While in traditional computer game playing agents were designed solely for the purpose of playing one single game, General Game Playing is concerned with agents capable of playing classes of games. Given the game's rules and a few minutes time, the agent is supposed to play any game of the class and eventually win it. Since the game is unknown beforehand, previously optimized data structures or human-provided features are not applicable. Instead, the agent must derive a strategy on its own. One approach to obtain such a strategy is to analyze the game rules and create a state evaluation function that can be subsequently used to direct the agent to promising states in the match. In this thesis we will discuss existing methods and present a general approach on how to construct such an evaluation function. Each topic is discussed in a modular fashion and evaluated along the lines of quality and efficiency, resulting in a strong agent.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:08:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PauloRMP_capa_ate_pag32.pdf: 5057325 bytes, checksum: bf8da0b02ad06ee116c93344fb67e976 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-06 / Originally aimed at operational objectives, the continuous measurement of well bottomhole pressure and temperature, recorded by permanent downhole gauges (PDG), finds vast applicability in reservoir management. It contributes for the monitoring of well performance and makes it possible to estimate reservoir parameters on the long term. However, notwithstanding its unquestionable value, data from PDG is characterized by a large noise content. Moreover, the presence of outliers within valid signal measurements seems to be a major problem as well. In this work, the initial treatment of PDG signals is addressed, based on curve smoothing, self-organizing maps and the discrete wavelet transform. Additionally, a system based on the coupling of fuzzy clustering with feed-forward neural networks is proposed for transient detection. The obtained results were considered quite satisfactory for offshore wells and matched real requisites for utilization / Originalmente voltadas ao monitoramento da opera??o, as medi??es cont?nuas de press?o e temperatura no fundo de po?o, realizadas atrav?s de PDGs (do ingl?s, Permanent Downhole Gauges), encontram vasta aplicabilidade no gerenciamento de reservat?rios. Para tanto, permitem o monitoramento do desempenho de po?os e a estimativa de par?metros de reservat?rios no longo prazo. Contudo, a despeito de sua inquestion?vel utilidade, os dados adquiridos de PDG apresentam grande conte?do de ru?do. Outro aspecto igualmente desfavor?vel reside na ocorr?ncia de valores esp?rios (outliers) imersos entre as medidas registradas pelo PDG. O presente trabalho aborda o tratamento inicial de sinais de press?o e temperatura, mediante t?cnicas de suaviza??o, mapas auto-organiz?veis e transformada wavelet discreta. Ademais, prop?e-se um sistema de detec??o de transientes relevantes para an?lise no longo hist?rico de registros, baseado no acoplamento entre clusteriza??o fuzzy e redes neurais feed-forward. Os resultados alcan?ados mostraram-se de todo satisfat?rios para po?os marinhos, atendendo a requisitos reais de utiliza??o dos sinais registrados por PDGs

Cette thèse est motivée par le diagnostic et l’évaluation des maladies neuro-dégénératives et dans le but de diagnostique sur la base de l’attention visuelle.Néanmoins, le dépistage à grande échelle de la population n’est possible que si des modèles de prédiction automatique suffisamment robustes peuvent être construits. Dans ce contexte nous nous intéressons `a la conception et le développement des modèles de prédiction automatique pour un contenu visuel spécifique à utiliser dans l’expérience psycho-visuelle impliquant des patients atteints des maladies neuro-dégénératives. La difficulté d’une telle prédiction réside dans une très faible quantité de données d’entraînement. Les modèles de saillance visuelle ne peuvent pas être fondés sur les caractérisitiques “bottom-up” uniquement, comme le suggère la théorie de l’intégration des caractéristiques. La composante “top-down” de l’attention visuelle humaine devient prépondérante au fur et à mesure d’observation de la scène visuelle. L’attention visuelle peut-être prédite en se basant sur les scènes déjà observées. Les réseaux de convolution profonds (CNN) se sont révèlés être un outil puissant pour prédire les zones saillantes dans les images statiques.Dans le but de construire un modèle de prédiction automatique pour les zones saillantes dans les vidéos naturels et intentionnellement dégradées, nous avons conçu une architecture spécifique de CNN profond. Pour surmonter le manque de données d’apprentissage,nous avons conçu un système d’apprentissage par transfert dérivé de la méthode de Bengio.Nous mesurons ses performances lors de la prédiction de régions saillantes. Les r´esultatsobtenus sont int´eressants concernant la r´eaction des sujets t´emoins normaux contre leszones d´egrad´ees dans les vid´eos. La comparaison de la carte de saillance pr´edite des vid´eosintentionnellement d´egrad´ees avec des cartes de densit´e de fixation du regard et d’autresmod`eles de r´ef´erence montre l’int´erˆet du mod`ele d´evelopp´e. / This thesis is motivated by the diagnosis and the evaluation of the dementia diseasesand with the aim of predicting if a new recorded gaze presents a complaint of thesediseases. Nevertheless, large-scale population screening is only possible if robust predictionmodels can be constructed. In this context, we are interested in the design and thedevelopment of automatic prediction models for specific visual content to be used in thepsycho-visual experience involving patients with dementia (PwD). The difficulty of sucha prediction lies in a very small amount of training data.Visual saliency models cannot be founded only on bottom-up features, as suggested byfeature integration theory. The top-down component of human visual attention becomesprevalent as human observers explore the visual scene. Visual saliency can be predictedon the basis of seen data. Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) have proven tobe a powerful tool for prediction of salient areas in static images. In order to constructan automatic prediction model for the salient areas in natural and intentionally degradedvideos, we have designed a specific CNN architecture. To overcome the lack of learningdata we designed a transfer learning scheme derived from bengio’s method. We measureits performances when predicting salient regions. The obtained results are interestingregarding the reaction of normal control subjects against degraded areas in videos. Thepredicted saliency map of intentionally degraded videos gives an interesting results comparedto gaze fixation density maps and other reference models.

Le syndrome de l’intestin irritable (SII) et le syndrome de la vessiedouloureuse (SVD) sont tous deux caractérisés par une hypersensibilité viscérale àla distension. Sur le plan épidémiologique, ces deux syndromes sont étroitementassociés puisque les patients SII ont une prévalence du syndrome de la vessiedouloureuse 7 fois plus élevée que la population générale. Cependant, le mécanismeresponsable de la sensibilisation du tube digestif et de l’appareil urinaire n’a jamaisété étudié. Compte tenu de l’innervation commune de ces deux organes, il estprobable que ce mécanisme mette en jeu sur le long terme des phénomènes de laplasticité neuro-gliale aux niveaux communs d’intégration de la sensibilité pelvienne.L’objectif général de ce travail était d’établir et de caractériser un modèleanimal de sensibilisation croisée vessie/colon, aigu et chronique, afin de mieuxcomprendre les mécanismes impliqués dans l’hypersensibilité viscérale croisée. / Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and Bladder pain syndrome (BPS) are bothcharacterized by visceral hypersensitivity to distension. Epidemiology showed thatthese two syndromes are closely associated since IBS patients have a prevalence ofbladder pain syndrome that is 7 times higher than the general population. However,the mechanism responsible for sensitization of the gastrointestinal tract and theurinary tract has never been studied. Given the common innervation of these twoorgans, it is likely that this mechanism involves long-term phenomena of neuro-glialplasticity at the common levels of integration of pelvic sensitivity.The overall objective of this work was to establish and characterize an animalmodel of bladder / colon cross-sensitization, acute and chronic, to better understandthe mechanisms involved in cross-visceral hypersensitivity.

While in traditional computer game playing agents were designed solely for the purpose of playing one single game, General Game Playing is concerned with agents capable of playing classes of games. Given the game's rules and a few minutes time, the agent is supposed to play any game of the class and eventually win it. Since the game is unknown beforehand, previously optimized data structures or human-provided features are not applicable. Instead, the agent must derive a strategy on its own. One approach to obtain such a strategy is to analyze the game rules and create a state evaluation function that can be subsequently used to direct the agent to promising states in the match. In this thesis we will discuss existing methods and present a general approach on how to construct such an evaluation function. Each topic is discussed in a modular fashion and evaluated along the lines of quality and efficiency, resulting in a strong agent.:Introduction Game Playing Evaluation Functions I - Aggregation Evaluation Functions II - Features General Evaluation Related Work Discussion

Fluoxetine and escitalopram are the only antidepressants approved by the Food and Drug Administration of the United States of America (FDA) for treatment of major depression in children and adolescents. Both drugs are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). In recent years there has been a growing concern over the long-term developmental effects of early-life exposure to SSRIs. The current study employed male Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL) rats, a well described and validated translational model of depression, to investigate the long term effects of pre-pubertal fluoxetine exposure. First we examined the effect of such early-life exposure on the development of depressive-like behaviour, locomotor activity and anxiety-like behaviour as manifested in early adulthood. Next, the current study investigated the effect of pre-pubertal fluoxetine exposure on the acute monoaminergic stress response, as displayed later in life. Animals received either saline (vehicle control), or 10 mg/kg/day fluoxetine from postnatal day (ND+) 21 to ND+34 (pre-puberty). The treatment period was chosen to coincide with a developmental phase where the serotonergic system’s neurodevelopment had been completed, yet the noradrenergic and dopaminergic systems had not, a scenario comparable to neurodevelopment in human adolescents. Both behavioural and in vivo intra-cerebral microdialysis experiments were conducted after ND+60 (early adulthood). On ND+60 rats allocated to behavioural experiments were evaluated for depressive-like behaviour in the forced swim test (FST), locomotor activity in the open field test (OFT), and anxiety-like behaviour in the OFT. Corticosterone concentrations were shown to be significantly higher in male FSL rats exposed to a 10 minute forced swim stress when compared to male FSL rats not exposed to a forced swim stress on ND+60. In the microdialysis experiments the rats were exposed to an acute 10 minute forced swim stress and the concentrations of the monoamines and their metabolites were measured before, during, and after the acute stressor. Relative to saline-treated (control) rats, fluoxetine-treated FSL rats did not show long-term changes in immobility in the FST (i.e. no anti-depressant-like activity) on ND+60. Like-wise anxiety-like behaviour in the OFT did not change. However, a significant decrease in locomotor activity was observed in fluoxetine-treated FSL rats compared to saline-treated (control) rats. These data suggest that a long-lasting anti-depressant-like effect of fluoxetine may be masked by the effect on locomotor activity. With measurements from the microdialysis experiments a significant attenuation of the noradrenergic stress response was observed in fluoxetine-treated rats compared to saline controls. A similar picture was observed for 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA), a metabolite of serotonin (5-HT), although the latter was not statistically significant. At baseline, before the stressor, significant increase in dopamine (DA) levels were observed in fluoxetine treated rats when compared to saline controls, suggesting that enhanced dopamine neurotransmission may comprise a long-term effect of pre-pubertal fluoxetine treatment. There were no discernible differences in homovanilllic acid (HVA) concentrations between fluoxetine-treated rats and saline controls. In conclusion significant developmental effects of pre-pubertal fluoxetine exposure were observed later in life and these findings warrant further investigation. / MPharm (Pharmacology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Fluoxetine and escitalopram are the only antidepressants approved by the Food and Drug Administration of the United States of America (FDA) for treatment of major depression in children and adolescents. Both drugs are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). In recent years there has been a growing concern over the long-term developmental effects of early-life exposure to SSRIs. The current study employed male Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL) rats, a well described and validated translational model of depression, to investigate the long term effects of pre-pubertal fluoxetine exposure. First we examined the effect of such early-life exposure on the development of depressive-like behaviour, locomotor activity and anxiety-like behaviour as manifested in early adulthood. Next, the current study investigated the effect of pre-pubertal fluoxetine exposure on the acute monoaminergic stress response, as displayed later in life. Animals received either saline (vehicle control), or 10 mg/kg/day fluoxetine from postnatal day (ND+) 21 to ND+34 (pre-puberty). The treatment period was chosen to coincide with a developmental phase where the serotonergic system’s neurodevelopment had been completed, yet the noradrenergic and dopaminergic systems had not, a scenario comparable to neurodevelopment in human adolescents. Both behavioural and in vivo intra-cerebral microdialysis experiments were conducted after ND+60 (early adulthood). On ND+60 rats allocated to behavioural experiments were evaluated for depressive-like behaviour in the forced swim test (FST), locomotor activity in the open field test (OFT), and anxiety-like behaviour in the OFT. Corticosterone concentrations were shown to be significantly higher in male FSL rats exposed to a 10 minute forced swim stress when compared to male FSL rats not exposed to a forced swim stress on ND+60. In the microdialysis experiments the rats were exposed to an acute 10 minute forced swim stress and the concentrations of the monoamines and their metabolites were measured before, during, and after the acute stressor. Relative to saline-treated (control) rats, fluoxetine-treated FSL rats did not show long-term changes in immobility in the FST (i.e. no anti-depressant-like activity) on ND+60. Like-wise anxiety-like behaviour in the OFT did not change. However, a significant decrease in locomotor activity was observed in fluoxetine-treated FSL rats compared to saline-treated (control) rats. These data suggest that a long-lasting anti-depressant-like effect of fluoxetine may be masked by the effect on locomotor activity. With measurements from the microdialysis experiments a significant attenuation of the noradrenergic stress response was observed in fluoxetine-treated rats compared to saline controls. A similar picture was observed for 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA), a metabolite of serotonin (5-HT), although the latter was not statistically significant. At baseline, before the stressor, significant increase in dopamine (DA) levels were observed in fluoxetine treated rats when compared to saline controls, suggesting that enhanced dopamine neurotransmission may comprise a long-term effect of pre-pubertal fluoxetine treatment. There were no discernible differences in homovanilllic acid (HVA) concentrations between fluoxetine-treated rats and saline controls. In conclusion significant developmental effects of pre-pubertal fluoxetine exposure were observed later in life and these findings warrant further investigation. / MPharm (Pharmacology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The purpose of this study was to assess school-based psycho-educational support to parents of children with learning impairments and how the parents' needs differ according to the age of the child, the severity of the learning impairment and the educational status of the parent. The study presents a literature review of the neuro-physiological origin of learning impairments, cognitive development, common problems experienced by children with learning impairments, the effects on the family of having a child with learning impairments and an overview of school support services in South Africa. A survey study was used. Data was collected by means of a questionnaire. The results of the study showed that parents need to be equipped with knowledge and skills irrespective of the age of the child, the severity of the learning impairment, the number of years the child has been in special school and the educational status of the parents. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

The study proposes an ecosystemic approach as an intervention for attentional difficulties and heightened motor activity, traditionally known as AD/HD. A literature study of AD/HD is presented first as a psycho-educational frame of reference. The focus then shifts to the symtoms of AD/DH to move closer to the possible underlying causes of these symptoms. In doing so, the focus changes from AD/HD as a diagnosis to attentional difficulties and heightened motor activity as presenting symptoms. Attention and motor activity as constructs are investigated in terms of their neuro-anatomical, neuro-chemical and neuro-physiological aspects. Furthermore, neurodevelopment, physiological stress, neurodevelopmental delay, information processing systems, sensory-motor subsystems and integration as constructs are investigated to understand their role in attention and modulation of motor activity. The study of attention and motor activity and their associated neurological factors motivates an alternative, ecosystemic method of intervention. The proposed approach includes an investigation into internal and external biochemical ecosystems such as environmental pollutants, deficiencies of essential nutrients and genetic deficiencies of the immune system. Other aspects such as time, maturation and neurodevelopment are also considered as well as the gentle interplay between these aspects. The therapeutic intervention includes sound therapy, neurodevelopmental movement activities, EEG neurofeedback and nutrition. Experimental research with a sample population of 12 diagnosed grade 4 and 5 AD/HD learners over a 11 week period was conducted. Statistically significant improvements in aspects of attention were noted using 2 standardised instruments and verification through parent interviews in the first and second experimental groups. Statistically significant improvements were noted in aspects of motor activity (a decline in hyperactive behaviour) in the second experimental group with verification from teacher interviews. Additionally, children in the first experimental group improved significantly more than children in the control group with regards to mathematic skills. The second experimental group showed significant improvement with large effect sizes on reading, mathematic skills and spelling. In conclusion, the statistically significant results obtained with the proposed approach motivates implementation, with improvements in attention, motor activity control and academic performance as a prospect. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed.(Psychology of Education)

This study focused on multilingualism as the primary linguistic cognitive objective of investigation. An integrative approach focused on second language linguistics in order to acquire a background in the cognitive foundations of language and research methodology and theoretical models for the study of phenomena, such as language planning in multicultural societies and language and ethnic diversity. To design cognitive reading methods, a literature survey was conducted regarding the latest developments in the theories pertaining to cognitive formulas of the second language learner. A quantitative experimental study was conducted, data gathered was scrutinised and a cognitive reading programme was experimentally administered to twenty primary school learners. The responses were coded, the data captured and statistically computed. Conclusions indicated that cognitive reading materials were practical, valid and reliable. Cognitive formulas hold the potential of contributing to the understanding of cognitive reading development in second language proficiency in the Foundation Phase of schooling. / Teacher Education / M. Ed. (Didactics)