Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'AERPs'

La restitution binaurale est une méthode de restitution du son au casque visant à simuler une écoute naturelle. Souvent, les sons restitués au casque semblent provenir de l’intérieur de la tête. Pour une restitution binaurale convaincante, les sons doivent paraître venir de l’extérieur (externalisés), comme dans la réalité. L’utilisation d’un système de suivi des mouvements de tête (head-tracking) peut permettre d’améliorer l’externalisation pendant et après les mouvements. Cette thèse examine l’effet de persistance de l’amélioration d’externalisation après des mouvements de tête. Une première étude a combiné une expérience comportementale et une expérience EEG pour identifier un corrélat neuronal de l’externalisation.Une méthode innovante, exploitant cet effet de persistance de l’externalisation, a été développée afin de comparer des stimuli "acoustiquement identiques", mais avec différents niveaux d’externalisation. Les résultats n’ont pas révélé de corrélat neuronal, mais ont soulevé plusieurs questions sur l’influence de la nature et de la durée des sources sonores sur l’effet de persistance de l’externalisation.Une deuxième étude, comportant trois expériences comportementales, a été menée afin d’aborder ces questions. Les résultats ont montré que l’amélioration d’externalisation après des mouvements de tête fonctionne pour différentes sources, mais diminue après une dizaine de secondes
Binaural reproduction is a method of sound playback through headphones aimed at simulating natural listening. Often, sounds played through headphones seem to originate from inside the head. For convincing binauralreproduction, sounds must appear to come from outside (externalized), as they do in reality.Using a head-tracking system can enhance externalization during and after headmovements. This thesis examines the persistence of the head movements after-effect on externalization. The first study combined a behavioral experiment and an EEG experiment to identify a neural correlate of externalization.An innovative method leveraging this after-effect was developed to compare "acoustically identical" stimuli with different levels of externalization. The results did not reveal a neural correlate but raised several questions about the influence of the nature and duration of sound sources on the head movements after-effect on externalization. A second study, involving three behavioral experiments, was conducted to address these questions. The results showed that the improvement in externalization after head movements works for various sound sources but decreases after about ten seconds

Volvo Aero utvecklar, konstruerar, tillverkar och utför underhåll av motorer och tillhörande komponenter för civila och militära flygplan. Visionen är att leverera världsledande transportlösningar genom ständig förbättring och långsiktig utveckling av verksamheten, vilket för det dagliga arbetet innebär systematisk problemlösning genom metodiken praktisk problemlösning, vars ursprung är Toyota. Syftet med studien var att undersöka huruvida Volvo Aeros tillämpning av praktisk problemlösning var enkel, systematisk och vägledande, vilket ur Toyotas perspektiv ger förutsättning för effektiv problemlösning. Inledningsvis beskrevs Toyotas inställning och beteende till problemlösning utifrån The Toyota Way, som sedan följdes upp med en litteraturstudie gällande praktisk problemlösning. Vidare genomfördes en pilotstudie där Volvo Aeros tillämpning av praktisk problemlösning applicerades på ett organisatoriskt problem. Därefter utvärderades pilotstudien och förbättringsområden identifierades där metodiken var svår, otydlig och otillräckligt vägledande. Slutligen föreslogs följande förbättringar gällande Volvo Aeros tillämpning av praktisk problemlösning, vilka var vetenskapligt förankrade till Toyota. Definiering och analysering av symtomen ger förståelse för problemets orsaker. Kvantifiering av nuvarande tillstånd och det förväntades åskådliggör problemets omfattning. Framgår grundorsaken tydligt är sannolikt motåtgärden uppenbar. En god tillämpning av Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) utgör ett effektivt och kraftfullt maskineri för ständig förbättring. Förbättringarna som föreslogs syftade till att förenkla Volvo Aeros metodik och ge användaren ökad trygghet och vägledning, vilket ger förutsättning för effektiv problemlösning som möjliggör daglig tillämpning och främjar ständig förbättring.
Volvo Aero develops, designs, manufactures and performs maintenance of engine and related components for civil and military aircrafts. The vision is to deliver world-leading transport solutions through continuous improvement and long term business deployment, which for the daily work means systematic problem solving through the methodology practical problem solving, whose origin is Toyota. The purpose of this thesis was to examine whether Volvo Aero’s approach of practical problem solving was simple, systematic and guided, which from Toyota’s point of view creates sound conditions for effective problem solving. Initially, Toyota’s attitude and behaviour towards problem solving was described from the point of view of The Toyota Way. Thereafter, a literature study on practical problem solving was completed. Furthermore, a pilot study was carried out where Volvo Aero’s approach to practical problem solving was applied to an organisational problem. The pilot study was evaluated and areas for improvements were identified where the methodology was difficult, indistinct and inadequate guided. Finally, improvements were proposed regarding Volvo Aero’s approach to practical problem solving, which was scientifically anchored to Toyota. Defining and analysing the symptoms brings understanding for the causes of the problem Quantifying the present condition and the expected illustrates the magnitude of the problem Appears the root cause to be clear is probably the countermeasure obvious A considerable approach using Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) provides an effective and strong tool for continuous improvement The improvements were proposed with purpose to simplify Volvo Aero’s methodology and to support and guide the user, which creates sound conditions for effective problem solving and provides opportunities for daily use that foster continuous improvement.

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Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES
Furocoumarins (FCs) are an important class of photoactive compounds which may potentially bind to DNA forming intermolecular complexes, and once excited by UVA light (~ 365 nm) they re able to form photoadducts, which may result in mutagenicity and lethality. However, when the 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) is added to the post-irradiation plating medium increases the sensitization probably by inhibiting repairs in damaged DNA. The FCs also have a protective effect against UVC (~254 nm) attributed to the inhibition of pyrimidine dimers. FCs associated with UVB light (312 nm), remain few known. The aim of the present study was to investigate the lethal effect of UVB light alone, and combined with solutions of 8-MOP, 4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen (TMP) and 3-carbetoxypsoralen (3-CPs) at different concentrations on Staphylococcus aureus growth. We also evaluated the effect of these FCs in the plating medium. Treatment with 8-MOP-UVB and TMP-UVB were more effective in inducing lethality than the UVB treatment alone. Increasing the solution concentration of 8-MOP resulted in a higher mortality while the increase in the concentration of the TMP led to a reduction in the lethality. For other hand, 3-CPs displayed a photoprotective effect against UVB damage in all concentrations tested. The results of FCs in the plating medium showed that the 8-MOP induzed a higher lethal effect and also increased mortality from bacterial strain treated by FC-UVB. The different behaviors shown by FCs may be related with differences in the sequence specificity of binding and photoreaction, inhibition of pyrimidine dimers formation by intercalated molecules and efficacy of repair systems. These results emphasize the need for further studies to elucidate the participation of FCs as photosensitizing and photoprotective agents in biological systems, when combined with UVB.
As furocumarinas (FCs) são uma importante classe de compostos fotoativos que potencialmente podem se ligar ao DNA formando complexos intermoleculares, e uma vez excitados por luz UVA (~365 nm) são capazes de formar fotoadições, que podem resultar em mutagênese e letalidade. Porém, quando a 8-metoxipsoraleína (8-MOP) está adicionada ao meio de plaqueamento pós-irradiação aumenta a sensibilidade provavelmente por inibir reparo de lesões no DNA. As FCs também possuem efeito protetor contra UVC (~254 nm) atribuído à inibição da formação de dímeros de pirimidina. As FCs associadas à UVB (312 nm) permanecem pouco conhecidas. O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar o efeito da luz UVB, e combinada com soluções de 8-MOP, 4,5 ,8-trimetilpsoraleína (TMP) e 3-carbetoxipsoraleína (3-CPs) em diferentes concentrações, sobre o crescimento de Staphylococcus aureus. Avaliamos também o efeito destas FCs em meio de plaqueamento. O tratamento com 8-MOP-UVB e TMP-UVB foram mais eficazes em induzir letalidade do que o tratamento apenas com UVB. O aumento da concentração de 8-MOP resultou em mortalidade mais elevada enquanto que o aumento na concentração de TMP levou a redução na mortalidade. Por outro lado, 3-CPs exibiu efeito fotoprotetor contra danos causados por UVB em todas as concentrações testadas. Os resultados com FCs no meio de plaqueamento mostraram que a 8-MOP induziu o maior efeito letal e também aumentou a mortalidade da cepa bacteriana tratada por FC-UVB. Os diferentes efeitos apresentados pelas FCs podem estar relacionados com diferenças na especificidade por seqüência de ligação e fotorreação, a inibição da formação de dímeros de pirimidina por moléculas intercaladas e eficácia de sistemas de reparo. Esses resultados reforçam a necessidade de mais estudos para elucidar a participação das FCs como agentes fotossensibilizantes e fotoprotetores em sistemas biológicos, quando combinadas com UVB.

La santé est un risque. La raison d’être de l’assurance est de couvrir les individus contre les aléas de la vie. Pourtant, la nature économique de cette opération a conduit les assureurs à écarter de leur mutualité, de manière croissante, les plus hauts risques de survenance d’un sinistre. Cette pratique appelée la segmentation est parfaitement autorisée. L’assureur peut, au moment de la discussion précontractuelle, procéder à une évaluation du risque par des investigations sur la situation personnelle et intime du candidat à l’assurance. Plusieurs constats sont faits. Le fait justificatif de discrimination n’est plus précis. Les techniques de collecte de l’information s’émancipent d’un encadrement légal sécurisé. L’existence d’un risque aggravé a des conséquences déraisonnables sur le contrat d’assurance. En France, plus de 2,7 millions de personnes présentent, au sens des assureurs, un risque aggravé du fait de leur état de santé. Il s’agit aussi bien de personnes diabétiques, atteintes de la maladie de parkinson ou ayant développé une pathologie cancéreuse. Pour eux l’accès à l’assurance rime avec le refus, les exclusions ou les surprimes. Ce phénomène concourt à une véritable injustice sociale, particulièrement lorsque le contrat d’assurance conditionne l’octroi d’un crédit immobilier. Pour cette raison, et sous les pressions associatives, des mesures ont été prises visant à limiter l’intrusion de l’assureur dans la vie privée du preneur d’assurance et parallèlement à renforcer les obligations d’information, de conseil ou de mise en garde du professionnel préalablement à la souscription du contrat
Health is a risk. The main purpose of insurance is to cover individuals against life’s uncertainties. However, because of the economic nature of this activity, insurers discard more and more the highest risks from their mutuality. This practice, named segmentation, is perfectly allowed. The insurer may, at the time of precontractual discussions, carry out a risk assessment by investigating the personal and intimate situation of the applicant. Several observations can be made. Evidence of discrimination is no longer precise. The techniques for information gathering emancipate themselves from a secure legal framework. The existence of an increased risk has unreasonable consequences on the insurance contract. In France, more than 2.7 million people are, in the sense of insurers, increased risks profiles due to their health status. Those are people living with diabetes, Parkinson's disease or other cancerous pathologies. For them, access to insurance rhymes with refusal, exclusion or additional premia. This phenomenon contributes to a real social injustice, especially when the insurance contract is necessary to be granted a mortgage. For this reason, and under pressures from associations, some measures have been implemented to limit the intrusion of the insurer into the policyholder’s privacy; and in parallel, to strengthen the obligations lying on the professionals to provide information, advice and warning, prior to any contract subscription

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CAPES
O presente estudo se configura em uma pesquisa exploratória de caráter qualitativo, tendo como estratégia de pesquisa o estudo de caso, visando a identificação dos processos que podem constituir uma gestão da informação para a formatação de uma organização do conhecimento na Agência de Estudos e Restauro do Patrimônio (AERPA), instituição do terceiro setor atuante na Região Metropolitana do Recife. Para tanto, a pesquisa se pauta nos procedimentos metodológicos da investigação documental, observação e entrevista com atores-chave dos processos gerenciais da AERPA. A análise dos resultados se pautará na técnica de análise de conteúdo, enfatizando a presença ou ausência de alguma característica de conteúdo ou de um conjunto de características observados nas entrevistas. A importância desse estudo se justifica mediante três aspectos: o das organizações do terceiro setor, que, apesar de gozarem de grande representatividade no campo das ações sociais, ainda constituem campo incipiente no que tange aos estudos de gestão da informação e organização do conhecimento; o da gestão da informação e organização do conhecimento, que contribuem para a otimização das atividades organizacionais, embora ainda pouco estudados no terceiro setor; e o da Ciência da Informação, propondo uma abordagem sistêmica que enfatiza o elemento humano nas atividades informacionais e de conhecimento nas organizações. Ademais, considera a gestão da informação como um processo que visa otimizar a identificação, a obtenção, o tratamento, a distribuição, o uso, o armazenamento e o descarte da informação, e a organização do conhecimento como uma organização capaz de gerar significado ao contexto de sua atuação, criar conhecimento e sistematizar a tomada de decisões com base no conhecimento gerado. Os resultados apontam que os processos gerenciais da informação podem embasar a formatação de uma organização do conhecimento, através da otimização do fluxo da informação e melhoramento do comportamento informacional dentro do ambiente da organização.

Apres une etude theorique des ecoulements monophasiques dans des roues de pompes axiales et centrifuges, basees notamment sur la methode des singularites, permettant de fournir des champs de vitesses et pression bidimensionnels, une analyse du deplacement de bulles de gaz au sein de differents organes de pompes est presentee. Une experimentation assez complete sur des pompes de differents types (pompes axiales, pompes centrifuges, pompe mixte et pompe a canal lateral) confirme en un premier temps les resultats de la premiere partie et montre l'apparition, sur les performances globales de ces pompes, d'une perte complementaire due a la presence de gaz. Cette perte, caracterisee par un coefficient adimensionnel k, depend notamment de la concentration en gaz et permet de classifier les pompes etudiees

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, Dept. of History of Art, 2009.
Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Feb. 8, 2010). Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-05, Section: A, page: 1457. Adviser: W. Eugene Kleinbauer.

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Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
This study has as objective to analyze the impact of Varig's bankruptcy for the laid off and retired people from that company in their conditions of existence, focusing on the impacts of layoffs and loss of rights with the intervention of Aerus. It examines the consequences of a financial lawsuit which withdrew the rights of social protection of workers from that company. It deals with the creation and collapse of Varig company established in 1927, emphasizing the Ruben Berta Foundation and the Aerus pension fund. The historical reconstruction of the company by means of documents and bibliographies is enriched by interviews. It makes use of oral history to characterize the transformations in the everyday life of workers and their families from bankruptcy. There are thirty-two testimonies collected in this research that aggregate eighteen laid off workers and fourteen retired ones who occupied different positions in the company for over 15 years. The company's bankruptcy in July 2006 had an impact not only on their employees, but on much of the national society and was part of a process of changing the standard operation of Brazilian transportation airlines. Among the main causes of the bankruptcy of Varig, the following stand out: the exhaustion of the management of a national airline company of transportation that, although of quality, was placed in conflict with the interests of the economic and political situation of the country coupled with the lack of interest from the government to maintain that model of business management. Since the "hard landing" of Varig, their laid off and retired workers still struggle and hope for a future that brings back their dignity consistent with their story of hard work and dedication to the great airline company
Este estudo tem por objetivo analisar o impacto da falência da Varig, para os demitidos e aposentados dessa empresa, nas suas condições de existência, enfocando as demissões e perdas de direitos com a intervenção no Fundo de Pensão Complementar Aerus. Examina as sequelas de um processo jurídicofinanceiro que retirou direitos de proteção social dos trabalhadores daquela empresa. Ocupa-se da criação e falência da empresa Varig, criada em 1927, dando ênfase à Fundação Ruben Berta (FRB) e ao Aerus. A reconstrução histórica da empresa, feita por meio de documentos e bibliografias, é enriquecida por depoimentos. Vale-se da história oral para caracterizar as transformações ocorridas no cotidiano de vida dos trabalhadores e de suas famílias a partir da falência da empresa. São 32 depoimentos colhidos na pesquisa, que agregam 18 trabalhadores demitidos e 14 aposentados, que ocuparam diferentes cargos na empresa ao longo de mais de 15 anos. A falência da empresa, em julho de 2006, causou impacto não somente em seus funcionários, mas em grande parte da sociedade nacional e fez parte de um processo que alterou o padrão operacional da viação aérea brasileira. Dentre as causas principais de falência da Varig, destaca-se o esgotamento do modelo de gestão da empresa nacional de viação aérea que, embora de qualidade, se colocava em confronto com os interesses da conjuntura econômico-política do País, somada à ausência de interesse do governo em manter aquele modelo de gestão empresarial. Desde o pouso forçado da Varig, seus trabalhadores, demitidos e aposentados, ainda lutam e esperam por um futuro que faça retornar a dignidade compatível com sua história de trabalho e dedicação à grande empresa aérea

Recent research shows that human auditory steady-state responses (ASSRs) develop a resonance at 40 Hz and the dramatic amplitude increase of the Pb component of the middle latency response (MLR) accounts for the high amplitude of the ASSR at 40 Hz. The first part of this study aimed to investigate the ASSR resonance characteristics as a function of rate in guinea pigs. A study of the grand average of the peak-to-peak and fundamental frequency amplitudes does indeed show a resonance around 40 Hz in guinea pigs. Unlike human ASSRs, this resonance is very broad (26-52 Hz) and flat. The centrally recorded ASSRs are smaller and tend to have resonances at higher rates compared to temporal signals. The second part of the analysis investigated whether the superposition of transient responses can predict the acquired ASSRs at each corresponding rate. This superposition theory is one of two competing theories on the origin of the ASSRs, with the other centering on the induced phase synchronization of brain waves. In order to test the first theory, transient responses were used to create synthetic ASSRs, which were then compared to the acquired ASSRs via correlation coefficient and phasor analysis. For the 40 Hz ASSR, both temporal and central electrode synthesized ASSRs show a correlation coefficient above 0.80. In the comparison at 20 Hz, the correlation coefficient is very high (about 0.9) in the temporal electrode, yet significantly lower (about 0.7) for the central electrode. Furthermore, at 80 Hz, the correlation coefficient is significantly lower in both temporal and central electrodes (about 0.7). At all rates, the correlation coefficients are highest with low jitter sequences. Finally, phasor analysis was also used to test the superposition theory of the generation of the acquired ASSRs at 20, 40, and 80 Hz. Overall, in the temporal recordings at 40 Hz, the superposition of the MLR responses accurately predicted the acquired 40 Hz ASSR as demonstrated by both magnitude and phase analysis. The recordings made in the central electrode only predicted the acquired ASSR in its phases, with significant differences found in magnitude at its main harmonics. Similarly, at 20 and 80 Hz in both temporal and central electrodes, the synthetic ASSRs did not appear to fully predict the acquired ASSRs. Although the phases were successfully predicted, large magnitude variations were observed. As shown by mean prediction error plots, the acquired ASSRs are best predicted by low jitter sequences, followed by low-medium and medium jitter sequences.

The topic of this PhD thesis concerns the pattern of use and the post-marketing cardiovascular (CV) safety of 5HT1b/d receptor agonists, a class of specific antimigraine agents commonly called “triptans”. With the aim to describe the pattern of utilization of triptans in a wide sample of the Italian general population, the Emilia-Romagna Regional Health Authority Database was analyzed. All patients receiving at least one triptan prescription in 2007 (N=34915) were followed for 12 months after the date of first prescription. On the basis of triptan exposure during the 12 months preceding the date of recruitment, prevalent users were divided into two groups, new users (N=18104) and already in treatment (N=16811); the respective frequency of triptan use and percentage of subject receiving CV co-prescription (suggestive of potential vasoconstrictive risk or absolute contraindication to triptan use) were described. Results from the analysis provided an estimation of the incidence and the prevalence of triptan use in the general population (0,4% e 0,8% respectively), also highlighting important differences between new users and already in treatment patients. The latter population, whose patients can be considered more “familiar” to the treatment, showed a markedly higher frequency of use compared to new users and, in particular, also a wider percentage of subjects taking >180 posologic units/year, thus potentially affected by chronic headache related to triptan overuse (0.3% vs 15,3%; p<0,001). Even users that received CV co-prescription were more often present among already in treatment patients (12% vs 27,6%; p<0,001). Therefore, on the basis of these evidence, periodic patient monitoring should be recommended and informative intervention should be implemented in order to promote appropriate prescription and safe use of these antimigraine drugs. With the aim to highlight rare, unexpected or poorly documented adverse CV events concerning triptan therapy, reports of suspected adverse drug reaction from the Food and Drugs Administration_Adverse Event Reporting System (FDA_AERS) database were analyzed. The data-mining process applied to estract reports of potential interest was based on the following steps: duplicate removal, drugs mapping through the ATC classification, estraction of CV event on the basis of the MedDRA classification, application of the Reporting Odds Ratio (ROR) and subsequent statistical adjustment of its values considering co-reported CV drugs as a row proxy of a pre-existing CV condition). Through this approach, all CV events that were more frequently reported in association to triptans rather than to all other drugs in the database were identified. The analysis was based on over two millions reports entered into the database between 2004 and 2010. Among a total of 7808 reports with triptan exposure, the application of the ROR highligthed three main groups of events that could be considered unexpected/poorly documented concerning triptan treatment: cerebrovascular events, aneurysm and dissection, and pregnancy related vascular events. On the basis of these results, a subsequent study was performed in order to focus on the cerebrovacular events previously highlighted, with the aim to provide more details on the actual relation between the drug and the event. Therefore, the further analysis was performed on the same dataset used for the previous study. It was based on two different approaches: i) a case-by-case analysis concerning reports of a specific cerebrovascular event considered of interest (quantitative approach); ii) the selection of a cluster of cerebrovascular events, on the basis of the MedDRA classification, and the calculation of the stratified and adjusted ROR values for triptan exposure on the basis of potentially confounding/modifying factors (quantitative approach). Results from the qualitative analysis demonstrated a possible role of triptans in the onset/exacerbation of a rare cerebrovascular event such as the dissection of the carotid artery. Moreover, the quantitative analysis allowed for identification of sub-populations of users that could be at risk for cerebrovascular accident related to the triptan treatment (i.e. patients aged 18-44, estrogens/contraceptive users). These findings should be considered as specific hypothesis to be tested through further large scale ad hoc epidemiological studies to better define the safety profile of this class of antimigraine agents.
La presente tesi di dottorato ha avuto come oggetto lo studio delle modalità di utilizzo ed il profilo di sicurezza cardiovascolare (CV) post-marketing degli agonisti selettivi dei recettori 5HT1b/d, una classe di specifici agenti antiemicranici, comunemente chiamati “triptani”. Al fine di descrivere le modalità di prescrizione dei triptani in un ampio campione della popolazione italiana, è stata analizzata la banca dati regionale di Assistenza Farmaceutica Territoriale dell’Emilia-Romagna. Tutti i pazienti che durante il 2007 avevano ricevuto almeno una prescrizione contenente un triptano (N=34915) sono stati osservati per i 12 mesi successivi alla data di prima prescrizione. Sulla base dell’esposizione al farmaco nei 12 mesi precedenti al reclutamento, gli utilizzatori prevalenti sono suddivisi in due distinte popolazioni, new users (N=18104) e already in treatment (N=16811), le quali sono state successivamente confrontate in termini di frequenza di utilizzo del farmaco e percentuale di soggetti che ricevevano co-prescrizioni di farmaci CV, utilizzate come proxy di un potenziale rischio vasocostrittivo o una controindicazione assoluta verso la terapia con triptani. I risultati dell’analisi hanno permesso di stimare l’incidenza e la prevalenza annuale d’utilizzo dei triptani nella popolazione generale (0,4% e 0,8% rispettivamente), mettendo in luce, inoltre, importanti differenze fra new users e i pazienti already in treatment. Questi ultimi, che possono essere considerati come pazienti più “familiari” al trattamento, mostravano una frequenza d’uso marcatamente più elevata rispetto ai new users e, in particolare, una percentuale significativamente più elevata di soggetti che assumevano >180 unità posologiche/anno, quindi potenzialmente affetti da cefalea cronica correlata all’ uso eccessivo di triptani (0.3% vs 15,3%; p<0,001). Anche i pazienti che ricevevano una co-prescrizione CV erano più spesso presenti fra i pazienti already in treatment (12% vs 27,6%; p<0,001). Pertanto, sulla base delle evidenze raccolte, sarebbero auspicabili interventi informativi ad hoc al fine di promuovere l’appropriatezza prescrittiva e l’uso sicuro di questi farmaci antiemicranici, raccomandando ai medici prescrittori un monitoraggio periodico dei pazienti. Allo scopo di mettere in evidenza eventi di natura CV rari, non noti o poco documentati rispetto alla terapia con triptani, sono state analizzate le segnalazione di sospetta reazione avversa a farmaco presenti nel database internazionale del Food and Drugs Administration_Adverse Event Reporting System (FDA_AERS). Per l’estrazione delle segnalazioni di possibile interesse è stato applicato uno specifico processo di data-mining basato sui seguenti passaggi: rimozione dei duplicati, mappatura dei farmaci tramite la classificazione ATC, estrazione degli eventi CV secondo la classificazione MedDRA, applicazione del Reporting Odds Ratio (ROR) e successivo aggiustamento statistico per la concomitante assunzione di farmaci CV (proxy grezzo di un disturbo CV di base). In tal modo sono stati evidenzati tutti gli eventi CV che venivano segnalati più frequentemente in associazione ad un qualsiasi triptano rispetto a tutti i restanti farmaci presenti nel database. L’analisi si è basata su oltre due milioni di segnalazioni inserite nel database fra il 2004 ed il 2010. Tra i 7808 report riguardanti almeno un triptano, l’applicazione del ROR ha evidenziato una possibile relazione fra l’assunzione di un triptano ed una serie di eventi che potevano essere considerati inattesi rispetto alla terapia con questi farmaci: eventi di natura cerebrovascolare, aneurismi e dissezioni, ed eventi correlati alla gravidanza. Sulla base di questi risultati, nel successivo studio è stato possibile focalizzare l’attenzione sui soli eventi cerebrovascolari messi precedentemente in evidenza, allo scopo di acquisire maggiori informazioni sulla relazione tra farmaco ed evento. L’analisi, effettuata sullo stesso dataset del precedentemente studio, si è basata sull’applicazione di due differenti approcci: i) una case-by-case analysis riguardante le segnalazioni di uno specifico evento giudicato d’interesse (approccio quantitativo); ii) la selezione di un cluster di eventi cerebrovascolari, tramite la classificazione MedDRA, ed il calcolo del ROR riguardo l’esposizione a triptani, stratificato ed aggiustato statisticamente sulla base di variabili potenzialmente confondenti/modificanti (approccio quantitativo). I risultati dell’analisi qualitativa hanno dimostrato un ruolo possibile dei triptani nell’insorgenza/esacerbazione di un evento cerebrovascolare raro quale la dissezione dell’arteria carotide. Inoltre, l’analisi quantitativa ha permesso di mettere in evidenza alcune sottopopolazioni di utilizzatori che potrebbero essere potenzialmente esposte ad un maggior rischio di accidenti cerebrovascolari correlati all’assunzione di triptani (i.e. 18-44 anni ed utilizzatori di estrogeni/contraccettivi). Tali risultati, potranno essere utilizzati come ipotesi da testare attraverso successivi studi epidemiologici su larga scala che saranno utili a meglio definire il profilo di sicurezza di questi farmaci.

La irrupció tecnològica dels Vehicles Aeris no Tripulats (UAV o drons) com a noves plataformes de teledetecció, està fent evolucionar la Geografia cap a una nova escala d’observació de la Terra. Mitjançant diferents instruments de captació de dades (e.g. satèl·lits, aeronaus), actualment es poden monitoritzar i analitzar quantitativament diversos fenòmens que afecten la superfície terrestre a diferents escales, així com els seus canvis. Convencionalment, la validesa de les mesures de teledetecció satel·litària es comprova mitjançant el seu ajust respecte de mesures in-situ captades amb espectroradiòmetres de camp o mitjançant la inter-comparació entre sensors satel·litaris. De fet, és necessari corregir radiomètricament les imatges de satèl·lit per obtenir dades el més similars possible a les que s’obtindrien a nivell de superfície terrestre i que siguin coherents entre diferents sensors. No obstant, encara hi ha un salt d’escala molt gran entre l’adquisició de dades de camp i les dades satel·litàries o aèries convencionals, fet que en complica la validació in-situ. La principal hipòtesi d’aquesta recerca és que els UAV poden omplir el buit d'escala entre imatges de satèl·lit i mesures in-situ convencionals, millorant així la correcció radiomètrica d’imatges satel·litàries. L’objectiu d’aquesta recerca és introduir l’ús de dades captades amb UAV, en sinergia amb dades espectroradiomètriques de camp, per complementar i millorar el tractament radiomètric de les imatges captades pels satèl·lits Landsat-8 i Sentinel-2, vinculant així observacions sobre el terreny (espectroradiometria de camp), observacions a escala local (UAV) i observacions a escala global (satèl·lits), obtenint més solidesa, continuïtat i coherència en les dades d’observació de la Terra a totes les escales. A diferència dels satèl·lits, els drons tenen la característica de volar a molt baixa altura (e.g. menys de 120 m, segons la llei espanyola actual), de manera que les imatges captades pels seus sensors tenen molt més detall espacial (e.g. 10 cm per píxel) i pràcticament no estan influenciades per l’atmosfera. D’altra banda, les tècniques convencionals d’espectroradiometria de camp presenten dificultats operatives vinculades a la georeferenciació i remostreig espacial de les dades, la lentitud en la captura de mesures o la dificultat d’accedir a determinades cobertes del sòl. Així, la hipòtesi d’aquesta recerca contempla que l’ús de drons permet mostrejar una àrea molt més gran, de manera molt més ràpida, més sistemàtica, amb més detall i amb una més acurada georeferenciació que l’espectroradiometria de camp convencional, però amb una exactitud radiomètrica útil per als nostres propòsits de fer de pont entre les dades dels espectroradiòmetres de mà i les dades de satèl·lit. Per aconseguir-ho, a partir d’imatges captades amb sensors a bord d’UAV i calibrades al seu torn mitjançant dades de reflectància mesurades in-situ, s’obtenen referències radiomètriques per validar i/o corregir imatges de satèl·lit, contribuint així a introduir una nova capa de dades entre l’escala in-situ i l’escala satel·litària. En conclusió, en aquesta Tesi es fa una anàlisi de diversos mètodes de correcció radiomètrica d’imatges de satèl·lit i es validen mitjançant dades espectroradiomètriques de camp, però, addicionalment, es millora el tractament radiomètric de les dades satel·litàries mitjançant la introducció de dades captades amb drons. El mètode innova amb l’establiment de sinergies entre dades de radiometria de camp, dades de dron i dades satel·litàries, vinculant diferents escales de treball d’una manera eficient i millorada respecte els antecedents. En futures recerques, es preveu aplicar el mètode desenvolupat però utilitzant sensors per drons amb una configuració espectral més ajustada a la configuració dels sensors satel·litaris, i també fent vols coordinats de diversos drons al moment de pas dels satèl·lits. S’albira que aquesta recerca contribuirà a obtenir sèries temporals d’imatges molt més coherents que les obtingudes fins ara, assolint una informació més acurada de l’estat i l’evolució d’àrees protegides d’alt interès ecosistèmic local i global en tot el planeta.
La irrupción tecnológica de los Vehículos Aéreos no Tripulados (UAV o drones) como nuevas plataformas de teledetección, está haciendo evolucionar la Geografía hacia una nueva escala de observación de la Tierra. Mediante diferentes instrumentos de captación de datos (p. ej. satélites, aeronaves), actualmente se pueden monitorizar y analizar cuantitativamente varios fenómenos que afectan la superficie terrestre a diferentes escalas, así como sus cambios. Convencionalmente, la validez de las medidas de teledetección satelital se comprueba mediante su ajuste respecto de medidas in-situ captadas con radiómetros de campo o mediante la inter-comparación entre sensores satelitales. De hecho, es necesario corregir radiométricamente las imágenes de satélite para obtener datos lo más similares posible a los que se obtendrían a nivel de superficie terrestre y que sean coherentes entre diferentes sensores. Sin embargo, todavía hay un salto de escala muy grande entre la adquisición de datos de campo y los datos satelitales o los datos aéreos convencionales, lo que complica la validación in-situ. La principal hipótesis de esta investigación es que los UAV pueden llenar el hueco de escala existente entre las imágenes de satélite y las medidas in-situ convencionales, mejorando así la corrección radiométrica de imágenes satelitales. El objetivo de esta investigación es introducir el uso de datos captados con UAV, en sinergia con datos radiométricos de campo, para complementar y mejorar el tratamiento radiométrico de las imágenes captadas por los satélites Landsat-8 y Sentinel-2, vinculando así observaciones sobre el terreno, observaciones a escala local (UAV) y observaciones a escala global (satélites), obteniendo más solidez, continuidad y coherencia en los datos de observación de la Tierra en todas las escalas. A diferencia de los satélites, los drones tienen la característica de volar a muy baja altura (p. ej. menos de 120 m), de modo que las imágenes captadas por sus sensores tienen mucho más detalle espacial (p. ej. 10 cm por píxel) y prácticamente no están influenciadas por la atmósfera. Por otra parte, las técnicas convencionales de radiometría de campo presentan dificultades operativas vinculadas a la georreferenciación y remuestreo espacial de los datos, la lentitud en la toma de medidas o la dificultad de acceder a determinadas cubiertas del suelo. Así, la hipótesis de esta investigación contempla que el uso de drones permite muestrear un área mucho mayor, de manera mucho más rápida, más sistemática, con más detalle y con una más cuidadosa georreferenciación que la radiometría de campo convencional, pero con una exactitud radiométrica útil para nuestros propósitos de hacer de puente entre los datos de los radiómetros de mano y lo datos satelitales. Para ello, a partir de imágenes captadas con sensores a bordo de UAV y calibradas a su vez mediante datos de reflectancia medidos in-situ, se obtienen referencias radiométricas para validar y/o corregir imágenes de satélite, contribuyendo así a introducir una nueva capa de datos entre la escala in-situ y la escala satelital. En conclusión, en esta Tesis se hace un análisis de diversos métodos de corrección radiométrica de imágenes de satélite y se validan mediante datos radiométricos de campo, pero, adicionalmente, se mejora el tratamiento radiométrico de los datos satelitales mediante la introducción de datos captados con drones. El método innova con el establecimiento de sinergias entre datos de radiometría de campo, datos de dron y datos satelitales, vinculando diferentes escalas de trabajo de una manera eficiente y mejorada respecto a los antecedentes. En futuras investigaciones, se prevé aplicar el método desarrollado pero utilizando sensores para drones con una configuración espectral más ajustada a la configuración de los sensores satelitales. Se vislumbra que esta investigación contribuirá a obtener series temporales de imágenes mucho más coherentes que las obtenidas hasta ahora, logrando una información más detallada del estado y la evolución de áreas protegidas de alto interés ecosistémico local y global en todo el planeta.
The technological breakthrough of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV or drones) as new remote sensing platforms is making Geography evolve towards a new scale of Earth observation. By using different data capture instruments (e.g. satellites, aircrafts), several phenomena that affect the Earth's surface as well as its changes, can currently be monitored and analyzed quantitatively at different scales. Conventionally, the validity of the satellite remote sensing measures is checked by the fitting to in-situ measurements captured with field spectrometers or by inter-comparison between satellite sensors. In fact, it is necessary to radiometrically correct the satellite images to obtain the most similar data to those that would be obtained at ground level and, moreover, to obtain coherent data between different satellite sensors. However, there is still a very large-scale gap between the acquisition of field data and satellite data or manned airborne data, which complicates the in-situ validation. The main hypothesis of this research is that the UAV can fill the gap between satellite images and conventional in-situ measurements, thus improving the radiometric correction of satellite imagery. The aim of this research is to introduce the use of data captured with UAV, in synergy with field spectroradiometric data, to complement and improve the radiometric treatment of the images captured by the Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 satellites, linking field observations (field spectroradiometry), observations at the local scale (UAV) and observations at the global scale (satellites), obtaining more solidity, continuity and coherence in the Earth observation data at all scales. Unlike satellites, drones have the characteristic of flying at a very low altitude (e.g. less than 120 m, in compliance with current drone regulations in Spain), so that the images captured by their sensors have much more spatial detail (e.g. 10 cm per pixel) and are practically not influenced by the atmosphere. On the other hand, the conventional techniques of field spectroradiometry present operational difficulties linked to data georeferencing and spatial resampling, the slowness on the capture of measures or the difficulty of accessing certain land covers. Thus, the hypothesis of this research considers that the use of drones allows sampling a much larger area, much faster, more systematically, in more detail and with a more accurate georeferencing than conventional field spectroradiometry, but with a radiometric accuracy useful for our purposes of filling the gap between the field spectroradiometric data and the satellite data. To achieve this goal, from images captured with sensors on board of UAV and calibrated in turn by means of in-situ measured reflectance data, radiometric references are obtained to validate and/or correct satellite images, contributing towards introducing a new data layer between the in-situ scale and the satellite scale. In conclusion, this PhD thesis not only analyzes several radiometric correction methods of satellite images that are validated using field spectroradiometric data but also it supports measures for improving radiometric treatment of satellite data by introducing data captured with drones. The method innovates by establishing synergies between field spectroradiometric data, drone data and satellite data, linking different geographical scales in an efficient and improved way with respect to the antecedents. Future research will focus on applying the developed method by using drone-embedded sensors with spectral settings that better fits the satellite sensors features, and planning coordinated flights of several drones at the satellite overpass. This research will contribute towards obtaining more coherent image time series than in previous works, by achieving more accurate information on the state and the evolution of protected areas of high local and global ecosystem interest throughout the planet.

As we move into the twenty-first century, the renewal of our lifelines or deterioration of infrastructure becomes a topic of critical importance. The structures may have to carry larger loads, require change in building use, suffer steel corrosion problems, or errors made during the design or construction phases so that the structure may need to be repaired or strengthened before it can be used. The use of fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) in the last few years in various engineering application, forums and configuration offers an alternative design approach for the construction of new concrete structures and the rehabilitation of existing ones. The use of FRP materials for external strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) structures has emerged as one of the most exciting and promising technologies in material and structural engineering. Externally bonded FRP reinforcement is relatively unprotected against impact, vandalism or severe environmental conditions. Their structural performance can be greatly affected by these drawbacks. But if the composite material is placed in slots inside the concrete cover some of these drawbacks can be overcome. This method is designated by Near Surface Mounted (NSM) method. Therefore, the presented work is carried out using this advantageous strengthening technique utilizing the non-corrodible FRP materials. My research involved both experimental and analytical investigations on the use of FRP systems for strengthening concrete structures using NSM techniques. The main objectives of my research were to (1) develop/utilize an NSM system composed of FRP bars and adhesives, (2) investigate the bond performance for the proposed NSM system, (3) investigate the effect of freeze and thaw cycles on the of the new proposed system, (4) study the flexural behaviour of RC beams strengthened with NSM FRP bars, (5) develop an analytical model using non-linear finite element analysis (ADINA) taking into consideration the interfacial behaviour between the concrete and FRP bars and (6) establish design recommendations for the use of FRP bars for the NSM method. To achieve these objectives, the research program was divided into two parts. The first part included the experimental work while the second part included the analytical work. The first part consisted of two phases. The first phase included the pullout testing of 76 C-shape concrete blocks including 16 conditioned blocks. The second phase included testing 20 flexural strengthened concrete beams using the NSM method. The second part included developing an analytical model to be used in a non-linear finite element program and to analyze and predict the behaviour of concrete beams strengthened for flexure using NSM FRP bars. The efficiency and accuracy of the model was verified by comparing its results to the experimental results. The developed analytical model was used to study the effect of different parameters. Test results are presented in terms of deflection, strain in the concrete, steel and FRP and modes of failure. Test results showed the superior performance of the proposed NSM FRP/adhesive system. The NSM system is able to increase both the stiffness and flexural capacity of concrete beams by approximately 100% over the unstrengthened one. The FEM was able to predict of the behaviour of the strengthened beams in flexure with NSM. Based on the experimental and analytical study, useful conclusions and recommendations for flexural strengthening with NSM FRP were provided.||Alors que nous entrons dans le XXIème siècle, la dégradation des infrastructures devient un sujet d'une importance cruciale. Les structures doivent supporter des charges plus grandes et subir des changements d'utilisation. En plus de cela s'ajoute les problèmes de corrosion de l'acier, des erreurs de conception et de construction, ce qui souvent nécessitent que la structure soit réparée ou renforcée, des fois même avant sa mise en service. L'utilisation de polymères renforcés de fibres (PRF) dans les dernières années dans divers domaines d'ingénierie a permis une avancée technologique, et leur utilisation dans la construction de nouvelles structures en béton ainsi que la réhabilitation des anciennes. L'utilisation de matériaux en PRF pour le renforcement externe des structures en béton armé est une technologie des plus prometteuses dans l'ingénierie structurale ou de matériaux. Cependant le renforcement par collage externe de PRF n'offre pas une bonne protection contre les chocs, le vandalisme ou les conditions environnementales sévères, ce qui pourraient affecter les performances structurales des éléments réhabilités. Ces inconvénients peuvent être surmontés si le PRF est inséré dans des rainures réalisées dans le recouvrement de béton. Cette méthode est appelée « mise en place d'Armatures Encastrées Près de la surface (AEPS)». Le présent travail s'articule autours de cette technique de renforcement utilisant des matériaux non corrodables. Mes travaux de recherches se focalisent sur l'utilisation des AEPS en PRF pour le renforcement des structures, et cela d'un point de vue expérimental et analytique. Les principaux objectifs de mes recherches sont: (1) développer/utiliser un système d'AEPS composé de barres en PRF et d'adhésif, (2) étudier les performance d'adhérence du système proposé, (3) étudier l'effet des cycles gel-dégel sur le système proposé, (4) l'étude du comportement en flexion de poutres en béton armé, renforcées avec des barres d'AEPS en PRF, (5) développer un modèle analytique utilisant des méthodes non-linéaires d'analyse par éléments finis (logiciel ADINA) en tenant compte du comportement de l'interface béton-barres en PRF, et (6) mettre en place des recommandations de calcul pour l'utilisation des barres en PRF comme AEPS. Pour atteindre ces objectifs, le programme de recherche a été divisé en deux parties. La première partie comprenait les travaux expérimentaux tandis que la deuxième comprenait des travaux d'analyse. La première partie elle même était constituée de deux phases. La première phase comprenait des essais d'arrachement direct de blocs de béton en forme de «C», dont 16 blocs conditionnés dans une chambre environnementale. Alors que la deuxième phase comportait des essais de flexion 20 poutres en béton armé, renforcés par des AEPS en PRF. La deuxième partie a consisté au développement d'un modèle analytique non-linéaire par éléments finis de façon à pouvoir analyser et prédire le comportement en flexion de poutres en béton armé, renforcées par des AEPS en PRF. L'efficacité et la précision du modèle ont été vérifiées en comparant ses résultats analytiques aux résultats expérimentaux. Le modèle analytique développé a été utilisé pour étudier l'effet de différents paramètres. Les résultats des tests sont présentés en termes de déflexion, de contraintes dans le béton, l'acier et le PRF et les modes de rupture. Les résultats des essais ont démontré les bonnes performances du système armatures PRF/adhésif proposé, ce dernier a permit d'augmenter à la fois la rigidité en flexion et la résistance des poutres en béton d'environ 100% par rapport à la poutre non renforcée. L'analyse par éléments finis a été en mesure de prédire le comportement en flexion des poutres renforcées avec des AEPS en PRF. Basé sur ces travaux, des conclusions et des recommandations utiles concernant le renforcement en flexion avec des AEPS en PRF ont été fournis.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2005.
Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 149-156). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Signal detection from Adverse Event Reports (AERs) is important for identifying and analysing drug safety concern after a drug has been released into the market. A safety signal is defined as a possible causal relation between an adverse event and a drug. There are a number of safety signal detection algorithms available for detecting drug safety concern. They compare the ratio of observed count to expected count to find instances of disproportionate reportings of an event for a drug or combination of events for a drug. In this thesis, we present an algorithm to mine the AERs to identify drugs which show sudden and large changes in patterns of reporting of adverse events. Unlike other algorithms, the proposed algorithm creates time series for each drug and use it to identify start of a potential safety problem. A novel vectorized timeseries utilizing multiple attributes has been proposed here. First a time series with a small time period was created; then to remove local variations of the number of reports in a time period, a time-window based averaging was done. This method helped to keep a relatively long time-series, but eliminated local variations. The steps in the algorithm include partitioning the counts on attribute values, creating a vector out of the partitioned counts for each time period, use of a sliding time window, normalizing the vectors and computing vector differences to find the changes in reporting over time. Weights have been assigned to attributes to highlight changes in the more significant attributes. The algorithm was tested with Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) datasets from Food and Drug Administation (FDA). From AERS datasets the proposed algorithm identified five drugs that may have safety concern. After searching literature and the Internet it was found that the five drugs the algorithm identified, two were recalled, one was suspended, one had to undergo label change and the other one has a lawsuit pending against it.

Es va avaluar l'eficiència de diferents tècniques d'aplicació de fitosanitaris que
tenen la capacitat de reduir la contaminació ambiental: l'ajust de les condicions
d'aplicació amb polvoritzadors hidropneumàtics en plantacions de fruiters, els
túnels de polvorització per als fruiters i la vinya, els broquets d'injecció d'aire en
tractaments als fruiters i a l'arròs i els tractaments terrestres en lloc dels tractaments
aeris també a l'arròs.
La metodologia utilitzada es va basar en la realització d'assaigs de camp per a
la mesura de la distribució de la polvorització. Els experiments es van plantejar
d'acord amb un disseny de tres repeticions situades en una parcel·la de cultiu, on
es va realitzar l'aplicació amb els diferents equips en les condicions de treball
escollides en cada cas. Es van utilitzar dos tipus de traçadors: el colorant fluorescent
sulfoflavina brillant i quelats metàl·lics de Fe, Zn, Mn i Cu. La deposició de la
polvorització sobre el cultiu resultant de cada aplicació es va mesurar bàsicament a
partir de mostres de les mateixes fulles i les pèrdues fora de l'objectiu (directament
al sòl o per deriva) amb col·lectors artificials, principalment papers de filtre en el
cas de les pèrdues al sòl i netejadors de pipes i fil de plàstic per a la mesura de la
deriva.
L'avaluació dels resultats obtinguts es va realitzar amb tècniques estadístiques
d'anàlisi de la variància i amb d'altres específiques per al cas de la deriva o per tal
d'avaluar la deposició de producte a la vegetació dels fruiters. Els resultats permeten
avaluar tant la capacitat de reducció de la contaminació de les tècniques de
reducció de la deriva assajades com la qualitat de la distribució de la polvorització
sobre el cultiu. En general, en tots els casos hi va haver una reducció del risc de
contaminació amb una bona qualitat de la distribució de la polvorització sobre
l'objectiu.
En concret, la reducció del cabal d'aire i l'increment de la velocitat de treball
en els polvoritzadors hidropneumàtics per als fruiters van causar una reducció de
la deriva, però també una disminució de la uniformitat de la distribució de producte
en la vegetació. Els túnels de polvorització per a la vinya i els fruiters van eliminar
quasi completament les pèrdues per deriva però amb l'inconvenient de més
dificultat en l'execució tractaments. Els broquets d'injecció d'aire en els fruiters i
en l'arròs també van provocar una disminució de les pèrdues fora de l'objectiu,
que va dependre tant del model concret de broquet utilitzat com de les condicions
ambientals. La distribució del producte mesurada sobre els cultius en general va
ser bona, amb risc de reducció de l'eficàcia respecte a les tècniques d'aplicació
habituals només en alguns casos concrets. Finalment, els tractaments aeris a l'arròs
van suposar més risc de contaminació que els terrestres amb una distribució pitjor
del producte sobre la vegetació.
Se evaluó la eficiencia de diversas técnicas de aplicación de fitosanitarios que
tienen la capacidad de reducir la contaminación ambiental: el ajuste de las condiciones
de aplicación con pulverizadores hidroneumáticos en plantaciones de frutales
, los túneles de pulverización para los frutales y la viña, las boquillas de
inyección de aire en tratamientos a los frutales y al arroz y los tratamientos terrestres
en lugar de los tratamientos aéreos también en el arroz.
La metodología utilizada se basó en la realización de ensayos de campo para la
medida de la distribución de la pulverización. Los experimentos se plantearon en
base a un diseño de tres repeticiones situadas en una parcela de cultivo, donde se
realizó la aplicación con los diferentes equipos en las condiciones de trabajo escogidas
en cada caso. Se utilizaron dos tipos de trazadores: el colorante fluorescente
sulfoflavina brillante y quelatos metálicos de Fe, Zn, Mn y Cu. La deposición de la
pulverización sobre el cultivo resultante de cada aplicación se midió básicamente a
partir de muestras de las mismas hojas y las pérdidas fuera del objetivo (directamente
al suelo o por deriva) con colectores artificiales, principalmente papeles de
filtro en el caso de las pérdidas en el suelo y limpiadores de pipas y hilo de plástico
para la medida de la deriva.
La evaluación de los resultados obtenidos se realizó con técnicas estadísticas de
análisis de la varianza y con otras específicas para el caso de la deriva o con el fin
de evaluar la deposición de producto en la vegetación en los frutales. Los resultados
permiten evaluar tanto la capacidad de reducción de la contaminación de las
técnicas de reducción de la deriva ensayadas como la calidad de la distribución de
la pulverización sobre el cultivo. En general, en todos los casos hubo una reducción
del riesgo de contaminación con una buena calidad de la distribución de la
pulverización sobre el objetivo.
En concreto, la reducción del caudal de aire y el incremento de la velocidad de
trabajo en los pulverizadores hidroneumáticos para los frutales causó una reducción
de la deriva, pero también una disminución de la uniformidad de la distribución
de producto en la vegetación. Los túneles de pulverización para los frutales y
la viña eliminaron casi completamente las pérdidas por deriva con el inconveniente
de una mayor dificultad en la realización de los tratamientos. Las boquillas de
inyección de aire en los frutales y en el arroz también provocaron una disminución
de las pérdidas fuera del objetivo, que dependió tanto del modelo concreto de boquilla
utilizada como de las condiciones ambientales. La distribución de producto
medida sobre los cultivos en general fue buena, con riesgo de reducción de la eficacia
respecto a las técnicas de aplicación habituales solamente en algunos casos
concretos. Finalmente, los tratamientos aéreos en el arroz implicaron más riesgo de
contaminación que los terrestres con una peor distribución del producto sobre la
vegetación.
The efficiency of several pesticide application techniques, which are able to reduce
environmental pollution, was assessed: the adjustment of the application
conditions of air-assisted sprayers in fruit orchards, tunnel sprayers for fruit orchards
and vineyards, air-injection nozzles for spray applications in fruit orchards
and rice and ground-based instead of aerial applications in rice paddies.
The methodology was based on carrying out field trials to measure the spray
distribution. The experiments were planned in a three-replication basis. The replications
were placed on a crop plot, where the spray applications with the mechanical
equipment, set up according to the selected working conditions, were carried
out. Two kinds of tracers were used: the fluorescent dye brilliant sulphoflavine and
metal chelates of Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu. The spray deposition on the crop from each
spray application was measured mainly by means of the same crop leaves, whereas
off-target spray losses -to the soil or drift- with artificial collectors, i.e. filter papers
for the spray losses to soil and pipe cleaners and plastic lines for drift measurement.
Data assessment was made by means of statistical techniques based on the
analysis of the variance, but also by other specific techniques in the case of spray
drift or for the assessment of the spray deposit on the fruit tree canopy. The results
allow to assess both the capability of the tested drift reduction application techniques
to decrease the pollution and the quality of the spray distribution throughout
the crop canopy. In general, a reduction of the contamination hazard was
always measured, together with a good quality of the spray distribution on the
target.
In short, an air-flow rate reduction together with an increase of the working
speed in fruit orchards caused a reduction of the amount of spray drift, but also a
worse spray deposit uniformity on the crop. The tunnel sprayers for fruit orchards
and vineyards reduced almost completely the spray drift losses but with the disadvantage
of making the spray application more difficult to be carried out. The airinjection
nozzles produced a reduction of the off-target spray losses, depending as
much on the nozzle model used than on the environmental conditions. The measured
spray deposit on the crops was rather good and only on few occasions the
possibility of a lower efficacy in relation to the conventional spray application
techniques was stated. Finally, aerial spraying in rice caused higher risk of spray
contamination than the ground-based applications, together with a worse spray
distribution on the crop.

Thesis (Ph.D. of Pharmacy Practice and Administrative Sciences)--University of Cincinnati, 2008.
Advisor: Jeff Guo PhD. Title from electronic thesis title page (viewed May 9, 2008). Keywords: data mining algorithms; adverse drug reactions; adverse event reporting system; signal detection; case-control study; antipsychotic; bipolar disorder. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Power electronics applications in high power are normally large, expensive, spatially distributed systems. These systems are typically complex and have multiple functions. Due to these properties, the control algorithm and its implementation are challenging, and a different approach is needed to avoid customized solutions to every application while still having reliable sensor measurements and converter communication and control.

This thesis proposes a synchronous digital control architecture that allows for the communication and control of devices via a fiber optic communication ring using digital technology. The proposed control architecture is a multidisciplinary approach consisting of concepts from several areas of electrical engineering. A review of the state of the art is presented in Chapter 2 in the areas of power electronics, fieldbus control networks, and digital design. A universal controller is proposed as a solution to the hardware independent control of these converters. Chapter 3 discusses how the controller was specified, designed, implemented, and tested. The power level specific hardware is implemented in modules referred to as hardware managers. A design for a hardware manager was previously implemented and tested. Based on these results and experiences, an improved hardware manager is specified in Chapter 4. A fault tolerant communication protocol is specified in Chapter 5. This protocol is an improvement on a previous version of the protocol, adding benefits of improved synchronization, multimaster support, fault tolerant structure with support for hot-swapping, live insertion and removals, a variable ring structure, and a new network based clock concept for greater flexibility and control. Chapter 6 provides a system demonstration, verifying the components work in configurations involving combinations of controllers and hardware managers to form applications. Chapter 7 is the conclusion. VHDL code is included for the controller, the hardware manager, and the protocol. Schematics and manufacturing specifications are included for the controller.
Master of Science

Background: The increasing consumption of dietary supplements (DS) has drawn the attention of regulatory agencies, researchers and healthcare professionals. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not require premarketing assessment of DS considering them safe unless proven otherwise. However, the reporting rate of DS adverse events (DS-AE) is low. Objective: To describe pharmacists’ attitudes and knowledge of DS and DS information resources, and to determine the importance of selected attributes in pharmacists’ decisions to report a DS-AE. Methods: A convenience sample of practicing pharmacists in Virginia was surveyed using a web-based self-administered questionnaire. A conjoint analysis exercise was developed using several scenarios based on a set of five attributes: patient’s age, initiation of DS, last modification in drug therapy, evidence supporting the AE, and outcome of the AE. Participants were asked to indicate their decision to report the AE in each scenario to prescriber, drug manufacturer, DS manufacturer and FDA on a 6-point ordered scale. Participants’ attitude, knowledge of DS, demographic information, and DS information resources were also requested. Linear regression models were used to determine the relative importance of the profile attributes on a pharmacist’s decision to report the AE. The effects of other characteristics on the importance of the attributes were assessed. Results: Participants’ overall attitudes were relatively positive for the clinical use of DS but negative for safe of DS. Formal training on DS was associated with better knowledge of DS regulation. The average knowledge score of DS identification was relatively good but was low for DS regulation. Lexi-Comp® was the most widely used and available information resource and the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database was the most useful once. The most important attribute that a pharmacist considered in the decision to report a DS-AE to DS manufacturer, drug manufacturer and FDA was the outcome of the AE followed by the evidence supporting the AE. Ranking of these two factors was the reversed in reporting to prescriber. Conclusions: Outcome and evidence of the AE are the most important factors participants considered when reporting. Other characteristics do not have an impact on the relative importance of the attributes.

[ES] Debido a la creciente popularidad sobre la variedad de los Vehículos No Tripulados tanto en el campo militar como en el comercial, y de sus capacidades para navegar por diversos entornos, ya sean terrestres, aéreos o marinos, se evidencia que la clásica planificación de trayectorias y movimientos bidimensionales 2D podría no ser suficiente en un futuro inmediato. De esta manera, se debe resaltar que el presente trabajo aborda el problema de los Vehículos Aéreos No Tripulados (UAVs) de ala fija. En este sentido, la necesidad de encontrar una trayectoria navegable en el espacio euclídeo 3D se hace cada vez más necesario. En el caso de los UAV, considerar su cinemática para generar trayectorias suaves en tres dimensiones puede tener un interés significativo para la navegación autónoma aérea. Finalmente, los beneficios adicionales que se pueden producir son importantes. La principal dificultad de este problema es que los vehículos aéreos de características no-holonómicas se ven obligados a avanzar sin la posibilidad de detenerse a través de trayectorias 3D con curvaturas limitadas. En este sentido, se ha investigado la manera de proporcionar una completa caracterización de trayectorias óptimas para UAVs con un radio de giro limitado que se mueve en el plano tridimensional a una velocidad constante. Para completar tales tareas, un planificador de trayectorias no sólo debe proporcionar rutas tridimensionales para alcanzar una posición de destino sin colisionar con obstáculos, sino también debe asegurar que tal trayectoria sea adecuada para los UAVs que poseen propiedades cinemáticas específicas. Por lo tanto, el desarrollo del trabajo ha completado la algoritmia que genera una trayectoria discreta tridimensional al definir un conjunto de puntos 3D, resultantes de una división del espacio euclídeo tridimensional de manera dinámica, determinando las mejores opciones de avance, evitando analizar cada espacio del entorno completo. De esta manera, partiendo de los puntos 3D resultantes de la planificación de trayectoria tridimensional, se ha generado una trayectoria en forma de curva suave construida en función de las limitaciones de giro del UAV (resaltando que es difícil asegurar que el camino resultante cumpla con las restricciones cinemáticas en las tres dimensiones simultáneamente). Finalmente, es importante destacar que a menudo las restricciones mencionadas se calculan secuencialmente y de forma bidimensional, sobre un par de dimensiones desacopladas, lo que limita la capacidad de optimización. Para todo ello, se ha desarrollado un algoritmo de suavizado para un planificador de trayectorias que considera las restricciones cinemáticas tridimensionales completas sin desacoplar las dimensiones.
[CA] Debut a la creixent popularitat sobre la varietat dels Vehicles No Tripulats tant en el camp militar com en el comercial, i de les seves capacitats per navegar per diversos entorns, ja siguin terrestres, aeris o marins, s'evidencia que la clàssica planificació de trajectòries i moviments bidimensionals 2D podria no ser suficient en un futur immediat. D'aquesta manera, s'ha de ressaltar que el present treball aborda el problema dels Vehicles Aeris No Tripulats (UAV) d'ala fixa. En aquest sentit, la necessitat de trobar una trajectòria navegable en l'espai euclidià 3D es fa cada vegada més necessari. En el cas dels UAV, considerar la seva cinemàtica per generar trajectòries suaus en tres dimensions pot tenir un interès significatiu per a la navegació autònoma aèria. Finalment, els beneficis addicionals que es poden produir són importants. La principal dificultat d'aquest problema és que els vehicles aeris de característiques no-holonómicas es veuen obligats a avançar sense la possibilitat de detenir-se a través de trajectòries 3D amb curvatures limitades. En aquest sentit, s'ha investigat la manera de proporcionar una completa caracterització de trajectòries òptimes per UAVs amb un radi de gir limitat que es mou en el pla tridimensional a una velocitat constant. Per completar aquestes tasques, un planificador de trajectòries no només ha de proporcionar rutes tridimensionals per assolir una posició de destinació sense col·lisionar amb obstacles, sinó també ha d'assegurar que tal trajectòria sigui adequada per als UAVs que posseeixen propietats cinemàtiques específiques. Per tant, el desenvolupament de la feina ha completat la algorísmia que genera una trajectòria discreta tridimensional a l'definir un conjunt de punts 3D, resultants d'una divisió de l'espai euclidià tridimensional de manera dinàmica, determinant les millors opcions d'avanç, evitant analitzar cada espai de l' entorn complet. D'aquesta manera, partint dels punts 3D resultants de la planificació de trajectòria tridimensional, s'ha generat una trajectòria en forma de corba suau construïda en funció de les limitacions de gir de l'UAV (ressaltant que és difícil assegurar que el camí resultant compleixi amb les restriccions cinemàtiques en les tres dimensions simultàniament). Finalment, és important destacar que sovint les restriccions esmentades es calculen seqöencialment i de forma bidimensional, sobre un parell de dimensions desacoblades, el que limita la capacitat d'optimització. Per tot això, s'ha desenvolupat un algoritme de suavitzat per a un planificador de trajectòries que considera les restriccions cinemàtiques tridimensionals completes sense desacoblar les dimensions.
[EN] Due to the growing popularity of the variety of Unmanned Vehicles in both the military and commercial fields, and their capabilities to navigate diverse environments, whether land, air or sea, it is evident that the classic two-dimensional 2D trajectory and motion planning may not be enough in the near future. Thus, it should be noted that this paper addresses the problem of fixed-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). In this sense, the need to find a navigable path in 3D Euclidean space becomes more and more necessary. In the case of UAVs, considering their kinematics to generate smooth trajectories in three dimensions may be of significant interest for autonomous air navigation. Finally, the additional benefits that can be produced are important. The main difficulty of this problem is that air vehicles with non-holonomic characteristics are forced to advance without the possibility of stopping through 3D trajectories with limited curvatures. In this regard, research has been conducted to provide a complete characterization of optimal trajectories for UAVs with a limited turning radius that move in the 3D plane at a constant speed. To complete such tasks, a path planner must not only provide three-dimensional paths to reach a target position without colliding with obstacles, but must also ensure that such a path is suitable for UAVs that possess specific kinematic properties. Therefore, the development of the work has completed the algorithm that generates a discrete three-dimensional path by defining a set of 3D points, resulting from a division of the three-dimensional Euclidean space in a dynamic way, determining the best forward options, avoiding to analyze each space of the whole environment. In this way, starting from the 3D points resulting from the three-dimensional path planning, a smooth curve path has been generated, built according to the UAV turning constraints (highlighting that it is difficult to ensure that the resulting path meets the kinematic constraints in the three dimensions simultaneously). Finally, it is important to note that often the constraints mentioned are calculated sequentially and in a two-dimensional shape, on a pair of decoupled dimensions, which limits the ability to optimize. For all this, a smoothing algorithm has been developed for a path planner that considers the complete three-dimensional kinematic constraints without decoupling the dimensions.
Este trabajo ha sido parcialmente financiado por el Gobierno de España a través del Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad bajo el proyecto de Investigación DP I2015−71443−R, y por la administración local de la Generalitat Valenciana a través de los proyectos GV /2017/029 y AICO/2019/055. El autor ha sido beneficiario de una beca otorgada por el Instituto de Fomento al Talento Humano (IFTH) (2015−AR2Q9209) a través del Gobierno de Ecuador.
Samaniego Riera, FE. (2021). Diseño de nuevos algoritmos de guiado y navegación con evasión de colisiones para vehículos aéreos no tripulados [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/161274
TESIS

L’objectif principal de cette thèse a été d’établir une histoire précise des interactions sociétés-environnement durant le dernier millénaire dans deux zones de moyenne montagne, territoires particulièrement sensibles aux aléas naturels ainsi qu’aux évènements politiques, économiques et sociaux à travers un jeu de données multiples issues de différentes disciplines. L’étude de deux séquences sédimentaires lacustres de sites jurassien et alpin, grâce à l’outil palynologique - grains de pollen, spores et microfossiles non-polliniques -, particulièrement développé ici avec la haute-résolution, croisé avec l’étude des données historiques et archivistiques nous a permis, en plus de fournir un corpus complémentaire, de tester une approche comparative (données polliniques vs données cadastrales). Au lac de Remoray (Doubs, massif jurassien, 850 m d’altitude), l’étude a précisé le schéma du processus d’occupation de cette partie de la haute vallée du Doubs. Les données du haut Moyen Âge illustrent une fois de plus que l’idée qu’un désert forestier précédant l’arrivée des moines défricheurs est à nuancer. L’installation des communautés religieuses durant les XIème-XIIIème siècles, et l’influence des pouvoirs seigneuriaux sur cette zone stratégique, semblent toutefois l’étape clef dans la mise en place d’un peuplement durable. Les activités économiques se diversifient et prennent leur essor durant les siècles suivants bien que certaines périodes soient marquées de crises socio-politiques et traversées par les effets, plus ou moins ressentis, du Petit Âge Glaciaire. Il faudra attendre la transition XIXème-XXème siècle pour que les paysages sylvo-pastoraux que nous connaissons actuellement se mettent en place. Situé un peu plus au sud (Savoie, massif de la Chartreuse), notre second site d’étude trouve son origine dans ce qui donne à la montagne une autre identité : les risques naturels. Le site est le témoignage d’une zone dévastée en 1248 de notre ère par un immense glissement de terrain suite à la chute d’une partie du Mont Granier (1933 m d’altitude). Cet évènement, privant une partie de la vallée de cinq paroisses et d’un millier d’habitants, a engendré rapidement un nouveau territoire, aussi bien topographique, végétal que socio-économique. L’observation particulière des sédiments du lac Saint-André formé post-éboulement a offert l’occasion de suivre pas à pas cette reconquête végétale et humaine, appuyé par les approches géologiques, géographiques, archéologiques et historiques qui animent la recherche de façon récurrente. Les résultats obtenus témoignent d’une période de recolonisation végétale suivie d’une reconquête agro-pastorale relativement rapide, avec comme particularité la mise en place d’un territoire viticole. L’enregistrement sédimentaire particulier de ce lac a permis de suivre, en plus des indices d’une agriculture vivrière variée jusqu’au début du XXème siècle, le témoignage pollinique particulier de la vigne qui deviendra petit à petit une monoculture
The main objective of this thesis was to establish a precise story of the interaction between societies and environment during the last millennium, in two zones of middle mountain area, which are particularly sensitive to the natural hazards as well as to the political, economic and social events, through a set of multiple data. The high-resolution study of two lacustrine sediment cores in two Jura and alpine sites, thanks to the palynological tool - pollen grains, spores and non-pollen palynomorphs - and the study of the historical and archival data allowed us, besides supplying a complementary corpus, to test a comparative approach (pollen vs cadastral data). At Lake Remoray (Doubs, Jura massif, 850 m asl.), the study specified the settlement process. The data of the Early Middle Ages, illustrate one more time that the idea that a forest desert preceding the arrival of the monks land-clearers is to be revised. The installation of religious communities during the XI-XIIIth centuries and the influence of the seigniorial powers in this strategic zone seem however the key stage in the implementation of a sustainable settlement. Economic activities diversify and take their development during the next centuries although certain periods are marked with sociopolitical crises and cross effects, more or less felt, of Little Ice Age. It will be necessary to wait for the XIX-XXth century transition to see the development of the recent silvo-pastoral landscape. Our second site of study finds its origin in what gives to the mountain another identity: the natural risks. The site is the testimony of a zone destroyed in 1248 AD by an immense landslide further to the fall of a part of the Mount Granier (Savoy, massif of the Chartreuse ; 1933 m asl.). This event, depriving the valley of five parishes and a thousand inhabitants quickly engendered a new territory, in terms of topographic, vegetal as well as socioeconomic aspect. The particular observation Lake Saint André lacustrine sequence, formed post-collapse, offered the opportunity to follow step by step this vegetal and human recovery, supported by the geological, geographical, archaeological and historic approaches which liven up the research in a recurring way. The results show of a period of vegetal recolonisation followed by a relatively fast agro-pastoral recovery with, as peculiarity, the implementation of a wine-making territory. The sedimentary recording of this lake allowed following, besides the indications of a varied food-producing farming till the beginning of the XXth century, the particular pollen testimony of the vineyard which will gradually become a monoculture

碩士
輔仁大學
國際創業與經營管理學程碩士在職專班
98
The idea is to operate the 3rd Party Logistics Service Company to provide logistics services in high quality standard aimed at becoming the leading integrated logistics serviced provider to the luxury goods companies. The key factor for customers/business to buy the service is that it will save their logistics operation cost and increase efficiency in warehousing, transport, inventory management, export consolidation, supply chain management, packaging. In China, as of today, there is no 3rd party logistics company to provide a platform which can serve the foreign luxury goods company outsourcing their logistics requirement. Now they have their own logistics system but the cost is high and they have to put money in managing all those non-core business matters. Moreover, logistics process plays the last mile role for their supply chain. Our mission is to solve their logistics dilemma and to provide logistics professional service under an acceptable cost as well as offering the solution to enhance their competitive advantage and delivers business results. Today the consumption of luxury goods in China is in the fast growing phase, according to their GDP growing according to their population growing, there is a huge market in China luxury market. The rich people are getting more and more in demanding of luxury goods in China will increase in the future. This is a good starting point for setting up this common service platform. It will be more luxury goods to import to China and also expand their scope therefore they want to outsource their logistics in order to save their cost and to reduce less risk in managing logistics process. Keywords: 3rd party logistics

碩士
國立高雄師範大學
化學系
95
The main object of this research is to develop the method of using a navel epoxy nano-composite material as a heat resistant, transparent, and anti-electrostatic thin film, it also researches the production and performance of photoelectronic packaging material. Firstly, the N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane,AEAPS is taken as a coupling agent to perform organic modification on the surface of colloid aluminium oxide or colloid titanium dioxide 、macro powder aluminium oxide or powder titanium dioxide and identify linkage status with FT-IR. After that, the pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) is used as genipin to synthesize the epoxy/AEAPS/colloid Al2O3 、epoxy/AEAPS/colloid TiO2、epoxy/AEAPS/powder Al2O3 and epoxy/AEAPS/powder TiO2 composite thin films. The thermal stabilities of these organic/inorganic nanocomposites are higher than those of pure organic epoxy resins. The glass transition temperature is not detected below 200℃ by DSC. The surface resistance of hybrid films is reduced from 4.21×1013Ω/ cm2 to 9.47×109Ω/ cm2 below 15﹪formula content of AEAPS/colloid Al2O3；and from 4.21×1013Ω/ cm2 to 9.93×109Ω/ cm2 below 15﹪formula content of AEAPS/ colloid TiO2. The excellent optical transparency is achieved in the visible region. According to the morphology structure which is estimated by TEM, the optic thin films are evenly distributed with inorganic colloidal particles and the average particle size of these composites is 20~35 nm, and inorganic powdered particles. Due to some aggregations between inorganic particles in epoxy/AEAPS/powder Al2O3 and epoxy/AEAPS/powder TiO2 anti-electrostatic this films, the average particle size of these composites is 90~115nm which is near a nano-composite scale. Finally, the potential of these new organic anti-static transparent films to be used in the optoelectronic field will be evaluated.

AEIPS is a Portuguese social organization promoting the integration of people with mental health illnesses and/or substance abuse in the community through the intervention model Housing First. The philosophy of Housing First aims at lifting people out of their homelessness status by providing instant access to individualized and permanent housing as well as support services. Housing First projects from all over the world have proved very positive results in terms of residential stability and community integration of its participants. This feasibility study evaluates the suitability of using a Social Impact Bond to fund the Housing First intervention of AEIPS in Portugal.

Trabalho Final de Mestrado Integrado, Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Farmácia, 2019
Pretende-se possibilitar a partilha daquilo que são as práticas da ASSOCIAÇÃO PARA O ESTUDO e INTEGRAÇÃO PSICOSSOCIAL (AEIPS), uma Instituição Privada de Solidariedade Social. Para que estas Instituições Privadas de Solidariedade Social tenham uma maior qualidade de serviço é fundamental serem executadas por profissionais competentes e que tenham bem definidas as suas habilitações funcionais. Um dos requisitos para se poder alcançar este objetivo é a existência de um perfil profissional específico, com definição de funções, bem como a urgência do reconhecimento legal da profissão. Os objetivos específicos do trabalho, desenvolvido na AEIPS foi realizado através de questionários a três Participantes e a três Profissionais da Instituição em causa.
It is intended to enable the sharing the practices of AEIPS (ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY and INTEGRATION of PEOPLE with MENTAL PROBLEMS), a Private Institution of Social Solidarity. Private Institutions of Social Solidarity reflect a very important a very important social role for the state and civil society. For them to have a better quality of service it is essential that it be performed by competent professional and functional skills defined. One of the requirements in order to achieve their objective is a specific profile, with definition of tasks and the urgency of legal recognition of the profession. The technology or the practice is suited to addresses a health problem or to improve current health systems and services than existing solutions available. Examples of improvement over existing technologies may include superior effectiveness, enhanced ease of use and maintenance, reduced trained requirement, labor saving, improved safety level for user, patient, and/or environment, increased social and cultural acceptability, technical superiority, improved accessibility, better cost-effectiveness and affordability, reduced energy requirements. The specific objectives of the work, developed in the AEIPS, were carried out through questionnaires to three participants and three professionals from the institution concerned.
AEIPS- Associação para o Eestudo e Integração Psicossocial

碩士
國立高雄師範大學
化學系
99
The main object of this research is to synthesize a series of novel organic/inorganic WPU/HDI/DAD/clay and WPU/HDI/AEAPS/clay nanocomposites with transparent and highly thermal resistant characters. Firstly, DAD and AEAPS were used as the organic coupling agents of clay and were preformed a covalently cross-linking bonding with wpu organic matrix. Then, the WPU/HDI complexes were prepared from the condensation between WPU prepolymer and HDI diisocyanate components. An extra HDI linking agents were added to improve the thermal resistant and mechanical properties. The WPU/HDI complexes and the DAD/clay、AEAPS/clay composites were covalently bonded by urea or urethane linkages to form a perfectly cross-linking structure of organic/inorganic nanocomposites. The bonding formation and the best weight contents of reaction components were identified by FT-IR spectra. The thermal resistance properties, transmittance and surface resistances were analyzed by TGA, photo-UV and the surface resistance meter. Experimental results indicated that these nanocomposites had 90% transmittance and the best Td values were 422.05℃, which was 64.30℃ higher than that of pure WPU resin . The surface resistances of WPU/HDI/DAD/clay hybrid thin films were decreased from 4.69×1012 to 4.24×108 Ω/ cm2. The morphology structure of the hybrid thin films were estimated by TEM. The results proved that the optical thin films were evenly distributed with organoclay and that the average particle size of these nanocomposites was 50~80 nm.

The dissertation work examines the roots and development of the medieval learned weather forecasting in the context of ancient and medieval sources and its reception in the central European space, respectively in medieval Bohemia. The work can thus enrich our knowledge of history of natural sciences in the Middle Ages, medieval erudition and written culture in general. At present weather forecasting is a subject of meteorology, based on the analysis of air pressure, temperature and air density and the physiological conditions of the Earth's surface. A detailed analysis of these factors was practically infeasible in the past. Therefore weather forecasting was achieved by means of other methods and premises. We would also hardly find texts concerning weather forecasting between manuscript treatises on the origin and nature of meteorological phenomena: these surprisingly contain a minimum of weather forecast references. At that time weather forecasting was not a part of meteorology; it was the subject of other treatises appearing in the manuscripts frequently entitled De pluviis. These were primarily based on other tradition, respectively on other traditions that were different from that of Aristotle. The aim of the dissertation is to discover and to bring together the various traditions which formed...

碩士
樹德科技大學
經營管理研究所
106
Taiwan will step into an aged society in 2018, when the 65-year-olds will surpass the total population by 14%；by 2025, it will possibly be over 20%, and the Taiwan may enter hyper-aged society, which will have huge influences and be important national security issue. Developing Long-Term care service becomes the most important administrative part of the government. Since November 1, 2016, the government embarked on the trial of the implementation of the Long-Term care 2.0 . It is found that the manpower shortage is one of the serious predicaments of LTC2.0. According to the investigation of the Ministry of Health and Welfare the government ,has trained more than 120,000 nursing attendants, over the past ten years, but presently the demand for manpower in Taiwan is 30,761 and lacks3,819.Because LTC2.0 expands service target and increases service items, the manpower shortage is expected to be up to 30,912 people, and the gap will expand by nearly 10 times. Obviously, the Long-Term care service manpower in Taiwan is seriously insufficient. Because Long-term care is a labour-intensive industry, of course, nursing assistants account for an important of proportion of the manpower in the Long-Term care institutions. Therefore ,this article takes the nursing assistants in Long-Term care institutions in Kaohsiung and Ping-Tung areas as the research means of the questionnaire survey and statistical analysis. and makes understood the study on the relationship between nursing assistant job satisfaction and intention of stay.

The purpose of this research was to ascertain the characteristics of dropouts, their rationale for reentry, and what constituted effective practices within a Texas alternative education program (AEP). While, a number of studies have been conducted to explain why students drop out of school, more research was needed in the area of students that reenter to complete their studies (Fernandez, Paulsen & Hiranko-Nakanishi, 1996; Krashen, 1998; NCES, 1981; Pirog & Magee, 1997; Ramsey, 1988; Rumberger, 1995; Warren, 1996; White & Kaufman, 1997). The study utilized qualitative methodology with a case-study approach by utilizing small groups within the context of an organization (Miles and Huberman, 1994). The study site was purposely selected (Kuzel, 1992; Morse, 1989) using low-socio-economic criteria, ethnic representation, an AEIS rating of Commended, and a high graduation rate. Site participant selection included comprehensive sampling (Goetz and LeCompte, 1984) of the AEP personnel and random sampling of the student participants and their respective parents. The primary data was collected using a modified three-interview method (Dolbeare and Schuman, 1982) with corroborating document review and focus groups. Findings indicated that research participants could identify seventeen different characteristics for returning high school students. Some of the characteristics describing these students also reflect their motivation or rationale for returning back to complete their high school studies. The study revealed four major practices within the AEP that supported the program and its students towards their mission of graduating. These were: hiring the right personnel, monitoring academic progress, providing student support services, and maintaining a safe school climate. A resultant theme indicated that there was a need to promote a positive image of the value of the AEP. Since only ten participants and five students were included in the study, the findings can only be tentatively generalized. Finally, suggestions are made for AEP programs to be designed to entice students not only to return back to school, but to remain until their goal to graduate is realized.
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L’objectif de cette thèse est l’étude du développement de l’attention auditive et des capacités de discrimination langagière chez l’enfant né prématurément ou à terme. Les derniers mois de grossesse sont particulièrement importants pour le développement cérébral de l’enfant et les conséquences d’une naissance prématurée sur le développement peuvent être considérables. Les enfants nés prématurément sont plus à risque de développer une variété de troubles neurodéveloppementaux que les enfants nés à terme. Même en l’absence de dommages cérébraux visibles, de nombreux enfants nés avant terme sont à risque de présenter des troubles tels que des retards langagiers ou des difficultés attentionnelles. Dans cette thèse, nous proposons donc une méthode d’investigation des processus préattentionnels auditifs et de discrimination langagière, à l’aide de l’électrophysiologie à haute densité et des potentiels évoqués auditifs (PEAs). Deux études ont été réalisées. La première visait à mettre sur pied un protocole d’évaluation de l’attention auditive et de la discrimination langagière chez l’enfant en santé, couvrant différents stades de développement (3 à 7 ans, 8 à 13 ans, adultes ; N = 40). Pour ce faire, nous avons analysé la composante de Mismatch Negativity (MMN) évoquée par la présentation de sons verbaux (syllabes /Ba/ et /Da/) et non verbaux (tons synthétisés, Ba : 1578 Hz/2800 Hz ; Da : 1788 Hz/2932 Hz). Les résultats ont révélé des patrons d’activation distincts en fonction de l’âge et du type de stimulus présenté. Chez tous les groupes d’âge, la présentation des stimuli non verbaux a évoqué une MMN de plus grande amplitude et de latence plus rapide que la présentation des stimuli verbaux. De plus, en réponse aux stimuli verbaux, les deux groupes d’enfants (3 à 7 ans, 8 à 13 ans) ont démontré une MMN de latence plus tardive que celle mesurée dans le groupe d’adultes. En revanche, en réponse aux stimuli non verbaux, seulement le groupe d’enfants de 3 à 7 ans a démontré une MMN de latence plus tardive que le groupe d’adulte. Les processus de discrimination verbaux semblent donc se développer plus tardivement dans l’enfance que les processus de discrimination non verbaux. Dans la deuxième étude, nous visions à d’identifier les marqueurs prédictifs de déficits attentionnels et langagiers pouvant découler d’une naissance prématurée à l’aide des PEAs et de la MMN. Nous avons utilisé le même protocole auprès de 74 enfants âgés de 3, 12 et 36 mois, nés prématurément (avant 34 semaines de gestation) ou nés à terme (au moins 37 semaines de gestation). Les résultats ont révélé que les enfants nés prématurément de tous les âges démontraient un délai significatif dans la latence de la réponse MMN et de la P150 par rapport aux enfants nés à terme lors de la présentation des sons verbaux. De plus, les latences plus tardives de la MMN et de la P150 étaient également corrélées à des performances langagières plus faibles lors d’une évaluation neurodéveloppementale. Toutefois, aucune différence n’a été observée entre les enfants nés à terme ou prématurément lors de la discrimination des stimuli non verbaux, suggérant des capacités préattentionnelles auditives préservées chez les enfants prématurés. Dans l’ensemble, les résultats de cette thèse indiquent que les processus préattentionnels auditifs se développent plus tôt dans l'enfance que ceux associés à la discrimination langagière. Les réseaux neuronaux impliqués dans la discrimination verbale sont encore immatures à la fin de l'enfance. De plus, ceux-ci semblent être particulièrement vulnérables aux impacts physiologiques liés à la prématurité. L’utilisation des PEAs et de la MMN en réponse aux stimuli verbaux en bas âge peut fournir des marqueurs prédictifs des difficultés langagières fréquemment observées chez l’enfant prématuré.
The aim of this thesis is to investigate early auditory attention and language development in full-term and preterm children. The last months of pregnancy are particularly important for the child’s cerebral development, and the impacts of a premature birth on his/her neurodevelopment can be substantial. Prematurely born children are at higher risk of developing a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders compared to full-terms. Even without visible brain injury, many premature children are at risk of presenting disorders such as language delays and attentional difficulties. In this thesis, we suggest an approach to investigate pre-attentional processes and early language discrimination abilities in infants using high-density electrophysiology and auditory event-related potentials (AERPs). We conducted two studies. The first one aimed at establishing a paradigm to evaluate auditory attention and language discrimination development in healthy full-term children, over different developmental stages (3 to 7 years, 8 to 13 years, adults; N = 40). To do so, we analyzed the Mismatch Negativity (MMN) component in response to speech (spoken syllables /Ba/ and /Da/) and non-speech stimuli (frequency-synthesized tones, Ba: 1578 Hz/2800 Hz; Da: 1788 Hz/2932 Hz). Distinct patterns of activation were revealed according to stimulus type and age. In all groups, non-speech stimuli elicited an MMN of larger amplitude and earlier latency than did the presentation of speech stimuli. Moreover, in response to speech stimuli, both children groups (3 to 7 years, 8 to 13 years) showed a significantly delayed MMN response compared to the adults group. In contrast, in response to non-speech stimuli, only the youngest group (3 to 7 years) showed a significantly delayed MMN compared to the adults. Age-related differences for tone discrimination therefore appear to occur earlier in children’s development than do the discriminative processes for speech sounds. In the second study, we aimed at identifying the electrophysiological markers of auditory attention and language deficits often incurred by a premature birth. We thus presented this paradigm to 74 infants born preterm (before 34 gestational weeks) or full-term (at least 37 gestational weeks), aged 3, 12 and 36 months old. Our results indicated that preterm children of all age groups showed a significantly delayed MMN and P150 responses to speech stimuli compared to full-terms. Moreover, significant correlations were found between the delayed MMN and P150 responses to speech sounds and lower language scores on a neurodevelopmental assessment. However, no significant differences were found between full-term and preterm children for the MMN in response to non-speech stimuli, suggesting preserved pre-attentional auditory discrimination abilities in these children. Altogether, the findings from this thesis indicate that the neurodevelopmental processes associated with auditory pre-attentional skills occur earlier in childhood compared to language discrimination processes. Cerebral networks involved in speech discrimination are still immature in late childhood. Furthermore, neural networks involved in speech discrimination and language development also appear to be particularly vulnerable to the impacts of prematurity. The use of AERPs and the MMN response to speech stimuli in infancy can thus provide predictive markers of language difficulties commonly seen in premature infants.