We present a novel framework to exert a topology control over a level set evolution. Level set methods offer several advantages over parametric active contours, in particular automated topological changes. In some applications, where some a priori knowledge of the target topology is available, topological changes may not be desirable. A method, based on the concept of simple point borrowed from digital topology, was recently proposed to achieve a strict topology preservation during a level set evolution. However, topologically constrained evolutions often generate topological barriers that lead to large geometric inconsistencies. We introduce a topologically controlled level set framework that greatly alleviates this problem. Unlike existing work, our method allows connected components to merge, split or vanish under some specific conditions that ensure that no topological defects are generated. We demonstrate the strength of our method on a wide range of numerical experiments.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 392-481).

Transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) is a non-invasive technique that can be used to modulate spinal function. It consists of applying a low-level direct current (DC) across the skin to modulate spinal excitability using surface electrodes. Recent research indicates that this technique can relieve musculoskeletal pain. In this study, we investigate the effect of a 20-min anodal tsDCS (2.5 mA) protocol applied over the thoracic spine on pressure pain threshold (PPT) measured in the thigh, leg and foot in healthy young adults. One primary focus of this study was to determine whether physical activity level, as a potential modulator of pain perception, could influence individual responses to tsDCS. A secondary aim was to also address the role of sex as another potential modulator of pain response. Thirty-five healthy young adults (age 18-35) were recruited for this study. Participants were assigned to either a moderately active (n=21, 12 females), or highly active group (n=14, 8 females) based on a self-report questionnaire (International Physical Activity Questionnaire). The effects were determined by comparing PPT measures at the three sites (thigh, leg, foot) at three time points with respect to tsDCS application: T0: before, T1: immediately after, and T2: 30 min post-application. Results from a multivariate analysis of variance revealed a large main effect of time (F=5.3, p<0.001) on PPTs. Univariate tests (F>16.2, p<0.001) confirmed that PPTs were significantly elevated post-application. In addition, the analysis revealed a significant “Group X Time” interaction (F=2.8, p=0.03), which was explained by a larger elevation in PPTs (thigh site) in the highly active group when compared to the moderately active group. No main effect or interaction was found for sex. Altogether, these results confirmed the anti-nociceptive effects of tsDCS application on mechanical pain threshold and further point to the importance of physical activity as a personal factor susceptible to modulate response to tsDCS.

Despite their relevance to multicultural issues in counseling psychology, religion and spirituality (R/S) issues have been largely neglected in counseling and psychology training programs (Brawer, Handal, Fabricatore, Roberts, & Wajda-Johnston, 2002; Russel & Yarhouse, 2006; Schulte, Skinner & Clairborn, 2002). This study presents the initial validity and reliability estimates of the Scale of Comfort with Integrating Religion/Spirituality in Counseling (SCIRSC), a self-reported measure to assess the comfort level of counselors-in-training with integrating R/S in their clinical practices. Three hundred participants from clinical and counseling graduate psychology training programs participated in this study. The exploratory factor analysis resulted in 5 factors: R/S Self-Disclosure, R/S Interventions, R/S Reflection, R/S Supervision and Consultation, and R/S Exploration. The SCIRSC was positively correlated with measures of R/S training (RSTS; Wang et al., 2008), R/S competency (Wang et al., 2008), and R/S practice habits in counseling (PHP; Wang et al., 2008), and was not correlated with a measure of impression management (BIDR; Paulhus, 1991). High internal consistency was also found in the total SCIRSC scale and its five subscales. A discussion of how this scale can add to the research and practice regarding the incorporation of R/S in counseling is provided.

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston University

No description available.

Galactical and cosmological evidence show that a quarter of the energy budget of our universe is made of collisionless, non-relativistic, and non-baryonic dark matter. Its potential coupling to standard model particles, however, has not yet been understood. One of the leading candidates - Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMP) - allows the production of a dark matter relic density as observed today and couples to standard model particles at or below the weak scale. LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) is a future tonne-scale two-phase xenon TPC aiming to detect WIMP recoils with xenon nuclei. The experiment will begin WIMP search data-taking in 2020 at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, South Dakota and has a projected sensitivity of 3 × 10^-48 cm² or better in probing a 40 GeV/c² WIMP. The main observables of particle interactions in LZ are the primary scintillation (S1) and secondary scintillation (S2). However, optimising and achieving a stable S2 signal in such a tonne-scale TPC is non-trivial. Effects from the structural design of the S2 production region (top-corner structure), TPC tilt, and the xenon circulation system requires precise monitoring of the liquid surface. Such monitoring is achieved by the capacitive liquid level sensors developed within this thesis. The sensors are strategically placed to ensure that nonuniformity of the S2 signal due to the effects can be understood and corrected. In this thesis, the development of a monitoring system designed to optimise the quality of the S2 signal, based on the capacitive level sensors is discussed. A design of the electronics scheme based on a differential measurement allows femtofarad precision measurement of sensor's capacitance at picofarad level, even in the presence of cable capacitance at nanofarad level. A systematic study of the response of such a sensor to LXe and the application of the precision level sensors to two-phase TPC was carried out. Findings of intrinsic influences from LXe artefacts and LXe dielectric constant variation with its saturated temperature are identified; the result on the application of the sensors contributes to the designs of LZ circulation and the top-corner region. The final LZ level sensors show an artefact-free liquid level measurement and a 12 &mu;m precision in measuring liquid nitrogen level (projection for LXe: &Tilde; 9 &mu;m) over a 20 mm measurement range.

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Orientador: Ary dos Santos Pinto / Banca: Luiz Gonzaga Gandini Junior / Banca: Ana Claudia Moreira de Melo / Resumo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a aplicação do laser diodo AsGaAl no controle da sensação dolorosa de paciente em procedimento de separação dental dos 1os molares inferiores. Participaram da pesquisa 62 pacientes com idade média de 19,7 anos que iniciaram o tratamento ortodôntico na Clínica de Pós-Graduação da Disciplina de Ortodontia do Departamento de Clínica Infantil da Faculdade de Odontologia de Araraquara - UNESP. Os pacientes foram divididos em 4 grupos alternando a aplicação do laser com e sem efeito terapêutico e de acordo com rodízio do lado do início de sua aplicação: GrupoI- Início laser lado direito; Grupo II- Início placebo lado direito; Grupo III- Início laser lado esquerdo Grupo IV -Início placebo lado esquerdo. O laser, com ou sem efeito terapêutico, foi aplicado antes da separação, 24 e 48 horas após a separação. A dor foi avaliada por uma escala visual analógica. O índice de dor foi registrado antes e após a aplicação do laser com ou sem efeito terapêutico dependendo do grupo, e imediatamente após a separação. Após 24 e 48 horas, o registro da dor se deu antes e após as aplicações de laser com ou sem efeito terapêutico dependendo do grupo. Antes e após a irradiação, a média dos escores da EVA para o grupo placebo e laser foi de zero. Logo após a separação, a média da EVA para o grupo placebo foi de 1,6, significantemente maior que a média de 1,1 registrada para o grupo laser 17 (p=0,013). Após 24 horas e antes da nova irradiação, os valores de dor registrados entre os grupos não se mostraram diferentes, com valores de 2,6 e 2,2 para os grupos placebo e laser, respectivamente. Após a irradiação, os valores caíram para 1,8 e 1,6 não se mostrando diferentes. Após 48 horas, os valores... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The objective of this research was to compare the effect single low-level laser therapy (LLLT) irradiation on pain perception in patients having fixed appliance treatment in the clinic of postgraduate discipline Orthodontics Department, Araraquara-UNESP. Sixty-two patients with mean age, 19.7 years, were recruited to participate in this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. The pacients were assigned to 4 groups: Group I- Laser on the right side; Group II- Placebo on the right side; Group III- Laser on the left side; Group IV- Placebo on the left. The laser or placebo was applied before separation, 24 and 48 hours after separation of their first permanent molars in the lower arch. The pain was recorded by a visual analog scale. The data of the pain's scale was recorded before and after the laser's or placebo's irradiation depending on the group, and immediately after separation and then after 24 and 48 hours. Before and after irradiation, the average of the scores of EVA to the placebo group and laser was zero. Just after the separation, the average of the EVA for the placebo group was 1.6, significantly greater than the average of 1.1 registered for the laser Group (p = 0.013). After 24 hours and before the new irradiation, the values registered among the different groups did not show any diferences, with values from 2.2 to 2.6 and placebo groups and laser, respectively. After irradiation, the values dropped to 1.8 and 1.6 not showing 19 differences. After 48 hours, the values continued dropping without any differences. In relation to the gender, only after the first irradiation in placebo group, the female had a level of pain (0.1) significantly higher (p = 0.04) compared to male, and after 48 hours, the group where the laser was applied had a difference (p = 0.04) among the gender with a value of lower pain... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-02T00:03:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 tese_10271_representation_of_multi_level_domains_on_the_web_2016 - freddy.pdf: 1850597 bytes, checksum: 49e1ac6068e9ec186891d6c01f4acab9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-09-28 / Estratégias de modelagem conceitual e representação de conhecimento frequentemente tratam entidades em dois níveis: um nível de classes e um nível de indivíduos que instanciam essas classes. Em vários domínios, porém, as próprias classes podem estar sujeitas a categorização, resultando em classes de classes (ou metaclasses). Ao representar estes domínios, é preciso capturar não apenas as entidades de diferentes níveis de classificação, mas também as suas relações (possivelmente complexas). No domínio de taxonomias biológicas, por exemplo, um dado organismo (por exemplo, o leão Cecil morto em 2015 no Parque Nacional Hwange no Zimbábue) é classificado em diversos táxons (como, por exemplo, Animal, Mamífero, Carnívoro, Leão), e cada um desses táxons é classificado por um ranking taxonômico (por exemplo, Reino, Classe, Ordem, Espécie). Assim, para representar o conhecimento referente a esse domínio, é necessário representar entidades em níveis diferentes de classificação. Por exemplo, Cecil é uma instância de Leão, que é uma instância de Espécie. Espécie, por sua vez, é uma instância de Ranking Taxonômico. Além disso, quando representamos esses domínios, é preciso capturar não somente as entidades diferentes níveis de classificação, mas também suas (possivelmente complicadas) relações. Por exemplo, nós gostaríamos de afirmar que instâncias do gênero Panthera também devem ser instâncias de exatamente uma instância de Espécie (por exemplo, Leão). A necessidade de suporte à representação de domínios que lidam com múltiplos níveis de classificação deu origem a uma área de investigação chamada modelagem multi-nível. Observa-se que a representação de modelos com múltiplos níveis é um desafio em linguagens atuais da Web Semântica, como há pouco apoio para orientar o modelador na produção correta de ontologias multi-nível, especialmente por causa das nuanças de restrições que se aplicam a entidades de diferentes níveis de classificação e suas relações. A fim de lidar com esses desafios de representação, definimos um vocabulário que pode ser usado como base para a definição de ontologias multi-nível em OWL, juntamente com restrições de integridade e regras de derivação. É oferecida uma ferramenta que recebe como entrada um modelo de domínio, verifica conformidade com as restrições de integridade propostas e produz como saída um modelo enriquecido com informações derivadas. Neste processo, é empregada uma teoria axiomática chamada MLT (uma Teoria de Modelagem Multi-Nível). O conteúdo da plataforma Wikidata foi utilizado para demonstrar que o vocabulário poderia evitar inconsistências na representação multi-nível em um cenário real.