Empirical autocorrelation functions of returns of stochastic price processes show phenomena of correlation on small intervals of time, which decay to zero after a short time. The paper deals with the concept of weakly correlated random processes to describe a mathematical model which takes into account this behaviour of statistical data. Weakly correlated functions have been applied to model numerous problems of physics and engineering. The main idea is, that the values of the functions at two points are uncorrelated if the distance between the points exceeds a certain quantity epsilon > 0. In contrast to the white noise model, for distances smaller than epsilon a correlation between the values is permitted.

A systematic procedure is followed to develop singularity-reduced integral equations for modeling cracks in two-dimensional, linear multi-field media. The class of media treated is quite general and includes, as special cases, anisotropic elasticity, piezoelectricity and magnetoelectroelasticity. Of particular interest is the development of a pair of weakly-singular, weak-form integral equations (IEs) for "generalized displacement" and "generalized stress"; these serve as the basis for the development of a Symmetric Galerkin Boundary Element Method (SGBEM). The implementation is carried out to allow treatment of general mixed boundary conditions, an arbitrary number of cracks, and multi-region domains (in which regions having different material properties are bonded together). Finally, a procedure for calculation of T-stress, the constant term in the asymptotic series expansion of crack-tip stress field, is developed for anisotropic elastic media. The pair of weak-form boundary IEs that is derived (one for generalized displacement and the other one for generalized stress) are completely regularized in the sense that all kernels that appear are (at most) weakly-singular. This feature allows standard Co elements to be utilized in the SGBEM, and such elements are employed everywhere except at the crack tip. A special crack-tip element is developed to properly model the asymptotic behavior of the relative crack-face displacements. This special element contains "extra" degrees of freedom that allow the generalized stress intensity factors to be directly obtained from the solution of the governing system of discretized equations. It should be noted that while the integral equations contain only weakly-singular kernels (and so are integrable in the usual sense) there remains a need to devise special integration techniques to accurately evaluate these integrals as part of the numerical implementation. Various examples for crack problems are treated to illustrate the accuracy and versatility of the proposed procedure for both unbounded and finite domains and for both single-region and multi-region problems. It is found that highly accurate fracture data can be obtained using relatively course meshes. Finally, this dissertation addresses the development of a numerical procedure to calculate T-stress for crack problems in general anisotropic elastic media. T-stress is obtained from the sum of crack-face displacements which are computed via a (regularized) integral equation of the boundary data. Two approaches for computing the derivative of the sum of crack-face displacements are proposed: one uses numerical differentiation, and the other one uses a weak-form integral equation. Various examples are examined to demonstrate that highly accurate results are obtained by means of both approaches. / text

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Face detection in video sequence is becoming popular in surveillance applications. The trade-off between obtaining discriminative features to achieve accurate detection versus computational overhead of extracting these features, which affects the classification speed, is a persistent problem. Two ideas are introduced to increase the features’ discriminative power. These ideas are used to implement two frontal face detectors examined on a 2D low-resolution surveillance sequence. First contribution is the parallel classifier. High discriminative power features are achieved by fusing the decision from two different features trained classifiers where each type of the features targets different image structure. Accurate and fast to train classifier is achieved. Co-occurrence of Local Binary Patterns (CoLBP) features is proposed, the pixels of the image are targeted. CoLBP features find the joint probability of multiple LBP features. These features have computationally efficient feature extraction and provide high discriminative features; hence, accurate detection is achieved.

In this thesis, we aim to study derivations from l^1(Z+) to its dual, l^\infty(Z+). We first characterize them as certain closed subspace of l^1(Z+). Then we present a necessary and sufficient condition, due to M. J. Heath, to make a bounded derivation on l^1(Z+) into l^\infty(Z+), a compact linear operator. After that base on the work in [6], we study weakly compact derivations from l^1(Z+) to its dual. We introduce T-sets and TF-sets and then state their relation with weakly compact operators on l^1(Z+). These results are originally due to Y. Choi and M. J. Heath, but we give simpler proofs. Finally, we will study certain classes of derivations from L^1(R+) to L^\infty(R+), and give an elementary proof that they are always mapped into C0(R+).

Recall that a Banach space X has the Dunford-Pettis property if every weakly compact operator defined on X takes weakly compact sets into norm compact sets. Some valuable characterisations of Banach spaces with the Dunford-Pettis property are: X has the DPP if and only if for all Banach spaces Y, every weakly compact operator from X to Y sends weakly convergent sequences onto norm convergent sequences (i.e. it requires that weakly compact operators on X are completely continuous) and this is equivalent to “if (xn) and (x*n) are sequences in X and X* respectively and limn xn = 0 weakly and limn x*n = 0 weakly then limn x*n xn = 0". A striking application of the Dunford-Pettis property (as was observed by Grothendieck) is to prove that if X is a linear subspace of L() for some finite measure  and X is closed in some Lp() for 1 ≤ p < , then X is finite dimensional. The fact that the well known spaces L1() and C() have this property (as was proved by Dunford and Pettis) was a remarkable achievement in the early history of Banach spaces and was motivated by the study of integral equations and the hope to develop an understanding of linear operators on Lp() for p ≥ 1. In fact, it played an important role in proving that for each weakly compact operator T : L1()  L1() or T : C()  C(), the operator T2 is compact, a fact which is important from the point of view that there is a nice spectral theory for compact operators and operators whose squares are compact. There is an extensive literature involving the Dunford-Pettis property. Almost all the articles and books in our list of references contain some information about this property, but there are plenty more that could have been listed. The reader is for instance referred to [4], [5], [7], [8], [10], [17] and [24] for information on the role of the DPP in different areas of Banach space theory. In this dissertation, however, we are motivated by the two papers [7] and [8] to study alternative Dunford-Pettis properties, to introduce a scale of (new) alternative Dunford-Pettis properties, which we call DP*-properties of order p (briefly denoted by DP*P), and to consider characterisations of Banach spaces with these properties as well as applications thereof to polynomials and holomorphic functions on Banach spaces. In the paper [8] the class Cp(X, Y) of p-convergent operators from a Banach space X to a Banach space Y is introduced. Replacing the requirement that weakly compact operators on X should be completely continuous in the case of the DPP for X (as is mentioned above) by “weakly compact operators on X should be p-convergent", an alternative Dunford-Pettis property (called the Dunford-Pettis property of order p) is introduced. More precisely, if 1 ≤ p ≤ , a Banach space X is said to have DPPp if the inclusion W(X, Y)  Cp(X, Y) holds for all Banach spaces Y . Here W(X, Y) denotes the family of all weakly compact operators from X to Y. We now have a scale of “Dunford-Pettis like properties" in the sense that all Banach spaces have the DPP1, if p < q, then each Banach space with the DPPq also has the DPPp and the strongest property, namely the DPP1 coincides with the DPP. In the paper [7] the authors study a property on Banach spaces (called the DP*-property, or briey the DP*P) which is stronger than the DPP, in the sense that if a Banach space has this property then it also has DPP. We say X has the DP*P, when all weakly compact sets in X are limited, i.e. each sequence (x*n)  X * in the dual space of X which converges weak* to 0, also converges uniformly (to 0) on all weakly compact sets in X. It turns out that this property is equivalent to another property on Banach spaces which is introduced in [17] (and which is called the *-Dunford-Pettis property) as follows: We say a Banach space X has the *-Dunford-Pettis property if for all weakly null sequences (xn) in X and all weak* null sequences (x*n) in X*, we have x*n(xn) n 0. After a thorough study of the DP*P, including characterisations and examples of Banach spaces with the DP*P, the authors in [7] consider some applications to polynomials and analytic functions on Banach spaces. Following an extensive literature study and in depth research into the techniques of proof relevant to this research field, we are able to present a thorough discussion of the results in [7] and [8] as well as some selected (relevant) results from other papers (for instance, [2] and [17]). This we do in Chapter 2 of the dissertation. The starting point (in Section 2.1 of Chapter 2) is the introduction of the so called p-convergent operators, being those bounded linear operators T : X  Y which transform weakly p-summable sequences into norm-null sequences, as well as the so called weakly p-convergent sequences in Banach spaces, being those sequences (xn) in a Banach space X for which there exists an x  X such that the sequence (xn - x) is weakly p-summable. Using these concepts, we state and prove an important characterisation (from the paper [8]) of Banach spaces with DPPp. In Section 2.2 (of Chapter 2) we continue to report on the results of the paper [7], where the DP*P on Banach spaces is introduced. We focus on the characterisation of Banach spaces with DP*P, obtaining among others that a Banach space X has DP*P if and only if for all weakly null sequences (xn) in X and all weak* null sequences (x*n) in X*, we have x*n(xn) n 0. An important characterisation of the DP*P considered in this section is the fact that X has DP*P if and only if every T  L(X, c0) is completely continuous. This result proves to be of fundamental importance in the study of the DP*P and its application to results on polynomials and holomorphic functions on Banach spaces. To be able to report on the applications of the DP*P in the context of homogeneous polynomials and analytic functions on Banach spaces, we embark on a study of “Complex Analysis in Banach spaces" (mostly with the focus on homogeneous polynomials and analytic functions on Banach spaces). This we do in Chapter 3; the content of the chapter is mostly based on work in the books [23] and [14], but also on the work in some articles such as [15]. After we have discussed the relevant theory of complex analysis in Banach spaces in Chapter 3, we devote Chapter 4 to considering properties of polynomials and analytic functions on Banach spaces with DP*P. The discussion in Chapter 4 is based on the applications of DP*P in the paper [7]. Finally, in Chapter 5 of the dissertation, we contribute to the study of “Dunford-Pettis like properties" by introducing the Banach space property “DP*P of order p", or briefly the DP*Pp for Banach spaces. Using the concept “weakly p-convergent sequence in Banach spaces" as is defined in [8], we define weakly-p-compact sets in Banach spaces. Then a Banach space X is said to have the DP*-property of order p (for 1 ≤ p ≤ ) if all weakly-p-compact sets in X are limited. In short, we say X has DP*Pp. As in [8] (where the DPPp is introduced), we now have a scale of DP*P-like properties, in the sense that all Banach spaces have DP*P1 and if p < q and X has DP*Pq then it has DP*Pp. The strongest property DP*P coincides with DP*P. We prove characterisations of Banach spaces with DP*Pp, discuss some examples and then consider applications to polynomials and analytic functions on Banach spaces. Our results and techniques in this chapter depend very much on the results obtained in the previous three chapters, but now we have to find our own correct definitions and formulations of results within this new context. We do this with some success in Sections 5.1 and 5.2 of Chapter 5. Chapter 1 of this dissertation provides a wide range of concepts and results in Banach spaces and the theory of vector sequence spaces (some of them very deep results from books listed in the bibliography). These results are mostly well known, but they are scattered in the literature - they are discussed in Chapter 1 (some with proof, others without proof, depending on the importance of the arguments in the proofs for later use and depending on the detail with which the results are discussed elsewhere in the literature) with the intention to provide an exposition which is mostly self contained and which will be comfortably accessible for graduate students. The dissertation reflects the outcome of our investigation in which we set ourselves the following goals: 1. Obtain a thorough understanding of the Dunford-Pettis property and some related (both weaker and stronger) properties that have been studied in the literature. 2. Focusing on the work in the paper [8], understand the role played in the study of difierent classes of operators by a scale of properties on Banach spaces, called the DPPp, which are weaker than the DP-property and which are introduced in [8] by using the weakly p-summable sequences in X and weakly null sequences in X*. 3. Focusing on the work in the paper [7], investigate the DP*P for Banach spaces, which is the exact property to answer a question of Pelczynsky's regarding when every symmetric bilinear separately compact map X x X  c0 is completely continuous. 4. Based on the ideas intertwined in the work of the paper [8] in the study of a scale of DP-properties and the work in the paper [7], introduce the DP*Pp on Banach spaces and investigate their applications to spaces of operators and in the theory of polynomials and analytic mappings on Banach spaces. Thereby, not only extending the results in [7] to a larger family of Banach spaces, but also to find an answer to the question: “When will every symmetric bilinear separately compact map X x X  c0 be p-convergent?" / Thesis (M.Sc. (Mathematics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Behavioural syndromes, defined as suites of correlated behaviours across different contexts, are used to characterize individual variability in behaviours. Males of the weakly electric fish species, Apteronotus leptorhynchus, produce electro-communication signals called chirps. Chirps are thought to be involved in agonistic signalling, as their relative incidence increases during agonistic conspecific interactions. However, high levels of individual variability in aggression obscure the role of chirps in mediating aggression. Here, I tested the presence of an aggression-boldness behavioural syndrome, and then considered the implications such a syndrome would have on chirping behaviours. Behavioural tests in anti-predation, object novelty, feeding, conspecific intrusion and novel environment exploration contexts revealed a syndrome involving only object novelty and feeding. We found no correlation between chirping behaviour and the assessed behaviours. Our results demonstrate that chirps represent a more complex communication system than previously suggested.

Recall that a Banach space X has the Dunford-Pettis property if every weakly compact operator defined on X takes weakly compact sets into norm compact sets. Some valuable characterisations of Banach spaces with the Dunford-Pettis property are: X has the DPP if and only if for all Banach spaces Y, every weakly compact operator from X to Y sends weakly convergent sequences onto norm convergent sequences (i.e. it requires that weakly compact operators on X are completely continuous) and this is equivalent to “if (xn) and (x*n) are sequences in X and X* respectively and limn xn = 0 weakly and limn x*n = 0 weakly then limn x*n xn = 0". A striking application of the Dunford-Pettis property (as was observed by Grothendieck) is to prove that if X is a linear subspace of L() for some finite measure  and X is closed in some Lp() for 1 ≤ p < , then X is finite dimensional. The fact that the well known spaces L1() and C() have this property (as was proved by Dunford and Pettis) was a remarkable achievement in the early history of Banach spaces and was motivated by the study of integral equations and the hope to develop an understanding of linear operators on Lp() for p ≥ 1. In fact, it played an important role in proving that for each weakly compact operator T : L1()  L1() or T : C()  C(), the operator T2 is compact, a fact which is important from the point of view that there is a nice spectral theory for compact operators and operators whose squares are compact. There is an extensive literature involving the Dunford-Pettis property. Almost all the articles and books in our list of references contain some information about this property, but there are plenty more that could have been listed. The reader is for instance referred to [4], [5], [7], [8], [10], [17] and [24] for information on the role of the DPP in different areas of Banach space theory. In this dissertation, however, we are motivated by the two papers [7] and [8] to study alternative Dunford-Pettis properties, to introduce a scale of (new) alternative Dunford-Pettis properties, which we call DP*-properties of order p (briefly denoted by DP*P), and to consider characterisations of Banach spaces with these properties as well as applications thereof to polynomials and holomorphic functions on Banach spaces. In the paper [8] the class Cp(X, Y) of p-convergent operators from a Banach space X to a Banach space Y is introduced. Replacing the requirement that weakly compact operators on X should be completely continuous in the case of the DPP for X (as is mentioned above) by “weakly compact operators on X should be p-convergent", an alternative Dunford-Pettis property (called the Dunford-Pettis property of order p) is introduced. More precisely, if 1 ≤ p ≤ , a Banach space X is said to have DPPp if the inclusion W(X, Y)  Cp(X, Y) holds for all Banach spaces Y . Here W(X, Y) denotes the family of all weakly compact operators from X to Y. We now have a scale of “Dunford-Pettis like properties" in the sense that all Banach spaces have the DPP1, if p < q, then each Banach space with the DPPq also has the DPPp and the strongest property, namely the DPP1 coincides with the DPP. In the paper [7] the authors study a property on Banach spaces (called the DP*-property, or briey the DP*P) which is stronger than the DPP, in the sense that if a Banach space has this property then it also has DPP. We say X has the DP*P, when all weakly compact sets in X are limited, i.e. each sequence (x*n)  X * in the dual space of X which converges weak* to 0, also converges uniformly (to 0) on all weakly compact sets in X. It turns out that this property is equivalent to another property on Banach spaces which is introduced in [17] (and which is called the *-Dunford-Pettis property) as follows: We say a Banach space X has the *-Dunford-Pettis property if for all weakly null sequences (xn) in X and all weak* null sequences (x*n) in X*, we have x*n(xn) n 0. After a thorough study of the DP*P, including characterisations and examples of Banach spaces with the DP*P, the authors in [7] consider some applications to polynomials and analytic functions on Banach spaces. Following an extensive literature study and in depth research into the techniques of proof relevant to this research field, we are able to present a thorough discussion of the results in [7] and [8] as well as some selected (relevant) results from other papers (for instance, [2] and [17]). This we do in Chapter 2 of the dissertation. The starting point (in Section 2.1 of Chapter 2) is the introduction of the so called p-convergent operators, being those bounded linear operators T : X  Y which transform weakly p-summable sequences into norm-null sequences, as well as the so called weakly p-convergent sequences in Banach spaces, being those sequences (xn) in a Banach space X for which there exists an x  X such that the sequence (xn - x) is weakly p-summable. Using these concepts, we state and prove an important characterisation (from the paper [8]) of Banach spaces with DPPp. In Section 2.2 (of Chapter 2) we continue to report on the results of the paper [7], where the DP*P on Banach spaces is introduced. We focus on the characterisation of Banach spaces with DP*P, obtaining among others that a Banach space X has DP*P if and only if for all weakly null sequences (xn) in X and all weak* null sequences (x*n) in X*, we have x*n(xn) n 0. An important characterisation of the DP*P considered in this section is the fact that X has DP*P if and only if every T  L(X, c0) is completely continuous. This result proves to be of fundamental importance in the study of the DP*P and its application to results on polynomials and holomorphic functions on Banach spaces. To be able to report on the applications of the DP*P in the context of homogeneous polynomials and analytic functions on Banach spaces, we embark on a study of “Complex Analysis in Banach spaces" (mostly with the focus on homogeneous polynomials and analytic functions on Banach spaces). This we do in Chapter 3; the content of the chapter is mostly based on work in the books [23] and [14], but also on the work in some articles such as [15]. After we have discussed the relevant theory of complex analysis in Banach spaces in Chapter 3, we devote Chapter 4 to considering properties of polynomials and analytic functions on Banach spaces with DP*P. The discussion in Chapter 4 is based on the applications of DP*P in the paper [7]. Finally, in Chapter 5 of the dissertation, we contribute to the study of “Dunford-Pettis like properties" by introducing the Banach space property “DP*P of order p", or briefly the DP*Pp for Banach spaces. Using the concept “weakly p-convergent sequence in Banach spaces" as is defined in [8], we define weakly-p-compact sets in Banach spaces. Then a Banach space X is said to have the DP*-property of order p (for 1 ≤ p ≤ ) if all weakly-p-compact sets in X are limited. In short, we say X has DP*Pp. As in [8] (where the DPPp is introduced), we now have a scale of DP*P-like properties, in the sense that all Banach spaces have DP*P1 and if p < q and X has DP*Pq then it has DP*Pp. The strongest property DP*P coincides with DP*P. We prove characterisations of Banach spaces with DP*Pp, discuss some examples and then consider applications to polynomials and analytic functions on Banach spaces. Our results and techniques in this chapter depend very much on the results obtained in the previous three chapters, but now we have to find our own correct definitions and formulations of results within this new context. We do this with some success in Sections 5.1 and 5.2 of Chapter 5. Chapter 1 of this dissertation provides a wide range of concepts and results in Banach spaces and the theory of vector sequence spaces (some of them very deep results from books listed in the bibliography). These results are mostly well known, but they are scattered in the literature - they are discussed in Chapter 1 (some with proof, others without proof, depending on the importance of the arguments in the proofs for later use and depending on the detail with which the results are discussed elsewhere in the literature) with the intention to provide an exposition which is mostly self contained and which will be comfortably accessible for graduate students. The dissertation reflects the outcome of our investigation in which we set ourselves the following goals: 1. Obtain a thorough understanding of the Dunford-Pettis property and some related (both weaker and stronger) properties that have been studied in the literature. 2. Focusing on the work in the paper [8], understand the role played in the study of difierent classes of operators by a scale of properties on Banach spaces, called the DPPp, which are weaker than the DP-property and which are introduced in [8] by using the weakly p-summable sequences in X and weakly null sequences in X*. 3. Focusing on the work in the paper [7], investigate the DP*P for Banach spaces, which is the exact property to answer a question of Pelczynsky's regarding when every symmetric bilinear separately compact map X x X  c0 is completely continuous. 4. Based on the ideas intertwined in the work of the paper [8] in the study of a scale of DP-properties and the work in the paper [7], introduce the DP*Pp on Banach spaces and investigate their applications to spaces of operators and in the theory of polynomials and analytic mappings on Banach spaces. Thereby, not only extending the results in [7] to a larger family of Banach spaces, but also to find an answer to the question: “When will every symmetric bilinear separately compact map X x X  c0 be p-convergent?" / Thesis (M.Sc. (Mathematics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Face detection in video sequence is becoming popular in surveillance applications. The trade-off between obtaining discriminative features to achieve accurate detection versus computational overhead of extracting these features, which affects the classification speed, is a persistent problem. Two ideas are introduced to increase the features’ discriminative power. These ideas are used to implement two frontal face detectors examined on a 2D low-resolution surveillance sequence. First contribution is the parallel classifier. High discriminative power features are achieved by fusing the decision from two different features trained classifiers where each type of the features targets different image structure. Accurate and fast to train classifier is achieved. Co-occurrence of Local Binary Patterns (CoLBP) features is proposed, the pixels of the image are targeted. CoLBP features find the joint probability of multiple LBP features. These features have computationally efficient feature extraction and provide high discriminative features; hence, accurate detection is achieved.

Theoretical models for the electrokinetics of weakly permeable porous colloidal particles are absent from the literature. The understanding of this topic will be advanced through a systematic analysis of the standard electrokinetic equations, resulting in a theory for the electrophoretic mobility of weakly permeable porous colloidal particles. / The standard electrokinetic equations are employed to model the flux of solvent and ions outside the porous particle. To be consistent with this approach, the flux of solvent and ions in the pores must also be governed by the standard electrokinetic equations. However, in practice, only transport phenomena on the particle scale are observed and it is sufficient for information regarding pore-scale behaviour to be retained purely in the form of averaged quantities. To complete the theoretical description, the standard electrokinetic equations outside the particle must be coupled to particle-scale transport equations inside the particle via boundary conditions at the porous/free-fluid interface. / It has been shown experimentally and theoretically for coupled Stokes and Darcy flows, that the correct interfacial boundary condition for the tangential external flow is given by the Beavers-Joseph-Saffman (BJS) condition. The effect of the BJS boundary condition on the hydrodynamic drag on an oscillating porous particle is investigated. It is found that the particle may be regarded as impermeable with a slip length independent of frequency, and the resulting drag is significantly reduced in comparison with an equivalent impermeable particle that does not exhibit a slip length. / The transport of a general electrolyte solution through a rigid porous body subjected to a static (d.c.) electric field is studied. The pore-scale description is given by the standard electrokinetic equations, including the effects of ion diffusion, electromigration and convection. Homogenization theory is used to derive transport equations that capture the particle-scale behaviour. It is proven that the transport coefficient tensors obey Onsager’s reciprocal relations and the diagonal coefficient tensors are positive definite. / New interfacial boundary conditions are derived using conservation arguments supplemented by Stern-layer theory. When combined with the particle-scale transport equations, these boundary conditions incorporate four principal effects into the standard electrokinetic model: solvent slip and Stern-layer ionic conduction at the interface, and macroscopic ionic conduction together with the electroosmotic flow of solvent through the particle. / The method of matched asymptotic expansions is then used to construct an approximate solution to the aforementioned system, in the thin double-layer limit. An expression for the electrophoretic mobility of a weakly permeable colloidal sphere is produced that consists of a generalization of Smoluchowski’s formula to encompass porous particles, and a next order correction. For the first time, the effects of solvent slip and Stern-layer ionic conduction within the porous/free-fluid interface, in conjunction with macroscopic ionic conduction and electroosmosis through the particle, are exhibited. It is shown that solvent slip at the porous interface is overwhelmingly the dominant effect on the mobility of weakly permeable porous colloidal particles.