<p>Measuring the dynamics of a quantum bit (qubit) relies on the accurate detection of the quantum state of the system. A widely used method to measure the state of a solid state Josephson junction qubit is to measure the switching current of a Josephson device.</p><p>This work investigates the measurement of the switching current of SQUID samples by means of fast current pulses. The response of a SQUID to a square current pulse has to be measured at the top of a dilution refrigerator through long cables, resulting in bandwidth limitations. A switch in the last instance of a pulse will not be detected, resulting in uncertainties in the detection. We explain how a square bias pulse that is directly followed by a hold level of lower amplitude can be used to circumvent the bandwidth limitations by latching the state of the system it was in after the bias pulse. This corresponds to a sample and hold measurement.</p><p>Every single measurement in a quantum mechanical probability measurement has to be statistically independent. We show correlation measurements for di erent settings of the pulse parameters and at di erent magnitudes of the switching current. A gure of merit for a quantum detector is its resolution. The measurements show that with the sample and hold technique good current resolutions can be obtained, even at very small magnitudes and short pulse durations. In order to make a fast measurement of the switching current, the switching process must occur during the bias pulse. We show in both measurements and computer simulations that a fast switch pulse can induce switching by the hold level,even when the hold level was initially adjusted to a value where it never switched the sample. The computer simulations show that by choosing the hold amplitude low enough, switching occurs rapidly, determined by the bias pulse alone.</p>

Les technologies web ont permis de définir des services accessibles par tous, n'importe où et depuis de multiples terminaux. Si les utilisateurs intègrent maintenant l'usage des interfaces graphiques traditionnelles, la miniaturisation des équipements et l'émergence de nouvelles modalités offrent de nouvelles perspectives en matière d'informatique ubiquitaire.<br /> Dans ce mémoire, nous modélisons l'interaction ubiquitaire selon les principes fondamentaux des modèles de la littérature. Nous proposons une implémentation de notre modèle UbiArch sous forme d'une plate-forme de services et nous mettons à la disposition du concepteur d'applications web un ensemble d'outils interactifs, prêts à être intégrés dans des interfaces web.<br /> Nous illustrons les principes de notre modèle et le fonctionnement de notre plate-forme au travers de trois démonstrateurs. Chacune de ces réalisations intègre les capacités d'interaction des téléphones dans une application web et illustre les apports de notre travail en terme d'interaction multimodale distribuée.

No description available.

Microstegium vimineum is a non-native invasive plant species classified as an annual, shade-tolerant C4 grass. There is limited research regarding variables affecting the spread of M. vimineum. Two studies were conducted to investigate the spread of M. vimineum. A field study was undertaken in 2009 to determine how M. vimineum spreads in relation to litter disturbance. In 2010, a greenhouse study was conducted to determine the impact light has on M. vimineum aboveground biomass, height growth, and photosynthetic efficiency.The field study consisted of three treatments, Undisturbed (Control), Stirring, and Removal of leaf litter, employed along the boundary of existing M. vimineum populations in ½-meter by 2-meter plots. Distance of spread from the existing population and percent cover were documented for one growing season. Plants were counted at the end of the study. Neither stirring nor removal of leaf litter had a significant impact on spread rate, percent cover, or the number of plants in a given treatment suggesting pre-growing season leaf litter disturbance does not influence M. vimineum spread, percent cover, or number of plants.The greenhouse study consisted of growing M. vimineum under four light treatments: 100, 70, 45, and 20 percent of full light. Heights were measured weekly while minimum, maximum, and variable fluorescence emission, non-photochemical and photochemical quenching, and maximum quantum yield of Photosystem II photochemistry (QYmax) were measured every 10 days. Aboveground biomass accumulation was calculated at the end of the study. Results indicate that M. viminuem aboveground biomass accumulation is highest in 70 percent to 100 percent light while photosynthetic efficiency is highest between 45 percent and 70 percent light. This research indicates that M. vimineum does not spread appreciably at low light levels (closed canopies) in areas with litter disturbances that do not change the light regime. M. vimineum has greater aboveground biomass and photosynthetic efficiencies at higher levels of light. Thus, forest disturbances that result in more light reaching the ground may influence the spread of M. vimineum by creating a more favorable environment.

Thèse--Faculté de théologie protestante de Strasbourg.

Inaug.-Diss.--Tübingen. / Vita. Bibliography: p. 123-133.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, South Hamilton, MA, 2003. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 151-156).

This study draws from the extensive research on work and family, and examined a model of the antecedents and outcomes of work-school conflict and work-school facilitation. As an extension of previous research on the work-school interface, the purpose of this study is two-fold. First, this study aimed to examine the impact of conflict and facilitation on personal health. Second, the study set out to investigate the role of emotional support from friends and family, and self-efficacy as moderators. Data were obtained from 329 full-time students who were also employed part-time. The model was tested using structural equation modeling techniques. One of the primary objectives of the study was partially supported as work-school conflict was negatively related to health-related outcomes (physical and psychological well-being). However, results did not support the other study hypotheses.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the fact that the Shrine of the Black Madonna creates an Afrocentric personality in its members. The essential questions of this study are the following: (1) How does the Shrine of the Black Madonna create Afrocentric personalities in its members? (2) How will members of the Shrine, using communal economics, self knowledge, and an African orientation, reflect the collective identity of the African saying, "I am because we are, because we are, therefore I Am." This study is significant because the study is based on the premise that Afrocentric organizations will produce Afrocentric personalities that are capable of eradicating most of the problems facing African people in America. The liberation of African people is recorded as the most sacred objective of the Shrine. The Shrine is concerned with building a Black Nation. The study investigates the practical aspect of Afrocentric institutions which makes this exploration significant. A mixed method methodology was used to analyze gathered data from the participant observer method, quantitative study, and qualitative study methods. This study is based on the premises that the Shrine of the Black Madonna produces Afrocentric personalities through the KUA (small) group method and the practice of the Nguzo Saba method. There are programs and institutions the Shrine uses to create Africans that believe they are building a nation. As a participant in the activities of the Shrine, the researcher observed that the Shrine is an Afrocentric institution. The following institutions were observed (1) History Class, (2) Museum, (3) Worship Service, and (4) Beulah Land Farm. The qualitative findings of the study found that the Shrine of Black Madonna has Afrocentric members using elite interviews. The quantitative study used the African selfconsciousness scale test in the measurement of the Shrine members; the researcher found that they have Afrocentric personalities. The Shrine of the Black Madonna definitely produces members with an Afrocentric personality. The transformation of members occurs during the KUA group sessions. The use of Afrocentric symbols and activities reinforces the members' new worldview. The researcher recommends that other scholars study other organizations that create an African centered program such as the Nation of Islam, US Organization, and the Hebrew Israelite group.

This cultural history study examined Atlanta’s Neighborhood Arts Center (NAC), which existed from 1975 to 1990, as an example of black cultural politics in the South. As a Black Arts Movement (BAM) institution, this regional expression has been missing from academic discussions of the period. The study investigated the multidisciplinary programming that was created to fulfill its motto of “Art for People’s Sake.” The five themes developed from the program research included: 1) the NAC represented the juxtaposition between the individual and the community, local and national; 2) the NAC reached out and extended the arts to the masses, rather than just focusing on the black middle class and white supporters; 3) the NAC was distinctive in space and location; 4) the NAC seemed to provide more opportunities for women artists than traditional BAM organizations; and 5) the NAC had a specific mission to elevate the social and political consciousness of black people. In addition to placing the Neighborhood Arts Center among the regional branches of the BAM family tree, using the programmatic findings, this research analyzed three themes found to be present in the black cultural politics of Atlanta which made for the center’s unique grassroots contributions to the movement. The themes centered on a history of politics, racial issues, and class dynamics. The research offers an alternative to the claim that southern expressions of this movement were generated solely by the historically black colleges and universities of their cities. The study’s findings demonstrate that the Neighborhood Arts Center was a grassroots. multidisciplinary entity for black aesthetics and black cultural nationalism. The findings also suggest that the Neighborhood Arts Center perpetuated the Black Arts Movement through the 1980s. Lastly, the study offers insight on the movement’s transition and legacies.