Understanding how neurons in the primary visual cortex (V1) of primates respond to visual patterns has been a major focus of research in neuroscience for many decades. Numerous different experimental techniques have been used to provide data about how the spatiotemporal patterns of light projected from the visual environment onto the retina relate to the spatiotemporal patterns of neural activity evoked in the visual cortex, across disparate spatial and temporal scales. However, despite the variety of data sources available (or perhaps because of it), there is still no unified explanation for how the circuitry in the eye, the subcortical visual pathways, and the visual cortex responds to these patterns. This thesis outlines a research project to build computational models of V1 that incorporate observations and constraints from an unprecedented range of experimental data sources, reconciling each data source with the others into a consistent proposal for the underlying circuitry and computational mechanisms. The final mechanistic model is the first one shown to be compatible with measurements of: (1) temporal firing-rate patterns in single neurons over tens of milliseconds obtained using single-unit electrophysiology, (2) spatiotemporal patterns in membrane voltages in cortical tissues spanning several square millimeters over similar time scales, obtained using voltage-sensitive-dye imaging, and (3) spatial patterns in neural activity over several square millimeters of cortex, measured over the course of weeks of early development using optical imaging of intrinsic signals. Reconciling this data was not trivial, in part because single-unit studies suggested short, transient neural responses, while population measurements suggested gradual, sustained responses. The fundamental principles of the resulting models are (a) that the spatial and temporal patterns of neural responses are determined not only by the particular properties of a visual stimulus and the internal response properties of individual neurons, but by the collective dynamics of an entire network of interconnected neurons, (b) that these dynamics account both for the fast time course of neural responses to individual stimuli, and the gradual emergence of structure in this network via activity-dependent Hebbian modifications of synaptic connections over days, and (c) the differences between single-unit and population measurements are primarily due to extensive and wide-ranging forms of diversity in neural responses, which become crucial when trying to estimate population responses out of a series of individual measurements. The final model is the first to include all the types of diversity necessary to show how realistic single-unit responses can add up to the very different population-level evoked responses measured using voltage-sensitive-dye imaging over large cortical areas. Additional contributions from this thesis include (1) a comprehensive solution for doing exploratory yet reproducible computational research, implemented as a set of open-source tools, (2) a general-purpose metric for evaluating the biological realism of model orientation maps, and (3) a demonstration that the previous developmental model that formed the basis of the models in this thesis is the only developmental model so far that produces realistic orientation maps. These analytical results, computational models, and research tools together provide a systematic approach for understanding neural responses to visual stimuli across time scales from milliseconds to weeks and spatial scales from microns to centimeters.

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This thesis presents the experimental and theoretical studies of nonthermal and stable atmospheric-pressure glow discharges. With the excitation frequency in the kilohertz range, a uniform and stable glow discharge has been successfully produced in atmospheric helium without the usually indispensable dielectric barrier. For this barrier-free cold atmospheric discharge, there are two discharge events occurring, respectively, in the voltage-rising and the voltage-falling phases, and in general they compete with each other. This distinct feature is illustrated through a detailed fluid simulation. For direct current atmospheric glow discharges, their cathode fall region is shown to depend critically on the discharge current density. For atmospheric glow discharges excited at 13.56 MHz on the other hand, we present observations that after gas breakdown, the discharge evolves from the normal glow mode to the abnormal glow mode and then through the recovery mode back to the normal glow mode. The operation modes, namely the a mode and the y mode, in radio-frequency atmospheric glow discharges are investigated with a one-dimensional, self-consistent continuum model. This model is evaluated by comparing our numerical results with experimental data and other simulation results in literature. It is shown that gas ionization is volumetric in the a mode and localized in the boundary region between the sheath and the bulk plasma in the y mode. The stable operation regime in the a mode is found to have a positive differential conductivity, and can be expanded to higher discharge current density without compensating plasma reactivity by increasing the excitation frequency. Furthermore this plasma stability-reactivity balance is also studied for radio-frequency atmospheric glow microdischarges.

In this thesis, a thorough study of the batch top-spray fluidized bed granulation was carried out including experimental study, population balance model (PBM), computational fluid dynamic (CFD) study and control strategy development. For the experimental study, the influence variables of pulsed frequency, binder spray rate and atomization pressure of a batch top-spray fluidized bed granulation process were studied using the Box-Behnken experimental design method. Different mathematical models were developed to predict the mean size of granules, yield, relative width of granule distribution, Hausner ratio and final granule moisture content. Validation experiments have shown the reliability and effectiveness of using the Box-Behnken experimental design method to study a fluidized bed granulation process. The one-dimensional population balance models (ODPBMs) have been developed to model a pulsed top-spray fluidized bed granulation, linking the operating factors of the pulsed frequency, the binder spray rate, and atomization air pressure with the granule properties to predict granule growth behavior at different operating conditions. A multi-stage open optimal control strategy based on the developed ODPBMs was proposed to reduce the model and process mismatch through adjusting the trajectory of the evolution of the granule size distribution at predefined sample intervals. The effectiveness of the proposed modeling and multi-stage open optimal control strategy has been validated by experimental and simulation tests. In addition, an Eulerian-Eulerian two-fluid model (EETFM) was developed to describe the gas-particle two-phase flow in the fluidized bed granulator. By computational fluid dynamic analysis, it has been proven that the fluidized bed granulation system is not homogeneous, based on which a two-compartmental population balance model (TCPBM) was developed to describe the particle growth in the fluidized bed granulation. Validation experiments have shown the effectiveness and superior accuracy of the TCPBM comparing with the ODPBM in predicting the final particle size distribution.

The last two decades have seen new insights, data and analytical methods to establish the behaviour of structures in fire. These methods have slowly migrated into practice and now form the basis for modern quantitative structural fire engineering. This study presents a novel methodology for determining the imposed heat fluxes on structural members. To properly characterise the temperature rise of the structural elements, a post-processing model for computational fluid dynamics tools was developed to establish the heat fluxes imposed on all surfaces by a fire. This model acts as a tool for any computational fluid dynamics model and works on the basis of well resolved local gas conditions. Analysis of the smoke layer and products of combustion allow for heat fluxes to be defined based on smoke absorption coefficients and temperatures. These heat fluxes are defined at all points on the structure by considering full spatial and temporal distributions. Furthermore, heat fluxes are defined by considering directionality and both characteristic length and time scales in fires. Length scales are evaluated for different structural member geometries, while time scales are evaluated for different structural materials including applied fire protection. It is the output given by this model that provides the input for the thermal analysis of the structural members that is a necessary step prior to the structural analysis to be undertaken. The model is validated against the experimental results of the previously mentioned large scale fire tests, showing good agreement. In addition, comparisons are made to current methods to highlight their potential inadequacies.

This diploma thesis discuss a flow in a vicinity of exhaust valve using computational of fluid dynamics. In a light of current state of the problem solution this approach is forward but very sophisticated. Intention of author is description of multidimensional boundary of characteristic variables which determinates the flow behaviour for given geometry and boundary conditions. Technical knowlegde of fluid flow in vicinity of exhaust valve allow to design geometry which provide more effective cylinder flush out berofe the exhaust stroke will become. This process reduce quantity of loss work of piston and improve its effective pointers.

In cellular communication systems, the estimation of Doppler spread has a wide range of applications such as handoff, channel assignment scheme, adaptivetransmission, power control, etc. A great quantity of Doppler spread estimation algorithms have been proposed in the literature. But there has been few investigations which gives a comprehensive comparison of these algorithms. Therefore, it is of great signicance to compare and evaluate the performance of the existing algorithms in the same simulation framework. In this report, the uplink of WCDMA is considered. Four different types of Doppler spread estimation algorithms are evaluated and compared in a link level baseband simulator. The performance and the ability to implement are considered as the metrics for evaluation. Both Rayleigh and Rician fading channel model are applied, and the effect of speed, signal to noise ratio, Rician factor and the angle of arrived line of sight component are also tested. Moreover, the computational complexity is analysed to evaluate the practical value for implementation. / Estimatering av en mobils hastighet i form av Dopplerspridning har ett brett spektrum av tillmpningar i cellulra kommunikationssystem ssom fr yttningen avmobiler mellan celler, kanaltilldelningsschema, adaptiv sndning, eektstyrning,etc. En stor mngd algoritmer fr estimering av Dopplerspriding har frslagitsi litteraturen, men det r ovanligt med heltckande jmfrelser mellan med dessaalgoritmer. Drfr r det av stor betydelse att jmfra och utvrdera resultaten avbentliga algoritmer inom ramen fr samma simuleringsvertyg.I denna rapport anvnds upplnken fr WCDMA fr utvrdering av fyra olikatyper av algoritmer fr estimering av Dopplerspridning. Metriker fr utvrderingenr prestanda och implementeringsvnlighet. Bde Rayleigh och Rician fdningskanalmodeller har utvrderas, samt eekten av mobilens hastighet, signaltill brus frhllande, Rician faktor och infallsvinkel i ppet flt scenario. Dessutomhar den berkningsmssiga komplexiteten analyseras fr att utvrdera den praktiskaanvndbarheten i riktiga system.

This thesis proposes an intelligent multiple-controller framework for complex systems that incorporates a fuzzy logic based switching and tuning supervisor along with a neural network based generalized learning model (GLM). The framework is designed for adaptive control of both Single-Input Single-Output (SISO) and Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) complex systems. The proposed methodology provides the designer with an automated choice of using either: a conventional Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller, or a PID structure based (simultaneous) Pole and Zero Placement controller. The switching decisions between the two nonlinear fixed structure controllers is made on the basis of the required performance measure using the fuzzy logic based supervisor operating at the highest level of the system. The fuzzy supervisor is also employed to tune the parameters of the multiple-controller online in order to achieve the desired system performance. The GLM for modelling complex systems assumes that the plant is represented by an equivalent model consisting of a linear time-varying sub-model plus a learning nonlinear sub-model based on Radial Basis Function (RBF) neural network. The proposed control design brings together the dominant advantages of PID controllers (such as simplicity in structure and implementation) and the desirable attributes of Pole and Zero Placement controllers (such as stable set-point tracking and ease of parameters’ tuning). Simulation experiments using real-world nonlinear SISO and MIMO plant models, including realistic nonlinear vehicle models, demonstrate the effectiveness of the intelligent multiple-controller with respect to tracking set-point changes, achieve desired speed of response, prevent system output overshooting and maintain minimum variance input and output signals, whilst penalising excessive control actions.

This diploma thesis applies to the light-weight itself of a connecting rod of a mass-produced tractor-engine. As a one of the most important and first part of this task is creating a 3D simulation model of a connecting rod. The strenght calculation is following skip factor of the light-weight, the exact calculated dimension of relieve is providing by means of an engine imbalance including the connecting rod. The outcome data of research are instrumental to the new relieve and strengthen 3D design. The conclusion and ending point of the diploma thesis evaluate results.