Background: An important goal of providing amplification to children with hearing loss is to ensure that hearing aids are adjusted to match targets of prescriptive procedures as closely as possible. The Desired Sensation Level (DSL) v5 and the National Acoustic Laboratories’ prescription for nonlinear hearing aids, version 1 (NAL-NL1) procedures are widely used in fitting hearing aids to children. Little is known about hearing aid fitting outcomes for children with severe or profound hearing loss. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prescribed and measured gain of hearing aids fit according to the NAL-NL1 and the DSL v5 procedure for children with moderately severe to profound hearing loss; and to examine the impact of choice of prescription on predicted speech intelligibility and loudness. Research Design: Participants were fit with Phonak Naida V SP hearing aids according to the NAL-NL1 and DSL v5 procedures. The Speech Intelligibility Index (SII) and estimated loudness were calculated using published models. Study Sample: The sample consisted of 16 children (30 ears) aged between 7 and 17 yr old. Data Collection and Analysis: The measured hearing aid gains were compared with the prescribed gains at 50 (low), 65 (medium), and 80 dB SPL (high) input levels. The goodness of fit-to-targets was quantified by calculating the average root-mean-square (RMS) error of the measured gain compared with prescriptive gain targets for 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz. The significance of difference between prescriptions for hearing aid gains, SII, and loudness was examined by performing analyses of variance. Correlation analyses were used to examine the relationship between measures. Results: The DSL v5 prescribed significantly higher overall gain than the NAL-NL1 procedure for the same audiograms. For low and medium input levels, the hearing aids of all children fit with NAL-NL1 were within 5 dB RMS of prescribed targets, but 33% (10 ears) deviated from the DSL v5 targets by more than 5 dB RMS on average. For high input level, the hearing aid fittings of 60% and 43% of ears deviated by more than 5 dB RMS from targets of NAL-NL1 and DSL v5, respectively. Greater deviations from targets were associated with more severe hearing loss. On average, the SII was higher for DSL v5 than for NAL-NL1 at low input level. No significant difference in SII was found between prescriptions at medium or high input level, despite greater loudness for DSL v5 than for NAL-NL1. Conclusions: Although targets between 0.25 and 2 kHz were well matched for both prescriptions in commercial hearing aids, gain targets at 4 kHz were matched for NAL-NL1 only. Although the two prescriptions differ markedly in estimated loudness, they resulted in comparable predicted speech intelligibility for medium and high input levels.

Transcranial routing of signal (TCROS) was accomplished using completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids in 5 profoundly unilaterally hearing-impaired individuals. The functional gain realized by the participants far exceeded the gain predicted by measuring the acoustic output and real ear aided response of the hearing aids. The difference between predicted and functional gain increased with signal frequency and was attributed at least in part to mechanical vibration of the hearing aid in the external canal. Implications for fitting unilateral hearing loss using TCROS amplifying systems are discussed.

No description available.

Obesity is a significant health concern for women of childbearing age. More than 40% of women have a Body Mass Index (BMI) in the overweight or obese ranges at the time they conceive, posing significant health risks for both mother and child. Excessive weight gain during pregnancy is common and associated with numerous deleterious complications. The Institute of Medicine published gestational weight gain (GWG) guidelines based on prepregnancy BMI. However, more than 50% of women gain in excess of these recommendations. Further, many women report receiving minimal guidance from their healthcare providers regarding weight gain, nutrition, and physical activity during pregnancy. There is a clear need to enhance patient-provider communication to develop relevant and targeted interventions to reduce excessive GWG. The current study used a mixed-methods approach to assess perspectives of both pregnant and postpartum women, and obstetric healthcare providers (HCPs’). Interviews with pregnant and postpartum women with overweight or obesity prior to pregnancy indicated deference to providers regarding GWG. However, many women indicated suboptimal receipt of GWG information, disagreement with the GWG guidelines, and disapproval of the restrictive weight ranges for women in higher BMI categories. Additionally, parity emerged as a salient topic for women, especially as related to weight retention between pregnancies. HCPs’ survey data suggest systemic barriers to patient-provider communication (e.g. time, training) could serve as targets for future interventions. In sum, maternal overweight and obesity, excessive GWG, and patient-provider interaction are crucial topics to address to improve maternal and fetal outcomes, and decrease healthcare costs.

En transports guidés, la localisation précise des trains s’avère vitale pour une exploitation nominale du système de transport. Dans un environnement de propagation tel que celui d’une emprise ferroviaire, un capteur de localisation efficace est complexe à concevoir et à valider lorsqu’il doit opérer en présence de nombreux obstacles fixes et mobiles constitués par l’infrastructure et les trains. Afin de concevoir un tel capteur, nous proposons dans ce travail de thèse l’emploi de techniques innovantes dites de diversité spectrale que l’on retrouve également sous la dénomination de radio Ultra Large Bande (ULB). Dans ce travail, cette dernière est également associée à la technique de Retournement Temporel (RT) afin de tirer partie de cet environnement de propagation complexe. L’objectif visé est d’obtenir une localisation fiable et robuste des véhicules ferroviaires par focalisation de signaux ULB en direction des antennes sol ou trains. Des études théoriques alliées à des simulations ont été effectuées portant sur les propriétés de focalisation d’énergie de la technique de retournement temporel en tenant compte de plusieurs paramètres liés aux configurations antennaires, aux canaux de propagation rencontrés et à l’électronique utilisée. L’apport du retournement temporel sur la précision du système de localisation Ultra Large Bande a été quantifié en comparant le système de localisation ULB conventionnel, sans retournement temporel puis, en associant le RT. Les résultats théoriques et de simulations de la solution proposée ont été validés par des expérimentations menées en chambre anéchoïque ainsi qu’en environnement indoor. / In guided transport, the precise location of trains is vital for nominal operation of the transport system. In a propagation environment such as a railway line, an effective location sensor is complex to design and validate since it must operate in the presence of many fixed and mobile obstacles constituted by the infrastructure and the trains. In this thesis, to design such a sensor, we propose the use of so-called spectral diversity techniques also found under the name of Ultra Wideband radio (UWB). In this work, the latter is also associated with the Time Reversal (TR) technique to take advantage of the complex propagation environment. The objective is to obtain a reliable and robust location of rail vehicles by focusing UWB signals to antennas or ground trains. Theoretical studies combined with simulations were performed on the properties of energy focusing of TR technique taking into account several parameters related to antennal configurations, propagation channels and the railway environment. The contribution of TR on the accuracy of the positioning system was quantified by comparing the conventional UWB positioning system alone and then, combining it with TR. The theoretical results and simulations of the proposed solution have been validated by experiments carried out in an anechoic chamber and in indoor environment.

Orientador: Edvaldo Assunção / Resumo: Neste trabalho são propostos resultados para a estabilidade de sistemas lineares sujeitos a parâmetros variantes no tempo (do inglês, Linear Parameter Varying - LPV) e incertezas paramétricas. De início, apresenta-se um método para o projeto de um controlador robusto e gain scheduled via desigualdades matriciais lineares (do inglês, Linear Matrix Inequalitities - LMIs), com base na teoria de estabilidade segundo Lyapunov, com parâmetro variante no tempo e empregando a realimentação derivativa. Propõe-se um método para projetar o controlador gain scheduled usando realimentação derivativa, considerando também incertezas paramétricas. Esta nova formulação foi obtida utilizando o Lema de Finsler, o que permitiu determinar o ganho do controlador sem a necessidade de inverter uma matriz literal. Condições menos conservadoras foram projetadas para um controlador gain scheduled considerando a realimentação dos estados do sistemas. Simulações computacionais com exemplos numéricos mostram que os teoremas propostos neste trabalho são menos conservadores do que os existentes na literatura. A metodologia apresentada foi implementada no sistema de suspensão ativa. / Abstract: In this work, results for the stability of linear parameter-varying (LPV) systems and parametric uncertainties are poposed. At first, a method for desining a gain scheduled and robust controller is described via linear matrix inequalities (Linear Matrix Inequalitities - LMIs), based on the stability theory of Lyapunov, with time-variant parameters and using state derivative feedback. A method to design a gain scheduling controller using state derivative feedback and also considering parametric uncertains is proposed. This new formulation was manipulated using the Finsler’s Lemma, and allowed to determine the control law without having to invert a symbolic matrix. Less conservative conditions were designed for a gain scheduled controller considering system state feedback. Computational simulations with numerical examples show that the theorems proposed in this work are less conservative than those in the literature. The presented methodology was implemented in the active suspension system. / Doutor

Les solutions pour lutter contre la contrefaçon permettant une sécurisation des produits dépendent des capacités de mesure à l’échelle microscopique de points imprimés. Les recherches explicitées dans ce manuscrit ont donc été consacrées au développement d’un équipement et de méthodes permettant de mesurer les imprimés à l’échelle microscopique. Un microscope en réflexion avec lumière polarisée a été associé avec un appareil photographique numérique. La matrice de Bayer a été retirée de la surface du capteur photographique et des images raw ont été enregistrées. La platine du microscope, l’appareil photographique, un photomètre et un thermomètre ont été contrôlés directement dans une interface logicielle développée en Python. Une méthode de mesure permettant d’élargir la gamme dynamique de reflectances mesurées a été proposée. L’appareil et les méthodes de mesures ont permis d’améliorer la précision et d’automatiser la mesure des points de trame à l’échelle microscopique. Les élargissements physique et optique des points de trame ont alors été séparés et analysés. Une méthode d’ajustement des pics de l’histogramme, correspondant à l’encre et au papier, avec une fonction Gaussienne a été proposée. Des algorithmes de seuillage ont été employés pour séparer l’élargissement optique et physique des points de trame. Une méthode objective d’évaluation des algorithmes de seuillage a été développée pour déterminer leurs performances sur les images de tramés. Cette méthode d’évaluation procède à une simulation des effets de la diffusion de la lumière et des défauts générés par l’imagerie afin de générer des images tests et images de référence. 30 algorithmes de seuillage de la littérature ont été évalués et ont présenté une dépendance avec le pourcentage de couverture de l’encre. Deux nouveaux algorithmes de seuillage ont alors été développés spécialement pour traiter les imprimés tramés. Le premier algorithme détermine le déplacement du pic correspondant à l’encre sur l’histogramme. Le deuxième algorithme proposé se base sur une pseudo-déconvolution permettant de prétraiter les images et se basant sur une séparation des effets de l’élargissement optique. Une caractérisation de l’élargissement optique et physique a alors été menée sur 2708 images d’imprimés tramés. Enfin, un modèle de l’élargissement physique et un modèle de l’élargissement optique des points de trame ont été proposés. Le modèle physique se base sur une génération de particules d’encre placées selon une fonction de probabilité et sur une fusion des particules d’encre. Le modèle a été évalué en considérant 43269 points de trame différents, mesurés automatiquement sur le microscope. Un nouveau modèle prédisant la réflectance des tramés a été développé, basé sur une double convolution avec deux fonctions différentes d’étalement du point. Ce modèle a permis de simuler de manière précise les effets principaux de la diffusion de la lumière dans le tramé, tout en simulant les effets de piégeage de la lumière à proximité des bords des points de trame. / Applications in the field of product security and authentication to prevent counterfeiting rely on abilities of microscale measurements of printed dots. Thus, researches described in this manuscript have been directed toward the development of measurement methods and apparatus to characterize halftone dot at the microscale. A polarized reflection optical microscope has been adapted with a commercial digital camera. The Bayer matrix was removed from the surface of the camera and raw images were retrieved. The microscope stage, the camera, the photometer and the thermometer were controlled directly in a Python graphic user interface specifically developed. A high dynamic range capture method was proposed and tuned specifically to obtain richer information on the ink and paper regions. The measurement apparatus and methods helped improve the accuracy and automate the measurements of the halftone dots at the microscale. The physical and optical dot gains were then separated and analyzed. A Gaussian fitting of the ink and paper histogram peaks was proposed to measure automatically the ink and paper region reflectance as a function of the ink coverage. Thresholding algorithms were applied to separate optical and physical dot gain. An objective threshold evaluation method was developed in order to define the best threshold algorithms for halftone images. The method was based on a simulation of the optical dot gain effects and of the microscope distortions to obtain test images and ground truth images. 30 threshold algorithms from literature were evaluated and demonstrated dependency on the ink surface coverage of the halftones. Two novel threshold algorithms were then developed specifically to process halftones. The first threshold algorithm was based on the determination of the amount of ink peak shift. The second threshold algorithm proposed a pretreatment of the images by applying a pseudo-deconvolution strategy, removing the optical dot gain from the halftones. Characterizations of the optical and physical dot gains were then conducted analyzing 2708 different halftones. Finally, a physical dot gain model and an optical dot gain model were proposed in order to predict the halftone reflectances from raster to print. The physical dot gain model was based on the generation of single ink particles placed according to a probability mask and on a fusion of the ink particles. The model was evaluated with 43269 dot morphologies that were captured automatically on the microscope. A novel halftone reflectance model was proposed based on a double convolution with two different paper point spread functions. It allowed an accurate reproduction of the main effects of the light diffusion with, at the same time, an accurate reproduction of the light entrapment near the edges of the dots.

Le laser aléatoire est un nouveau type de laser, dont les propriétés d'émission sont basées sur la diffusion multiple de lumière dans un milieu désordonné, en présence de gain. Nous avons comme projet de réaliser un tel laser aléatoire, avec comme milieu à gain un nuage d'atomes froids de 85Rb, piégés dans un piège magnéto-optique. Cette thèse présente les premières étapes de recherche, portant sur les processus de gain dans le nuage d'atomes. Nous avons étudié théoriquement et expérimentalement trois types de gain : le gain Mollow, le gain Raman, et le mélange à quatre ondes. L'existence de ces gains nous permet de produire de façon classique un laser, en plaçant le nuage d'atomes dans une cavité Fabry-Pérot ; ce qui représente une étape préliminaire, et essentielle, dans la réalisation d'un laser aléatoire. D'autre part, une étude est menée sur le comportement de la lumière diffusée par le nuage d'atome en présence de gain.

Ce travail présente une étude de lasers à cascade quantique à l'aide de la spectroscopie THz dans le domaine temporel. Cette technique expérimentale consiste en la mesure de champs électriques THz transmis par un échantillon, permettant d'étudier des effets à la fois statiques et dynamiques dans les semiconducteurs. Les lasers à cascade quantique THz sont des structures multipuits considérées comme des dispositifs prometteurs pour combler le manque de sources dans l'infrarouge lointain. Dans une première étude, statique, nous avons mesuré le spectre du gain de différents échantillons et avons pu identifier les transitions électroniques intersousbandes responsables du gain et des pertes. Nous avons aussi constaté un rétrécissement du spectre du gain dans ces lasers dont nous expliquons l'origine. Dans une seconde étude, dynamique, nous avons effectué une commutation utra-rapide du gain dans un laser à cascade quantique afin d'exploiter son régime transitoire pour amplifier une onde THz. Le laser présente alors un gain élevé sans être limité aux pertes totales au-dessus du seuil. Finalement, une troisième étude dynamique nous permet de mesurer l'émission cohérente d'un laser THz par spectroscopie dans le domaine temporel. Un contrôle électrique du déclenchement d'un laser au-dessus du seuil, et un amorçage de l'émission par une impulsion THz à spectre large nous permet de contrôler la phase du champ électrique émis par le laser.

This dissertation studies the diversity multiplexing tradeoff and the capacity of wireless multiple-relay network. In part 1, we study the setup of the parallel Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) relay network. An amplify-and-forward relaying scheme, Incremental Cooperative Beamforming, is introduced and shown to achieve the capacity of the network in the asymptotic case of either the number of relays or the power of each relay goes to infinity. In part 2, we study the general setup of multi-antenna multi-hop multiple- relay network. We propose a new scheme, which we call random sequential (RS), based on the amplify-and-forward relaying. Furthermore, we derive diversity- multiplexing tradeoff (DMT) of the proposed RS scheme for general single-antenna multiple-relay networks. It is shown that for single-antenna two-hop multiple- access multiple-relay (K > 1) networks (without direct link between the source(s) and the destination), the proposed RS scheme achieves the optimum DMT. In part 3, we characterize the maximum achievable diversity gain of the multi- antenna multi-hop relay network and we show that the proposed RS scheme achieves the maximum diversity gain. In part 4, RS scheme is utilized to investigate DMT of the general multi-antenna multiple-relay networks. First, we study the case of a multi-antenna full-duplex single-relay two-hop network, for which we show that the RS achieves the optimum DMT. Applying this result, we derive a new achievable DMT for the case of multi-antenna half-duplex parallel relay network. Interestingly, it turns out that the DMT of the RS scheme is optimum for the case of multi-antenna two parallel non-interfering half-duplex relays. Furthermore, we show that random unitary matrix multiplication also improves the DMT of the Non-Orthogonal AF relaying scheme in the case of a multi-antenna single relay channel. Finally, we study the general case of multi-antenna full-duplex relay networks and derive a new lower-bound on its DMT using the RS scheme. Finally, in part 5, we study the multiplexing gain of the general multi-antenna multiple-relay networks. We prove that the traditional amplify-forward relaying achieves the maximum multiplexing gain of the network. Furthermore, we show that the maximum multiplexing gain of the network is equal to the minimum vertex cut-set of the underlying graph of the network, which can be computed in polynomial time in terms of the number of network nodes. Finally, the argument is extended to the multicast and multi-access scenarios.