Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Combination'
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Hutchings, Claire L. "Combination vaccines." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2006. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.437038.
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Braña, García Irene. "Anticancer targeted agent combination." Doctoral thesis, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/457506.
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Las toxicidades limitantes de dosis fuero una neutropenia febril grado 4 (en el brazo de docetaxel) y una neutropenia grado 3 en el brazo de gemcitabina. La combinación de carlumab no tuvo un impacto
El cáncer es una enfermedad altamente frecuente y con alta mortalidad. El desarrollo de fármacos contra el cáncer se ha caracterizado por su ineficiencia, con una de las tasas de aprobación de fármacos más baja entre las diferentes especialidades médicas. El principal motivo de esta baja tasa de éxito es la falta de eficacia de los nuevos fármacos que entran al desarrollo clínico. Se han planteado diferentes estrategias para mejorar la eficiencia del desarrollo de fármacos, incluyendo la combinación de fármacos antitumorales, el desarrollo en paralelo de biomarcadores y la optimización del diseño de los ensayos clínicos usando modelización basada en farmacocinética y farmacodinamia
Esta tesis es un compendio de dos artículos que evalúan estrategias para optimizar el desarrollo de fármacos mediante la combinación de agentes antitumorales. El primer proyecto es la evaluación preclínica en xenoinjertos derivados de pacientes (PDX) la combinación de inhibidores de PI3K-mTOR con diferentes agentes antitumorales y el segundo es el ensayo clínico fase I evaluando carlumab, un anticuerpo anti CCL2, en combinación con diferentes quimioterapias en pacientes con tumores sólidos avanzados.
Proyecto 1: se seleccionaron tres modelos de PDX con deficiencia en PTEN: un PDX de cáncer de mama triple negativo (TNBC), otro de carcinoma de ovario de bajo grado KRAS G12R mutado y otro de adenocarcinoma de pulmón con mutaciones en KRAS G12C y TP53 R181P. En estos modelos se evaluaron dos inhibidores de PI3K-mTOR—PF-04691502 and PF-05212384— en combinación con cisplatino, paclitaxel o dacomitinib.
La adición de los inhibidores de PI3K-mTOR a cisplatino o paclitaxel aumentó la actividad de la quimioterapia en los modelos de TNBC y LGSOC; sin embargo, no se objetivó este efecto en modelo de adenocarcinoma de pulmón con mutación de KRAS y TP53. Se objetivó modulación farmacodinámica de pAKT y pS6 en los grupos tratados con inhibidores de PI3K-mTOR.
Nuestra investigación sugiere que añadir un inhibidor de PI3K-mTOR puede aumentar el efecto inhibitorio sobre el crecimiento de la quimioterapia en modelos PDX con deficiencia en PTEN. Sin embargo, este beneficio no se observó en el modelo de adenocarcinoma KRAS y TP53 mutado. En el futuro se deberá ahondar en el papel de la pérdida de PTEN en la actividad de estas combinaciones.
Proyecto 2: se trata de un ensayo clínico fase Ib evaluando carlumab, un anticuerpo monoclonal contra CCL-2, en combinación con cuatro regímenes de quimioterapia (docetaxel, gemcitabina, carboplatino + paclitaxel y doxorrubicina liposomal pegilda (PLD). En este estudio participaron 53 pacientes en los que o bien los agentes quimioterápicos eran parte del tratamiento convencional o no tenían otras opciones de tratamiento convencional: docetaxel (n=15), gemcitabina (n=12), carboplatino + paclitaxel (n=12) y PLD (n=14).
Las toxicidades limitantes de dosis incluyeron una neutropenia febril grado 4 (en el brazo de docetaxel) y una neutropenia grado 3 (en el brazo de gemcitabina). De acuerdo a los brazos de tratamiento, las toxicidades grado 3 o mayores más frecuentes fueron: neutropenia (6/15) y neutropenia febril (4/15) en el brazo de docetaxel, neutropenia (2/12) en el brazo de gemcitabina, neutropenia (4/12), trombocitopenia (4/12) y anemia (2/12) en el brazo de carboplatino-paclitaxel y anemia (3/14) y mucositis (2/14) en el brazo de PLD. Se objetivo una respuesta parcial y 18 estabilizaciones de la enfermedad (38%).
La adición de carlumab no tuvo cambios relevantes en el perfil farmacocinético de ninguna de las quimioterapias evaluadas. Los niveles de CCL2 libres descendieron inmediatamente tras el tratamiento con carlumab, pero aumentaron con las administraciones posteriores, sugiriendo que carlumab secuestraba CCL2 de manera temporal. No se objetivaron anticuerpos anti-droga que justificasen dicho efecto. No se objetivaron cambios en las células tumorales circulantes ni en las células circulantes endoteliales. En 3 de 19 pacientes evaluables se objetivó una reducción del 30% en los niveles de N-telopeptido de colágeno tipo I en orina (uNTx).
Carlumab es seguro administrado a dosis de 10 o 15 mg/kg en combinación con quimioterapia convencional y tiene buena tolerancia. Sin embargo, no se alcanza una inhibición sostenida de CCL2, ni se han objetivado un número de respuestas significativas.Cancer is a highly frequent disease associated to high mortality. Drug development in Oncology has shown to be inefficient, having one of the lowest success rate of drugs entering in phase I trials that finally achieves marketed authorization. The main reason for this high failure rate is lack of efficacy. Different strategies have been adopted to improved anti-cancer drug development with the aim of improving patient care. This strategies include the combinatorial use of agents, biomarker co-development, and optimization of clinical trial design with the use of pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling. This thesis is presented as compendium of work integrating two projects; the first project preclinically evaluates the combination of two PI3K-mTOR inhibitors and chemotherapy or the pan-HER inhibitor dacomitinib in patient derived xenografts. The second project evaluates de monoclonal antibody anti-CCL2 carlumab in patient derived xenografts. Project 1: Three PDXs were selected for their lack of PTEN expression by immunohistochemistry: a triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a KRAS G12R low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC), and KRAS G12C and TP53 R181P lung adenocarcinoma (LADC). Two dual PI3K-mTOR inhibitors were evaluated—PF-04691502 and PF-05212384—in combination with cisplatin, paclitaxel, or dacomitinib. The addition of PI3K-mTOR inhibitors to cisplatin or paclitaxel increased the activity of chemotherapy in the TNBC and LGSOC models; whereas no added activity was observed in the LADC model. Pharmacodynamic modulation of pS6 and pAKT was observed in the group treated with PI3K-mTOR inhibitor. Our research suggests that the addition of a PI3K-mTOR inhibitor may enhance tumor growth inhibition when compared to chemotherapy alone in PTEN-deficient PDXs. However, this benefit was absent in the KRAS and TP53 mutant LADC model. The role of PTEN deficiency in the antitumor activity of these combinations should be further investigated in the clinic. Project 2 is a first-in-human phase 1b study of carlumab with one of four chemotherapy regimens (docetaxel, gemcitabine, paclitaxel+carboplatin, and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin HCl [PLD]). Fifty-three patients with advanced solid tumors for which ≥1 of these regimens was considered standard of care or for whom no other treatment options existed participated in the study: docetaxel (n=15), gemcitabine (n=12), paclitaxel or carboplatin (n=12), or PLD (n=14). Dose-limiting toxicities included one grade 4 febrile neutropenia (docetaxel arm) and one grade 3 neutropenia (gemcitabine arm). The most common drug-related grade ≥3 adverse events were docetaxel arm—neutropenia (6/15) and febrile neutropenia (4/15); gemcitabine arm—neutropenia (2/12); paclitaxel+carboplatin arm—neutropenia, thrombocytopenia (4/12 each), and anemia (2/12); and PLD arm—anemia (3/14) and stomatitis (2/14). One partial response and 18 (38 %) stable disease responses were observed. Combination treatment with carlumab had no clinically relevant pharmacokinetic effect on any of the chemotherapeutic agents tested. Free CCL2 declined immediately post-treatment with carlumab but increased with further chemotherapy administrations in all arms, suggesting that carlumab could sequester CCL2 for only a short time. Neither antibodies against carlumab nor consistent changes in circulating tumor cells (CTCs) or circulating endothelial cells (CECs) enumeration were observed. Three of 19 evaluable patients showed a 30 % decrease from baseline urinary cross-linked N-telopeptide of type I collagen (uNTx). Carlumab could be safely administered at 10 or 15 mg/kg in combination with standard-of-care chemotherapy and was well-tolerated, although no long-term suppression of serumCCL2 or significant tumor responses were observed.
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Soule, David P. "Forecast Combination with Multiple Models and Expert Correlations." VCU Scholars Compass, 2019. https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/5809.
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Combining multiple forecasts in order to generate a single, more accurate one is a well-known approach. A simple average of forecasts has been found to be robust despite theoretically better approaches, increasing availability in the number of expert forecasts, and improved computational capabilities. The dominance of a simple average is related to the small sample sizes and to the estimation errors associated with more complex methods. We study the role that expert correlation, multiple experts, and their relative forecasting accuracy have on the weight estimation error distribution. The distributions we find are used to identify the conditions when a decision maker can confidently estimate weights versus using a simple average. We also propose an improved expert weighting approach that is less sensitive to covariance estimation error while providing much of the benefit from a covariance optimal weight. These two improvements create a new heuristic for better forecast aggregation that is simple to use. This heuristic appears new to the literature and is shown to perform better than a simple average in a simulation study and by application to economic forecast data.
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McDonald, Ross Alistair. "Combination in supervised classification problems." Thesis, Imperial College London, 2005. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.413670.
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Maktabi, Siavash. "Combination methods for microbial decontamination." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2003. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.433618.
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Wilkie, Ormond L. "Modification models of conceptual combination." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/13100.
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Opel, Cary F. (Cary Francis). "T cell mediated combination immunotherapy." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/107075.
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Thesis: Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, February 2016.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. "September 2015."
Includes bibliographical references (pages 128-131).
Immunotherapy is a broad treatment strategy that harnesses the immune system to fight off a particular condition or disease. Cancer immunotherapy is the specific application of agents designed to interact or stimulate the immune system to fight off tumors. Treatments as diverse as passive antibody therapy, cytokine support, and comprehensive adoptive T cell transfer make up the broad field of immunotherapeutics. Due to the naturally complex interactions inherent in the immune system, there are many options for therapeutic intervention, however, this same complexity makes it extremely difficult to optimize treatment strategies. Because of this, research into developing new immunotherapies, optimizing existing immunotherapies, and designing new combinations of immunotherapies is still critical in the fight against cancer. Although there have been ongoing successes of individual immunotherapies in the clinic, the complexity and interdependence of the immune system suggests that any single therapeutic intervention will be insufficient to reject established malignancies. Increased interest in applying combinations of immunotherapies in the clinic requires more thorough preclinical work to guide the designs of these studies. The work presented in this thesis focuses on developing combinations of immunotherapies to treat preclinical models of cancer, as well as studying the underlying mechanism of tumor control. T cells are potent mediators of cytotoxicity and when properly used in adoptive cell transfer (ACT) protocols, can be highly effective in the treatment of cancer. ACT consists of three steps: 1) harvesting and purifying T cells from the patient, 2) enriching or modifying the T cells to become tumor specific, and 3) reinfusing the T cells along with supporting therapies. Therapies given alongside ACT are often adjuvants designed to enhance T cell response. However, focusing therapies only on enhancing the activity of the transferred T cells may miss out on synergistic effects when other parts of the immune system are simultaneously engaged. To study the effect of adjuvant therapy on ACT, a preclinical murine model was analyzed. Large, established B16F10 tumors were controlled when pmel-1 T cells were given with a course of supportive MSA-IL2 cytokine therapy, however, no cures were observed. When a course of TA99 antibody therapy was added alongside ACT, a high rate of cures was observed. Flow cytometry of both circulating and tumor infiltrating pmel-1 cells showed massive expansion and activation. Additionally, tumor infiltration of neutrophils, NK cells, and DCs were greatly enhanced by adjuvant therapy. DCs in the tumor draining lymph nodes were largely unchanged by the therapies. Engagement of the humoral immune response was also observed in both treatment cases. Surprisingly, antibody therapy did not substantially alter any of the mechanistic observations made in this study, despite its critical role in achieving cures of tumors. While ACT is a highly effective therapy, its clinical applicability is hindered by the complexity of performing T cell transplants and manipulations. A more optimal solution would involve purely injectable treatments that could elicit the same level of tumor specific T cell response in conjunction with potent recruitment of the adaptive immune system against tumors. To achieve this, working in collaboration with the Irvine Lab, combinations of immunotherapy using up to four different components were tested to identify critical factors in the successful rejection of established tumors in preclinical models. The four components of tumor targeting antibody, cytokine support, checkpoint blockade, and cancer vaccine acted synergistically to reject tumors from B16F10, TC-1, and DD-Her2/neu cell lines. The cancer vaccine elicited large numbers of tumor-specific T cells, and acted as a replacement for ACT. By analyzing subset combinations of this full treatment, the roles of each therapeutic component were identified. CD8 T cells and cross-presenting DCs were critical to curing subcutaneous tumors. Cytokine therapy was indispensable for effective tumor control, promoted immune cell infiltration into the tumor, and led to an increase in DCs. In combination with the other therapies, vaccination against a tumor antigen elicited a strong immunological memory response that was able to reject subsequent tumor rechallenge, as well as promote antigen spreading to new epitopes. Successful combinations were demonstrated to be dependent on the recruitment of both the adaptive and innate branches of the immune system. Finally, the efficacy of this combination of treatments was demonstrated by controlling the growth of induced tumors in a BRaf/Pten model. Combination immunotherapy promises a future where synergistic treatments are specifically tailored to individual cancers leading to highly effective responses. However, determining the optimal combination of therapies, the complexity of dosing strategies, and the availability of targeted treatments are all barriers that must be overcome. The analysis presented here will make a significant contribution to the body of knowledge on immunotherapy as it has shown the importance of combining orthogonal immunotherapies in order to get durable cures to established tumors. These results will hopefully encourage combinations of orthogonally acting therapies based on T cells to achieve stronger clinical responses. By determining the necessary requirements for a strong, synergistic response to tumorous growths, more effective combination immunotherapy protocols may be designed in the future.
by Cary F. Opel.
Ph. D.
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Kao, Lie-Jane. "Designs for drug combination experiments /." The Ohio State University, 1994. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu14878493772931.
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Kiesgen, Alexander [Verfasser]. "Business Combination Agreements. / Alexander Kiesgen." Berlin : Duncker & Humblot, 2021. http://d-nb.info/1238493661/34.
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Sternhell, Robert. "The Combination Problem for Panpsychism." Thesis, The University of Sydney, 2020. https://hdl.handle.net/2123/25041.
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This thesis examines the combination problem for panpsychism and its responses. Panpsychism is the view that fundamental physical entities instantiate phenomenal properties and that our consciousness, in some way, comes from those phenomenal properties. Proponents of panpsychism have argued that it is able to retain key benefits of physicalism over dualism whilst responding to objections to physicalism. However, the view is exposed to one notable problem called the combination problem. Roughly, this problem concerns how the microphenomenal properties of the physical combine to form our consciousness. In this thesis, I examine the combination problem and argue against proposed solutions. In assessing the problem, I separate it into two types of combination problems: subject combination, and quality combination. I identify several strategies available to the panpsychist in response to these issues. I then assess those strategies at length and argue they fail to save constitutive panpsychism. I then address an argument that combination problems exist in all theories of the mind and argue that panpsychism is uniquely disposed to it. I conclude that many of the virtues of panpsychism dispose it to combination problems.
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Zucchelli, D. "Combination Methods for Software Verification." Doctoral thesis, Università degli Studi di Milano, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/2434/45877.
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The thesis is devoted to the development of formal methods for software verification. Indeed, two are among the most widespread techniques that allow to rigorously specify the possible executions of a system and check whether it contains bugs. On the one hand, the correctness of a program can be guaranteed by showing the unsatisfiability of a formula modulo a theory which usually axiomatizes the involved datatypes; on the other hand, the model checking techniques are used to certify that every possible run of the system satisfies the desired properties. The contributions of the thesis are the following: First of all, we give a decidability result for the constraint satisfiability problem for interesting extensions of the theory of arrays. Secondly, along the lines of Manna and Pnueli, who have shown how a mixture of first-order logic and linear time temporal logic is sufficient to state the verification problems for the class of reactive systems, we draw on the recent literature about the combination of decision procedures to give decidability and undecidability results for the satisfiability problem for logics that allow to plug reasoning modulo first-order theories into a temporal setting. The results obtained in the case of linear flows of time are then generalized to the temporal and modal logics whose relativized satisfiability problem is decidable. The last contribution is the decidability of the model checking problem for linear flows of time under suitable hypothesis over the first-order theories involved. The proofs of the decidability results suggest that efficient Satisfiability Modulo Theories solvers might be successfully employed in the model checking of infinite-state systems.
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Zolnay, András. "Acoustic feature combination for speech recognition." [S.l.] : [s.n.], 2006. http://deposit.ddb.de/cgi-bin/dokserv?idn=982202156.
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Valvåg, Ottar Viken. "Multiple evidence combination in information retrieval." Thesis, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Department of Computer and Information Science, 2004. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:no:ntnu:diva-9151.
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Hoenicke, Jochen. "Combination of processes, data, and time /." Oldenburg : Univ., Fak. II, Dep. für Informatik, 2006. http://bvbr.bib-bvb.de:8991/F?func=service&doc_library=BVB01&doc_number=014970023&line_number=0001&func_code=DB_RECORDS&service_type=MEDIA.
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ARKENSON, CAROLIN, and ANNAMARIA STIPIC. "Twitter and Choreography- A Sucessful Combination?" Thesis, KTH, Skolan för datavetenskap och kommunikation (CSC), 2013. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-136750.
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One of the most common social media platforms of today is Twitter, an open community where content easily could be spread by sharing so called tweets and where the relationship between users is not constrained by accepting the other user. This report discusses the complexity in merging social media and dance by studying a project which used crowdsourcing through Twitter to collect choreographic ideas for a new ballet piece. In order to examine Twitter as a tool in a creative process, a questionnaire was sent to Twitter users and email interviews were held with those responsible for the project of study. The questionnaire showed that most of the Twitter users enjoyed creating and being part of a creative process. However, some of those with an occupation within the dance world voiced concerns about untrained people creating choreography. From the interviews it was found that a lot of thought had to be put into the structure of the project and that the project’s main motivator was to inspire and create with the help of people around the world. It was found in the research that Twitter is a suiting platform for a crowdsourced project since a large and varying group of participants is reached. Twitter allows for the Twitter users to participate regardless of location or occupation as well as bringing good publicity to the dance world.Twitter är idag en av de största plattformarna inom sociala medier. Plattformen är ett öppet forum där användare enkelt kan sprida material genom så kallade tweets och där användarnas relationer inte kräver att den ena parten accepterar den andre. Denna rapport behandlar komplexiteten i att kombinera sociala medier och dans, genom studien av ett projekt som använde sig av crowdsourcing via Twitter för att samla idéer till ett nytt balettverk. För att kunna utvärdera Twitter som ett verktyg i en kreativ process skickades ett frågeformulär ut till twitteranvändare. Dessutom hölls e-mailintervjuer med dem som var ansvariga för projektet. Formuläret visade att de flesta twitteranvändarna uppskattade att få skapa och ta del av en kreativ process. Dock fanns det negativa åsikter bland användare inom dansvärlden, att otränade personer inte bör koreografera. E-mailintervjuerna visade att mycket tanke hade lagts på strukturen av projektet och att drivkrafterna för att driva ett sådant projekt var att inspirera och skapa tillsammans med hela världen. Genom undersökningen visade det sig att Twitter är en passande plattform för ett crowdsourcat projekt eftersom ett stort antal deltagare kan nås oberoende av var de befinner sig samtidigt som det medför bra publicitet för dansvärlden.
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Chen, Ming-Jen. "Combination gene therapy for colorectal cancer." Thesis, University of Birmingham, 2003. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.273724.
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Oncolytic virotherapy with the adenovirus mutant dl 1520 in combination with chemotherapy has shown clinical response. Approaches to cancer gene therapy involving delivery of enzymes to activate the prodrugs CB 1954 and 5-FC are currently being tested in clinical trials. We hypothesised that the combination of an adenoviral vector equivalent to dl1520 with activation ofCB 1954or 5-FC and the combination of CB 1954 activation with 5-FU may further improve the antitumour effects for colorectal cancer therapy. The initial in vitro data showed that the combination of dl 1520 with CB 1954 activation or 5-FU (metabolite of 5-FC activation) and the combination of CB 1954 activation with 5-FU led to an additive or synergistic cytotoxicity. Subsequent data showed that the incorporation of Ntr or CD-UPRT genes into replicating oncolytic adenoviruses (ROAds) resulted in enhanced Ntr expression or CD-UPRT activity and augmented cytotoxic effects in tissue culture, surpassing the levels and cytotoxic effects mediated by the corresponding replication-defective vectors. When tested in subcutaneous human colon cancer xenografis, Ntr expression mediated by the ROAd was apparently higher than the level mediated by replication-defective CTLI02. Importantly, the antitumoural efficacy of CB 1954 activation mediated by ROAd is significantly superior to that mediated by CTLI 02 (p = 0.01). The ROAds displayed viral replication and oncolysis in vitro and in vivo and these attributes can contribute to the increased gene expression level and enhanced efficacy. Overall, the data suggested that the use of ROAds improved Ntr or CD-UPRT expression and antitumoural efficacy in the presence of corresponding prodrugs and may have the potential to achieve clinical significance in the treatment for colorectal cancer.
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Xu, Mingyang 1974. "Model combination by decomposition and aggregation." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33641.
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Nuclear Engineering, 2004.Includes bibliographical references (p. 265-282).
This thesis focuses on a general problem in statistical modeling, namely model combination. It proposes a novel feature-based model combination method to improve model accuracy and reduce model uncertainty. In this method, a set of candidate models are first decomposed into a group of components or features and then components are selected and aggregated into a composite model based on data. However, in implementing this new method, some central challenges have to be addressed, which include candidate model choice, component selection, data noise modeling, model uncertainty reduction and model locality. In order to solve these problems, some new methods are put forward. In choosing candidate models, some criteria are proposed including accuracy, diversity, independence as well as completeness and then corresponding quantitative measures are designed to quantify these criteria, and finally an overall preference score is generated for each model in the pool. Principal component analysis (PCA) and independent component analysis (ICA) are applied to decompose candidate models into components and multiple linear regression is employed to aggregate components into a composite model.
(cont.) In order to reduce model structure uncertainty, a new concept of fuzzy variable selection is introduced to carry out component selection, which is able to combine the interpretability of classical variable selection and the stability of shrinkage estimators. In dealing with parameter estimation uncertainty, exponential power distribution is proposed to model unknown non-Gaussian noise and parametric weighted least-squares method is devise to estimate parameters in the context of non-Gaussian noise. These two methods are combined to work together to reduce model uncertainty, including both model structure uncertainty and parameter uncertainty. To handle model locality, i.e. candidate models do not work equally well over different regions, the adaptive fuzzy mixture of local ICA models is developed. Basically, it splits the entire input space into domains, build local ICA models within each sub-region and then combine them into a mixture model. Many different experiments are carried out to demonstrate the performance of this novel method. Our simulation study and comparison show that this new method meets our goals and outperforms existing methods in most situations.
by Mingyang Xu.
Ph.D.
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Kučera, Jiří. "A Combination of Automata and Grammars." Master's thesis, Vysoké učení technické v Brně. Fakulta informačních technologií, 2013. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-236222.
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V této práci byly zavedeny a studovány nové systémy formálních modelů, zvané stavově synchronizované automatové systémy stupně n . Výpočet je v těchto prezentovaných systémech řízen pomocí slov patřících do konečného řídícího jazyka, kde každé slovo z tohoto jazyka je složeno ze stavů komponent systému. Dále byla v této práci studována výpočetní síla zavedených systémů. Praktické použití zavedených systémů bylo demonstrováno na příkladu z oblasti překladu přirozených jazyků a dále na příkladu z oblasti paralelního překladu.
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Marrs, Jo-Ann. "Children and Violence: A Lethal Combination." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2003. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/7114.
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Johnston, Jeffrey Scott. "Combination therapy targeting telomere and telomerase /." The Ohio State University, 2002. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1486462067841929.
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Tsai, Hsing-Chuan. "Optimal designs for drug combination experiments /." The Ohio State University, 2000. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1488193272068802.
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Potter, Richard Ellis. "Information combination in two-step decisions." Diss., The University of Arizona, 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/185920.
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Research examined information combination in both choice and pre-choice (screening) phases of decision making. Three experiments required subjects to review a set of multiattributed options for a possible purchase. Each option had either high or low expected probability of availability, and a set number of positive or negative attributes. In the first experiment, subjects were asked to indicate their preferred choices. Analysis showed that the majority of subjects multiplicatively combined the probability of option availability with other option attributes, as predicted by expected utility theory. In the second experiment, subjects were asked to eliminate unacceptable options, but not choose. Analysis showed that the majority of subjects additively combined information on negative option attributes (violations) with low probability of option availability, as predicted by image theory. The third experiment showed that when choice immediately followed screening, 28% of the subjects used multiplicative information combination to make the choice, 28% used additive combination, and both types of combination were equally dominant in the remaining 44% of the subjects.
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Ceotto, Lisa <1996>. "Le Business Combination Under Common Control." Master's Degree Thesis, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/10579/18094.
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L'elaborato affronta la problematica della contabilizzazione delle business combination under common control, quali operazioni configurabili come operazioni straordinarie e caratterizzate dalla mancanza del coinvolgimento di terze economie. Durante questo tipo di aggregazioni infatti, tutte le entità partecipanti continuano ad essere controllate dal medesimo soggetto che le dominava anche in precedenza.
L'interesse per l'argomento sorge principalmente per il fatto che i principi contabili internazionali non forniscono alcuna indicazione in merito al trattamento contabile delle BCUCC e per tale ragione, l'elaborato si svilupperà attraverso una analisi delle possibili metodologie contabili da poter applicare.
L'elaborato si concentra nella prima parte nell'analisi della disciplina dell'IFRS 3, quale principio contabile che regola le aggregazioni aziendali tradizionali e che esclude dal suo campo le aggregazioni aziendali sotto controllo comune.
Successivamente alla spiegazione delle disciplina prevista per le business combination tra parti indipendenti, si procede spiegando la differenza tra queste ultime e le BCUCC, per poi arrivare ai vari metodi di contabilizzazione.
I criteri di contabilizzazione si distinguono principalmente per due particolari impostazioni, quella del fair value method e quella del book value method. La prima che prevede la rivalutazione al valore equo degli elementi patrimoniali oggetto dell'aggregazione e al suo interno troviamo il metodo dell'acquisizione ed il fresh start method; mentre la seconda si occupa di rappresentare gli elementi patrimoniali oggetto di aggregazione in continuità con i valori a cui erano iscritti prima dell'operazione e al suo interno troveremo il predecessor basis ed il pooling of interests method.
L'elaborato alla fine si conclude con una preferenza della metodologia della continuità di valori rispetto all'acquisition method, ma, nonostante questa considerazione, la contabilizzazione delle BCUCC nel quadro dei principi contabili internazionali rimane aperta.
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Sun, Rémy. "Content combination strategies for Image Classification." Electronic Thesis or Diss., Sorbonne université, 2022. http://www.theses.fr/2022SORUS272.
Full textAbstract:
Dans cette thèse, nous nous attaquons au problème de la classification d'images, un problème fondamental pour la vision par ordinateur et le raisonnement visuel en général. Nous nous intéressons aux différentes façons d'augmenter artificiellement la taille du jeu de données. Plus précisément, nous mettons cette technique à profit pour apprendre au algorithmes neuronaux à réconcilier l'information mixée à partir de différents exemples par le biais des augmentation de données mixantes afin de mieux comprendre le problème sous-jacent. Nous proposons d'abord un nouveau type d'augmentation qui aide le modèle à généraliser en incrustant le contenu sémantique d'un exemples dans le contexte non-sémantique d'un autre pour générer des exemples mixtes appartenant à une unique classe. Pour ce faire, nous proposons de nouvelles architectures permettant de générer de tels exemples, et entrainons de meilleures classificateurs dans un contexte semi-supervisé. Dans un second temps, nous montrons que le mixage d'image peut être utilisé comme un schéma de compression d'entrées permettant d'entraîner de multiples sous-réseaux au sein d'un réseau de base. En effet, en formalisant la méthode séminal ``multi-input multi-output'' (MIMO) comme un schéma d'augmentation de données par mixage d'images. Finalement, nous adaptons ces derniers modèles MIMO aux récents modèles Vision Transformer. Nos travaux montrent que ces nouvelles architectures présentent leurs propres uniques incompatibilités avec l'entraînement MIMO, mais qu'elles y sont aussi extrêmement adaptées à d'autres égardsIn this thesis, we tackle the question of deep image classification, a fundamental issue for computer vision and visual understanding in general. We look into the common practice of engineering new examples to augment the dataset. We take this as an opportunity to teach neural algorithms to reconcile information mixed from different samples with Mixing Sample Data Augmentation so as to better understand the problem. To this end, we study both how to edit the content in a mixed image, and what the model should predict for the mixed images. We first propose a new type of data augmentation that helps model generalize by embedding the semantic content of samples into the non-semantic context of other samples to generate in-class mixed samples. To this end, we design new neural architectures capable of generating such mixed samples, and then show the resulting mixed inputs help train stronger classifiers in a semi-supervised setting where few labeled samples are available. In a second part, we show input mixing can be used as an input compression method to train multiple subnetworks in a base network from compressed inputs. Indeed, by formalizing the seminal multi-input multi-output (MIMO) framework as a mixing data augmentation and changing the underlying mixing mechanisms, we obtain strong improvements of over standard models and MIMO models. Finally, we adapt this MIMO technique to the emerging Vision Transformer (ViT) models. Our work shows ViTs present unique challenges for MIMO training, but that they are also uniquely suited for it
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Shaw, BS, I. Shaw, and GA Brown. "Comparison of resistance and concurrent resistance and endurance training regimes in the development of strength." Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2009. http://encore.tut.ac.za/iii/cpro/DigitalItemViewPage.external?sp=1001714.
Full textAbstract:
ABSTRACT
Shaw, BS, Shaw, I, and Brown, GA. Comparison of resistance
and concurrent resistance and endurance training regimes in
the development of strength. J Strength Cond Res 23(9):
2507–2514, 2009—Resistance and endurance training are
often performed concurrently in most exercise programs and in
rehabilitative settings in an attempt to acquire gains in more
than 1 physiologic system. However, it has been proposed that
by simultaneously performing these 2 modes of exercise
training, the strength gains achieved by resistance training
alone may be impaired. Thus, the aim of this study was to
compare the effects of 16 weeks of resistance training and
concurrent resistance and endurance training on muscular
strength development in 38 sedentary, apparently healthy
males (25 yr 6 8 mo). Subjects were age-matched and
randomly assigned to either a control (Con) group (n = 12),
resistance training (Res) group (n = 13), or concurrent
resistance and endurance training (Com) group (n = 13). After
16 weeks, no changes were found in the strength of the subjects
in the Con group. Resistance training and concurrent resistance
and endurance training significantly (p # 0.05) improved
strength in all of the 8 prescribed exercises. The data also
indicated that 16 weeks of concurrent resistance training and
endurance training was as effective in eliciting improvements in
strength as resistance training alone in previously sedentary
males. As such, concurrent resistance and endurance training
does not impede muscular strength gains and can be prescribed
simultaneously for the development of strength in sedentary,
apparently healthy males and thus may invoke all the physiologic
adaptations of resistance and endurance training at once.
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Orechovesky, Joseph R. "Single source error ellpse [i.e. ellipse] combination." Thesis, Monterey, Calif. : Springfield, Va. : Naval Postgraduate School ; Available from National Technical Information Service, 1996. http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA320250.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M.S. in Systems Technology (Space Systems Operations)) Naval Postgraduate School, September 1996.Thesis advisor(s): Vicente Garcia. "September 1996." Includes bibliographical references (p. 67). Also available online.
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Hammar, Cecilia. "Combination of results from gene-finding programs." Thesis, University of Skövde, Department of Computer Science, 1999. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:his:diva-399.
Full textAbstract:
Gene-finding programs available over the Internet today are shown to be nothing more than guides to possible coding regions in the DNA. The programs often do incorrect predictions. The idea of combining a number of different gene-finding programs arised a couple of years ago. Murakami and Takagi (1998) published one of the first attempts to combine results from gene-finding programs built on different techniques (e.g. artificial neural networks and hidden Markov models). The simple combinations methods used by Murakami and Takagi (1998) indicated that the prediction accuracy could be improved by a combination of programs.
In this project artificial neural networks are used to combine the results of the three well-known gene-finding programs GRAILII, FEXH, and GENSCAN. The results show a considerable increase in prediction accuracy compared to the best performing single program GENSCAN
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Alani, Shayma. "Design of intelligent ensembled classifiers combination methods." Thesis, Brunel University, 2015. http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/12793.
Full textAbstract:
Classifier ensembling research has been one of the most active areas of machine learning for a long period of time. The main aim of generating combined classifier ensembles is to improve the prediction accuracy in comparison to using an individual classifier. A combined classifiers ensemble can improve the prediction results by compensating for the individual classifier weaknesses in certain areas and benefiting from better accuracy of the other ensembles in the same area. In this thesis, different algorithms are proposed for designing classifier ensemble combiners. The existing methods such as averaging, voting, weighted average, and optimised weighted method does not increase the accuracy of the combiner in comparison to the proposed advanced methods such as genetic programming and the coalition method. The different methods are studied in detail and analysed using different databases. The aim is to increase the accuracy of the combiner in comparison to the standard stand-alone classifiers. The proposed methods are based on generating a combiner formula using genetic programming, while the coalition is based on estimating the diversity of the classifiers such that a coalition is generated with better prediction accuracy. Standard accuracy measures are used, namely accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and area under the curve, in addition to training error accuracies such as the mean square error. The combiner methods are compared empirically with several stand-alone classifiers using neural network algorithms. Different types of neural network topologies are used to generate different models. Experimental results show that the combiner algorithms are superior in creating the most diverse and accurate classifier ensembles. Ensembles of the same models are generated to boost the accuracy of a single classifier type. An ensemble of 10 models of different initial weights is used to improve the accuracy. Experiments show a significant improvement over a single model classifier. Finally, two combining methods are studied, namely the genetic programming and coalition combination methods. The genetic programming algorithm is used to generate a formula for the classifiers’ combinations, while the coalition method is based on a simple algorithm that assigns linear combination weights based on the consensus theory. Experimental results of the same databases demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods compared to conventional combining methods. The results show that the coalition method is better than genetic programming.
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George, Susan B. "Music and learning resources : a natural combination /." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1999. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape7/PQDD_0033/MQ47451.pdf.
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Wan, Wing-nga Wendy, and 尹咏雅. "Effects of novel conceptual combination on creativity." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2000. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31223576.
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Pierce, Ron D. "A survey methodology written-visual combination assessment." Virtual Press, 1999. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/1137654.
Full textAbstract:
This project proposed methodology that enhances user preference communication, enabling the landscape architect to design spaces which better meet the needs and expectations of the user(s). Semantic and visual preferences were administered to a user core group to determine guidelines that led to a design study master plan that included the design of "outdoor rooms."The advantages and disadvantages of previous written and visual survey methods were reviewed. From this review the proposed methodology was developed and tested. The results showed the users' desires where not predictable more efficient designs were enabled. This method could be used in directing a diverse set of landscape design projects.Department of Landscape Architecture
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Hong, Xin. "Heuristic knowledge representation and evidence combination parallelization." Thesis, University of Ulster, 2001. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.365938.
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Riedel, Silvia. "Forecast combination in revenue management demand forecasting." Thesis, Bournemouth University, 2008. http://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/9640/.
Full textAbstract:
The domain of multi level forecast combination is a challenging new domain containing a large potential for forecast improvements. This thesis presents a theoretical and experimental analysis of different types of forecast diversification on forecast error covariances and resulting combined forecast quality. Three types of diversification are used: (a) diversification concerning the level of learning (b) diversification of predefined parameter values and (c) the use of different forecast models. The diversification is carried out on forecasts of seasonal factor predictions in Revenue Management for Airlines. After decomposing the data and generating diversified forecasts a (multi step) combination procedure is applied. We provide theoretical evidence of why and under which conditions multi step multi level forecast combination can be a powerful approach in order to build a high quality and adaptive forecast system. We theoretically and experimentally compare models differing with respect to the used decomposition, diversification as well as the applied combination models and structures. After an introduction into the application of forecasting seasonal behaviour in Revenue Management, a literature review of the theory of forecast combination is provided. In order to get a clearer idea of under which condition combination works, we then investigate aspects of forecast diversity and forecast diversification. The diversity of forecast errors in terms of error covariances can be expressed in a decomposed manner in relation to different independent error components. This type of decomposed analysis has the advantage that it allows conclusions concerning the potential of the diversified forecasts for future combination. We carry out such an analysis of effects of different types of diversification on error components corresponding to the bias-variance-Bayes decomposition proposed by James and Hastie. Different approaches of how to include information from different levels into forecasting are also discussed in the thesis. The improvements achieved with multi level forecast combination prove that theoretical analysis is extremely important in this relatively new field. The bias-variance-Bayes decomposition is extended to the multi level case. An analysis of the effects of including forecasts with parameters learned at different levels on the bias and variance error components show that forecast combination is the best choice in comparison to some other discussed alternatives. The proposed approach represents a completely automatic procedure. It realises changes in the error components which are not only advantageous at the low level, but have also a stabilising effect on aggregates of low level forecasts to the higher level. We also identify cases in which multi level forecast combination should ideally be connected with the use of different function spaces and/or thick modelling related to certain parameter values or preprocessing procedures. In order to avoid problems occurring for large sets of highly correlated forecasts when considering covariance information, we investigated the potential of pooling and trimming for our case. We estimate the expected behaviour of our diversified forecasts in purely error variance based pooling represented by a common approach of Aiolfi and Timmermann and analyse effects of different kinds of covariances on the accuracy of the combined forecast. We show that a significant loss in the expected forecast accuracy may ensue because of typical inhomogeneities in the covariance matrix for the analysed case. If covariance information is available in a sufficiently high quality, it is possible to run a clustering directly based on covariance information. We discuss how to carry out a clustering in that case. We also consider a case (quite common in our application) when covariance information may not be available and propose a novel simplified representation of the covariance matrix which represents the distance in the forecast generation space and is only based on knowledge about the forecast generation process. A new pooling approach is proposed that avoids inhomogeneities in the covariance matrix by considering the information contained in the simplified covariance representation. One of the main advantages of the proposed approach is that the covariance matrix does not have to be calculated. We compared the results of our approach with the approach of Aiolfi and Timmermann and explained the reasons for significant improvement. Another advantage of our approach is that it leads to the generation of novel multi step, multi level forecast generation structures that carry out the combination in different steps of pooling. Finally, we describe different evolutionary approaches in order to generate combination structures automatically. We investigate very flexible approaches as well as approaches that avoid the expected inhomogeneities in the error covariance matrix based on our theoretical findings. The theoretical analysis is supported by experimental results. We could achieve an improvement of forecast quality up to 11 percent for the practical application of demand forecasting in Revenue Management compared to the current optimised forecasting system.
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Dority, Paul. "A Skillful Combination of Fire and Maneuver." Wright State University / OhioLINK, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1525279618910305.
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Yang, Jie. "Prediction of combination efficacy in cancer therapy." Thesis, University of Manchester, 2013. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/prediction-of-combination-efficacy-in-cancer-therapy(1b49824b-9d5f-4d21-89d7-6160a810d05e).html.
Full textAbstract:
The cell cycle is an essential process in all living organisms that must be carefully regulated to ensure successful cell growth and division. Disregulation of the cell cycle is a key contributing factor towards the formation of cancerous cells. Understanding events at a cellular level is the first step towards comprehending how cancer manifests at an organismal level. Mathematical modelling can be used as a means of formalising and predicting the behaviour of the biological systems involved in cancer. In response, cell cycle models have been constructed to simulate and predict what happens to the mammalian cell over a time course in response to variable parameters.Current cell cycle models rarely account for certain precursors of cell growth such as energy usage and the need for non-essential amino acids as fundamental building blocks of macromolecules. Normal and cancer cell metabolism differ in the way they derive energy from glucose. In addition, normal and cancer cells also demonstrate different levels of gene expression. Two versions of a mammalian cell cycle and metabolism model, based on ordinary differential equations (ODEs) that respond to fluctuations in glucose concentration levels, have been developed here for the normal and cancer cell scenarios. Sensitivity analysis is performed for both normal and cancer cells using these cell cycle and metabolism models to investigate which kinetic reaction steps have a greater effect over the cell cycle period. Detailed analysis of the models and quantitatively assessing metabolite levels at various stages of the cell cycle may offer novel insights into how the glycolytic rate varies during the cell cycle for both normal and cancer cells.The results of the sensitivity analysis are used to identify potential drug targets in cancer therapy. Combinations of these individual targets are also investigated to compare the different effects of single and multiple drug compounds on the time it takes to complete a cell division cycle.
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Vogt, Christopher C. "Adaptive combination of evidence for information retrieval /." Diss., Connect to a 24 p. preview or request complete full text in PDF format. Access restricted to UC campuses, 1999. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/ucsd/fullcit?p9935458.
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Wan, Wing-nga Wendy. "Effects of novel conceptual combination on creativity /." Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong, 2000. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B21924004.
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Hitchcock, David C. "Evaluation and combination of biometric authentication systems." [Gainesville, Fla.] : University of Florida, 2003. http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/UFE0002662.
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Jones, Jeffrey. "A Superior Panprotopsychism: Solutions to Combination Problems." Thesis, The University of Sydney, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/2123/20987.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis will defend a new variety of panprotopsychism which does not have a class of so-called combination problems that some popular varieties of panprotopsychism have. Panprotopsychism is the view that conscious entities depend on protophenomenal constituents and that these constituents are fundamental, ubiquitous and neutral. One very popular variety, Constitutive Russellian Panprotopsychism (CRP) has three additional distinctive doctrines. (1) Russellian Monism: protoconsciousness is located in a fundamental constituent’s intrinsic nature. (2) Neutral Monism: protophenomenal properties are neither physical nor phenomenal. (3) Constitution: the right combination of protophenomenal constituents alone is meant to produce consciousness. There are at least three combination problems for CRP. The first is that the conditions for the combination of protoconscious entities, and the nature of these bonds, is a mystery. Consequently, we can conceive of a structurally and protophenomenally duplicate world without any phenomenal properties. This is the Conceivability Problem. Secondly, consciousness seems unified and monadic, which is incompatible with the idea that consciousness has parts. However, if consciousness cannot have parts strong emergence seems necessary, which is undesirable. This is the Composition Problem. Finally, even though microphysical and protophenomenal properties are meant to be isomorphic, the structure of our brains and visual fields are not. This is the Structural Mismatch Problem. I defend Structural Transformational Identity Theory Panprotopsychism (STIP) as a superior alternative. STIP has three distinctive doctrines. (1) Identity Theory Panprotopsychism: fundamental constituents are both simultaneously physical and protophenomenal. (2) Transformational Fusion: multiple fundamental constituents go through intrinsic change to generate a singular simple. (3) Modified Ontic Structural Realism: fundamental constituents, including protophenomenal constituents, are not relata, but relations. Some of these relations are microphysical while others are protophenomenal. My conclusion is that the three combination problems for CRP do not exist for my STIP even though the latter view preserves all of the original intuitions of the former view.
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Gibbs, Christopher. "Heterogeneous Expectations, Forecast Combination, and Economic Dynamics." Thesis, University of Oregon, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/1794/13279.
Full textAbstract:
This dissertation examines the forecast model selection problem in economics in both theoretical and empirical settings. The forecast model selection problem is that there often exists a menu of different suitable models to forecast the same economic variable of interest. The theoretical portion of this dissertation considers agents who face this problem in two distinct scenarios. The first scenario considers the case where agents possess a menu of different forecast techniques which includes rational expectations but where the selection of rational expectations is costly. The assumptions that are necessary to include rational expectations as a choice are characterized and the equilibrium dynamics of a model under the appropriate assumptions is studied and shown to exhibit chaotic dynamics. The second scenario considers agents who possess a menu of econometric forecast models and examines the equilibrium outcomes when agents combine the different forecasts using strategies suggested by the forecasting literature. The equilibrium outcomes under these forecasting assumptions are shown to exhibit time-varying volatility and endogenous structural breaks, which are common features of macroeconomic data.
The empirical portion of the dissertation proposes a new dynamic combination strategy for the forecast model selection problem to forecast inflation. The procedure builds on recent research on inflation persistence in the U.S. and on explanations for the efficacy of simple combination strategies, often referred to as the forecast combination puzzle. The new combination strategy is shown to forecast well in real-time out-of-sample forecasting exercises.
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Mantoan, Giulia <1991>. "Bayesian Combination and Calibration of Predictive Distributions." Master's Degree Thesis, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10579/7094.
Full textAbstract:
Decision-makers often consult different experts to build a reliable forecast on some uncertain variable of interest. Combining more opinions and calibrating them to maximise the forecast accuracy is crucial issue treated also by Dawid (1982a), Dawid, DeGroot, Mortera (1995), Genest and Zidek (1986). A Bayesian approach was applied to predict a combined and calibrated density function using random calibration functionals and random combination weights. The linear, harmonic and logarithmic pools were used to explore the application of the Bayesian approach. Based on Gneiting and Ranjan (2013) and Bassetti, Casarin; Ravazzolo (2015) a beta mixture model was employed for the combination. The effects and techniques are demonstrated theoretically in simulation examples with multimodal densities.
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Sappington, Randy Earl. "The time course of discourse priming in the interpretation of conceptual combinations." Texas A&M University, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/4143.
Full textAbstract:
People often create novel lexical expressions to efficiently communicate their
thoughts to others. Noun-noun phrases, also known as conceptual
combinations, serve as an example of these novel expressions. Most of the
research on conceptual combination has focused on structural features of the
phrases. However, other research has demonstrated that discourse context can
also influence how these phrases are interpreted. Across two experiments, we
demonstrate that discourse context has a greater influence on how people
interpret these combinations than does a structural level manipulation. We also
examine the strength of this contextually based-effect over a series of time
delays. The findings from this study indicate that, while structural features of a
given conceptual combination influence how that combination is interpreted, the
discourse surrounding the novel combination plays a more influential role in the
resulting interpretation. The influence of context is more pronounced than has
been suggested in much of the research on conceptual combination.
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Davidson, Oliver Geoffrey. "The interpretation of noun noun compounds." Thesis, Durham University, 1996. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/5301/.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis looks at conceptual combination, in particular it investigates how noun noun compounds are interpreted. Several themes run throughout the work. Real compounds (e.g. coat hanger, crab apple) are compared to novel ones (e.g. banjo cactus, zip violin). Also, compounds are examined in each of the possible permutations of artefacts (A) (e.g. coat, banjo) and natural kinds (N) (e.g. crab, cactus), (AA, AN, NA and NN).Experiments 1 - 4 examine noncompositionality in noun noun compounds. Possible sources of noncompositionality are investigated using both feature listing and feature rating tasks. Although some differences were found, results were similar between different types of compound, evidence of noncompositionality being found in each. The results also confirm that most of the meaning of a noun noim compound is derived from the second constituent (noun2).Experiments 5 and 6 look at two different types of compoimd interpretation - slot filling and property mapping. In experiment 5, slot filling is found to be the preferred interpretation type overall, but property mapping is more common in compounds composed of two natural kinds (NN). Experiment 6 examines possible factors influencing the choice between slot filling and property mapping interpretations. It was found that constituent similarity plays an important role, and also that this interacts with whether or not the constituents have important properties which clash. Experiment 7 looks at compound identification. Results suggest that the first constituent (nounl) may be critical in such tasks. Experiment 8 compares the importance of nounl and noun2 in determining the type of interpretation given to a compound. Neither position is found to be more influential than the other, although relational information does seem to be associated with specific nouns in each position. Throughout the thesis findings are related to current theories of conceptual combination, such as prototype models, the concept specialisation model and theories of compound interpretation by analogy.
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Spratt, Brenda Roberts. "A comparative study of children enrolled in combination classes and non-combination classes in Fairfax County, Virginia public schools." Diss., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1986. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/71194.
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This study compares the scholastic achievement of 2,811 students enrolled in Fairfax County, Virginia, Public Schools for the 1983-1984 school year. Scholastic achievement of an experimental group of 1,068 students enrolled in combination or split/grade classes is compared with a control group of 1,743 students enrolled in regular graded classes. Five research questions were developed, three of which related directly to grade level student scholastic achievement by comparing test results for combination and regular grade classes, and two which attempted to identify any significance resulting from differences used by principals to select teachers and students for placement in combination classes.Ed. D.
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Patterson, Merryl Joy. "Testing the weighted salience model of conceptual combination." Diss., Texas A&M University, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/270.
Full textAbstract:
In two experiments the Weighted Salience Model (WSM) of conceptual combination was examined. Several of the hypotheses set forth in the WSM were evaluated, including the importance of salience of constituent features, differential interpretation strategies based on similarity, an initial reliance on the modifier as opposed to the head, and a context effect of salience reorganization. Results confirmed that the hierarchy of output dominance within constituent features was important in determining features in final combinations. Additionally, similar pairs were defined with property interpretations more frequently than were dissimilar pairs, and dissimilar pairs were defined with relation interpretations more frequently than were similar pairs. Context effects were demonstrated through the finding that target features were found more often in primed than unprimed pairs. The hypothesis of modifier superiority was not confirmed. These findings indicate that the WSM adds to the current understanding of conceptual combination through a reliance on output dominance and the importance of context. Despite these strengths, changes to the WSM may be necessary if future studies fail to support the importance of the modifier over the head noun.
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Muthayan, Saloshini. "A case study of multigrade teaching in Canada: implications for South Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003319.
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This study examines multigrade teaching in selected schools in Canada and its implications for improving multigrade teaching in South Africa, where over 50 % of primary schools are multigrade and the teachers have not received preparation in multigrade teaching. The case study method was adopted because it allowed for 'an intensive, holistic description and analysis' of the multigrade classroom. The approach is interpretivist, based on the assumption that social phenomena are 'socially constituted' and 'valuationally based'. Research techniques included a literature review, interviews and observations. Four classrooms with grade combinations ranging from two grades to eight grades (Kindergarten to grade 7) were studied. Despite problems such as the lack of official recognition, inadequate teacher education and support - problems common to both Canada and South Africa - the Canadian teachers managed their classrooms effectively. This was indicated by their understanding of the children's needs, their integration of the curriculum for teaching across the grades and the learning areas, their use of effective instructional strategies and their involyement of parents in the classroom. A reason for their success may be that their teacher education includes child-centred, activity based approaches, integration of the curriculum, critical thinking, flexibility and effective instructional strategies, which they may adapt for effective multigrade teaching. The study found that successful multigrade teaching depended on the teacher. For South Africa, this may imply that intervention programmes should focus on relevant preparation and support for multigrade teachers. The emphasis on material resources in the implementation of Curriculum 2005 has not been balanced with adequate training on policy, curriculum and instructional strategies. Teacher education should include methodologies that are experiential, reflective and participatory. A variety of instructional strategies should be employed in the multigrade classroom. The respondents in the study believed further that multigrade teaching is more beneficial than single-grade teaching because it caters for the diversity of needs amongst children and allows for peer tutoring, thereby exploiting Vygotsky's theory of the 'zone of proximal development'. Thus, instead of viewing multigrade teaching as a temporary phenomenon, it should be viewed as an opportunity for improving school effectiveness.
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Al-Momani, Fares. "Combination of photo-oxidation processes with biological treatment." Doctoral thesis, Universitat de Barcelona, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/1521.
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Comprising over 70% of the Earth's surface, water is undoubtedly the most precious natural resource that exists on our planet. Without the seemingly invaluable compound comprised of hydrogen and oxygen, life on Earth would be non-existent: it is essential for everything on our planet to grow and prosper. Although we as humans recognizethis fact, we disregard it by polluting our rivers, lakes, and oceans. Subsequently, we are
slowly but surely harming our planet to the point where organisms are dying at a very alarming rate. In addition to innocent organisms dying off, our drinking water has become greatly affected as is our ability to use water for recreational purposes. In order to combat water pollution, we must understand the problems and become part of the solution.
When is compared with other options of processing, biological treatment of residual
water is considered a cheap and attractive alternative to eliminate various types of
contaminants. The effíciency of the biological process depends on many factors such as
the concentration of the contaminants, the chemical structure of the composed, the pH
and the presence of inhibitory compounds in wastewater. Although some organic contaminants can be degraded through biological process, many other composed synthetic and natural are not biodegradable.
On the hand, several chemical processes as advanced oxidation processes (AOP's) can
be use for mineralization of many organic contaminants. The doubt that presents these
processes is the use of expensive reagents. A potential viable solution proposed during last two decays is the combination of these processes with biological processing. In these combined processes, the chemical process would be utilized like pre-treatment step to enhance the biodegradability and elimínate the toxicity of the effluents, while the total mineralization would be completed in the biological process. For it, it is interesting to monitor the changes in the biodegradability of the effluents along the
chemical process, this may be use to determine the optimum pre-treatment time. In the literature various indicators have been proposed to follow the biodegradability, where the ratios BOD5/COD and BOD5/TOC are the most utilized (BOD: Biological oxygen demand); COD: Chemical oxygen demand; TOC: total organic carbón). In general, are municipal wastewater was taken as reference values. Thus, it is considered that an effluent is biodegradable when the relation BOD5/COD is over 0.4 or BOD5/TOC over 1.0 (Metcalf & Eddy, 1985).
The AOP's are defined like those processes that imply the generation of radicals highly
reagents (especially radical hidroxilo) in suffícient quantities. Although most organic
matter can be degraded by these processes, other compounds as the acetic acids,maleico and oxálico, acetona or cloroformo are not attacked by these radicals (Bigda,1995). The advantage of AOP's comes from the fact that radicals can be formed through different processes.
In this study, AOP's based on photo-oxidation well be used for treatment of water contained Phenol and 2,4-dichlorophenol. In the first chapter of this work a general literature review the reactions are presented in which a series of methods for the treating refractory were proposed, among them is found the adsorption in active carbon, humid oxidation, supercritical oxidation, electrochemical oxidation, chemical oxidation in its two parts classics and advanced oxidation. For all, a small bibliographical search as well previous publication in elimination of phenol (POH) and 2,4-dichlorophenol
(DCP) are presented. Moreover, it was presented a basic explanation of the characteristics of the biological processing and its operational types. At the end of this chapter, it has been introduced a figure (Figure 3.4) that shows a possible strategy to treat any type of wastewater depending on the organic load and the biodegradability.
With respect to the results, the thesis present a framework of the combination of AOP's and biological treatment. In this case, synthetic residual water containing phenol (POH) and 2,4-diclorophenol (DCP) and textile dyes.These compound associates as contaminants in different types of water. They appear in different types of industrial effluents and included among the 130 priority contaminants gives by US EPA and the
European Union.
A study of the behaviour of these substances for a possible biological degradation showed that all presented low biodegradability, and some as the DCP and textile dyes were inhibited for biomass. Thus, it was necessary to seek alternatives treatment processes.
In a first part of this work, the degradation of these composed was studied by means of
advanced oxidation processes (AOP's), based on the use of the process of photo
oxidation, in this case, direct irradiation with light UV or UVA, and combination these
sources of light with; UV(A)/H202, UV(A)/Fe(III),UV(A)/Fe(II)/H202 and the process
Fenton. These experiments were performed in four different, two of them are type tubular and the other two are type stirred tank. The followed variables along the process were the concentration of the contaminants, pH, initial concentration of the H202, Conc. Initial of Fe(II), time of irradiation and total organic carbon (TOC).
The effect of irradiation time in the degradation of both the POH and DCP was studied. Also, kinetic of the reactions were followed. Results show that direct UV photolysis is not efficient for DCP and POH elimination. First order reaction constant of aprox.
0.0056 min-1 and 0.0066 min-1 was obtained for POH and DCP, respect.)
Also the combinations of this process with other hydroxyl radical sours were studied,
for e. j., the effect of the quantity of peroxide or Fa(II), or the black light irradiation
with UV at (300-420 nm) vs. 254 nm. By means of the combination H202/UV/Fe removals percentages of 100 DCP and POH were achieved. During these reactions, by-products were identified, for POH it was identified caticlos, quinone and hidroquinoin. In the case of DCP, only it was possible to identify the clorobenzoquinona and some carboxylic acids.
As it was mentiond above, the hostility that AOP's presents is use of expensive reagents, and a possible alternative is the combination with biological process. In this study also, some strategies for these types of combination have been established, that was possible by means of a study of the improvement in the biodegradability of the treated solutions. In a second part of the work, therefore, the effect of these processes
was studied in the biodegradability enhancement of the solutions. The better results
were obtained by means of the process photo-Fenton, the ratios BOD5/COD increased
from O up to 0.92 and 0.48 for solutions of 100 ppm of POH and DCP respectively.
After time of irradiation of 30 min and initial concentrations of H2 02 of 65 ppm and 300 ppm, respectively. Later the improvement of the biodegradability of the treated solutions, was studied the biodegradation of some solutions pre-tried of POH and DCP.
Respect the DCP treated, the results have shown that activated sludge of a municipal wastewater plant could be adequate for the treatment of the pre-oxidize solutions and that was possible through co-digestion of the same with a residual water. By means of the combination photo Fenton -biological treatment. It was achieved up to a 89 of organic matter elimination. Continuing this line of investigation, it was developed also
a complete combined processes consist of DCP pre-treated via Photo oxidation and aerobic and anaerobio biological reactors type SBR (sequencing batch reactor). By means of this process, elimination of organic matter up to 93 of TOC was obtained in a signifícant cycle time. The same strategy was applied to phenol, in this part a comparison has been established between single and coupled processes, the results have
been shown that good improvement in organic matter take place in the combined processes.
Finally, the use of the photo oxidation processes was examined to eliminate the colour and improvement the biodegradability of dyes solutions. The results have shown that these processes can be use efficiently for colour elimination and biodegradability improvement of dyes solutions.
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Leung, Tsan-chiu. "An fMRI study of conceptual combination in Chinese." Click to view the E-thesis via HKUTO, 2004. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record/B3105870X.
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Masip, Rodó David. "Face Classification Using Discriminative Features and Classifier Combination." Doctoral thesis, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/3051.
Full textAbstract:
A mesura que la tecnologia evoluciona, apareixen noves aplicacions en el mon de la classificació facial. En el reconeixement de patrons, normalment veiem les cares com a punts en un espai de alta dimensionalitat definit pels valors dels seus pixels. Aquesta aproximació pateix diversos problemes: el fenomen de la "la maledicció de la dimensionalitat", la presència d'oclusions parcials o canvis locals en la il·luminació. Tradicionalment, només les característiques internes de les imatges facials s'han utilitzat per a classificar, on normalment es fa una extracció de característiques. Les tècniques d'extracció de característiques permeten reduir la influencia dels problemes mencionats, reduint també el soroll inherent de les imatges naturals alhora que es poden aprendre característiques invariants de les imatges facials. En la primera part d'aquesta tesi presentem alguns mètodes d'extracció de característiques clàssics: Anàlisi de Components Principals (PCA), Anàlisi de Components Independents (ICA), Factorització No Negativa de Matrius (NMF), i l'Anàlisi Discriminant de Fisher (FLD), totes elles fent alguna mena d'assumpció en les dades a classificar. La principal contribució d'aquest treball es una nova família de tècniques d'extracció de característiques usant el algorisme del Adaboost. El nostre mètode no fa cap assumpció en les dades a classificar, i construeix de forma incremental la matriu de projecció tenint en compte els exemples mes difícilsPer altra banda, en la segon apart de la tesi explorem el rol de les característiques externes en el procés de classificació facial, i presentem un nou mètode per extreure un conjunt alineat de característiques a partir de la informació externa que poden ser combinades amb les tècniques clàssiques millorant els resultats globals de classificació.
As technology evolves, new applications dealing with face classification appear. In pattern recognition, faces are usually seen as points in a high dimensional spaces defined by their pixel values. This approach must deal with several problems such as: the curse of dimensionality, the presence of partial occlusions or local changes in the illumination. Traditionally, only the internal features of face images have been used for classification purposes, where usually a feature extraction step is performed. Feature extraction techniques allow to reduce the influence of the problems mentioned, reducing also the noise inherent from natural images and learning invariant characteristics from face images. In the first part of this thesis some internal feature extraction methods are presented: Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Independent Component Analysis (ICA), Non Negative Matrix Factorization (NMF), and Fisher Linear Discriminant Analysis (FLD), all of them making some kind of the assumption on the data to classify. The main contribution of our work is a non parametric feature extraction family of techniques using the Adaboost algorithm. Our method makes no assumptions on the data to classify, and incrementally builds the projection matrix taking into account the most difficult samples.
On the other hand, in the second part of this thesis we also explore the role of external features in face classification purposes, and present a method for extracting an aligned feature set from external face information that can be combined with the classic internal features improving the global performance of the face classification task.
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Nilsson, Jens. "Transformation and Combination in Data-Driven Dependency Parcing." Doctoral thesis, Växjö universitet, Matematiska och systemtekniska institutionen, 2009. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:vxu:diva-6776.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis deals with automatic syntactic analysis of natural languagetext, also known as parsing. The parsing approach is data-driven, whichmeans that parsers are constructed by means of machine learning, lookingat training data in the form of annotated natural language sentences. The syntactic framework used in the thesis is dependency-based. Robustness is one of the characteristics of the data-driven approaches investigated here.The overall aim of this thesis is to maintain robustness while increasing accuracy.The content of the thesis falls naturally into two tracks, a transformation track and a combination track. The rst type of transformation investigatedis called pseudo-projective, because it enables strictly projective dependency parsers to recover non-projective dependency relations. Informally,a non-projective dependency tree contains crossing binary directed relations, when drawn above the sentence. Experimental results show that pseudo-projective transformations can improve accuracy significantly for a range of languages. The second type of transformation aims to facilitate the processing of specific linguistic constructions such as coordination and verb groups. Experimental results again show a positive effect on parsing accuracy for several languages, often greater than for the pseudo-projective transformations. However, the improvement of the transformations dependson the internal structure of the base parser, which is not the case for thepseudo-projective transformations. The combination track compares various approaches for combining data driven dependency parsers, again as a means of improving accuracy. As different parsers have different strengths and weaknesses, making parsers collaborate in order to nd one single syntactic analysis may result in higher accuracy than any of the syntactic analyzers can produce by itself. The experimental results show that accuracy improves across languages, giventhat appropriate parsers are combined. The thesis ends with an attempt to combine the two tracks, showing that combining parsers with different tree transformations also increases accuracy. Moreover, this experiment indicates that high diversity among a small set of parsers is much more important than a large number of parsers with low diversity.