Guiding a representation towards capturing temporally coherent aspects present invideo improves object identity encoding. Existing models apply temporal coherenceuniformly over all features based on the assumption that optimal encoding of objectidentity only requires temporally stable components. We test the validity of this assumptionby exploring the effects of applying a mixture of temporally coherent invariantfeatures, alongside variable features, in a single 'mixed' representation. Applyingtemporal coherence to different proportions of the available features, we evaluate arange of models on a supervised object classification task. This series of experimentswas tested on three video datasets, each with a different complexity of object shape andmotion. We also investigated whether a mixed-representation improves the capture ofinformation components associated with object position, alongside object identity, ina single representation. Tests were initially applied using a single layer autoencoderas a test bed, followed by subsequent tests investigating whether similar behaviouroccurred in the more abstract features learned by a deep network. A representationapplying temporal coherence in some fashion produced the best results in all tests,on both single layered and deep networks. The majority of tests favoured a mixed representation,especially in cases where the quantity of labelled data available to thesupervised task was plentiful. This work is the first time a mixed-representation hasbeen investigated, and demonstrates its use as a method for representation learning.

A presente tese apresenta uma proposta de leitura/análise do texto grego da Epístola de Tiago que pertence, no corpus bíblico, ao Novo Testamento. A leitura/análise é feita aplicando-se conceitos, noções e metodologias das Ciências da Linguagem, modernamente empregadas na análise dos mais variados gêneros discursivos. O trabalho se constitui de três partes distintas: a primeira, em que se apresenta sumariamente a metodologia utilizada e são feitas algumas reflexões sobre o contexto, a utilização da língua grega, e o gênero do discurso epistolar. A segunda, na qual é apresentada uma proposta de teoria que tem como objetivo identificar uma estrutura e um processo para a INSTÂNCIA DA ENUNCIAÇÃO. Na terceira parte, são feitas leituras análises: do contexto e do gênero do discurso de Tiago; dos recursos do sistema da língua grega como o aspecto verbal, o particípio grego e a espacialização marcada desde o léxico; da discursivização do destinatário como indicando a possibilidade de que o orador Tiago seja destinador de um discurso dirigido tanto a um auditório particular como universal. As ciências da linguagem utilizadas prioritariamente foram: nossa proposta de visão teórica da instância da enunciação, a lingüística textual, a argumentação, e a semiótica da Escola de Paris. Tanto o referencial teórico como as leituras/análises feitas tiveram como objetivo mostrar a aplicabilidade de metodologias modernas em textos antigos religiosos - e escritos na língua original, bem como na busca de uma argumentação, coesão e coerência para o discurso de Tiago. / The present thesis presents a Greek text reading/analysis proposal of the Epistle of James that pertence, in corpus biblical, to the New Testament. The reading/analysis is made applying concepts, language Sciences Notions and methodologies, modernly employed in the analysis of the most varied discursive genders. The research constitutes of three distinct parts: The first, in which we present summarily the used methodology and some reflections on context are done, the Greek language system utilization, and the epistolary discourse gender. The second, in which is presented a theory proposal that has as goal identify a structure and a process for the enunciation instance. In the third part, readings analyses are done: of context and of the speech gender of James; of the Greek language system resources as the verbal aspect, the Greek participle and for spacialization marked since the lexicon; of the addressee\'s speechlization as indicating the possibility that the speaker James is destinator of a driven speech so much to a particular auditorium as universal. The sciences of the used language priority were: own theoretical vision of enunciation instance, the textual linguistics, the argumentation, and the semiotics of Paris School. Both the theoretical reference as the readings/analyses done had as goal of showing the applicability of modern methodologies in old texts - religious - and written in the original tongue, and in the search of an argumentation, cohesion and coherence for James\'s Speech.

A Tomografia por Coerência Óptica (OCT) baseia-se na propriedade de retroespalhamento dos meios para construir imagens tomográficas do interior das amostras. De maneira similar, a técnica LIDAR (Light Detection and Range) faz uso desta propriedade para determinar as características da atmosfera, em especial o coeficiente de extinção do sinal. Explorar esta similaridade permitiu aplicar métodos de inversão utilizados na técnica LIDAR às imagens OCT, permitindo construir imagens de coeficiente de extinção, resultado inédito até o momento. Este trabalho teve o objetivo de estudar, propor, desenvolver e implementar algoritmos de métodos de inversão do sinal OCT para determinação do coeficiente de extinção em função da profundidade. Foram utilizados três métodos de inversão, da inclinação, do ponto de contorno e da profundidade óptica, com implementação em ambiente LABView® . Estudo dos erros associados aos métodos de inversão foi realizado e, amostras reais (homogêneas e estratificadas) foram utilizadas para análises em uma e duas dimensões. As imagens de coeficiente de extinção obtidas pelo método da profundidade óptica claramente foram capazes de diferenciar o ar da amostra. As imagens foram estudadas empregando PCA e análise de clusters que avaliou a robustez da técnica em determinar o valor do coeficiente de extinção da amostra. Além disso, o método da profundidade óptica proposto foi empregado para estudar a hipótese de que existe correlação entre o coeficiente de extinção do sinal e a desmineralização de esmalte dental durante o processo cariogênico. Com a aplicação desta metodologia foi possível observar a variação do coeficiente de extinção em função da profundidade e sua correlação com a variação da microdureza, além de mostrar que em camadas mais profundas o valor do coeficiente de extinção valor tende ao de um dente sadio, comportando-se da mesma maneira que a microdureza do dente. / Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is based on the media backscatering properties in order to obtain tomographic images. In a similar way, LIDAR (Light Detection and Range) technique uses these properties to determine atmospheric characteristics, specially the signal extinction coeficient. Exploring this similarity allowed the application of signal inversion methods to the OCT images, allowing to construct images based in the extinction coeficient, original result until now. The goal of this work was to study, propose, develop and implement algorithms based on OCT signal inversion methodologies with the aim of determine the extinction coeficient as a function of depth. Three inversion methods were used and implemented in LABView® : slope, boundary point and optical depth. Associated errors were studied and real samples (homogeneous and stratified) were used for two and three dimension analysis. The extinction coeficient images obtained from the optical depth method were capable to diferentiate air from the sample. The images were studied applying PCA and cluster analysis that established the methodology strength in determining the sample´s extinction coefficient value. Moreover, the optical depth methodology was applied to study the hipothesis that there is some correlation between signal extinction coeficient and the enamel teeth demineralization during a cariogenic process. By applying this methodology, it was possible to observe the variation of the extinction coefficient as depth function and its correlation with microhardness variation, showing that in deeper layers its values tends to a healthy tooth values, behaving as the same way that the microhardness.

利用超瑞利散射，我們能夠得知有機分子的超極化率，從而幫助我們對其在液態時的結構及相互作用加深認識和了解。在此研究項目，我們將通過測量對-硝基苯胺溶劑或硝基苯之稀釋混合物的超瑞利散射退極化比，分別提取當中的相干以及非相干散射訊號，並對分子間互相的位置以及方向相關性進行研究。同時，我們將針對分子間的短程和長程相互作用，利用其分別衍生的局域相干散射與離域相干散射進行深入探討。研究顯示，退極化比會受分子間的平均距離所影響，而實驗中將利用對-硝基苯胺在溶液中的濃度或硝基苯的稀釋率對平均距離進行調整。粗略估算當分子間的相互作用能與熱能的強度可比時，退極化比將會有明顯的變化。研究中我們運用簡單的偶極硬球模型，假設分子間為經典的電偶極子相互勢能，同時只考慮一對分子之間的直接相互作用，並以球直徑作為唯一參數擬合實驗結果。另一方面，通過觀察實驗中違反局域散射的對稱性，我們證實硝基苯分子間存在著長程相關性。而以不同溶劑進行稀釋，例如甲醇和丙酮時，會破壞其長程相關性，但當其與苯類溶劑，如對-二甲苯混合時，則會保持其長程相關性。因此，分子之間的長程相關性曾被認為是來自苯環之間的π-π相互作用。過往曾經有研究提出一項將液體中的集體震動模式以震動子(libron)表示的模型，能夠解釋觀察到的不對稱性，但此模型的擬合結果與此實驗中硝基苯以甲醇稀釋，並將其相關性破壞的結果並不相符。另外，以苯甲醇稀釋的結果與純硝基苯之間的不對稱現象相反，令π-π相互作用的假設受到質疑。直至現在，仍未有一項合理的模型能解釋得到實驗中所觀察到分子間的長程相關性。 / Hyper-Rayleigh Scattering (HRS) can be used to determine the first hy-perpolarizability β and examine the structure of organic compounds in liquid states. In this research project, by studying the HRS depolarization ratios of solutions of para-nitroaniline (PNA) or diluted mixtures of nitrobenzene, coherent and incoherent scattering signals were extracted for investigation of the spatial and angular correlations between molecules in a liquid state. Both the localized coherent light scattering, which is controlled by the strength of short-range intermolecular interaction, and the delocalized coherent scattering, which is related to the long range correlation between molecules, were revealed. The depolarization ratios were found to depend on the intermolecular distance, which varied with the concentration of the PNA in the solution or the dilution ratio of pure nitrobenzene in various solvents. A rough estimation shows that significant depolarization ratio variation should occur when the interactionenergy becomes comparable to the thermal energy. With the pair correlations calculated by a dipolar hard sphere model that assumed a classical dipolar interaction potential, the experimental results can be accounted by the theory using the hard sphere diameter as the only fitting parameter. The long range correlation between molecules was confirmed to exist even in the liquid state of pure nitrobenzene by observing a deviation from the local scattering symmetries. The long range correlation between nitrobenzene molecules was found to be easily destroyed by mixing with various solvents such as methanol and acetone, but was maintained by mixing with p-xylene, which is a solvent with benzene-like molecules. The π-π inter-action between the molecules was proposed to be the origin of the long range correlations. A model of delocalized collective mode (libron) that coexists with localized orientational diffusion mode in the solution was previously introduced to explain the observed phenomena. However, break downof the long range correlation by dilution using methanol showed a disagreement with the fitting of the libron model. Furthermore, use of benzol alcohol as a dilutant gives an opposite effect on the long range correlations of the nitrobenzene molecules, which makes the π-π interaction model for long range correlation between nitrobenzene molecules questionable. Presently, there is no satisfactory model on the long range correlation between molecules that can explain all our experimental results. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Chan, Yan Chun = 有機溶液之相干超瑞利散射研究 / 陳恩進. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 129-132). / Abstracts also in Chinese. / Chan, Yan Chun = You ji rong ye zhi xiang gan chao rui li san she yan jiu / Chen Enjin. / Abstract --- p.i / 摘要 --- p.iii / Acknowledgement --- p.v / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 2 --- Basic Theory --- p.7 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction to nonlinear optics --- p.7 / Chapter 2.2 --- Harmonic generation --- p.10 / Chapter 2.3 --- Nonlinear optical phenomena --- p.12 / Chapter 2.4 --- Frequency dependent susceptibility --- p.13 / Chapter 2.5 --- Classical model to susceptibility --- p.14 / Chapter 2.6 --- Calculation of the Nonlinear Processes using Schrödinger Equation --- p.18 / Chapter 2.7 --- Densitymatrix formulation. --- p.20 / Chapter 2.8 --- Hyper-Rayleigh Scattering (HRS) --- p.23 / Chapter 3 --- Experimental Setup and Procedures --- p.30 / Chapter 3.1 --- Experimental Setup --- p.30 / Chapter 3.2 --- Instruments --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Laser System --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Sample cells --- p.33 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Camera Lens --- p.34 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Numerical Aperture --- p.35 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Monochromator --- p.35 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- Photomultiplier --- p.35 / Chapter 3.2.7 --- Photon counter --- p.36 / Chapter 3.3 --- Experimental procedures --- p.37 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Sample preparation --- p.37 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Focus point calibration --- p.37 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Measurement of depolarized intensities and ratios --- p.41 / Chapter 4 --- Instrumental calibration and error analysis --- p.43 / Chapter 4.1 --- PMT applied voltage and photon counter discrimination level --- p.43 / Chapter 4.2 --- HRS wavelength and spectral width --- p.46 / Chapter 4.3 --- Polarizations --- p.50 / Chapter 4.4 --- Slit width --- p.52 / Chapter 4.5 --- Pulsed laser repetition rate --- p.53 / Chapter 4.6 --- Gate width and gate delay --- p.55 / Chapter 4.7 --- Statistical error --- p.57 / Chapter 4.8 --- Photon counting error --- p.61 / Chapter 4.9 --- Numerical aperture collimation --- p.63 / Chapter 4.10 --- Depolarization ratio bias --- p.65 / Chapter 4.11 --- Laser focusing point deviation --- p.69 / Chapter 5 --- Measurement and results of localized coherent Hyper-Rayleigh scatterings --- p.74 / Chapter 5.1 --- Modeling of localized coherent scattering --- p.76 / Chapter 5.2 --- Localized coherent scattering of PNA --- p.84 / Chapter 5.3 --- Localized coherent scattering of Nitrobenzene --- p.91 / Chapter 5.4 --- Study with absorption spectrum --- p.96 / Chapter 5.5 --- Non-zero hyperpolarizability off-diagonal elements --- p.101 / Chapter 6 --- Study of delocalized coherent Hyper-Rayleigh scattering --- p.105 / Chapter 6.1 --- Delocalized coherent scattering of PNA --- p.106 / Chapter 6.2 --- Delocalized coherent scattering of nitrobenzene --- p.110 / Chapter 6.3 --- Libronmodel --- p.115 / Chapter 6.4 --- Long range correlations of PNAmolecules --- p.118 / Chapter 6.5 --- Ionic contaminations --- p.120 / Chapter 6.6 --- Long range correlations of other liquids --- p.123 / Chapter 7 --- Conclusions --- p.125 / Bibliography --- p.129

Hu, Jianliang. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-105). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Bakgrund: Kardiovaskulär sjukdom är vida spridd över världen. Många riskfaktorer för sjukdomen bör kontrolleras med hjälp av hälsopreventiva insatser och kompletteras med läkemedelsbehandling. Syfte: Syftet var att undersöka vilka preventiva insatser som studerats för patienter med vaskulära sjukdomar, och effekterna av dessa. Metod: Designen var en litteraturstudie. Tillvägagångssättet var att söka artiklar med randomiserad kontrollstudie (RCT) design. 20 artiklar inkluderades och kvalitetsgranskades enligt checklista för RCT, och kvalitetsbedömning av RCT. Artikelsökningen gjordes i universitetets databaser: Pubmed/Medline, SKOPUS och CINAHL. En artikelsyntes skapades med utgångspunkt från PICO-modellen, (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome), där fokus blev att jämföra interventioner och dess eventuella effekter. Som teoretiskt ramverk används Antonovsky’s känsla av sammanhang (KASAM). Begreppen begriplighet, hanterbarhet och meningsfullhet diskuteras. Resultat: De vanligaste sätten att bedriva prevention var via utbildningsinsatser och/eller rådgivande insatser. Dessa kan vara i möte eller via distans. De vanligaste effektmåtten kunde delas in i kategorierna: laboratorieprover, antropometriska mått, levnadsvanor, blodtryckskontroll, förändringar i riskprofil och följsamhet, upplevd livskvalitet, med flera. Bäst effekt enligt denna studie hade prevention inriktad mot utfallsmåtten blodtryck, blodfetter, blodglukos, samt följsamhet rörande vård och läkemedel.  Slutsats: Utbildning och rådgivning var bra preventiva metoder i samband med intervention mot kardiovaskulär sjukdom eller risk för sådan sjukdom. Det gällde oavsett om det gällde primär- eller sekundärprevention. Interventionerna var oftast inriktade mot livsstil. Effekterna var heterogena och varierande. Resultatet visar att blodtrycksreglering och reglering av blodfetter och blodsocker nivåer är möjliga, framförallt om följsamheten ökar. / Background: Cardiovascular disease is widely spread throughout the world. Many risk factors for the disease should be controlled by means of health preventive measures and supplemented with drug treatment. Purpose: The purpose was to investigate which preventive measures were studied for patients with vascular diseases, and the effects of these. Methods: The design was a literature study. The approach was to search for articles with randomized control trial (RCT) design. 20 articles were included and quality checked according to checklist for RCT, and quality assessment of RCT. The article search was done in the university's databases: Pubmed/Medline, SKOPUS and CINAHL. An article synthesis was created from the PICO model, (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome). There, focus was on comparing interventions and its possible effects. As theoretical framework, Antonovsky’s Sense of Coherence (SOC) was used. The concepts of comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness are discussed. Results: The most common ways of conducting prevention were through training initiatives and/or advisory initiatives. These can be in personal meetings or remotely. The most common measures of effectiveness could be divided into categories: laboratory samples, anthropometric measures, lifestyle habits, blood pressure control, changes in risk profile and compliance, perceived quality of life, and more. The best effect according to this study was prevention aimed at the outcome measures blood pressure, blood lipids, blood glucose, and adherence to care and medication. Conclusion: Education and counseling were good preventative methods in connection with intervention against cardiovascular disease or the risk of such disease. It applied irrespective of the use of primary or secondary prevention. The interventions were usually focused on lifestyle. The effects were heterogeneous and varied. The result shows that blood pressure regulation and regulation of blood lipids and blood sugar levels are possible, especially if compliance is increasing.

Cette thèse porte sur la segmentation et la caractérisation des artères coronaires et des endoprothèses (stent) en imagerie de Tomographie par Cohérence Optique (OCT). L’OCT est une imagerie de très haute résolution qui permet d’apprécier des structures fines comme la couche intimale de la paroi vasculaire et les mailles du stent (struts). L’objectif de cette thèse est de proposer des outils logiciels autorisant l’analyse automatique d’un examen avec un temps d’exécution compatible avec une utilisation peropératoire. Ces travaux font suite à la thèse de Dubuisson en OCT, qui avait proposé un premier formalisme pour la segmentation de la lumière et la détection des struts pour les stents métalliques. Nous avons revisité la chaine de traitement pour ces deux problèmes et proposé une méthode préliminaire de détection de stents en polymère biorésorbable. Une modélisation surfacique du stent a permis d’estimer une série d’indices cliniques à partir des diamètres, surfaces et volumes mesurés sur chaque coupe ou sur l’ensemble de l’examen. L’apposition du stent par rapport à la paroi est également mesurée et visualisée en 3D avec une échelle de couleurs intuitive. La lumière artérielle est délimitée à l’aide d’un algorithme de recherche de plus court chemin de type Fast Marching. Son originalité est d’exploiter l’image sous la forme hélicoïdale native de l’acquisition. Pour la détection du stent métallique, les maxima locaux de l’image suivis d’une zone d’ombre ont été détectés et caractérisés par un vecteur d’attributs calculés dans leur voisinage (valeur relative du maximum, pente en niveau de gris, symétrie...). Les pics correspondant à des struts ont été discriminés du speckle environnant par une étape de régression logistique avec un apprentissage à partir d’une vérité terrain construite par un expert. Une probabilité d’appartenance des pics aux struts est construite à partir de la combinaison des attributs obtenue. L’originalité de la méthode réside en la fusion des probabilités des éléments proches avant d’appliquer un critère de décision lui aussi déterminé à partir de la vérité terrain. La méthode a été évaluée sur une base de données de 14 examens complets, à la fois au niveau des pixels et des struts détectés. Nous avons également validé de façon exhaustive une méthode de recalage non rigide d’images OCT exploitant des amers appariés par un expert sur les examens source et cible. L’objectif de ce recalage est de pouvoir comparer les examens coupe à coupe et les indices calculés aux mêmes positions à des temps d’acquisition différents. La fiabilité du modèle de déformation a été évaluée sur un corpus de quarante-quatre paires d’examens OCT à partir d’une technique de validation croisée par Leave-One-Out. / This thesis deals with the segmentation and characterization of coronary arteries and stents in Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) imaging. OCT is a very high resolution imaging that can appreciate fine structures such as the intimal layer of the vascular wall and stitches (struts). The objective of this thesis is to propose software tools allowing the automatic analysis of an examination with a runtime compatible with an intraoperative use. This work follows Dubuisson's thesis in OCT, which proposed a first formalism for light segmentation and strut detection for metal stents. We revisited the treatment chain for these two problems and proposed a preliminary method for detecting bioabsorbable polymer stents. Surface modeling of the stent made it possible to estimate a series of clinical indices from the diameters, surfaces and volumes measured on each section or on the entire examination. Applying the stent to the wall is also measured and visualized in 3D with an intuitive color scale. The arterial lumen is delineated using a Fast Marching short path search algorithm. Its originality is to exploit the image in the native helical form of the acquisition. For the detection of the metallic stent, the local maxima of the image followed by a shadow zone have been detected and characterized by a vector of attributes calculated in their neighborhood (relative value of the maximum, slope in gray level, symmetry ...). Peaks corresponding to struts were discriminated from the surrounding speckle by a logistic regression step with learning from a field truth constructed by an expert. A probability of belonging to the peaks to struts is constructed from the combination of attributes obtained. The originality of the method lies in the fusion of the probabilities of the close elements before applying a decision criterion also determined from the ground truth. The method was evaluated on a database of 14 complete examinations, both at the level of pixels and struts detected. We have also extensively validated a method of non-rigid registration of OCT images using bitters matched by an expert on the source and target exams. The objective of this registration is to be able to compare cut-to-cut examinations and indices calculated at the same positions at different acquisition times. The reliability of the strain model was evaluated on a corpus of forty-four pairs of OCT exams from a Leave-One-Out cross validation technique.

No description available.

In this work our aim is to study several aspects related to quantum coherence as understood to correspond with the non-classical behaviour that can be observed for certain particular states of a physical system. In particular we are interested in the possible mechanisms that result in dynamically induced transitions between quantum and classical regimes. The thesis is organized as follows: The first chapter dubs as an introduction and serves to set out the basic philosophy underlying the questions addressed in this thesis. It also presents some elementary properties of states and state spaces in Quantum Theory including what we have chosen to define as classical and quantum behaviour. In chapter 2 we study some of the aspects related to observing quantum behaviour and of the properties of our main definition of classicality (and quantumness). Here we also study some of the restrictions imposed on measurements by the existence of globally conserved quantities (Wigner-Araki-Yanase theorem) and their relationship to weak measurements coupled to postselection. In the following chapter we review some of the basic tools used in the description of open quantum system dynamics that will be applied in other chapters. In chapter 4 we review the basics of decoherence and analyse the importance of the choice of initial conditions when trying to study the dynamical emergence of classical behaviour within Quantum Theory. Next we study the other direction of the transition and focus on how to obtain pure quantum states from states that originally were classically mixed. Along the same lines, in chapter 6 we cover some topics related to the production of pure quantum states from measurements. We pay special attention to a model of the non-selective continuous monitoring of a system coupled to another unmonitored system. Lastly we explore some of the possible similarities between the theory of phase transitions and the quantum-classical transition. We must emphasize that all the work done in this thesis assumes that Quantum Theory is generally valid (at least within a broad enough range of energies). Thus, when we say that a state is "classical" we will mainly be referring to one of all the possible states contained in Quantum Theory, but that is susceptible to being interpreted as corresponding to "classical" behaviour. Similarly when we speak of creating a "quantum", or "quantum coherent", state we mean that the system has evolved to this state from one of the "classical" ones, but all of these still correspond to valid states within Quantum Theory. In the opinion of the author the main original contributions that can be found in this thesis are the following: - The recognition of the relationship between the Wigner-Araki-Yanase theorem and weak measurements coupled to postselection (sections 2.2 and 2.4); - A mathematical proof of the possible ambiguities arising when two observers try to decide if a state corresponds to quantum or classical behaviour (section 2.6); - The implications of initial correlations in decoherence models. In particular how the choice of certain (correlated) initial conditions can result in residual coherence and the production of pure quantum states in a model that otherwise results in ideal decoherence when (locally equivalent) uncorrelated initial conditions are used (section 4.2); - Various results related to the production of quantum states from initially classical states (sections 5.2 to 5.4); - The analysis of the inverse of a generalized depolarizing channel (section 5.7); - The study of a model of the non-selective continuous monitoring, in the quantum Zeno limit, of a subsystem A interacting with an unmonitored subsystem B. In particular the absence of the purification of B, which has been previously predicted in the selective case, but the possibility of coherent dynamics for B (section 6.4); - The identification of the loose equivalent of a broken symmetry and order parameter in the quantum-classical transition (section 7.2).

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T20:39:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Solange de Cassia Maranhao Mazza.pdf: 1084691 bytes, checksum: 18aab4e2e02c06b0ef4f3c03d6bf5409 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-27 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This study aimed to analyze the relationship among sense of coherence (SOC), locus of control (LOC) and quality of life (QOL) of skilled workers. We used the exploratory method, with a quantitative and qualitative approach. For this research, we selected a convenient sample composed of 80 individuals of both genders, with and without leadership positions. Data collection was conducted through the use of questionnaires previously validated for each analyzed construct. In addition, in depth interviews were conducted to analyze individual cases. The data obtained through the questionnaires were analyzed by multivariate statistical techniques and the interviews were analyzed based on the case study method. The results of the quantitative analysis showed significant correlations between the components of the SOC (understanding, management and meaning) and LOC (internality and externality), being positive with the internality and negative with externality (chance and powerful people). The components of the SOC showed positive correlations with the mental components of QOL (vitality, social functioning, emotional and mental health), but no significant correlations were found with the physical components of QOL (functional capacity, limitations on physical aspects and pain), except with general state of health. The components of the LOC showed no significant correlations with QOL, except for emotional aspects, which was negatively correlated with the component chance. Regarding to position, the results indicated that the leaders have higher averages than the not leaders in relation to SOC, meaning and physical aspects. Regarding to sex, the results indicated that women have higher averages than men in relation to SOC, meaning and physical aspects. The classification of the sample by clustering technique allowed the identification of three clusters associated with different levels of SOC, internality, externality, vitality and mental health. Cluster 1, called "protagonists", characterized by higher levels of SOC, internality, vitality and mental health and the lowest externality. Cluster 2, called "victims", characterized by lower levels of SOC, internality, vitality and mental health, and the greatest of externality. The cluster 3, called "conflicting", was characterized by intermediate levels in all those variables. Interviews with two participants in each cluster revealed the following typical behavior: Participants in the cluster 1 (protagonists) had behaviors that indicated high perception of self-efficacy, self-confidence, optimism and assumption of responsibility. Participants in cluster 2 (victims) had behaviors that indicated lack of perceived self-efficacy, low self-confidence and assignment of another responsibility. Participants in the cluster 3 (conflicting) showed ambiguous behavior, either as protagonists or as victims, and aggressiveness. The results indicated that high levels of SOC, associated with adequate levels of internality and externality, can contribute to improving the mental components of the quality of life / O presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar as relações entre senso de coerência (SOC), lócus de controle (LOC) e qualidade de vida (QV) de trabalhadores qualificados. Utilizou-se o método de pesquisa exploratória, de natureza quantitativa e qualitativa. Para a pesquisa, selecionou-se amostra por conveniência, composta por 80 indivíduos de ambos os sexos, com e sem cargos de liderança. Além da aplicação de questionários validados, foram realizadas entrevistas em profundidade para a análise de casos individuais. Os dados obtidos por meio dos questionários foram analisados por meio de técnica estatística multivariada e as entrevistas foram analisadas com base no método do caso. Os resultados da análise quantitativa evidenciaram correlações significativas entre os componentes do SOC (compreensão, manejo e significado) e do LOC (internalidade e externalidade), sendo positivas com a internalidade e negativas com a externalidade (acaso e pessoas poderosas). Os componentes do SOC apresentaram correlações positivas com os componentes mentais da QV (vitalidade, aspectos sociais, aspectos emocionais e saúde mental), porém não apresentaram correlações significativas com os componentes físicos da QV (capacidade funcional, aspectos físicos e dor), exceto com estado geral de saúde. Os componentes do LOC não apresentaram correlações significativas com a QV, exceto no caso de aspectos emocionais, que apresentou correlação negativa com o componente acaso. Com relação ao cargo, os resultados indicaram que os líderes apresentaram médias superiores aos não líderes em relação às variáveis SOC, significado e aspectos físicos. Quanto ao sexo, os resultados indicaram que as mulheres apresentaram médias superiores aos homens em relação às variáveis SOC, significado e aspectos físicos. A classificação da amostra pela técnica de agrupamento permitiu a identificação de três clusters associados a níveis distintos de SOC, internalidade, externalidade, vitalidade e saúde mental. O cluster 1, denominado protagonistas , caracterizou-se pelos maiores níveis de SOC, internalidade, vitalidade e saúde mental e o menor de externalidade. O cluster 2, denominado vítimas , caracterizou-se pelos menores níveis de SOC, internalidade, vitalidade e saúde mental, e o maior de externalidade. O cluster 3, denominado conflituosos , caracterizou-se por níveis intermediários em todas aquelas variáveis. Entrevistas em profundidade com dois participantes de cada cluster revelaram os seguintes comportamentos típicos: os participantes do cluster 1 (protagonistas) apresentaram comportamentos que indicaram alta percepção de autoeficácia, otimismo e assunção de responsabilidade. Os participantes do cluster 2 (vítimas) apresentaram comportamentos que indicaram baixa percepção de autoeficácia e atribuição de responsabilidade a outrem. Os participantes do cluster 3 (conflituosos), apresentaram comportamentos ambíguos, ora como protagonistas, ora como vítimas, além de agressividade. Os resultados permitiram concluir que níveis elevados de SOC, associados a níveis adequados de internalidade e de externalidade, podem contribuir para a melhoria dos componentes mentais da QV