The economic development and industrialization that has taken place in many parts of the world during the past century has brought about a huge increase in economic welfare. During this process, it has repeatedly been debated whether the gains from economic development are shared by everyone or just a few. In the field of economics, vast research has been conducted on this particular subject ever since the 1950’s. The most famous contribution might be said to be Simon Kuznets article, Growth and Income Inequality from 1955 and the ”inverted U”-hypothesis that was formulated on the basis of that article. The essence of the hypothesis is that a country, during its development, moves from agricultural to industrial production. At first, income inequality increases and then, at the end of the process, decreases. The aim of this paper has been to investigate the relationship between income distribution and economic development in a particular region, namely the countries of the former Soviet Union, during 1992-2003. Also, we have tested whether Kuznets theory and the “inverted U”-hypothesis hold true for our sample. The investigations method is a survey, which uses secondary data collected from the World Bank’s database of World Development Indicators. Regression-analysis has been employed to conduct cross-sections between 20 countries over 4 periods in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The number of observations equals to 62. The variables that we use are: the Gini index, GDP per capita and the agricultural sector’s share of GDP. The results of the regression do not indicate any resemblance to the pattern of the “inverted U”-hypothesis. The curve we get is that of a “positive U”. Countries with high GDP per capita as well as countries with low GDP per capita have high income inequality. Countries with mediate GDP per capita levels have low income inequality. Our analysis concludes that the countries in our sample might have had a very unique economic development following the fall of the Soviet Union. Only 7 countries partly follow the Kuznets theory if tested individually. Since these seven countries seem to have a reversed development with increasing agricultural sector and the remainder of the countries show increasing income inequality, we reject the “inverted U”-hypothesis and question the ability of Kuznets’ theory to explain income distribution for our sample.

In this work I argue that field of text search has focused mostly on long text documents, but there is a growing need for efficient short text search, which has different user expectations. Due to this reduced data set size requirements different algorithmic techniques become more computationally affordable. The focus of this work is on approximate and prefix search and purely text based ranking methods, which are needed due to lower precision of text statistics on short text. A basic prototype search engine has been created using the researched techniques. Its capabilities were demonstrated on example search scenarios and the implementation was compared to two other open source systems representing currently recommended approaches for short text search problem. The results show feasibility of the implemented prototype regarding both user expectations and performance. Several options of future direction of the system are proposed.

Control applications are used in almost all scientific domains and are subject to timing constraints. Moreover, different applications can run on the same platform which leads to even more complex timing behaviors. However, some of the timing issues are not always considered in the implementation of such applications, and this can make the system fail. In this thesis, the timing issues are considered, i.e., the problem of non-constant delay in the control of an inverted pendulum with a real-time kernel running on an ATmega328p micro-controller. The study shows that control performance is affected by this problem. In addition, the thesis, reports the adaptation of an existing real-time kernel based on an EDF (Earliest Deadline First) scheduling policy, to the architecture of the ATmega328p. Moreover, the new approach of a server-based kernel is implemented in this thesis, still on the same Atmel micro-controller.

Title: Breathing and its parameters in increased demands on postural stability Aims: The main objective is to carry out a quantification research of wind parameters and specify mechanical parameters to compare the effect of increased postural stability claim for breath, prepare the correct research methodology and carry out independent measurements. The first part of the thesis is focused on the search process of the issue. In the second part of special research was done, where we panned respiratory parameters while standing on the ground and on unstable platform and position of markers in 3D space. Methods: 1. Measurement of respiratory parameters using lung spirometer 2. Measurement of defined points in 3D space using Qualisys technology We measured quiet breathing and consciously deep breathing when standing on the ground or when standing on a balance pad. Total 4 measurements were carried out after 20 seconds. The experiment involved 14 probands aged 22-31 years, 10 women and 4 men. The average age of the probands was 24.5 years, mean height was 172.5 cm and mean weight 68.6 kg. From our study were excluded smokers, professional players of wind instruments, professional athletes, pregnant women, children, people with chronic respiratory disease, CNS disorders, persons with motor limitations, or...

Esse trabalho descreve um implantador iônico em termos de sua caracterização e aplicação. O texto está dividido em três capítulos que são apresentados resumidamente a seguir. O primeiro capítulo descreve em detalhes um novo tipo de implantador, denominado implantador invertido. Nesse capítulo é descrito o desenvolvimento e a caracterização do implantador invertido. A otimização de uma parte dos circuitos eletrônicos e o desenvolvimento e construção do restante dos circuitos é dada em detalhes. Uma caracterização do implantador quanto à maximização do feixe iônico é apresentada, onde é realizado um estudo sistemático com a variação de parâmetros como potencial extrator, corrente do canhão de plasma (arco catódico) dentre outros. Finalizando o primeiro capítulo, é apresentado um mapeamento da densidade do feixe iônico no porta amostras do implantador invertido. No segundo capítulo é discutida a neutralidade do feixe iônico do implantador invertido. Um feixe neutro viabiliza implantações em amostras isolantes, sem que haja acúmulo de cargas positivas, o que levaria a amostra a um potencial diferente do planejado. A energia de implantação efetiva foi avaliada estudando os perfis de implantação através de microscopia de força atômica condutiva (AFM-C) e microscopia eletrônica de transmissão (TEM), e comparando com simulações numéricas realizadas pelo programa TRIDYN. Os resultados sugerem que o feixe não é neutro. No terceiro capítulo, o implantador invertido foi utilizado para modificação de superfície de alumina, gerando uma camada de nanocompósito logo abaixo de sua superfície, formada por nanopartículas de titânio na matriz de alumina. A formação dessas nanopartículas se dá espontaneamente e pode ser explicada pela ocorrência de concentração dos átomos metálicos acima do limite de solubilidade no substrato implantado, levando à nucleação e crescimento das nanopartículas metálicas. Caracterização por TEM foi utilizada para a visualização direta das nanopartículas que apresentaram dimensões da ordem de 20 nm. Simulações utilizando o programa TRIDYN foram realizadas, gerando perfis de profundidade dos íons de titânio implantados no substrato de alumina, que mostraram excelente acordo com o perfil em profundidade obtido por RBS (Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry). Medidas de resistividade da camada compósita foram obtidas, in situ, em função da dose implantada. Utilizando modelos teóricos de percolação foi possível determinar a dose de saturação &#966;0 = 2,2 x 1016 átomos/cm2, que é a dose máxima para a qual o material continua a ser um nanocompósito, e para a condutividade de saturação foi &#966;0 = 480 S/m. A dose de percolação obtida foi &#966;c = 0,84 x 1016 átomos/cm2, que é a dose abaixo da qual o material tem a mesma condutividade que a matriz isolante. O expoente crítico obtido foi t = 1,4 e, como a condição t < 2 é satisfeita, o processo de condutividade se dá devido a percolação, sendo o tunelamento desprezível. / This work describes an ion implanter in terms of characterization and application. The text is divided in three chapters that are briefly presented below. The first chapter describes in detail a new type of implanter called inverted implanter. In this chapter is considered my contribution in the development and characterization of the inverted implanter. The optimization of part of the electronic circuits, and development and construction of other circuits are given in details. A characterization of the implanter by the maximization the ion beam is presented, where is carried out a systematic study through the variation of parameters such as extractor potential, plasma gun current (cathodic arc) and others. Finally, it presents a mapping of the ion beam density at the sample holder of the inverted implanter. The second chapter discusses the neutrality of the ion beam of the inverted implanter. A neutral beam allows implantation into insulating samples without positive charges accumulation, which would lead sample at a different potential than expected. The effective energy evaluation was carried out studying the implantation profiles by conductive atomic force microscopy (AFM-C) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and compared with numerical simulations performed by TRIDYN program. The results suggest that the ion beam isn\'t neutral. In the third chapter, the inverted implanter was used for alumina surface modification, generating a nanocomposite layer just below the surface, formed by titanium nanoparticles in alumina matrix. The nanoparticles formation occurs spontaneously and can be explained by the occurrence of metal atom concentration above the solubility limit in the impalnted substrate, leading to nucleation and growth of metal nanoparticles. Characterization by TEM was used for direct visualization of the nanoparticles what presented dimensions of about 20 nm. Simulations using the TRIDYN program were performed, generating depth profiles of titanium ions implanted into the alumina substrate, which showed excellent agreement with the depth profile obtained by RBS (Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry). Resistivity measurements were obtained from the composite layer, in situ, as function of implanted dose. Using theoretical percolation models, it was possible to determine the saturation dose &#966;0 = 2,2 x 1016 atoms/cm2, that is the maximum dose for which the material remains a nanocomposite, and the saturation conductivity &#966;0 = 480 S/m. The percolation was achieved for dose &#966;c = 0,84 x 1016 atoms/cm2, that is the dose below which the material has the same conductivity as the insulating matrix. The critical exponent obtained was t = 1,4 and, since it satisfies to condition t < 2, the conductivity process is due to percolation, tunneling being negligible.

Esse trabalho descreve um implantador iônico em termos de sua caracterização e aplicação. O texto está dividido em três capítulos que são apresentados resumidamente a seguir. O primeiro capítulo descreve em detalhes um novo tipo de implantador, denominado implantador invertido. Nesse capítulo é descrito o desenvolvimento e a caracterização do implantador invertido. A otimização de uma parte dos circuitos eletrônicos e o desenvolvimento e construção do restante dos circuitos é dada em detalhes. Uma caracterização do implantador quanto à maximização do feixe iônico é apresentada, onde é realizado um estudo sistemático com a variação de parâmetros como potencial extrator, corrente do canhão de plasma (arco catódico) dentre outros. Finalizando o primeiro capítulo, é apresentado um mapeamento da densidade do feixe iônico no porta amostras do implantador invertido. No segundo capítulo é discutida a neutralidade do feixe iônico do implantador invertido. Um feixe neutro viabiliza implantações em amostras isolantes, sem que haja acúmulo de cargas positivas, o que levaria a amostra a um potencial diferente do planejado. A energia de implantação efetiva foi avaliada estudando os perfis de implantação através de microscopia de força atômica condutiva (AFM-C) e microscopia eletrônica de transmissão (TEM), e comparando com simulações numéricas realizadas pelo programa TRIDYN. Os resultados sugerem que o feixe não é neutro. No terceiro capítulo, o implantador invertido foi utilizado para modificação de superfície de alumina, gerando uma camada de nanocompósito logo abaixo de sua superfície, formada por nanopartículas de titânio na matriz de alumina. A formação dessas nanopartículas se dá espontaneamente e pode ser explicada pela ocorrência de concentração dos átomos metálicos acima do limite de solubilidade no substrato implantado, levando à nucleação e crescimento das nanopartículas metálicas. Caracterização por TEM foi utilizada para a visualização direta das nanopartículas que apresentaram dimensões da ordem de 20 nm. Simulações utilizando o programa TRIDYN foram realizadas, gerando perfis de profundidade dos íons de titânio implantados no substrato de alumina, que mostraram excelente acordo com o perfil em profundidade obtido por RBS (Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry). Medidas de resistividade da camada compósita foram obtidas, in situ, em função da dose implantada. Utilizando modelos teóricos de percolação foi possível determinar a dose de saturação &#966;0 = 2,2 x 1016 átomos/cm2, que é a dose máxima para a qual o material continua a ser um nanocompósito, e para a condutividade de saturação foi &#966;0 = 480 S/m. A dose de percolação obtida foi &#966;c = 0,84 x 1016 átomos/cm2, que é a dose abaixo da qual o material tem a mesma condutividade que a matriz isolante. O expoente crítico obtido foi t = 1,4 e, como a condição t < 2 é satisfeita, o processo de condutividade se dá devido a percolação, sendo o tunelamento desprezível. / This work describes an ion implanter in terms of characterization and application. The text is divided in three chapters that are briefly presented below. The first chapter describes in detail a new type of implanter called inverted implanter. In this chapter is considered my contribution in the development and characterization of the inverted implanter. The optimization of part of the electronic circuits, and development and construction of other circuits are given in details. A characterization of the implanter by the maximization the ion beam is presented, where is carried out a systematic study through the variation of parameters such as extractor potential, plasma gun current (cathodic arc) and others. Finally, it presents a mapping of the ion beam density at the sample holder of the inverted implanter. The second chapter discusses the neutrality of the ion beam of the inverted implanter. A neutral beam allows implantation into insulating samples without positive charges accumulation, which would lead sample at a different potential than expected. The effective energy evaluation was carried out studying the implantation profiles by conductive atomic force microscopy (AFM-C) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and compared with numerical simulations performed by TRIDYN program. The results suggest that the ion beam isn\'t neutral. In the third chapter, the inverted implanter was used for alumina surface modification, generating a nanocomposite layer just below the surface, formed by titanium nanoparticles in alumina matrix. The nanoparticles formation occurs spontaneously and can be explained by the occurrence of metal atom concentration above the solubility limit in the impalnted substrate, leading to nucleation and growth of metal nanoparticles. Characterization by TEM was used for direct visualization of the nanoparticles what presented dimensions of about 20 nm. Simulations using the TRIDYN program were performed, generating depth profiles of titanium ions implanted into the alumina substrate, which showed excellent agreement with the depth profile obtained by RBS (Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry). Resistivity measurements were obtained from the composite layer, in situ, as function of implanted dose. Using theoretical percolation models, it was possible to determine the saturation dose &#966;0 = 2,2 x 1016 atoms/cm2, that is the maximum dose for which the material remains a nanocomposite, and the saturation conductivity &#966;0 = 480 S/m. The percolation was achieved for dose &#966;c = 0,84 x 1016 atoms/cm2, that is the dose below which the material has the same conductivity as the insulating matrix. The critical exponent obtained was t = 1,4 and, since it satisfies to condition t < 2, the conductivity process is due to percolation, tunneling being negligible.

Neste trabalho, uma análise quantitativa e qualitativa para a estabilização dinâmica de um pêndulo invertido com uma força externa senoidal aplicada no ponto de suspensão é feita. Inicialmente, a perturbação externa é composta de um único cosseno, então uma generalização é feita, usando uma soma de N cossenos com diferentes amplitudes e frequências. Aproximações são testadas e o tempo durante o qual o pêndulo invertido permanece estável é explorado quando N é grande, a fim de recuperar o padrão do caso onde N = 1. O caso específico de oscilações periódicas e quase periódicas, quando N = 2, é analisado e diagramas de estabilidade considerando diferentes frequências e amplitudes são estudados. Depois, um ruído Gaussiano additivo é adicionado ao sistema para que a degradação dos diagramas de estabilidade gerados por variâncias diferentes possam ser estudados. Todos os pontos deste trabalho são corroborados por simulações, as quais integram numericamente as equações de movimento do sistema através do método de Runge-Kutta de quarta ordem. Os algoritmos e detalhes extras dos métodos de integração usados são explorados numa publicação deste trabalho, a qual está apresentada, nesta dissertação, como um apêndice. / In this work a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the dynamical stabilization of an inverted pendulum with a sinusoidal external perturbation applied at the suspension point is made. Initially, the external perturbation is composed of a single cosine, then a generalization is made using a sum of N cosines with different amplitudes and frequencies. Approximations are tested, and the time for which the inverted pendulum remains stable is explored when N is large, in order to recover the pattern of the case when N = 1. The specific case of periodic and almost periodic oscillations, when N = 2, is analysed and stability diagrams considering different frequencies and amplitudes are studied. Later, an additive Gaussian noise is added to the system so the degradation of the stability diagrams generated by different variances can be studied. All points of this work are corroborated by simulations, which numerically integrate the system’s equation of motion through a fourth order Runge-Kutta method. Algorithms and extra details on the integration methods used are explored in a publication of this work, which is presented in this thesis as an appendix.

Flipped classrooms are implemented in more schools each year, particularly in courses requiring increased teacher guidance for mastery. While a foundation of research related to pedagogy and academic outcomes exists, research is limited surrounding student perceptions of the social and learning culture during flipped learning. The purpose of this study was to explore high school math students' lived experiences of flipped learning related to content and instruction, critical thinking, and collaboration and interactions. A phenomenological design was employed using a conceptual framework combining cognitive load theory, sociocultural learning theory, and schema theory. Students from two public high schools in the Midwest participated. Seven students participated in interviews, and nine students participated in two focus group discussions. Data analysis involved in vivo coding of transcribed interviews and focus groups. Key results included students' perceptions of increased engagement and interactions, as well as more in-depth learning in flipped environments. Increased critical thinking was related to both instructional strategies employed and students' ability to self-regulate learning. Concepts of peer collaboration shifted as students viewed learning environments and sources of expertise as more extensive in the flipped environment. This study contributes to positive social change by providing educators and researchers with a deeper understanding of the importance of ensuring students are competent in using social technology tools that encourage students to interact both socially and academically in order to help them become more self-directed learners.

<p>The fascinating optical properties of metallic nanostructures, dominated by collective oscillations of free electrons known as plasmons, open new opportunities for the development of devices fabrication based on noble metal nanoparticle composite materials. This thesis demonstrates a low-cost and versatile technique to produce stimuli-responsive ultrafast plasmonic nanostructures with reversible tunable optical properties. Albeit challenging, further control using thermal external stimuli to tune the local environment of gold nanoparticles embedded in VO2 host matrix would be ideal for the design of responsive functional nanocomposites. We prepared Au-VO2 nanocomposite thin films by the inverted cylindrical reactive magnetron sputtering (ICMS) known as hollow cathode magnetron sputtering for the first time and report the reversible tuning of surface plasmon resonance of Au nanoparticles by only adjusting the external temperature stimuli. The structural, morphological, interfacial analysis and optical properties of the optimized nanostructures have been studied. ICMS has been attracting much attention for its enclosed geometry and its ability to deposit on large area, uniform coating of smart nanocomposites at high deposition rate. Before achieving the aforementioned goals, a systematic study and optimization process of VO2 host matrix has been done by studying the influence of deposition parameters on the structural, morphological and optical switching properties of VO2 thin films. A reversible thermal tunability of the optical/dielectric constants of VO2 thin films by spectroscopic ellipsometry has been intensively also studied in order to bring more insights about the shift of the plasmon of gold nanoparticles imbedded in VO2 host matrix.</p>

The focal objective of this thesis was to examine the potential advantage of introducing the self-schema concept, indexed by response time, into personality assessment. The basic rationale for the use of response time is that a self-schema facilitates response time for self-referent information as it permits people to make assessments easier and automatic. A self-schema is a cognitive structure containing the generic knowledge that people have about themselves, influencing all aspects of the processing of self-relevant information in order to organize, summarize and explain their behavior. Paper I examined the self-schema proposition that the relation between personality score and response time for the Big Five personality factors is curvilinear in accordance with the inverted-U effect. Using more appropriate statistical methods than in previous studies, Study 1 and Study 2 confirmed the existence of the inverted-U effect for all Big Five factors. Thus the results provided support for the self-schema perspective as people scoring low or high on the Big Five traits responded faster than those scoring in the middle. Previous research has shown that the Big Five personality factors Openness to Experience and Agreeableness are powerful predictors of prejudice. The main question in Paper II was whether this prediction could be improved by including a measure of self-schema (schematicity). The results of Study 3 demonstrated that response time significantly improved the prediction of generalized prejudice from the mentioned personality factors and disclosed both an additive and a moderating effect. Thus, the relation between personality trait score and generalized prejudice is moderated by how schematic a person is. Paper III examined the potential linkage between heritability and self-schema. In Study 4, 5, and 6, the relation between heritability and response time for the Big Five personality facets (subfactors) was examined. The results revealed that personality response time is related to personality heritability so that shorter response times are associated with higher heritabilities. Putting the present results into the context of self-schemas, this means that Big Five personality facets with a large heritability on the average would have higher schematicity than those with small heritability estimates. The results of the present thesis extend previous work in the area of self-schema. The findings suggest that self-schema, measured by response time, may be a useful additional tool to fine-tune personality assessment. Also, the findings put emphasis on the importance of considering possible curvilinear relationships and interaction effects in order to better comprehend the rationale underlying self-schemata processing.  Finally, the results imply that the heritability of personality traits should be taken into account when we construct theories and models in personality psychology. The implications of these results are discussed and directions for future research are highlighted.