Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering Commons^™

Automated Image Interpretation For Science Autonomy In Robotic Planetary Exploration, Raymond Francis

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Advances in the capabilities of robotic planetary exploration missions have increased the wealth of scientific data they produce, presenting challenges for mission science and operations imposed by the limits of interplanetary radio communications. These data budget pressures can be relieved by increased robotic autonomy, both for onboard operations tasks and for decision- making in response to science data.

This thesis presents new techniques in automated image interpretation for natural scenes of relevance to planetary science and exploration, and elaborates autonomy scenarios under which they could be used to extend the reach and performance of exploration missions on planetary surfaces.

Two …

Economic Evaluation Of Potential Applications Of Gene Expression Profiling In Clinical Oncology, Malek Hannouf

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Histopathological analysis of tumor is currently the main tool used to guide cancer management. Gene expression profiling may provide additional valuable information for both classification and prognostication of individual tumors. A number of gene expression profiling assays have been developed recently to inform therapy decisions in women with early stage breast cancer and help identify the primary tumor site in patients with metastatic cancer of unknown primary. The impact of these assays on health and economic outcomes, if introduced into general practice, has not been determined. I aimed to conduct an economic evaluation of regulatory-approved gene expression profiling assays for …