Background There is scientific evidence that choir singing has a positive impact on health, both physically and mentally. Choir singing can affect, among other things, respiratory patterns, brain function, communication skills, well-being and quality of life. According to Antonovsky’s theory of sense of coherence health increases through the degree of comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness. Aim The aim is to compile knowledge about choir singing as a non-pharmacological therapy measure for patients who seek outpatient care or are living in a nursing home, as well as to research if choir singing can be an influencing factor for the patient's sense of coherence. Method Systematic literature study based on ten scientific original articles published between 2006 and 2017. The article search took place in the ASSIA, CINAHL, PsychINFO and PubMed databases. Review of original articles according to quality review templates. Results A majority of the studies examined showed that choir singing could be a non-pharmacological therapeutic measure when interventions improved the participants' management of their health problems. Even the sense of coherence increased among the participants. A generalized result can not be guaranteed since the number of participants in most studies was not enough, in some cases due to non-response. Conclusion Choir singing can be a tool for patients to handle their health problems through an increased sense of coherence. In order to strengthen the level of health and raise the quality of life in society, choir singing should be used as one of several non-pharmacological therapeutic measures. / Bakgrund Det finns vetenskaplig evidens för att körsång har en positiv inverkan på hälsan, både fysiskt och psykiskt. Körsång kan bland annat påverka andningsmönster, hjärnfunktion, kommunikationsförmåga, välbefinnande och livskvalitet. Enligt Antonovskys teori om känsla av sammanhang (KASAM) ökar hälsan genom graden av begriplighet, hanterbarhet och meningsfullhet. Syfte Syftet var att sammanställa kunskap om körsång kan vara en icke-farmakologisk omvårdnadsåtgärd för patienter vilka uppsökte hälso- och sjukvården inom öppenvård eller bodde på ett omvårdnadsboende, samt om körsång kunde vara en påverkande faktor för patientgruppens känsla av sammanhang. Metod Systematisk litteraturstudie baserad på tio vetenskapliga originalartiklar publicerade mellan 2006 och 2017. Artikelsökning skedde i databaserna ASSIA, CINAHL, PsychINFO och PubMed. Granskning av originalartiklar genomfördes enligt kvalitetsgranskningsmallar. Resultat En majoritet av de granskade studierna påvisade att körsång kunde vara en icke-farmakologisk omvårdnadsåtgärd då interventionerna förbättrade deltagarnas hantering av deras hälsoproblematik. Även känsla av sammanhang ökade hos deltagarna. Ett generaliserbart resultat gick inte att säkerställa då deltagarantalet i de flesta studier inte var tillräckligt stort, i vissa fall på grund av bortfall. Slutsats Körsång kan genom ökad känsla av sammanhang vara ett verktyg för patienter att hantera sin hälsoproblematik. För att stärka graden av hälsa och höja livskvaliteten i samhället bör körsång tillämpas som en utav flera icke-farmakologiska omvårdnadsåtgärder.

Moore's law states that the amount of computational power available at a given cost doubles every 18 months and indeed, for the past 20 years there has been a tremendous development in microprocessors. However, for the last few years, Moore's law has been subject for debate, since to manage heat issues, processor manufacturers have begun favoring multicore processors, which means parallel computation has become necessary to fully utilize the hardware. This also means that software has to be written with multiprocessing in mind to take full advantage of the hardware, and writing parallel software introduces a whole new set of problems. For the last couple of years, the demands on telecommunication systems have increased and to manage the increasing demands, multiprocessor servers have become a necessity. Applications must fully utilize the hardware and such an application is the Diameter Credit Control Application (DCCA). The DCCA uses the Diameter networking protocol and the DCCA's purpose is to provide a framework for real-time charging. This could, for instance, be to grant or deny a user's request of a specific network activity and to account for the eventual use of that network resource. This thesis investigates whether it is possible to develop a Diameter Credit Control Application that achieves linear scaling and the eventual pitfalls that exist when developing a scalable DCCA server. The assumption is based on the observation that the DCCA server's connections have little to nothing in common (i.e. little or no synchronization), and introducing more processors should therefore give linear scaling. To investigate whether a DCCA server's performance scales linearly, a prototype has been developed. Along with the development of the prototype, constant performance analysis was conducted to see what affected performance and server scalability in a multiprocessor DCCA environment. As the results show, quite a few factors besides synchronization and independent connections affected scalability of the DCCA prototype. The results show that the DCCA prototype did not always achieve linear scaling. However, even if it was not linear, certain design decisions gave considerable performance increase when more processors were introduced.

No description available.

Les progrès des techniques de nanofabrication des dix dernières années ont permis la mise en place de protocoles visant à manipuler les charges uniques dans les nanostructures. Ces nouvelles techniques permettent d'envisager la réalisation d'expériences d'optique quantique avec des électrons. Cette thèse s'inscrit dans ce contexte. Le but de ce travail a été la construction d'un formalisme adapté à la description de telles expériences. Ce formalisme, construit en analogie avec la théorie de la cohérence quantique du champ électromagnétique de Glauber, souligne les similitudes et différences entre les photons se propageant dans le vide, et le transport électronique dans des conducteurs balistiques unidimensionnels. En particulier, il rend compte de la décohérence et de la relaxation en énergie des excitations électroniques en présence d'interactions. Un autre aspect de cette thèse a été la proposition de protocoles permettant de mesurer des quantités directement reliées aux propriétés de cohérence décrites par le formalisme de l'optique quantique électronique. En particulier, un protocole de tomographie quantique reposant sur l'effet Hanbury Brown et Twiss a été proposé pour reconstruire la cohérence à un corps d'une source monoélectronique. Ce protocole peut aussi être envisagé pour obtenir des informations sur les mécanismes de décohérence. / The last ten years saw tremendous progress in nanofabrication techniques. These progresses allowed the realization of experimental protocols aiming at the manipulation of single electrons in nanostructures. Thus, the advent of these technologies permit to envision the realization of electronic analogues of quantum optics experiments. This thesis is devoted to the theoretical study of quantum optics with electrons propagating in quantum Hall edge channels, in analogy with Glauber's theory for the quantum coherence of the electromagnetic field. The proposed formalism underlines the analogies and differences between photons propagating in the vacuum and electrons in ballistic conductors. In particular, it takes into account the decoherence and relaxation of electronic excitations under the influence of a linear electromagnetic environment. All along this thesis, efforts have been made to propose protocols aiming at accessing experimental quantities related to the coherence properties described by the electron quantum optics formalism. A particular example is a single electron quantum tomography protocol which reconstructs the single particle coherence from current noise measurements. This protocol can also be envisioned to probe decoherence mechanisms.

Extraite du milieu naturel dans lequel elle se déploie, la pensée de Thomas d’Aquin a été souvent déformée. Persuadé que le Réel –et, en particulier le Réel par excellence qu’est Dieu– n’est qu’imparfaitement embrassé par l’esprit humain, l’Aquinate multiplie les perspectives et les types de discours. La dialectique et la rhétorique s’adjoignent au discours proprement scientifique pour en combler les lacunes et tenter une impossible, sinon difficile synthèse entre les quatre sources auxquelles s’alimente sa pensée, à savoir: le muthos de la foi, le logos la philosophia perennis et les perceptions du sens commun. Confronté à la complexité du Réel et à des objets de foi qui s’écartent des normes du logos, l’utilisation de ce triplex modus dicurrendi s’avère une nécessité spéculative pour accumuler le plus possible de certitudes sur des objets qui se dérobent pour partie à la saisie d’un esprit fini. Rien d’étonnant à ce que l’Ousia, l’Unitas, la Forma et le schème néoplatonicien monè-proodos-epistrophè occupent une place tout aussi importante dans la synthèse thomasienne que la notion-clé d’Esse. / The thought of Thomas Aquinas is often misinterpreted. Its complexity, especially the plurality of modes of discourse, is neglected by the commentators. This plurality permits to resolve, although imperfectly, the tensions between the muthos of faith, the logos, the philosophy and the common sense. Thomas also uses a plurality of key concepts in the domain of metaphysics. Thus, he describes better the complexity of the Real. Ousia, Forma, Unitas and Neoplatonic’s scheme monè-proodos-epistrophè are structural notions as important as Esse in the Aquinas’ synthesis. The scientific discourse doesn’t exclude the others, but imperfect, modalities that are dialectic and rhetoric. It’s a requirement of the science itself. For Reality comprehends under its extension the particulars and paradoxical objects of faith.

There is currently worldwide pressure to establish Marine Protected Area (MPA) networks which are self-sustaining and will persistently protect habitats and species. In order for MPA networks to be effective, the species targeted for conservation must be able to disperse between protected areas and maintain a gene-flow necessary for population sustainability and persistence. This warrants new research on how to quantify and map faunal dispersal to ensure that protection will be effective and sustainable. Population genetic methods have merit, with the ability to track parentage and gene flow between areas directly. However the costs, quantity of samples, and time required to genetically quantify dispersal for multiple species make these approaches prohibitive as the only method of assessment, especially in relatively inaccessible offshore waters. Dispersal modelling is now becoming more accessible and may fulfil immediate needs in this field (although ground truthing will be necessary in the future). There have been very few dispersal modelling studies focussed on deep sea or offshore areas, predominantly due to the lack of high resolution hydrodynamic models with sufficient geographic extent away from shore. Current conclusions have been drawn based on shallow water coastal studies, informing offshore MPA network size and spacing. However the differences between these two environments may mean that dispersal abilities are not comparable. Deep water receives less influence from wind and weather, and the scales are vastly different in terms of a) the depth ranges covered, b) the planktonic larval durations (PLDs) of animals, and c) the geographic areas concerned as a consequence. Global hydrodynamic models with reasonable resolution are now becoming more accessible. With the outputs from these models, and freely available particle simulators, it is becoming more practical to undertake offshore deep water dispersal studies. This thesis aims to undertake an analysis of these accessible modelling tools within a deep sea context. The guidelines which are currently available to dispersal modellers are yet to encompass the needs of deep water modellers which may require some additional considerations given the extended depth range covered and the different hydrodynamic drivers away from the air/sea interface. Chapter 1 reviews the larval dispersal process, the factors which may affect dispersal success, and those which should be incorporated into future predictions of dispersal. The current methods for assessing larval dispersal are explored covering genetics, elemental tagging and modelling approaches with an extended look at modelling considerations. Existing marine conservation policy is also touched on in the context of connectivity and larval dispersal. Chapter 2 is designed to inform future deep sea modellers on how to parameterise and understand a dispersal model. As models appear as a ‘black box’ to the majority of users, sensitivity tests can offer a way of scaling model inputs and tempering expectations from model outputs. A commonly used model pairing (the HYCOM hydrodynamic model and the Connectivity Modeling System) is assessed, using parameters which link to the temporal and spatial scales of mixing in the modelled system: timestep of particle tracer, horizontal and vertical positioning of release points, release frequency of larvae, and temporal range of simulation. All parameters were shown to have a decreased sensitivity with depth, with patterns reflecting local watermass structure. Future studies observing similar hydrodynamic conditions seeking to optimise their model set up would be advised to stratify their model release locations with depth. A means to incorporate all sensitivity test results into optimal input parameters for future studies is demonstrated. Chapter 3 investigates whether dispersal models provide any advantage over a “sphere of influence” estimate based on average current speeds and PLDs: there is no use pursuing dispersal modelling if the outputs are too erroneous to provide any advantage over a back-of-the-envelope calculation. This chapter examines the outputs of two dispersal models driven by two different hydrodynamic models in order to observe the variability in prediction between models. This model comparison revealed a greater disparity between hydrodynamic model predictions than has been previously understood by ecologists. The two models compared (POLCOMS and HYCOM) may equally be considered as suitable to promote realism in the study region, but slight differences in resolution and numerical error handling resulted in dispersal predictions from which opposing conclusions can be drawn. This chapter therefore emphasises the necessity for model ground truthing before predictions can be trusted. Chapter 4 assimilates the findings of the previous chapters and applies their advice to a study of MPA network dispersal connectivity. Using the hydrodynamic model which performed best in chapter 3 (HYCOM), a simulation was undertaken for cold water coral (Lophelia pertusa (Linnaeus 1758)) larval dispersal between already established MPAs in the NE Atlantic. As larval characters have only been observed ex situ, dispersal was simulated using two null models (passive and active vertical migration) and averaged to provide an intermediate prediction. A method for assessing dispersal within MPAs and MPA networks is offered based on the intermediate prediction, as well as a network wide assessment of the difference in dispersal patterns for passive and active larvae. It was found that the existing network performs well at supplying larvae to non-networked sites, but performs poorly at supplying other MPAs. The ‘best’ MPAs were central to the network and facilitated the traverse of regional gaps in suitable habitat. The ‘worst’ MPAs were peripheral to the network and small in size. Network-wide passive and active dispersal matrices had no significant difference between them. However site specific variability in the effect of vertical migration was detected subject to variability in local topographic barriers to dispersal, only some of which could be surmounted with vertical migration. All chapters aim to inform future deep sea dispersal modellers, and encourage exploration of this tool in other contexts, as well as marine conservation. The thesis cautions against the transplantation of shallow water assumptions to deep water environments, and advocates region specific studies and mandatory ground truthing of predictions. An upcoming study will ground truth the findings of this thesis with both genetic and oceanographic data, allowing the accuracy of study results to be quantified.

I dagens samhälle ökar sjukskrivningarna i väldigt hög takt vilket skapar ekonomiska konsekvenser för samhället. Framförallt ökar de psykosociala sjukskrivningarna vilket denna studie har tagit sikte på och utgår ifrån. Den teoretiska ram och utgångspunkt som ligger till grund för denna undersökning är Antonovskys Känsla av sammanhang, KASAM. Den här studien ämnar undersöka anställdas Känsla av sammanhang och hur den psykosociala arbetsmiljön påverkar Känslan av sammanhang genom att besvara två frågeställningar; Hur upplever de anställda sin egen Känsla av sammanhang? och Hur påverkar den psykosociala arbetsmiljön Känslan av sammanhang? Den tidigare forskning som presenteras i uppsatsen behandlar olika aspekter av psykosocial hälsa och arbetsmiljö samt tidigare studier om KASAM. Studiens empiri samlades in genom kvantitativ metod i form av en webbenkät som 77 personer svarade på. Resultatet av studien visar att det tycks finnas ett signifikant samband mellan en god psykosocial arbetsmiljö och Känslan av sammanhang. Medarbetare som upplever att de har en god psykosocial arbetsmiljö tycks också ha en högre Känsla av sammanhang.

Conventional interferometry is widely used to measure spherical and flat surfaces with nanometer level precision but is plagued by back reflections. We describe a new method of isolating the measurement surface by controlling spectral properties of the source (Spectrally Controlled Interferometry - SCI). Using spectral modulation of the interferometer's source enables formation of localized fringes where the optical path difference is non-zero. As a consequence it becomes possible to form white-light like fringes in common path interferometers, such as the Fizeau. The proposed setup does not require mechanical phase shifting, resulting in simpler instruments and the ability to upgrade existing interferometers. Furthermore, it allows absolute measurement of distance, including radius of curvature of lenses in a single setup with possibility of improving the throughput and removing some modes of failure.

Ce travail s'inscrit dans le contexte de la modélisation et de la prévision de la durée de vie des aubes de turbine haute pression des turbines à gaz. Ces pièces sont réalisées en superalliage monocristallin base nickel tel que le MC2, matériau principal de l'étude. En service, ces dernières sont soumises à des conditions extrêmes de température et de contrainte. Des régimes d'urgence, dits O.E.I. (.One Engine Inoperative.), peuvent aussi survenir sur un hélicoptère bi-moteur : un des deux moteurs s'arrête ce qui provoque une augmentation de la température en sortie de chambre de combustion pour le moteur restant en fonctionnement. Dans le cadre de ce travail, le comportement anisotherme en fluage et en fatigue/fluage du superalliage monocristallin a été étudié afin de déterminer les répercussions des surchauffes à 1200. sur le comportement mécanique ultérieur à 1050. Il a pu être déterminé que le temps de pré-endommagement avant la surchauffe joue un rôle capital vis-à-vis de la durée de vie post-surchauffe. Cette influence est très dépendante de l'état microstructural du matériau sur lequel est réalisée la surchauffe (morphologie des précipités γ ', contraintes de cohérence entre les phases γ et γ '). Du point de vue des mécanismes d'endommagement, il a aussi été constaté que le niveau de température a une importance majeure en modifiant les contraintes de cohérence entre les deux phases γ et γ '. L'état microstructural jouant un rôle majeur sur la durée de vie lors des essais isothermes et anisothermes, une étude de l'évolution de la microstructure γ /γ' autour des particules de phase intermétallique μ a été faite, ainsi qu'une mesure expérimentale de l'évolution de la porosité, mesurée par des analyses tomographiques grâce à des essais de fluage multi-interrompus à haute température. Ceci a permis d'aboutir à un paramètre de dommage, à la frontière entre métallurgie et mécanique, prenant en compte les évolutions microstructurales. La coalescence orientée se déroulant à haute température, connue sous le nom de mise en radeaux, a une forte influence sur le comportement et l'endommagement des superalliages monocristallins. Ainsi, un nouveau modèle de mise en radeaux, prenant en compte la vitesse de sollicitation, a été implémenté dans le modèle de plasticité cristalline couplé comportement/endommagement Polystar. Ceci a permis d'améliorer la modélisation des essais longs. D'autres modifications ont été effectuées afin d'améliorer la modélisation lors des essais cycliques et de relaxation. Ce nouveau modèle a été testé et validé sur une éprouvette bi-entaillée générant des champs mécaniques multiaxiaux pendant un essai de fluage complexe anisotherme / This work is in the context of modeling and predicting the life of high pressure turbine blades of gas turbines. These components are made of nickel base single crystal superalloy such as the studied material MC2. Under operating conditions, they can be submitted to extreme stress and temperature conditions such as O.E.I. (.One Engine Inoperative.) which can also occur on a twin-engine helicopter : one engine stops which causes an increase in the outlet temperature of the combustion chamber for the remaining engine. In this work, the non-isothermal creep and creep/fatigue behaviors of single crystal superalloy have been studied to determine the impact of overheating at 1200. on the subsequent mechanical behavior at 1050 .. It has been determined that the prior thermomechanical degradation before an overheating plays an important role on the remaining life fraction. This influence is very dependent on the microstructural state of the material on which is performed the overheating (precipitate morphology of γ', coherency stress between the γ and γ' phases). From the damagemechanisms point of view, it was also found that the temperature level has a major importance in changing the coherency stresses between these two phases. The microstructural state plays a major role on the isothermal and non-isothermal life. Thus, the evolutions of the /' microstructure around the intermetallic μ phase particles have been studied as the porosity (determined by tomographic analysis through multi-interrupted creep tests at high temperature) which has led to a damage parameter taking into account microstructural evolutions and at the borderline between metallurgy and mechanics. Since the γ' directional coarsening is known to have an impact on the mechanical behavior at high temperature, a new model taking into account the γ' rafting has been designed. It takes into account the strain rate sensitivity of the γ' rafting and it was implemented in the coupled behavior/damage model of crystal plasticity named Polystar model. This has improved the modeling of long tests. Other changes were made to improve the cyclic and relaxation behaviors. This new model has been tested and validated on a notched specimen generating multiaxial mechanical fields during a non-isothermal complex creep test.

Today represents vibration analysis an inseparable part of the product design, especially aeronautical components, machine tools etc. One of the vibration analysis methods is the so-called modal analysis, which determines the modal parameters of the researched structure. This paper deals with a comparison of two commonly used approaches, namely „Single Input Multiple Output“ (SIMO) and „Multiple Input Multiple Output“ analysis (MIMO). A MIMO procedure of measurement is developed and discussed. Both analyses are executed by the same conditions on the milling machine based on parallel kinematics in order to objective comparison. The results show that the choice of the so-called reference points is very important. In case both references are appropriately selected, the MIMO analysis gives better results that the SIMO one.