管理資訊系統與全面品質管理關係之探討管理資訊系統的發展對企業造成許多衝擊，隨著企業競爭型態日趨劇烈，管理資訊系統不僅可以協助企業快速而有效的儲存、傳送、及處理資訊，進而對組織產生成本降低、生產力提昇、及支援工作的改善，更可加強企業整體的競爭能力，幫助企業創造競爭優勢。而在企業推展全面品質管理的同時，管理資訊系統與全面品質管理之間又有怎樣的關係存在？本文探討管理資訊系統與全面品質管理之階段性發展特色，並以我國國家品質獎之評審標準為例，由各評審項目探討在全面品質管理與管理資訊系統之發展，並以民國84年我國國家品質獎之申請廠商作為個案研究對象，探討管理資訊系統與全面品質管理之發展關係。在現有的樣本中，發現兩者的發展關係相當密切，國家品質獎的得獎廠商在這兩項的發展上均有一定之水準。 / The Investigation of The Relation Between Management Information Systems (MIS) and Total Quality Manageme (TQM) The development of management information systems (MIS) brings very much impact to business. When the style of business's competition comes more and more intensive, MIS can not only help the business to save, transfer, and process information but also decrease the cost, increase productivity and improve supporting works. Besides, MIS can improve the whole competition of the business, and create new competition advantages. What is the relation between MIS and total quality management (TQM)? This text investigates the characteristics of MIS and TQM's staging development, and uses the national quality award adjuststandards to investigate the development of MIS and TQM within each item. With those firms who applied the national quality award in 1995 as case study, we find that the relation between MIS and TQM is very closed.

L'hydrogène moléculaire est la molécule la plus simple et la plus répandue dans l'Univers. Elle se présente sous deux formes, ortho- et para- H$_2$, correspondant aux différents alignements des spins de ses deux noyaux. Le rapport ortho/para de H$_2$ est un paramètre essentiel pour comprendre les processus collisionnels inélastiques et réactifs dans les milieux astrophysiques moléculaires. Dans cette thèse, nous nous sommes intéressés à la détermination de ce rapport dans les nuages sombres, régions où H$_2$ ne peut pas être observée directement. Dans ce but, nous avons utilisé la molécule de formaldéhyde (H$_2$CO) dont l'excitation rotationnelle dans ces sources est dominée par les collisions avec H$_2$. Une transition particulière a été choisie pour cette étude : la raie à 6 cm (4,8 GHz) de ortho-H$_2$CO observée en absorption devant le fond diffus cosmologique. Si des études précédentes ont montré que cette absorption (antimaser) peut être expliquée par des effets collisionnels, aucune n'a étudié jusqu'à présent l'impact des formes ortho- et para-H$_2$ sur l'absorption. Nous présentons, dans un premier temps, nos calculs haute-précision des taux d'excitation rotationnelle entre (ortho-,para-)H$_2$CO et (ortho-,para-)H$_2$. Nous montrons qu'il existe des différences significatives sur les taux de collisions selon le type de projectiles, et en particulier qu'il existe des différences entre ortho- et para-H$_2$. Nous présentons ensuite l'utilisation de ces taux dans un modèle de transfert radiatif afin de reproduire les observations que nous avons menées au Green Bank Telescope sur la transition a 6 cm de ortho-H$_2$CO en direction de 3 nuages sombres (B68, L134N et TMC-1). Nous montrons que les différences dans les taux de collisions calculés avec ortho- et para-H$_2$ ont un impact significatif sur les simulations, nous permettant ainsi d'apporter des contraintes sur la valeur du rapport ortho/para de H$_2$ dans ces milieux. Nous traitons en particulier l'exemple de B68, prototype de c\oe ur pre-stellaire.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by loss of motor neurons and their supporting cells in the brain, brainstem and spinal cord, resulting in muscle paresis and paralysis including the bulbar (speech, chewing, swallowing) and respiratory muscles. The average age at onset is 55 years, and death due to respiratory failure occurs 2-5 years after symptom onset in ~ 85% of cases. Five to 10% of ALS is familial, and about 20% of familial cases are associated with mutations in the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene. To date, 118 SOD1 mutations have been reported worldwide (www alsod.org). All are dominantly inherited, except for the D90A mutation, which is typically recessively inherited. D90A homozygous ALS is associated with long (~14 years) survival, and some atypical symptoms and signs. The reason for this is not known. In contrast, most other SOD1 mutations are associated with average survival, while some are associated with aggressive disease having lower motor neuron predominance and survival less than 12 months. The A4V mutation, which is the most frequently occurring SOD1 mutation in the United States, is an example of the latter. Understanding the pathogenic mechanisms of SOD1 mutants causing widely different disease forms like D90A and A4V is of paramount importance. Overwhelming scientific evidence indicates that mutations in the SOD1 gene are cytotoxic by a “gain of noxious” function, which although not fully understood results in protein aggregation and loss of cell function. This thesis explores different ALS-SOD1 gene mutations in British Columbia (BC), Canada. Two hundred and fifty-three ALS patients were screened for SOD1 mutations, and 12 (4.7%) unrelated patients were found to carry one of 5 different SOD1 mutations: A4V (n=2); G72C (n=1); D76Y (n=1); D90A (n=2); and 113T (n=6). Incomplete penetrance was observed in 3/12 families. Bulbar onset disease was not observed in the SOD1 mutation carriers in this study, but gender distribution was similar to previously reported studies. Age at symptom onset for all patients enrolled, with or without SOD1 mutations, was older than reported in previous studies. On average, patients with SOD1 mutations experience a longer diagnostic delay (22.6 months) compared to patients without mutations (12 months). Two SOD1 patients were originally misdiagnosed including the G72C patient who’s presenting features resembled a proximal myopathy. Neuropathological examination of this patient failed to reveal upper motor neuron disease. The I113T mutation was associated with variable age of onset and survival time, and was found in 2 apparently sporadic cases. The D76Y mutation was also found in an apparently sporadic case. I113T and D76Y are likely influenced by other genetic or environmental factors in some individuals. Two patients were homozygous for the D90A mutation, with clinical features comparable to patients originally described in Scandinavia. Clinical and electrophysiological motor neuron abnormalities were observed in heterozygous relatives of one D90A homozygous patient. The A4V patients were similar to those described in previous studies, although one had significant upper motor neuron disease both clinically and neuropathologically. Clinical neurophysiology is essential in the diagnosis of ALS, and helpful in monitoring disease progression. A number of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) studies may detect early dysfunction of upper motor neurons when imaging techniques lack sensitivity. Peristimulus time histograms (PSTHs), which assess corticospinal function via recording of voluntarily activated single motor units during low intensity TMS of the motor cortex, were used to study 19 ALS patients having 5 different SOD1 mutations (including 8 of the 12 patients identified with SOD1 mutations from BC). Results were compared with idiopathic ALS cases, patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), and healthy controls. Significant differences were found in corticospinal pathophysiology between ALS patients with SOD1 mutations, idiopathic ALS, and MS patients. In addition, different SOD1 mutants were associated with significantly different neurophysiologic abnormalities. D90A homozygous patients show preserved if not exaggerated cortical inhibition and slow central conduction, which may reflect the more benign disease course associated with this mutant. In contrast, A4V patients show cortical hyper-excitability and only slightly delayed central conduction. I113T patients display a spectrum of abnormalities. This suggests mutant specific SOD1 pathology(s) of the corticospinal pathways in ALS.

Initial forms of analytical models created to simulate real engineering structures may generally yield dynamic response predictions different than those obtained from experimental tests. Since testing a real structure under every possible excitation is not practical, it is essential to transform the initial mathematical model to a model which reflects the characteristics of the actual structure in a better way. By using structural model updating techniques, the initial mathematical model is adjusted so that it simulates the experimental measurements more closely. In this study, a sensitivity-based finite element (FE) model updating method using experimental frequency response (FRF) data is presented. This study bases on a technique developed in an earlier study on the computation of the so-called Mis-correlation Index (MCI) used for identifying the system matrices which require updating. MCI values are calculated for each required coordinate, and non-zero numerical values indicate coordinates carrying error. In this work a new model updating procedure based on the minimization of this index is developed. The method uses sensitivity approach. FE models are iteratively updated by minimizing MCI values using sensitivities. The validation of the method is realized through some case studies. In order to demonstrate the application of the method for real systems, a real test data obtained from the modal test of a scaled aircraft model (GARTEUR SM-AG19) is used. In the application, the FE model of the scaled aircraft is updated. In the case studies the generic software developed in this study is used along with some commercial programs.

Cette thèse trace et interroge le passage qui s'est opéré au cours des quarante dernières années dans la dramaturgie québécoise, soit le passage d'une écriture de l'identitaire à celle de l'individu. La lecture privilégiée sera de l'ordre de la sociocritique du texte dramatique et elle permettra d'identifier les stratégies discursives et poétiques autoréflexives d'une pratique théâtrale qui puise ses tropes aux littératures de l'intime. Ainsi, les pièces à caractère biographiques et les relectures historiques sont étudiées au même titre que celles qui se revendiquent de l'autobiographie, de l'autofiction et de l'autoreprésentation. Ces dernières caractérisent la production théâtrale québécoise récente. Après avoir été résolument politique et axée sur la langue, la dramaturgie québécoise, longtemps considérée écriture-miroir d'un peuple dont la nation est en perpétuel devenir, aujourd'hui s'intéresse d'abord à elle-même, à sa littérarisation, voire à ses praticiens préoccupés par la place qu'ils occupent dans un milieu plus exiguë, plus marginalisé dans l'ensemble de la société québécoise. Le devenir sociétal a-t-il été substitué par la préoccupation du devenir individuel, non pas comme exemplum, mais comme manifestation d'un sentiment d'unicité? La thèse examine l'émergence d'une dramaturgie tributaire des pratiques autographiques de ses praticiens. Le discours théâtral est à nouveau en accord avec le discours social, sauf que cette fois, le reflet que renvoie le miroir est celui d'une société d'individus préoccupés par leur propre devenir.

Background: The interest in obstetrical complications that culminate with maternal death and the urgent need for improvement in these indexes led to the development of the concept of maternal near miss. From a normal situation, the patients are in a continuum that can evolve with the development of moderate and severe situations of health. Severe acute maternal morbidity (SAMM) (situation less severe) and near miss (NM) (situation more severe) are two degrees of situation immediately before maternal death. The main advantage of studying these cases is higher frequency when comparing with maternal deaths cases and that the determining factors are the same. This study aims to determine the ocurrence of SAMM and NM situations in two maternities of reference of the state of Sergipe, determine the prevalence of the event and describe the risk factors associated. Casuistic and methods: A cross sectional study with double controls was conducted in patients who were pregnant sometime and were hospitalized in two reference maternities of Sergipe state. The patients answered a survey about issues relevant to the subject. For categorical variables was used Fisher s exact test. For normal continuous variables was applied the Student t test and for the not normal, the U-Mann-Whitey test. Odds ratio and confidence interval were used whenever possible. Multivariate analysis was performed and p <0,05. Results: There were 16,243 live birth deliveries, and occurred 1102 SAMM, 77 NM and 17 maternal deaths cases. The prevalence of SAMM + NM founded were, respectively, 7.6 cases/1000 LB, the mortality index was 18% (4.5 cases for each death) The main causes of SAMM and NM were respectively: 67.5% by hypertensive causes and 87.1% by necessity of invasive procedures. High age, low income, absence of prenatal, high rates of cesarean section, previous abortion and low weight of the baby at birth with unfavorable perinatal prognosis were statistically significant for the study group. Multivariate analysis showed that the number of eligibility criteria for NM was related with the severity of the situation. Conclusions: The situations of SAMM and NM in the two maternities studied reached significant values. Study NM can be the most efficiently way of conducting internal audits for the improving of the quality of services. Protocols based on adverse situations like these, where the detection can be made on the exact point of failure, can recommend conducts and interventions able to save lives. / Introdução: O interesse por complicações em obstetrícia que culminassem com morte materna e a necessidade urgente da melhora desses índices resultou no desenvolvimento do conceito de near miss materno. A partir de uma situação normal, a paciente insere-se em um continuum que pode evoluir com o desenvolvimento de situações de gravidade moderada e intensa. Morbidade materna grave (MMG) e near miss (NM) são duas denominações dadas às situações imediatamente anteriores ao óbito materno. A grande vantagem em se estudar esses casos é justamente a sua frequência superior em relação aos casos de morte materna (MM) e que os fatores determinantes são os mesmos. Este estudo tem por objetivos: determinar a ocorrência de situações de MMG e NM em duas maternidades de referência do estado de Sergipe, determinar a prevalência do evento nesses locais e descrever os fatores de risco associados. Casuística e métodos: Foi realizado estudo do tipo transversal com duplo controle em pacientes que em algum momento estiveram gestantes e permaneceram internadas em situações de risco nas duas maternidades de referência do Estado de Sergipe no período de um ano. As pacientes responderam a um questionário que continham questões sobre o assunto. Para a análise estatística das variáveis categóricas foi utilizado o teste exato de Fisher. Para as variáveis contínuas normais e para tabelas 2x2 foi aplicado o teste t de Student e para tabelas maiores o teste do qui-quadrado. Para as tabelas não-normais foi aplicado o teste de U-Mann-Whitey. Cálculo do Odds ratio e intervalo de confiança foram utilizados sempre que possível. Neste estudo foi realizada análise multivariada e o valor de p< 0,05 foi considerado. Resultados: Dos 16.243 partos, ocorreram 1102 casos de MMG, 77 casos de NM e 17 MM. A prevalência de MMG + NM foi de 72,6 casos /1000 NV, o índice de mortalidade foi de 18% (4,5 casos para cada morte). As principais causas de MMG e NM foram respectivamente: 67,5% por causas hipertensivas e 87,1% devido à necessidade de realização de procedimentos invasivos. Idade elevada, baixa renda, a não realização de pré natal, maior índice de parto cesáreo, antecedentes obstétricos de aborto anterior e cesárea anterior, baixo peso do RN ao nascer com prognóstico perinatal desfavorável mostraram-se estatisticamente significantes para o grupo estudado. A análise multivariada demonstrou que a quantidade de critérios de elegibilidade de NM esteve relacionada à gravidade do quadro. Conclusões: As situações de NM + MMG nas duas maternidades estudadas atingiram valores expressivos. Estudar NM pode ser o modo mais eficiente de realização de auditorias internas na busca da melhora da qualidade dos serviços. Protocolos baseados em situações adversas como estas, onde pode ser feita a detecção exata do ponto de falha, podem recomendar condutas e intervenções possivelmente capazes de salvar vidas.

Background: The interest in obstetrical complications that culminate with maternal death and the urgent need for improvement in these indexes led to the development of the concept of maternal near miss. From a normal situation, the patients are in a continuum that can evolve with the development of moderate and severe situations of health. Severe acute maternal morbidity (SAMM) (situation less severe) and near miss (NM) (situation more severe) are two degrees of situation immediately before maternal death. The main advantage of studying these cases is higher frequency when comparing with maternal deaths cases and that the determining factors are the same. This study aims to determine the ocurrence of SAMM and NM situations in two maternities of reference of the state of Sergipe, determine the prevalence of the event and describe the risk factors associated. Casuistic and methods: A cross sectional study with double controls was conducted in patients who were pregnant sometime and were hospitalized in two reference maternities of Sergipe state. The patients answered a survey about issues relevant to the subject. For categorical variables was used Fisher s exact test. For normal continuous variables was applied the Student t test and for the not normal, the U-Mann-Whitey test. Odds ratio and confidence interval were used whenever possible. Multivariate analysis was performed and p <0,05. Results: There were 16,243 live birth deliveries, and occurred 1102 SAMM, 77 NM and 17 maternal deaths cases. The prevalence of SAMM + NM founded were, respectively, 7.6 cases/1000 LB, the mortality index was 18% (4.5 cases for each death) The main causes of SAMM and NM were respectively: 67.5% by hypertensive causes and 87.1% by necessity of invasive procedures. High age, low income, absence of prenatal, high rates of cesarean section, previous abortion and low weight of the baby at birth with unfavorable perinatal prognosis were statistically significant for the study group. Multivariate analysis showed that the number of eligibility criteria for NM was related with the severity of the situation. Conclusions: The situations of SAMM and NM in the two maternities studied reached significant values. Study NM can be the most efficiently way of conducting internal audits for the improving of the quality of services. Protocols based on adverse situations like these, where the detection can be made on the exact point of failure, can recommend conducts and interventions able to save lives. / Introdução: O interesse por complicações em obstetrícia que culminassem com morte materna e a necessidade urgente da melhora desses índices resultou no desenvolvimento do conceito de near miss materno. A partir de uma situação normal, a paciente insere-se em um continuum que pode evoluir com o desenvolvimento de situações de gravidade moderada e intensa. Morbidade materna grave (MMG) e near miss (NM) são duas denominações dadas às situações imediatamente anteriores ao óbito materno. A grande vantagem em se estudar esses casos é justamente a sua frequência superior em relação aos casos de morte materna (MM) e que os fatores determinantes são os mesmos. Este estudo tem por objetivos: determinar a ocorrência de situações de MMG e NM em duas maternidades de referência do estado de Sergipe, determinar a prevalência do evento nesses locais e descrever os fatores de risco associados. Casuística e métodos: Foi realizado estudo do tipo transversal com duplo controle em pacientes que em algum momento estiveram gestantes e permaneceram internadas em situações de risco nas duas maternidades de referência do Estado de Sergipe no período de um ano. As pacientes responderam a um questionário que continham questões sobre o assunto. Para a análise estatística das variáveis categóricas foi utilizado o teste exato de Fisher. Para as variáveis contínuas normais e para tabelas 2x2 foi aplicado o teste t de Student e para tabelas maiores o teste do qui-quadrado. Para as tabelas não-normais foi aplicado o teste de U-Mann-Whitey. Cálculo do Odds ratio e intervalo de confiança foram utilizados sempre que possível. Neste estudo foi realizada análise multivariada e o valor de p< 0,05 foi considerado. Resultados: Dos 16.243 partos, ocorreram 1102 casos de MMG, 77 casos de NM e 17 MM. A prevalência de MMG + NM foi de 72,6 casos /1000 NV, o índice de mortalidade foi de 18% (4,5 casos para cada morte). As principais causas de MMG e NM foram respectivamente: 67,5% por causas hipertensivas e 87,1% devido à necessidade de realização de procedimentos invasivos. Idade elevada, baixa renda, a não realização de pré natal, maior índice de parto cesáreo, antecedentes obstétricos de aborto anterior e cesárea anterior, baixo peso do RN ao nascer com prognóstico perinatal desfavorável mostraram-se estatisticamente significantes para o grupo estudado. A análise multivariada demonstrou que a quantidade de critérios de elegibilidade de NM esteve relacionada à gravidade do quadro. Conclusões: As situações de NM + MMG nas duas maternidades estudadas atingiram valores expressivos. Estudar NM pode ser o modo mais eficiente de realização de auditorias internas na busca da melhora da qualidade dos serviços. Protocolos baseados em situações adversas como estas, onde pode ser feita a detecção exata do ponto de falha, podem recomendar condutas e intervenções possivelmente capazes de salvar vidas.

Les hétérostructures hybrides organique-inorganique présentent des propriétés intéressantes, notamment pour des applications dans le domaine de l’électronique et de la spintronique. Notre intérêt s’est porté particulièrement sur la réalisation d’hétérostructures de type Métal/Monocouche organique/Semiconducteur, dont l’étape de reprise de top-contact métallique reste actuellement un verrou majeur à la réalisation de telles jonctions. L’expérience de l’équipe sur des hétérostructures de type MOS (Métal/Oxyde/Semiconducteur), ainsi que les différentes techniques de surface et de transport disponibles au laboratoire, sont appliquées ici à l’étude de ces hétérostructures hybrides. En particulier, la Microscopie à Emission d’Electrons Balistiques (BEEM) permet d’étudier localement les propriétés électroniques des hétérostructures, avec une résolution spatiale nanométrique. A partir du système Au/GaAs(001) bien connu au laboratoire, nous avons intercalé une monocouche d’alcanethiols à l’interface, pour former des hétérostructures de type Au/Alcanethiols/GaAs(001), entièrement préparées sous ultra-vide. Lors du dépôt d’or à température ambiante, les images BEEM ont révélé des interfaces hétérogènes, avec des zones où le peigne moléculaire est court-circuité ou non par le métal. Une analyse quantitative en spectroscopie BEEM des zones non court-circuitées a mis en évidence des signatures particulières, avec une première contribution associée au passage tunnel des électrons à travers le peigne moléculaire, et une seconde contribution, à plus haute énergie, révélant l’existence de nouveaux canaux de conduction associés à l’existence d’états inoccupés dans la monocouche organique. Les effets de l’épaisseur du métal déposé, de la longueur de chaîne des molécules organiques, ainsi que du groupe terminal de la chaîne organique, ont été discutés. Afin d’améliorer le dépôt du contact métallique, un dispositif expérimental original a permis de déposer l’or sur le substrat refroidi, sur lequel une couche tampon de Xénon est condensée (méthode BLAG : Buffer Layer Assisted Growth). L’analyse BEEM de ces hétérostructures a révélé ici des interfaces homogènes, sans pénétration du métal. Des signatures spectroscopiques similaires aux zones non court-circuitées précédentes ont été mises en évidence. Une étude complète de ces hétérostructures préparées par la méthode BLAG a été réalisée via des mesures de transport à l’échelle macroscopique (J(V) et C(V)), ainsi que des mesures de photoémission par rayonnement synchrotron. Ces mesures ont confirmé le caractère reproductible des jonctions formées, avec des hauteurs de barrière en accord avec celles déterminées par BEEM. / In molecular electronics and spintronics, top-contact metal electrode deposition on organic molecular monolayer (OML)/semiconductor hybrid heterostructures is still a critical issue, leading to metal penetration through the molecules and monolayer’s damage. The experimental set-ups available in the lab and the team’s experience in inorganic-inorganic heterostructures are here applied to hybrid organic-inorganic heterostructures. In particular, the Ballistic Electron Emission Microscopy (BEEM), a technique derived from Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM), allows to study electronic properties of such heterostructures, at a nanometer scale. Starting from the well-known Au/GaAs(001) Schottky contact, we here intercalate an alkanethiols monolayer, in order to obtain Au/Alkanethiols/GaAs(001) heterostructures, fully grown in ultra-high vacuum environment. In the case of room-temperature metal deposition, BEEM imaging reveals domains which are short-circuited or not by the metal. A quantitative analysis of non-short-circuited interfaces is realized by BEEM in spectroscopy mode. Particular fingerprints are obtained, with a first component related to electron tunnel transport through the monolayer, and a second component, at higher energy, related to first unoccupied states of the molecular layer reachable for electrons. The effects of metal thickness, molecular chain length and terminal group are discussed. In order to minimize the degree of gold penetration, an alternative top-contact deposition method is used, based on buffer-layer assisted growth (BLAG). BEEM studies on these heterostructures reveal homogeneous interfaces without metal penetration, and similar spectroscopic fingerprints. Complementary studies at macroscopic scale (J(V) and C(V) transport measurements and photoemission by synchrotron radiation) confirm the reproducible character of the junctions with barrier height values similar to the ones obtained by BEEM.

Magnetism in a solid | dia, para, ferro, or of other forms | originates majorly from its electrons; one could, infact, ignore the nuclear contribution. There are two types of electrons in a solid: bound, and free (also called itinerant). It is interesting to note that although several experimental techniques exist that measure the total magnetization/ susceptibility of a solid, no experiment directly probes the individual magnetic contributions from the bound and the itinerant electrons. In the past couple of decades, owing to the advent of sophisticated fabrication facilities, certain man-made, (ferro)magnetic materials have come into existence whose carrier concentrations can be tuned extrinsically: doped semiconductors like DMS (diluted magnetic semiconductors) and hexaborides are two such examples. However, whether the (ferro) magnetism in these materials originate from their itinerant carriers is still an open question. A conclusive answer to this question is eagerly awaited by the scientific community; the answer is not only supposed to solve debates related to the physics of ferromagnetism, but, also, should lend a helping hand in selecting right materials to build devices for upcoming exotic technologies such as Spintronics. A novel experimental technique is proposed in this work that directly measures the itinerant carrier magnetism of a solid. The technique is practically demonstrated on the bulk semiconductor: n-type GaAs. A Landau-Peierls itinerant (dia)magnetic susceptibility as low as 1 10 8 cm 3/mol | which is 10 3 times smaller than the magnetic background stemming from the bound electrons in the GaAs host lattice, and 10 times lower than the sensitivity limit of the SQUID | was clearly, and reproducibly detected from samples having carrier concentrations as low as 5 10 15 cm 3. The technique relies on measurements with MIS capacitors fabricated out of the given semiconductor. Unfortunately, as an artifact, such MIS fabrication processes unintentionally, but unavoidably, introduce certain energy levels in the semiconductor band-gap that unwantedly communicate with its bands by trapping and releasing carriers. Such traps lie along the interface of the semiconductor and the oxide. Though clear signals, which match with theoretically estimated signals within acceptable accuracy, have been measured from the itinerant electrons in GaAs, this work demonstrates theoretical calculations showing that the signals decrease in magnitude owing to the presence of such interface traps. Quantifying this decrement comes as an added advantage of this work, because such measurements can then directly probe the MIS interface and find the concentration of the interface traps (Dit) more accurately and precisely than what is done at present. Thus, the experimental technique this work proposes can also probe a given MIS interface, using time-varying magnetic fields, and reveal a more accurate and precise measure of Dit. Otherwise, the existing techniques for measuring Dit su er from imprecision caused by several theoretical assumptions. A more general technique which can extract Dit accurately and precisely, without needing to know the particular physical model that the interface traps follow for a given MIS capacitor, is what one requires at present, to give CMOS technology the direction and impetus it needs to cross-over to the non-Silicon territory. Such a technique is theoretically developed in this work. How a magnetic field a effects the MIS Energy Band Diagram is also derived in the process. The technique that is developed and demonstrated in this thesis, capable of directly probing both the itinerant magnetism and the MIS interface of a given semiconductor, depends on successfully measuring a very small voltage drop across a MIS capacitor when the latter is externally subjected to a high, time-varying magnetic field. This voltage signal originates because the semiconductor's electronic density of states depends on the magnetic field, thus rendering the semiconductor's electron chemical potential, i.e. the Fermi level, magnetic field dependent. The idea of detecting such magnetic field dependence of electron chemical potential was theoretically proposed more than five decades back, but an experimental detection of the phenomenon, in any bulk (i.e. three dimensional) solid, had remained elusive despite numerous trials. Virtually, the topic had been `dead' for the past couple of decades with very few reports (of trials) getting published on it. The primary reason behind such a failure is an interesting spurious effect that arises and overshadows the signal otherwise coming from the magnetic shift of the electron chemical potential. This is the spurious Hall voltage caused by the time-varying magnetic field and the eddy current it induces in the semiconductor following Faraday's Law of Electromagnetic Induction. Unless this Hall voltage can be reduced below a threshold, there is no hope of successfully measuring the sample signal. In this work, we have discussed about this spurious effect in details and have given experimental recipes to avoid it from interfering with the data. Infact the data we publish for n-GaAs is free from any such spurious effects. From that viewpoint, this work becomes the first to report the experimental detection of the magnetic field dependence of a Fermi level in any bulk solid. A common pulse magnet capable of producing high magnetic field pulses, lasting for only some tens of milliseconds, was built and used for the purpose of this work. For certain samples other than GaAs, however, the spurious Hall voltage may be larger and the proposed technique may fail as one may not be able to rule out the spurious effect with the simple recipe demonstrated here for GaAs. In such a case, measurements are encouraged, instead, in a special magnet uniquely developed to rule out the Hall voltage. This magnet was constructed in-house, and can sit on a table-top and generate magnetic fields as high as a few Teslas that can, further, be `temporally shaped' by the user. Such a class of pulse magnets whose pulse waveforms can be programmed over time are called controlled waveform magnets (CWMs) and the work presented in this thesis also demonstrates the construction and calibration of such a CWM.

[ES] La cirugía laparoscopia está considerada uno de los principales avances quirúrgicos en las últimas décadas. Esta técnica ha demostrado numerosas ventajas comparadas con la cirugía convencional abierta y ha sido extensamente usada para procesos quirúrgicos en el área abdominal. Para el paciente, la cirugía laparoscópica supone diversas ventajas, como por ejemplo menor dolor post operativo, tiempos de recuperación menores, menor riesgo de infección, o reducción del trauma. Para el cirujano en cambio, la situación es completamente diferente, esta práctica requiere mayor esfuerzo, concentración y estrés mental que la práctica convencional abierta. Además fuerza al cirujano a adoptar posiciones no-neutras en falanges, manos, muñecas, y brazos. Estas posturas no-neutras son la principal causa de fatiga muscular y aumentan el riesgo de problemas musculo-esqueléticos. Estos problemas han sido ampliamente estudiados por diferentes equipos de investigación, los cuales están tratando de mejorar la experiencia del cirujano en el quirófano. El enfoque utilizado en este estudio es diferente del utilizado anteriormente por la mayoría de estos equipos, los cuales suelen propones soluciones basadas en cambios ergonómicos con la intención de mejorar la geometría del mango de pistola convencional, ya que se considera ergonómicamente deficiente. El problema con este enfoque, es que las deficiencias no se encuentran únicamente en el mango, sino en la utilización de un punto de entrada fijo que fuerza a los cirujanos a mantener posiciones desfavorables. En este trabajo, se introduce el concepto "Libertad Postural" en el ámbito de la cirugía, este se basa en la hipótesis de que, si las herramientas no forzaran la posición de los cirujanos, estos mantendrían posiciones más favorables y cercanas al rango de posiciones neutras durante los procesos laparoscópicos. Los beneficios de este concepto han sido demostrados por medio de análisis de movimiento y de electromiografía de superficie, los cuales indican que la "Libertad Postural" es causante de un claro aumento de las posiciones neutras y de la reducción de la fatiga muscular, y han sido testeados por cirujanos en entornos simulados, los cuales encuentran beneficioso utilizar la "Libertad Postural" como característica base de este nuevo diseño de herramienta laparoscópica. En la sección final de este trabajo se propone un diseño que implementa el concepto de libertad postura con el cual se reduciría la fatiga muscular y los problemas musculo esqueléticos asociados a la práctica laparoscópica. Este diseño tiene la característica de actuar como una nueva sección del brazo, siendo una articulación que soporta los giros y grandes desplazamientos que normalmente tienen que desarrollar los brazos del cirujano. Además, esta solución es económica y fácil de fabricar, lo cual permitiría su uso por cirujanos de todo el mundo. / [CAT] La cirurgia laparoscòpia està considerada un dels principals avanços quirúrgics en les últimes dècades. Aquesta tècnica ha demostrat nombrosos avantatges comparats amb la cirurgia convencional oberta i ha sigut extensament usada per a processos quirúrgics en l'àrea abdominal. Per al pacient, la cirurgia laparoscòpica suposa diversos avantatges, com per exemple menor dolor post operatiu, temps de recuperació menors, menor risc d'infecció, o reducció del trauma. Per al cirurgià en canvi, la situació és completament diferent, aquesta pràctica requereix major esforç, concentració i estrés mental que la pràctica convencional oberta. A més força al cirurgià a adoptar posicions no-neutres en falanges, mans, nines, i braços. Aquestes postures no-neutres són la principal causa de fatiga muscular i augmenten el risc de problemes musculo-esquelètics. Aquests problemes han sigut àmpliament estudiats per diferents equips d'investigació, els quals estan tractant de millorar l'experiència del cirurgià en el quiròfan. L'enfocament utilitzat en aquest estudi és diferent de l'utilitzat anteriorment per la majoria d'aquests equips, els quals solen proposes solucions basades en canvis ergonòmics amb la intenció de millorar la geometria del mànec de pistola convencional, ja que es considera ergonòmicament deficient. El problema amb aquest enfocament, és que les deficiències no es troben únicament en el mànec, sinó en la utilització d'un punt d'entrada fix que força als cirurgians a mantindre posicions desfavorables. En aquest treball, s'introdueix el concepte "Llibertat Postural" en l'àmbit de la cirurgia, aquest es basa en la hipòtesi que, si les eines no forçaren la posició dels cirurgians, aquests mantindrien posicions més favorables i pròximes al rang de posicions neutres durant els processos laparoscòpics. Els beneficis d'aquest concepte han sigut demostrats per mitjà d'anàlisi de moviment i de electromiografía de superfície, els quals indiquen que la "Llibertat Postural" és causant d'un clar augment de les posicions neutres i de la reducció de la fatiga muscular, i han sigut testats per cirurgians en entorns simulats, els quals troben beneficiós utilitzar la "Llibertat Postural" com a característica base d'aquest nou disseny d'eina laparoscòpica. En la secció final d'aquest treball es proposa un disseny que implementa el concepte de llibertat postura amb el qual es reduiria la fatiga muscular i els problemes *musculo esquelètics associats a la pràctica laparoscòpica. Aquest disseny té la característica d'actuar com una nova secció del braç, sent una articulació que suporta els girs i grans desplaçaments que normalment han de desenvolupar els braços del cirurgià. A més, aquesta solució és econòmica i fàcil de fabricar, la qual cosa permetria el seu ús per cirurgians de tot el món. / [EN] Laparoscopic surgery is considered one of the main surgical advances in the last decades, this technique has demonstrated numerous advantages compared to open conventional surgery and it is widely used in abdominal procedures around the world. For the patient, laparoscopic surgery suppose less post-operative pain, shorter recovery time, lower risk of infection, and reduction of the trauma among other benefits. For the surgeon, the situation is completely different, this practice requires more effort, concentration and mental stress than conventional open procedures. It forces the surgeon to adopt non-neutral postures with phalanges, hands, wrists, and arms being this non-neutral postures the main cause of muscular fatigue and high risk of musculoskeletal disorders. The poor ergonomic postures accelerate muscle fatigue and pain because, outside the neutral range, muscles require more energy to generate the same contractile force than in neutral position. This increase of muscular fatigue is associated with the potential to commit errors that may harm the patient during the surgery. Because this problem is widely studied and different research centers are already trying to improve their surgeons experience in the operation room, the approach used during this work is different than most of the ones presented in previous works. Generally, the solutions proposed are based on ergonomic changes in the handle shape of the instrument, because the conventional pistol-grip handle is considered ergonomically poor. But the problem is not only in the shape of the handle but also in the fixed point of entrance that force the positions for the surgeon despite the handle¿s shape. In this work, the concept of postural freedom in laparoscopic surgery is introduced and evaluated. The postural freedom concept is based on the hypothesis that the surgeon involuntarily would maintain neutral postures if the instrument does not force him or her to reach extreme position with the upper limbs. The benefits of this concept has been demonstrated, by means of electromyography and motion capture. It reduces the localized muscular fatigue and increases the number of neutral postures during laparoscopic simulations. In the final section it is proposed a design that implements the postural freedom concept with, according on the results, the potential to reduce the localized muscular fatigue and the musculoskeletal problems associated to the practice. The design proposed here acts as a new section on the arm, being an articulation that support the turns and big displacements that currently suffer the surgeon¿s body. The solution is affordable and easy to manufacture and could be used by surgeons worldwide. / Pace Bedetti, HM. (2019). The effect of "Postural Freedom" in laparoscopic surgery [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/122312 / TESIS