Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Crossing rates'

Many recent research results have concluded that the multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communication architecture is a promising approach to achieve high bandwidth efficiencies. MIMO wireless channels can be simply defined as a link for which both the transmitting and receiving ends are equipped with multiple antenna elements. This advanced communication technology has the potential to resolve the bottleneck in traffic capacity for future wireless networks. Applying MIMO techniques to mobile communication systems, the problem of channel fading between the transmitters and receivers, which results in received signal strength fluctuations, is inevitable. The time-varying nature of the mobile channel affects various aspects of receiver design. This thesis provides some analytical methodologies to investigate the variation of MIMO eigenmodes. Although the scope is largely focussed on the temporal variation in this thesis, our results are also extended to frequency variation. Accurate analytical approximations for the level crossing rate (LCR) and average fade duration (AFD) of the MIMO eigenmodes in an independent, identically distributed (i.i.d.) flat-fading channel are derived. Furthermore, since several channel metrics (such as the total power gain, eigenvalue spread, capacity and Demmel condition number) are all related to the eigenmodes, we also derive their LCRs and AFDs using a similar approach. The effectiveness of our method lies in the fact that the eigenvalues and corresponding channel metrics can be well approximated by gamma or Gaussian variables. Our results provide a comprehensive, closed-form analysis for the temporal behavior of MIMO channel metrics that is simple, robust and rapid to compute. An alternative simplified formula for the LCR for MIMO eigenmodes is also presented with applications to different types of autocorrelation functions (ACF). Our analysis has been verified via Monte Carlo computer simulations. The joint probability density function (PDF) for the eigenvalues of a complex Wishart matrix and a perturbed version of it are also derived in this thesis. The latter version can be used to model channel estimation errors and variations over time or frequency. Using this PDF, the probabilities of adaptation error (PAE) due to feedback delay in some adaptive MIMO schemes are evaluated. In particular, finite state Markov chains (FSMC) have been used to model rate-feedback system and dual-mode antenna selection schemes. The PDF is also applied to investigate MIMO systems that merge singular value decomposition (SVD)-based transceiver structure and adaptive modulation. A FSMC is constructed to investigate the modulation state entering rates (MSER), the average stay duration (ASD), and the effects of feedback delay on the accuracy of modulation state selection in mobile radio systems. The system performance of SVD-based transceivers is closely related to the quality of the channel information at both ends of the link. Hence, we examine the effect of feedback time delay, which causes the transmitter to use outdated channel information in time-varying fading channels. In this thesis, we derive an analytical expression for the instantaneous signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR) of eigenmode transmission with a feedback time delay. Moreover, this expression implies some novel metrics that gauge the system performance sensitivity to time-variations of the steering vectors (eigenvectors of the channel correlation matrix) at the transmitter. Finally, the fluctuation of the channel in the frequency domain is of interest. This is motivated by adaptive orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems where the signalling parameters per subcarriers are assigned in accordance with some channel quality metrics. A Gaussian distribution has been suggested to approximate the number of subcarriers using certain signalling modes (such as outage/transmission and diversity/multiplexing), as well as the total data rates, per OFDM realization. Additionally, closed-form LCRs for the channel gains (including the individual eigenmode gains) over frequency are also derived for both single-input single-output (SISO) and MIMO-OFDM systems. The corresponding results for the average fade bandwidth (AFB) follow trivially, These results may be useful for system design, for example by calculating the feedback overheads based on subcarrier aggregation.

Orientador: Michel Daoud Yacoub
Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Eletrica e de Computação
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Resumo: Neste trabalho, uma nova distribuição de probabilidade amplamente geral, a distribuição a-?-?-µ, é proposta. Esta distribuição contempla como casos particulares várias outras distribuições conhecidas na literatura, tais como Rayleigh, Rice, Nakagami-m, Hoyt, Weibull, a-? (Gamma Generalizada) ?-µ e ?-µ. Por conta de sua generalidade, todos os mais importantes ambientes de desvanecimento de curto prazo são modelados por esta distribuição. Além de prover a função densidade de probabilidade para o modelo a-?-?-µ, os momentos e a função cumulativa de probabilidade também são encontrados. Este modelo geral é então especializado para quatro casos particulares, para os quais distribuições mais simples, mas ainda gerais, são encontradas: a a-?-µ, a-?-µ, ?-? Simétrica e ?-? Assimétrica. Para esses casos, estimadores práticos baseados nos momentos são deduzidos. A aplicabilidade destes estimadores é verificada utilizando medidas de campo realizadas na Unicamp com um equipamento construído no laboratório Wisstek para este ?m. Em seguida, estatísticas de ordem superior, em particular a taxa de cruzamento de nível e a duração média de desvanecimento, são encontradas de forma exata para os ambientes Hoyt e Weibull em sistemas de diversidade com M ramos desbalanceados, não idênticos e independentes utilizando os combinadores por ganho igual e por razão máxima. Neste trabalho, o resultado geral é validado através de simulações e redução das expressões gerais para casos em que os resultados já são conhecidos. Além disso, para alguns destes casos particulares, as expressões gerais são simplificadas e reduzidas a fórmulas fechadas. Estendendo esse último campo de investigação e seguindo um pioneiro trabalho da literatura, o qual abordou o caso Rayleigh, a taxa de cruzamento de nível e a duração média de desvanecimento são obtidas para ambientes Hoyt com dois ramos correlacionados. Nesta investigação, reformula-se a metodologia da literatura e obtém-se um procedimento geral para a análise da taxa de cruzamento de nível e duração média de desvanecimento em ambientes com apenas um cluster, com aplicação direta aos canais Rice, Weibull, ?-? Simétrica e ?-? Assimétrica. Finalmente, este trabalho propõe, de forma precursora, uma distribuição para a fase do canal Nakagami-m. Ao contrário do que, convencionalmente e por simplicidade, se postulava, a distribuição de fase é não uniforme e dependente de m, o que torna o modelo compatível com aqueles aproximados por Nakagami-m, nomeadamente Hoyt e Rice
Abstract: In this work, a new, very general probability density function, the a-?-?-µ distribution, is proposed. This distribution comprises, as particular cases, several other well known distributions such as Rayleigh, Rice, Nakagami-m, Hoyt, Weibull, a-? (Generalized Gamma) ?-µ and ?-µ. Due to its generality, all of the most important short fading environments can be modeled by this distribution. Besides providing the probability density function for the a-?-?-µ model, the moments and the cumulative distribution function are also found. This general model is then specialized into four particular cases, for which new simpler, though still general, distributions, are found: the a-?-µ, a-?-µ, Symmetrical ?-?, and Asymmetrical ?-?. For these cases, practical moment-based estimators are derived. The applicability of these estimators is verified using field measurements obtained through an experiment conducted at the University of Campinas (Unicamp) with an equipment specially built for this end in the Wisstek laboratory. Higher order statistics, more specifically the level crossing rates and average fade durations, are then obtained in an exact form for the Hoyt and Weibull fading environments. The results are applicable to M unbalanced, non-identical, and independent channels using equal gain and maximal ratio combining techniques. The general results are thoroughly validated by means of simulation and also by reducing the general solution to some particular cases for which the solutions are known. Moreover, new closed form expressions are also achieved for some of these particular cases. Extending this field of investigation and following a pioneering work in the literature, which approached the Rayleigh case, the level crossing rate and average fade duration are obtained considering two correlated, unbalanced, and non-identical branches in a Hoyt fading environment. In this investigation, the methodology found in the literature is reformulated and generalized so as to comprise several other cases. The general procedure developed for this analysis can now be applied to other fading environment for which one cluster of mutipaths exists, i.e., Rice, Weibull, Symmetrical ?-?, and Asymmetrical ?-?. Finally, this work proposes, in a pioneering way, the phase distribution for the Nakagami-m channel. Contrary to what conventionally, and for simplicity, was usually postulated, the phase distribution is non-uniform and dependent on m, rendering this model compatible with those approximated by Nakagami-m, namely Hoyt and Rice
Mestrado
Telecomunicações e Telemática
Mestre em Engenharia Elétrica

Honors thesis (B.S.)--Ohio State University, 2009.
Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. [39]-[40]). Available online via Ohio State University's Knowledge Bank.

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Biomédica
The neurodegenerative disease, Parkinson’s Disease (PD) constitutes a major health problem in the modern world, and its impact on public health and society is expected to increase with the ongoing ageing of the human population. This disease is characterized by motor and non-motor manifestations that are progressive and ultimately refractory to therapeutic interventions. The degeneration of dopaminergic neurons emanating from the substantia nigra is largely responsible for the motor manifestations. Thus, understanding the behaviour related to this disease is an added value for the diagnosis and treatment of PD. Also, in vivo models are essential tools for deciphering the molecular mechanisms underpinning the neurodegenerative process. Zebrafish has several features that make this species a good candidate to study PD. In particular, the occurrence of behavioural phenotypes of treated animals with neurotoxin drugs that mimic the disease has been investigated. And, an electric biosensor, Marine On-line Biomonitor System (MOBS) is being used for the real-time quantification of such behaviour. This equipment allows quantifying the fish movements through signal processing algorithms. Specifically, the algorithm is used for the evaluation of fish locomotion detected by a series of bursts in the domain of MOBS that correspond to the zebrafish tail-flip activity. In this thesis we proceeded to the development of an algorithm affording a electrical signal discrimination between "healthy" and "ill" zebrafish and consequently improving the detection of parkinsonism-like phenotypes in zebrafish. The first approach was the improvement of the existent algorithm. However, the first analysis failed to distinguish between different behavioural phenotypes when fish were treated with the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Consequently, we generated a new algorithm based on Machine Learning techniques. As a result, the novel algorithm provided a classification over the health condition of the fish, if the same is "healthy" or "ill" with its respective probability and the level of activity of the fish in number of tail-flips per minute. The method Support Vector Machine (SVM)was useful for the classification of the fish events. The zero crossing rate parameter was used for the characterization of the swimming activities. The algorithm was also integrated in the platform Open Signals, and for a faster evaluation of the signals, the algorithm implementation included parallel programming methods. This algorithm is a useful tool to study behaviour in zebrafish. Not only it will allow a more realistic study over the PD research area but also test and assess new drugs that use zebrafish as animal model.

Cette thèse traite de processus de détérioration en théorie du risque et en biomathématique.

En théorie du risque, le processus de détérioration étudié est celui des sinistres supportés par une compagnie d'assurance.

Le premier chapitre examine la distribution de Markov-Polya comme loi possible pour modéliser le nombre de sinistres et établit certains liens avec la famille de lois de Katz/Panjer. Nous construisons la loi de Markov-Polya sur base d'un modèle de survenance des sinistres et nous montrons qu'elle satisfait une récurrence élégante. Celle-ci permet notamment de déduire un algorithme efficace pour la loi composée correspondante. Nous déduisons la famille de Katz/Panjer comme famille limite de la loi de Markov-Polya.

Le second chapitre traite de la famille dite "Lagrangian Katz" qui étend celle de Katz/Panjer. Nous motivons par un problème de premier passage son utilisation comme loi du nombre de sinistres. Nous caractérisons toutes les lois qui en font partie et nous déduisons un algorithme efficace pour la loi composée. Nous examinons également son indice de dispersion ainsi que son comportement asymptotique.

Dans le troisième chapitre, nous étudions la probabilité de ruine sur horizon fini dans un modèle discret avec taux d'intérêt positifs. Nous déterminons un algorithme ainsi que différentes bornes pour cette probabilité. Une borne particulière nous permet de construire deux mesures de risque. Nous examinons également la possibilité de faire appel à de la réassurance proportionelle avec des niveaux de rétention égaux ou différents sur les périodes successives.

Dans le cadre de processus épidémiques, la détérioration étudiée consiste en la propagation d'une maladie de type SIE (susceptible - infecté - éliminé). La manière dont un infecté contamine les susceptibles est décrite par des distributions de survie particulières. Nous en déduisons la distribution du nombre total de personnes infectées à la fin de l'épidémie. Nous examinons en détails les épidémies dites de type Markov-Polya et hypergéométrique. Nous approximons ensuite cette loi par un processus de branchement. Nous étudions également un processus de détérioration similaire en théorie de la fiabilité où le processus de détérioration consiste en la propagation de pannes en cascade dans un système de composantes interconnectées.

Doctorat en Sciences
info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Variation in somatic growth rates has interested biologists for decades because of the relationship between growth and other fitness-determining traits (i.e. fecundity, survival, and body size), and the corresponding effect of somatic growth on production of organisms humans use for food. The interaction between genetic variation in growth rates and environmentally induced variation in growth rates shows the pattern of growth across multiple environments (i.e. the reaction norm) that clarifies the history and potential future of evolutionary change in growth rates among populations. Theoretical predictions suggest variation in predator-induced mortality rates can influence mean growth rates and the shape of the reaction norm for growth. The adaptive growth hypothesis predicts that mean growth rates would evolve in response to environmental pressures, such as mortality rates, at different body sizes. Few studies, however, have focused on variation in reaction norms for growth in response to resource availability between high-predation and low-predation environments. We used juvenile Brachyrhaphis rhabdophora from high-predation and low-predation environments to test for variation in mean growth rates and for variation in reaction norms for growth at two levels of food availability in a common-environment experiment, and we compared field somatic growth rates in juveniles from the same two environments (high-predation and low-predation). In the common-environment experiment, mean growth rates did not differ between predation environments, but the interaction between predation environment and food level took the form of a crossing reaction norm for both growth in length and growth in mass. Fish from low-predation environments exhibited no significant variation in growth rate between high and low food amount treatments. In contrast, fish from high-predation environments exhibited wide variation in growth rates between low and high food treatments, with higher food availability resulting in higher growth rates. In the field, individuals in the high-predation environment grow at a faster rate than those in a low-predation environment at the smallest sizes (comparable to sizes in the common-environment experiment). These data provide no evidence for evolved differences in mean growth rates between predation environments. However, fish from high-predation environments exhibited greater plasticity in growth rates in response to resource availability suggesting that increased risk of predation could drive variation in food availability for prey and consequent selection for plasticity.

The performance of a mobile satellite communications link can be determined by the propagation path between a satellite and mobile users. Some of the most important factors are multipath propagation and vegetative shadowing. System designers should have the most reliable information about the statistics of fade duration in order to determine fade margin or to compensate for the fades using modulation and coding scheme.

This report describes a simulator, PROSIM, developed at Virginia Tech for simulating a propagation model in land mobile satellite communications. The simulator is based on a random number generator that generates data sets to compute statistics of the propagation channel. Performance of the simulator was evaluated by comparing statistics from an analytical model and experimental data provided by W. Vogel of Univ. of Texas at Austin and J. Goldhirsh of the Applied Physics Laboratory. New expressions for phasor plot and its mathematical expression for lognormal channel were derived and were simulated. Finally, the advantages of the simulator using random number generator in simulating the propagation model are described.
Master of Science

Orientador: Michel Daoud Yacoub
Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Eletrica e de Computação
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Resumo: Esta dissertação provê uma análise das estatísticas de ordem superior para canais de desvanecimento WeibuII e Nakagami-m. Considerando canais de desvanecimento WeibulI, devido à ausência de um modelo físico para tais canais, estatísticas conjuntas de duas variáveis WeibuII correlacionadas foram obtidas em forma fechada e em função de parâmetros físicos bem conhecidos. Outra estatística encontrada foi a taxa de cruzamento de nível e a duração média de desvanecimento usando diversidade com dois ramos para canais WeibuII correlacionados, desbalanceados e não-idênticos. Além disso, uma caracterização do comportamento do processo de fase e de sua derivada temporal para sinais WeibuII foi realizada. Analisando canais de desvanecimento Nakagami-m, uma expressão simples e em forma fechada para a taxa de cruzamento de fase generalizada foi obtida. Resultados de simulação completamente validaram a formulação proposta. Além disso, novas estatísticas em forma fechada para a envoltória, para as componentes em fase e em quadratura, para a fase e para suas respectivas derivadas temporais foram obtidas
Abstract: This dissertation provides an analysis of the higher order statistics for WeibuII and Nakagami-m fading channels. Conceming WeibuII fading channels, due to the absence of a fading model related of such channels, joint statistics for two correlated WeibuII variates were obtained in cIosed-form and in terms of welI-known physical parameters. Other statistics found were the levei crossing rate and the average fade duration for unbalanced, non-identical, correlated WeibuII channels operating over two branches of diversity. Furthermore, a characterization of the behaviour of the phase process and its time derivative for WeibuII signals was accomplish. Conceming Nakagami-m fading channeIs, a simple and cIosed-form expression for the generalized phase crossing rate was obtained. Results of simulation thoroughly validated the formulation proposed. Moreover, new cIosed-form statistics for the envelope, for the in-phase and quadrature components, for the phase and its respective time derivative were derived.
Mestrado
Telecomunicações e Telemática
Mestre em Engenharia Elétrica

The performance of a mobile satellite communications link is conditioned by the characteristics of the propagation path between a satellite and mobile users. The most important propagation effect in land mobile satellite system is roadside attenuation of the signals due to vegetation or urban structures. System designers should have the most reliable information about the statistics of the propagation channel to build reliable systems that can compensate for bad propagation conditions. In 1998, the Virginia Tech Antenna Group developed a simulator, PROSIM, to simulate a propagation channel in the case of roadside tree attenuation in land mobile satellite systems. This thesis describes some improvements to PROSIM, and the adaptation and validation of PROSIM for Digital Audio Radio Satellite systems operating at S-band frequencies. The performance of the simulator for S-band frequencies was evaluated through a measurement campaign conducted with the XM Radio signals at 2.33 GHz in various propagation environments. Finally, additional results on dual satellite systems and fade correlation are described.
Master of Science

In this diploma thesis were created voice activity detectors according to the standard ITU-T G.729 and G.723.1. The voice activity detectors were implements in the digital signal processor TMS320C6416 made by Texas Instruments. At the same time detectors were designed using by MATLAB programming language. The diploma thesis can be divided into two parts. In the theoretical section provides information on how to report detectors in the standard ITU-T G.729 and G.723.1. In the implementation part is described steps in the implementation of the detector in signal processor TMS320C6416 and there are discussed various differences compared to the documentation.

La recombinaison génétique est un processus biologique fondamental, ayant lieu au cours de la méiose et assurant la bonne ségrégation des chromosomes, ainsi que le maintien de la variabilité génétique grâce au brassage intrachromosomique. La recombinaison a été étudiée dans de nombreuses espèces, en particulier chez les Mammifères et les animaux d’élevage, comme les bovins, les porcs ou les ovins. Dans tous les cas, une variation du taux de recombinaison a été observée entre les individus et il a été démontré qu’elle était héritable et sous déterminisme génétique. Dans certaines espèces, des cartes génétiques ont également été construites, ce qui a permis de localiser les crossingovers et de détecter de très petites zones du génome où la recombinaison était importante : les points chauds. En race ovine Lacaune, de nombreuses données de génotypages sont disponibles, notamment grâce à l’existence de deux puces : une de moyenne densité avec 54 000 marqueurs et une de haute densité avec 600 000 marqueurs. Deux jeux de données étaient donc disponibles ; un jeu de données familial avec près de 6 000 individus apparentés et génotypés pour les 54 000 marqueurs et un jeu de données comportant 70 Lacaune non apparentés et génotypés pour les 600 000 marqueurs. Des cartes génétiques ont donc été créées pour ces deux jeux de données. Avec les animaux non apparentés, environ 50 000 points chauds ont été détectés. Le jeu de données familial a permis d’observer des motifs de distribution de la recombinaison communs aux autres Mammifères. Enfin, la combinaison des deux jeux de données a révélé la présence de signatures de sélection et a permis de créer une carte génétique de haute densité. De plus, une variation du taux de recombinaison a été observée entre les individus et a pu être liée à l’existence de 2 QTLs majeurs sur les chromosomes 6 et 7. Des gènes candidats plus ou moins bien connus ont pu être proposés, voire étudiés : RNF212 et HEI10. De plus, une comparaison avec une autre population ovine a permis de montrer que les cartes de recombinaison étaient quasiment identiques, mais que le taux de recombinaison individuel était soumis à un déterminisme génétique différent. Il a également été possible de proposer une application concrète pour l’utilisation des cartes génétiques en sélection génomique, grâce à la création de puces basse densité pouvant être utilisées pour l’imputation des reproducteurs et donc favoriser le génotypage et la sélection génomique à moindre coût
Genetic recombination is a fundamental biological process, which occurs during the meiosis. It allows the good segregation of the chromosomes and contributes to maintain the genetic diversity. Recombination was already studied in a lot of different species, especially in mammals and in farm animals, such as the pig, the cattle or the sheep. In each case, a variation of the recombination rate between the individuals was observed. This variation was heritable and under genetic determinism. In some species, genetic recombination maps were also created, which allowed to localize the crossovers and to detect really tiny genomic regions where the recombination is huge: the recombination hotspots. In the Lacaune breed sheep, a lot of genotyping data are available thanks to two existing arrays: a first with a medium density of markers (about 54,000 markers) and a second with a high density of markers (about 600,000 markers). Two datasets were thus available: a familial dataset with about 6,000 animals genotyped for the 54,000 markers and a dataset of 70 unrelated Lacaune genotyped for the 600,000 markers. Genetic recombination maps were created for these two datasets. With the 70 unrelated Lacaune, about 50,000 hotspots were detected. The familial dataset allowed to observe the mammals common recombination patterns. Finally, when the two datasets were combined, selection signatures were revealed and a high density recombination map were created. Furthermore, a variation of the recombination rate within the individuals was observed and was associated to 2 main QTLs on the chromosomes 6 and 7. Already known, or not, candidate genes were proposed and sometimes studied: especially RNF212 and HEI10. Finally, a comparison with another sheep breed revealed that the genetic recombination maps were really similar, but the individual recombination rate was under a different genetic determinism. A concrete application of the genetic recombination map in genomic selection was also proposed thanks to the creation of lowdensity SNPs sets, which could be used to impute the animals and thus to improve the genotyping and the genomic selection for lessercosts

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Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas
The peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth var. gasipaes) is a domesticated Neotropical palm that is important as a cultivated source of heart-of-palm. The genetic base for this agribusiness is the Pampa Hermosa landrace, Yurimaguas, Peru, that supplies the absolute majority of the seeds used in the expansion of the agribusiness and the improvement programs in Brazil, because its plants are spineless and more productive than those of other landraces. The use of molecular markers will permit better discrimination among populations and progenies of the landrace, guiding the selection of elite individuals and the search for hybrid vigor via maximization of heterozygosity within the landrace. This study evaluated the genetic diversity, population structure, and genetic relations among progenies and populations in a progeny trial maintained at INPA, Manaus, Amazonas, as well as the mating system of the peach palm using eight microsatellite loci, to support the improvement programs that use these genetic resources. Samples from three populations of the Pampa Hermosa landrace and from the market of Yurimaguas were collected from 12 progenies from the Cuiparillo River (n=140), 12 from the Paranapura River (n=130), nine from the Shanusi River (n=130), and 17 from the market at Yurimaguas (n=168). The sampling concentrated on plants (121) selected for heart length, and included non-selected plants (447). High genetic variability exists in the progeny trail, with a mean of 15.1 alleles per locus and total diversity (HT) equal to 0.82. The eight loci had 12 common alleles and 26 intermediate-frequency alleles found in all the populations and the market, and 83 alleles scattered among populations, with 14 private alleles. The observed heterozygosity (Ho) in the trail was less than the He in the majority of the loci; in locus Bg02-08 Ho was very inferior, suggesting a strong excess of homozygotes in this locus. The Ho was lowest in Shanusi (0.64) and highest in Paranapura (0.74). The inbreeding coefficient f varied among populations and market, and was highest in Shanusi (0.190) and lowest in Paranapura (0.111). Genetic divergence among the populations and the market was low (formula), certainly due to high gene flow (9.8 migrants per generation). The AMOVA detected 82.8% of the total variation within the progenies, 16% among the progenies within the populations and market, and only 1.3% among the populations and the market, describing a weak genetic structure and suggesting that the populations and the market are highly related. This relationship was confirmed by the dendrograms of the DAS genetic distances among the populations, with a greater proximity between the populations of Paranapura and Cuiparillo, and between the Mercado and Shanusi. The dendrogram of the DAS genetic distances showed high genetic affinity among the progenies and the formation of groups independent of their geographic origin. The Ho and He were high for the majority of the progenies, confirming high genetic variability within the progenies. The inbreeding coefficient (f) for the progeny trial was not different from zero, confirming an excess of heterozygotes and confirming the high variability observed from the estimates of heterozygosity. The analysis of the mating system found that the species is predominantly allogamous. The high out-crossing rate demonstrates that the progenies are derived almost exclusively from individuals experiencing out-crossing, probably due to the harvest representing the peak of the flowering season and to the synchronism of flowering associated with the behavior of the pollinator. The estimates of crossing among relatives (tm - ts) were significant (0.101 to 0.202), suggesting some biparental inbreeding, probably due to the farmers practice of planting open-pollinated seeds of only a few seed sources in the same plot. The estimate of paternity correlation was low (varying from 0.051 to 0.112), suggesting a small number of full sibs within the progenies and large number of pollen sources (9 to 20) participating in the crosses. The progenies of the trial are composed mainly of half sibs with great genetic variability, enhanced by the large number of pollen sources, and suggests that selection for heart-of-palm production could be based on the classic models of quantitative genetics applied to exclusively allogamous species. This information will be used to guide the crosses among progenies/populations. Two improvement plans are feasible with this information: population improvement, with crosses among highly divergent plants and progenies; by reciprocal recurrent selection, with the creation of divergent populations based on morphometric and genetic information.
A pupunheira cultivada (Bactris gasipaes Kunth var. gasipaes) é uma palmeira domesticada que vem se destacando como produtora de palmito. A base genética para o agronegócio vem da raça primitiva Pampa Hermosa, Yurimáguas, Peru, que fornece a maioria absoluta das sementes usadas na expansão do agronegócio e nos programas de melhoramento no Brasil, devido a possuir plantas sem espinho que são mais produtivas que as de outras raças. O uso de marcadores moleculares possibilitará discriminar com maior confiabilidade entre populações e progênies, orientando a seleção de matrizes e a busca de vigor híbrido via maximização de heterozigosidade dentro da raça. Este trabalho avaliou a diversidade e a estrutura genética, as relações genéticas entre as progênies e o sistema de reprodução de pupunheira da raça Pampa Hermosa, usando oito loci microsatélites, para apoiar os programas de melhoramento que usam estes recursos genéticos. Foram coletadas amostras de três populações de pupunheira da raça Pampa Hermosa e do mercado de Yurimáguas mantidas no ensaio de progênies do INPA, sendo 12 progênies do rio Cuiparillo (n=140), nove do rio Shanusi (n=130), 12 do rio Paranapura (n=130) e 17 do mercado de Yurimáguas (n=168). A amostragem concentrou-se em plantas selecionadas (121) para comprimento do palmito e não selecionadas (447). Existe alta variabilidade genética nas progênies do ensaio, com média de 15,1 alelos por loci e diversidade total (HT) igual a 0,82. Os oito loci apresentaram 12 alelos comuns e 26 alelos intermediários presentes em todas as populações e o mercado, e 83 alelos raros, sendo 14 privados, 10 esporádicos e 62 difundidos. As heterozigosidades observadas (Ho) no conjunto de plantas foram inferiores a heterozigosidade esperada (He) na maioria dos loci; no lócus Bg02-08 Ho foi muito inferior, sugerindo forte excesso de homozigotos neste lócus. A Ho foi menor em Shanusi (0,64) e maior em Paranapura (0,74). Os coeficientes de endogamia variaram entre populações e mercado, sendo maior em Shanusi (0,190) e menor em Paranapura (0,111). Detectou-se baixa divergência genética entre as populações e o mercado (fórmula), certamente devido ao alto fluxo gênico (9,8 migrantes por geração). A AMOVA detectou 82,8% do total da variação dentro das progênies, 16% entre as progênies dentro das populações e o mercado, e somente 1,3% entre as populações e o mercado, confirmando uma estrutura genética mínima e sugerindo que as populações e o mercado são altamente relacionadas. Este relacionamento foi confirmado pelos dendrogramas de distâncias (DAS) das populações, o qual mostra maior proximidade entre as populações de Paranapura e Cuiparillo, e entre o mercado e Shanusi. O dendrograma das progênies mostra alta afinidade genética e formação de grupos independentes de sua área geográfica de origem. As heterozigosidades observadas (Ho) e esperadas (He) foram altas para a maioria das progênies, evidenciando alta variabilidade genética dentro das progênies. O coeficiente de endogamia (f) para o conjunto de progênies não foi diferente de zero, evidenciando excesso de heterozigotos e confirmando a alta variabilidade observada pelas estimativas de heterozigosidade. A análise do sistema de reprodução revela que a espécie é predominantemente alógama. As altas taxas de cruzamento demonstram que as progênies são oriundas quase que exclusivamente por indivíduos provenientes de exocruzamento, provavelmente devido ao estágio fenológico (pico da safra) e ao sincronismo de floração associado ao comportamento do polinizador. Porém, as estimativas (tm - ts) foram significativas (0,101 a 0,202), evidenciando endogamia biparental, provavelmente decorrente da prática agrícola de plantar sementes de polinização aberta de poucas matrizes na mesma roça. A estimativa da correlação de paternidade foi baixa (variando de 0,051 a 0,112), indicando pequena proporção de irmãos-completos dentro das progênies e grande número de doadores de pólen (9 a 20) participando dos cruzamentos individuais. Portanto, as progênies do ensaio são compostas em sua maioria por meios-irmãos com elevada variabilidade genética, evidenciada pelo alto número de doadores de pólen, e sugere que a seleção para produção de palmito poderá ser baseada nos modelos clássicos de genética quantitativa aplicados para espécies exclusivamente alógamas. Essas informações serão utilizadas para orientar os cruzamentos entre e dentro de progênies/populações. Dois planos de melhoramento são factíveis com essa informação: melhoramento populacional, com cruzamentos entre plantas e acessos altamente divergentes; melhoramento por meio de seleção recorrente recíproca, com a criação de populações divergentes em termos morfométricos e genéticos.

"Many current and future medical devices are wearable, using the human body as a conduit for wireless communication, which implies that human body serves as a crucial part of the transmission medium in body area networks (BANs). Implantable medical devices such as Pacemaker and Cardiac Defibrillators are designed to provide patients with timely monitoring and treatment. Endoscopy capsules, pH Monitors and blood pressure sensors are used as clinical diagnostic tools to detect physiological abnormalities and replace traditional wired medical devices. Body-mounted sensors need to be investigated for use in providing a ubiquitous monitoring environment. In order to better design these medical devices, it is important to understand the propagation characteristics of channels for in-body and on- body wireless communication in BANs. The IEEE 802.15.6 Task Group 6 is officially working on the standardization of Body Area Network, including the channel modeling and communication protocol design. This thesis is focused on the propagation characteristics of human body movements. Specifically, standing, walking and jogging motions are measured, evaluated and analyzed using an empirical approach. Using a network analyzer, probabilistic models are derived for the communication links in the medical implant communication service band (MICS), the industrial scientific medical band (ISM) and the ultra- wideband (UWB) band. Statistical distributions of the received signal strength and second order statistics are presented to evaluate the link quality and outage performance for on-body to on- body communications at different antenna separations. The Normal distribution, Gamma distribution, Rayleigh distribution, Weibull distribution, Nakagami-m distribution, and Lognormal distribution are considered as potential models to describe the observed variation of received signal strength. Doppler spread in the frequency domain and coherence time in the time domain from temporal variations is analyzed to characterize the stability of the channels induced by human body movements. The shape of the Doppler spread spectrum is also investigated to describe the relationship of the power and frequency in the frequency domain. All these channel characteristics could be used in the design of communication protocols in BANs, as well as providing features to classify different human body activities. Realistic data extracted from built-in sensors in smart devices were used to assist in modeling and classification of human body movements along with the RF sensors. Variance, energy and frequency domain entropy of the data collected from accelerometer and orientation sensors are pre- processed as features to be used in machine learning algorithms. Activity classifiers with Backpropagation Network, Probabilistic Neural Network, k-Nearest Neighbor algorithm and Support Vector Machine are discussed and evaluated as means to discriminate human body motions. The detection accuracy can be improved with both RF and inertial sensors."

The growth of multimedia content in recent years motivated the research on audio classification and content retrieval area. In this thesis, a general environmental audio classification and retrieval approach is proposed in which higher level semantic classes (outdoor, nature, meeting and violence) are obtained from lower level acoustic classes (emergency alarm, car horn, gun-shot, explosion, automobile, motorcycle, helicopter, wind, water, rain, applause, crowd and laughter). In order to classify an audio sample into acoustic classes, MPEG-7 audio features, Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC) feature and Zero Crossing Rate (ZCR) feature are used with Hidden Markov Model (HMM) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifiers. Additionally, a new classification method is proposed using Genetic Algorithm (GA) for classification of semantic classes. Query by Example (QBE) and keyword-based query capabilities are implemented for content retrieval.

This thesis aims to contribute to the developments of wireless communication systems. The work generally consists of three parts: the first part is a discussion on general digital communication systems, the second part focuses on wireless channel modelling and fading mitigation techniques, and in the third part we discuss the possible application of advanced digital signal processing, especially time-frequency representation and blind source separation, to wireless communication systems. The first part considers general digital communication systems which will be incorporated in later parts. Today's wireless communication system is a subbranch of a general digital communication system that employs various techniques of A/D (Analog to Digital) conversion, source coding, error correction, coding, modulation, and synchronization, signal detection in noise, channel estimation, and equalization. We study and develop the digital communication algorithms to enhance the performance of wireless communication systems. In the Second Part we focus on wireless channel modelling and fading mitigation techniques. A modified Jakes' method is developed for Rayleigh fading channels. We investigate the level-crossing rate (LCR), the average duration of fades (ADF), the probability density function (PDF), the cumulative distribution function (CDF) and the autocorrelation functions (ACF) of this model. The simulated results are verified against the analytical Clarke's channel model. We also construct frequency-selective geometrical-based hyperbolically distributed scatterers (GBHDS) for a macro-cell mobile environment with the proper statistical characteristics. The modified Clarke's model and the GBHDS model may be readily expanded to a MIMO channel model thus we study the MIMO fading channel, specifically we model the MIMO channel in the angular domain. A detailed analysis of Gauss-Markov approximation of the fading channel is also given. Two fading mitigation techniques are investigated: Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) and spatial diversity. In the Third Part, we devote ourselves to the exciting fields of Time-Frequency Analysis and Blind Source Separation and investigate the application of these powerful Digital Signal Processing (DSP) tools to improve the performance of wireless communication systems.

In the thesis, the reliability analysis of structural components and structural details subject to random loading and random resistance degradation is addressed. The study concerns evaluation of the probability of failure due to an overload of a component or structural detail, in consideration of random (environmental) loads and their combination, uncertain resistance parameters, statistical and phenomenological uncertainty and random resistance degradation mechanisms. Special attention is devoted to resistance degradation, as it introduces an additional level of difficulty in the solution of time variant reliability problems. The importance of this study arrives from the ageing of existing infrastructure in a world wide scale and from the lack of standards and codes for the ongoing safety management of general structures past their original design lives. In this context, probabilistic-based risk assessment and reliability analysis provide a framework for the safety management of ageing structures in consideration of inherent load and resistance uncertainty, current state of the structure, further resistance degradation, periodic inspections, in the absence of past experience and on an individual basis. In particular, the critical problem of resistance degradation due to fatigue is addressed. The formal solution of time variant reliability problems involves integration of local crossing rates over a conditional failure domain boundary, over time and over random resistance variables. This solution becomes very difficult in the presence of resistance degradation, as crossing rates become time dependent, and the innermost integration over the failure domain boundary has to be repeated over time. Significant simplification is achieved when the order of integrations is changed, and crossing rates are first integrated over the random failure domain boundary and then over time. In the so-called ensemble crossing rate or Ensemble Up-crossing Rate (EUR) approximation, the arrival rate of the first crossing over a random barrier is approximated by the ensemble average of crossings. This approximation conflicts with the Poisson assumption of independence implied in the first passage failure model, making results unreliable and highly conservative. Despite significant simplification of the solution, little was known to date about the quality of the EUR approximation. In this thesis, a simulation procedure to obtain Poissonian estimates of the arrival rate of the first up-crossing over a random barrier is introduced. The procedure is used to predict the error of the EUR approximation. An error parameter is identified and error functions are constructed. Error estimates are used to correct original EUR failure probability results and to compare the EUR with other common simplifications of time variant reliability problems. It is found that EUR errors can be quite large even when failure probabilities are small, a result that goes against previous ideas. A barrier failure dominance concept is introduced, to characterize those problems where an up-crossing or overload failure is more likely to be caused by a small outcome of the resistance than by a large outcome of the load process. It is shown that large EUR errors are associated with barrier failure dominance, and that solutions which simplify the load part of the problem are more likely to be appropriate in this case. It is suggested that the notion of barrier failure dominance be used to identify the proper (simplified) solution method for a given problem. In this context, the EUR approximation is compared with Turkstra’s load combination rule and with the point-crossing formula. It is noted that in many practical structural engineering applications involving environmental loads like wind, waves or earthquakes, load process uncertainty is larger than resistance uncertainty. In these applications, barrier failure dominance in unlikely and EUR errors can be expected to be small. The reliability problem of fatigue and fracture under random loading is addressed in the thesis. A solution to the problem, based on the EUR approximation, is constructed. The problem is formulated by combining stochastic models of crack propagation with the first passage failure model. The solution involves evaluation of the evolution in time of crack size and resistance distributions, and provides a fresh random process-based approach to the problem. It also simplifies the optimization and planning of non-destructive periodic inspection strategies, which play a major role in the ongoing safety management of fatigue affected structures. It is shown how sensitivity coefficients of a simplified preliminary First Order Reliability solution can be used to characterize barrier failure dominance. In the fatigue and fracture reliability problem, barrier failure dominance can be caused by large variances of resistance or crack growth parameters. Barrier failure dominance caused by resistance parameters leads to problems where overload failure is an issue and where the simplified preliminary solution is likely to be accurate enough. Barrier failure dominance caused by crack growth parameters leads to highly non-linear problems, where critical crack growth dominates failure probabilities. Finally, in the absence of barrier failure dominance, overload failure is again the issue and the EUR approximation becomes not just appropriate but also accurate. The random process-based EUR solution of time-variant reliability problems developed and the concept of barrier failure dominance introduced in the thesis have broad applications in problems involving general forms of resistance degradation as well as in problems of random vibration of uncertain structures.
PhD Doctorate

In the thesis, the reliability analysis of structural components and structural details subject to random loading and random resistance degradation is addressed. The study concerns evaluation of the probability of failure due to an overload of a component or structural detail, in consideration of random (environmental) loads and their combination, uncertain resistance parameters, statistical and phenomenological uncertainty and random resistance degradation mechanisms. Special attention is devoted to resistance degradation, as it introduces an additional level of difficulty in the solution of time variant reliability problems. The importance of this study arrives from the ageing of existing infrastructure in a world wide scale and from the lack of standards and codes for the ongoing safety management of general structures past their original design lives. In this context, probabilistic-based risk assessment and reliability analysis provide a framework for the safety management of ageing structures in consideration of inherent load and resistance uncertainty, current state of the structure, further resistance degradation, periodic inspections, in the absence of past experience and on an individual basis. In particular, the critical problem of resistance degradation due to fatigue is addressed. The formal solution of time variant reliability problems involves integration of local crossing rates over a conditional failure domain boundary, over time and over random resistance variables. This solution becomes very difficult in the presence of resistance degradation, as crossing rates become time dependent, and the innermost integration over the failure domain boundary has to be repeated over time. Significant simplification is achieved when the order of integrations is changed, and crossing rates are first integrated over the random failure domain boundary and then over time. In the so-called ensemble crossing rate or Ensemble Up-crossing Rate (EUR) approximation, the arrival rate of the first crossing over a random barrier is approximated by the ensemble average of crossings. This approximation conflicts with the Poisson assumption of independence implied in the first passage failure model, making results unreliable and highly conservative. Despite significant simplification of the solution, little was known to date about the quality of the EUR approximation. In this thesis, a simulation procedure to obtain Poissonian estimates of the arrival rate of the first up-crossing over a random barrier is introduced. The procedure is used to predict the error of the EUR approximation. An error parameter is identified and error functions are constructed. Error estimates are used to correct original EUR failure probability results and to compare the EUR with other common simplifications of time variant reliability problems. It is found that EUR errors can be quite large even when failure probabilities are small, a result that goes against previous ideas. A barrier failure dominance concept is introduced, to characterize those problems where an up-crossing or overload failure is more likely to be caused by a small outcome of the resistance than by a large outcome of the load process. It is shown that large EUR errors are associated with barrier failure dominance, and that solutions which simplify the load part of the problem are more likely to be appropriate in this case. It is suggested that the notion of barrier failure dominance be used to identify the proper (simplified) solution method for a given problem. In this context, the EUR approximation is compared with Turkstra’s load combination rule and with the point-crossing formula. It is noted that in many practical structural engineering applications involving environmental loads like wind, waves or earthquakes, load process uncertainty is larger than resistance uncertainty. In these applications, barrier failure dominance in unlikely and EUR errors can be expected to be small. The reliability problem of fatigue and fracture under random loading is addressed in the thesis. A solution to the problem, based on the EUR approximation, is constructed. The problem is formulated by combining stochastic models of crack propagation with the first passage failure model. The solution involves evaluation of the evolution in time of crack size and resistance distributions, and provides a fresh random process-based approach to the problem. It also simplifies the optimization and planning of non-destructive periodic inspection strategies, which play a major role in the ongoing safety management of fatigue affected structures. It is shown how sensitivity coefficients of a simplified preliminary First Order Reliability solution can be used to characterize barrier failure dominance. In the fatigue and fracture reliability problem, barrier failure dominance can be caused by large variances of resistance or crack growth parameters. Barrier failure dominance caused by resistance parameters leads to problems where overload failure is an issue and where the simplified preliminary solution is likely to be accurate enough. Barrier failure dominance caused by crack growth parameters leads to highly non-linear problems, where critical crack growth dominates failure probabilities. Finally, in the absence of barrier failure dominance, overload failure is again the issue and the EUR approximation becomes not just appropriate but also accurate. The random process-based EUR solution of time-variant reliability problems developed and the concept of barrier failure dominance introduced in the thesis have broad applications in problems involving general forms of resistance degradation as well as in problems of random vibration of uncertain structures.
PhD Doctorate

We consider real zero-crossing analysis of the real/imaginary parts of the spectrum, namely, spectral zero-crossings (SZCs). The two major contributions are to show that: (i) SZCs provide enable temporal localization of transients; and (b) SZCs are suitable for modeling transient signals. We develop a spectral dual of Kedem’s result linking temporal zero-crossing rate (ZCR) to the spectral centroid. The key requirement is stationarity, which we achieve through random-phase modulations of the time-domain signal. Transient signals are not amenable to modelling in the time domain since they are bursts of energy localized in time and lack structure. We show that the spectrum of transient signals have a rich modulation structure, which leads to an amplitude-modulation – frequency-modulation (AM-FM) model of the spectrum. We generalize Kedem’s arc-cosine formula for lags greater than one. For the specific case of a sinusoid in white Gaussian noise, He and Kedem devised an iterative filtering algorithm, which leads to a contraction mapping. An autoregressive filter of order one is employed and the location of the pole is the parameter that is updated based on the filtered output. We use the higher-order property, which relates the autocorrelation to the expected ZCR of the filtered process, between lagged ZCR and higher-lag autocorrelation to develop an iterative higher-order autoregressive-filtering scheme, which stabilizes the ZCR and consequently provides robust estimates of the autocorrelation at higher lags. Next, we investigate ZC properties of critically sampled outputs of a maximally decimated M-channel power complementary analysis filterbank (PCAF) and derive the relationship between the ZCR of the input Gaussian process at lags that are integer multiples of M in terms of the subband ZCRs. Based on this result, we propose a robust autocorrelation estimator for a signal consisting of a sum of sinusoids of fixed amplitudes and uniformly distributed random phases. Robust subband ZCRs are obtained through iterative filtering and the subband variances are estimated using the method-of-moments estimator. We compare the performance of the proposed estimator with the sample auto-correlation estimate in terms of bias, variance, and mean-squared error, and show through simulations that the performance of the proposed estimator is better than the sample auto- correlation for medium to low SNR. We then consider the ZC statistics of the real/imaginary parts of the discrete Fourier spectrum. We introduce the notion of the spectral zero-crossing rate (SZCR) and show that, for transients, it gives information regarding the location of the transient. We also demonstrate the utility of SZCR to estimate interaural time delay between the left and right head-related impulse responses. The accuracy of interaural time delay plays a vital role in binaural synthesis and a comparison of the performance of the SZCR estimates with that of the cross-correlation estimates illustrate that spectral zeros alone contain enough information for accurately estimating interaural time delay. We provide a mathematical formalism for establishing the dual of the link between zero-crossing rate and spectral centroid. Specifically, we show that the expected SZCR of a stationary spectrum is a temporal centroid. For a deterministic sequence, we obtain the stationary spectrum by modulating the sequence with a random phase unit amplitude sequence and then computing the spectrum. The notion of a stationary spectrum is necessary for deriving counterparts of the results available in temporal zero-crossings literature. The robustness of location information embedded in SZCR is analyzed in presence of a second transient within the observation window, and also in the presence of additive white Gaussian noise. A spectral-domain iterative filtering scheme based on autoregressive filters is presented and improvement in the robustness of the location estimates is demonstrated. As an application, we consider epoch estimation in voiced speech signals and show that the location information is accurately estimated using spectral zeros than other techniques. The relationship between temporal centroid and SZCR also finds applications in frequency-domain linear prediction (FDLP), which is used in audio compression. The prediction coefficients are estimated by solving the Yule-Walker equations constructed from the spectral autocorrelation. We use the relationship between the spectral autocorrelation and temporal centroid to obtain the spectral autocorrelation directly by time-domain windowing without explicitly computing the spectrum. The proposed method leads to identical results as the standard FDLP method but with reduced computational load. We then develop a SZCs-based spectral-envelope and group-delay (SEGD) model, which finds applications in modelling of non-stationary signals such as Castanets. Taking into account the modulation structure and spectral continuity, local polynomial regression is performed to estimate the GD from the real spectral zeros. The SE is estimated based on the phase function computed from the estimated GD. Since the GD estimate is parametric, the degree of smoothness can be controlled directly. Simulation results based on synthetic transient signals are presented to analyze the noise-robustness of the SE-GD model. Applications to castanet modeling, transient compression, and estimation of the glottal closure instants in speech are shown.

碩士
國立清華大學
統計學研究所
91
In this thesis, we propose two new features for the classification of a speech frame into a voiced or an unvoiced frame. The first one is the zero crossing rate of a frame after rainfall. This helps to classify a silence frame from speech frames. The second feature is the zero crossing rate of the double autocorrelation function of a frame. This helps to classify a voiced frame from speech frames. The zero crossing rate of the double autocorrelation function is also shown more robust than the ordinary zero crossing rates. The zero crossing rates after rainfall is somewhat a replacement of the feature energy for the classification of speech / non-speech frames. These two features are extensive tested by the TIMIT speech database, and the correct rate is 92.4%.

Recombination occurs during meiosis to produce new allelic combinations in natural populations, and thus strongly affects evolutionary processes. The model system Drosophila has been crucial for understanding the mechanics underlying recombination and assessing the association between recombination rate and several evolutionary parameters. Drosophila was the first system in which genetic maps were developed using recombination frequencies between genes. Further, Drosophila has been used to determine genetic and environmental conditions that cause variation in recombination rate. Finally, Drosophila has been instrumental in elucidating associations between local recombination rate and nucleotide diversity, divergence and codon bias, as well as helping determine the causes of these associations.

Here I present a fine-scale map of recombination rates across two major chromosomes in Drosophila persimilis using 181 SNP markers spanning two of five major chromosome arms. Using this map, I report significant fine-scale heterogeneity of local recombination rates. However, I also observed "recombinational neighborhoods", where adjacent intervals had similar recombination rates after excluding regions near the centromere and telomere. I further found significant positive associations of fine-scale recombination rate with repetitive element abundance and a 13-bp sequence motif known to associate with human recombination rates. I noted strong crossover interference extending 5-7 Mb from the initial crossover event. Further, I observed that fine-scale recombination rates in D. persimilis are strongly correlated with those obtained from a comparable study of its sister species, D. pseudoobscura. I documented a significant relationship between recombination rates and intron nucleotide sequence diversity within species, but no relationship between recombination rate and intron divergence between species. These results are consistent with selection models (hitchhiking and background selection) rather than mutagenic recombination models for explaining the relationship of recombination with nucleotide diversity within species. Finally, I found significant correlations between recombination rate and GC content, supporting both GC-biased gene conversion (BGC) models and selection-driven codon bias models.

Next, I looked at the role of chromosomal inversions in species maintenance by examining the impact of inversions distinguishing species to disrupt recombination rates within inverted regions, at inversion boundaries and throughout the remainder of the genome. By screening nearly 10,000 offspring from females heterozygous for 3 major inversions, I observed recombination rates within an inverted region in hybrids between Drosophila pseudoobscura and D. persimilis to be ~10-4 (similar to rates of exchange for inversion heterozygotes within species). However, despite the apparent potential for exchange, I do not find empirical evidence of ongoing gene exchange within the largest of 3 major inversions in DNA sequence analyses of strains isolated from natural populations. Finally, I observe a strong 'interchromosomal effect' with up to 9-fold higher (>800% different) recombination rates along collinear segments of chromosome 2 in hybrids, revealing a significantly negative association between interchromosomal effect and recombination rate in homokaryotypes, and I show that interspecies nucleotide divergence is lower in regions with larger changes in recombination rates in hybrids, potentially resulting from greater interspecies exchange. This last result suggests an effect of chromosomal inversions on interspecies gene exchange not considered previously.

Finally, I experimentally tested for a novel male-mediated effect on female recombination rates by crossing males that differed by either induced treatment variation or standing genetic variation to genetically identical females. After assaying recombination frequency in the offspring of these genetic crosses, I fitted these data to a statistical model where I showed no effect of male temperature treatment or male genetic background on offspring recombination rate. However, I did observe a difference of recombination rates of offspring laid 5-8 days post-mating between males treated with Juvenile Hormone relative to control males. Environmental variation in male ability to affect recombination rate in their mates suggests the potential for sexual conflict on optimal proportion of recombinant offspring, perhaps leading to changes in population-level recombination rates with varying levels of sexual selection.

Overall, my map of fine-scale recombination rates allowed me to confirm findings of broader-scale studies and identify multiple novel features that merit further investigation. Furthermore, I have identified several similarities and differences between inversions segregating within vs. between species in their effects on recombination and divergence, and I have identified possible effects of inversions on interspecies gene exchange that had not been considered previously. Finally, I have provided some evidence that males may impact female recombination rates, although future work should attempt to explore the range of male differences that impact this trait and the mechanism through which males impact the outcome of female meiosis.

Dissertation

碩士
亞洲大學
光電與通訊學系碩士班
98
Meditation common in many developing countries and developed countries, the Republic of China is also commonly associated with the research report, it means using sit-ins, to observe the practice in the long meditation of the 15 students did not receive meditation training with 14 students in the sitting cross-legged sitting position with legs straight, the acquisition of heart rate variability and pulse transmit time and the two parameters was found in the cross-legged posture control pulse transmit time on average there are significant differences, and Zen No fixed group; the results and assumptions control group meditation practice in a long time, change in position, the curved legs crossing over in the blood flow on unimpeded. While the movement experiment, using to fling hand and kicking, this action can be cast in a small space stretching, observation of pulse transmit time parameter is the value after exercise on reducing the trend; swing experiments of many parameters have values reduce the trend after exercise, kicking foot experiment data pulse transmit time averages have numerical decrease after exercise, but not obvious. Therefore, we can find parameters of pulse transmit time in the leg crossing posture on heart rate variability parameters than do more of the information available, and in the movement, speed up blood circulation in the body of assumptions, not significantly different, but still can see a trend. Pulse transmit time and the physiological parameters measured in only one non-invasive sensors, heart rate variability than pure parameters can describe a number of related phenomena.

碩士
逢甲大學
自動控制工程學系
87
The spectral analysis method based on short-term fast Fourier transform of heart rate variability (HRV) is employed for analysis of autonomic nervous functions in this research. In the past, the extent in frequency domain of HRV for evaluation of sympathetic site was considered to distribute at the range from 0.04 Hz to 0.15 Hz, and the vagal activities was evaluated at the spectral range of HRV from 0.15 Hz to 0.5 Hz. However, these fixed analytic extents would not be suitable at some special spectrum distribution when the sympathetic activities higher then 0.15 Hz, or the vagal activities lower then 0.15 Hz. In this research, the analysis of autonomic nervous function based on higher order crossings (HOC) of HRV is presented. The natural frequency of HRV is estimated by HOC. The very low frequency, low frequency and high frequency are obtained from higher-order crossings of HRV series with filtering processes. Through the frequency response analysis, the analytic bandwidth is decided. The comparison of the analytic results between applying fixed bandwidth and using regulable bandwidth was made. According to the experiment of breathing control, fixed bandwidth would not be suitable to use when the vagal activities lower then 0.15 Hz, but regulable bandwidth could still separate the sympathetic site from the vagal activities. The proposed methods have shown the improvement of analytic results for assessment of the autonomic nervous system.

Transportation accidents and the resulting fires are an important field of study. At the University of Waterloo Live Fire Research Facility (UWLFRF), an experiment was conducted in partnership with Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This experiment was designed to simulate an aircraft accident where fuel is spilled on the runway and is subsequently ignited. A crosswind pushes the 2.0 m diameter pool fire towards the aircraft fuselage and the conditions around the fire are monitored. Literature on the subject is examined first, examining the relationship between the fire, the crosswind, and the 2.7 m diameter blocking object (aircraft fuselage). A full wind characterization is then presented of the UWLFRF both with and without the blocking object in place, using five distinct wind speeds ranging from 3 m/s to 13.5 m/s. Turbulence intensity measurements are made on the centerline of the facility when possible. Details about the two sets of live fire tests are presented, a control experiment without the blocking object in place and then fire tests with the blocking object in place. Additionally, the control experiment has two different setups, one involving a floor surround in order to diminish the effect of the forward facing step on the front of the fuel pan. The fuel regression rate, the wind speed, the ambient conditions and the heat flux near the fuel pan are monitored during each live fire test. The fuel regression rate, defined as the rate at which the height of the liquid fuel level decreases as the fire burns, is then analyzed versus all other monitored variables. During no blocking object tests, trends of increasing wind speed and increasing heat flux on some gauges and decreasing flux on others was observed with increasing fuel regression rate when the floor surround was in place. During no blocking object tests without the floor surround and tests with the blocking object in place, no strong trends were observed when comparing the monitored variables. The ambient conditions were not observed to have an effect on any test. The average fuel regression for tests without the blocking object in place is 4.0 mm/min without the floor surround, and 4.4 mm/min with it in place. With the blocking object in place the average fuel regression rate was measured to be 4.8 mm/min using load cells and 4.1 mm/min using the sight glass.