Le cadre de cette thèse est l'étude du transport électronique à l'échelle mésoscopique. C'est-à-dire que les échantillons sont de taille L < Lphi où la longueur de cohérence de phase Lphi caractérise la longueur sur laquelle les électrons gardent une mémoire de phase et peuvent donc interférer. Lphi augmente quand la température diminue (typiquement, Lphi > 1micron pour T < 100mK). Cette cohérence de phase engendre des corrections quantiques à la conductance linéaire G1 (définie par I=G1V+G2V²) qui ont été étudiées depuis le début des années 80. Pour notre part, nous avons montré l'existence d'un terme impair en champ magnétique dans la conductance non linéaire d'ordre 2 qui n'existe pas dans la conductance linéaire G1 pour des raisons de symétrie (règles d'Onsager). Ce terme donne des informations sur les interactions électron-électron. Les systèmes que l'on a étudiés sont des anneaux réalisés dans un gaz bidimensionnel d'électrons (2DEG). Dans la seconde partie de ma thèse, on a placé un conducteur normal (i.e. non supraconducteur) entièrement cohérent de phase entre 2 supraconducteurs. Dans ces conditions, il peut être parcouru par un supercourant. Nous nous sommes particulièrement intéressés à la relation supercourant-phase Isu(F) dans des anneaux supraconducteurs connectés qui sont interrompus en 2 endroits par un métal diffusif. Nous avons observé des oscillations du courant de transition (Supraconducteur/Normal) de période correspondant à h/(2e) dans la surface de l'anneau. L'enveloppe de ces oscillations diminue de façon gaussienne à fort champ et dans certains cas de façon surprenante, elle augmente à bas champ.

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Together with an internationally praised Constitution, South Africa can pride itself in having one of the best sets of environmental laws in the world, and since EIAs have become mandatory for projects that negatively affect the environment, our track record with respect to environmental protection has substantially improved from the Apartheid days. But as the integrated and proactive approach to environmental management has seemingly been established, a new provision was introduced: Section 24G of NEMA (“Rectification of unlawful commencement of activity”), allowing for retrospective authorisation of unlawful activities (i.e. activities identified in terms of S24 of NEMA). Six years after the introduction of the S24G rectification provision in NEMA, its ability to bring about increased levels of compliance is being questioned. The findings of this research show that in Gauteng S24G has had an ambivalent effect on compliance: while on one hand it has artificially increased compliance by rendering illegal activities legal, on the other, it has seriously undermined the overall compliance and enforcement effort by opening the door to abuse and effectively providing an escape route for potential criminals. It is argued that the schizophrenic character of S24G is at the heart of this dilemma. This research presents theoretical and practical perspectives on non-compliance and analyses data collected on S24G applications in Gauteng in order to determine the effect of S24G on compliance. It also identifies key factors influencing effectiveness of S24G, and derives from the above key performance areas to improve effectiveness of S24G. / Thesis (M. Environmental Management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

Rectification phenomena in two specific mesoscopic systems are reviewed. The phenomenon is called ratchet effect, and such systems are called ratchets. In this thesis, particularly a rocked quantum-dot ratchet, and a tunneling ratchet are considered. The origin of the name is explained in a brief historical background. Due to rectification, there is a net non-vanishing electronic current, whose direction can be reversed by changing rocking amplitude, the Fermi energy, or applying magnetic field to the devices (for the rocked ratchet), and tuning the temperature (for the tunneling ratchet). In the last part, a theoretical examination based on the Landauer-B&uuml / ttiker formalism of mesoscopic quantum transport is presented.

Perception of depth information is central to three-dimensional (3D) vision problems. Stereopsis is an important passive vision technique for depth perception. Wide baseline stereo is a challenging problem that attracts much interest recently from both the theoretical and application perspectives. In this research we approach the problem of wide baseline stereo using the geometric and structural constraints within feature sets. The major contribution of this dissertation is that we proposed and implemented a more efficient paradigm to handle the challenges introduced by perspective distortion in wide baseline stereo, compared to the state-of-the-art. To facilitate the paradigm, a new feature-matching algorithm that extends the state-of-the-art matching methods to larger baseline cases is proposed. The proposed matching algorithm takes advantage of both the local feature descriptor and the structure pattern of the feature set, and enhances the matching results in the case of large viewpoint change. In addition, an innovative rectification for uncalibrated images is proposed to make wide baseline stereo dense matching possible. We noticed that present rectification methods did not take into account the need for shape adjustment. By introducing the geometric constraints of the pattern of the feature points, we propose a rectification method that maximizes the structure congruency based on Delaunay triangulation nets and thus avoid some existing problems of other methods. The rectified stereo images can then be used to generate a dense depth map of the scene. The task is much simplified compared to some existing method because the 2D searching problem is reduced to 1D searching. To validate the proposed methods, real world images are applied to test the performance and comparisons to the state-of-the-art methods are provided. The performance of the dense matching with respect to the changing baseline is also studied.

The notion of a curve played important role in the history of mathematical thought. This dissertation is focused on the conception of a curve in analysis, point set theory and topology. The rectification of curves and the notion of arc length are considered in connection with the history of analysis from antiquity to the beginning of the 20th century. "Measurement of curves" is also discussed from the measure-theoretic viewpoint and various definitions of linear measure and fractional dimension are described. Historically, there are two main approaches to understanding curves. Jordan defined a curve as a continuous image of a closed interval. However, his definition appeared to be too wide, since it was met by objects such as the Peano curve. In the point set theory, a curve is considered to be a one-dimensional continuum. The development of the dimension theory and the continuum theory, starting with the pioneering work of Bolzano, was motivated by the search for rigorous topological definition of a curve, a surface etc. Among "pathological" curves, that were often introduced as counterexamples in the development of modern analysis, we can find early examples of fractals. The fractal theory motivated further study of mathematical properties of these curves in the late 20th century, such as self-similarity and...

Orientador: Antonio Maria Garcia Tommaselli / Banca: Daniel Rodrigues dos Santos / Banca: Mauricio Galo / Resumo: A utilização de imagens adquiridas por sensores CCD de médio formato, em plataformas aéreas, é uma alternativa para a redução de custos em projetos de aerolevantamento. Porém, alguns inconvenientes, como a pequena área de cobertura e a limitação às bandas do visível restringem algumas aplicações. Para resolver estes problemas podem ser usados vários sensores CCD simultaneamente, sendo necessária uma etapa posterior de fusão e registro destas imagens. Neste trabalho foram utilizados dois sistemas compostos por múltiplas câmaras, o Sistema de Aquisição e Pós-Processamento de Imagens Tomadas com Câmaras Digitais (SAAPI) e o Sistema de Câmaras Fuji. O sistema SAAPI permite diferentes configurações entre os sensores que o compõem, podendo estar nos modos duplooblíquo ou nadiral à área fotografada. A metodologia desenvolvida no trabalho trata duas questões envolvidas com a configuração de sistemas de múltiplas câmaras: o registro entre imagens IR e RGB e a fusão entre imagens RGB oblíquas, tendo como objetivo o aumento da resolução espectral e geométrica da imagem final produzida. Para isto são utilizados processos como a retificação e reamostragem de imagens. Estes, por sua vez, necessitam dos dados de calibração do sistema de câmaras, pois os parâmetros de orientação interior e exterior (POI e POE) são imprescindíveis para corrigir os efeitos das distorções nas imagens e o efeito da inclinação do sistema de câmaras. Experimentos realizados com imagens áreas, utilizando a metodologia proposta, demonstram que a discrepância nas coordenadas de pontos comuns às imagens registradas foi menor que 1 pixel. Este resultado é dependente da qualidade da calibração do sistema de câmaras / Abstract: The use of images acquired by medium format CCD sensors from aerial platforms, is a cost effective alternative for aerial surveying projects. However, some drawbacks, as small coverage area and limitation to the visible spectrum bands restrict some applications. To solve these problems multiple CCD sensors can be used simultaneously, requiring a later stage for registration and fusion of these images. In this study, two systems with multiple cameras, the System for Airborne Acquisition and Processing of Digital Images (SAAPI) and Fuji Camera System were used. The SAAPI system allows different configurations between the sensors that can be either double-oblique or nadir to the area photographed. The methodology developed in this study approached two issues involved with systems with multiple cameras: the registration between IR and RGB images and oblique RGB images fusion, aiming at increasing the geometric and spectral resolution of the final image to be produced. There were used processes such as rectification and images resampling. These processes require the previous camera and system calibration, because inner and exterior orientation parameters (IOP and EOP) are essential to correct the effects of distortions in the images and the effect of camera convergence within the system. Experiments performed with real terrestrial and aerial images using the proposed methodology, showed that the discrepancy in the coordinates of common points in the registered images were less than 1 pixel. This result is dependent on the quality of the system and camera calibration / Mestre

La rectification est un procédé de fabrication permettant d’obtenir des états de surface très fins. Elle est généralement utilisée sur des matériaux très durs pour lesquels les autres procédés d’usinage ne sont pas adaptés. La rectification fait intervenir des mécanismes d’enlèvement de matière complexes encore difficiles à maitriser. Ils se produisent à des échelles microscopiques délicates à mettre en évidence. De plus, la rectification fait intervenir des énergies mécaniques et thermiques conséquentes qui peuvent endommager la pièce à usiner. La compréhension de ces phénomènes est donc nécessaire pour améliorer ce procédé en termes de productivité et de qualité. Dans ces travaux, plusieurs axes de recherche ont été développés aussi bien en étudiant la pièce rectifiée que l’évolution de l’outil abrasif de rectification. Des analyses ont été réalisées sur le revêtement de chrome et le substrat. Elles nous ont permis de détecter les variations de la texture cristallographique, des contraintes superficielles et de la dureté liées au procédé sur le revêtement de chrome, mais également sur le substrat qui peut également être affecté. Les grandeurs mesurées in process (puissance, efforts et température à l’interface meule/pièce) couplées à des simulations par éléments finis nous ont permis de caractériser la propagation du flux de chaleur à travers la pièce rectifiée et les conditions nécessaires pour ne pas l’endommager. L’évolution de la surface abrasive de la meule a fait l’objet d’une étude avancée avec la mise en place d’une mesure indirecte par empreinte, mesurée ensuite à l’aide d’un microscope optique confocal. Une méthode de redressement et de filtrage de la topographie a été développée. A partir de la topographie, la densité de grains et un profil de grain moyen ont été déterminés. Ceux-ci nous ont permis de mieux comprendre les modes d’usure de différentes technologies de meules abrasives. Cette modélisation de la topographie est introduite dans un modèle analytique d’abrasion afin de déterminer les efforts tangentiels de rectification en fonction de l’usure de la meule. Une comparaison des efforts tangentiels aux valeurs mesurées est réalisée pour différentes conditions de rectifications et différentes technologies de meules / The grinding process is a manufacturing method that can obtain extremely precise surface conditions. Most of time, it is used on very hard materials when other machining processes are inefficient. Grinding uses complicated material which removal mechanisms are still hard to control. These mechanisms appear on a microscopic scale and are barely detectable. Moreover, grinding supposes important mechanical and thermal energies that can damage the workpiece. These criteria must be taken into account in order to improve the quality and the productivity of the process. In this work, several researches focus have been developed, both by studying the workpiece and by considering the abrasive tool evolution. Analyses have been realized on the chrome coating as well as on the substrate. It allowed us to detect texture variation, surface stresses and hardness on the chrome coating. Due to the process, the latter as well as the substrate under it can also be affected. Experimental results mixed with a finite elements modeling allowed us to understand the heat flux transfer between the workpiece and the necessary conditions in order not to affect it. The evolution of the wheel’s abrasive surface was a full advanced study part with the setup of an indirect measure by footprint. This footprint was then measured by a confocal microscope. A way to redress and filter the topography was developed and allowed to understand better the different grinding wheel wear patterns. Topographic results and analytic model let us determine tangential grinding forces versus grinding tool wear

abstract: Twitter is a micro-blogging platform where the users can be social, informational or both. In certain cases, users generate tweets that have no "hashtags" or "@mentions"; we call it an orphaned tweet. The user will be more interested to find more "context" of an orphaned tweet presumably to engage with his/her friend on that topic. Finding context for an Orphaned tweet manually is challenging because of larger social graph of a user , the enormous volume of tweets generated per second, topic diversity, and limited information from tweet length of 140 characters. To help the user to get the context of an orphaned tweet, this thesis aims at building a hashtag recommendation system called TweetSense, to suggest hashtags as a context or metadata for the orphaned tweets. This in turn would increase user's social engagement and impact Twitter to maintain its monthly active online users in its social network. In contrast to other existing systems, this hashtag recommendation system recommends personalized hashtags by exploiting the social signals of users in Twitter. The novelty with this system is that it emphasizes on selecting the suitable candidate set of hashtags from the related tweets of user's social graph (timeline).The system then rank them based on the combination of features scores computed from their tweet and user related features. It is evaluated based on its ability to predict suitable hashtags for a random sample of tweets whose existing hashtags are deliberately removed for evaluation. I present a detailed internal empirical evaluation of TweetSense, as well as an external evaluation in comparison with current state of the art method. / Dissertation/Thesis / Defense Presentation Slides / Masters Thesis Computer Science 2014