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The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers
to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is
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Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
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Showing 111 to 114 of 114 (0.03 seconds)| 111 |
On quantifying the value of simulation for training and evaluating robotic agentsCourchesne, Anthony 04 1900 (has links)
Un problème récurrent dans le domaine de la robotique est la difficulté à reproduire les résultats et valider les affirmations faites par les scientifiques. Les expériences conduites en laboratoire donnent fréquemment des résultats propres à l'environnement dans lequel elles ont été effectuées, rendant la tâche de les reproduire et de les valider ardues et coûteuses. Pour cette raison, il est difficile de comparer la performance et la robustesse de différents contrôleurs robotiques. Les environnements substituts à faibles coûts sont populaires, mais introduisent une réduction de performance lorsque l'environnement cible est enfin utilisé. Ce mémoire présente nos travaux sur l'amélioration des références et de la comparaison d'algorithmes (``Benchmarking'') en robotique, notamment dans le domaine de la conduite autonome.
Nous présentons une nouvelle platforme, les Autolabs Duckietown, qui permet aux chercheurs d'évaluer des algorithmes de conduite autonome sur des tâches, du matériel et un environnement standardisé à faible coût. La plateforme offre également un environnement virtuel afin d'avoir facilement accès à une quantité illimitée de données annotées. Nous utilisons la plateforme pour analyser les différences entre la simulation et la réalité en ce qui concerne la prédictivité de la simulation ainsi que la qualité des images générées. Nous fournissons deux métriques pour quantifier l'utilité d'une simulation et nous démontrons de quelles façons elles peuvent être utilisées afin d'optimiser un environnement proxy. / A common problem in robotics is reproducing results and claims made by researchers. The experiments done in robotics laboratories typically yield results that are specific to a complex setup and difficult or costly to reproduce and validate in other contexts. For this reason, it is arduous to compare the performance and robustness of various robotic controllers. Low-cost reproductions of physical environments are popular but induce a performance reduction when transferred to the target domain. This thesis present the results of our work toward improving benchmarking in robotics, specifically for autonomous driving.
We build a new platform, the Duckietown Autolabs, which allow researchers to evaluate autonomous driving algorithms in a standardized framework on low-cost hardware. The platform offers a simulated environment for easy access to annotated data and parallel evaluation of driving solutions in customizable environments. We use the platform to analyze the discrepancy between simulation and reality in the case of predictivity and quality of data generated. We supply two metrics to quantify the usefulness of a simulation and demonstrate how they can be used to optimize the value of a proxy environment.
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Proteins bind Neutrophil extracellular traps in specific patternsWinkler, Jonay Moritz Julius 24 June 2024 (has links)
Neutrophile sind die häufigsten weißen Blutkörperchen im menschlichen Blut. Sie bilden die
erste Verteidigungslinie und töten eindringende Krankheitserreger ab. Neutrophile
extrazelluläre Fallen (NETs) sind netzartige Strukturen, die aus dekondensiertem Chromatin
bestehen und mit zytotoxischen Proteinen dekoriert sind. NETs können Mikroben in vitro
und in vivo einfangen und abtöten, sind aber auch für verschiedene Krankheiten
verantwortlich. Frühere Studien haben eine spezifische Gruppe von 20-50
Neutrophilenproteinen identifiziert, die an NETs gebunden sind und von denen einige eine
mikrobizide Wirkung haben. Wie diese Proteine an die NETs binden, wie sie interagieren
und wie die Bindung ihre antimikrobielle Aktivität beeinflusst, ist noch nicht bekannt.
In dieser Dissertation habe ich die Verteilung von acht neutrophilen Proteinen und
Nukleosomen auf NETs mit Hilfe der Superauflösungsmikroskopie untersucht. Es wurden
drei unabhängige Techniken mit Auflösungen von mehr als 90 nm verwendet. Die
Nukleosomen bildeten auf den NETs periodische Cluster mit deutlich größeren Abständen
im Vergleich zum kondensierten Chromatin. Drei NET-Proteine waren ebenfalls in
periodischen Clustern auf den NETs lokalisiert und zwei von ihnen waren stark mit
Nukleosomen kolokalisiert. Alle anderen analysierten Proteine zeigten keine Muster der
Bindung an NETs. Zusammengenommen zeigen diese Ergebnisse, dass die Bindung von
Proteinen an NETs zumindest teilweise spezifisch ist und teilweise durch Wechselwirkungen
mit Nukleosomen vermittelt wird.
Die erfolgreiche Einführung der superauflösenden Mikroskopie für schwierige NET-Proben
in Kombination mit einem vorgeschlagenen rekonstituierten NET-System eröffnet neue
Möglichkeiten für das Verständnis der molekularen Mechanismen der NET-Bildung und der
Protein-Protein-Interaktion bei der NET-vermittelten Abtötung. / Neutrophils are the most abundant human white blood cell in circulation. They are the first
line of defense and kill invading pathogens. Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) are weblike
structures composed of decondensed chromatin decorated with cytotoxic proteins. NETs
can trap and kill microbes in vitro and in vivo, but also mediate several diseases. Previous
studies identified a specific set of 20-50 neutrophil proteins bound to NETs, several with
microbicidal activity. It remains unknown how these proteins bind to NETs, how they interact
and how binding influences their anti-microbial activity.
In this dissertation, I studied the distribution of eight neutrophil proteins and nucleosomes
on NETs using super-resolution microscopy. Three independent techniques with resolutions
larger than 90nm were used. Nucleosomes formed periodic clusters on NETs, with
significantly larger spacing compared to condensed chromatin. Three NET proteins also
localized in periodic clusters on NETs and two of them strongly co-localized with
nucleosomes. All other proteins analyzed showed no patterns binding to NETs. Taken
together, these findings demonstrate that, at least some, protein binding to NETs is specific
and in part mediated by interactions with nucleosomes.
The successful introduction of super-resolution microscopy to the challenging NET samples
in combination with a proposed reconstituted NET system opens new possibilities to
understand the molecular mechanisms behind NET formation and protein-protein
interaction in NET mediated killing.
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Legal and regulatory aspects of mobile financial servicesPerlman, Leon Joseph 11 1900 (has links)
The thesis deals with the emergence of bank and non-bank entities that provide a range of unique
transaction-based payment services broadly called Mobile Financial Services (MFS) to unbanked,
underserved and underbanked persons via mobile phones.
Models of MFS from Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), banks, combinations of MNOs and banks, and
independent Mobile Financial Services Providers are covered. Provision by non-banks of ‘bank-type’
services via mobile phones has been termed ‘transformational banking’ versus the ‘additive banking’
services from banks. All involve the concept of ‘branchless banking’ whereby ‘cash-in/cash out’ services
are provided through ‘agents.’
Funds for MFS payments may available through a Stored Value Product (SVP), particularly through a
Stored Value Account SVP variant offered by MNOs where value is stored as a redeemable fiat- or mobile
‘airtime’-based Store of Value.
The competitive, legal, technical and regulatory nature of non-bank versus bank MFS models is discussed,
in particular the impact of banking, payments, money laundering, telecommunications, e-commerce and
consumer protection laws. Whether funding mechanisms for SVPs may amount to deposit-taking such that
entities could be engaged in the ‘business of banking’ is discussed. The continued use of ‘deposit’ as the
traditional trigger for the ‘business of banking’ is investigated, alongside whether transaction and paymentcentric
MFS rises to the ‘business of banking.’
An extensive evaluation of ‘money’ based on the Orthodox and Claim School economic theories is
undertaken in relation to SVPs used in MFS, their legal associations and import, and whether they may be
deemed ‘money’ in law.
Consumer protection for MFS and payments generally through current statute, contract, and payment law
and common law condictiones are found to be wanting. Possible regulatory arbitrage in relation to MFS in
South African law is discussed.
The legal and regulatory regimes in the European Union, Kenya and the United States of America are
compared with South Africa. The need for a coordinated payments-specific law that has consumer
protections, enables proportional risk-based licensing of new non-bank providers of MFS, and allows for a
regulator for retail payments is recommended. The use of trust companies and trust accounts is
recommended for protection of user funds.
| vi / Public, Constitutional and International Law / LLD
|
| 114 |
Legal and regulatory aspects of mobile financial servicesPerlman, Leon Joseph 11 1900 (has links)
The thesis deals with the emergence of bank and non-bank entities that provide a range of unique
transaction-based payment services broadly called Mobile Financial Services (MFS) to unbanked,
underserved and underbanked persons via mobile phones.
Models of MFS from Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), banks, combinations of MNOs and banks, and
independent Mobile Financial Services Providers are covered. Provision by non-banks of ‘bank-type’
services via mobile phones has been termed ‘transformational banking’ versus the ‘additive banking’
services from banks. All involve the concept of ‘branchless banking’ whereby ‘cash-in/cash out’ services
are provided through ‘agents.’
Funds for MFS payments may available through a Stored Value Product (SVP), particularly through a
Stored Value Account SVP variant offered by MNOs where value is stored as a redeemable fiat- or mobile
‘airtime’-based Store of Value.
The competitive, legal, technical and regulatory nature of non-bank versus bank MFS models is discussed,
in particular the impact of banking, payments, money laundering, telecommunications, e-commerce and
consumer protection laws. Whether funding mechanisms for SVPs may amount to deposit-taking such that
entities could be engaged in the ‘business of banking’ is discussed. The continued use of ‘deposit’ as the
traditional trigger for the ‘business of banking’ is investigated, alongside whether transaction and paymentcentric
MFS rises to the ‘business of banking.’
An extensive evaluation of ‘money’ based on the Orthodox and Claim School economic theories is
undertaken in relation to SVPs used in MFS, their legal associations and import, and whether they may be
deemed ‘money’ in law.
Consumer protection for MFS and payments generally through current statute, contract, and payment law
and common law condictiones are found to be wanting. Possible regulatory arbitrage in relation to MFS in
South African law is discussed.
The legal and regulatory regimes in the European Union, Kenya and the United States of America are
compared with South Africa. The need for a coordinated payments-specific law that has consumer
protections, enables proportional risk-based licensing of new non-bank providers of MFS, and allows for a
regulator for retail payments is recommended. The use of trust companies and trust accounts is
recommended for protection of user funds.
| vi / Public, Constitutional and International Law / LL. D.
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