Este trabalho refere-se ao estabelecimento de populações humanas em tempos pretéritos e aos processos de interação que podem se desenvolver entre elas, visualisados pela arqueologia. Buscamos desvendar como ocorreu a ocupação humana (anterior a colonização) no Vale do Rio Soturno, região central do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Os sítios arqueológicos estudados espalhados por esta micro-região foram: Várzea dos Bugres; Cerro dos Bugres; Cerro do Tope; Moacir Rossato, com remanescentes culturais atribuídos aos Guarani. Tentamos entender quais as escolhas que estes grupos fizeram em relação aos recursos ambientais locais, suas estratégias de exploração, as relações entre si e as escolhas na elaboração de seus utensílios remanescentes de uso cotidiano. Percebemos que os grupos atuantes neste espaço optaram por adotar algumas características técnicas específicas, mas no geral seguem o padrão clássico de ocupação Guarani. Realizamos ainda um trabalho com a comunidade que vive no local atualmente, utilizando a metodologia da educação patrimonial, a fim de que esse patrimônio cultural estudado se tornasse conhecido e aceito junto àqueles que serão seus guardiões. Apesar de não contarmos com um número de sítios relevante para um estudo de caráter regional, acreditamos ter contribuído para a arqueologia Guarani apresentando especificidades culturais de grupos que ocuparam um local que até então não fora estudado. / This search refers to the establishment of human populations in past times and the interaction process that can develop between them, shown by archaeology. We seek to discover how human occupation occurred (before colonization) in Sortuno river valley, in central Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The archaeological sites studied in this micro-region were: Várzea dos Bugres; Cerro dos Bugres; Cerro do Tope; Moacir Rossato, with the remaining cultures attributed mostly to the Guarani. We try to understand what choices these groups have in relation to local environmental resources, their exploration strategies, relations between themselves and the choices in the development of their remaining fixtures of everyday use. We realize that groups working in this area have chosen to adopt some specific technical features, but in general follow the classic pattern Guarani occupation. We also worked with the community that lives on site using the heritage education methodology, so that the cultural heritage studied could become known and accepted between those who will be their guardians. Although we could not count with a certain number of sites that study regional character, we believe to have contributed it to archaeological Guarani, showing specific cultural groups that occupied a place that until then had not been studied.

A instabilidade do joelho resultante da ruptura do ligamento cruzado cranial apresenta-se como sendo uma das principais causas de dor, em membro pélvico, manifestada por animais da espécie canina. Tal instabilidade pode gerar alterações como o desenvolvimento de osteoartrose e lesão de menisco, principalmente o medial. Com o intuito de restabelecer a estabilidade da articulação, muitas técnicas vêm sendo desenvolvidas de forma que as alterações provenientes de tal afecção sejam minimizadas. Com uma dimensão similar de variedades estão os materiais utilizados em diferentes técnicas ou até mesmo para o mesmo tipo de procedimento. A técnica ideal, bem como o material de escolha ainda são muito discutidos dentre os autores pesquisados. O presente trabalho avaliou a biomecânica das técnicas de sutura fabelo-tibial lateral (SFTL) e a técnica de imbricação do retináculo modificada (SFTLM), em joelhos de cadáveres de cães, na estabilização do joelho com ruptura do ligamento cruzado cranial, utilizando-se fio de náilon monofilamento leader line (60 libras). Foram avaliados rigidez articular e deslocamento craniais e caudais da tíbia em relação aos côndilos do fêmur, proporcionados pelo tipo de material e técnicas cirúrgicas, sendo os resultados obtidos comparados com os resultados do joelho íntegro e entre si. A análise estatística encontrou diferença na gaveta cranial de todos os grupos (ligamento cruzado cranial íntegro (LCCr), ligamento cruzado cranial rompido (RLCCr), SFTL e SFTLM) e na comparação da gaveta caudal entre o grupo RLCCr e SFTLM e entre o grupo SFTL e SFTLM. Outras diferenças foram encontradas na rigidez cranial dos grupos LCCr, RLCCr e reconstruído, não sendo observado diferença entre a rigidez de SFTL e SFTLM. As duas técnicas testadas diminuem a instabilidade do joelho, sendo a SFTLM mais efetiva em tal promoção, porém tal técnica influencia de forma mais evidente na biomecânica do ligamento cruzado caudal, sendo importante a avaliação de tal interferência a longo prazo. Estas duas técnicas extra-capsulares testadas, apesar de diminuirem significativamente a translação cranial da tíbia em relação ao fêmur, não restauram a rigidez articular quando comparadas com a biomecânica do joelho íntegro. / Knee instability resulting from an insufficient cranial cruciate ligament is the major cause of hind limb lameness in dogs. This instability can result in osteoarthrosis and medial meniscal injury. Many surgical techniques have been developed to restore knee stability and to reduce degenerative joint desease. There is a similarly huge variability in materials utilized for different or the same techniques. An ideal technique and material arent established yet. This study analyzed the biomechanics of the lateral fabellar suture technique (SFTL) and the modified retinacular imbrication technique (SFTLM) in stabilizing cadaveric cranial cruciate ligament deficient stifles with 60 lb nylon leader line. Articular cranio-caudal stiffness and tibial translation were evaluated and compared between different techniques and with the intact knee. The statistical analysis revealed significant differences between all groups (intact cranial cruciate ligament (LCCr), ruptured cranial cruciate ligament (RLCCr), SFTL and SFTLM) in the cranial tibial translation. In the caudal tibial translation a significant statistical difference was seen between RLCCr and SFTLM groups and between reconstructed ones. Other differences were found in the cranial stiffness between LCCr, RLCCr and reconstructed groups, but not between SFTL and SFTLM. Both techniques tested reduced joint instability but SFTLM was more efficient, although it affected the caudal cruciate ligament biomechanics more evidently when compared with the SFTL technique. This long-term evaluation of the caudal influence induced by SFTLM will be important. Despite of the reduction in the tibial cranial translation by these two different extra capsular techniques, none have maintained normal stifle stiffness.

[pt] Propomos um modelo de equilíbrio geral com securitização de ativos pro- tegidos por colateral físico e discutimos o papel do colateral para evitar, em equilíbrio, expectativas pessimistas em relação as taxas futuras de default. As promessas dos ativos garantidos por colateral são securitizadas em famílias de derivativos Pass-through, que dividem o default de forma prorata, ou de Collateralized Loans Obligations (CLO), que permitem diferentes níveis de prioridade entre os ativos dentro de uma mesma família. No caso de default, os tomadores de empréstimo podem sofrer penalidades extra-econômicas, que são internalizadas nas suas preferências não ordenadas. Nesse contexto, provamos a existência de um equilíbrio no qual os investidores não são muito pessimistas sobre os pagamentos dos derivativos. / [en] We propose a specification of a general equilibrium model with securitization of collateral-backed promises and discuss the role of physical collateral to avoid, in equilibrium, pessimistic beliefs about the future rates of default. Promises are pooled in either pass-through securities or collateralized loans obligations (CLO), allowing the existence of different seniority levels among tranches in the same CLO. In case of default, borrowers may also suffer extra-economic penalties, which are internalized into a structure of nonordered preferences. In this context, we prove the existence of an equilibrium in that investors are not over-pessimistic about the payments of derivatives.

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No. of bitstreams: 1 MPPJM - ANTONIO DA ROCHA E SILVA FILHO.pdf: 3594229 bytes, checksum: 1169b9d095e601992d9fb9ec8f8bf09a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-03-29 / This research brings a study of the effects of digital communication in popular journalism practiced in Brazil. For that, Extra and Agora São Paulo newspapers were selected. These newspapers are published by two of the largest communication groups in the country (Globo and Folha), were born in print and represent the model of popular journalism based on service inaugurated in the later years 1990. Based on the concepts of popular journalism proposed by Márcia Franz Amaral and on-line journalism presented by Ramón Salaverría and João Canavilhas, the study initially discusses the importance of popular newspapers, their characteristics, the sensationalism that permeates the segment and the evolution of digital communication. The work brings an analysis of the homepages and social media Facebook and Twitter of the two newspapers, based on tools proposed by Marcos Palacios, and presents interviews with editors of the two media outlets to understand the editorial choices in the online environment and to know the impacts of the digital communication in the work of professionals in popular journalism. The results of the research indicate that Extra is at a more advanced stage of online journalism and has been using digital tools for journalistic production for a longer period of time. It offers multimedia and interactive content for its readers and has intense action in social networks. Agora has a production still focused on the printed platform and begins to crawl in the digital world. It presents a totally static site and its presence in social media is small. The two newspapers, however, keep present in the online medium the main news values of popular service journalism: entertainment, proximity and utility. The two vehicles are undergoing major transformation periods: Extra newsroom has been unified with O Globo newspaper, and Agora is preparing to launch a totally redesigned new website and to expand its activities in social media. The transformations bring new impacts to the two vehicles, which currently use different strategies in the digital environment. This work presents the performance of Extra and Agora in the online medium so far and the scenarios that each one lives in the moment, which should mean new modifications in each of them. / Esta pesquisa traz um estudo dos efeitos da comunicação digital no jornalismo popular praticado no Brasil. Para tanto foram escolhidos os jornais Extra e Agora São Paulo, publicações do segmento editadas por dois dos maiores grupos de comunicação do país (Globo e Folha), nascidos no meio impresso e que representam o modelo de jornalismo popular de serviços inaugurado no final dos anos 1990. A partir dos conceitos de jornalismo popular propostos por Márcia Franz Amaral e de jornalismo on-line apresentados por Ramón Salaverría e João Canavilhas, o trabalho faz inicialmente uma discussão sobre a importância dos jornais populares, suas características, o sensacionalismo que permeia o segmento e a evolução da comunicação digital. O trabalho traz uma análise das homepages e das redes sociais Facebook e Twitter dos dois jornais, com base em ferramentas propostas por Marcos Palacios, e apresenta entrevistas com editores dos dois veículos de comunicação para compreender as escolhas editoriais no meio on-line e conhecer os impactos da comunicação digital na atuação dos profissionais no jornalismo popular. Os resultados da pesquisa indicam que o Extra está em estágio mais avançado do jornalismo on-line e emprega há mais tempo e com mais propriedade ferramentas digitais para a produção jornalística. Oferece conteúdo multimídia e interativo para seus leitores e tem intensa atuação nas redes sociais. O Agora tem uma produção ainda voltada para a plataforma impressa e começa a engatinhar no mundo digital. Apresenta um site totalmente estático e sua presença nas redes sociais é pequena. Os dois jornais, no entanto, mantêm presentes no meio on-line os principais valores-notícia do jornalismo popular de serviços: entretenimento, proximidade e utilidade. Os dois veículos passam por períodos de transformação importantes: o Extra teve sua redação unificada com a do jornal O Globo, e o Agora se prepara para lançar um novo site totalmente reformulado e ampliar sua atuação nas redes sociais. As transformações trazem novos impactos aos dois veículos, que neste momento usam estratégias distintas no meio digital. Este trabalho apresenta a atuação de Extra e Agora no meio on-line até aqui e os cenários que cada um vive no momento, o que deverá significar novas modificações em cada um deles.

A parada cardiorrespiratória (PCR) no pré-hospitalar é tida como a terceira causa de morte nos Estados Unidos da América (EUA) e as doenças isquêmicas cardíacas são consideradas as principais causas de morte súbita na Europa. No mundo ocidental, inclusive no Brasil, o infarto agudo do miocárdio é responsável por grande número desses óbitos. Avaliar a qualidade da assistência prestada as pessoas que sofreram PCR em ambiente pré-hospitalar, podem influenciar nas sobrevivências destes pacientes. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar os registros das Fichas de Sistematização da Assistência de Enfermagem (FSAE) do Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência (SAMU) Regional Ribeirão Preto das pessoas que sofreram PCR em ambiente pré-hospitalar. Trata-se de um estudo analítico retrospectivo de análise documental das FSAE no período de a janeiro de 2011 à dezembro de 2013. Foram incluídos, atendimentos as pessoas maiores de 18 anos e PCR de origem cardíaca. Foi realizado analise estatística no Programa SPSS versão 17.0 e aplicaram-se os testes Qui-Quadrado ou exato de Fisher. Valores com p<0,005 foram considerados significantes. Foram analisados 439 (100%) registros de pessoas que sofreram PCR. O sexo masculino representou 54,2%, a mediana de idade foi de 64 anos. Pessoas sofreram mais PCR com idade acima de 61 anos 54,9%. As cardiopatias foram as comorbidades mais prevalentes. O ritmo inicial foi a assistolia em 28% dos casos e a adrenalina 31% foi o medicamento mais administrado. Os atendimentos realizados pelo SAMU foram categorizados em: local de maior ocorrência foi nas residências 47,8% seguido das unidades de saúde 43,5%; o período matutino 33,5% foi maior empenho da ambulância; as pessoas sofreram mais PCR as segundas, quartas e sextas feiras igualmente, sendo que, o sexo feminino teve maior frequência de PCR aos domingos e o sexo masculino, as sextas-feiras; o inverno 26%,foi a estação do ano que mais ocorreu o evento. Para verificar a associação entre as variáveis categóricas, sexo, faixa etária, empenho da ambulância, dias da semana, com o local de ocorrência da PCR aplicou-se os testes Qui-Quadrado ou exato de Fisher, na qual não houve diferença estatisticamente significante (p>0.005). Independente do sexo, ter idade acima de 61 anos teve associação com o evento de PCR, (p = 0,002) em comparação com as outras faixas etárias. Entre as variáveis categóricas sexo, faixa etária, empenho da ambulância, dias da semana, final de semana e semana associado com desfecho (óbito e sobrevivência) do evento da PCR não apresentou diferença estatisticamente significante(p>0,005). Local de ocorrência comparado ao desfecho teve diferença estatisticamente significante (p=0,001) as pessoas que sofreram PCR nas unidades de saúde, 160(76,9%) sobreviveram, comparado a sobrevivência nas residências 34(16,3%). Recomenda um investimento nos sistemas educacionais, colocando em execução a ciência da ressuscitação, por meio de treinamentos práticos de habilidades em RCP à prestadores de saúde e leigos / A cardiorespiratory arrest (CRA) in pre-hospital care is the third cause of death in the United States of America (USA) and the ischemic cardiac diseases are considered the main sudden death causes in Europe. In the western world, including Brazil, the acute myocardial infarction is responsible for a big part of these deaths. Evaluating the quality of the assistance provided to people who suffered CRA in pre-hospital care, can have an influence in these patients\' survivals. The purpose of this study was to analyze the data in the nursing assistance systematization records (NASR) of the emergency medical services (SAMU) in Ribeirão Preto regarding those people who suffered CRA in pre-hospital care. This is a retrospective analytical study of documentary analysis of the NASR from January 2011 to December 2013 in which caring for people over 18 years old and CRA of clinical origin were included. A statistical analysis was performed on the SPSS 17.0 summer version show where the chi-square and Fisher\'s exact test were applied. Values with p<0,005 were considered significant. Among the records of people who suffered CRA, 439 (100%) were analyzed, being 54,2% males with an average of 64 years old. Most people who suffered CRA were over 61 years old. Heart diseases were the most prevalent comorbidities. The initial rhythm was the asystole in 28% of the cases and the adrenalin in 31% being the most administered medicine. The medical cares performed by SAMU were categorized in: residence 47,8%, health units 43,5% being 33,5% morning period, the greater commitment of ambulances. People suffered more CRA on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays whereas females suffered most CRA on Sundays and males on Fridays and winter 26%, was the season of the year that most of those cases happened. To check the variation between the categorical variables such as gender, age range, commitment of ambulance, days of the week with the place where the CRA happened the chi-square and Fisher\'s exact test were applied in which there was not a significant statistic difference (p>0.005). Regardless the gender, being over 61 years old was related to the CRA event, (p = 0,002) comparing to other age ranges. Among categorical variables gender, age range, commitment of ambulance, days of the week, weekends and week related to denouement (death and survival) of the CRA event, there was not a significant statistic difference (p>0,005). Place where it happened comparing to the denouement there was a statistic difference (p=0,001) people who suffered CRA in the health units, 160(76,9%) survived comparing to residences\' survivals 34(16,3%). In conclusion, an investment in the education system by putting into execution resuscitation science and practical abilities trainings regarding CRA -not only to health professionals but also to people who are untrained - is recommended

L’accroissement continu de la complexité des systèmes embarqués pose un problème majeur pour leur développement lequel doit aussi prendre en compte les exigences extra-fonctionnelles et les contraintes du domaine telles que la limitation et le partage des ressources, la distribution, et les contraintes temporelles et de fiabilité. De ce fait, les systèmes embarqués requièrent de nouvelles solutions pouvant efficacement et de manière prévisible répondre à l’ensemble de ces besoins. L’ingénierie logicielle basée composants est un paradigme qui a déjà démontré des aptitudes pour appréhender la complexité logicielle. Cependant, pour supporter de manière efficace les propriétés extra-fonctionnelles, un modèle de composants doit posséder des mécanismes spécifiques. L’objectif de cette thèse est de construire un tel support. Pour ce faire, nous avons analysé de manière systématique des modèles de composants existants à ce jour et identifié des challenges relatifs à la réalisation d’une approche basée composants dédiée au développement des systèmes embarqués. S’appuyant sur ces challenges, nous avons avancé l’état de l’art en développant ProCom, un nouveau modèle de composants qui répond aux attentes des systèmes embarqués au travers de sa sémantique d’exécution et de sa structuration en niveaux. Centré autour de ProCom, nous avons aussi développé PRIDE, son environnement de développement intégré. PRIDE couvre le procédé de développement des premières phases de spécification jusqu’à la synthèse et le déploiement et fournit des moyens d’intégrer différents outils d’analyse et de vérification. La contribution principale de cette thèse réside dans la modélisation et la réalisation d’un support pour la gestion des propriétés extra-fonctionnelles pour les systèmes embarqués construits à base de composants logiciels. Ce support facilite la spécification, le management et l’intégration de propriétés multi-valuées tenant compte du contexte dans lequel elles ont été établies. Les propriétés peuvent être attachées aux éléments architecturaux des modèles de composants et leurs valeurs peuvent être comparées et raffinées durant le développement. En particulier, le fait d’avoir des valeurs multiples avec leur contexte d’évaluation permet de comparer des valeurs provenant de différentes sources. Les concepts proposés ont été illustrés au travers d’exemples représentatifs de systèmes. / The continuously increasing complexity of embedded systems is a major issue for their development, which, in addition, must also consider specific extra-functional requirements and constraints, such as limited and shared resources, distribution, timing, and dependability. Thus, embedded systems call for development solutions that can efficiently and predictably cope with these issues. Component-based software engineering is a proven paradigm to handle complexity. Yet, for efficiently managing extra-functional properties, a component model needs to have dedicated mechanisms that provide a suitable support for their management. The objective of this thesis is to build this support. We have performed a systematic analysis of existing component models and identified challenges of applying a component-based approach to embedded system development. Based on these challenges we have advanced the current state-of-the-art by developing a new component model, called ProCom, that accommodates the specifics of embedded systems through its well-defined execution semantics and layered structure. Centered around ProCom, we have also developed PRIDE, the ProCom Integrated Development Environment. PRIDE supports the development from early specification to synthesis and deployment, providing the means to aggregate various analysis and verification tools. The main contribution of the thesis is in the design and implementation of an extra-functional property management framework that enables to seamlessly specify, manage and integrate multi-valued context-aware extra-functional properties of component-based embedded systems. Properties can be attached to architectural elements of component models and their values can be compared and refined during the development process. In particular, having multiple context-aware values allows values from different sources to be compared. The proposed concepts have been demonstrated on several representative example systems.

Studiens utgångspunkt var skollagens bestämmelser sedan år 2014 om att stöd till elever kan ges i form av extra anpassningar och särskilt stöd (Prop.2013/14:160; SFS 2010:800. Enligt gymnasieutredningen behövs mer kunskap kring den praktiska tillämpningen av dessa bestämmelser (SOU 2016:77). Studiens syfte var att beskriva och analysera hur lärare upplever arbetet med stödinsatser för gymnasieelever. Som metod för datainsamling valdes kvalitativa intervjuer och tio lärare intervjuades. Lärarna uttryckte att extra anpassningar ansvarar ordinarie lärare för och de består exempelvis av uppläst material samt anpassade läromedel och uppgifter. Som särskilt stöd uppgavs bland annat stödundervisning utanför den ordinarie undervisningen. Resultatet visade att de två skolorna där lärarna arbetar skiljer sig bland annat genom organiseringen av stödundervisning. Studien fann att relationer och kommunikation mellan elever och lärare samt lärare och övrig skolpersonal är betydelsefulla faktorer i arbetet kring stödinsatser. / The starting point of this study is the regulations in the Swedish Education Act of 2014 about how support for students can be given in the form of extra adaptations and special support (Prop.2013/14:160; SFS 2010:800). According to a survey about the Swedish upper secondary school, there is a need for more knowledge on the practical application of these regulations (SOU 2016:77). The aim of this study was to analyze and describe how teachers perceive the work with supportive actions for students in upper secondary schools. As a method for data collection, qualitative interviews were chosen and ten teachers were interviewed. The teachers stated that the responsibility for extra adaptations lies with regular teachers and mentioned examples of adaptation such as access to read material and adjusted study material and tasks. Special support was mentioned, among other things, as a support for teaching outside of the regular teaching. The result showed that one difference between the two schools where the teachers work is the organization of this support teaching. The study found that relationships and communication between students and teachers, and as well as between teachers and other school staff, are important factors in the work around suppoortive actions.

The Australian magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) is a large, sedentary, omnivorous passerine. In some populations, individuals live in groups, and some of these groups breed cooperatively. The white-backed magpie (G. t. tyrannica) from the south-eastern corner of the continent, has had relatively little study, and few details are known of its mating system, social structure, and method of parental care. I conducted an observational study on a population of white-backed magpies, recording details of their demography, dispersal, breeding system, and parental care. In conjunction, I conducted a genetic analysis of the population, to determine if the genetic mating system matched the observed social system, to detect instances of extra-group mating, and to sex juvenile birds. Extra-pair paternity (EPP) is a common feature of the mating systems of many birds. The rate of EPP may vary between species, races and populations. I made a comparison of extra-group paternity (EGP) rates between two races of the Australian magpie, to determine if similar mating systems were being employed. The two populations had similar social structure, but differed in group size and dispersal. I predicted that dispersal differences would have a profound effect on the rate of EGP between the populations, as the population with the lower rate of dispersal and higher chance of breeding with a close relative would engage in EGPs more frequently. Eight microsatellite loci were used to determine parentage in the white-backed Australian magpie. The rate of EGP was found to be 44%. Dispersal rates were estimated from observational data. Over half of the juvenile magpie cohort from the previous breeding season leave the territorial group. These results contrast sharply with the results found by other researchers in a population of western Australian magpies (G t. dorsalis). In this population, 82% EGP is recorded and dispersal of juveniles is close to nil. The results indicate that dispersal rate is a potentially important predictor of rates of extra-group fertilisations between populations of this species, and suggest that females maximise their reproductive output by avoiding breeding with close kin. The reproductive success of a male bird is often correlated with measurable traits that predict his intrinsic quality. Females are thought to select mates based on their quality to gain their 'good genes'. Male Australian magpies of the white-backed race were trapped in two breeding seasons. Measurements were taken of morphometric and other characteristics in order to discover whether particular traits of males were associated with: a) number of fledglings produced in the territory per season; b) percentage of offspring sired in the territory; and c) whether females select males for their 'good genes'. The only variable that was correlated with number of territorial offspring was feather lice load. Males with high numbers of lice were less likely to produce territorial fledglings in one season and across both seasons. Males of inferior quality may be subject to increased conspecific territorial intrusions, leading to more time spent on defence, more failed breeding attempts, less time allocated to grooming and thus high parasite loads. Males that produced many territorial fledglings were more likely to gain genetic paternity of at least some of them, although again this was significant for only one season. Also, across both seasons, a high number of females in the group was correlated with increased paternity within the group. The general lack of correlation between the variables and level of genetic paternity may be due to females engaging in extra-group mating primarily to avoid breeding with a close relative rather than to choose a quality male. In this scenario, males would not have to be 'high quality', but merely genetically different to the female's social mate. Extra-group paternity (EGP) can affect paternal effort. It may also influence the helping effort of auxiliary birds in cooperatively breeding species. If helping is driven by kin selection, helpers should decline to provision unrelated young. Relatedness becomes difficult to assess however, when females mate outside the group. Alternative rewards may then become important in helper decisions. In my study population of Australian magpies, 38% of fledglings were sired by males outside the territorial group. In a second population (G. t. dorsalis), 82% of fledglings were sired by extra-group males. I observed within-group male and helper feeding effort over three breeding seasons in the first population and obtained data recorded over a single season in the second population. In both populations, males provisioned young regardless of relatedness, as did helpers. Males provisioned less than the nesting female on average. Paternal effort did not reduce with an increase in the rate of EGP between populations. In the population with intermediate levels of EGP, the white-backed magpies, I observed helpers in about half of the sampled territories that produced fledglings. Helpers did not increase the production of young. In the population with high levels of EGP, western magpies, I detected helping behaviour in proportionally more territories. It appears that Australian magpie helpers provide help in order to pay 'rent' and remain on the natal territory. I discuss these results in light of the differences between the two races of magpie and the major theories regarding male parenting decisions and helper activity. Finally, I examine the relatively high rates of EGP's in the Australian magpie from a phylogenetic perspective. Although inbreeding avoidance is strongly supported by this study as the major reason EGP is so common in magpie populations, there may be an element of phylogenetic inertia that maintains the frequency of this behavioural trait. I comment upon the use of single-population estimates of species EGP rates in comparative analyses, given the intraspecific variation discovered between Australian magpie populations. Future directions for the study of mate choice in the Australian magpie are outlined with a proposal to study variation at the major histocompatibility complex between mated pairs.

Les plasmas peu denses, très énergétiques et magnétisés sont des milieux courants en astrophysique. Cette thèse est dédiée à l'étude de deux milieux spécifiques caractérisés par une géométrie de disque : le centre Galactique et la couronne des microquasars. Dans chacun des deux cas, les observations suggèrent l'existence d'un plasma extrêmement chaud (100 millions et 1 milliard de degrés) et ténu dont l'origine reste un mystère ; certains indices semblent également y montrer un champ magnétique assez fort, de structure dipolaire et principalement verticale baignant ce plasma. <br /><br />Au centre Galactique, la température du gaz considéré est telle que, s'il était collisionnel et composé principalement d'hydrogène, il devrait s'échapper, impliquant des besoins énergétiques excessifs pour les mécanismes de chauffage. Nous montrons cependant que les conditions peuvent naturellement mener à un plasma d'hélium, confiné par le potentiel Galactique. Dans cette situation plus raisonnable, nous étudions un processus possible de chauffage reposant sur la forte viscosité du gaz et la friction sur des nuages moléculaires froids en mouvement.<br /><br />La problématique des microquasars est très similaire, à la différence notable près que la couronne est probablement peu collisionnelle. Nous étudions dans ce régime un mécanisme de chauffage par pompage magnétique dans lequel la résonance entre le mouvement oscillant de certains ions de la couronne et une excitation périodique des lignes de champ magnétique par une instabilité du disque peut fournir de l'énergie à la couronne. Nous montrons en particulier que ce mécanisme est insuffisant à expliquer la température observée.

L'étude du spectre en énergie des rayons cosmiques d'ultra-haute énergie (E > 1020 eV) impose de déterminer cette dernière avec bien plus de précision que ce qui est réalisé actuellement. La gerbe de particules créée dans l'atmosphère peut être détectée soit par l'échantillonnage au sol des particules, soit par la détection de la fluorescence produite par l'excitation de l'azote par les électrons de la gerbe. La mesure de la fluorescence est, pour le moment, la méthode la plus simple et la plus fiable, car elle ne fait pas appel aux lois de la physique hadronique à des énergies extrêmes, domaine inaccessible aux accélérateurs. La connaissance précise du facteur de conversion entre énergie déposée et nombre de photons de fluorescence émis (le rendement) est donc essentielle. Jusqu'à présent, il n'a été déterminé qu'avec une précision de 15 %. Cette expérience a pour objectif principal la mesure de ce rendement à mieux que 5 %. Pour cela, des électrons (~1 MeV) provenant d'une source radioactive excitent l'azote de l'air. Cette précision a été atteinte par la mise en œuvre d'une méthode de calibration nouvelle de l'efficacité absolue des photomultiplicateurs détectant les photons à mieux que 2 %. Le rendement de la fluorescence, mesuré puis normalisé à 0.85 MeV, 760 mmHg et 15°C, vaut<br />4.23 ± 0.20 photons par mètre,<br />soit 20.46 ± 0.98 photons par MeV déposé.<br />Par ailleurs, et pour la première fois, le spectre de la fluorescence de l'azote excité par une source a été mesuré de façon absolue au moyen d'un spectromètre optique à réseau.