The recent changes in the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) hot mix asphalt (HMA) mix design procedures to ensure that the mixture types routinely used on Texas highways are not prone to rutting raised concerns that these mixture types are now more susceptible to fatigue cracking. The primary goal of this study was to evaluate fatigue cracking test methods and recommend that which is both simple and robust, especially in qualifying commonly used Texas mixture types. One way to minimize fatigue cracking is through material screening and selection of appropriate mix designs that are representative of fatigue-resistant HMA mixes. However, there are not many standardized laboratory fracture resistance tests that have been universally adopted for routine mix design and/or screening purposes for HMA fatigue resistance. In this study, four different fracture test methods: the Overlay Tester (OT), Direct Tension (DT), Indirect Tension (IDT), and Semicircular Bending (SCB) tests were comparatively evaluated for their potential application as surrogate tests for routine fracture resistance evaluation and screening of HMA mixes in the laboratory. The evaluation criteria included: rationality of the test concept and correlation to field performance, repeatability and variability, simplicity and practicality of the sample fabrication process, and simplicity of data analysis. Results and key findings based on the laboratory fatigue resistance characterization of various commonly used Texas coarse- and fine-graded HMA mixes (Type B, C, and D) are presented in this paper. Overall, preliminary findings indicated that no monotonically-loaded test would be appropriate as a surrogate fatigue resistance test; however, the SCB test showed potential as a repeated-loading test. Suggested SCB test improvements include developing the repeated SCB test protocol, determining the appropriate failure criterion, and correlating laboratory performance to field performance.

Alternative beliefs about HIV – such as the man‐made origins of the virus or the secret existence of a cure ‐ can undermine trust in, and engagement with HIV prevention and treatment initiatives. These effects make understanding such beliefs an important component of responding to HIV/AIDS in South Africa. Echoing Robins’ observation that the current era allows for “the possibility of critical reflection on the ways in which contestations over scientific truth unfold under particular historical conditions” (2009a), this thesis seeks to reconsider dominant explanations for alternative beliefs about HIV/AIDS in South Africa. Previous studies maintain that the experiences of apartheid, the transition to democracy, and the early years of the new government have had permanent implications for the public’s trust in biomedical claims. In this thesis I argue that in addition to these explanations, individuals express distrust about HIV science because certain aspects of these scientific explanations do not ‘add‐up’, particularly when considered in light of their everyday observations and experiences. These disjunctures in information do not simply reflect a lack of HIV knowledge or rejection of scientific principles. Rather, in drawing on past and present experiences, individuals demonstrate their commitment to “street‐level epistemologies of trust” (Hardin 1992), an informal manner of empirically engaging with science’s rationale. Employing the Public Understandings of Science (PUS) framework to analyze these beliefs, this study conceptualizes trust and mistrust of scientific and official claims about HIV along a spectrum. Study participants endorse a range of alternative beliefs and knowledge about HIV/AIDS. They cite experiential and observational reasons to justify why they trust some authority figures and not others. In their role as trusted sources of information about HIV, peer educators with the Treatment Action Campaign draw on various “rhetorics of persuasion” (Robins 2009b) in order to lend practical plausibility to their claims. Ultimately, this study argues that respondents’ distrust of HIV science should be seen less as a rejection of scientific principles and more as a form of skeptical engagement with certain aspects of these scientific claims.

Ce projet fait l'objet d'une collaboration entre l'équipe EPI du laboratoire SATIE de l'ENS Cachan, le laboratoire LAPLACE et ALSTOM Transport dans le cadre du projet ANR " CONCIGI HT ". Les recherches dans le domaine du ferroviaire visent à réduire toujours plus la taille et le poids de la chaine de traction. Aujourd'hui, la volonté de poursuivre la réduction des temps de parcours est complétée par le souhait de diminuer la puissance consommée, ceci ayant des conséquences importantes sur la conception des chaines de traction. L'objectif de ce projet est de remplacer certaines parties de la chaine de puissance d'une locomotive par des systèmes permettant de diminuer de 30% leur encombrement, donc de diminuer jusqu'à 8,5 % l'énergie électrique consommée et augmenter le nombre de passagers transportés. Le travail présenté dans cette thèse porte sur le dimensionnement et l'étude de l'alimentation des allumeurs de semi-conducteurs SiC HT (pouvant atteindre un transitoire de 10 kV). La particularité de ces semi-conducteurs est leur application : ils constituent des convertisseurs multi-niveaux dont la fonction est de remplacer les transformateurs 25 kV/3 kV-50 Hz actuellement utilisés pour la traction ferroviaire. La principale contrainte porte donc sur la tenue diélectrique qui atteint un maximum de 60 kV liée aux transitoires présents sur la caténaire. Une alimentation à double isolation galvanique (DGIT-Double Galvanic Insulation Transformer) a donc été développée afin de répondre à la nécessité de double tenue diélectrique (10 kV et 60 kV). Dans un premier temps une structure permettant la double isolation galvanique a été développée avec l'objectif de réduire au maximum sa taille et son poids. Sa disposition spatiale et sa géométrique ont également été pris en considération (ainsi que de nombreux paramètre à la fois pertinents et contradictoires). Ceci afin d'obtenir le système optimal et une répartition des capacités de mode commun et différentiel respectant la forte tenue diélectrique. Dans un second temps une étude de l'alimentation adaptée au DGIT a été réalisée et testée. L'association du DGIT qui est un élément très inductif, de la charge qui est un driver à faible puissance et de l'aspect multi-niveau implique un fonctionnement atypique. Pour chacune de ces parties, une étude structurelle, fréquentielle et électrique a été réalisée afin d'obtenir un dispositif optimal du point de vue du volume, du poids et des pertes, tout en respectant la principale contrainte de la tenue à la THT (Très Haute Tension). Enfin, dans un troisième temps nous avons étudié la possibilité de remplacer les fibres optiques utilisées de nos jours pour la commande des allumeurs par un système basé sur la transmission par radio fréquence.

Political communication literature has documented various forms of framing election campaigns although that on Ghana are few. These included issues, horse race, coverage tone and presidential candidates’ media visibility leading to an incumbency advantage. These are normally attributed to news values that reflect political power such as relevance and politicians’ elite status. Hence, this study is intended to explore explanation for the trend of campaign coverage in Ghana, a developing democracy, using four Ghanaian newspapers in 2008 and 2012. Through content analysis and in-depth interviews, the thesis grounded in gatekeeping and framing theories, has demonstrated that: (1) the state-owned newspapers did not give an incumbency advantage (2), the coverage was issues-based (3), election stories were more positive in tone (4), there was media bias and (5) politicians paid money (‘soli’) to journalists for coverage. These empirical findings show that during the campaigns, gatekeeping and framing practices were driven more likely by the ‘soli’ norm rather than the norm of objective and impartial journalism. Thus the study offers a new explanation why there was no incumbency advantage, why the press bias, why coverage was largely positive in tone and why issues-based framing. However, horse race appears to have the potential to dominate Ghana’s elections coverage. The conclusions of this study, one argues, were as a result of interplay between candidates’ desire not only to dominate the newspapers but also to be projected positively and journalists’ desire to make money from politicians. Simply put: stories of elections published by the newspapers were defined by ‘soli’ journalism which promoted ‘protocol’ journalism. This means most election stories that reached electorates were from speeches of candidates. Therefore, the stories lacked critical interpretation of campaign events raising issues of capacity of the press in Ghana to function effectively as public sphere contributing to participatory democracy.

Bakgrund: Kolorektal cancer är en av de vanligaste och dödligaste cancerformerna ivärlden. Det är viktigt att sjukdomen upptäckas och behandlas i god tid för attundvika metastasering i andra delar av kroppen och minska dödligheten. För attupptäcka kolorektal cancer finns olika diagnostiska metoder, inklusive DT-kolografi,koloskopi, dubbelkontrast bariumlavemang och sigmoidoskopi. Syftet: Syftet var att undersöka patienters upplevelser vid DT-kolografi jämfört medandra tarmundersökningsmetoder. Metod: Pubmed och Cinahl användes för att söka artiklar. Åtta kvantitativa artiklaruppfyllde kriterierna för inkludering och granskades med hjälp av Olsson ochSörensens mall. Data analyserades med Popenoes metod för dataanalys i allmännalitteraturöversikt. Resultat: Resultatet delades in i fyra huvudområden bestående av obehag, smärta,oro/ångest och patientpreferens. Dessa områden jämfördes mellan DT-kolografi ochandra undersökningsmetoder. Resultaten visade variation angående obehag och oro,men färre patienter rapporterade smärta under DT-kolografi och patienternaföredrog DT-kolografi jämfört med andra tarmundersökningsmetoder. Konklusion: Sammanställning av resultaten visar att alla tarmundersökningar,oavsett undersökningsform, var fysisk krävande till någon grad, vilket betonarbehovet att minska negativa upplevelser genom förmedling av information, ha godkommunikation, och att arbeta personcentrerat. / Background: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common and deadly cancers inthe world. It is crucial that the disease is detected and treated early to preventmetastasis to other parts of the body and reduce mortality. Various diagnosticmethods are available to detect colorectal cancer, including CT colonography,colonoscopy, double-contrast barium enema, and sigmoidoscopy. Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate patients' experiences with CTcolonography compared to other methods of lower gastrointestinal examination. Methods: The Pubmed and Cinahl databases were searched for articles. Eightquantitative articles met the criteria for inclusion and were critically appraised usingOlsson and Sörensen’s template. Data were analyzed using Popenoe's method fordata analysis in general literature reviews. Results: The results were divided into four main areas consisting of discomfort,pain, anxiety, and patient preference. Patient experience was compared between CTcolonography and other examination methods. The results revealed variation indiscomfort and anxiety, but fewer patients reported pain during CT colonography,and patients preferred CT colonography compared with other lower gastrointestinalexamination methods. Conclusion: A summary of the results indicates that all gastrointestinalexaminations are physically demanding to varying degrees, emphasizing the need toalleviate negative experiences through information provision, effectivecommunication and adopting a person-centered approach.

INTRODUCTION: This study explores the relationship between single motherhood during pregnancy and dental caries, considering factors like socioeconomic status and oral health practices. METHODS: This cross-sectional study utilized data from the NHANES cycles 2011-2018. Inclusion criteria were positive pregnancy status, age 20-44 years, complete survey response, and completion of the dental health component. Participants were analyzed based on the presence or absence of active decay. The key independent variable was relationship status (pregnant single mother (single/widowed/divorced) vs. pregnant partnered (married/living with partner). Variables included age, race/ethnicity, poverty income ratio, education level, history of high blood pressure, health insurance status, smoking status, sugar intake, and timing of the last dental visit. Statistical methods included descriptive analysis and crude and adjusted logistic regression models, utilizing SAS-9.4 to account for NHANES' sampling design. RESULTS: Crude analysis indicated that partnered pregnant individuals had a higher prevalence of untreated dental caries (OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.08, 1.39) compared to single pregnant individuals. However, this association was not statistically significant after adjusting for potential confounders (adjusted OR = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.83, 1.26). Significant predictors were lower income, education, and smoking status. DISCUSSION: After adjusting for confounders, single motherhood alone was not a statistically significant predictor of dental caries. However, lower income, lower education levels, smoking status, and infrequent dental visits were significant predictors. These findings highlight the need for targeted public health interventions that address socioeconomic determinants, improve educational opportunities, provide financial support, and integrate oral health education into prenatal care programs.

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公務人員的人事陞遷是一個複雜性極高，其中隱藏著許多不變的定律及過程，長官與部屬、各公務人員人之間的關係，更是如同蜘蛛網狀般的錯綜複雜，而各公務人員的陞遷狀況，更是隱藏著許多派系之間的鬥爭拉扯連動，或是提攜後進的過程，目前透過政府公開的總統府公報－總統令，可以清楚得知所有公務人員的任職相關資料，其中包含各職務之間的陞遷、任命、派免等相關資訊，而每筆資料亦包含機關、單位、職稱及職等資料，可以提供各種研究使用。 本篇係整理出一種陞遷序列的資料模型來進行研究，透過資料探勘的相關演算法－支撐向量機(Support Vector Machine，簡稱SVM)及決策樹(Decision Tree)的方式，並透過人事的領域知識加以找出較具影響力的屬性，來設計實驗的模型，並使用多組模型及多重資料進行實驗，透過整體平均預測結果及圖表方式來呈現各類別的預測狀況，再以不同的屬性資料來運算產生其相對結果，來分析其合理性，最後再依相關數據來評估此一方法的合理及可行性。 透過資料探勘設計的分類預測模型，其支撐向量機與決策樹都具有訓練量越大，展現之預測結果也愈佳之現象，這跟一般模型是相同的，而挖掘的主管職務屬性參數及關鍵屬性構想都跟人事陞遷的邏輯不謀而合，而預測結果雖各有所長，但整體來看則為支撐向量機略勝一籌，惟支撐向量機有一狀況，必須先行排除較不具影響力之屬性參數資料，否則其產生超平面的邏輯運算過程將產生拉扯作用，導致影響其預測結果；而決策樹則無是類狀況，且其應用較為廣泛，可以透過宣告各屬性值的類型，來進行不同屬性資料類型的分類實驗。 而透過支撐向量機與決策樹的產生的預測結果，其正確率為百分之77至82左右，如此顯示出國內中高階文官的陞遷制度是有脈絡可循的，其具有一定的制度規範及穩定性，而非隨意的任免陞遷；如此透過以上資料探勘的應用，藉著此特徵研究提供公務部門在進行人力資源管理、組織發展、陞遷發展以及組織部門精簡規劃上，作為調整設計參考的一些相關資訊；另透過一些相關屬性的輸入，可提供尚在服務的公務人員協助其預估陞遷發展的狀況，以提供其進行相關生涯規劃。 / The employee promotion is a highly complexity task in Government office, it include many invariable laws and the process, between the senior officer and the subordinate, various relationships with other government employees, It’s the similar complex with the spider lattice, and it hides many clique's struggles in Government official’s promotion, and help to process the promote for the junior generation, through the government public presidential palace - presidential order, it‘s able to get clearly information about all government employees’ correlation data, include various related information like promotion, recruitment , and each data also contains the instruction, like the job unit, job title and job rank for all research reference. It organizes a promoted material model to conduct the research, by the material exploration's related calculating method – Support Vector Machine (SVM) and the decision tree, and through by knowledge of human resource to discover the influence to design the experiment's model, and uses the multi-group models and materials to process, and by this way , it can get various categories result by overall average forecasting and the graph, then operates by different attribute material to get relative result and analyzes its rationality, finally it depends on the correlation data to re-evaluate its method reasonable and feasibility. To this classification forecast model design, the SVM and the decision tree got better performance together with the good training quality, it’s the same with the general model, and it’s the same view to find the details job description for senior management and employee promotion, however the forecasting result has their own strong points, but for the totally, the SVM is slightly better, only if any accidents occurred, it needs to elimination the attribute parameter material which is not have the big influence, otherwise it will have the planoid logic operation process to produce resist status, and will affect its forecasting result, but the decision tree does not have this problem, and its application is more widespread, it can through by different type to make the different experiment. The forecasting result through by SVM and decision tree, its correction percentage can be achieved around 77% - 82% , so it indicated the high position level promotion policy should be have its own rules to follow, it has certain system standard and the stability, but non-optional promoted, so trough by the above data mining, follow by this characteristic to provide Government office to do the Human resource management, organization development, employee promotion and simplify planning to the organization, takes the re-design information for reference, In addition through by some related attribute input, it may provide the government employee who is still on duty and assist them to evaluate promotion development for future career plan.

A ressonância magnética nuclear no domínio do tempo (RMN-DT), possui inúmeras vantagens em relação à RMN de alta resolução tais como: baixo custo do equipamento, de análise e manutenção e não precisa de operador especializado. Apesar disso a técnica de RMN-DT ainda tem um campo muito grande de desenvolvimento para análise de componente com baixa mobilidade molecular como sólidos amorfos e cristalinos. Isto requer o desenvolvimento de instrumentação e/ou métodos de análise que se consiga medir o sinal de RMN em menos de 10 µs, após a irradiação da amostra. O tempo entre o final da excitação e o começo da aquisição do sinal é conhecido como tempo morto. A opção estudada nesta dissertação para redução do tempo morto foi o uso de pulsos formatados, que já são utilizados em experimentos de RMN em alta resolução e de imagens por RMN, para excitação seletiva. No entanto, pulsos formatados não têm sido utilizados em RMN-DT. A principal vantagem desses pulsos é que eles são projetados para que a potência no final do pulso seja mínima, o que diminui o tempo morto do espectrômetro. No caso do pulso convencional, na forma retangular, a potência no final do pulso é máxima, o que aumenta o tempo morto. Os pulsos formatados utilizados foram pulsos Sinc, Sine e também pulsos com início similar aos pulsos retangulares, com potência máxima, e que depois de certo tempo tem decaimento similar aos pulsos Sinc e Sine. Esses pulsos inéditos foram denominados Reta-Sine e Reta-Sinc. Foram avaliados amostras heterogêneas (solido-líquido) e sólidas como CaSO4.2H2O, farelo de soja, polímeros amido e Policaprolactona. Esses pulsos também foram usados para monitorar reações de polimerização da resina epóxi com poliamida (Araldite®). Com esses métodos foi possível reduzir o tempo morto de espectrômetro de 23MHz 23 µs para 14 µs e de 20 Mhz de 9 para 6 µs. Com isso conclui-se que o pulsos formatados podem reduzir significativamente o tempo morto de espectrômetro de RMN-DT, sem acessórios ou custo financeiro, pois as sequências podem ser instalada e usadas em qualquer espectrômetro moderno. / The nuclear magnetic resonance in the time domain (TD-NMR) It has numerous advantages over the high-resolution NMR such as low cost of equipment, analysis and maintenance and requires no specialized operator. Nevertheless NMR DT technique also has a very large development field for component analysis with a low molecular mobility as amorphous and crystalline solids. This requires the development of instrumentation and / or analysis methods that can measure the NMR signal in less than 10 µs, after irradiation of the sample. The time between the end of excitation and signal acquisition the beginning is known as dead time. The option studied in this work to reduce the dead time was the use of formatted pulses, which are already used in NMR experiments in high resolution and NMR imaging for selective excitation. However, formatted pulses have not been used in NMR DT. The main advantage of these pulses is that they are designed so that the power in the pulse end is minimized, which reduces the dead time of the spectrometer. In the case of conventional pulse in rectangular form, the power in the pulse end is maximum, which increases the dead time. Formatted pulses used were Sync pulses, Sine and also pulses beginning similar to rectangular pulses with maximum power, and after a while has similar decay to Sync and Sine wrists. These unpublished wrists were called Sine and Straight-Line-Sync. They were evaluated heterogeneous samples (solid-liquid) and solid as CaSO4.2H2O, soybean meal, starch polymers and Polycaprolactone. These pulses are also used to monitor polymerization reactions the polyamide epoxy resin (Araldite®). With these sequences it was possible to reduce the dead time of 23 µs 23MHz spectrometer to 14 µs e 20 Mhz from 9 to 6 µs. With this it is concluded that the formatted pulses can significantly reduce the dead time DT-NMR spectrometer, without fittings or financial cost because the sequences can be installed and used in any modern spectrometer.

This thesis explores and analyses the impact of ethno-religious conflicts in the city of Jos and other parts of the Middle Belt and Nigeria on gender relations and the lives of women. The thesis addresses the question of the impact of conflict on women beyond loss of life and property as seen in other literature. It shows how ongoing conflictual relations that are not always violent, but include aspects of political competition disadvantage women. The research locations covered by this research are urban areas. Data for this research was gathered through interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with 102 respondents, recruited through purposive sampling and willingness to participate in the interview. This thesis argues that the conflict dynamics affect the life chances of women on different levels because women are associated with the transcendence or transgression of group boundaries in their private life. The growing importance of group boundaries means that women’s life choices, such as marriage, are increasingly subject to public comment and criticism. Beyond the private, the growing importance of group boundaries makes it increasingly difficult for women to participate in typically female activities such as trading and selling in local markets. At the political level, the desire for ever smaller groups to be recognised works against the representation of women, who are seen as being much less capable than men of representing group interests. And within the public sector, too, the fallout from the crisis means that women here are also subject to increasing control and scrutiny.