The research contained within this thesis concerns the detection, identification and effect of charge noise on quantum dot systems. In the first research chapter we study the cross correlation between pairs of exciton qubits subject to a common fluctuating charge environment, whose dynamics are solved using a transfer matrix approach. Our results show that we are able to discern features showing whether or not the charges interact with both quantum dots simultaneously i.e., form a correlated noise source. We find that qubits in a common charge environment display photon bunching, if both dots are driven on resonance or if the laser detunings are equal in both qubits and anitibunching if the laser detunings are in opposite directions. In the second research chapter we study the auto-correlation function of a single optically driven exciton qubit interacting with an environment consisting of 1/f noise and a fluctuating charge. We again use the transfer matrix method and a sum of Lorentzian distributions to approximate 1/f noise. Our simulations show that signatures of 1/f noise do exist in photon correlation measurements. From such measurements we are also able to determine a minimum cut-off frequency of the 1/f noise, in the case that there is such a cut-off. In addition we also show that a 1/f and a single fluctuator can be distinguished using the auto-correlation. In the final research chapter we study a pair of quantum dots, each with a low lying electron spin qubit and one higher lying level that can be selectively optically excited from one of the two spin states. Entanglement between the two spins can be achieved through path erasure. We look at the effect of a single fluctuating charge of the entanglement between these two `L' shaped electronic structures.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / Nesta pesquisa, elaboramos uma revisÃo crÃtica das caracterÃsticas de linguagem que tÃm sido apontadas, nas Ãreas de LingÃÃstica de Texto e da PsicanÃlise, para a conceituaÃÃo da fala do esquizofrÃnico. A revisÃo crÃtica feita da base teÃrica foi tambÃm realizada a partir de nossa experiÃncia clÃnica com os pacientes diagnosticados como esquizofrÃnicos, que atendemos em um hospital psiquiÃtrico, com o propÃsito de conseguir caracterizar e entender as especificidades da linguagem dos psicÃticos. Os estudos realizados seguiram duas orientaÃÃes. Por um lado, tentaram comprovar que o discurso do psicÃtico era incoerente. Para tanto se valeram do formalismo lingÃÃstico, principalmente dos conceitos de competÃncia e desempenho em Chomsky e da pragmÃtica com as mÃximas conversacionais de Grice. Por outro lado, tentaram comprovar que o âdiscurso do psicÃticoâ era coerente, a partir das consideraÃÃes sobre manutenÃÃo do tÃpico e sobre digressÃo postuladas pela SociolingÃÃstica Interacional e seu modelo de interaÃÃo face-a-face. Este trabalho traz uma contribuiÃÃo quase que essencialmente teÃrica, mas apresenta tambÃm alguma confirmaÃÃo empÃrica pautada pelo acompanhamento que fizemos a psicÃticos e pela anÃlise dos processos referenciais construÃdos na fala de cada um. Defendemos a tese de que mais importante do que avaliar a tessitura do texto do louco à proporcionar uma escuta pautada pela Ãtica de um desejo, nÃo importa se advindo de um psicÃtico ou neurÃtico / In this research we elaborate a critical review of language characteristics that has been pointed highlighted out in the areas of Text Linguistics and Psychoanalysis concerning the conceptuation of the schizophrenics speech. The critical review of the theoretical framework was also based on our own clinical experience with patients diagnosed as, which we assist in a psychiatric hospital, with the intent to characterize and understand the particularities of the psychotics language. The studies we carried out followed two lines. On one hand, they tried to reinforce the hypothesis that the psychotic discourse was incoherent. In order to do so that werelied on lingÃistic formalism, especially the concepts of competence and performance found in Chomsky, and pragmatics, with Griceâs conversational principles. On the other hand, they tried to prove that the psychotic discourse was coherent, taking into consideration the maintenance of topic and the digression postulated by the Interational SociolingÃistic approach and its model of face to face interaction. This work brings almost essentially a theoretical contribution, but also presents some empirical confirmation given by the observation of the psychotics we kept up with and by the analysis of the referential processes constructed in the speech of each patient. We defend the thesis that, rather than evaluating the organization of the text of the psychotic, it is more important to provide a listening approach guided by the ethics of a desire, no matter if it concerns a psychotic or a neurotic person

Noise, vibration and harshness (NVH)levels in the luxury automotive industry are used by customers as a subjective method of determining the vehicle quality. This can be achieved by adjusting the vehicle design, where simulations are used to predict the NVH behaviour. Changes can be expensive and time consuming when made after the design stage has been completed, so it is important to produce accurate simulations of the product. Variability exists to some extent in all products, even those just off the production line, however, if a high level of variability exists then only a small portion of products will meet the predicted behaviour. The aim of the project is to provide information that may lead to the reduction of variability in an automotive vehicle. This is achieved by quantifying the statistical spread of FRFs (frequency response function) in a set of nominally identical vehicles. Once overall levels have been calculated, the location of the most variable sources can be identified. Project also seeks to develop new methods of analysis for the system phase response to determine whether further information may be extracted compared to the magnitude response. There are three main themes that run throughout this thesis, with the first being the quantification of variability due to the measurement taking process which is covered in chapter 3. A novel application of a method to separate the measurement variability from the overall system uncertainty was achieved as well as the quantification of the vehicle to- vehicle variability. The second theme that runs through the study concerns the identification of variability sources. This is realised in chapter 4 and chapter 6 as a set of structural and acoustic tests on a luxury sedan door. The trim was found to be held to the door panel by a series of 11 polymer clips and 4 metal screws. The variability of small changes to a significant boundary condition at the door trim was quantified, showing that the removal of rigid clips had a more significant effect on the overall variability that if a loose clip has been removed. It was also found that clips at the corners were the most sensitive to change. The final theme outlines and tests new analysis methods on the phase and compares the statistical spread of the phase with the equivalent spread of the magnitude. Data taken from the same tests was used and for most of the cases the two results were found to be approximately the same.

International investment law has been developing for centuries. During the development process of international investment law, legal norms and principles of international investment law are evolved and shaped as sui generis nature, and separate legal regime as a branch of international law. The contemporary international investment law, according to United Nations Conference on Trade and Development data, currently, 2283 BITs and 280 other investment agreements are in force in international investment system, and high numbers of disputes are pending in different international dispute settlement bodies. These international investment agreements are interpreted and applied by arbitrators at different investor-state dispute settlement institutions or in ad-hoc arbitrations. Different interpretations and paradoxical arbitration awards cause critics regarding consistency, coherence and uniformity issues of the international investment law regime. Given the characteristics of international investment law regime, this thesis aims to study the institutionalisation and constitutionalisation processes of the international investment law regime. Moreover, the thesis attempts to ascertain consistent means by examining the nature of the international investment law regime and its institutionalisation and constitutionalisation processes to solve the issues associated with uniformity consistency and coherence. This thesis can also provide guidance and some recommendations that would have a chance of being carried out regarding new trends and developments of the international investment regime. Therefore, the major concern of this research is to understand the suitability of institutionalisation and constitutionalisation to sustain more consistent, coherent and uniform international investment law regime. In the first part of the research project, the nature of international investment law and its interaction with other international law systems, definitions and the necessity of uniformity, coherence and consistency are scrutinized. The second part starts with the solutions in the literature and their overview, and then institutionalisation and constitutionalisation are discussed. In the last part of this research, the energy sector and the Energy Charter Treaty are examine as case study, trying to understand the current creation of a uniform, coherent and consistent international investment regime in the energy sector. This thesis illustrates the nature of the international investment law regime and concepts of institutionalisation and constitutionalisation in legal perspective, as well as analysing coherence, consistency and uniformity issues of the international investment law regime. This project shows institutionalisation and constitutionalisation are developing processes in international investment law regime and they are consistent with the current global trends and developments of the international investment law regime as a branch of international law. The thesis suggests, despite the presence of the uniformity, consistency and coherence issues in international investment law regime, the international investment regime is the compulsory element of world globalisation, and those issues may be solved via applying new approaches that are consistent with the international investment regime’s sui generis nature and its evolving process. This thesis shows institutionalisation and constitutionalisation are congruent with the sui generis nature of international investment regime and contemporary trends and developments.

Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) is an established technique which has been applied to Earth surface displacement analysis and topographic reconstruction. Two complex coherent SAR acquisitions of the same scene are combined to form an interferogram from which surface displacement or terrain measurements are made. The similarities between both SAR signals is captured in the coherence and its magnitude is determined by the spatial separation between acquiring antennas and the changes (if any) to the physical characteristics of the scattering target in the duration between both SAR acquisitions. Both of these products derivable from the interferometric process have been applied in this study with the aim of enhancing monitoring and assessing changes in the coastal environment, with emphasis on the coastal geomorphology. A combination of remote sensing data acquired for Montrose Bay, NE Scotland, has been used to analyze changes to the geomorphology of the beach and dune system in terms of sediment volume analysis, erosion and accretion processes and shoreline changes over a short-term period of 4 years. The interferometric coherence was applied to detect changes to the dune morphology, which have been actively eroding at the southern flank of the Bay. The interferometric analysis presented in this thesis was based on SAR data acquired by the Sentinel-1 SAR antenna and the results demonstrated the limitations of the sensor for terrain mapping and DEM reconstruction. In addition, the significance of the vegetation on the interferometric coherence was demonstrated. However, the results have shown that temporal baseline remained a significant consideration in the application of interferometric coherence in highly dynamic environments such as the coastal environment.

Poon, Sin Yau = 光子在噪聲環境中的解糾纏 / 潘善柔. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 101-110). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Poon, Sin Yau = Guang zi zai zao sheng huan jing zhong de jie jiu chan / Pan Shanrou. / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 2 --- Review on entanglement theory --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1 --- Pure state entanglement --- p.4 / Chapter 2.2 --- Mixed state entanglement --- p.7 / Chapter 2.3 --- Positive partial transposition (PPT) criterion --- p.9 / Chapter 2.4 --- Negativity of pTA --- p.9 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Basic properties --- p.10 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Comparison with concurrence --- p.11 / Chapter 2.5 --- Entanglement witness --- p.12 / Chapter 2.6 --- Inseparability criterion based on uncertainty relations --- p.13 / Chapter 2.7 --- Limitations of the PPT criterion --- p.14 / Chapter 2.8 --- Other manifestations of entanglement --- p.16 / Chapter 2.8.1 --- Non-classicality by negative P-representation --- p.16 / Chapter 2.8.2 --- Non-locality by violation of Bell´ةs inequality --- p.17 / Chapter 3 --- Quantum decoherence: General considerations for open systems --- p.22 / Chapter 3.1 --- A master equation approach --- p.22 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Master equation in Markovian channels --- p.25 / Chapter 3.2 --- Negativity as a monotone in Markovian systems --- p.26 / Chapter 3.3 --- Finite time disentanglement --- p.29 / Chapter 3.4 --- Non-classicality of harmonic oscillating systems in finite temperature baths --- p.32 / Chapter 4 --- Disentanglement dynamics of two-mode Gaussian states --- p.36 / Chapter 4.1 --- Two-mode Gaussian states: General descriptions --- p.36 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Covariance matrices and symplectic eigenvalues --- p.37 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Squeezed states as a source of entanglement --- p.39 / Chapter 4.2 --- Eigenvalues and eigenvectors of pTA --- p.41 / Chapter 4.3 --- Physical interpretation of negativity --- p.43 / Chapter 4.4 --- Disentanglement of two-mode squeezed states in damping and amplifying environment --- p.47 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Block structures of pTA in Fock space --- p.47 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Analytic solution of p in position space --- p.49 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Evolution of eigenvalues and eigenvectors of pTA --- p.51 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Robust structure of entanglement witness --- p.56 / Chapter 4.5 --- Beam splitter as a model for thermal damping of initial Gaussian states --- p.59 / Chapter 4.6 --- Evolution of entanglement of a damped parametric oscillator --- p.63 / Chapter 4.6.1 --- Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors of pTA --- p.64 / Chapter 4.6.2 --- Negativity and sub-negativity --- p.66 / Chapter 4.7 --- Dissipation in baths with both amplitude and phase damping --- p.68 / Chapter 4.8 --- Loss of nonlocality: An optimized Bell's inequality approach --- p.69 / Chapter 5 --- Disentanglement via polarization mode dispersion --- p.73 / Chapter 5.1 --- Review on polarization mode dispersion --- p.73 / Chapter 5.2 --- A model for stochastic polarization mode dispersion --- p.75 / Chapter 5.3 --- General description of two-photon states --- p.78 / Chapter 5.4 --- Disentanglement of two-photon states in separate fibers --- p.81 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Polarization negativity and frequency negativity --- p.83 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- Polarization disentanglement --- p.84 / Chapter 5.4.3 --- Frequency disentanglement --- p.85 / Chapter 5.5 --- Disentanglement of two-photon states in a common fiber --- p.86 / Chapter 5.5.1 --- Polarization disentanglement of the singlet state --- p.90 / Chapter 5.5.2 --- Frequency entanglement of the singlet state --- p.91 / Chapter 5.6 --- Non-Markovian channels --- p.92 / Chapter 6 --- Conclusion --- p.99 / Bibliography --- p.101 / Chapter A --- CHSH Inequality for bipartite two level systems --- p.111 / Chapter B --- Transformation from general two-mode Gaussian to double Gaussian product --- p.113 / Chapter C --- Time evolution of general real symmetric two-mode Gaussian density operator --- p.116 / Chapter D --- Time evolution of a damped parametric oscillator --- p.119 / Chapter E --- Optimal Bell values for a damped TMSV in pseudo-spin formalism --- p.123 / Chapter F --- Derivation of master equation for two-photon states --- p.125 / Chapter G --- Solution of master equation for two-photon states --- p.127 / Chapter G.1 --- Evolution of two-photon states in separate fibers --- p.127 / Chapter G.2 --- Evolution of two-photon state in a common fiber --- p.129

Stroke is the leading cause of serious, long-term disability and nearly half of older stroke survivors experience moderate to severe disability. A common impairment following stroke is impaired discourse production. Functional outcome studies have proposed that the recovery of discourse abilities is critical to achieving a good quality of life. Communication impairments often persist into the chronic stages of recovery and can cause individuals to withdraw from social situations. Discourse production deficits may not be apparent in basic communication interactions, but become more obvious during complex conversations following non-aphasic brain injury (NABI) or right hemisphere stroke (RHD). The purpose of this three-part dissertation was to examine discourse production deficits following NABI and the current practices of speech-language pathologists in the assessment and treatment of discourse deficits. The first study examined the macrolinguistic processes of discourse, which included local coherence, global coherence and cohesion, following NABI. Ten individuals with NABI and 10 heathy controls, closely matched for age, gender, and education, provided a narrative recount of an event. Discourse samples were analyzed for local coherence, global coherence, and cohesion. Results indicated that individuals with NABI demonstrated impaired global coherence compared to healthy controls with relatively intact local coherence and cohesion. Although global coherence deficits were identified in the discourse of individuals with NABI, empirical evidence suggests that speech-language pathologists do not routinely assess or treat discourse production deficits. The second study explored the current practices of speech-language pathologists in the assessment and treatment of individuals with NABI with a specific focus on discourse production deficits using a phenomenological approach. Nine speech-language pathologists participated in semi-structured 1:1 interviews. Results indicated that speech-language pathologists do not routinely assess and treat discourse production deficits due to competing internal values and external or environmental demands. However, speech-language pathologists reported that discourse deficits are present following NABI and are characterized by impaired topic maintenance or global coherence. Participants reported that they were routinely assessing and treating the underlying cognitive process of attention in hopes that it would generalize to improved topic maintenance or global coherence. However, little is known about the relationship between selective attention and global coherence. The third study examined the maintenance of global coherence across discourse tasks and explored the relationship between selective attention and global coherence. Eleven participants with non-aphasic brain injury secondary to right hemisphere stroke participated in the study. Participants provided discourse samples in response to five discourse tasks in a single-task and dual-task condition. Additionally, participants completed the Stroop test to examine selective attention abilities. Results indicated that mean global coherence scores differed across discourse tasks, and that mean global coherence scores for stories was significantly higher than for simple recount and single picture description tasks. To examine the relationship between selective attention and global coherence, mean global coherence scores in the single-task and dual-task condition were compared. Mean global coherence scores were lower in the dual-task condition for all five discourse tasks. Mean global coherence scores for the complex recount task were significantly lower in the dual-task condition. This suggests that the maintenance of global coherence is influenced by attention abilities. There was no significant correlation between performance on the Stroop task and the maintenance of global coherence for any of the five discourse tasks.

Papilledema is a particular type of optic disc swelling caused by elevated intracranial pressure. By observing the visible features from fundus images or direct funduscopic examination, a typical method of assessing papilledema (i.e., the six-stage Fris\'en grading system) is qualitative and frequently suffers from low reproducibility. Compared to fundus images, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) is a relatively new imaging technique and enables the cross-sectional information of the retina to be acquired. Using SD-OCT images, quantitative measurements like evaluating the retinal volume or depth are intuitively more robust than the traditional qualitative approach to evaluate papilledema. Also, multiple studies suggest that the deformation of the peripapillary retinal pigment epithelium and/or Bruch's membrane (pRPE/BM) may reflect the intracranial pressure change. In other words, modeling/quantifying the pRPE/BM shape can potentially be another indicator of papilledema. However, when the optic disc is severely swollen, the retinal structure is dramatically deformed and often causes the commercial SD-OCT devices to fail to segment the retinal layers. Without appropriate layer segmentation, all the retinal measurements are not reliable. To solve the current issue of inconsistently assessing papilledema severity, a comprehensive machine-learning framework is proposed in this doctoral work to achieve the goal by accomplishing following four aims. First, robust approaches are developed to automatically segment the retinal layers in 2D and 3D SD-OCT images, even though the optic discs can be severely swollen. Second, the semi- and fully automated methodologies are designed to segment the pRPE/BM opening under the swollen inner retina in these SD-OCT images. Third, the pRPE/BM shape models are constructed using both 2D and 3D SD-OCT images, and then the 2D/3D pRPE/BM shape measures are computed. Finally, based on the previously segmented retinal layers, eight OCT 2D/3D global/local measurements of retinal structure are reliably computed. Considering both the 2D/3D pRPE/BM shape measures and these eight OCT features as an input set, a machine-learning framework using the random forest technique is proposed to compute a papilledema severity score (PSS) on a continuous scale. The newly proposed PSS is expected to be an alternative to the traditional qualitative method to provide a more objective measurement of assessing papilledema severity.

Vibration-based damage detection methods are used in structural applications to identify the global dynamic response of the system. The purpose of the work presented is to exhibit a vibration-based damage detection algorithm that calculates a damage indicator, based on limited frequency bands of the transmissibility function that have high coherence, as a metric for changes in the dynamic integrity of the structure. The methodology was tested using numerical simulation, laboratory experimentation, and field testing with success in detecting, comparatively locating, and relatively quantifying different damages while also parametrically investigating variables which have been identified as issues within similar existing methods. Throughout both the numerical and laboratory analyses, the results were used to successfully detect damage as a result of crack growth or formation of new cracks. Field results using stochastic operational traffic loading have indicated the capability of the proposed methodology in evaluating the changes in the health condition of a section of the bridge and in consistently detecting cracks of various sizes (30 to 60 mm) on a sacrificial specimen integrated with the bridge abutment and a floor beam. Fluctuations in environmental and loading conditions have been known to create some uncertainties in most damage detection processes; however, this work demonstrated that by limiting the features of transmissibility to frequency ranges of high coherence, the effect of these parameters, as compared to the effect of damage, become less significant and can be neglected for some instances. The results of additional field testing using controlled impact forces on the sacrificial specimen have reinforced the findings from the operational loading in detecting damage.

Acquiring the motions of the inner ear sensory tissues provides insight to how the cochlea works. For this purpose, Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SDOCT) is an ideal tool as it has a penetration depth of several millimeters. SDOCT can not only image inside the cochlear partition, but also measure the sample structures’ simultaneous displacements. We customized a commercial Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography system for such functions and detailed the software and hardware steps so this powerful system could be more accessible to auditory researchers. The cochlea is surrounded by bones and tissues, and damage to it would make it passive. For this reason, cochlear vibrometry measuring locations have been limited to either the basal or apical regions. That is why I fabricated a two-dimensional scanning SDOCT-based probe, to access more cochlear locations through a small hand-drilled hole. What is exciting about the probe is that an electrode can be attached to its side to acquire spatially and temporally coincident voltage and displacement data. This would help us better understand the cochlear mechano-electrical feedback process. Lastly, I investigated how the SDPM-reported displacement could be influenced by its neighboring signals and demonstrated this signal competition phenomenon experimentally and theoretically.