Blind Source Separation is a modern signal processing technique which recovers both the unknown sources and unknown mixing systems from only measured mixtures of signals. It has application in diverse fields such as communication, image processing, geological exploration and biomedical signal processing etc. This project studies the BSS problem, develop separation methods and reveal the potential for mechanical engineering applications. There are two models for blind source separation corresponding to the two ways that the sources are mixed, the instantaneous mixing model and the convolved mixing model. The author carried out a theoretical study of the first model by proposing an idea called Redundant Data Elimination which leads to geometric interpretation of the model, explains that circular distribution property is the reason why Gaussian signal mixtures can not be separated, and showed that this idea can improve separation accuracy for unsymmetrically distributed sources. This new idea enabled evaluation and comparison of two well-known algorithms and proposal of a simplified algorithm based on Joint Approximate Diagonalization of fourth order cumulant matrices, which is further developed by determining an optimized parameter value for separation convergence. Also based on the understanding from the RDE, an outlier spherical projection method is proposed to improve separation accuracy against outlier errors. Mechanical vibration or acoustic problems belong to the second model. After some theoretical study of the problem and the model, a novel application of the Blind Least Mean Square algorithm using Gray's variable norm as cost function is applied to engine vibration data to separate piston slap, fuel injection noise and cylinder pressure effects. Further, the algorithm is combined with a deflation algorithm for successive subtraction of recovered source responses from the measured mixture to enable the recovery of more sources. The algorithms are verified to be successful by simulation, and the separated engine sources are proved reasonable by analysing the engine operation and physical properties of the sources. The author also studied the relationship between these two models, the problems of different approaches for solving the model such as the frequency domain approach and the Bussgang approach, and sets out future research interests.

We provide two different neighborhood construction techniques for creating exponentially large neighborhoods that are searchable in polynomial time using dynamic programming. We illustrate both of these approaches on very large scale neighborhood search techniques for the traveling salesman problem. Our approaches are intended both to unify previously known results as well as to offer schemas for generating additional exponential neighborhoods that are searchable in polynomial time. The first approach is to define the neighborhood recursively. In this approach, the dynamic programming recursion is a natural consequence of the recursion that defines the neighborhood. In particular, we show how to create the pyramidal tour neighborhood, the twisted sequences neighborhood, and dynasearch neighborhoods using this approach. In the second approach, we consider the standard dynamic program to solve the TSP. We then obtain exponentially large neighborhoods by selecting a polynomially bounded number of states, and restricting the dynamic program to those states only. We show how the Balas and Simonetti neighborhood and the insertion dynasearch neighborhood can be viewed in this manner. We also show that one of the dynasearch neighborhoods can be derived directly from the 2-exchange neighborhood using this approach.

This study provides an overall view of the significant change in compositional creation and performance practices in the nineteenth century. One witnesses concerto has become an important genre to demonstrate the technical playing of violin. In addition, through various violin schools, violin performances have developed different styles of playing. Bruch was an important German composer in the late romantic period. Although his status is not sublime as Schumann, Mendelssohn and Brahms, his ¡§Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor Op. 26¡¨ is well received. Among numerous violin concertos in the nineteenth century, the work is regarded as an essential piece for violinist and in fact up to the present the work has been often performed and included in most concert programs. The most significant in Bruch¡¦s music is his employment of different performance techniques together with beautiful violin voicing. He believes ¡§melody is the soul of music¡¨ and demonstrates with his individual performance, and this explains the long lasting character. The value of Bruch¡¦s music is equal fame of the composition well regarded as his contemporaries. This thesis is divided into three chapters. The First chapter discusses about the succession of the violin performance technique, the influences of violin schools on violin music, and elaboration of the violin concerto features. The Second chapter includes Bruch¡¦s life, the historical background of his Op. 26 and its status. The Third chapter focuses on the performance techniques, examine the sophisticated techniques on both right hand and left hand. Its incorporation with orchestra will also be discussed in this chapter. And followed by a conclusion. Through the research of this work, author, hopefully, could help violinists will not only focus on the technique stage but also convey the idea of the composer more accurately while playing this work.

In recent years, on-site analysis has garnered increased interest from the scientific community. The development of smaller, more sophisticated analytical instruments, and the establishment of new environmental regulations have encouraged the application of new methodologies for field analysis. Prominent advantages of on-site analysis include elimination of error sources due to sample transportation and matrix modification, considerable reduction in analysis time, and more accurate and precise analytical results. Several techniques suitable for on-site analysis, which integrate sampling and sample preparation in one step, have demonstrated high versatility and throughput in field applications. This research was focused on the application and evaluation of three microextraction techniques: solid phase microextraction (SPME), needle trap devices (NTD) and membrane extraction with sorbent interface (MESI), which were then coupled with various portable instruments for on-site analysis of different systems. Additionally, the conducted project involved the development of an approach using ion mobility spectrometry detection (IMS) coupled with a miniaturized gas chromatograph (GC) as a powerful system for field analysis. This proposed GC-IMS exhibited satisfactory performance in terms of retention time (inter-day variation < 3%) and response stability (intra and inter-day relative standard deviations (RSDs) < 10 %). Moreover, when coupled with NTD, it showed limits of detection comparable to those provided by conventional benchtop instruments. Other portable GC instruments employed in this project included flame ionization and mass spectrometry detection. Three different sample systems were investigated using SPME and NTD together with these portable instruments: emissions of a pine branch, breath samples, and indoor pollutants in a polymer synthesis laboratory. Consequently, the feasibility of using SPME and NTD for determination of free and total concentrations was investigated. Finally, MESI was successfully coupled with the newly proposed GC-IMS system, and its functionality was evaluated by analyzing acetone in breath samples.

Worldwide, multiple countries are investing a great deal of time and energy towards developing a new class of technologically advanced nuclear reactors. These new reactors have come to be known as the Generation IV (Gen IV) class of nuclear reactors. Similarly to the other designs, the Gas Fast Reactor (GFR) has many advantages, such as electricity production at high efficiency, hydrogen production, minor actinide burning capabilities, etc. However, there are currently no immediate plans to build a GFR due to uncertainties regarding safety issues. The study conducted herein contains input techniques for the development of new neutronic and thermal hydraulic input decks for the United States (US) Department of Energy (DOE) GFR design. The Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) and MELCOR codes are used to model neutronic and thermal hydraulic characteristics, respectively. These codes are used with the intention of gaining further insight into GFR design and steady state operating characteristics of the US DOE GFR. Descriptions of inputs for all input decks, along with the results of the execution of both input decks can be found in this thesis. Although many alterations are made to original design specifications, results found in this thesis support the design modifications that have been made. Results suggest that steady-state operation of the GFR is a plausible possibility, given the right conditions. The lack of design criteria for both the reflector and borated shield regions imposes a necessity of invention upon all those who seek to clarify design criteria for the US DOE GFR. Furthermore, resulting temperature profiles for the fuel, cladding and coolant give rise to the possibility of the design of a system, based on thermionic principles, that converts core thermal energy directly to electricity. Such a system is envisioned to provide electricity to a decay heat removal system and possibly increase plant efficiency.

Students in high school have a need to be able to remember a lot of information during their years of schooling. The purpose of this study was to investigate if mnemonic techniques could help the participating students to become more efficient in recalling new English vocabulary. If the results were to indicate an increase in efficiency with either of the two techniques selected, it would make a case for using this technique in foreign- and second language learning contexts. The students who participated were taught the reminiscent technique and the loci method because these techniques focus on connecting vocabulary to existing memories, thus enabling encodement to long-term memory. Research within second language studies recommends using mnemonic techniques as a help to retrieve words. The students’ recall of vocabulary was tested after an introduction to each technique. They were given three initial tests containing 15 new English words each, a total of 45 words. The first such set tested the efficiency of the students’ own techniques, while the second and third set tested the reminiscent technique and loci method, respectively. After a period of three weeks there was a final test on all the 45 new words at once, testing the possible encodement to long-term memory. The most interesting results were found regarding the percentages of lowest difference in "decrease of retrieval rate" of each vocabulary item between the first initial tests and the final test. The smaller the decrease could indicate a stronger encodement to long-term memory. The top two recalled words were linked to the reminiscent technique and the one in third place to the loci method. Thus, there was some indication that these helped to achieve a stronger encodement to long-term memory. However, when comparing the total number of recalled words, the students’ own technique came out as the winner.

The essay examines the narrative techniques in the novel Delirio (2004) by the Columbian writer Laura Restrepo. Focus is set on the question of narrators. The narrators in this novel have a structuring function, and it is suggested that there is one of them in particular which links the main character's delirium with the context of the 'real world' in the novel. A narratological analysis is carried out based on categories by theorists like Gérard Genette and Yuri Lotman. A description of every narrator's characteristics such as reliability, speech style, knowledge and experience is made, followed by a comparison between them and a reflection about their function in the novel. Finally, among five narrators, two are pointed out as the most important, the one that connects the main characters psychological crisis with reality, and the one which sets the whole story together.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Göteborg : Univ. , 2009. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 291-335).

Proefschrift--Managementwetenschappen--Nijmegen--Katholieke universiteit, 2003. / Mention parallèle de titre ou de responsabilité : Group model building als wederzijdse overreding / door Etiënne Antonio Joseph Alfonso Rouwette. Résumé en néerlandais. Bibliogr. p. 252-264.