The key objective of this research is to develop a generic simulation modelling methodology that can be used to model stochastic continuous systems effectively. The generic methodology renders simulation models that exhibit the following characteristics: short development and maintenance times, user-friendliness, short simulation runtimes, compact size, robustness, accuracy and a single software application. The research was initiated by the shortcomings of a simulation modelling method that is detailed in a Magister dissertation. A system description of a continuous process plant (referred to as the Synthetic Fuel plant) is developed. The decision support role of simulation modelling is considered and the shortcomings of the original method are analysed. The key objective, importance and limitations of the research are also discussed. The characteristics of stochastic continuous systems are identified and a generic methodology that accommodates these characteristics is conceptualised and developed. It consists of the following eight methods and techniques: the variables technique, the iteration time interval evaluation method, the event-driven evaluation method, the Entity-represent-module method, the Fraction-comparison method, the iterative-loop technique, the time “bottleneck” identification technique and the production lost “bottleneck” identification technique. Five high-level simulation model building blocks are developed. The generic methodology is demonstrated and validated by the development and use of two simulation models. The five high-level building blocks are used to construct identical simulation models of the Synthetic Fuel plant in two different simulation software packages, namely: Arena and Simul8. An iteration time interval and minimum sufficient sample sizes are determined and the simulation models are verified, validated, enhanced and compared. The simulation models are used to evaluate two alternative scenarios. The results of the scenarios are compared and conclusions are presented. The factors that motivated the research, the process that was followed and the generic methodology are summarised. The original method and the generic methodology are compared and the strengths and weaknesses of the generic methodology are discussed. The contribution to knowledge is explained and future developments are proposed. The possible range of application and different usage perspectives are presented. To conclude, the lessons learnt and reinforced are considered. / Thesis (PhD (Industrial Engineering))--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Industrial and Systems Engineering / unrestricted

(1) Background: Maximum isokinetic force loads show strongly increased post-load lactate concentrations and an increase in the maximum blood lactate concentration rate ( V˙ Lamax), depending on load duration. The reproducibility of V˙ Lamax must be known to be able to better assess training-related adjustments of anaerobic performance using isokinetic force tests. (2) Methods: 32 subjects were assigned to two groups and completed two unilateral isokinetic force tests (210° s−1, Range of Motion 90°) within seven days. Group 1 (n = 16; age 24.0 ± 2.8 years, BMI 23.5 ± 2.6 kg m−2, training duration: 4.5 ± 2.4 h week−1) completed eight repetitions and group 2 (n = 16; age 23.7 ± 1.9 years, BMI 24.6 ± 2.4 kg m−2, training duration: 5.5 ± 2.1 h week−1) completed 16 repetitions. To determine V˙ Lamax, capillary blood (20 µL) was taken before and immediately after loading, and up to the 9th minute post-load. Reproducibility and variability was determined using Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses, and variability were determined using within-subject standard deviation (Sw) and Limits of Agreement (LoA) using Bland Altman plots. (3) Results: The correlation of V˙ Lamax in group 1 was r = 0.721, and in group 2 r = 0.677. The Sw of V˙ Lamax was 0.04 mmol L−1 s−1 in both groups. In group 1, V˙ Lamax showed a systematic bias due to measurement repetition of 0.02 mmol L−1 s−1 in an interval (LoA) of ±0.11 mmol L−1 s−1. In group 2, a systematic bias of −0.008 mmol L−1 s−1 at an interval (LoA) of ±0.11 mmol L−1 s−1 was observed for repeated measurements of V˙ Lamax. (4) Conclusions: Based on the existing variability, a reliable calculation of V˙ Lamax seems to be possible with both short and longer isokinetic force loads. Changes in V˙ Lamax above 0.11 mmol L−1 s−1 due to training can be described as a non-random increase or decrease in V˙ Lamax.

Dans ce travail de thèse, nous proposons une base de connaissances, destinée à une prothèse de mémoire « intelligente », appelée CaptainMemo, qui a pour but d’aider les malades d’Alzheimer, à pallier leurs problèmes de dégénérescence mnésique. Cette base de connaissances est basée sur l’ontologie temporelle, multiculturelle et multilingue PersonLink, permettant à la prothèse de mémoire une représentation sémantique rigoureuse, multilingue et temporelle des liens interpersonnels. L’ontologie PersonLink est déréférençable et présente dans le Web de données.Le multilinguisme et la représentation temporelle sont deux grands sujets de recherche en informatique et en Web sémantique en particulier. Le multilinguisme appliqué à la représentation des relations interpersonnelles requiert un traitement spécifique, car il est lié au multiculturalisme. Par ailleurs, le passage d’une culture/langue à une autre s’avère une grande problématique de recherche. En effet, la traduction littérale n’est pas toujours permise, surtout quand il s’agit des relations interpersonnelles, car elles sont culturellement dépendantes. Dans ce contexte, nous proposons une approche permettant la représentation des ontologies dans plusieurs cultures/langues. Cette approche, en se basant sur un algorithme de traduction, permet le passage d’une culture/langue à une autre sans faire de la traduction littérale mais plutôt une traduction culturelle. Ainsi, en adoptant cette approche, notre ontologie PersonLink permet une représentation exacte des relations interpersonnelles, qui prend en considération l’aspect culturel pour la définition de chaque relation, et lui attribue le terme adéquat selon la langue liée à la culture dans laquelle elle est représentée. Les relations interpersonnels régissent à des règles et contraintes qui les définissent selon chaque culture, ces contraintes sont représentées sémantiquement dans l’ontologie PersonLink via OWL2. Cependant, il est difficile de prendre en considération ces contraintes lors de l’introduction de la dimension temporelle pour représenter les intervalles de temps de ces relations interpersonnelles, surtout quand ces dernières sont diachroniques et leurs intervalles de temps sont qualitatifs. En effet, les modèles et solutions déjà existantes permettent de faire une représentation temporelle des intervalles de temps (ex 4D-Fluents), et de lier entre ces intervalles de temps (ex Relations d’Allen), mais ne prennent pas en considération les contraintes sémantiques des relations interpersonnelles. Dans ce sens, nous proposons une approche qui permet une représentation sémantique, basée sur les contraintes OWL2, pour la représentation des intervalles de temps qualitatifs. Enfin, pour traiter l’intelligence de la prothèse de mémoire CaptainMemo, nous proposons une approche pour le raisonnement sur les intervalles dans le temps. Dans cette approche nous introduisons un ensemble de règles SWRL pour affirmer des relations d’Allen temporelles inférées, permettant aux raisonneurs, tel que Pellet qui prend en charge les règles DL-Safe, d’être employés pour l'inférence et la vérification de la cohérence sur les relations temporelles entre différents intervalles de temps. La table des compositions des relations entre intervalles de temps a ainsi été considérablement réduite, car elle se base sur un ensemble tractable de ces relations, ce qui en résulte un temps de traitement de raisonnement plus réduit. / In this thesis, we propose a knowledge base for a "smart" memory prosthesis, called CaptainMemo, which aims to help Alzheimer's patients to overcome their memory impairments. This knowledge base is built over the temporal, multicultural and multilingual PersonLink ontology. This ontology gives the memory prosthesis a rigorous, multilingual and temporal semantic representation of interpersonal relationships. The PersonLink ontology is dereferenceable and available in the Linked Data. Multilingualism and temporal representation are two major research topics in computer science and in the Semantic Web in particular.Multilingualism applied to the representation of interpersonal relationships requires specific treatment because it is linked to multiculturalism. In addition, the transition from one culture / language to another is a major research problem. Indeed, literal translation is not always allowed, especially when it comes to interpersonal relationships, because they are culturally dependent. In this context, we propose an approach allowing the representation of ontologies in several cultures / languages. This approach, based on a translation algorithm, allows the transition from one culture / language to another by making a cultural translation rather than a literal one. Thus, by adopting this approach, our PersonLink ontology allows an exact representation of interpersonal relationships, because it takes into consideration the cultural aspect for the definition of each relationship, and assigns the appropriate term according to the language related to this culture. Interpersonal relationships are governed by rules and constraints that define them according to each culture, these constraints are represented semantically in the PersonLink ontology using OWL2. However, it is difficult to consider these constraints when introducing the temporal dimension to represent the time intervals of these interpersonal relationships, especially when these are diachronic and their time intervals are qualitative. Indeed, the legacy models and solutions make it possible to make a temporal representation of the time intervals (e.g. 4D-Fluents), and to link between these time intervals (e.g. Allen Relations), but do not take into account the semantics constraints of interpersonal relationships. In this context, we propose an approach that allows a semantic representation, based on OWL2 constraints, for the representation of qualitative time intervals. Finally, to deal with the intelligence of the CaptainMemo memory prosthesis, we propose an approach for reasoning over time intervals. In this approach we introduce a set of SWRL rules to assert inferred temporal Allen relationships, allowing reasoners, such as Pellet that supports DL-Safe rules, to be used for the inference and the verification of consistency over the temporal relationships between different time intervals. Thus, the table of compositions of the relations between time intervals has been considerably reduced, since it is based on a tractable set of these relations, and, consequently, the processing time of the reasoning becomes shorter.

The main theme of the master’s thesis is optimization of traffic on the signalized intersection on náměstí Svobody in Kunovice. Here is project of new signal plans with minimal conversions at the crossroads to maximal lifetime of signalized intersection.

No description available.

The diploma thesis investigates the subjective perception of time, especially the exactness of the interval length estimation, subjective passage of time, in relation to the time perspective, the level of difficulty in emotion regulation and age. Furthermore, the thesis investigates differences in retrospective and prospective paradigm in interval length estimate. Research was conducted online, with a total number of 180 respondents. Data collection had occurred during a 4 month period. Main instruments were the Czech versions of the ZTPI - Zimbardo's time perspective inventory and the DERS-SF-CZ - Difficulty in emotion regulation scale; moreover, for the declaration of subjective passage of time was employed a method of verbal estimation. Subjective interval length was registered after finishing rewriting of two short texts. The results have showed statistically significant relationships between subjective passage of time and age; between the level of difficulty in emotion regulation and subjective passage of time. Amongst the persons orientated onto positive and negative past, there was found a significant relationship between the subjective passage of time and the difficulty in emotion regulation. Results have also shown that the interval length is overestimated in both, prospective and...

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:41:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:08:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Tese (Doutoramento) / IPEN/T / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:41:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:08:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Em uma primeira etapa, os catalisadores eletroquímicos de Pt/C, Pt/C+ATO, Pd/C, Pd/C+ATO, PtPd/C+ATO e PtPdSn/C+ATO, onde foram usadas diferentes razões molares de Pt e Pd, e de Pt, Pd e Sn, respectivamente, foram preparados pelo método de redução por borohidreto de sódio para serem testados na oxidação do etanol. H2PtCl6.6H2O, Pd(NO3)2.2H2O e SnCl2.2H2O foram utilizados como fontes de metais, que corresponderam a 20% em massa do catalisador. A mistura física de 85% de carbono Vulcan XC72 e 15% de Sb2O5.SnO2 (ATO) foi utilizada como suporte. Os catalisadores foram caracterizados por meio da difração de raios X, microscopia de transmissão, voltametria cíclica, cronoamperometria, teste em célula unitária de etanol direto e espectroscopia de infravermelho com transformada de Fourier in situ (ATR-FTIR). Os difratogramas de raios X de Pt/C e Pd/C mostraram quatro picos associados com a estrutura cúbica de face centrada (cfc) da platina e do paládio, respectivamente. Já para os catalisadores de Pt, Pd, PtPd e PtPdSn, suportados em carbono e ATO puderam ser visualizados, além dos picos referentes à Pt e ao Pd, outros oito picos associados com a cassiterita e/ou com os óxidos de estanho dopado com antimônio (ATO). A microscopia de transmissão mostrou que todos os catalisadores apresentam suas partículas metálicas homogeneamente distribuídas no suporte e seus tamanhos variaram de 2 a 6 nm. Os estudos eletroquímicos de voltametria e cronoamperometria em meio de H2SO4 indicaram que os catalisadores terciários de PtPdSn(80:10:10)/C+ATO e PtPdSn(90:5:5)/C+ATO, e o binário de PtPd(80:20)/C+ATO apresentaram, nesta ordem, as maiores densidades de corrente para a oxidação eletroquímica do etanol, em relação a Pt/C, no intervalo de potenciais de interesse de 0,05 a 0,9 V vs. ERH. Os experimentos em uma célula a combustível de etanol direto à 100°C mostraram desempenhos de densidade de potência semelhantes para os dois catalisadores terciários e, aproximadamente 6 vezes mais altos que o obtido para Pt/C. Os espectros de FTIR obtidos durante a oxidação eletroquímica do etanol na presença de HClO4 0,1 M mostrou as principais bandas em 2344, 1282 e 933 cm-3, as quais estão associadas à presença de CO2, ácido acético e acetaldeído, respectivamente. Para os catalisadores de Pt/C, PtPd(80:20)/C+ATO e PtPdSn(90:5:5)/C+ATO, o acetaldeído foi o principal produto no intervalo de potenciais estudado, conforme é indicado pelo gráfico das intensidades integradas de bandas; enquanto que para Pt/C+ATO e PtPdSn(80:10:10)/C+ATO, o ácido acétido foi o principal produto. Em uma segunda etapa, os catalisadores de PdPt(80:20)/C+ATO, PdPtSn(80:10:10)/C+ATO e PdPtSn(90:5:5)/C+ATO foram preparados para serem testados eletroquimicamente, por meio de voltametria cíclica e cronoamperometria, em meio alcalino. Os resultados obtidos indicaram que novamente os catalisadores terciários apresentaram as maiores atividades catalíticas no intervalo de -0,850 V a -0,450 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Isso confirmou que o Pd é um excelente catalisador para oxidação do etanol em meio alcalino, pois o valor de corrente em meio alcalino foi cerca de sessenta vezes maior que o valor obtido em meio ácido. Esses resultados sugerem excelentes perspectivas para o uso de catalisadores de Pd para a oxidação de etanol em células alcalinas. / Tese (Doutoramento) / IPEN/T / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP

Cette thèse s'intéresse à l'étude des problèmes de diagnostic des fautes sur les systèmes à événements discrets en utilisant les modèles réseau de Petri. Des techniques d'exploration incrémentale et à-la-volée sont développées pour combattre le problème de l'explosion de l'état lors de l'analyse de la diagnosticabilité. Dans le contexte atemporel, la diagnosticabilité de modèles RdP-L est abordée par l'analyse d'une série de problèmes K-diagnosticabilité. L'analyse de la diagnosticabilité est effectuée sur la base de deux modèles nommés respectivement FM-graph et FM-set tree qui sont développés à-la-volée. Un diagnostiqueur peut être dérivé à partir du FM-set tree pour le diagnostic en ligne. Dans le contexte temporel, les techniques de fractionnement des intervalles de temps sont élaborées pour développer représentation de l'espace d'état des RdP-LT pour laquelle des techniques d'analyse de la diagnosticabilité peuvent être utilisées. Sur cette base, les conditions nécessaires et suffisantes pour la diagnosticabilité de RdP-LT ont été déterminées. En pratique, l'analyse de la diagnosticabilité est effectuée sur la base de la construction à-la-volée d'une structure nommée ASG et qui contient des informations relatives à l'occurrence de fautes. D'une manière générale, l'analyse effectuée sur la base des techniques à-la-volée et incrémentale permet de construire et explorer seulement une partie de l'espace d'état, même lorsque le système est diagnosticable. Les résultats des simulations effectuées sur certains benchmarks montrent l'efficacité de ces techniques en termes de temps et de mémoire par rapport aux approches traditionnelles basées sur l'énumération des états / This PhD thesis deals with fault diagnosis of discrete event systems using Petri net models. Some on-the-fly and incremental techniques are developed to reduce the state explosion problem while analyzing diagnosability. In the untimed context, an algebraic representation for labeled Petri nets (LPNs) is developed for featuring system behavior. The diagnosability of LPN models is tackled by analyzing a series of K-diagnosability problems. Two models called respectively FM-graph and FM-set tree are developed and built on the fly to record the necessary information for diagnosability analysis. Finally, a diagnoser is derived from the FM-set tree for online diagnosis. In the timed context, time interval splitting techniques are developed in order to make it possible to generate a state representation of labeled time Petri net (LTPN) models, for which techniques from the untimed context can be used to analyze diagnosability. Based on this, necessary and sufficient conditions for the diagnosability of LTPN models are determined. Moreover, we provide the solution for the minimum delay ∆ that ensures diagnosability. From a practical point of view, diagnosability analysis is performed on the basis of on-the-fly building of a structure that we call ASG and which holds fault information about the LTPN states. Generally, using on-the-fly analysis and incremental technique makes it possible to build and investigate only a part of the state space, even in the case when the system is diagnosable. Simulation results obtained on some chosen benchmarks show the efficiency in terms of time and memory compared with the traditional approaches using state enumeration

Dans le cadre de cette thèse, nous proposons une prothèse de mémoire « intelligente », appelée CAPTAIN MEMO, destinée aux malades d’Alzheimer, pour pallier leurs problèmes mnésiques. Cette prothèse est basée sur l’ontologie temporelle, floue et multilingue appelée MemoFuzzyOnto.Cette prothèse offre des interfaces accessibles à cette classe particulière d’utilisateurs. Nous proposons, pour mettre en œuvre ces interfaces, une méthodologie de conception appelée InterfaceToAlz pour concevoir des interfaces accessibles aux malades d’Alzheimer, et qui offre un guide de 146 bonnes pratiques ergonomiques. De plus, nous proposons un outil de visualisation d’ontologies appelé Memo Graph qui génère un graphe dont la visualisation et la manipulation sont accessibles aux malades d’Alzheimer. Cette proposition est motivée par le fait que CAPTAIN MEMO a besoin de générer et d’éditer le graphe de la famille et de l’entourage du patient, à partir de l’ontologie MemoFuzzyOnto qui structure sa base de connaissances. Memo Graph est fondé sur notre guide de bonnes pratiques ergonomiques et notre approche, appelée Incremental Key-Instances Extraction and Visualisation, qui permet une extraction et une visualisation incrémentale du résumé des assertions ABox de l’ontologie. Il supporte également la visualisation des données ouvertes liées (Linked Data) et le passage à l’échelle. Par ailleurs, nous proposons, dans le cadre de cette thèse, une typologie de l’imperfection des données saisies (principalement due à la discordance mnésique provoquée par la maladie), et une méthodologie pour permettre à CAPTAIN MEMO d’être tolérante à la saisie des données fausses. Nous proposons un modèle d’évaluation de la crédibilité et une approche, nommée Data Believability Estimation for Applications to Alzheimer Patients, permettant d’estimer qualitativement et quantitativement la crédibilité de chaque donnée saisie. Enfin, pour que CAPTAIN MEMO soit tolérante à la saisie des intervalles temporels imprécis nous proposons deux approches : l’une basée sur un environnement précis et l’autre basée sur un environnement flou. Dans chacune des deux approches, nous étendons l’approche 4D-fluents pour représenter les intervalles temporels imprécis et les relations temporelles qualitatives, puis nous étendons l’algèbre d’Allen pour prendre en compte les intervalles imprécis dans le cadre de notre ontologie MemoFuzzyOnto. Nos contributions sont implémentées et évaluées. Nous avons évalué l’accessibilité de ses interfaces utilisateurs, le service de CAPTAIN MEMO qui a pour but de stimuler la mémoire du patient, notre approche pour l’estimation quantitative de la crédibilité des données saisies ainsi que la visualisation du graphe générée à l’aide de Memo Graph. Nous avons également évalué la performance de Memo Graph et son utilisabilité par des experts du domaine. / In the context of this thesis, we propose a “smart” memory prosthesis, called CAPTAIN MEMO, to help Alzheimer’s disease patients to palliate mnesic problems. It is based on a temporal, fuzzy and multilingual ontology named MemoFuzzyOnto. It provides accessible user interfaces to this demographic. To design these interfaces, we propose a methodology named InterfaceToAlz which serves as an information base for guiding and evaluating the design of user interfaces for Alzheimer’s disease patients. It identifies 146 design guidelines.Besides, we propose an ontology visualization tool called Memo Graph which offers an accessible and understandable visualization to Alzheimer’s disease patients. In fact, in the context of CAPTAIN MEMO, there is a need to generate the patient entourage/family tree from its personal data structured according to MemoFuzzyOnto. Memo Graph is based on our design guidelines and our approach, named Incremental Key-Instances Extraction and Visualisation, to extract and visualize descriptive instance summarizations from a given ontology and generate “summary instance graphs” from the most important data. It supports Linked Data visualization and scaling.Furthermore, we propose a typology of the imperfection of the data entered (mainly due to the memory discordance caused by this disease), and a methodology to allow false data entry. We propose a believability model and an approach called Data Believability Estimation for Applications to Alzheimer Patients to estimate qualitatively and quantitatively the believability of each data entered. Finally, CAPTAIN MEMO allows imprecise time intervals entry. We propose two approaches: a crisp-based approach and a fuzzy-based approach. The first one uses only crisp standards and tools and is modeled in OWL 2. The second approach is based on fuzzy sets theory and fuzzy tools and is modeled in Fuzzy-OWL 2. For the two approaches, we extend the 4D-fluents model to represent imprecise time intervals and qualitative interval relations. Then, we extend the Allen’s interval algebra to compare imprecise time interval in the context of MemoFuzzyOnto. Our contributions are implemented and evaluated. We evaluated the service of CAPTAIN MEMO which has the aim to stimulate the patient’s memory, the accessibility of its user interfaces, the efficiency of our approach to estimate quantitatively the believability of each data entered and the visualization generated with Memo Graph. We also evaluated Memo Graph with domain expert users.