Un kleptomane, pris d’impulsions irrésistibles, peut-il être responsable pénalement de ses actes ? Voilà la question à l’origine de cette recherche. Les troubles du contrôle des impulsions sont des troubles mentaux caractérisés par l’impossibilité de résister à une impulsion. Comment peut-on concilier ceux-ci avec le droit pénal canadien sachant que la responsabilité criminelle repose sur le postulat voulant que seul un acte volontaire justifie une déclaration de culpabilité ? Afin d’avoir une étude exhaustive sur le sujet, nous avons choisi trois troubles du contrôle des impulsions, soit la kleptomanie, la pyromanie et le jeu pathologique. Cette sélection permet d’étudier à la fois l’imputabilité criminelle et l’imposition d’une sentence en droit pénal canadien. Cette étude propose un retour aux principes fondamentaux de la responsabilité criminelle et l’analyse du droit pénal canadien afin de démontrer que certains troubles du contrôle des impulsions (kleptomanie et pyromanie) entraînent chez le sujet atteint une incapacité criminelle, le rendant non criminellement responsable au sens de l’article 16 du Code criminel. Au surplus, cette recherche porte sur les principes entourant l’imposition d’une sentence en droit pénal canadien et étudie l’impact de ces maladies mentales au point de vue de la peine. Cette analyse démontre que les caractéristiques diagnostiques des troubles du contrôle des impulsions sont utilisées afin d’alourdir la peine imposée aux contrevenants. Nous considérons que celles-ci ne devraient pas être employées comme facteurs aggravants (particulièrement en matière de jeu pathologique), mais devraient plutôt être utilisées afin d’imposer une peine plus appropriée pour remédier à la problématique entraînant la commission des délits. / A kleptomaniac, taken by overpowering impulses, can he be criminally responsible for his actions? That is the question behind this research. The impulse control disorders are mental disorders characterized by the inability to resist an impulse. How can we reconcile this with the Canadian criminal law, knowing that criminal liability based on the assumption that only a voluntary act warrants a conviction? To gain a comprehensive study on the subject, we chose three impulse control disorders, kleptomania, pyromania and pathological gambling. This selection allows us to study both the criminal accountability and the imposition of a sentence in Canadian criminal law. This study proposes a return to fundamental principles of criminal responsibility and the analysis of Canadian criminal law to demonstrate that some impulse control disorders (kleptomania and pyromania) result in the subject reaching a criminal incapacity, making it not criminally responsible within the meaning of article 16 of the Criminal Code. Furthermore, this research focuses on the principles surrounding the imposition of a sentence in Canadian criminal law and explores the impact of mental illness in terms of the sentence. This analysis shows that the diagnostic features of impulse control disorders are used to increase the punishment imposed on offenders. We consider that these characteristic should not be used as aggravating factors (especially in pathological gambling), but should be used to impose a sentence more appropriate to remedy to the problem causing the commission of crimes.

Die vorliegende Dissertation befasst sich mit Entstehungsmechanismen kardialer Arrhythmien auf der Grundlage pathologisch veränderten Myokards. Es wurde eine systematische Analyse der elektrophysiologischen Veränderungen, die als Folge von Gap-Junction- Lateralisierung und zellulärer Hypertrophie auftreten, durchgeführt. Die Analyse beruht auf einem mathematischen Computermodell, das zur Simulation der Aktionspotentialausbreitung innerhalb einer Einzelzellschicht humaner ventrikulärer Kardiomyozyten entwickelt wurde. Ausgehend von bestehenden Einzelzellmodellen wurde ein räumlich und zeitlich hoch aufgelöstes Multizellmodell generiert und in der Programmiersprache Object Pascal implementiert. Nach Validierung des Modells wurde es zur gezielten, an experimentellen Daten orientierten Manipulation geometrischer Eigenschaften der Zellen (Länge, Durchmesser) und des Zellverbandes (Anordnung der Zellen untereinander) sowie der Gap-Junction-Verteilung genutzt. Die Analyse der elektrophysiologischen Effekte im Vergleich zur Kontrolle fand sowohl unter Normalbedingungen als auch unter Bedingungen, die pathologischen Veränderungen entsprechen (Entkopplung der Gap-Junctions, verringerte Aktivität des schnellen Natriumkanals, erhöhte Inhomogenität), statt. Es zeigte sich, dass ein größerer Zelldurchmesser bzw. erhöhte laterale Gap-Junction-Leitfähigkeit (Simulation von kardialer Hypertrophie bzw. Connexin- Lateralisierung) die Entstehungswahrscheinlichkeit eines unidirektionalen Leitungsblocks erhöhte. Die Erregungsausbreitungsgeschwindigkeit in hypertrophierten Zellen war zudem weniger stabil als in normalen Zellen. Beide Effekte gehören zu den Hauptursachen der Entstehung und Aufrechterhaltung ventrikulärer Arrhythmien. Die Ergebnisse der Arbeit erklären somit Ursachen des erhöhten Arrhythmierisikos in pathologisch veränderten und hypertrophierten Herzen und liefern eine theoretische Grundlage für zukünftige Studien.

This dissertation investigates Ultra-Wideband (UWB) techniques for the next generation Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) towards the Internet-of-Things (IoT). In particular, an ultra-high frequency (UHF) wireless-powered UWB radio (UHF/UWB hybrid) with asymmetric links is explored from system architecture to circuit implementation. Context-aware, location-aware, and energy-aware computing for the IoT demands future micro-devices (e.g., RFID tags) with capabilities of sensing, processing, communication, and positioning, which can be integrated into everyday objects including paper documents, as well as food and pharmaceutical packages. To this end, reliable-operating and maintenance-free wireless networks with low-power and low-cost radio transceivers are essential. In this context, state-of-the-art passive RFID technologies provide limited data rate and positioning accuracy, whereas active radios suffer from high complexity and power-hungry transceivers. Impulse Radio UWB (IR-UWB) exhibits significant advantages that are expected to overcome these limitations. Wideband signals offer robust communications and high-precision positioning; duty-cycled operations allow link scalability; and baseband-like architecture facilitates extremely simple and low-power transmitters. However, the implementation of the IR-UWB receiver is still power-hungry and complex, and thus is unacceptable for self-powered or passive tags. To cope with μW level power budget in wireless-powered systems, this dissertation proposes an UHF/UWB hybrid radio architecture with asymmetric links. It combines the passive UHF RFID and the IR-UWB transmitter. In the downlink (reader-tag), the tag is powered and controlled by UHF signals as conventional passive UHF tags, whereas it uses an IR-UWB transmitter to send data for a short time at a high rate in the uplink (tag-reader). Such an innovative architecture takes advantage of UWB transmissions, while the tag avoids the complex UWB receiver by shifting the burden to the reader. A wireless-powered tag providing -18.5 dBm sensitivity UHF downlink and 10 Mb/s UWB uplink is implemented in 180 nm CMOS. At the reader side, a non-coherent energy detection IR-UWB receiver is designed to pair the tag. The receiver is featured by high energy-efficiency and flexibility that supports multi-mode operations. A novel synchronization scheme based on the energy offset is suggested. It allows fast synchronization between the reader and tags, without increasing the hardware complexity. Time-of-Arrival (TOA) estimation schemes are analyzed and developed for the reader, which enables tag localization. The receiver prototype is fabricated in 90 nm CMOS with 16.3 mW power consumption and -79 dBm sensitivity at 10 Mb/s data rate. The system concept is verified by the link measurement between the tag and the reader. Compared with current passive UHF RFID systems, the UHF/UWB hybrid solution provides an order of magnitude improvement in terms of the data rate and positioning accuracy brought by the IR-UWB uplink. / QC 20120110

The Rollover of heavy vehicles operating in the construction, mining and agricultural sectors is a common occurrence that may result in death or severe injury for the vehicle occupants. Safety frames called ROPS (Rollover Protective Structures) that enclose the vehicle cabin, have been used by heavy vehicle manufacturers to provide protection to vehicle occupants during rollover accidents. The design of a ROPS requires that a dual criteria be fulfilled that ensures that the ROPS has sufficient stiffness to offer protection, whilst possessing an appropriate level of flexibility to absorb some or most of the impact energy during a roll. Over the last four decades significant research has been performed on these types of safety devices which has resulted in the generation of performance standards that may be used to assess the adequacy of a ROPS design for a particular vehicle type. At present these performance standards require that destructive full scale testing methods be used to assess the adequacy of a ROPS. This method of ROPS certification can be extremely expensive given the size and weight of many vehicles that operate in these sectors. The use of analytical methods to assess the performance of a ROPS is currently prohibited by these standards. Reasons for this are attributed to a lack of available fundamental research information on the nonlinear inelastic response of safety frame structures such as this. The main aim of this project was to therefore generate fundamental research information on the nonlinear response behaviour of ROPS subjected to both static and dynamic loading conditions that could be used to contribute towards the development of an efficient analytical design procedure that may lessen the need for destructive full scale testing. In addition to this, the project also aspired to develop methods for promoting increased levels of operator safety during vehicle rollover through enhancing the level of energy absorbed by the ROPS. The methods used to fulfil these aims involved the implementation of an extensive analytical modelling program using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in association with a detailed experimental testing program. From these studies comprehensive research information was developed on both the dynamic impact response and energy absorption capabilities of these types of structures. The established finite element models were then used to extend the investigation further and to carry out parametric studies. Important parameters such as ROPS post stiffness, rollslope inclination and impact duration were identified and their effects quantified. The final stage of the project examined the enhancement of the energy absorption capabilities of a ROPS through the incorporation of a supplementary energy absorbing device within the frame work of the ROPS. The device that was chosen for numerical evaluation was a thin walled tapered tube known as frusta that was designed to crush under a sidewards rollover and hence lessen the energy absorption demand placed upon the ROPS. The inclusion of this device was found to be beneficial in absorbing energy and enhancing the level of safety afforded to the vehicle occupants.

The human vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) stabilizes gaze during head movement. The reflex is typically tested in a clinic or laboratory using passive rotations or artificial stimuli which measure the amount of damage the vestibular apparatus has suffered. However, during everyday activities the vestibular system is stimulated by active, self generated head movements. Head movements are often rapid and associated with the goal of achieving either gaze-fixation or re-fixation. Patients who complain of on-going symptoms will typically identify a particular position or movement that aggravates their symptoms in their everyday life. There is a need to identify objective parameters which correlate with the subjective complaints of patients whose symptoms persist after vestibular damage. In the first study, a gaze-refixation task, patients who complain of ongoing symptoms (poorly-compensated), during rapid head turns, after unilateral vestibular de-afferentation (uVD) were compared with those who did not have the same complaints (well-compensated) and normal subjects. Well- and poorly-compensated groups were sorted according to responses on a standardized questionnaire. All subjects were then located in a real-world, non-laboratory environment in which poorly-compensated subjects reported experiencing symptoms. Each subject’s head, eye and gaze displacement and velocity, head rotation frequency and blink or eye-lid closure were measured and analysed and compared between ipsi- and contra-lesional head rotations within and between subject groups. When subjects are able to generate their own active head rotations it has been suggested that a number of vestibular and extra-vestibular strategies might be employed to compensate for an impaired VOR. In subsequent studies, high resolution scleral search coils were used to identify the compensatory mechanisms used during active head rotations during a gaze-fixation task. A corrective saccade is typically observed during passive ipsilesional head rotations or “impulses” and might be potentiated during rapid, active or self-generated head rotations. The conditions which predict or contribute to the generation of the rapid, corrective eye movement were investigated. The results were compared with responses to passive head impulses of matched velocity and acceleration to determine if active head impulses could be used to identify a lesioned vestibular apparatus as is routinely clinically achieved with passive head impulses.

Thesis (Au.D.)--James Madison University, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Au.D.)--James Madison University, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references.

Esse trabalho está baseado na investigação dos detectores de falhas aplicando classificadores de classe única. As falhas a serem detectadas são relativas ao estado de funcionamento de cada componente do circuito, especificamente de suas tolerâncias (falha paramétrica). Usando a função de transferência de cada um dos circuitos são gerados e analisados os sinais de saída com os componentes dentro e fora da tolerância. Uma função degrau é aplicada à entrada do circuito, o sinal de saída desse circuito passa por uma função diferenciadora e um filtro. O sinal de saída do filtro passa por um processo de redução de atributos e finalmente, o sinal segue simultaneamente para os classificadores multiclasse e classe única. Na análise são empregados ferramentas de reconhecimento de padrões e de classificação de classe única. Os classficadores multiclasse são capazes de classificar o sinal de saída do circuito em uma das classes de falha para o qual foram treinados. Eles apresentam um bom desempenho quando as classes de falha não possuem superposição e quando eles não são apresentados a classes de falhas para os quais não foram treinados. Comitê de classificadores de classe única podem classificar o sinal de saída em uma ou mais classes de falha e também podem classificá-lo em nenhuma classe. Eles apresentam desempenho comparável ao classificador multiclasse, mas também são capazes detectar casos de sobreposição de classes de falhas e indicar situações de falhas para os quais não foram treinados (falhas desconhecidas). Os resultados obtidos nesse trabalho mostraram que os classificadores de classe única, além de ser compatível com o desempenho do classificador multiclasse quando não há sobreposição, também detectou todas as sobreposições existentes sugerindo as possíveis falhas. / This work deals with the application of one class classifiers in fault detection. The faults to be detected are related parametric faults. The transfer function of each circuit was generated and the outputs signals with the components in and out of tolerance were analyzed. Pattern recognition and one class classifications tools are employed to perform the analysis. The multiclass classifiers are able to classify the circuit output signal in one of the trained classes. They present a good performance when the fault classes do not overlap or when they are not presented to fault classes that were not presented in the training. The one class classifier committee may classify the output signal in one or more fault classes and may also classify them in none of the trained class faults. They present comparable performance to multiclass classifiers, but also are able to detect overlapping fault classes and show fault situations that were no present in the training (unknown faults).

This study consists of the development of a ram pump, which will allow the pumping of water without the need of external energy sources. It is considered an analysis of interest since, once it is finished; it can be applied in reality improving and facilitating different activities related to agriculture and health. Previous studies have been made related to the ram pump; however, in this case, it is intended to understand the system that has been built in the laboratory in order to find the best combination of parameters that will lead to obtain the highest possible efficiency.  The study will be carried out by studying scientific literature and by experimenting in the laboratory. Encompassing the experimental and literary field, it is expected to understand perfectly the advantages and disadvantages of the ram pump in order to determine if it is worth it to install in certain places. After the study, the most favourable parameters for the operation of the Bruzaholms Bruk pump have been obtained. It has been found that the use of a longer drive pipe favours the operation of the system, as it is possible to obtain a higher efficiency, although it must be taken into account that the mentioned length needs to be controlled, as it could reduce the working rhythm of the pump. It has also been seen that the pump gives better results if the impulse valve is completely opened. Finally, it has been proven that, as long as the height difference between the two tanks is enough, increasing the height of the water source will favour the operation of the system.

Made available in DSpace on 2010-04-20T21:00:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 4 Alan Marinovic.pdf.jpg: 11803 bytes, checksum: 6f432bd77eda9bb1f8d0a1b55b2d1ea4 (MD5) Alan Marinovic.pdf.txt: 229382 bytes, checksum: 17f470747aee826fc7511c202d10bcc8 (MD5) Alan Marinovic.pdf: 1449291 bytes, checksum: bc20970ba9f69f9209cff4441caf931e (MD5) license.txt: 4886 bytes, checksum: 2dd7def8564dbf39bd3ed6b2e446baf6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-01-28T00:00:00Z / O trabalho estuda a inter-relação entre preços de ações bancárias da América Latina, Estados Unidos e Europa durante o período compreendido entre janeiro de 2000 até final de junho de 2008. De um modo geral o estudo busca evidências sobre a existência de relações de equilíbrio de longo prazo entre as séries de preços utilizando análises de cointegração, testes de causalidade e funções de impulso resposta. Os resultados empíricos apontam para a existência de relações de equilíbrio de longo prazo entre as séries de preços, e para a existência de contágio especialmente de choques oriundos do mercado Norte Americano. Cabe ressaltar que o efeito de choques se mostra mais pronunciado após 2007, período compreendido pela crise do subprime. / This dissertation investigates the inter-relationships among bank’s stock markets for Latin America, United States and Europe from January, 2000 to June, 2008. The study analyzes the existence of long-run relationships among the price of Bank’s stocks, additionally it applies short-run causality tests and impulse response analyses. Empirical results suggests that there is at least one cointegration vector among the price series, and the series time paths are influenced by different extent of changes in price of different banks. Moreover the study finds that the relationships among bank’s stock prices differ between crises (more volatile) and less volatile periods. These findings imply that there are strong evidences of inter-connections among stock markets around the world.