupancy time (CZOT) stored at the manager, so that they could get through the intersection without collision or stop. The delay can be reduced accordingly. Finally, an universal autonomous intersection management algorithm, which can work even with heavy traffic, is developed. The vehicle searches for safe entering windows in the CZOT. Then based on the found windows and the motion of preceding vehicle, the trajectories of vehicles can be planned using a segmented dynamic programming method. All the designed algorithms are successfully tested and verified by simulations in various scenarios