Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Metodi topologici'

2013/2014
Questa tesi è dedicata allo studio di alcuni modelli differenziali che nascono nell'ambito della fluidodinamica o della relatività generale e che coinvolgono gli operatori di curvatura media nello spazio $N$-dimensionale euclideo o di Minkowski. Entrambi sono operatori ellittici quasi-lineari che non soddisfano la proprietà di uniforme ellitticità, essendo l'operatore di curvatura media euclidea degenere, mentre quello di curvatura media nello spazio di Minkowski singolare. Il lavoro è suddiviso in tre parti. La prima riguarda lo studio delle soluzioni periodiche dell'equazione di curvatura prescritta unidimensionale nello spazio euclideo, equazione che modellizza fenomeni di tipo capillarità. In accordo con la struttura dell'operatore di curvatura e imponendo un opportuno comportamento in 0, o all'infinito, della curvatura prescritta, si dimostra l'esistenza di infinite soluzioni subarmoniche classiche arbitrariamente piccole aventi opportune proprietà nodali, oppure di infinite soluzioni subarmoniche a variazione limitata con oscillazioni arbitrariamente grandi. La tecnica per la ricerca delle soluzioni classiche è topologica e si basa sull'uso del numero di rotazione e su una generalizzazione del teorema di Poincaré-Birkhoff; d'altro lato l'approccio per lo studio delle soluzioni non classiche poggia sulla teoria dei punti critici per funzionali non lisci, in particolare su un lemma di passo di montagna nello spazio delle funzioni a variazione limitata. La seconda parte della tesi è dedicata allo studio del problema di Dirichlet omogeneo associato a un'equazione della curvatura media prescritta anisotropa nello spazio euclideo, il quale fornisce un modello di descrizione della geometria della cornea umana. Il problema è ambientato in un dominio regolare in $\mathbb{R}^N$ con frontiera lipschitziana. Il capitolo è suddiviso a sua volta in tre sezioni, che sono rispettivamente focalizzate sui casi unidimensionale, radiale e $N$-dimensionale. Nel caso unidimensionale e nel caso radiale in una palla, si dimostrano l'esistenza e l'unicità di una soluzione classica, che presenta alcune proprietà qualitative aggiuntive. Le tecniche usate in questo contesto sono di natura topologica. Infine, nel caso $N$-dimensionale in un dominio generale, si provano l'esistenza, l'unicità e la regolarità di una soluzione di tipo forte del problema. In relazione ai possibili fenomeni di scoppio del gradiente, l'approccio è variazionale nello spazio delle funzioni a variazione limitata. Si enunciano e si dimostrano prima di tutto alcuni risultati preliminari riguardo al comportamento del funzionale associato al problema; tra questi, si sottolinea l'importanza di una proprietà di approssimazione. Successivamente si provano l'esistenza e l'unicità del minimizzante globale del funzionale, che è regolare all'interno ma non necessariamente sulla frontiera, e soddisfa il problema secondo un'opportuna definizione. Infine si mostra l'unicità della soluzione del problema. Sotto alcune ipotesi rafforzate sulla geometria del dominio, la soluzione ottenuta è classica. La terza parte della tesi riguarda il problema di Dirichlet associato a un'equazione della curvatura media prescritta nello spazio di Minkowski, che è di interesse in relatività generale. Il problema è ambientato in un dominio limitato regolare in $\mathbb{R}^N$ e un modello di curvatura media prescritta è dato da una funzione $f(x,s)$ che può avere comportamento sublineare, lineare, superlineare o sub-superlineare in $s=0$. L'attenzione è rivolta all'esistenza e alla molteplicità di soluzioni positive del problema. Come il precedente, anche questo capitolo è suddiviso in tre sezioni, che trattano rispettivamente i casi unidimensionale, radiale e $N$-dimensionale in un dominio generale. Nel caso unidimensionale, viene impiegato un approccio di tipo mappa-tempo per studiare una semplice situazione autonoma. Nel caso radiale in una palla, la tecnica è variazionale e lo studio del funzionale associato al problema evidenzia l'esistenza di un punto critico (casi sublineare o lineare), o di due (caso superlineare), o di tre punti critici (caso sub-superlineare): ciascuno di questi è una soluzione positiva del problema. Infine, nel caso generale in dimensione $N$, si adotta un approccio topologico che permette di studiare il problema non variazionale, in cui la funzione $f$ può dipendere dal gradiente della soluzione. Più nel dettaglio, con un metodo di sotto- e sopra-soluzioni specificamente sviluppato per questo problema, proviamo vari risultati di esistenza, molteplicità e localizzazione, in relazione alla presenza di una singola sotto-soluzione, o di una singola sopra-soluzione, o di una coppia di sotto- e sopra-soluzione ordinate o non ordinate. L'Appendice chiude la tesi: qui sono raccolti vari strumenti matematici utilizzati nel corso del lavoro.
This thesis is devoted to the study of some differential models arising in fluid mechanics or general relativity and involving the mean curvature operators in the $N$-dimensional Euclidean or Minkowski spaces. In both cases the operators are quasilinear elliptic operators which do not satisfy the property of uniform ellipticity, the Euclidean mean curvature operator being degenerate, whereas the Minkowski mean curvature operator being singular. This work is subdivided into three parts. The first one concerns the study of the periodic solutions of the one-dimensional prescribed curvature equation in the Euclidean space, which models capillarity-type phenomena. According to the structure of the curvature operator and imposing a suitable behaviour at zero, or at infinity, of the prescribed curvature, we prove the existence of infinitely many arbitrarily small classical subharmonic solutions with suitable nodal properties, or bounded variation subharmonic solutions with arbitrarily large oscillations. The technique for the search of classical solutions is topological and relies on the use of the rotation number and on a generalization of the Poincaré-Birkhoff theorem; whereas the approach for the study of non-classical solutions is based on non-smooth critical point theory, namely on a mountain pass lemma set in the space of bounded variation functions. The second part of the thesis is devoted to the study of the homogeneous Dirichlet problem associated with an anisotropic prescribed mean curvature equation in the Euclidean space, which provides a model for describing the geometry of the human cornea. The problem is set in a bounded domain in $\mathbb{R}^N$ with Lipschitz boundary. This chapter is subdivided into three sections, which are focused on the one-dimensional, the radial and the general $N$-dimensional case, respectively. In the one-dimensional and in the radial case in a ball, we prove an existence and uniqueness result of classical solution, which also displays some additional qualitative properties. Here the techniques used are topological in nature. Finally, in the $N$-dimensional case, we prove the existence, the uniqueness and the regularity of a strong-type solution of the problem. In order to tackle the possible gradient blow-up phenomena, the approach is variational and the framework is the space of bounded variation functions. We first collect some preliminary results about the behaviour of the action functional associated with the problem; among them, we remark the importance of an approximation property. We then prove the existence and uniqueness of the global minimizer of the action functional, which is smooth in the interior but non necessarily on the boundary, and satisfies the problem in a suitable sense. We finally prove the uniqueness of solution. Under some strengthened assumptions on the geometry of the domain, the solution obtained is classical. The third part of the thesis deals with the Dirichlet problem associated with a prescribed mean curvature equation in the Minkowski space, which is of interest in general relativity. The problem is set in a bounded regular domain in $\mathbb{R}^N$ and a model prescribed curvature is given by a function $f(x,s)$ whose behaviour is sublinear, linear, superlinear or sub-superlinear at $s=0$. The attention is addressed towards the existence and the multiplicity of positive solutions of the problem. In parallel to the second part of the thesis, this chapter is subdivided into three sections, which are focused on the one-dimensional, the radial and the general $N$-dimensional case, respectively. In the one-dimensional case, a time-map approach is employed for treating a simple autonomous situation. In the radial case in a ball, the technique is variational and the study of the action functional associated with the problem evidences the existence of either one (sublinear or linear cases), or two (superlinear case), or three (sub-superlinear case) non-trivial critical points of the action functional: each of them is a positive solution of the problem. Finally, in the general $N$-dimensional case, we adopt a topological approach which allows to study the non-variational problem, where the function $f$ may also depend on the gradient of the solution. Namely, by a lower and upper solution method specifically developed for this problem, we prove several existence, multiplicity and localization results, in relation to the presence of a single lower solution, or a single upper solution, or a couple of ordered or non-ordered lower and upper solutions of the problem. The Appendix completes this thesis: here several mathematical tools that have been used to prove the results are collected.
XXVI Ciclo
1986

In der Ramsey Theorie fuer Graphen haben Burr und Erdos vor nunmehr fast dreissig Jahren zwei Vermutungen formuliert, die sich als richtungsweisend erwiesen haben. Es geht darum diejenigen Graphen zu charakterisieren, deren Ramsey Zahlen linear in der Anzahl der Knoten wachsen. Diese Vermutungen besagen, dass Ramsey Zahlen linear fuer alle degenerierten Graphen wachsen und dass die Ramsey Zahlen von Wuerfeln linear wachsen. Ein Ziel dieser Dissertation ist es, abgeschwaechte Varianten dieser Vermutungen zu beweisen. In der topologischen Ramseytheorie bewies Kojman vor kurzem eine topologische Umkehrung des Satzes von Hindman und fuehrte gleichzeitig sogenannte Hindman-Raeume und van der Waerden-Raeume ein (beide sind eine Teilmenge der folgenkompakten Raeume), die jeweils zum Satz von Hindman beziehungsweise zum Satz von van der Waerden korrespondieren. In der Dissertation wird zum einen eine Verstaerkung der Umkehrung des Satzes von van der Waerden bewiesen. Weiterhin wird der Begriff der Differentialkompaktheit eingefuehrt, der sich in diesem Zusammenhang ergibt und der eng mit Hindman-Raeumen verknuepft ist. Dabei wird auch die Beziehung zwischen Differentialkompaktheit und anderen topologischen Raeumen untersucht. Im letzten Abschnitt des zweiten Teils werden kompakte dynamische Systeme verwendet, um ein klassisches Ramsey-Ergebnis von Brown und Hindman et al. ueber stueckweise syndetische Mengen ueber natuerlichen Zahlen und diskreten Halbgruppen auf lokal zusammenhaengende Halbgruppen zu verallgemeinern.
In graph Ramsey theory, Burr and Erdos in 1970s posed two conjectures which may be considered as initial steps toward the problem of characterizing the set of graphs for which Ramsey numbers grow linearly in their orders. One conjecture is that Ramsey numbers grow linearly for all degenerate graphs and the other is that Ramsey numbers grow linearly for cubes. Though unable to settle these two conjectures, we have contributed many weaker versions that support the likely truth of the first conjecture and obtained a polynomial upper bound for the Ramsey numbers of cubes that considerably improves all previous bounds and comes close to the linear bound in the second conjecture. In topological Ramsey theory, Kojman recently observed a topological converse of Hindman's theorem and then introduced the so-called Hindman space and van der Waerden space (both of which are stronger than sequentially compact spaces) corresponding respectively to Hindman's theorem and van der Waerden's theorem. In this thesis, we will strengthen the topological converse of Hindman's theorem by using canonical Ramsey theorem, and introduce differential compactness that arises naturally in this context and study its relations to other spaces as well. Also by using compact dynamical systems, we will extend a classical Ramsey type theorem of Brown and Hindman et al on piecewise syndetic sets from natural numbers and discrete semigroups to locally connected semigroups.

Orientador: Renato Pavanello
Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Mecanica
Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-07T01:37:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Porto_EduardoCasteloBranco_M.pdf: 1249639 bytes, checksum: ecf2198ecf41330cd50bfdb24c3bdb08 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006
Resumo: Este trabalho tem por objetivos a investigação e a implementação de um método de otimização estrutural topológica baseado no uso de microestruturas. Dois modelos de microestrutura são introduzidos no problema de projeto ótimo: um ortotrópico com vazios, via homogeneização, e outro isotrópico com penalidade, via equação constitutiva artificial. As propriedades mecânicas efetivas de tais modelos são determinadas através de um programa iterativo implementado, baseado na abordagem da homogeneização. A análise estrutural é então realizada através do método dos elementos finitos e a topologia ótima é obtida com o uso de um otimizador baseado em critérios de otimalidade. São feitas investigações acerca dos parâmetros envolvidos na técnica de homogeneização, assim como são resolvidos problemas elastoestáticos e elastodinâmicos lineares de estado plano de tensão envolvendo critérios de projeto em rigidez e em freqüência natural e restrição de volume. Os algoritmos, implementados em ambiente Matlab, têm sua eficácia comprovada mediante a resolução de problemas clássicos existentes na literatura. E com a implementação dos modelos de material ortotrópico com vazios e isotrópico com penalidade é possível explorar as principais características e potencialidades de cada abordagem
Abstract: This work aims to investigate and implement a structural topology optimization method based on microstructures. Two microstructure models are introduced in the optimal design problem: one orthotropic with holes, by homogenization, and other isotropic with penalization, by artificial constitutive equation. An implemented iterative program, based on the homogenization approach, determines the effective mechanical properties of each material model. Structural analyses are performed by using the finite element method and optimal topologies are obtained using an optimizer based on optimality criteria. Investigations concerning the parameters related to the homogenization technique are carried out. Linear elastic static and dynamic problems of structures in plane stress state are solved as well, concerning stiffness and natural frequency design criteria and with a constraint on volume. The solution of classic structural problems encountered in literature has demonstrated the effectiveness of the implemented Matlab codes and the implementation of the orthotropic and isotropic material models has made possible the investigation of the main characteristics and potentialities of each approach
Mestrado
Mecanica dos Sólidos e Projeto Mecanico
Mestre em Engenharia Mecânica

The main technical problem with background independent approaches to quantum gravity is inapplicability of standard quantum field theory methods. New methods are needed which would be adapted to the basic principles of General Relativity. Topological field theory is a model which provides natural tools for background independent quantum gravity. It is exactly soluble and, at the same time, diffeomorphism invariant. Applications of topological field theory to quantum gravity include description of boundary states of quantum General Relativity, formulation of quantum gravity as a constrained topological field theory, and a new perturbation theory which uses topological field theory as a starting point. The later is the central theme of the thesis. Unlike the traditional perturbation theory it does not require splitting metric into a background and fluctuations, it is exactly diffeomorphism invariant order by order, and the coupling constant of this theory is dimensionless. We describe the basic ideas and techniques of this perturbation theory as well as inclusion of matter particles, boundary states, and other necessary tools for studying scattering problem in background independent quantum gravity.

Simulating quantum-mechanical systems is a very challenging issue due to the high computational costs. The main reason for this is related to the dimension of the Hilbert space that grows exponentially with the number of degrees of freedom, making an exact implementation impossible even for the most powerful today’s supercomputers. On this ground it appears clear the need of a new simulation method, i.e. quantum simulation. The general idea is very simple: using a controllable quantum system, called quantum simulator, to emulate and to analyze another quantum system that usually results less controllable or accessible. Quantum simulation is currently a growing and multidisciplinary physical area that involves theoretical and experimental research. From the theoretical side, the main focus is on the study of simulation-models that create a mapping between the target physics and the simulator. In the first two parts of this thesis, we explore these ideas by studying the ground-state properties and the real-time dynamics of a class of Zn lattice gauge theories in 1+1 dimensions, in which the gauge fields are coupled to fermionic matter. These models can be considered as quantum simulation-models of lattice 1+1 Quantum Electrodynamics (QED), which is the simplest gauge theory that shows non-trivial phenomena, like confinement, that are also observed in more complicated gauge theories, such as 3+1 Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD). In the third part of this thesis, we unveil an interesting interplay of symmetry and topology by demonstrating the existence of symmetry-protected topological (SPT) phases in the presence of gauge interactions. More specifically, we introduce an alternative discretization of the Schwinger model leading to a new type of topological-QED. We use bosonization and Density-Matrix Renormalization Group (DMRG) techniques to analyze the phase diagram of the model, opening an interesting route to study topological phases of matter in the context of gauge theories.

Arrow’s Impossibility Theorem is a classical result in social choice theory (a branch of economic theory), which states that any system of rules for combining (“aggregating”) individual preference relations into a single representative relation results in a “dictatorship” where the combined preference only reflects the wishes of a single individual (provided that the aggregation rule satisfies two basic criteria). Since the 1980s, this result has been reformulated and understood using algebraic topology. The topological approach offers some geometric intuition as to why Arrow’s theorem holds, and can also be used to find alternative hypotheses which may escape the dictatorship outcome. A thorough examination of such topological models constitutes the main body of this thesis. Recently, social choice theory has been generalized (resulting in a field called “judgment aggregation”), and results analogous to Arrow's theorem have been established. The second part of this thesis introduces this field of study, and studies how some of the techniques from topological social choice theory can be extended to understand dictatorship outcomes in the theory of judgment aggregation. Although the analysis is restricted to a rather simple case, it nonetheless highlights the potential for a more general topological model of judgment aggregation, and exposes the main challenges that must be overcome in constructing such a theory.

The aim of this work is an optimalization of vector contact force sensor properties which prototype is at the moment designed. The principle of sensor is based on transformation active part of sensor using three tensiometers and following value indentification of loading force vector using neuron network. Sensor has a bad sensitivity when axis force load or near to axis of sensor. To solve this problem ''MKP'' model of sensor was used on which suitable optimalization method was applicated. From the result of optimalization modificated sensor will be proposed and will be made a utility verification using neuron network.

In this work we discuss the role of topological degrees of freedom in very low-energy hadronic processes (vacuum polarization and vacuum birefringence). We also present an approach which enables to investigate the microscopic dynamics of non-perturbative processes: this is achieved by constructing an effective statistical theory for topological vacuum gauge configurations, by means of Lattice QCD simulations.

Topological insulators (TIs) are a new state of quantum matter that has fundamentally challenged our knowledge of insulator and metals. They are insulators in the bulk, but metallic on the edge. A TI is characterized by a so-called topological invariant. This characteristic integer number is associated to every mapping between two topological spaces and can be defined for an electronic system on the lattice. Due to the bulk-edge correspondence a non-trivial value leads to topologically protected edge states. To get insight into the electronic characteristics of these edge/surface states, however, an effective continuum theory is needed. Continuum models are analytical and are also able to model transport. In this thesis we will address the suitability of continuum low-energy theories to describe the topological characteristics of TIs. The models which are topologically well-defined are called topological k.p Hamiltonians. After introducing a necessary background in chapter 1 and 2, we will discuss in the methodological chapter 3 the strategies that have to be taken into account to allow for studying topological surface states. In chapter 4 we will study two different model classes associated to a spherical basis manifold. Both have an integer topological invariant, but one shows a marginal bulk-edge correspondence. In chapter 5 we will study a different continuum theory where the basis manifold corresponds to a hemisphere. We then apply all these ideas to a time-reversal invariant TI -- uniaxially strained Mercury Telluride (HgTe). We determine the spin textures of the topological surface states of strained HgTe using their close relations with the mirror Chern numbers of the system and the orbital composition of the surface states. We show that at the side surfaces with $C_{2v}$ point group symmetry an increase in the strain magnitude triggers a topological phase transition where the winding number of the surface state spin texture is flipped while the four topological invariants characterizing the bulk band structure are unchanged. In the last chapter we will give a summary.

The master‘s thesis deals with optimization of continuum consisting of one or more different materials loaded statically or dynamically. The thesis aims on minimum compliance design and maximum eigen frequency design. For solution of each problem situation are written computational programmes in Python language itself and also as combination with commercial software ANSYS APDL.

Il riconoscimento di una persona è una componente essenziale nella sicurezza o, più nello specifico, nella videosorveglianza. In particolare sono pochissime le tecniche biometriche utilizzabili in una situazione in cui c'è bisogno di un riconoscimento a distanza, o in cui serva poter non interferire con l'attività del soggetto da identificare. L'analisi dell'andatura, della deambulazione, del cammino, è tra queste ed ha un importante potenziale: le informazioni utili possono essere estratte da molti punti di vista diversi e, soprattutto, a distanze maggiori rispetto ad altri approcci biometrici, come l'analisi dell'iride o il riconoscimento facciale. In più, a differenza del riconoscimento tramite impronta digitale, non c'è bisogno di un interazione dell'individuo con l'ambiente. In quest'elaborato vengono presentati, dopo una breve analisi dello stato dell'arte e dopo un'introduzione dei prerequisiti matematici necessari, due metodi per il riconoscimento dell'andatura, il primo basato sulla Teoria dell'Informazione, l'altro sulla Topologia Persistente. Entrambi gli approcci vengono testati su due esperimenti diversi, e il secondo metodo si mostra più performante del primo soprattutto nel secondo esperimento, dove nelle andature gli individui della gallery sono sotto particolari condizioni non note a priori che influenzano l'andatura o la silhouette del soggetto (trasportare oggetti, indossare un particolare abbigliamento...).

Thesis (M.S.) -- University of Maryland, College Park, 2003.
Thesis research directed by: Electrical and Computer Engineering. Title from t.p. of PDF. Includes bibliographical references. Published by UMI Dissertation Services, Ann Arbor, Mich. Also available in paper.

We study sums of squares formulae from the perspective of normed bilinear maps and their Hopf constructions. We begin with the geometric properties of quadratic forms between euclidean spheres. Let F: Sm → Sn be a quadratic form. For every point q in the image, the inverse image F⁻¹ (q) is the intersection of Sm with a linear subspace wq, whose dimension can be determined easily. In fact, for every k ≤ m+1 with nonempty Yk = {q ∈ Sn: dim Wq = k}, the restriction F⁻¹ (Yk) → Yk is a great (k-1) - sphere bundle. The quadratic form F is the Hopf construction of a normed bilinear map if and only if it admits a pair of "poles" ±p such that dim Wp + dim W₋p = m+1. In this case, the inverse images of points on a "meridian", save possibly the poles, are mutually isoclinic. Furthermore, the collection of all poles forms a great sphere of relatively low dimension. We also prove that the classical Hopf fibrations are the only nonconstant quadratic forms which are harmonic morphisms in the sense that the composite with every real valued harmonic function is again harmonic. Hidden in a quadratic form F: Sm → Sn are nonsingular bilinear maps Rk x Rm-k⁺¹ → Rn, one for each point in the image, all representing the homotopy class of F, which lies in Im J. Moreover, every hidden nonsingular bilinear map can be homotoped to a normed bilinear map. The existence of one sums of squares formula, therefore, anticipates others which cannot be obtained simply by setting some of the indeterminates to zero. These geometric and topological properties of quadratic forms are then used, together with homotopy theory results in the literature, to deduce that certain sums of squares formulae cannot exist, notably of types [12,12,20] and [16,16,24]. We also prove that there is no nonconstant quadratic form S²⁵ → S²³. Sums of squares formulae with integer coefficients are equivalent to "intercalate matrices of colors with appropriate signs". This combinatorial nature enables us to establish a stronger nonexistence result: no sums of squares formula of type [16,16, 28] can exist if only integer coefficients are permitted. We also classify integral [10,10,16] formulae, and show that they all represent ±2Ʋ∈ π [s over 3]. With the aid of the KO theory of real projective spaces, we determine, for given δ ≤ 5 and s, the greatest possible r for which there exists an [r,s,s+δ] formula. An explicit solution of the classical Hurwitz-Radon matrix equations is also recorded.
Science, Faculty of
Mathematics, Department of
Graduate

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 1994.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 177-179).
by Valery Brodsky.
M.S.

This thesis consists of six papers related to combinatorics and commutative algebra. In Paper A, we use tools from topological combinatorics to describe the minimal free resolution of ideals with a so called regular linear quotient. Our result generalises the pervious results by Mermin and by Novik, Postnikov & Sturmfels. In Paper B, we describe the convex hull of the set of face vectors of coloured simplicial complexes. This generalises the Turan Graph Theorem and verifies a conjecture by Kozlov from 1997. In Paper C, we use algebraic shifting methods to characterise all possible clique vectors of k-connected chordal graphs. In Paper D, to every standard graded algebra we associate a bivariate polynomial that we call the Björner-Wachs polynomial. We show that this invariant provides an algebraic counterpart to the combinatorially defined h-triangle of simplicial complexes. Furthermore, we show that a graded algebra is sequentially Cohen-Macaulay if and only if it has a stable Björner-Wachs polynomial under passing to the generic initial ideal. In Paper E, we give a numerical characterisation of the h-triangle of sequentially Cohen-Macaulay simplicial complexes; answering an open problem raised by Björner & Wachs in 1996. This generalise the Macaulay-Stanley Theorem. Moreover, we characterise the possible Betti diagrams of componentwise linear ideals. In Paper F, we use algebraic and topological tools to provide a unifying approach to study the connectivity of manifold graphs. This enables us to obtain more general results.

QC 20160516

In Introduction, we review integrable and topological solitons. In Numerical Methods, we describe how to minimize functionals, time-integrate configurations and solve eigenvalue problems. We also present the Simulated Annealing scheme for minimisation in solitonic systems. In Classical Aspects, we analyse the effect of the potential term on the structure of minimal- energy solutions for any topological charge n. The simplest holomorphic baby Skyrme model has no known stable minimal-energy solution for n > 1. The one-vacuum baby Skyrme model possesses non-radially symmetric multi-skyrmions that look like 'skyrmion lattices' formed by skyrmions with n = 2. The two-vacua baby Skyrme model has radially symmetric multi- skyrmions. We implement Simulated Annealing and it works well for higher order terms. We find that the spatial part of the six-derivative term is zero. In Quantum Aspects, we find the first order quantum mass correction for the Ф(^4) kink using the semi-classical expansion. We derive a trace formula which gives the mass correction by using the eigenmodes and values of the soliton and vacuum perturbations. We show that the zero mode is the most important contribution. We compute the mass correction of Ф(^4) kink and Sine-Gordon numerically by solving the eigenvalue equations and substituting into the trace formula.

Doutoramento em Matemática
Nesta tese de doutoramento, estudamos a existência e a multiplicidade de soluções para algumas classes de equações elípticas não lineares com potencial não suave. Os resultados originais foram obtidos, utilizando métodos variacionais e da teoria de grau. A nossa abordagem variacional é baseada em descobertas recentes na teoria não suave (nonsmooth) dos pontos críticos. A teoria de grau é aplicada a determinadas perturbações multívocas de operadores de tipo monótono (operadores do tipo (S)+ ). O primeiro problema que consideramos é um problema de valor próprio semi-linear com potencial não suave (ver Capítulo 3). O resultado de existência obtido estende para uma versão não suave, e sob hipóteses de crescimento mais fracas, um resultado obtido por Rabinowitz para potenciais suaves. Mais, sob condições no potencial que permitem ressonância, quer em zero, quer no infinito, provamos um resultado de multiplicidade. Para um problema elíptico não linear derivado do p-Laplaciano e com um potencial não suave (ver Capítulo 4), estabelecemos a existência de, pelo menos, três soluções suaves, não triviais e distintas, sendo duas delas de sinal constante (uma positiva e uma negativa). Problemas semi-lineares de Neumann, que são duplamente ressonantes na origem, relativamente a qualquer intervalo espectral [λk,λk+1], são estudados no Capítulo 5. O resultado de multiplicidade obtido para um potencial não suave estende resultados existentes para o caso do potencial suave, nos quais a ressonância é completa relativamente a λk, mas incompleta relativamente a λk+1. Respondemos afirmativamente à questão aberta em relação à validade do resultado de multiplicidade, quando ocorre, também, ressonância completa relativamente a λk+1 (situação de dupla ressonância). A última parte da tese (Capítulo 6) é dedicada ao estudo de uma classe de problemas de Neumann, em que o operador diferencial não é homogéneo, nem variacional. Portanto, os métodos mini-max da teoria dos pontos críticos (suave e não-suave) não podem ser utilizados. Usando o espectro do operador diferencial assimptótico, juntamente com métodos da teoria de grau, estabelecemos a existência de soluções suaves não triviais.
In this Ph.D. thesis, we study the existence and the multiplicity of solutions to some classes of nonlinear elliptic equations with a nonsmooth potential. Our new results were obtained by using variational and degree theoretic methods. The variational approach we used is based on recent developments in nonsmooth critical point theory. The degree theory we used concerns certain multivalued perturbations of a class of monotone type operators (the (S)+ type operators). The first problem we consider is a semilinear eigenvalue problem with a nonsmooth potential (see Chapter 3). The existence result we obtained extends to nonsmooth setting and under weaker growth assumptions, a result obtained by Rabinowitz for smooth potentials. Moreover, under conditions on the potential which allow resonance both at zero and at infinity, we prove a multiplicity result. For a nonlinear elliptic problem driven by the p-Laplacian and with a nonsmooth potential (see Chapter 4), we establish the existence of at least three distinct nontrivial smooth solutions, two of them with constant sign (one positive and one negative). Semilinear Neumann problems which are doubly resonant at the origin with respect to any spectral interval [λk,λk+1] were studied in Chapter 5. The multiplicity result we obtained for nonsmooth potential, extend results known for the case of smooth potential, where the resonance is complete with respect to λk, but incomplete (nonuniform nonresonance) with respect to λk+1. We give a positive answer to an open question asking whether the multiplicity result also holds when complete resonance occurs also with respect to λk+1 (double resonance situation). The last part of the thesis (Chapter 6) is devoted to the study of a class of Neumann problems where the differential operator driving the problem is neither homogeneous, nor variational. So the minimax methods of critical point theory (smooth and nonsmooth alike) fail. Using the spectrum of the asymptotic differential operator together with degree theoretic methods, we establish the existence of nontrivial smooth solutions.

Die lebenden Organismen sind für eine wissenschaftliche Analyse zu kompliziert, wenn man sie als Ganzes und in ihrer vollen Komplexität betrachtet. Die vorliegende Arbeit behandelt die topologischen Eigenschaften von zwei wichtigen Teilen der lebenden Organismen: die metabolischen und die regulatorischen Systeme. Topolgische Eigenschaften sind solche, die durch die Netwerkstruktur bedingt werden. Ein Signalsystem ist eine spezielle Art von regulatorischem System. Zwischen den metabolischen und Signalnetzen gibt es wichtige Unterschiede, die ihre Behandlung in unterschiedlicher Weise erfordert. In der metabolischen Pfadanalyse ist das Konzept der elementaren Flussmoden bereits als ein passendes Instrument für die Charakterisierung der einfachsten essentiellen Wege in biochemischen Systemen etabliert. Wir untersuchen die Eigenschaften und Vorteile dieses Konzepts in einigen besonderen Fällen. Zuerst untersuchen wir die vielfach vorkommenden Enzyme mit niedriger Spezifität (z.B. Nukleosiddiphosphokinase, Uridinkinase, Transketolase, Transaldolase). Sie können parallel verschiedene Substrate und Produkte umwandeln. Auch die Enzym-Mechanismen sind vielfältig, wie wir mit dem Reaktionsschema für bifunktionelle Enzyme veranschaulichen. Wir betrachten dabei nur den Fall, dass ein bestimmtes aktives Zentrum mehrere Reaktionen katalysiert. Der Fall, dass das studierte Enzym mehrere solche aktiven Zentren hat, kann in den Fall mehrerer Enzyme transformiert werden, die nur ein aktives Zentrum haben. Wenn eine Krankheit das Ausgangsenzym ändert, werden dann in der Analyse auch alle ersetzenden Enzyme geändert. Es gibt zwei unterschiedliche Betrachtungsweisen, um multifunktionelle Enzyme zu beschreiben. Zum einen kann man die Gesamtreaktionen betrachten und zum anderen die elementaren Reaktionsschritte (Hemireaktionen, Halbreaktionen). Für Enzyme mit zwei oder mehr Funktionen ist es wichtig, nur linear unabhängige Funktionen zu betrachten, weil sonst zyklische elementare Moden auftreten würden, die keine Nettoumwandlung durchführen. Jedoch ist die Wahl der linear unabhängigen Funktionen nicht a priori eindeutig. Wir stellen eine Methode für das Treffen dieser Wahl vor, indem wir die konvexe Basis des Hemireaktions-Systems betrachten. Eine formale Anwendung des Algorithmus für das Berechnen der elementaren Flussmoden (Routen) erbringt das Resultat, dass die Zahl solcher Moden manchmal vom Niveau der Beschreibung abhängt, wenn einige Reaktionen reversibel sind und die Produkte der multifunktionellen Enzyme externe Metabolite sind, oder einige multifunktionelle Enzyme zum Teil die gleichen Stoffwechselprodukte umwandeln. Jedoch kann dieses Problem durch eine geeignete Deutung der Definition der elementaren Moden und die korrekte Wahl der unabhängigen Funktionen der Multifunktionsenzyme gelöst werden. Die Analyse wird durch einige kleinere Beispiele und ein größeres biochemisches Beispiel veranschaulicht, das aus dem Nukleotidmetabolismus stammt und die zwei Arten der Beschreibung für Nukleosiddiphosphokinase und Adenylatekinase vergleicht. Der Nukleotidmetabolismus spielt eine wichtige Rolle in lebenden Organismen und ist gegenüber allen möglichen Störungen in seiner internen Balance sehr empfindlich. Gefährliche Krankheiten können auftreten, wenn einige Enzyme nicht richtig funktionieren. Mit Hilfe des Konzeptes des elementaren Flussmodus erklären wir das Auftreten und den Schweregrad von Krankheiten, die auf Enzymdefizienzen basieren. Wenn ein Enzym vollständig gehemmt wird, werden einige metabolische Wege blockiert. Wenn jedoch einige alternative Wege noch bestehen, ist die Krankheit weniger gefährlich. Unsere Analyse ist darauf gerichtet, alternative Wege, wesentliche Enzyme und solche Enzyme, die immer zusammenarbeiten zu finden. Der letzte Begriff ist auch als "Enzyme subset" bekannt und stellt einen intermediären Schritt im Algorithmus zur Berechnung der elementaren Flussmoden dar. Wir diskutieren bereits bekannte und bisher nur hypothetische Mechanismen einiger Krankheiten (proliferative Krankheiten, Immundefizienzen), die auf Störungen des Nukleotidmetabolismus oder seiner Ausbeutung durch Viren und Parasiten beruhen. Die meisten Strategien, die für das Bekämpfen solcher Krankheiten eingesetzt werden, basieren auf der Unterbrechung des Nukleotidmetabolismus an bestimmten Stellen. Diese Strategien können aber auch zur Akkumulation toxischer Stoffe führen und dadurch Nebenwirkungen hervorrufen. Deswegen hilft ein besseres Verständnis dieses Systems, wirkungsvollere Medikamente zu entwickeln, und eine gute strukturelle Analyse kann viele experimentelle Bemühungen ersparen. Konzepte aus der Theorie der Petri-Netze liefern zusätzliche Werkzeuge für das Modellieren metabolischer Netzwerke. In Kapitel 4 werden die ähnlichkeiten zwischen einigen Konzepten in der traditionellen biochemischen Modellierung und analogen Konzepten aus der Petri-Netztheorie besprochen. Zum Beispiel entspricht die stochiometrische Matrix eines metabolischen Netzwerkes der Inzidenzmatrix des Petri-Netzes. Die Flussmoden und die Erhaltungs-Relationen haben die T-Invarianten beziehungsweise P-Invarianten als Gegenstücke. Wir decken die biologische Bedeutung einiger weiterer Begriffe aus der Theorie der Petri-Netze auf, nämlich "traps", "{siphons", "deadlocks" und "Lebendigkeit". Wir konzentrieren uns auf der topologischen Analyse anstatt auf die Analyse des dynamischen Verhaltens. Die geeignete Behandlung der externen Stoffwechselprodukte wird ebenfalls besprochen. Zur Illustration werden einige einfache theoretische Beispiele vorgestellt. Außerdem werden einige Petri-Netze präsentiert, die konkreten biochemischen Netzen entsprechen, um unsere Resultate zu belegen. Zum Beispiel wird die Rolle der Triosephosphatisomerase (TPI) im Metabolismus von Trypanosoma brucei ausgewertet, indem "traps" und "siphons" ermittelt werden. Alle behandelten Eigenschaften von Petri-Netzen werden anhand eines Systems illustriert, das aus dem Nukleotidmetabolismus stammt. Während viele Bemühungen für das Zerlegen metabolischer Systeme, (elementare Flußmoden, extreme Wege) erfolgt sind, sind bisher unseres Wissens keine Versuche in dieser Richtung für Signalübertragungssysteme unternommen worden. Eine spezielle Eigenschaft von Signalnetzwerken in lebenden Zellen ist, dass Aktivierungen, Hemmungen und biochemische Reaktionen normalerweise gleichzeitig anwesend sind. Selbst wenn sie nicht Reaktionen enthalten, machen Mehrfach-Aktivierungen oder Mehrfach-Hemmungen die Netzwerke in hohem Grade verzweigt. Es ist eine schwierige und sehr zeitraubende Aufgabe, alle Faktoren, die einen Einfluss auf ein gegebenes Ziel haben, ohne eine automatische Methode zu ermitteln. Bereits in Kapitel 1 heben wir die ähnlichkeiten und Unterschiede zwischen den metabolischen und Signal-Netzwerken hervor. In Kapitel 5 errichten wir einen Rahmen und präsentieren einen Algorithmus für die Zerlegung von Signalnetzwerken in kleinere Einheiten, die einfacher zu studieren und zu verstehen sind. Zwei Fälle werden untersucht: ein einfacheres, wenn nur monomolekulare Aktivierungen oder Reaktionen anwesend sind, und ein komplizierterer Fall, wenn die Aktivierungen und die Reaktionen multimolekular sein können. Ihre Beschreibung erfordert unterschiedliche Methoden: klassische Graphen bzw. Petrinetze. Wir besprechen die Probleme, die in unserem Modell wegen des Vorhandenseins von Hemmungen oder von unbekannten Effekten im Netz auftreten. Der vorgeschlagene Algorithmus ermittelt die Faktoren, die zusammenwirken und die Zielsubstanzen, die auf dem gleichen Weg beeinflusst werden. Die Zyklen, die im System auftreten, und mögliche fehlende Reaktionen werden ebenfalls ermittelt . Theoretische Beispiele veranschaulichen unsere Resultate. Anhand der T-Zell-Antigen-Rezeptor-Signalkaskade zeigen wir, wie die Methoden in realen Systemen angewendet werden können.
The living organisms are too complex when considering them as a whole. The present thesis deals with the topological properties of two important parts of living organisms: the metabolic and the regulatory systems. The topological properties are those features that are determined by the network structure. A classification in metabolic and regulatory systems is often used. A signalling system is a special kind of regulatory system. Between metabolic and signalling networks, there are important differences that impose their treatment in different ways. In metabolic pathway analysis, the elementary flux mode concept is already established as a proper tool for identifying the smallest essential routes in biochemical systems. We examine its features and advantages in some particular cases. Firstly, many enzymes operate with low specificity (e.g. nucleoside diphosphokinase, uridine kinase, transketolase, transaldolase), so that various substrates and products can be converted. Also the enzymatic mechanisms are diverse, as we have illustrated with reaction schemes for bifunctional enzymes. Therefore, there are two different approaches to describe multifunctional enzymes (We considered only the case when a certain active site hosts several reactions. The case when the studied enzyme has several such active sites can be transformed into that of several enzymes having only one active site. If a disease alters the initial enzyme, also all substituting enzymes are altered.): in terms of overall reactions and in terms of reactions steps (hemi-reactions, half-reactions). For enzymes with two or more functions, it is important to consider only linearly independent functions, because otherwise cyclic elementary modes would occur which do not perform any net transformation. However, the choice of linearly independent functions is not a priori unique. In Chapter 2, we give a method for making this choice unique by considering the convex basis of the hemi-reactions system. The set of linearly independent functions provided by our algorithm coincides, in the case of transketolase in pentose phosphate pathway, with the set of linearly independent functions mentioned in literature. A formal application of the algorithm for computing elementary flux modes (pathways) yields the result that the number of such modes sometimes depends on the level of description if some reactions are reversible and the products of the multifunctional enzymes are external metabolites or some multifunctional enzymes partly share the same metabolites. However, this problem can be solved by appropriate interpretation of the definition of elementary modes and the correct choice of independent functions of multifunctional enzymes. The analysis is illustrated by a biochemical example taken from nucleotide metabolism, comparing the two ways of description for nucleoside diphosphokinase and adenylate kinase, and by several smaller examples. The nucleotide metabolism plays an important role in living organisms and is very sensitive to any perturbations in its internal balance. Dangerous diseases may occur if some enzymes do not work properly. With the help of elementary flux mode concept, we explain the occurrence and severity of diseases based on enzyme deficiencies. If an enzyme is completely inhibited, some metabolic routes are blocked. If, however, some alternative routes still exist, the disease is less dangerous. In Chapter 3, we focus on finding alternative routes, essential enzymes and enzymes operating together. The latter notion is also known as ,,enzyme subset`` and represents an intermediary step in calculating the elementary flux modes. The known or hypothesised mechanisms of several disorders, occurred due to the malfunctioning of nucleotide metabolism (proliferative diseases, immunodeficiency diseases) or due to its hijacking by viruses and parasites, are given. Most strategies adopted for curing such diseases are based on nucleotide metabolism interruption. Therefore, a better understanding of this system helps developing more effective drugs and a good structural analysis can spare many experimental efforts. Petri net concepts provide additional tools for the modelling of metabolic networks. In Chapter 4, the similarities between the counterparts in traditional biochemical modelling and Petri net theory are discussed. For example, the stoichiometry matrix of a metabolic network corresponds to the incidence matrix of the Petri net. The flux modes and conservation relations have the T-invariants, respectively, P-invariants as counterparts. We reveal the biological meaning of some notions specific to the Petri net framework (traps, siphons, deadlocks, liveness). We focus on the topological analysis rather than on the analysis of the dynamic behaviour. The treatment of external metabolites is discussed. Some simple theoretical examples are presented for illustration. Also the Petri nets corresponding to some biochemical networks are built to support our results. For example, the role of triose phosphate isomerase (TPI) in Trypanosoma brucei metabolism is evaluated by detecting siphons and traps. All Petri net properties treated in above-mentioned chapter (4) are exemplified on a system extracted from nucleotide metabolism. While for decomposing metabolic systems, many efforts have been done (elementary flux modes, convex basis, extreme pathways), for signalling maps, as far as we know, no attempt in this direction has been made. A special characteristic of signalling networks is that activations, inhibitions, and biochemical reactions are normally present in parallel. Even if they do not contain reactions, multi-part activations or inhibitions make them highly branched. To detect all factors that have an influence on a given target, without using an automatic method, is a difficult and very time-consuming effort. Already in Chapter 1 (Backgrounds), we highlight the similarities and differences between metabolic and signalling networks. In Chapter 5, we build a framework and algorithm for decomposing signalling networks in smaller units, which are easier to study and understand. Two cases are investigated: a simpler one, when only monomolecular activations or reactions are present, and a more complex case, when the activations and reactions can be multimolecular. Their description requires different instruments: classical graphs and Petri nets, respectively. We discuss the problems that occur in our model due to the presence of some inhibitions or unknown effects in the network. The algorithm that we propose detects the factors that are acting together and the targets that are affected on the same route. The cycles that occur in the system are also highlighted. We point out possible missing reactions. Theoretical examples illustrate out findings. Using the T cell antigen-receptor signalling cascade, we show how it can be applied to real systems.

Locating and segmenting objects such as bones or internal organs is a common problem in medical imaging. Existing segmentation methods are often cumbersome to use for medical staff, since they require a close initial guess and a range of different parameters to be set appropriately. For this work, we present a two-stage segmentation framework which relies on an initial isosurface interactively extracted by topological analysis. The initial isosurface seldom provides a correct segmentation, so we refine the surface using an iterative level set method to better match the desired object boundary. We present applications and improvements to both the flexible isosurface interface and level set segmentation without edges.

This Ph.D. thesis discusses some applications of extrapolation methods. In numerical analysis and in applied mathematics one has often to deal with sequences which converge slowly to their limit. Extrapolation methods can be used to accelerate the convergence of a slow converging sequence or even to sum up divergent series. The first two chapters of this thesis are devoted to scalar sequence transformations. We revisit Aitken's Δ2 process and we propose three new transformations which generalize it. The convergence and acceleration properties of one of our transformations are discussed theoretically and verified experimentally using diverging and converging sequences. Shanks transformation and Wynn's ε-algorithm are studied extensively; we remind the particular rules due to Wynn for treating isolated singularities, i.e. when two consecutive elements are equal or almost equal, and the more general particular rules proposed by Cordellier for treating non-isolated singularities, i.e. when more than two elements are equal. A new implementation of the generalized particular rule is given covering all the cases, namely singularities caused by two or more elements that are equal or almost equal. In the remaining part of the thesis we focus on vector extrapolation. First we briefly describe the vector ε-algorithm, the topological ε-algorithm and the simplified topological ε-algorithm, which was recently introduced by Brezinski and Redivo-Zaglia. In the sequel, we present under a unified notation the Algebraic Reconstruction Techniques, the Simultaneous Iterative Reconstruction Techniques, and other iterative regularization methods, which are commonly used for solving linear inverse problems. Last, we study the gain of applying extrapolation on these methods in imaging problems. In particular, we use the simplified topological ε-algorithm in order to extrapolate a sequence generated by methods such as Landweber's and Cimmino's when solving image reconstruction and restoration problems. The numerical results illustrate the good performance of the accelerated methods compared to their unaccelerated versions and other methods.
Questa tesi di dottorato tratta alcune applicazioni dei metodi di estrapolazione. Spesso in analisi numerica e nella matematica applicata si devono trattare successioni che convergono lentamente al loro limite. I metodi di estrapolazione possono essere utilizzati per accelerare la convergenza di una successione che converge lentamente o anche per sommare serie divergenti. I primi due capitoli della tesi sono dedicati alle trasformazioni di successioni scalari. Viene ripreso il Δ2 di Aitken e vengono proposte tre nuove trasformazioni che lo generalizzano. Le proprietà di convergenza e di accelerazione di una delle trasformazioni sono discusse teoricamente e verificate sperimentalmente usando delle successioni divergenti e convergenti. La trasformazione di Shanks e l'ε-algorithm di Wynn sono accuratamente studiati; vengono richiamate le regole particolari proposte da Wynn per il trattamento delle singolarità isolate, ovvero quando due elementi consecutivi sono uguali o quasi uguali, ed anche le regole particolari, più generali, proposte da Cordellier, per il trattamento delle singolarità non isolate, ovvero quando più di due elementi sono uguali. Viene proposta una nuova generale implementazione delle regole particolari in modo da poter trattare tutti i casi possibili, ossia la presenza di singolarità causata da due o più elementi che sono uguali o quasi uguali. Nella parte rimanente della tesi ci si concentra sull'estrapolazione vettoriale. Prima vengono brevemente descritti l'ε-algorithm vettoriale, l'ε-algorithm topologico e la sua versione semplificata, recentemente introdotta da Brezinski e Redivo-Zaglia. Successivamente, vengono presentate, con una notazione unificata le Algebraic Reconstruction Techniques (ART), le Simultaneous Iterative Reconstruction Techniques (SIRT) e altri metodi iterativi di regolarizzazione, che sono comunemente utilizzati per risolvere problemi inversi lineari. Infine, vengono illustrati i vantaggi ottenuti applicando l'estrapolazione ai precedenti metodi iterativi, utilizzati su problemi relativi alle immagini. In particolare, viene utilizzato il simplified topological ε-algorithm al fine di estrapolare una successione generata da metodi di tipo Landweber e Cimmino quando si risolvono problemi di ricostruzione e di restauro di immagini. I risultati numerici mostrano un buon comportamento dei metodi accelerati rispetto alle loro versioni non accelerate ed anche rispetto ad altri metodi.

A paradigm shift is underway in which the classical materials selection approach in engineering design is being replaced by the design of material structure and processing paths on a hierarchy of length scales for specific multifunctional performance requirements. In this dissertation, the focus is on designing mesoscopic material and product topology?? geometric arrangement of solid phases and voids on length scales larger than microstructures but smaller than the characteristic dimensions of an overall product. Increasingly, manufacturing, rapid prototyping, and materials processing techniques facilitate tailoring topology with high levels of detail. Fully leveraging these capabilities requires not only computational models but also a systematic, efficient design method for exploring, refining, and evaluating product and material topology and other design parameters for targeted multifunctional performance that is robust with respect to potential manufacturing, design, and operating variations. In this dissertation, the Robust Topological Preliminary Design Exploration Method is presented for designing complex multi-scale products and materials by topologically and parametrically tailoring them for multifunctional performance that is superior to that of standard designs and less sensitive to variations. A comprehensive robust design method is established for topology design applications. It includes computational techniques, guidelines, and a multiobjective decision formulation for evaluating and minimizing the impact of topological and parametric variation on the performance of a preliminary topological design. A method is also established for multifunctional topology design, including thermal topology design techniques and multi-stage, distributed design methods for designing preliminary topologies with built-in flexibility for subsequent modification for enhanced performance in secondary functional domains. Key aspects of the approach are demonstrated by designing linear cellular alloys??ered metallic cellular materials with extended prismatic cells?? three applications. Heat exchangers are designed with increased heat dissipation and structural load bearing capabilities relative to conventional heat sinks for microprocessor applications. Cellular materials are designed with structural properties that are robust to dimensional and topological imperfections such as missing cell walls. Finally, combustor liners are designed to increase operating temperatures and efficiencies and reduce harmful emissions for next-generation turbine engines via active cooling and load bearing within topologically and parametrically customized cellular materials.

This paper describes methods to compute the decomposition type of representationsof some quivers that appear in topological data analysis. Specically, these are theAn-quivers, and the quivers CL(f) and CL(f; f). A background is given to explain theappearance of these quivers in the data analysis setting. The theoretical backgroundcovers the basic category theoretical concepts used to dene decomposition of repre-sentations, as well as the necessary tools used to nd indecomposable representations.A brief review of how these tools can be applied on An-quivers is given. The mainresults in the paper are the matrices presented at the ends of sections 4 and 5, whichgive linear relations between vectors representing the decomposition types of repre-sentations of these quivers and vectors of numerical invariants of the representations.These invariants are simply the dimensions of some subspaces of the vector spaces inthe representation, and are therefore easily calculated. Finally, more general laddersand grids are considered, and it it proven that the only grids of nite representationtype are the ladders with at most four rungs.

The main topic of the thesis is the study of elliptic differential equations with fractional order driven by nonlocal operators, as the fractional p-Laplacian, the fractional Laplacian for p=2, the general nonlocal operator and its anisotropic version. Recently, great attention has been focused on the study of fractional and nonlocal operators of elliptic type, both for pure mathematical research and in view of concrete real-world applications. This type of operators arises in a quite natural way in many different contexts, such as, among others, game theory, image processing, optimization, phase transition, anomalous diffusion, crystal dislocation, water waves, population dynamics and geophysical fluid dynamics. The main reason is that nonlocal operators are the infinitesimal generators of Lévy-type stochastic processes. Such processes extend the concept of Brownian motion, where the infinitesimal generator is the Laplace operator, and may contain jump discontinuities. Our aim is to show existence and multiplicity results for nonlinear elliptic Dirichlet problems, driven by a nonlocal operator, by applying variational and topological methods. Such methods usually exploit the special form of the nonlinearities entering the problem, for instance its symmetries, and offer complementary information. They are powerful tools to show the existence of multiple solutions and establish qualitative results on these solutions, for instance information regarding their location. The topological and variational approach provides not just existence of a solution, usually several solutions, but allow to achieve relevant knowledge about the behavior and properties of the solutions, which is extremely useful because generally the problems cannot be effectively solved, so the precise expression of the solutions is unknown. As a specific example of property of a solution that we look for is the sign of the solution, for example to be able to determine whether it is positive, or negative, or nodal (i.e., sign changing).

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Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES
The aim of this work is to propose a methodology of application of the FEM and topology optimization technique as tools of analysis and optimal design of mechanical systems subject to natural and forced vibrations in order to reach the optimal geometry of a dynamic absorbing of vibrations. It presents the mathematical reasoning and develop a program in Matlab® that implements the topology optimization technique will be employed to generate the optimal material distribution ( layout ) continuous mechanical systems without external excitation and subject to harmonic forces with preset frequency.
Propõe-se uma metodologia de aplicação do MEF (Método dos Elementos Finitos), juntamente com uma técnica de otimização topológica como ferramenta de análise e projeto ótimo de sistemas mecânicos sujeitos a vibração forçada. Em particular, chega-se à geometria ótima de um absorvedor dinâmico de vibrações contínuo. Apresenta-se a modelagem matemática, além de se desenvolver um código em Matlab® que implementa a técnica de otimização topológica por distribuição de material aplicado a sistemas mecânicos contínuos com excitação externa e harmônica de tal forma que a menor frequência natural seja predefinida.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2010.
Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 75 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 72-75).

The X-Ray imaging technology opened a new branch of science in which the internal porous structure can be captured and the reconstructed volume can be used for fluid flow simulations and structural measurements. However, there is still the question of how the internal structure of the pore space impacts in the observed simulations. A way to characterize this internal structure is by simplifying it into well-defined elements and the interaction between them, describing it as a network. The interaction between elements are the edges of the network and elements are the nodes. This opens the possibility of applying complex network theory on the characterization of porous media which has proven to give powerful insights into how the structure of porous materials influences on the dynamics of the permeating fluid. The problem with this description is in definition of the basic elements that will compose the network, since there isnt a consensus on this definition. The purpose of this work is to provide a method to analyze μCT data through networks in which the separation of the space is done in a semi-continuous method. The recovering of the pores local geometry is captured through a network analysis method of centrality, instead of a geometrical definition. This way the intrinsic morphology of the samples is what governs the pore-space separation into different entities. The method developed is based on the network extraction method Max Spheres Algorithm (MSA). The volumetric data is recovered through a network composed by sphere cells. The output of this process are two distinct networks: the complete volume network and a network which represents the variation of the channels diameter. These networks give unbiased real information on pore connectivity and can provide important data to better understand the morphology and topology of the samples. This method was successfully applied to samples of Berea sandstone, Estaillades carbonate, and to characterize the morphology of wormholes. Wormhole is the denomination of the channel formed after the application of an acid treatment as a stimulation procedure of an oil reservoir, a method of EOR (Enhanced oil recovery). This treatment consists of a reactive fluid flow injected in the inner rock of the reservoir, which creates a preferential path (wormhole) that optimizes the extraction of the hydrocarbon fluids.
A microtomografia de raios-X permitiu a evolução de uma nova área da ciência aplicada a meios porosos: a Rocha Digital. Através desta técnica, todo o espaço poroso é recuperado, e é possível entender a dinâmica do fluido que o permeia através de simulações computacionais. No entanto, ainda há a questão de como a estrutura do meio influencia nos resultados observados. Entender questões como connectividade e clusterização de regiões podem dar informações valiosas sobre como a origem do meio poroso influencia na dinâmica do fluido que o permeia. Esta avaliação do meio é possível através da simplificação do mesmo em uma rede de conexão de elementos básicos e as interações entre estes. O problema com a descrição do meio poroso em uma rede de conexão é que não existe um consenso na definição destes elementos básicos. O propósito deste trabalho foi encontrar uma maneira de descrever o meio que fosse aplicável a qualquer litologia, e que se aproximasse ao máximo dos dados extraídos pela micro tomografia para a análise das topologias de diferentes rochas através de teoria de redes complexas.Para isso, utilizamos o algoritmo robusto de extração de redes de poros, esferas máximas, como base para dividir o espaço-poroso em células esféricas. Desta forma, todo o volume do espaço poroso observado através da micro tomografia é recuperado e descrito em uma rede de conexão. O resultado final do método aplicado é uma rede que descreve o meio completo e uma rede que descreve o eixo medial das interconexões entre poros. A geometria local dos poros é recuperada através de um critério de centralidade de rede, assim a separação é governada pela morfologia intrínseca das amostras, ao invés de fatores geométricos.Desta forma podemos analisar o efeito da tortuosidade real do meio, assim como a interconexão entre poros, com relação a permeabilidade do meio.O método se mostrou eficaz na análise de rochas com diferentes litologias: arenito (Berea) e carbonato (Estaillades). O método também foi aplicado na avaliação da estrutura de canais formados pelo processo de acidificação de rochas (wormholes).

Afin de satisfaire les besoins industriels en calcul et optimisation des structures, des méthodes de l'optimisation de section et de topologie de structures de poutre ont été étudiées et des logiciels pertinents basés sur ces méthodes ont été développés en utilisant les logiciels MSC/Patran-Nastran comme plate-forme. En combinant la méthode de critère d'optimalité et la méthode de programmation mathématique, différentes méthodes sont utilisées pour traiter les limitations avec différentes propriétés. Le modèle original de l'optimisation de section est transformé en un problème dual selon la théorie duale pour améliorer l'efficacité de résolution. La méthode de "Approximate Scaling Step" et la méthode d'Elimination des Limitations Négatives permettent d'accélérer la procédure d'optimisation. Basé sur la méthode ICM (Independent Continuous Mapping), un modèle de l'optimisation topologique utilisant les variables continues (entre 0 et 1 au lieu de 0 ou 1) est établi. Trois critères de convergence sont introduits pour obtenir rapidement et précisément la topologie optimale d'une structure. Pour ne pas éliminer les éléments ayant leur variable topologique nulle au cours de l'optimisation, la méthode de faible matériau est utilisée et comparée à la méthode de section minime. L'optimisation de topologie dans plusieurs cas de chargement est étudiée sous trois types de limitations : les limitations locales de contraintes, les limitations globales de déplacements et leur combinaison. Les méthodes ci-dessus ont été implantées dans les logiciels MSC/Patran&Nastran. Des exemples ont montré une amélioration importante de l'efficacité et de la précision dans l'optimisation de section et de topologie
To satisfy the requirement on computation and optimization of frame structures in the engineering field, some sectional and topological optimization methods of frame structures are studied and a relevant software based on the present study is developed using the MSC/Patran&Nastran software as platform. Combining the optimality criteria method and the mathematical programming method, several methods are adopted to deal with the constraints with different properties. The original sectional optimization model is transformed into a dual problem according to the dual theory in order to reduce the number of the design variables so speed up the resolution. The methods of Approximate Scaling Step and Deletion of Negative Constraints also largely improve the efficiency. Based on the ICM (Independent Continuous Mapping) method, a topological optimization model with continuous topological variables (between 0 and 1 instead of 0 or 1) is built. In order to quickly and accurately obtain the optimum topological structures, three criteria are introduced and a self-adaptive algorithm is proposed. To deal with the elements with their null topological variable, the weak material method is proposed and compared with the tiny section method. The topological optimization for multi-loading cases is studied with three conditions: the local stress constraints, the global displacement constraints and their combination. According to the above methods, the MSC/Patran&Nastran software is secondly developed. The examples clearly show the notable improvement of the efficiency and accuracy

The two fields of algebraic geometry and algorithmic geometry, though closely related, are traditionally represented by almost disjoint communities. Both fields deal with curves and surfaces but objects are represented in different ways. While algebraic geometry defines objects by the mean of equations, algorithmic geometry use to work with linear models. The current trend is to apply algorithmic geometry algorithms to non linear models such as those found in algebraic geometry. Such algorithms play an important role in many practical fields such as Computer Aided Geometric Design. Their use raises important questions when it comes to developing software featuring such models. First, the manipulation of their representation implies the use of symbolic numeric computations which still represent one major research interest. Second, their visualization and manipulation is not straightforward because of their abstract nature. The first part of this thesis covers the use of algebraic methods in geometric modeling, with an emphasis on topology, intersection and self-intersection for arrangement computation of semi-algebraic sets with either implicit or parametric representation. Special care is given to the genericity of the algorithms which can be specified whatever the context, and then specialized to meet specific representation requirements. The second part of this thesis presents a prototype of an algebraic geometric modeling environment which aim is to provide a generic yet efficient way to model with algebraic geometric objects such as implicit or parametric curves or surfaces, both from a user and developer point of view, by using symbolic numeric computational libraries as a backend for the manipulation of the polynomials defining the geometric objects
Les domaines de géométrie algébrique et de géométrie algorithmique, bien qu'étroitement liés, sont traditionnellement représentés par des communautés de recherche disjointes. Chacune d'entre elles utilisent des courbes et surfaces, mais représentent les objets de différentes manières. Alors que la géométrie algébrique définit les objets par le biais d'équations polynomiales, la géométrie algorithmique a pour habitude de manipuler des modèles linéaires. La tendance actuelle est d'appliquer les algorithmes traditionnels de géométrie algorithmique sur des modèles non linéaires tels que ceux trouvés en géométrie algébrique. De tels algorithmes jouent un rôle important dans de nombreux champs d'application tels que la Conception Assistée par Ordinateur. Leur utilisation soulève d'importantes questions en matière de développement logiciel. Tout d'abord, la manipulation de leur représentation implique l'utilisation de calculs symboliques numériques qui représentent toujours un domaine de recherche majeur. Deuxièmement, leur visualisation et leur manipulation n'est pas évidente, en raison de leur caractère abstrait. La première partie de cette thèse porte sur l'utilisation de méthodes algébriques en modélisation géométrique, l'accent étant mis sur la topologie, l'intersection et l'auto-intersection dans le cadre du calcul d'arrangement d'ensembles semi-algébriques comme les courbes et surfaces à représentation implicite ou paramétrique. Une attention particulière est portée à la généricité des algorithmes qui peuvent être spécifiés quel que soit le contexte, puis spécialisés pour répondre aux exigences d'une certaine représentation. La seconde partie de cette thèse présente le prototypage d'un environnement de modélisation géométrique dont le but est de fournir un moyen générique et efficace pour modéliser des solides à partir d'objets géométriques à représentation algébrique tels que les courbes et surfaces implicites ou paramétriques, à la fois d'un point de vue utilisateur et d'un point de vue de développeur, par l'utilisation de librairies de calcul symbolique numérique pour la manipulation des polynômes définissant les objets géométriques

The physics that emerges when large numbers of particles interact can be complex and exotic. The collective behaviour may not re ect the underlying constituents, for example fermionic quasiparticles can emerge from models of interacting bosons. Due to this emergent complexity, manybody phenomena can be very challenging to study, but also very useful. A theoretical understanding of such systems is important for robust quantum information storage and processing. The emergent, macroscopic physics can be classi ed using the idea of a quantum phase. All models within a given phase exhibit similar low-energy emergent physics, which is distinct from that displayed by models in di erent phases. In this thesis, we utilise tensor networks to study many-body systems in a range of quantum phases. These include topologically ordered phases, gapless symmetry-protected phases, and symmetry-enriched topological phases.

This thesis is divided in two parts, that can be read separately even if both use the possibility of replacing spinors with differential forms in theories with supersymmetry. The first part explores some recent results that have been obtained by applying the G-structure approach to type II supergravities. Using generalized complex geometry it is possible to reformulate the conditions for unbroken supersymmetry in type II supergravity in terms of differential forms. We use this result to find a classification for AdS7 and AdS6 solutions in type II supergravity. Concerning AdS7 solutions we find that in type IIB no solutions can be found, whereas in massive type IIA many new AdS7×M3 solutions are at disposal with the topology of the internal manifold M3 given by a three-sphere. We develop a classification for such solutions. Concerning AdS6 solutions, very few AdS6×M4 supersymmetric solutions are known in literature: one in massive IIA, and two IIB solutions dual to it. The IIA solution is known to be unique. We obtain a classification for IIB supergravity, by reducing the problem to two PDEs on a two-dimensional space Σ. The four-dimensional space M4 is then given by a fibration of S2 over Σ. We also explore other two contexts in which the G-structure approach has revealed its usefulness: first of all we derive the conditions for unbroken supersymmetry for a Mink2 (2,0) vacuum, arising from type II supergravity on a compact eight-dimensional manifold M8. When M8 enjoys SU(4)×SU(4) structure the resulting system is elegantly rewritten in terms of generalized complex geometry. Finally we rewrite the equations for ten-dimensional supersymmetry in a way formally identical to an analogous system in N = 2 gauged supergravity; this provides a way to look for lifts of BPS solutions without having to reduce the ten-dimensional action. The second part is devoted to study some aspects of two different Chern-Simons like theories: holomorphic Chern-Simons theory on a six-dimensional Calabi-Yau space and three-dimensional supersymmetric theories involving vector multiplets (both with Yang-Mills and Chern-Simons terms in the action). Concerning holomorphic Chern-Simons theory, we construct an action that couples the gauge field to off-shell gravitational backgrounds, comprising the complex structure and the (3,0)-form of the target space. Gauge invariance of this off-shell action is achieved by enlarging the field space to include an appropriate system of Lagrange multipliers, ghost and ghost-for-ghost fields. From this reformulation it is possible to uncover a twisted supersymmetric algebra for this model that strongly constrains the anti-holomorphic dependence of physical correlators. Concerning three-dimensional theories, we will develop a new way of computing the exact partition function of supersymmetric three-dimensional gauge theories, involving vector supermultiplet only. Our approach will reduce the problem of computing the exact partition function to the problem of solving an anomalous Ward identity. To obtain such a result we will describe the coupling of three-dimensional topological gauge theories to background topological gravity. The Seifert condition for manifolds supporting global supersymmetry is elegantly deduced from the topological gravity BRST transformations. We will show how the geometrical moduli that affect the partition function can be characterized cohomologically. In the Seifert context Chern-Simons topological (framing) anomaly is BRST trivial and we will compute explicitly the corresponding local Wess-Zumino functional. As an application, we obtain the dependence on the Seifert moduli of the partition function of three-dimensional supersymmetric gauge theory on the squashed sphere by solving the anomalous topological Ward identities, in a regularization independent way and without the need of evaluating any functional determinant.

Tato diplomová práce se zabývá teorií fraktálů a popisuje patričné potíže při zavedení pojmu fraktál. Dále se v práci navrhuje několik metod, které se použijí na aproximaci fraktálních dimenzí různých množin zobrazených na zařízeních s konečným rozlišením. Tyto metody se otestují na takových množinách, jejichž dimenze známe, a na závěr se výsledky porovnávají.

Scalar fields occur quite commonly in several application areas in both static and time-dependent forms. Hence a proper visualization of scalar fieldsneeds to be equipped with tools to extract and focus on important features of the data. Similarity detection and pattern search techniques in scalar fields present a useful way of visualizing important features in the data. This is done by isolating these features and visualizing them independently or show all similar patterns that arise from a given search pattern. Topological features are ideal for this purpose of isolating meaningful patterns in the data set and creating intuitive feature descriptors. The Merge Tree is one such topological feature which has characteristics ideally suited for this purpose. Subtrees of merge trees segment the data into hierarchical regions which are topologically defined. This kind of feature-based segmentation is more intelligent than pure data based segmentations involving windows or bounding volumes. In this thesis, we explore several different techniques using subtrees of merge trees as features in scalar field data. Firstly, we begin with a discussion on static scalar fields and devise techniques to compare features - topologically segmented regions given by the subtrees of the merge tree - against each other. Second, we delve into time-dependent scalar fields and extend the idea of feature comparison to spatio-temporal features. In this process, we also come up with a novel approach to track features in time-dependent data considering the entire global network of likely feature associations between consecutive time steps.The highlight of this thesis is the interactivity that is enabled using these feature-based techniques by the real-time computation speed of our algorithms. Our techniques are implemented in an open-source visualization framework Inviwo and are published in several peer-reviewed conferences and journals.

QC 20171020

This thesis is divided into three chapters. The first chapter is about the cohomology ring of the space of rotational functions. In the second chapter, we define algebraic cobordism of classifying spaces, Ω*(BG) and G-equivariant algebraic cobordism Ω*_G(-) for a linear algebraic group G. We prove some properties of the coniveau filtration on algebraic cobordism, denoted F^j(Ω*(-)); which are required for the definition to work. We show that G-equivariant cobordism satisfies the localization exact sequence. We compute Ω*(BG) for algebraic groups over the complex numbers corresponding to classical Lie groups GL(n), SL(n), Sp(n), O(n) and SO(2n + 1). We also compute Ω*(BG) when G is a finite abelian group. A finite non-abelian group for which we compute Ω*(BG) is the quaternion group of order 8. In all the above cases we check that Ω*(BG) is isomorphic to MU*(BG). The third chapter is work-in-progress on Steenrod operations on higher Chow groups. Voevodsky has defined motivic Steenrod operations on motivic cohomology and used them in his proof of the Minor Conjecture.

I denna uppsats undersöker vi Game/Media Jam, Hackathon och liknande koncept och försökerskapa en metod för att ta fram en modell för deras topologi. Vi ämnar att undersöka degemensamma punkterna Jams och Hackathons har via deras regler, samt jämföra detta med JamSessions. Vidare kommer vi försöka identifiera reglernas syften. Dessa syften sätter vi i entopologiskt mätbar intervall som sedan kan överföras på den topologisk modellen. Sedan användsdessa resultat för att jämföra regelrätta Jams/Hackathons, närliggande koncept och arrangemangsom endast har vissa gemensamma punkter med Jams, för att se om modellen kan påvisa om ettarrangemang har en känsla av Jam utan att faktiskt vara det.
In this thesis we will study Game/Media-Jams, Hackathons and similar concepts and try to establisha method to create a model for their topology. We intend to investigate what these concepts have incommon through their rules and compare that to Jam Sessions. Following this we will try to extractthe purpose of the rules. These purposes will then be put in topologically measurable intervals thatcan be transfered onto the topological model. The results will then be used to compareJams/Hackathons, similar concepts and events that only have a few things in common with Jams, tosee if the model can determine if an event is in the spirit of a Jam without actually being one.

In this dissertation we first study partition posets and their topology. For each composition c we show that the order complex of the poset of pointed set partitions is a wedge of spheres of the same dimension with the multiplicity given by the number of permutations with descent composition c. Furthermore, the action of the symmetric group on the top homology is isomorphic to the Specht module of a border strip associated to the composition. We also study the filter of pointed set partitions generated by knapsack integer partitions. In the second half of this dissertation we study descent avoidance in permutations. We extend the notion of consecutive pattern avoidance to considering sums over all permutations where each term is a product of weights depending on each consecutive pattern of a fixed length. We study the problem of finding the asymptotics of these sums. Our technique is to extend the spectral method of Ehrenborg, Kitaev and Perry. When the weight depends on the descent pattern, we show how to find the equation determining the spectrum. We give two length 4 applications, and a weighted pattern of length 3 where the associated operator only has one non-zero eigenvalue. Using generating functions we show that the error term in the asymptotic expression is the smallest possible.

Práce představuje model a metody analýzy vlasností komunikace v počítačových sítích. Model dosažitelnosti koncových prvků v IP sítích je vytvořen na základě konfigurace a síťové topologie a umožňuje ukázat, že vabraný koncový uzel je dosažitelný v dané síťové konfiguraci a stavu.   Prezentovaná práce se skládá ze dvou částí. První část se věnuje modelování sítí, chování směrovaích protokolů a síťové konfiguraci. V rámci modelu sítě byla vytvořena modifikovaná topologická tabulka (MTT), která slouží pro agregaci síťových stavů určených pro následnou analýzu. Pro analýzu byl použit přístup založený na logickém programování, kdy model sítě je převeden do Datalog popisu a vlastnosti jsou ověřovány kladením dotazů nad logickou databází. Přínosy práce spočívají v definici grafu síťových filtrů, modifikované topologické tabulce, redukce stavového prostoru agrgací síťových stavů, modelů aktivního síťového prvku jako filter-transformace komponenty a metoda pro analýzu dosažitelnosti založena na logickém programování a databázích.

Harmony search method based optimum topology design algorithm is presented for single layer lamella domes. The harmony search method is a numerical optimization technique developed recently that imitates the musical performance process which takes place when a musician searches for a better state of harmony. Jazz improvisation seeks to find musically pleasing harmony similar to the optimum design process which seeks to find the optimum solution. The optimum design algorithm developed imposes the behavioral and performance constraints in accordance with LRFD-AISC. The optimum number of rings, the height of the crown and the tubular cross-sectional designations for dome members are treated as design variables. The member grouping is allowed so that the same section can be adopted for each group. The design algorithm developed has a routine that build the data for the geometry of the dome automatically that covers the numbering of joints, and member incidences, and the computation of the coordinates of joints. Due to the slenderness and the presence of imperfections in dome structures it is necessary to consider the geometric nonlinearity in the prediction of their response under the external loading. Design examples are considered to demonstrate the efficiency of the algorithm presented.

Mapper is an algorithm for describing high-dimensional datasets in terms of simple geometric objects. We give a new definition of Mapper, with which we are able to prove that Mapper is a functor and that Mapper is a homotopy equivalence for certain "nice" input data. To establish these results we describe the statistical theory of functorial clustering and the topological machinery of homotopy colimits. At the end of the document we show, by means of numerical experiments, that the functoriality of Mapper is useful in applications.