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Where do people die alone when they remain undiscovered for extended periods of time? Estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI) is critical to reconstructing the events surrounding a person's death and this is an area in which forensic anthropologists have played a leading role. This thesis applied an anthropological framework that takes a comprehensive approach to analyzing the demography of unaccompanied deaths, the relationships and timing of decomposition in multiple depositional contexts, and created a model for the prediction of accumulated degree days (ADD) for bodies within enclosures. While there have been extensive experimental and case study reviews on decomposition in outdoor environments, very little data exist for enclosed spaces. A retrospective analysis of 2003-2008 Nebraskan autopsy records demonstrates that most people dying alone are within their homes. Of the 87 forensic cases reviewed, 69 unaccompanied deaths occurred within enclosed environments. The value of retrospective studies in combination to experimental research is that the large number of variables that affect decompositional rates may be explored in a natural context. Multivariate models put emphasis on the dynamics of decompositional change and comprehensively address death and decomposition within an anthropological framework. For enclosed depositions, the PMI ranged from 1 - 66 days (n= 64, X¯=4.84, s.d.=9.1037) and the ADD ranged from 0 - 786 ADD (n=64, X¯=67.43, s.d.=120.275). Bass' (1997) model for outdoor surface decay was found to be an adequate predictor of the PMI for this sample (r=0.829, n=64, p These results provided support for the prediction of ADD as a measure of the rate of decomposition. Relationships among ADD and multiple intrinsic, extrinsic and epidemiological variables were identified and considered for a multiple linear regression model. Variables selected by the model included: decomposition odor, use of air conditioning/heat, marbling, brain liquefaction, and mummification. The model was found to account for 95.2% of the variation in ADD (Adjusted R² =0.952; F=40.807, df=5, 5 and p

Denna studie undersöker hur rumslig informationsdesign och teorier inom wayfinding, kan stärka befintlig vägvisning i en offentlig inomhusmiljö/publik lokal. Platsen som undersökts är huvudentrén till Mälarsjukhuset i Eskilstuna och den primära målgruppen i studien är förstagångsbesökare, medans den sekundära målgruppen är personal som arbetar på sjukhuset. Syftet med projektet är att underlätta och tydliggöra orienterbarheten från huvudentrén på Mälarsjukhuset, då region Sörmland har uppmärksammat brister i vägvisning och trygghetsskapandet, vilket har lett till en osäkerhet för besökare samt en arbetsbelastning hos vård- och servicepersonal. Genom platsanalys, notationer, litteraturstudier, intervju och digitala navigeringstest har ett gestaltningsförslag presenterats i en digital 3D-modell. Resultatet av studien har sammanfattats i en lista, med riktlinjer som tillgodoser navigering i offentliga miljöer. Det är viktigt att vägvisningselement finns tillgängligt i flera olika nivåer, för att tillgodose olika individers strategival i wayfindings-processer. En miljö som är lätt att överblicka underlättar det visuella sökandet och kan skapa en trygghet hos användaren. En hierarki, delad mellan de viktigaste funktionerna i rummet hjälper det visuella sökandet. / The purpose of this study is to examine how spatial information-design and theories of wayfinding could be of help in order to strengthen existing navigation systems in public and indoor areas. The examined area is the main entrance of Mälarsjukhuset (Eskilstuna`s regional hospital), and the primary target group is first time visitors, while the secondary group is the staff at the hospital. The aim of the study is to clarify and improve the navigation system in the main entrance area, because of flaws that the region of Sörmland has observed in that navigation system. They also observed that the main entrance area fails to make first time visitors feel safe and well informed, which has also led to an increased workload for staff members. A site analysis, notations, litterateur study, interviews and several digital navigation tests, have all laid the foundation for a design proposal in the form of a 3D-modell. The result of the study has been summarized in a list, with guidelines to cater to the needs of public environments. It is important that the element of navigation is available on several different levels, to allow for the different individual strategical choices that visitors might make in their wayfinding processes. An environment that has a good overview facilitates visual searching, which creates a sense of security for the visitor. A hierarchy split between the most important functions in a room also aids visual searching.

Le Virus Respiratoire Syncytial (VRS) est une des causes les plus fréquentes d'infections respiratoires chez l'enfant. Actuellement les mécanismes de transmission, notamment la part des aérosols, ne sont pas connus. Dans ce contexte, l'objectif de ce travail a porté sur l'étude de l'aérobiocontamination virale des espaces clos. Ainsi, cette recherche a concerné l'étude en laboratoire de l'infectivité du VRS sous forme d'aérosols, la caractérisation des émissions trachéobronchiques ainsi que la recherche d'aérosols de VRS dans différents environnements intérieurs. L'étude d'un aérosol de Virus Respiratoire Syncytial en laboratoire a montré une baisse notable du pouvoir infectieux dans une ambiance humide. Cependant l’approche cinétique montre que l’impact de l'humidité relative peut se révéler très différent selon l’âge de l’aérosol. L'étude des émissions trachéobronchiques, réalisée sur un panel de 81 volontaires, symptomatiques et asymptomatiques, a mis en évidence la proportion importante de particules fines et ultrafines dans ces émissions. De plus, il a été montré que les asymptomatiques ont tendance à émettre moins de particules que les symptomatiques et qu'il n'existe pas de distribution en taille spécifique d'un groupe ou l'autre. Enfin, la recherche d'aérosols de VRS dans les environnements intérieurs a été effectuée à l'aide d'un préleveur cyclonique à haut débit au sein d'un hôpital et d'établissements recevant des enfants. Au total 14 prélèvements ont été effectués et associés à des analyses PCR. Ces prélèvements n'ont pas mis en évidence la présence de virus respiratoires aéroportés dans ces environnements / Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a leading cause of respiratory infections in infants. However, the mechanisms involved in the transmission of the disease are not well known. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to study the viral aerocontamination of indoor environments. This research is thus aimed at the study in laboratory of the survival of RSV aerosol, at the characterization of the particles size of exhaled respiratory aerosols and at the research of these RSV aerosols in various indoor environments. The laboratory study of a RSV aerosol revealed a decrease of its infectivity in a humid atmosphere. However, it appeared that the humidity's impact could be different according to the age of the aerosol. The study of exhaled respiratory aerosol made with 81 volunteers, with or without symptom, showed the important proportion of fine and ultra fine particles. Moreover, it has been shown that volunteers without symptom emit fewer particles than individuals with symptoms. Also, this work highlighted the fact that there is not a specific size distribution considering these emissions. Lastly, the research of RSV aerosols in indoor environments has been done using a high flow cyclone sampler in a hospital and various institutions. Fourteen samplings were done, associated with PCR analyses. These samplings did not permit to detect respiratory airborne viruses

Force est de constater aujourd’hui que la localisation d’un bien ou d’une personne est devenue une nécessité. Plusieurs solutions existent en extérieur, largement dominées par le système GPS. Pour la localisation en intérieur, la précision se dégrade en raison des trajets multiples et de l’atténuation des signaux traversant les murs. Cette thèse se focalise sur la problématique de localisation à l’intérieur d’un bâtiment en utilisant les technologies présentes dans des smartphones et des tablettes fonctionnant sous le système d’exploitation Android disponible dans divers marques. Les systèmes de localisation en intérieur exploitent différents supports tels que les ondes radio-fréquence (RF) ou les capteurs inertiels embarqués dans un terminal. Dans le cas RF, ils utilisent des points références dont la répartition sur la zone couverte influe sur la performance en localisation. Une première contribution est un développement d’algorithme d’optimisation d’emplacement des balises basé sur le recuit simulé. Les signaux extraits des capteurs inertiels sont utilisés par la navigation pédestre à l’estime (NPE) pour déterminer le trajet effectué depuis une position connue. Ils dépendent de la sensibilité des paramètres intrinsèques de ces capteurs et ils sont corrompus par des bruits. Dans le cas NPE, une calibration permet d’obtenir des données exploitables pour l’estimation de l’orientation de déplacement et pour la détection des pas. Cette orientation est supposée identique à celle du terminal mais il y a un intérêt à prendre en compte le biais d’orientation entre les deux. Une autre contribution est une proposition d’algorithme de détection des pas exploitant la logique floue. / Nowadays, the localization of a device or person has become mandatory. If many solutions exist for outdoor environment, as the GPS one, any fails to provide an expected accuracy for indoor environment because of the multipath phenomena and the attenuation of signals crossing walls. This thesis focuses on the localization problem in buildings by using existed technologies in smartphones and tablets managed by Android OS - which is available in several brands. The indoor localization systems are using different technologies like radio-frequency (RF) waves or inertial sensors embedded in handsets. In the RF case, they use anchors or beacons, whose position impacts the localization performance for the covered zone. Our first contribution was the placement optimization of beacons using simulated annealing algorithm. Next to improve the localization performance, the inertial sensors, embedded in smartphones, have been used. The pedestrian dead reckoning (PDR) algorithm employs the extracted signals from the inertial sensors and determines the path done since a known position. These extracted signals are affected by the intrinsic parameters of sensors and they are corrupted by noises. The calibration of the sensors is compulsory to obtain data that could be used to estimate the walking orientation and the number of done steps by the user. It is often supposed that the walking orientation is the same as the smartphone orientation; however it might be interesting to consider the bias between these two orientations. A last contribution, in this thesis, consists on a proposed algorithm for step detection using fuzzy logic.

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[pt] O uso de dispositivos móveis cresceu exponencialmente nos últimos anos, tornando-se um desafio a melhoria da qualidade de sinal e o pleno atendimento a serviços que exigem altas taxas de dados e baixa latência. A fim de atender a crescente demanda de tráfego, as faixas de freqüências de ondas milimétricas começam a ser exploradas para aplicação à Quinta Geração de Comunicações Móveis. A partir de medições realizadas em ambientes fechados, nas faixas de freqüências de 28 GHz e 38 GHz, foi possível analisar o canal de comunicação com base nos modelos propagação para as faixas de freqüências de ondas milimétricas. / [en] Mobile usage has grown exponentially in recent years, making it a challenge to improve signal quality and fully support to services that require high data rates and low latency. In order to meet the growing traffic demand, millimeter-wave frequency bands are being explored for application to the 5th Generation of Mobile Communications. From measurements performed in indoor environments, in the 28 GHz and 38 GHz frequency range, it was possible to analyze the communication channel based on the propagation models for the millimeter wave frequency bands.