Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Um primeiro objetivo desse estudo foi apresentar uma revisão sobre o que a literatura científica atual fala acerca da bateria de inteligência WISC-III. Os referenciais teóricos que embasam a construção dos testes de inteligência, tais como o modelo de Cattell- Horn Caroll e abordagens mais recentes foram explicitados. A partir das concepções de inteligência fluída (Gf) e cristalizada (Gc), buscou-se um dialógo com pressupostos básicos da psicologia evolucionista do desenvolvimento, considerando os planos de análise ontogenético e filogenético. Foram apresentados aspectos culturais que influenciam desenvolvimento do nosso percurso cognitivo. Teoricamente discutiu-se sobre as causas culturais que embasam o efeito Flynn, efeito de defasagem de escalas, buscando evidencias se nos subtestes da Escala Verbal da bateria WISC-III, adaptada ao contexto brasileiro, existiu sua incidência. Um segundo objetivo deste estudo foi identificar se haveria correlação entre variáveis tais como o uso de tecnologias, o acesso a mídias pelas crianças, práticas de criação e nos resultados obtidos em subtestes da escala WISC-III em crianças de 6 a 11 anos que residem no Rio de Janeiro. Participaram do estudo 25 crianças e seus respectivos responsáveis. Os resultados indicaram que aspectos do cuidado parental e maior acesso a recursos tecnológicos correlacionaram-se com os índices de QI na escala verbal da bateria WISC-III, sugerindo uma indissociável relação entre cultura e inteligência. Acredita-se que tais exposições podem contribuir para ampliar a compreensão da interpretação dos escores fornecidos pela escala WISC-III adaptada ao contexto brasileiro. / The first aim of this study was to present a review about what current scientific literature says about the WISC-III intelligence battery. Theoretical references which support the construction of the intelligence tests, such as Cattell- Horn Caroll model and recent approaches, were discussed. Based on the conception of fluid and crystallized (Gc) intelligence (Gf) we tried to establish a dialogue with basic assumptions of evolutionary psychology development considering the phylogenetic and ontogenetic perspectives. Considerations about cultural aspects that influence our cognitive walkthrough development. Theoretically it was discussed cultural aspects of the Flynn effect for discrepancy of a scale, seeking evidences if it was in fact used on the Verbal Scalesubtests of the WISC-III battery. The second purpose of this study was to indentify whether there is correlation between variables such as the use of technology, access to media by children and how parental practices affect the measurement of WISC-III scale subtests in children aged 6 to 11 years living in Rio de Janeiro. The study included 25 children and their respective guardians. The results indicated that aspects of parental care and greater access to technology resources correlated with IQ scores in the verbal scale of the WISC-III battery, suggesting an inseparable relationship between culture and intelligence. It is believed that such exposures may contribute to enhance the understanding of the interpretation of the scores provided by the WISC-III scale adapted to the Brazilian context.

This document focuses on the formal structures and tonal language of four trios that include horn by American composer Simon A. Sargon: "Huntsman, What Quarry?" Two Poems of Edna St. Vincent Millay for Soprano, Horn, and Piano (1990); Trio for Horn, Violin, and Piano: "The Legacy" (1993); A Clear Midnight: Six Songs Set to Poems of Walt Whitman for Baritone, Horn, and Piano (1996); and Sonic Portals: Trio for Oboe, Horn, and Piano (2003). Comparisons with precedent works of like instrumentation demonstrate that Sargon's trios, though musically unique, merit a place alongside masterworks like Carl Reinecke's Trio, op. 188, for oboe, horn, and piano; Franz Schubert's Auf dem Strom for soprano, horn, and piano; and especially Johannes Brahms's Trio, op. 40, for violin, horn, and piano. Other precedent, contemporary, and related works are also mentioned. Sargon's ability to write idiomatically for the horn and other instruments is discussed, and consideration is given to some elements required to create a good performance of Sargon's chamber music. Included are a brief biography of Simon Sargon, letters from colleagues with whom he has worked closely, lists of his instrumental music and recordings of some of these pieces, and lists of other works in the genres discussed herein.

Different sections or movements of a piece are associated with each other and contain the composer essential thought. A vague affinity of mood and a resembling theme or form testifies to the relationship. However, the evidence is insufficient to reveal the unification of the different sections or movements since these are under restraint of external music proofs. In order to figure out the relationship, thus, identical musical substance should be discovered. In the study the substantial evidence, which can be called unity or unification, is mainly discussed. The unity is illustrated with Brahms's Horn Trio, Op.40 that is one of the Brahms's significant works. The unity found in the Horn Trio is based on the internal structure and structural voice-leading notes. The unity in the Horn Trio is the fundamental structural unity that is divided into initial ascent and voice exchange, and fundamental voice-leading motive. The fundamental unity seriously affects the master piece and penetrates the movements as a whole. Further, it reveals the hidden connections to the historical background of the Horn Trio and the philosophy of Brahms for the music. Even though a piece consists of several sections or movements, the entire piece presents homogeneity. The identity of the composer's underlying philosophical thought suffices to discern the musical unity in a piece. Thus, the investigation of unity is one of the critical ways to understand not merely a piece but also the philosophy of a composer. The study will help to enhance the audience's interpretation of music.

The thesis deals with the design and realization of a horn antenna for electromagnetic compatibility measurement. First it focuses on general theory of antennas, than it focuses more on horn antennas and their design. Second part deals with description of antenna realization and comparison of simulated results.

The History of Horn Playing in Los Angeles from 1920 to 1970 begins with the horn players who played in the silent film orchestras and the Alfred Brain's tenure with the Los Angeles Philharmonc. This study details the introduction of sound tracks, the early studio orchestras, the contact studio orchestras, the musician union's role in structuring the work environment, the horn players who played in both the Los Angeles Philharmonicand the studios, major figures from the subsequent freelance perios such as Vincent de Rosa, and the local and international influence of the Los Angeles Horn Club.

This thesis explores synergies between deductive verification and model checking, by using the existing model checker TriCera to automatically infer specifications for the deductive verifier Frama-C. To accomplish this, a formal semantics is defined for a subset of ANSI C, extended with assume statements, called Csmall. Then, it is shown how a Hoare logic contract can be translated into statements in Csmall, and the defined formal semantics is used to prove that the translation is correct. Furthermore, it is shown that the translation can be applied also to a real specification language. This is done by defining a subset of ACSL, called ACSLsmall, and giving a formal semantics also for this. Lastly, two examples are provided showing that the theory developed in this thesis can be applied to automatically infer ACSL function contracts. / Den här avhandlingen studerar synergier mellan deduktiv verifikation och modelprovning, genom att använda Tricera, ett verktyg för modellprovning, för att automatiskt generera specifikationer för Frama-C, ett verktyg för deduktiv verifikation. Detta uppnås genom att definiera en formell semantik för en delmängd av ANSI-C, utökat med assume satser, som kallas förCsmall. Sedan visas hur kontrakt kan översättas till satser i Csmall samt att översättningen är korrekt. Därefter visas att översättningen också kan tillämpas på ett verkligt specifikationsspråk, genom att definiera en delmängd av ACSL, som kallas ACSLsmall, och definiera en formell semantik också för detta. Slutligen visas med två exempel hur teorin från uppsatsen kan appliceras för att automatiskt generera funktionskontrakt i ACSL.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation presents modal-based techniques for the effective systematic design of quadruple-ridged flared horns (QRFHs) as reflector feeds for radio astronomy applications. A new excitation technique is proposed, consisting of a quadraxial line that terminates in the quad-ridges through the back lid of the QRFH, which allows for the integration with differential low-noise amplifiers. An equivalent circuit of this quadraxial feed is presented that allows fast synthesis of optimal feeding designs for QRFHs. In addition, the quadraxial feeding network suppresses higher-order modes significantly. The effect of eliminating these unwanted modes are investigated and the quadraxial feed is shown to outperform the coaxial feed in the known detrimental aspects of the QRFH – beamwidth narrowing for increased frequency, beamwidth variation over the upper bandwidth, high cross-polarisation levels, high co-polar sidelobes and variable phase centre – for the specific QRFH designs. Ridge-loaded modes are analysed and a large number of cut-off frequencies presented which are unavailable in literature. The pure-mode excitation of the quadraxial feed allows more effective control over the modal content in the QRFH. This is exploited in a proposed design technique where the cut-off frequencies throughout the horn are used to synthesise the ridge taper profile, in order to achieve the desired modal distribution in the aperture. The proposed feeding solution is compact and therefore is also attractive for use with cryocoolers, typically employed with front-end electronics in telescopes for radio astronomy. A prototype was successfully manufactured and the mechanical implementation of the quadraxial feed proved to be much more simple than that of the conventional feed – consisting of a coaxial line realised within the thin ridges. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie proefskrif stel modus gebasseerde tegnieke voor vir die effektiewe sistematiese ontwerp van viervoud gerifte oopgesperde horings (VGOHs) as weerkaatser voere vir radio astronomie toepassings. ’n Nuwe voertegniek word voorgestel, wat bestaan uit ’n kwadraksiale lyn wat termineer in die vier riwwe deur die agterkant van die VGOH, wat die integrasie met differensiële laeruis versterkers toelaat. ’n Ekwivalente stroombaan van hierdie kwadraksiale voer word aangebied vir die vinnige sintese van optimale voer ontwerpe vir VGOHs. Boonop onderdruk die kwadraksiale voer netwerk ook beduidend hoër orde modusse. Die effek van die uitskakeling van hierdie ongewensde modusse word ondersoek en die kwadraksiale voer oortref die gedrag van die koaksiale voer in die bekende nadelige aspekte van die VGOH – bundelwydte vernouing met toenemende frekwensie, bundelwydte variasie oor die boonste bandwydte, hoë kruispolarisasie vlakke, hoë kopolarisasie sybande en wisselvallige fase senter – vir die spesifieke VGOH ontwerpe. Rifgelaaide modusse word geanaliseer en ‘n groot aantal afsnyfrekwensies word aangebied wat nie beskikbaar is in literatuur nie. Die suiwermodus opwekking van die kwadraksiale voer bied meer effektiewe beheer oor die modusinhoud in die VGOH. Hierdie aspek word benut in ‘n voorgestelde tegniek waar die afsnyfrekwensies deur die horing gebruik word om die rif tapsheid profiel te sintetiseer, sodat die gewensde modale distribusie in die stralingsvlak behaal word. Die voorgestelde voer oplossing is kompak en daarom ook aantreklik vir die gebruik met krioverkoelers, wat tipies gebruik word met die voorkant elektronika in teleskope vir radio astronomie. ‘n Prototipe was suksesvol vervaardig en die meganiese implimentasie van die kwadraksiale voer toon dat dit eenvoudiger is as met die gebruiklike koaksiale voer – wat bestaan uit ‘n koaksiale lyn bewerkstellig binne die dun riwwe.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Music / Master / Master of Philosophy

The mammalian central nervous system maintains a delicate balance between neuronal excitation and inhibition. Conventional synaptic inhibition is mediated through the transient activity of postsynaptic γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) at type A GABA (GABAA) receptors. A subset of GABAA receptors is also located outside of inhibitory synapses. These extrasynaptic receptors generate a tonic inhibitory conductance in response to low concentrations of extracellular GABA. Tonic inhibition broadly suppresses neuronal activity and regulates many vital processes such as sleep, consciousness and memory formation. This thesis examines the physiological effects of tonic inhibition at the cellular level and in the behaving animal. This thesis also explores whether gabapentin, a commonly used sedative, anxiolytic, and analgesic drug, enhances tonic GABAergic inhibition. I hypothesize that: (1) tonic GABAA receptor activity reduces the intrinsic excitability of neurons; (2) the activity of tonically active GABAA receptors in spinal pain pathways attenuates nociception; and (3) tonic inhibition can be upregulated by gabapentin. The results show that a tonic inhibitory current generated by α5 subunit-containing GABAA (α5GABAA) receptors reduces the excitability of hippocampal pyramidal neurons excitability by increasing the rheobase, but does not change the gain of action potential firing. A similar shunting inhibition is present in spinal cord lamina II neurons that is generated by δ subunit-containing GABAA receptors. The activity of these receptors in spinal nociceptive pathways reduces acute thermal nociception and may constrain central sensitization in a behavioural model of persistent pain. Finally, gabapentin increases a tonic inhibitory current in cultured hippocampal neurons independent from changes in the expression of α5GABAA receptors or in the concentration of GABAA receptor ligands. The results of this thesis demonstrate that tonically active GABAA receptors play an important role in the regulation of neuronal activity and nociception, and that tonic inhibition represents a novel target of therapeutic drugs.

This dissertation is a comprehensive study of the life and work of the Viennese woodwind instrument maker Theodor Lotz. Lotz is central to many of the most significant developments in woodwind instrument manufacture and compositions of late 18th century Vienna, and is associated with some of the greatest players and composers of the day. Despite this, no study has been undertaken into his life and many of his surviving instruments have not been studied. This study corrects this by examining both the biographical and organological aspects of this maker. In Chapter 1, the current knowledge of Lotz’s biography is examined for veracity. This has been achieved through consultation of archival sources such as birth and marriage registers and contemporary newspaper announcements. The biographies of the other significant Viennese makers have also been examined in order to determine their relationship to Lotz. Particular attention has been paid to those makers known to have associated with him. Chapter 2 is a comparative study of clarinets. The surviving clarinet by Lotz is the main focus, and it is compared to earlier Viennese instruments as well as other contemporary instruments in order to place Lotz’s instruments in context. Basset horns are the instruments for which Lotz is best known. Chapter 3 is a comparative study of the surviving basset horns, and includes instruments by Lotz which have not previously been studied. The comparative aspect of the study focuses most particularly on instruments by Doleisch, who also made significant numbers of basset horns in nearby Prague during Lotz’s lifetime. This chapter also includes a discussion on the basset clarinet. Chapter 4 studies Lotz’s work with bassoons and contrabassoons. As with Chapter 3, it includes a number of Lotz’s instruments which have not been studied before. It continues the comparative theme and examines not only Viennese instruments, but particularly those by August Grenser, whose bassoons are widely copied by modern makers. The attribution of the surviving flute by Lotz is examined in Chapter 5. Lotz’s involvement with the flute is examined through documentary evidence and the output of his students is examined in order to determine his level of influence on this instrument. Chapter 6 is a study of the two surviving oboe fragments by Lotz as well as the surviving cor anglais. As internal measurements have been impossible to obtain for many of these instruments, the comparative study has instead focussed on external aspects of decoration and design. The conclusion gives a summation of the evidence presented in the preceding chapters and is used to demonstrate Lotz’s unique contributions as an instrument maker and his impact on the future and design of woodwind instruments.