<p> The rapid increasing bandwidth requirement of communication systems demands powerful numerical simulation tools for optics fiber. The computational efficient, memory saving and stable are of the most important characteristics for any simulation tools used for long-haul and broadband optics fiber. An optimized split-step digital filtering method is developed in this paper. The concept of Fourier integral and Fourier series are used in extracting a FIR filter which is used to fit the original transfer function. A further optimization process which employs windowing technique to improve computation efficiency had also been done. Compared with split-step frequency method, our method improves the computation efficiency. Only simple shifts and multiplications are needed in our method. This optimized digital filtering method differs from the former digital filtering method in a sense that the filter length of the FIR filter we extracted is reduced to a very small number. The computation time can be saved as much as 96% than before. This method can also be used to solve coupled nonlinear Schrodinger equation which governs polarization mode dispersion effect in fibers. A new simulation scheme for PMD is proposed to save computation time. The propagation results shows good accordance to those already published results. </p> / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

The three-step theory of suicide (3ST) proposes that suicidal ideation (SI) and behavior develops in the context of unbearable pain and hopelessness (Step 1), low social connection (Step 2) and acquired capability (Step 3 - not assessed in this study; Klonsky et al., 2016). Distress disclosure is one way a person may utilize their social network to mitigate feelings of distress and can be a critical measure of social connectedness. Building on efforts to diversify measurement of social connectedness in the 3ST, a sample of 549 college students (mean age = 19.27, SD = 1.28; 56.6% reporting history of SI) completed measures of physical and psychological pain (Patient Health Questionnaire – Revised; Unbearable Psychache Scale-3), hopelessness (State Hopelessness Scale; Beck Hopelessness Scale-4), social connectedness (Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire; Social Connectedness Scale – Revised; Distress Disclosure Index), and suicidal ideation (Depression Severity Index; Suicide Cognitions Scale – Shortened). Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate steps one and two of the 3ST and the utility of incorporating distress disclosure into this framework. In line with the 3ST, the structural model including pain, hopelessness, and social connectedness was supported and the direct effects of these variables on SI was significant (p < .05). In contrast to the 3ST, the interaction between pain and hopelessness did not predict SI (p = .385), nor was the moderating role of social connectedness supported (p = .133). Although distress disclosure was a significant indicator of social connectedness (p = .001), this variable did not contribute additional variance over other measures of connectedness. The results provide partial support for core features of the 3ST, however further research is needed to verify the theoretical assumptions of Step 2. Additionally, although disclosure is associated with SI, it may not be a critical measure of social connectedness when considered alongside traditional measures.

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This diploma thesis deals with cooperation between family and school at the beginning of school attendance. Position of that subject in Czech education system is clarified in the theoretical part, as well as some educational programs and initiatives focusing on this domain of a teacher's work. The practical part presents action research, which is focused on the reflection of my own work experience. It explores possibilities of specific methods and forms of cooperation of class teacher with parents according to an analysis of effectiveness of cooperation between family and school evaluation tool of "Competent Educators of the 21st Century: ISSA's Definition of Quality Pedagogy". This research confirmed that the parents welcome any offer to closer involment in school education and choose the kind of cooperation that best suits their needs and abilities. KEYWORDS: school, parents, communication, standards, Step By Step.

Orientador: Lucia Galvão de Albuquerque / Resumo: A habilidade de permanência no rebanho (HPR) é medida tardiamente na vida do animal. Com isso, quando esta característica é usada como critério de seleção, o intervalo de geração, definido como a média de idade dos pais ao nascimento da progênie, tende a aumentar, provocando a diminuição do ganho genético. A mensuração das fêmeas em uma idade mais precoce seria uma forma de contornar este problema. Neste sentido, um melhor entendimento das regiões genômicas envolvidas na expressão desta característica em diferentes idades/partos é necessário. O objetivo com o presente estudo foi, então, identificar regiões genômicas associadas à HPR medida em diferentes partos de fêmeas da raça Nelore. Considerando apenas fêmeas com idade ao primeiro parto de até 40 meses, os fenótipos para HPR foram gerados observando se cada fêmea teve oportunidade de permanecer no rebanho do segundo ao oitavo parto, de maneira que cada vaca poderia ter até sete observações para HPR. Ao final, o banco de dados possuía 195.452, 161.261, 130.236, 103.043, 79.844, 62.663 e 47.045 fêmeas com fenótipos para o segundo, terceiro, quarto, quinto, sexto, sétimo e oitavo parto, respectivamente. Do total de animais no banco de dados, 3.849 (2.720 fêmeas e 1.129 touros) apresentavam informações genotípicas de 472.640 marcadores do tipo SNPs (Illumina BovineHD BeadChip). Ao todo, foram realizadas sete análises uni-características, considerando modelos thresholds com função de ligação probit. A metodologia do single-step... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Stayability (STAY) is a trait measured late in the animal's life. Thus, when this trait is used as selection criteria, the generation interval, defined as the parents average age at the progeny birth, tends to increase, causing a decrease in the genetic gain. Measuring females at an earlier age could be a way to circumvent this problem. In this sense, a better understanding of genomic regions involved in the expression of this trait at different ages/calving is necessary. The objective of the present study was to identify genomic regions associated with STAY measured in different calving of Nelore females. Considering only females that had their first calving up to 40 months of age, the phenotypes for STAY were generated by observing whether each female had the opportunity to remain in the herd from the second to the eighth calving, in such a way that each cow could have up to seven records. The final dataset had 195,452, 161,261, 130,236, 103,043, 79,844, 62,663 and 47,045 females with phenotypes for the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth calving, respectively. In total, 3,849 (2,720 females and 1,129 bulls) animals from the whole dataset used in the analyses had genotypic information of 472,640 SNPs (Illumina BovineHD BeadChip) markers. In total, seven single-trait analyzes were performed considering threshold animal models with probit link function. The single-step GBLUP methodology was used to estimate variance components for STAY at each calving as w... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Taiwan is located in a highly seismic zone and the historical “Dieh-Dou” timber buildings, constructed without following any code or standard, are prone to collapse under earthquake. These buildings are unique and represent the culture, heritage and art of Taiwan, therefore need to be preserved while minimizing unnecessary intervention that could damage their authenticity. <br /> This research comprises a thorough investigation on the parameters influencing the seismic vulnerability of the Dieh-Dou timber frames in Taiwan, and propose a methodology of assessment and a strategy for strengthening validated through experimental testing and numerical analysis. <br /> After review existing literature and post-earthquake surveys, the failure modes of the buildings are identified, showing that the dislocation of the elements of the frame from the joints is the primary source of damage. An experimental investigation is carried out comprising both rotational and translational tests on full scale joint specimens which, together with a parametric study undertaken with an appropriate FE simulation, demonstrates how both the rotational and translational stiffness of the joints play a key role in defining the behaviour of these structures. <br /> Lateral force, response spectrum, and step-by-step pushover analyses are performed and compared with the post-earthquake survey of two Dieh-Dou buildings seriously affected by the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake. The results show that the proposed FE modelling can successfully be employed to assess the vulnerability of the frames. <br /> Based on a damage level approach, an assessment methodology is suggested that would allow to optimisation of the strengthening strategy, permitting protection these precious structures from future earthquakes while avoiding unnecessary interventions.

This thesis compares the simple Autoregressive (AR) model against the k- Nearest Neighbor (k-NN) model to make a point forecast of five energy commodity prices. Those commodities are natural gas, heating oil, gasoline, ethanol, and crude oil. The data for the commodities are monthly and, for each commodity, two-thirds of the data are used for an in-sample forecast, and the remaining one-third of the data are used to perform an out-of-sample forecast. Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) are used to compare the two forecasts. The results showed that one method is superior by one measure but inferior by another. Although the differences of the two models are minimal, it is up to a decision maker as to which model to choose. The Diebold-Mariano (DM) test was performed to test the relative accuracy of the models. For all five commodities, the results failed to reject the null hypothesis indicating that both models are equally accurate.

Finite-difference methods for computing the derivative of a function with respect to an independent variable require knowledge of the perturbation step size for that variable. Although rules of thumb exist for determining the magnitude of the step size, their effectiveness diminishes for complicated functions or when numerically solving difficult optimization problems. This dissertation investigates the problem of determining the step size that minimizes the total error associated with finite-difference derivative approximations. The total error is defined as the sum of errors from numerical sources (roundoff error) and mathematical approximations (truncation error). Several finite-difference approximations are considered, and expressions are derived for the errors associated with each approximation. Analysis of these errors leads to an algorithm that determines the optimal perturbation step size that minimizes the total error. A benefit of this algorithm is that the computed optimal step size, when used with neighboring values of the independent variable, results in approximately the same magnitude of error in the derivative. This allows the same step size to be used for several successive iterations of the independent variable in an optimization loop. A range of independent variable values for which the optimal step size can safely remain constant is also computed. In addition to roundoff and truncation errors within the finite-difference method, numerical errors within the actual function implementation are also considered. It is shown that the optimal step size can be used to compute an upper bound for these condition errors, without any prior knowledge of the function implementation. Knowledge of a function's condition error is of great assistance during the debugging stages of simulation design. Although the fundamental analysis assumes a scalar function of a scalar independent variable, it is later extended to the general case of a vector function of a vector independent variable. Several numerical examples are shown, ranging from simple polynomial and trigonometric functions to complex trajectory optimization problems. In each example, the step size is computed using the algorithm developed herein, a rule-of-thumb method, and an alternative statistical algorithm, and the resulting finite-difference derivatives are compared to the true derivative where available. / text

A number of parameters have been identified as characteristic of the walking pattern in patients with INPH. Most of these have been identified through qualitative surveys and manually conducted test batteries. In order to obtain quantitative, standardized and objective measures, which enable studies based on larger patient populations and comparable results, there is a need for a user-friendly system that can measure specific key parameters over time in a reliable manner in everyday clinical work. Step height, width and the variability in the gait cycle are such parameters which are interesting research areas for this group of patient. Problems with balance and gait are very common in other patient groups as well, particularly in neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and stroke. This is the reason that the development of this gait analyzer is performed. Giving access to a simple and objective method for estimating gait and balance ability in clinical routine investigations would increase the ability to provide the right kind of treatment, confirm treatment results, and conducting larger research studies. Therefore, this equipment can contribute to the assessment of diseases which contain impaired gait. As a first test of the usability and for the validation of accuracy and repeatability of the equipment a group of healthy volunteers was used. Results from tests on healthy subjects show god repeatability between measurements, for step width at normal gait the difference was -0,2 ±0,34 cm (mean, ±SD) and step height 0,69 ±3,34 cm. The stride time variability in the healthy group where very small 0,00048 ±0,00028 s2 with a difference between test of 0,000019 ±0,00038 s2. Three pilot patients have been tested where we have clearly seen indications of increased stride time variability and reduced step height.

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