<p>Autonomous agent systems are systems in which many simple entities, called “agents”, interact with each other. The behaviour resulting from such interactions can be much more complex than that of the individual agents. A group of interacting agents can for example accomplish tasks that no single agent could.</p> <p>Nature provides several examples of autonomous agent systems, such as flocks of birds and insects, schools of fish, and anthills. Progresses in robotics, electronics and telecommunications make it now also possible to design such systems in order to accomplish particular tasks, such as the surveillance or exploration of areas, or the maintenance of some environments.</p> <p>In this thesis, we analyze two issues related to autonomous agent systems, and more precisely, to the influence of the inter-agent communication network on the system behaviour. In a first part, we consider the problem of preserving the shape of a multi-agent formation by explicitly maintaining the distances between some agents constant. We study the case of distance constraints that are unilateral, that is, constraints for which the responsibility is given to a one of the two agents concerned. This leads to the notions of persistence and constraint consistence. The second part is devoted to the consensus problems: agents have a value which they update by averaging that of other agents. Eventually, all agents may obtain a common value, in which case we say that the system reaches a consensus. One major difficulty in the study of such system is the possible dependence of the interaction and communication topology on the values of the agents. We study two paradigmatic systems in which this dependence can be taken into account, and obtain results on their convergence and on the stability of their equlibria.</p>

No description available.

Turkish labor market has been experiencing low employment performance over the last two decades. This pessimistic picture has become more striking after the crisis in 2001. While output growth has presented a rapid recovery, unemployment could not record such an improvement and has remained around 10 % since then. This fact has introduced a new phenomenon to Turkey called &ldquo / jobless growth&rdquo / . As a solution to the bottlenecks in the labor market, the concept of &ldquo / flexibility&rdquo / has been more frequently pronounced by policy makers and academicians at both national and international level. In the light of flexibility-based arguments, this thesis takes an impulse from the basic assertion of the neoclassical theory that it is the labor market rigidities that are mainly responsible for high unemployment/low employment performance. Accordingly, the aim of the thesis is to analyze labor market flexibility with a particular focus on the Turkish context. The discussions conducted throughout the thesis are based on the question / whether Turkish labor market actually includes such considerable rigidities constituting impediment for employment creation, as suggested by neoclassical arguments. The thesis starts with a review of main characteristics of the labor market in terms of demographic trends, labor force participation, employment and unemployment. Secondly, labor market flexibility is analyzed through two main indicators: labor cost flexibility and production function flexibility / and these two indicators are divided into six sub indicators. The flexibility indicators covered by the thesis are investigated individually, without an aim of aggregating them into a single indicator. The research involves quantitative findings based on available data and a qualitative survey with reference to related legislation.

Development in urban areas around the world has steadily increased in recent years. This rapid development has not been matched by the ever decreasing open space commonly associated with urban centers. Vertical construction, thus, lends itself a very useful solution to this problem. Deep excavation is often required for urban construction. Unfortunately, the ground movements associated with deep excavation can result in damage to adjacent buildings. Thus, it is critically important to accurately predict the damage potential of nearby deep excavations and designing adequate support systems. A new design method is proposed, as an attempt, to address the problem. The method is semi-empirical and directly links excavation-induced distortions experienced by nearby buildings and the components of the excavation support system. Unlike, the traditional limit equilibrium approach, the method is driven by the distortions in adjacent buildings. It goes further to propose a preliminary cost chart to help designers during the design phase. The benefit is that initial cost is known real time and will help speed up making business decisions. A new design flowchart is proposed to guide the designer through a step-by-step procedure. The method is validated using 2D Plaxis (the finite element program) simulation. Though the nature of deep excavation is three-dimensional, a plane strain condition is valid when the length of the excavation is long. Hence, two-dimensional finite element simulation was considered appropriate for this effort. Five hypothetical cases were compared and the model performed very well. The lack of available literature on this approach made verification difficult. It is hoped that future case histories will be used to ascertain the veracity of the deformation-based design method.

No description available.

Šiandien dviratis užima gana svarbią vietą tarp kitų transporto rūšių. Jis suteikia didesnę judėjimo laisvę, todėl naudojamas laisvalaikio praleidimui, susisiekimui, turizmui, sportavimui. Tai ne tik patogi, bet ir ekonomiška važiavimo priemonė. Kadangi dviračio vairas yra vienas svarbiausių jo elementų, lemiančių dviračio valdymą, todėl svarbu kad vairo statinis stiprumas ir standumas atitiktų keliamus reikalavimus. Šių reikalavimų laikymasis turi įtakos dviračio kokybei ir saugumui. Atitikimas standartų normoms nustatomas atliekant bandymus. Bandymų rezultatai laikomi teigiamais, jeigu po atliktų tyrimų nenustatomi lūžiai, įtrūkimai, įbrėžimai ar leistinus dydžius viršijantys konstrukcijos formos pakitimai. Siekiant išanalizuoti ir eksperimentiškai patikrinti dviračio vairo statinį stiprumą ir standumą naudojant plėvelinius tenzojutiklius ir informacinę matavimo sistemą, valdomą „Catman“ programine įranga, buvo atliktas eksperimentinis dviračio vairo statinio stiprumo ir standumo tyrimas. Tiek eksperimentinio tyrimo rezultatai, tiek baigtinių elementų metodo skaičiavimai, parodė, kad dviračio vairas atitiko standartuose keliamus dviračio vairo standumo ir stiprumo reikalavimus ir neviršijo juose numatytų reikšmių. / Nowadays bike has quite an important place among other modes of transport. It provides greater freedom of movement, and it is used for leisure, travelling, tourism and sports. It is not only convenient but also cost-effective vehicle of travelling. As the bicycle wheel is one of its most important elements that determine the wheel control, so it is important that the static strength and rigidity would comply with the requirements of qualify. Quality requirements compliance has an impact on the quality and safety of the bicycle. Compliance to the requirements is determined during the experiment. The experiment is considered positive if there are no breaks, cracks, scratches and the structural changes in shape meet the permitted levels. In order to analyse and experimentally verify the handlebar static strength and rigidity using tenzosensor measurement and information system operated by „Catman” software has been made an experimental bicycle wheel strength and rigidity analysis. Experimental results and finite element method calculations showed that the bicycle wheel meets the strength and rigidity standards requirements and don’t exceed them.

L’ingénierie tissulaire est une stratégie médicale qui repose sur la régénération de tissu par les cellules avec ou sans matériaux. Pour maîtriser cette synthèse, il faut comprendre la cellule comme une part intégrante du tissu. Hormis ses interactions biochimiques avec son support, la cellule interagit également mécaniquement avec son environnement. Elle s’accroche à ce dernier et évalue sa dureté pour adapter sa réponse biologique. Dans cette étude, j’ai développé des modèles numériques pour analyser l’influence de la rigidité du substrat sur le comportement mécanique de la cellule, sur sa structure contractile interne et les efforts qu’elle génère. En d’autres termes, j’ai essayé de comprendre comment la cellule ressent la rigidité de son environnement. De plus, au lieu de me focaliser sur les propriétés mécaniques quantitatives, j’ai cherché à développer un modèle conceptuel simplifié plus proche de la structure cellulaire. / Tissue engineering is a medical strategy based on utilizing cells and materials to regenerate a new tissue. Yet, it involves intertwined interactions that allow cells to act as integrated parts of an organ. In addition to chemical reactions, the cell interacts mechanically with its environment by sensing its rigidity. Here, we used several computational models to understand how substrate rigidity affects a cell’s structure as it adheres and spreads on it. In other words we tried to understand the way a cell feels how soft or hard it surrounding is, how it affects its internal structure and the forces that transit within it. In addition, instead of focusing on mechanical properties, we developed a simplified, yet coherent conceptual understanding of the cellular structure.

Submitted by Antonio Marcos Flauzino dos Santos (m.flauzino@uol.com.br) on 2017-09-28T13:45:07Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE=ANTONIO MARCOS=FINAL=REVISADA1.pdf: 1624561 bytes, checksum: 206a2183642a0227053b8d9a2c61d201 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Tereza Fernandes Conselmo (maria.conselmo@fgv.br) on 2017-09-28T16:50:39Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE=ANTONIO MARCOS=FINAL=REVISADA1.pdf: 1624561 bytes, checksum: 206a2183642a0227053b8d9a2c61d201 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-28T17:36:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE=ANTONIO MARCOS=FINAL=REVISADA1.pdf: 1624561 bytes, checksum: 206a2183642a0227053b8d9a2c61d201 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-07-28 / This thesis aims to analyze the public managers from Paraná’s decisions, based on the criteria utilized in decision making on the process of public budget elaboration, considering the budget rigidity. It is based on the notions of public budget, on its transformation and on the discussion about the budget rigidity. The models of decision making are presented, highlighting the incremental model which presents the characteristics utilized in public institutions. The research occurred in 5 cities in the northwest mesoregion of the Paraná state. For the data acquirement, semi-structured interviews were elaborated and utilized with the mayors and the accountants or the ones responsible for planning the city budget. For choosing and analyzing, the cities were divided into three categories, as: small, medium and large-sized, according to the region’s characteristics. It was verified that the managers elaborate the public budget prioritizing the mandatory spending for payroll and the ones associated with health and education. Regarding the budget rigidity, respondents agree with its existence so that the investments in those areas of priority are preserved. It is concluded that the decision making process, both in the moment of the budget proposal elaboration and in the budget execution, occurs in an incremental way, where decisions are made taking into consideration past experiences and also through the consensus between the actors involved in this process. / Esta tese tem como objetivo analisar as decisões dos gestores públicos paranaenses, a partir dos critérios utilizados na tomada de decisões no processo de elaboração do orçamento público, considerando a rigidez orçamentária. Fundamenta-se nos conceitos de orçamento público, sua transformação e na discussão sobre a rigidez orçamentária. São apresentados os modelos de tomada de decisão, destacando o modelo incremental que é aquele que apresenta as características utilizadas em instituições públicas. A pesquisa foi levada a efeito em 5 municípios da mesorregião noroeste do estado do Paraná. Para a obtenção dos dados elaborou e utilizou entrevistas semiestruturadas com os prefeitos e os contadores ou responsáveis pelo planejamento dos orçamentos das prefeituras. Para a escolha e análise, os municípios foram divididos em três categorias, sendo: pequeno, médio e grande porte, conforme as características da região. Verificou-se que os gestores elaboram o orçamento público priorizando os gastos obrigatórios com folha de pagamento e os vinculados com as áreas da saúde e da educação. Em relação à rigidez orçamentária, os entrevistados concordam com sua existência para que os investimentos nessas áreas prioritárias sejam preservados. Conclui-se que o processo de tomada de decisão tanto no momento da elaboração da proposta orçamentária como na execução do orçamento ocorre de forma incremental, onde as decisões são tomadas levando-se em consideração experiências passadas e também por meio do consenso entre os atores envolvidos nesse processo.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T20:19:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 1713.pdf: 897306 bytes, checksum: cc73a73d06fac89bd36aad9307272d6e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-03-03 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / Studies have been identified both changes in the body and in the environment induce adjustments on the reaching, however few studies verified the influence of the size and rigidity of objects longitudinally in the period of 6 to 36 months, mainly employing the kinematic analysis and qualitative analysis of movements. Thus, two studies were conducted major (Studies 2 and 3) and a complementary study (Study 1). The aim of the Study 1 was to testing whether Dvideow system is a sensitive, objective and reliable instrument in the kinematic analysis of infant s reaching movement in the period of 4 to 6 months. Based on the positive results of this study has been the use of the system for analysis Dvideow kinematics of the reaching movement into Study 2. The aim of Study 2 was to verify the influence of the size and rigidity of the objects in the reach of children at 6, 7, 8 and 36 months. According to the results of this study are realized the importance of also qualitatively analyze the reaching movements, being carried out the Study 3. The aim of Study 3 was to analyze the influence of the size and rigidity of objects in proximal and distal adjustments of reach in the period of 6 to 36 months. Thus, nine healthy infants were positioned in a infant chair with 50° horizontal. Four objects were presented, a large rigid, a small rigid, a large and a small soft for a period of 1 minute each. The movements were filmed by three digital cameras. It was found that reaching from 6 to 36 months is characterized by changes both in cinematic and qualitative variables, which modify when necessary according to the most discrepance properties of the objects presented. It is suggested that this is a period of refinement of reach manual, in which the motor system continuous adjustments are made according to age (physical growth, improvement in postural control, differences in the perception of the objects in each age), the experience and environment, which in turn, can only promote changes in the parameters of the control needed to carry out the task / Estudos têm identificado que mudanças tanto no organismo quanto no ambiente induzem ajustes no alcance manual; no entanto, poucos verificaram a influência do tamanho e rigidez dos objetos longitudinalmente no período de 6 a 36 meses de vida, principalmente empregando a análise cinemática e análise qualitativa dos movimentos. Deste modo, foram realizados dois estudos principais (Estudos 2 e 3) e um estudo complementar (Estudo 1). O objetivo do Estudo 1 foi o de verificar a sensibilidade, objetividade e confiabilidade do sistema Dvideow na análise cinemática do movimento de alcance manual de crianças saudáveis no período de 4 a 6 meses de vida. Com base nos resultados positivos deste estudo manteve-se a utilização do sistema Dvideow para análise cinemática dos movimentos de alcance no Estudo 2. O objetivo do Estudo 2 foi o de verificar a influência do tamanho e rigidez dos objetos no alcance manual de crianças aos 6, 7, 8 e 36 meses de vida. De acordo com os resultados deste estudo percebeu-se a importância de analisar também qualitativamente os movimentos de alcances, sendo para tanto realizado o Estudo 3. O objetivo do Estudo 3 foi o de analisar a influência do tamanho e rigidez dos objetos nos ajustes proximais e distais do alcance no período de 6 a 36 meses de vida. Para tanto, nove lactentes saudáveis foram posicionados em uma cadeira infantil reclinada a 50o. Quatro objetos foram apresentados, um rígido grande, um rígido pequeno, um maleável grande e um maleável pequeno, por um período de 1 minuto cada. Os movimentos de alcance foram filmados por três câmeras digitais. Constatou-se que dos 6 aos 36 meses de vida o alcance é caracterizado por mudanças tanto nas variáveis cinemáticas e qualitativas do movimento, que se modificam quando necessário em função das propriedades mais relevantes dos objetos apresentados. Sugere-se que este é um período de refinamento do alcance manual, no qual ajustes contínuos do sistema motor são realizados em função da idade (crescimento físico, melhora no controle postural, diferença na percepção dos objetos em cada idade), da experiência e do ambiente, que por sua vez, pode promover mudanças somente nos parâmetros de controle necessários à realização da tarefa

On étudie des flots géométriques d'ordre quatre sur des variétés riemanniennes compactes, qui apparaissent naturellement comme flots de gradient de fonctionnelles quadratiques en la courbure. Lorsque la constante de Yamabe reste minorée par une constante strictement positive le long du flot, on montre que la variété ne s'effondre pas, et qu'une suite de métriques dilatées au voisinage d'un temps singulier converge vers une variété complète qui modélise la singularité. En particulier, en dimension quatre, cette hypothèse est vérifiée pour une certaine classe de flots de gradients, du moment que l'énergie initiale est inférieure à une constante explicite. Les singularités de ces flots sont alors modélisées par des variétés complètes et non compactes, dont le tenseur de Bach et la courbure scalaire s'annulent. En combinant une formule de Weitzenböck avec l'inégalité de Sobolev induite par la positivité de la constante de Yamabe, on montre une série de résultats de rigidité pour des métriques dont la courbure est intégralement pincée. En particulier, on prouve un théorème de rigidité pour les variétés de dimension quatre à tenseur de Bach et à courbure scalaire nuls, qui implique que les singularités de notre classe de flots de gradient ne peuvent exister que si l'énergie initiale est supérieure à une certaine constante. Dans le cas contraire, ces flots existent pour tous temps positifs et convergent vers une métrique à courbure sectionnelle constante et positive. On retrouve ainsi un "théorème de la sphère" pour les variétés compactes de dimension quatre dont la courbure est intégralement pincée. En appliquant cette même méthode aux formes harmoniques d'une variété à courbure intégralement pincée, on démontre une version intégrale du théorème de Bochner-Weitzenböck. On en déduit l'annulation des nombres de Betti sous diverses conditions de pincement intégral, et on caractérise les cas d'égalité. / We study fourth-order geometric flows on compact Riemannian manifolds, which naturally appear as gradient flows of quadratic curvature functionals. When the Yamabe constant remains bounded from below by a positive constant along the flow, we show that the manifold doesn't collapse, and that a sequence of dilated metrics near a singular time converges to a singularity model. In particular, in dimension four, this assumption is satisfied by a class of gradient flows, provided that the initial energy is less than an explicit constant. The singularities of these flows are then modeled by complete non-compact manifolds, which are Bach-flat and scalar-flat. By combining a Weitzenböck formula with the Sobolev inequality induced by the positivity of the Yamabe constant, we prove several rigidity results for metrics with integral pinched curvature. In particular, we prove a rigidity result for Bach-flat and scalar-flat manifolds in dimension four, which implies that the singularities of our gradient flows can only exist when the initial energy is bigger than a given constant. When this is not the case, these flows exist for all time, and converge to a metric with constant positive curvature. It provides a proof of a "sphere theorem" for closed four-dimensional manifolds with integral pinched curvature. Applying the same method to harmonic forms on an integral pinched manifold, we prove an integral version of the Bochner-Weitzenböck theorem. As a corollary, we obtain the vanishing of Betti numbers under various integral pinching conditions, and we characterize the equality cases.