Epidemiological studies have revealed high rates of criminal victimization in the general community as well as in treatment seeking populations. As a consequence, many crime victims present with a broad range of psychological and physical health impacts which exceed far beyond the current conceptualization of posttraumatic stress disorder. Accordingly, the current project aimed at an exploration of the complex problems faced in the context of severe interpersonal violence, using a mixed methodological design within a pragmatist paradigm. The first study (n=58) involved a quantitative exploration of the psychological and physical health problems in victims of crime as compared to a normally stressed community sample without a history of traumatization. Psychological impacts were assessed by standardized psychological measures, whereas influences on physical health were captured by an analysis of biochemical markers that reflect stress- related changes in immune functioning. Once impacts on psychological and physical health were established, a second study (n=17) was conducted to gain a better understanding of individual stress conceptualizations. This study involved a qualitative framework analysis of semi-structured interviews with victims of crime. The results from Study I and II informed the development of a phase oriented psychological treatment program for victims of crime, using cognitive-behavioural and hypnotherapeutic treatment components. This was followed by an outcome –and process evaluation of a combined CBT/Hypnotherapy treatment in comparison to a CBT treatment only to explore additive benefits of hypnotherapy. Although a multiplicity of traumatic sequelae was indicated by the results of the preceding studies, the treatment process revealed an even greater complexity of traumatization which was difficult to accommodate in the proposed treatment program. Moreover, twelve out of nineteen participants discontinued treatment, making it difficult to determine the additive benefits of hypnotherapy. A qualitative analysis of the treatment sessions was conducted to elucidate critical treatment variables with a particular emphasis on the differences between treatment completers and non-completers. The results were interpreted with respect to recently suggested theories and associated treatment approaches such as the Theory of Structural Dissociation (Van der Hart, Nijenhuis, & Steele, 2006) which may better accommodate the needs of complex trauma survivors encountered in a real world clinical practice. Furthermore, the challenges associated with interventions and treatment evaluations involving a highly complex clinical sample such as victims of crime are discussed in light of the current debate on evidence-based practice and the dilemma of providing reliable, methodologically sound evidence without compromising internal validity of the treatment. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1347975 / Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Adelaide, School of Psychology, 2008

Epidemiological studies have revealed high rates of criminal victimization in the general community as well as in treatment seeking populations. As a consequence, many crime victims present with a broad range of psychological and physical health impacts which exceed far beyond the current conceptualization of posttraumatic stress disorder. Accordingly, the current project aimed at an exploration of the complex problems faced in the context of severe interpersonal violence, using a mixed methodological design within a pragmatist paradigm. The first study (n=58) involved a quantitative exploration of the psychological and physical health problems in victims of crime as compared to a normally stressed community sample without a history of traumatization. Psychological impacts were assessed by standardized psychological measures, whereas influences on physical health were captured by an analysis of biochemical markers that reflect stress- related changes in immune functioning. Once impacts on psychological and physical health were established, a second study (n=17) was conducted to gain a better understanding of individual stress conceptualizations. This study involved a qualitative framework analysis of semi-structured interviews with victims of crime. The results from Study I and II informed the development of a phase oriented psychological treatment program for victims of crime, using cognitive-behavioural and hypnotherapeutic treatment components. This was followed by an outcome –and process evaluation of a combined CBT/Hypnotherapy treatment in comparison to a CBT treatment only to explore additive benefits of hypnotherapy. Although a multiplicity of traumatic sequelae was indicated by the results of the preceding studies, the treatment process revealed an even greater complexity of traumatization which was difficult to accommodate in the proposed treatment program. Moreover, twelve out of nineteen participants discontinued treatment, making it difficult to determine the additive benefits of hypnotherapy. A qualitative analysis of the treatment sessions was conducted to elucidate critical treatment variables with a particular emphasis on the differences between treatment completers and non-completers. The results were interpreted with respect to recently suggested theories and associated treatment approaches such as the Theory of Structural Dissociation (Van der Hart, Nijenhuis, & Steele, 2006) which may better accommodate the needs of complex trauma survivors encountered in a real world clinical practice. Furthermore, the challenges associated with interventions and treatment evaluations involving a highly complex clinical sample such as victims of crime are discussed in light of the current debate on evidence-based practice and the dilemma of providing reliable, methodologically sound evidence without compromising internal validity of the treatment. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1347975 / Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Adelaide, School of Psychology, 2008

La prise en compte des impacts environnementaux liés à la Fabrication Additive (FA) est un sujet encore en développement et loin d'être consolidé. Cette thèse tente de répondre à la question suivante: Comment identifier et maîtriser les impacts environnementaux liés à la mise en usage des technologies de Fabrication Additive ?Une approche centrée sur l’analyse de scénarios d’usages a été appliquée. Trois scénarios ont été identifiés et étudiés: 1) La Fabrication Personnelle; 2) l’Utilisation commerciale de la FA et 3) l’Utilisation Industrielle de la FA. L'analyse de la littérature et l’application de la méthode d’Analyse du Cycle de Vie – ACV ont fourni les données nécessaires afin d’identifier les différents hotspots environnementaux dans chaque scénario.Pour le cas de la « Fabrication Personnelle », l'étude souligne l'importance de mettre en évidence les aspects humains. La façon dont les gens utilisent la technologie génère bien souvent plus d’impact que la technologie elle-même. Pour le cas du scénario «Utilisation Commerciale», c’est la phase de production qui génère le plus d'impacts environnementaux, en raison de la consommation d’énergie du processus d'impression. Les résultats du scénario « Utilisation Industriel», avec l’utilisation de la technologie EBM, indiquent que la consommation d’énergie du processus d'impression, la fabrication de poudre, ainsi que les processus de Finition sont les principales sources d’impacts.Les résultats des trois études ont été analysés et rassemblés de manière à concevoir un cadre systémique montrant les contributeurs aux impacts dans le cas de la mise en usage de technologies de FA. Quatre groupes de contributeurs ont ainsi été identifiés en lien avec: le produit, le processus d'impression (aspects techniques), et le niveau d'expérience de l'utilisateur en matière de CAO et d'impression (aspects humains). Pour chaque groupe, plusieurs contributeurs ont été associés (consommation d’énergie, masse du produit, temps d’usage de la CAO,…). A partir de ce cadre, nous avons pu construire un modèle simplifié pour l’ACV adapté au cas de la mise en usage de la FA. Il a donné lieu à l’élaboration d’un démonstrateur pour estimer les impacts environnementaux liés à la mise en usage de la fabrication additive. / The subject of the environmental impacts related to Additive Manufacturing is evolving and far from being consolidated. This thesis tries to answer the following question: How to identify and control the environmental impacts associated to the use of Additive Manufacturing technologies? An approach centred on scenarios was applied. Three specific scenarios were identified and studied: 1) Personal Fabrication; 2) Business use of AM and 3) Industrial use of AM. Literature analysis and the use of the Life Cycle Assessment-LCA approach provided accurate data to identify the different hotspots of environmental impacts in each scenario.In the Personal Fabrication case, the study highlights the importance of placing a greater focus on the Human aspects. The way people use the technology often generates more impacts than the technology itself. In the ‘Business’ scenario the findings show that the energy consumed in Production phase is the most representative phase in terms of environmental impacts. Results from the ‘Industrial’ scenario using EBM technology suggests that the energy consumption of the Printing Process, the powder manufacturing, as well as the Post-treatment process are the main sources of the environmental impacts.The results of the three studies were analysed and gathered in such a way to design a systemic framework of impacts in the case of AM use. Four group of impacts drivers are recognised: The product and the Printing Process (Technical aspects) and the User’s level of experience in CAD and Printing (Human Aspects). For each group, several impact contributors are identified (product height, CAD use time, etc.). From this framework, an adapted LCA model was designed and a software concept was created to estimate the environmental impacts related to use of AM technologies.

abstract: In recent years, service oriented computing (SOC) has become a widely accepted paradigm for the development of distributed applications such as web services, grid computing and cloud computing systems. In service-based systems (SBS), multiple service requests with specific performance requirements make services compete for system resources. IT service providers need to allocate resources to services so the performance requirements of customers can be satisfied. Workload and performance models are required for efficient resource management and service performance assurance in SBS. This dissertation develops two methods to understand and model the cause-effect relations of service-related activities with resources workload and service performance. Part one presents an empirical method that requires the collection of system dynamics data and the application of statistical analyses. The results show that the method is capable to: 1) uncover the impacts of services on resource workload and service performance, 2) identify interaction effects of multiple services running concurrently, 3) gain insights about resource and performance tradeoffs of services, and 4) build service workload and performance models. In part two, the empirical method is used to investigate the impacts of services, security mechanisms and cyber attacks on resources workload and service performance. The information obtained is used to: 1) uncover interaction effects of services, security mechanisms and cyber attacks, 2) identify tradeoffs within limits of system resources, and 3) develop general/specific strategies for system survivability. Finally, part three presents a framework based on the usage profiles of services competing for resources and the resource-sharing schemes. The framework is used to: 1) uncover the impacts of service parameters (e.g. arrival distribution, execution time distribution, priority, workload intensity, scheduling algorithm) on workload and performance, and 2) build service workload and performance models at individual resources. The estimates obtained from service workload and performance models at individual resources can be aggregated to obtain overall estimates of services through multiple system resources. The workload and performance models of services obtained through both methods can be used for the efficient resource management and service performance assurance in SBS. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Industrial Engineering 2012

La région de l’IGAD est particulièrement concernée par les catastrophes naturelles qui sont à l’origine d’importants dégâts humains et économiques. Parallèlement, les pays de l’IGAD figurent parmi les plus pauvres de la planète même si l’on observe de fortes disparités. Le lien entre niveau de richesse, processus de développement et catastrophes naturelles a été peu étudié dans ce contexte. La thèse vise d’abord à développer des méthodes et outils d’analyse pour évaluer les causes et les remédiations possibles des catastrophes naturelles. La recherche se fonde d’abord sur une base de données recensant les impacts des catastrophes naturelles dans cette région. Cette base de données, dénommée BDCanaca, a permis de constater l’existence des disparités spatiotemporelles des dommages des catastrophes naturelles à l’échelle régionale et nationale. La forte vulnérabilité de la région face aux catastrophes naturelles s’explique par l’ampleur des contraintes socio-économiques et politiques notamment les conflits intra ou interétatiques qui ont secoué cette région au cours des dernières décennies. Ensuite, à une échelle locale, la réalisation d’un diagnostic visuel du bâti complété par des enquêtes de terrain a permis d’estimer le niveau de vulnérabilité des ménages installés à proximité des oueds. L’occupation croissante des zones exposées par des populations vulnérables est le principal facteur de production du risque. Afin de limiter les conséquences des catastrophes naturelles, un panel des mesures et des politiques de gestion des risques a été adopté par les États de la région qui figurent parmi les premiers du continent à se doter des structures chargées de la gestion des effets des catastrophes naturelles. Mais ces structures n’ont pas toujours les moyens de mettre en œuvre des politiques efficaces qui gagneraient à intégrer et accompagner les stratégies d’adaptation développées par les populations des régions affectées. / The IGAD region is particularly affected by natural disasters which have caused significant human and economic damages. Despites disparities, IGAD countries are among the poorest in the world. The link between wealth level, development process and natural disasters has been little studied in this context. The main aim of this thesis is to develop methods and tools of analysis to assess the causes and possible remedies of natural disasters. This research is mainly based on a database called BDCanaca which lists natural disasters’ impacts in this region. The data from this database revealed the existence of spatiotemporal disparities in natural disaster damage at regional and national scales as well. The high vulnerability of the region to natural disasters is due to the extent of socio-economic and demographic constraints. It has also shown the heterogeneity of existing sources and the inaccuracy of natural disaster balances. The intrastate or interstate conflicts that have rocked this region over the last decades are factors that explain the enormity of the impacts of natural disasters and therefore its level of vulnerability. The increasing occupation of vulnerable areas by poor populations is the main risk factor. In order to curb the natural disasters’ consequences, a panel of risk management measures and policies has been implemented by the region's states, which are among the first in the continent to procure themselves with managing body to follow up with natural disasters’ effects. But these structures do not always have the means to implement effective policies that would benefit from integrating and supporting the adaptation strategies developed by the populations from affected regions.

L’utilisation industrielle ou militaire des explosifs est largement répandue. La sécurité est devenue un axe majeur avec notamment l’ignition involontaire des explosifs composés de HMX lors des impacts à basse vitesse. L’objectif de cette thèse est de contribuer à la compréhension des mécanismes dissipatifs à l’origine des échauffements locaux dans le matériau. Le développement d’un essai aux barres d’Hopkinson a permis de coupler de grandes vitesses de déformations à des pressions élevées pour compléter les données expérimentales. Cet essai a montré un angle de frottement quasiment identique à celui obtenu en quasistatique mais une contrainte de cohésion supérieure d’environ 25 MPa. Ensuite, pour observer les mécanismes pouvant être sources d’échauffement, un essai de compression dans la tranche a été développé avec des observations en temps réel. Celles-ci ont permis de conclure qu’il y a très peu de frottements entre les gros grains et la matrice (l’ensemble des petits grains, du liant et de la porosité). De la plasticité des grains de HMX a pu être observée mais surtout beaucoup d’endommagement dans certaines zones y compris dans la matrice. Une microfissuration très intense de certains grains a été observée. Parallèlement, une représentation numérique biphasique (gros grains de HMX et matrice) de toute la microstructure du matériau a été considérée. Une confrontation entre les observations expérimentales et les simulations a permis de déterminer le seuil de plasticité du HMX. Le comportement de la matrice a été identifié pour prendre en compte l’effet de vitesse et l’endommagement observé. Enfin, les confrontations entre les essais et les simulations de ceux-ci ont montré que les échauffements devraient plutôt se localiser dans la matrice que dans les gros grains de HMX et que le mécanisme le plus probable est le frottement de lèvres de microfissures. / Safety of industrial or military explosives is a major focus to prevent inadvertent ignition due to accidental loading as, for example, low-velocity impact. Our aim is to understand the dissipative mechanisms at work which could heat a pressed HMX-based PBX. A test based on the Split Hopkinson Pressure Bars system is proposed to carry out a dynamic triaxial compression test. This test simultaneously associates a high strain rate and a high pressure. Data have shown almost the same friction angle as during quasi-static experiments, but a higher cohesive stress. Then, A reversed edge-on impact test has been developed. This experiment enables the real-time observation of the deformation mechanisms at the microstructural scale. No relative displacement is observed between the biggest HMX grains and the matrix made of the smallest grains, the binder and the porosity. Plasticity has been observed into some HMX grains as well as damage by microcracking. Meanwhile, a biphasic (HMX grains and matrix) numerical representation of the material microstructure has been considered. A comparison between experimental observations and simulations is used to determine the yield stress of HMX. The behavior of the matrix has been determined to account for the influence of the strain rate and of the damage. Lastly, a comparison between tests and simulations has highlighted (1) that heating should rather be located in the matrix than in the biggest HMX grains and (2) that the most likely heating mechanism is the friction of microcracks lips.

Le développement rapide des fonds souverains ces dernières années est un des sujets marquants de l'évolution des marchés financiers. Pourtant, il existe encore peu de recherches scientifiques dans ce domaine, compte tenu du très faible niveau d'information sur ces fonds. L'objet de notre étude est d'une part d'essayer de mieux comprendre les stratégies d'investissement, les déterminants qui expliquent les décisions d'investissement et les performances des fonds souverains. D'autre part, nous analysons l'impact des fonds souverains sur les performances des entreprises dans lesquelles les fonds souverains ont investi, et aussi sur les marchés financiers. Nos résultats indiquent que les fonds souverains présentent généralement des rentabilités satisfaisantes. Pourtant, la crise financière et les difficultés de l'économie ont influencé fortement leurs performances. La performance des fonds souverains est influencée aussi par leurs stratégies d'investissement. Nous constatons que les déterminants de l'allocation d'investissement des fonds souverains changent selon les périodes et selon les fonds souverains. Les résultats de notre étude indiquent que l'impact de l'investissement des fonds souverains sur la performance des entreprises est positif. Ils mettent en avant que le niveau de transparence des fonds souverains influence les réactions positives du prix des actions aux annonces des investissements de ces fonds. Plus le niveau de transparence des fonds souverains est élevé, plus la réaction positive est forte. Notre étude permet de mieux comprendre la stratégie et le comportement d'investissement des fonds souverains. En évaluant l'impact des fonds souverains sur les marchés financiers et sur la performance des firmes dans lesquelles ils investissent, elle contribue à mieux comprendre les performances des fonds souverains et des entreprises qui attirent les investissements des fonds souverains. / The rapid growth of sovereign wealth funds in recent years is one of the prominent subjects of the financial markets evolution. Yet, there has been very little academic research in this domain, taking in account the very low level of information on these funds. The purpose of our study is to understand the investment strategies, the determinants that explain the investment decisions and the evolution of the SWFs performance. On the other hand, we try to shed some light at the impact of SWFs on the performance of companies in which they invested, and on the financial markets. Our results indicate that the SWFs' returns are generally satisfactory. However, the financial crisis and the difficulties of the economies have greatly influenced their performance. The performance of SWFs is also influenced by the investment strategies. We find that the determinants of investment allocation of SWFs change over the time and in accordance to SWFs. The results of our study show that the impact of SWF investments on the performance of the companies is positive. They also indicate that the level of transparency of SWFs influence the positive reaction of stock prices to the announcements of investments by these funds. The greater the level of transparency of SWFs, the positive reaction is stronger. Our study provides a better understanding of strategies and investment behaviors of SWFs. By evaluating the impact of SWFs on the financial markets and on the performance of firms in which they invest, it contributes to enhance current understanding on the performance of SWFs and of the companies that attract SWF investments.

Le 26 octobre 2010, le Merapi, volcan le plus peuplé et le plus actif de l'île de Java en Indonésie, est entré en éruption. Depuis plusieurs mois, l'activité du volcan avait crû de manière exponentielle et les scientifiques s'attendaient à une éruption exceptionnelle. Leurs pronostics furent confirmés puisqu'un blast parcourut une distance de 8 km, rasa en partie deux villages évacués, et tua mbah Marijan, le « gardien des clés du volcan » et son entourage, ce qui perturba l'équilibre culturel de la région. Dans les jours suivants, l'activité du volcan continua de s'intensifier et des évacuations massives furent organisées. L'éruption paroxysmale du Merapi eut lieu dans la nuit du 4 au 5 novembre ; alors que plusieurs dizaines de milliers de villageois étaient en train de fuir le volcan, de puissantes coulées pyroclastiques dévastèrent les flancs du volcan, tuant et détruisant tout sur leur passage sur une distance maximale de 17 km. Cette nuit-là, plus de 250 personnes furent tuées et des milliers d'autres blessées. Le secteur agricole subit de lourdes pertes puisque de nombreuses récoltes et un grand nombre de têtes de bétail furent perdus. L'activité touristique de la région connut une réaction en chaîne d'impacts, générée en grande partie par la fermeture de l'aéroport de Yogyakarta. La thèse propose de faire une étude transversale et systémique de ces impacts en analysant comment gouvernement et populations se remettent de cette éruption et s'apprêtent à faire face à une future crise causée par le Merapi. / On October 26th 2010, the Merapi volcano, the most populated and active volcano on the Java Island in Indonesia, began erupting. During several months, the volcano's activity grew exponentially and scientists were expecting an exceptional eruption. Their predictions got confirmed as a blast ran through a distance of 8 km, partially destructed two villages (that got evacuated) and killed mbah Marijan, the « Volcano's keys guardian » and his entourage. As a consequence, the cultural balance of the region got disrupted for a while. In the following days, the volcano's activity kept increasing and mass evacuations were organized. The paroxysmal eruption of Merapi occurred in the night of November 4th to 5th 2010, while tens of thousands of villagers were running away from the volcano. Powerful pyroclastic flows ran down its flanks, killing and destroying everything on their way over a maximum distance of 17 km. During that night, over 250 people were killed and thousands were injured. The agricultural sector suffered from heavy losses as many crops and livestock were lost. The tourism industry in the region experienced a chain reaction of impacts generated by the closure of Yogyakarta airport. The thesis offers to make a transversal and systemic study of these impacts by analyzing how the government and people recovered from the eruption and how they are to face a future crisis caused by the Merapi.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-17T18:39:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 5424.pdf: 4133188 bytes, checksum: 0bf3befaace71e6021b526c40f6d3002 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-06-17 / Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais / Nanotechnology has been reported as a technology that will have further development in this century and agricultural nanotechnologies gain space with the discovery of its potential applications in the transport of substances, nanosensors, nanocapsules, among others. Many of these nanoproducts are already found in the market or in development, therefore, exposure to nanoparticles concerns the scientific community and policy makers. In this context, this project aims to develop a methodology for assessing the environmental and social impacts of nanotechnology use in agriculture. Given the complexity and scope of nanotechnology, impact indicators were formulated by reviewing specialized scientific literature. The indicators were conceptually validated in a remote consultation with experts of areas related to agricultural nanotechnology through a questionnaire formulated according to the Delphi technique. The Impactos AGNano method has the indicators as an essential basis for its development and has two stages of evaluation: Safety Assessment (preliminary assessment to obtain the Security Index) and Impact Assessment (for obtaining Impact Index). The method was validated in a presential consultation with experts of areas related to nanotechnology in agriculture. / A nanotecnologia tem sido reportada como a tecnologia que terá maior desenvolvimento neste século e as nanotecnologias agrícolas ganham espaço com a descoberta de suas potenciais aplicações no transporte de substâncias, nanossensores, nanocápsulas, entre outros. Muitos destes nanoprodutos já são encontrados no mercado ou em desenvolvimento, dessa forma, a exposição às nanopartículas utilizadas nessas tecnologias preocupa a comunidade científica e os legisladores. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo a criação de uma metodologia para a avaliação dos impactos ambientais e sociais do uso de nanotecnologias na agricultura. Dada a complexidade e abrangência da área nanotecnológica, indicadores de impacto foram formulados através de revisão de literatura especializada. Os indicadores foram validados conceitualmente em uma consulta remota a especialistas de áreas relacionadas à nanotecnologia agrícola por meio de questionário formulado de acordo com a técnica Delphi. O método Impactos AGNano foi desenvolvido utilizando os indicadores como base e possui duas etapas de avaliação: Avaliação de Segurança (avaliação preliminar para obtenção do Índice de Segurança) e Avaliação de Impacto (para obtenção do Índice de Impacto). O método foi validado em consulta presencial a especialistas de áreas relacionadas a nanotecnologia agrícola.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:42:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:05:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Dissertação (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP