Postural instability is one of the hallmarks of Parkinson's disease (PD), currently evaluated using several subjective tools. However, the nature and degree of the resulting balance deficit is not well specified by these tools. Computerized dynamic posturography (CDP) provides an objective assessment by isolating and quantifying sensory and motor contributions to balance control. The purpose of this study was to compare balance in individuals with PD to a control group using CDP (NeuroCom Smart Balance Master® system). Testing took place at the Southeast Parkinson's disease Research Education and Clinical Center (PADRECC), an interdisciplinary center of excellence for people with PD within a Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The 51 PD patients (mean age = 72.18 ± 6.98 years;) were compared to 55 age-matched controls supplied by the CDP manufacturer. Subjects were assessed with three test scales defined by the Smart Balance Master® system: Sensory Organization Test (SOT), Adaptation Test (ADT), and Limits of Stability Test (LOS). All PD population CDP scores were significantly different (a=0.05) than those of a healthy population, except for the SOT Somatosensory subscale (p=0.28), LOS Directional Control subscale (p=0.08), ADT Toes Up subscale (p=0.16) and ADT Toes Down subscale (p=0.23). The Smart Balance Master® system's LOS Movement Velocity, Endpoint Excursion, Maximum Excursion, and Reaction Time subscores and the SOT Composite, Visual, and Vestibular subscores uniquely describe the varying symptoms of the disease. These disease specific abnormalities may provide insight into focused treatment intervention strategies.

One main task, which is considerably important in many applications in quantum control, is to explore the possibilities of steering a quantum system from an initial state to a target state. This thesis focuses on fundamental control-theoretical issues of quantum dynamics described by the Lindblad-Kossakowski master equation which arises as a bilinear control system on some underlying real vector spaces, e.g controllability aspects and the structure of reachable sets. Based on Lie-algebraic methods from nonlinear control theory, the thesis presents a unified approach to control problems of finite dimensional closed and open quantum systems. In particular, a simplified treatment for controllability of closed quantum systems as well as new accessibility results for open quantum systems are obtained. The main tools to derive the results are the well-known classifications of all matrix Lie groups which act transitively on Grassmann manifolds, and respectively, on real vector spaces without the origin. It is also shown in this thesis that accessibiity of the Lindblad-Kossakowski master equation is a generic property. Moreover, based on the theoretical accessibility results, an algorithm is developed to decide when the Lindblad-Kossakowski master equation is accessible. / Eine Hauptaufgabe, mit zahlreichen wichtigen Anwendungen in dem Gebiet der Quantenkontrolle, ist die Untersuchung der Möglichkeit zur Steuerung eines quantenmechanischen Systems von einem Anfangszustand zum einem Zielszustand. Diese Arbeit konzentriert sich auf die grundlegenden kontrolltheoretischen Fragen, wie z.B solche zur Erreichbarkeits- und Kontrollierbarkeit, über quantendynamische Systeme, die durch die Lindblad-Kossakowski Master Gleichungen beschrieben werden. Diese Gleichungen bilden bilineare Kontrollsysteme auf einem reellen Vektorraum. Basierend auf Lie-algebraische Methoden der nicht-linearen Kontrolltheorie, wird in dieser Arbeit ein vereinheitlichter Zugang präsentiert um die kontrolltheoretischen Fragen in endlichdimensionalen, geschlossenen wie offenen Quantensystemen zu beantworten. Insbesondere, werden eine vereinfachte Verarbeitung der Kontrollierbarkeitsfragen geschlossener Systeme sowie neue Ergebnisse zur Frage der Zugänglichkeit offener Systeme ausgearbeitet. Der Hauptansatz, um dieser Ergebnisse abzuleiten, besteht in der bekannten Klassifizierung aller Matrix-Lie Gruppen, die auf Grassmann Mannigfaltigkeiten bzw. reellen Vektorräumen ohne Ursprung, transitiv operieren. In dieser Arbeit, werden auch generische Eigenschaften zur Zugänglichkeit der Lindblad-Kossakowski Master Gleichung ausgeführt. Ferner wird, mit Hilfsmittel von theoretischer Ergebnisse, ein Algorithmus zur Bestimmung der Zugänglichkeit der Lindblad-Kossakowski Master Gleichung entwickelt.

Thesis advisor: John Houchin / The objective of this project was to attempt not only to adapt the novel "The Master and Margarita" by Mikhail Bulgakov to the stage, but rather to translate it in both time and place to the stage. It has been more than 60 years since the novel was written, and as such the concerns of the characters have changed both in time and locale. Not only are their objectives adjusted, but the novel is ultimately that: a novel. Being a theatrical adaptation, the play must acknowledge its own existence as such and take issue with its form as much as "The Master and Margarita" does its own. The play is, ultimately, a failed one in my opinion. The greatest downfall thereof being the fact that theatre, drama, is centered around a single thing: conflict. The devil can be in conflict with no one but the divine, and as such any time he is on stage there is simply something missing. The failure is, to a certain extent, befitting of the piece for what it takes to heart as its issues. Enjoy. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2013. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: College Honors Program. / Discipline: Theater.

Esta dissertação de Mestrado se ocupa da compreensão simbólica da trajetória do técnico do voleibol, relacionada com a figura mítica de Quíron e seus atletas, avaliando a importância do técnico como elemento fundamental para a construção do atleta. Este último, por suas muitas similaridades com o mito do herói, passa a ser entendido como uma figura ímpar, com o quê podemos entender suas façanhas. Sincronicamente, o atleta, por representar uma condição heroica, reclama pela presença fundamental de um mestre em sua formação. O mestre se atualiza na figura do treinador, aproximando-se e amplificando esta visão com o mito de Quíron. Destas associações decorrem elementos básicos para a melhor compreensão do desenvolvimento e estruturação de personalidade do atleta, embasando o aprimoramento do seu rendimento. Do encontro simbólico do técnico-mestre com seu atleta-herói, estuda-se o fenômeno da liderança, ampliado com mitologemas em que personagens líderes se fazem presentes. A par da amplificação mítica, a dissertação buscou elementos, para melhor compreensão da presente temática, em dados biográficos decorrentes de entrevistas com três técnicos do voleibol brasileiro, medalhistas olímpicos como jogadores ou técnicos: Bebeto de Freitas, Bernardinho e Giovane. No mito do herói são descritos sua origem, sua natureza, características de personalidade, condições de nascimento e morte, seus trabalhos e ritos iniciáticos, além de sua importância civilizatória. No mito de Quíron, descrito de forma detalhada, retoma-se a temática de sua origem, seu nascimento, sua criação e recebimento dos ensinos das artes, circunstâncias e consequências de seu ferimento, bem como sua nobreza de caráter. A dissertação tece considerações gerais sobre o quanto sua realização mobilizou emocionalmente o autor, a par de fazer comentários sobre os ensinamentos encontrados nas falas dos três técnicos. Ela explicita, fundamentalmente, a correlação simbólica entre a figura do técnico de voleibol, exercendo-se pela função polar do mentor, com a figura do atleta deste esporte, na função polar complementar do aprendiz / This master degree dissertation occupies of a symbolic comprehension of the volleyballs coach pathway related with the mythic figure of Quiron and its athletes, evaluating the coachs importance as a fundamental element for the athletes construction. The athlete, as it has a lot of similarities with the heros myth is understood as a unique figure, as we can understand its achievements. Synchronously, the athlete, as a representative of a heroic condition, asks for the masters presence in its formation. The master actualizes in the coachs figure approximating and increasing this view with the Quirons myth. Result of these associations derives basic elements for a better comprehension of the development and structuring of the athletes personality basing the refinement of its performance. The symbolic meeting between master-coach and hero-athlete, the leadership phenomenon is studied, amplified with the mythologems where leaders characters are presented. The dissertation searched elements, for a better comprehension of the set of themes presented, in the biographical information of the three coaches, olympic medalists, as an athlete or as a coach, of the Brazilian volleyball: Bebeto de Freitas, Bernardinho and Giovane. The heros myth is described in: its origin, its nature, personality traits, birth and death conditions, its works and beginning ceremonies, its civilization importance. In the Quirons myth, detailed described, retakes the origin of its themes, birth, as it was created and how received its instructions about arts, the circumstances they were wounded and the consequences of its wound, as the nobility of its character. The paper shows general considerations on how its realization emotionally mobilized its author, along with comments and observations on teachings found in the speeches of the three coaches. The paper explains, fundamentally, the symbolic correlation between the volleyballs coach, playing by the mentors polar function, with the figure of the volleyballs athlete, playing by the complement polar function of apprentice

A pesquisa na area de redes complexas tem evoluido bastante, e e nesta linha que o presente trabalho visa aportar, dando enfase especial no processo epidemico sobre redes. Desse modo, foi feito uma analise geral das redes complexas em conjunto com suas propriedades. Apos isso, desenvolveu-se o processo de contagio da epidemia do tipo suscetivel-infectado sobre uma rede aleatoria uniforme e sobre uma rede aleatoria com ligacoes preferenciais. Ambas abordagens foram desenvolvidas usando equacoes mestras para finalmente fazer sua analise com metodos analiticos e computacionais. / Research in the area of complex networks has evolved greatly, and over this line that this present work aims to contribute, with particular emphasis on the epidemic process over networks. Along these lines, a general review about complex networks is made with their main properties. After that, a susceptible-infected contagion process is developed over a uniform random network and a preferential attachment network. Both approaches were developed using master equations to finally analyze them with analytical and computatio- nal methods.

A pesquisa na area de redes complexas tem evoluido bastante, e e nesta linha que o presente trabalho visa aportar, dando enfase especial no processo epidemico sobre redes. Desse modo, foi feito uma analise geral das redes complexas em conjunto com suas propriedades. Apos isso, desenvolveu-se o processo de contagio da epidemia do tipo suscetivel-infectado sobre uma rede aleatoria uniforme e sobre uma rede aleatoria com ligacoes preferenciais. Ambas abordagens foram desenvolvidas usando equacoes mestras para finalmente fazer sua analise com metodos analiticos e computacionais. / Research in the area of complex networks has evolved greatly, and over this line that this present work aims to contribute, with particular emphasis on the epidemic process over networks. Along these lines, a general review about complex networks is made with their main properties. After that, a susceptible-infected contagion process is developed over a uniform random network and a preferential attachment network. Both approaches were developed using master equations to finally analyze them with analytical and computatio- nal methods.

Esta dissertação de Mestrado se ocupa da compreensão simbólica da trajetória do técnico do voleibol, relacionada com a figura mítica de Quíron e seus atletas, avaliando a importância do técnico como elemento fundamental para a construção do atleta. Este último, por suas muitas similaridades com o mito do herói, passa a ser entendido como uma figura ímpar, com o quê podemos entender suas façanhas. Sincronicamente, o atleta, por representar uma condição heroica, reclama pela presença fundamental de um mestre em sua formação. O mestre se atualiza na figura do treinador, aproximando-se e amplificando esta visão com o mito de Quíron. Destas associações decorrem elementos básicos para a melhor compreensão do desenvolvimento e estruturação de personalidade do atleta, embasando o aprimoramento do seu rendimento. Do encontro simbólico do técnico-mestre com seu atleta-herói, estuda-se o fenômeno da liderança, ampliado com mitologemas em que personagens líderes se fazem presentes. A par da amplificação mítica, a dissertação buscou elementos, para melhor compreensão da presente temática, em dados biográficos decorrentes de entrevistas com três técnicos do voleibol brasileiro, medalhistas olímpicos como jogadores ou técnicos: Bebeto de Freitas, Bernardinho e Giovane. No mito do herói são descritos sua origem, sua natureza, características de personalidade, condições de nascimento e morte, seus trabalhos e ritos iniciáticos, além de sua importância civilizatória. No mito de Quíron, descrito de forma detalhada, retoma-se a temática de sua origem, seu nascimento, sua criação e recebimento dos ensinos das artes, circunstâncias e consequências de seu ferimento, bem como sua nobreza de caráter. A dissertação tece considerações gerais sobre o quanto sua realização mobilizou emocionalmente o autor, a par de fazer comentários sobre os ensinamentos encontrados nas falas dos três técnicos. Ela explicita, fundamentalmente, a correlação simbólica entre a figura do técnico de voleibol, exercendo-se pela função polar do mentor, com a figura do atleta deste esporte, na função polar complementar do aprendiz / This master degree dissertation occupies of a symbolic comprehension of the volleyballs coach pathway related with the mythic figure of Quiron and its athletes, evaluating the coachs importance as a fundamental element for the athletes construction. The athlete, as it has a lot of similarities with the heros myth is understood as a unique figure, as we can understand its achievements. Synchronously, the athlete, as a representative of a heroic condition, asks for the masters presence in its formation. The master actualizes in the coachs figure approximating and increasing this view with the Quirons myth. Result of these associations derives basic elements for a better comprehension of the development and structuring of the athletes personality basing the refinement of its performance. The symbolic meeting between master-coach and hero-athlete, the leadership phenomenon is studied, amplified with the mythologems where leaders characters are presented. The dissertation searched elements, for a better comprehension of the set of themes presented, in the biographical information of the three coaches, olympic medalists, as an athlete or as a coach, of the Brazilian volleyball: Bebeto de Freitas, Bernardinho and Giovane. The heros myth is described in: its origin, its nature, personality traits, birth and death conditions, its works and beginning ceremonies, its civilization importance. In the Quirons myth, detailed described, retakes the origin of its themes, birth, as it was created and how received its instructions about arts, the circumstances they were wounded and the consequences of its wound, as the nobility of its character. The paper shows general considerations on how its realization emotionally mobilized its author, along with comments and observations on teachings found in the speeches of the three coaches. The paper explains, fundamentally, the symbolic correlation between the volleyballs coach, playing by the mentors polar function, with the figure of the volleyballs athlete, playing by the complement polar function of apprentice

Every cell contains several millions of diffusing and reacting biological molecules. The interactions between these molecules ultimately manifest themselves in all aspects of life, from the smallest bacterium to the largest whale. One of the greatest open scientific challenges is to understand how the microscopic chemistry determines the macroscopic biology. Key to this challenge is the development of mathematical and computational models of biochemistry with molecule-level detail, but which are sufficiently coarse to enable the study of large systems at the cell or organism scale. Two such models are in common usage: the reaction-diffusion master equation, and Brownian dynamics. These models are utterly different in both their history and in their approaches to chemical reactions and diffusion, but they both seek to address the same reaction-diffusion question. Here we make an in-depth study into the physical validity of these models under various biological conditions, determining when they can reliably be used. Taking each model in turn, we propose modifications to the models to better model the realities of the cellular environment, and to enable more efficient computational implementations. We use the models to make predictions about how and why cells behave the way they do, from mechanisms of self-organisation to noise reduction. We conclude that both models are extremely powerful tools for clarifying the details of the mysterious relationship between chemistry and biology.

This thesis was done in the professional project format. It was completed as a deliverable to the City of Lake Charles, Louisiana. It was developed in accordance with the State of Louisiana Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. A bicycle and pedestrian master plan is a document meant to serve as a guide to staff and decision-makers on how to best develop future bicycle and pedestrian improvements. It is a comprehensive document that identifies and prioritizes new projects for sidewalks, bicycle facilities, and off-street paths. It accomplishes this by following these steps: 1. Identify existing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. 2. Provide a “on the ground” survey of conditions of existing infrastructure. 3. Conduct public input sessions to gather information regarding necessary projects. 4. Apply four criteria (Attractors, Generators, Connectivity, and Affordability) to rank the priority of each project. 5. Identify likely funding sources for each project. 6. Suggest steps for plan implementation and next steps. 7. Present findings to public and elected officials. Following these steps, a complete bicycle and pedestrian master plan was developed. A total of 149 sidewalk projects, 40 bicycle network projects, and five off-street multi-use paths were identified and prioritized. The identification of these projects will serve to assist in their inclusion to the City’s and regional planning bodies transportation improvement plan (TIP).

This dissertation sought to answer four research questions in relation to the master narrative of modern parenthood, themes of untellable tales of parenthood, how parents make sense of their identity in light of possessing untellable tales, and mechanisms parents utilize to cope with and make sense of their untellable tales. What emerges from this dissertation is a much needed, in-depth illustration of the multi-faceted, myriad pressures modern parents face. Furthermore, the results of the data analysis show the lengths parents will go to, to try and live up to the expectations placed upon them in modern society. Finally, this dissertation illuminates the (often) creative ways parents embark upon sense-making and coping strategies to continue to work each day to raise the next generation for future success. Through inductive, open-coding, qualitative analysis the findings related to each research question illustrate many varied, and rich themes. The master narrative of modern parenthood was discovered to contain ten separate narrative threads that weave together to create a rich tapestry of how parents are expected to be responsible for Determining the Future Success of the Child. Five of the narrative threads dictate the roles parents are expected to play within their daily parenting: Provider, Protector, Teacher, Biggest Fan, and Enforcer. Additionally, the master narrative of modern parenthood instructs parents to perform each of the roles in with: Unconditional Love, Selflessness, Attention, Enjoyment, and Perfection. When analyzing parent untellable narratives for emergent themes, it became clear the master narrative was closely entwined with what makes tales of parenthood untellable. The themes that emerged within untellable tales of parenthood were that of: Inadequate Provider, Inadequate Protector, Inadequate Teacher, Inadequate Biggest Fan, and Inadequate Enforcer. Furthermore, tales of parenthood can be deemed untellable because they illustrate a parent performing the various roles of parenthood with the opposite of the master narrative performative expectations. As a result, performative themes of untellable tales were found to be: Selfishness, Frustration, Inattention, Too Good, and Unconditional Love. Possessing untellable tales of parenthood did not disable parents from making sense of their parental identity. Instead, untellable tales were utilized by the parent to explore his or her identity and make sense of who he or she was or wished to be as a parent. This identity exploration manifested within four themes of identity sense-making that emerged during data analysis: Identity Under Construction, Identity Unintelligible to Others, Identity Outlier, and Identity Undecided. Within each of these identity sense-making themes, parents worked to accept/reject their untellable tale of parenthood and understand the stability/fluidity of their parental identity. Finally, when seeking to understand how parents cope with and make sense of their untellable tales of parenthood two large themes emerged: Cognitive Strategies and Communicative Strategies. Within the theme of Cognitive Strategies, parents embarked upon Internal Narrative Reflection and Internal Narrative Reframing to internally work through, assess, and understand their untellable tale of parenthood while not risking outsider judgement, or identity defamation. Communicative Strategies parents utilized for coping and sense-making purposes were found to be: Tell the Untellable, Tell a Therapist, Write the Untellable, and Tell and Alternative Tale. Through these Communicative Strategies parents could reap the benefits of sharing their untellable tale (sometimes creatively) to get listener feedback, emotional validation, and support that then helped the parent cope with and make sense of the challenge presented within the untellable tale and/or the challenges of parenting more generally.