The focus of this thesis is optimal path planning. The path planning problem is posed as an optimal control problem, for which the viscosity solution to the static Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman (HJB) equation is used to determine the optimal path. The Ordered Upwind Method (OUM) has been previously used to numerically approximate the viscosity solution of the static HJB equation for direction-dependent weights. The contributions of this thesis include an analytical bound on the convergence rate of the OUM for the boundary value problem to the viscosity solution of the HJB equation. The convergence result provided in this thesis is to our knowledge the tightest existing bound on the convergence order of OUM solutions to the viscosity solution of the static HJB equation. Only convergence without any guarantee of rate has been previously shown. Navigation functions are often used to provide controls to robots. These functions can suffer from local minima that are not also global minima, which correspond to the inability to find a path at those minima. Provided the weight function is positive, the viscosity solution to the static HJB equation cannot have local minima. Though this has been discussed in literature, a proof has not yet appeared. The solution of the HJB equation is shown in this work to have no local minima that is not also global. A path can be found using this method. Though finding the shortest path is often considered in optimal path planning, safe and energy efficient paths are required for rover path planning. Reducing instability risk based on tip-over axes and maximizing solar exposure are important to consider in achieving these goals. In addition to obstacle avoidance, soil risk and path length on terrain are considered. In particular, the tip-over instability risk is a direction-dependent criteria, for which accurate approximate solutions to the static HJB equation cannot be found using the simpler Fast Marching Method. An extension of the OUM to include a bi-directional search for the source-point path planning problem is also presented. The solution is found on a smaller region of the environment, containing the optimal path. Savings in computational time are observed. A comparison is made in the path planning problem in both timing and performance between a genetic algorithm rover path planner and OUM. A comparison in timing and number of updates required is made between OUM and several other algorithms that approximate the same static HJB equation. Finally, the OUM algorithm solving the boundary value problem is shown to converge numerically with the rate of the proven theoretical bound.

Data on (economic) institutions are often available only as observations on ordinal, inherently incomparable properties, which are then typically aggregated to a composite index in the empirical social science literature. From a methodological perspective, the present paper advocates the application of partially ordered set (POSET) theory as an alternative approach. Its main virtue is that it takes the ordinal nature of the data seriously and dispenses with the unavoidably subjective assignment of weights to incomparable properties, maintains a high standard of objectivity, and can be applied in various fields of economics. As an application, the POSET approach is then used to calculate new indices on the stringency of fiscal rules for 81 countries over the period 1985 to 2012 based on recent data by the IMF (2012). The derived measures of fiscal rules are used to test their significance for public finances in a fiscal reaction function and compare the POSET with the composite index approach. (authors' abstract)

The three big credit rating agencies released their unsolicited ratings since 1996 and all of these unsolicited ratings are given to banks in Asia, especially in the emerging markets. This study aims to test whether there are differences between solicited and unsolicited bank ratings. We compare the financial profiles of solicited and unsolicited banks and investigate the factors that influence banks’ credit ratings. The empirical results show that unsolicited bank ratings are significantly lower than solicited ratings. It is seen that the financial variables of banks with solicited ratings are also better than those with unsolicited ratings. However, the profitability of banks with solicited ratings is significantly lower than those with unsolicited ratings. We see that listed and commercial banks tend to have lower credit ratings and it could be due to the fact that listed banks may face the volatility of their short-term stock prices, so their operating strategies are influenced by market noise, which leads to inferior performance. The reason why commercial banks tend to have lower credit ratings is that commercial banks face so fierce competition that their profitability is compressed. In the last section, we use an ordered probit model to examine the determinants of Fitch’s rating. We find that sovereign credit risk, solicited status, listed status, bank specialization, profitability and asset quality are the major factors influencing Fitch’s bank credit ratings.

This thesis contains several results concerning the combinatorics of partially ordered sets (posets) which are either of enumerative or extremal nature. <br><br> The first concerns conjectures of Friedland and Kahn, which state that the (extremal) d-regular graph on N vertices containing both the maximal number of matchings and independent sets of a fixed size is the graph consisting of disjoint union of appropriate number of complete bipartite d-regular graphs on 2d vertices. We show that the conjectures are true in an asymptotic sense, using entropy techniques. <br><br> As a second result, we give tight bounds on the size of the largest Boolean family which contains no three distinct subsets forming an "induced V" (i.e. if A,B,C are all in our family, if C is contained in the intersection of A B, A must be a subset of B). This result, though similar to known results, gives the first bound on a family defined by an induced property. <br><br> We pose both Dedekind-type questions concerning the number of antichains and a Stanley-type question concerning the number of linear extensions in generalized Boolean lattices; namely, products of chain posets and the poset of partially defined functions. We provide asymptotically tight bounds for these problems. <br><br> A Boolean function, f, is called cherry-free if for all triples x,y,z where z covers both x and y, f(z)=1 whenever both f(x)=1 and f(y)=1. We give bounds on the number of cherry-free functions on bipartite regular posets, with stronger results for bipartite posets under an additional co-degree hypotheses. We discuss applications of these functions to Boolean Horn functions and similar structures in ranked regular posets.

Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / (**Note: this abstract is a plain text version of the author's abstract, the original of which contains characters and symbols which cannot be accurately represented in this format. The properly formatted abstract can be viewed in the Abstract and Thesis files above.**) Let (G,G+) be a quasi-lattice-ordered group with positive cone G+ Laca and Raeburn have shown that the universal C*-algebra C*(G,G+)introduced by Nica is a crossed product BG+ Xɑ G+ by a semigroup of endomorphisms. Subsequent research centered on totally ordered abelian groups. We generalize the results in [2], [3] and [5] to extend it to the case of discrete lattice-ordered abelian groups. In particular given a hereditary subsemigroup H+ of G+ we introduce a closed ideal IH+ of the C*-algebra BG+. We construct an approximate identity for this ideal and show that IH+ is extendibly a-invariant. It follows that there is an isomorphism between C*-crossed products (BG+/IH+) XɑG+ and B(G/H)+ XβG+. This leads to one of our main results that B(G/H)+ XβG+ is realized as an induced C*-algebra IndG-H (B(G/H+ Xt(G/H)+). Then we use this result to show the existence of the following short exact sequence of C*-algebras 0-IH+ XɑG+ → BG+ XɑG+ → IndG-H (B(G/H+ Xt(G/H)+) → 0. This leads to show that the ideal IH+ XɑG+ is generated by {iBG+(1-1u):u∊H+} and therefore contained in the commutator ideal CG of the C*-algebra BG+ XɑG+. Moreover, we use our short exact sequence to study the primitive ideals of the C* algebra BG+ XɑG+ which is isomorphic to the Toeplitz albebra T(G) of G.

Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / (**Note: this abstract is a plain text version of the author's abstract, the original of which contains characters and symbols which cannot be accurately represented in this format. The properly formatted abstract can be viewed in the Abstract and Thesis files above.**) Let (G,G+) be a quasi-lattice-ordered group with positive cone G+ Laca and Raeburn have shown that the universal C*-algebra C*(G,G+)introduced by Nica is a crossed product BG+ Xɑ G+ by a semigroup of endomorphisms. Subsequent research centered on totally ordered abelian groups. We generalize the results in [2], [3] and [5] to extend it to the case of discrete lattice-ordered abelian groups. In particular given a hereditary subsemigroup H+ of G+ we introduce a closed ideal IH+ of the C*-algebra BG+. We construct an approximate identity for this ideal and show that IH+ is extendibly a-invariant. It follows that there is an isomorphism between C*-crossed products (BG+/IH+) XɑG+ and B(G/H)+ XβG+. This leads to one of our main results that B(G/H)+ XβG+ is realized as an induced C*-algebra IndG-H (B(G/H+ Xt(G/H)+). Then we use this result to show the existence of the following short exact sequence of C*-algebras 0-IH+ XɑG+ → BG+ XɑG+ → IndG-H (B(G/H+ Xt(G/H)+) → 0. This leads to show that the ideal IH+ XɑG+ is generated by {iBG+(1-1u):u∊H+} and therefore contained in the commutator ideal CG of the C*-algebra BG+ XɑG+. Moreover, we use our short exact sequence to study the primitive ideals of the C* algebra BG+ XɑG+ which is isomorphic to the Toeplitz albebra T(G) of G.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Mathematics, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2008. / Committee Chair: Trotter, William T.; Committee Member: Duke, Richard A.; Committee Member: Randall, Dana; Committee Member: Thomas, Robin; Committee Member: Yu, Xingxing

Στο κεφάλαιο 1 γίνεται μελέτη διατεταγμένων αλγεβρικών δομών. Δίνονται ορισμοί, αποδείξεις και στοιχειώδη αποτελέσματα, απαραίτητα σε όλη την πορεία της εργασίας. Ορίζουμε μερικώς διατεταγμένα σύνολα και μερική διάταξη σε αλγεβρικά συστήματα, βλέπουμε υπό ποίες προϋποθέσεις η μερική διάταξη επεκτείνεται σε ολική και άρα το σύνολο γίνεται ολικώς διατεταγμένο και στη συνέχεια τα διατεταγμένα σύνολα με μία εσωτερική πράξη ορίζουν μερικώς ή ολικώς διατεταγμένες ομάδες. Στο κεφάλαιο 2 παρουσιάζουμε συμπληρώσεις διατεταγμένων συνόλων και συγκεκριμένα, τα συμπληρώματα Dedekind, Kurepa και Krasner καθώς και ορισμένες ιδιότητες αυτών. Ο Dedekind (1831-1916) όρισε τις τομές Dedekind με τη βοήθεια των οποίων επέκτεινε τη διάταξη των φυσικών στο σύνολο των πραγματικών και θεμελίωσε με αυτόν τον τρόπο το σύνολο αυτό ως ένα διατεταγμένο σώμα. Η κατασκευή της δομής των πραγματικών εφοδιασμένη με τις πράξεις της πρόσθεσης και του πολλαπλασιασμού και τη δίαταξη, καθώς και η κατασκευή της δομής του επιπέδου με τις ίδιες πραξεις και διάταξη κατά Dedekind παρουσιάζεται εκτενέστερα στο κεφάλαιο 3. Η γενίκευση της έννοιας του συμπληρώματος Kurepa και η εισαγωγή του συμπληρώματος Krasner, οφείλονται στον καθηγητή Λ. Ντόκα (1963). Η μέθοδος του Dedekind της συμπλήρωσης με τομές δεν είναι η μόνη μέθοδος κατασκευής των πραγματικών αριθμών. Η μέθοδος του G. Cantor (1845-1918) της συμπλήρωσης με ακολουθίες, είναι η δεύτερη εξίσου σημαντική μέθοδος, την οποία θα παρουσιάσουμε στο κεφάλαιο 4. Η μελέτη μας ολοκληρώνεται στο κεφάλαιο 5, όπου παρουσιάζεται ένα ενδιαφέρον αποτέλεσμα για τις μερικώς διατεταγμένες ομάδες και τις συνθήκες κάτω από τις οποίες αυτές επεκτείνονται σε ολικώς διατεταγμένες ομάδες, στηριζόμενοι στην εργασία “embedding groups into linear or lattice structures” των Κοντολάτου-Σταμπάκη (1987), όπου πραγματοποιούν επέκταση μίας μερικώς διατεταγμένης ομάδας, χρησιμοποιώντας τα αποτελέσματα του Fuchs για ύπαρξη επέκτασης ενός μερικώς διατεταγμένου συνόλου σε ολικώς διατεταγμένο. / In chapter 1 ordered algebraic structures are considered and we present certain definitions, proofs and elementary results which are necessary in the whole project. Partially ordered sets and partial order in algebraic systems is defined. Then we analyze under which conditions partial order can be extended to full order. This leads to fully ordered sets and those sets, along with an internal operation, define partially or fully ordered groups. In chapter 2 we present specific ordered set complements and in particular those of Dedekind, Kurepa and Krasner and furthermore we mention some of their properties. Dedekind sections where introduced by Dedekind (1831-1916), who used them in order to extend the order of natural numbers to the set of real numbers, making this set an ordered field. The construction of the real numbers structure along with the internal operations of addition and multiplication and order and the construction of the plane structure with the same operations and order, using Dedekind theory, is analytically presented in chapter 3. Due to L. Docas (1963), Kurepa complement was generalized and Krasner complement was introduced. Dedekind’s sections is not the only way to construct the set of real numbers. Another important method is that of G. Cantor (1845-1918), who used sequences for completion. We present this method in chapter 4. Finally, in chapter 5, we consider a paper published by A. Kontolatou and J. Stabakis (1987) entitled “Embedding groups into linear or lattice structures”. Fuchs’s results on the extend existence of a partially ordered set to fully ordered set is used. Based on the Kontolatou-Stabakis paper, we present an interesting result for partially ordered groups and certain conditions of how to extend those groups to fully ordered ones.

Transparent electrodes (TEs) require materials that have both transparency and electrical conductivity, a combination not usually found in nature. They are in increasing demand for use in solar cells, touch screens, displays, transparent heating films and several other devices. Most TEs used today are made of indium tin oxide (ITO). However, it has several disadvantages, such as high fabrication cost, rigidity and brittleness. Many ITO alternatives are being pursued, among which metallic nanowire (NW) networks on transparent substrates such as glass or polymer, have received much attention. This thesis demonstrates ordered silver NW networks on polyimide, fabricated by the field-directed chaining technique. We achieved a sheet resistance of 27 Ω/sq and 95.4% transparency at 550nm, with a Figure of Merit (FOM) 0.023Ω-1, which is higher than the FOM of commercial ITO, 0.005Ω-1. We have demonstrated that ordered NW networks, directed by alternative current (AC) electric fields, are easy to fabricate over a large area and at low cost, on rigid and flexible substrates. The AC electric field changes with different experiment setup. In this work, the effect of polymer thickness, electric field frequency, and gap size between electrodes are explored by COMSOL simulation and validated experimentally. By choosing the appropriate frequency and gap size, ordered NW networks are successfully created on a 23μm polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sheet. Fluid motion is one of the disruptors during NW chaining. We demonstrate control of this disruptor by the use of sandwiched channels for the NW suspension. Post-fabrication treatments are important and necessary for improving the connectivity and conductivity of Ag NW networks. In this work, we explore Joule heating and show its potential to improve the conductivity over other post-treatment approaches. However, Joule heating can also cause failures of NW networks. Ordered NW networks present better optical-electrical properties than random NW networks. Post-fabrication treatment can improve the properties, but there is a limit. In this work, a mathematical model is built for optical-electrical properties of perfectly ordered NW networks, which sets the upper bound of performance for transparent electrodes made of NW networks. A linear relationship is found between the transmittance and inverse sheet resistance. The model is then modified with factors to account for departure from the ideal. / Graduate / 2019-12-12

Highly ordered magnetic materials with high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), such as the L10 ordered FePt, and new recording technologies, such as bit patterned media (BPM), have been proposed as solutions to the media trilemma problem and provide promising strategies towards future high-density magnetic data storage media. L10 ordered FePt thin films can provide the necessary high PMA. However, the ordering of this material perpendicular to the plane of the films remains challenging since high-temperature and time-consuming processes are required. In this work, a remote plasma sputtering system has been used for the investigation of FePt thin films in order to understand if the greater control of process parameters offered by this system can lead to enhanced ordering in L10 FePt thin films at low temperatures compared with conventional dc magnetron approaches. More specifically, the effect of the different substrate temperatures and the target bias voltages on the ordering, the microstructure and the magnetic properties of FePt thin films was investigated. Highly ordered FePt thin films were successfully fabricated after post-annealing processes and were patterned into arrays of FePt islands. This patterning process was carried out with e-beam lithography and ion milling. Initial MFM measurements of these islands showed their single-domain structure for all the island sizes, which indicated the high PMA of the FePt. Magnetometry measurements were also carried out with a novel polar magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) system which was designed and built during this project. This system has unique capabilities which are: a) the application of uniform magnetic field up to 2 Tesla, b) the rotation of the field to an arbitrary angle and c) the use of lasers of four different wavelengths. The combination of these abilities enabled measurements on ordered FePt thin films and patterned media which can pave the way for further highly sensitive measurements on magnetic thin films and nanostructures.