The thesis engages in Choreography and Dance Technique by delineating the concepts and practices that the artistic research project MODUL has generated. A modular method of choreographing is articulated. The MODUL method of choreography starts by making a topographical movement analysis of the context that the work engages with. This analysis results in an identification of the different agencies at work within the context approached. They are considered as Choreographic Agents and as elements of the modular assemblage. The choreographic act then performed consists of a re-articulation of the relations between the different elements. The MODUL method links movement practice and art production as the topographical movement analysis is also applied to, and conceptualised through, the body. In terms of dance technique the MODUL method works with the same topographical movement analysis to explore bodily functionalities as Choreographic Agents. The technique is called Body-Self Attunement and aims at tuning the self, understood as the symbolic body, with the biological body. Body-Self Attunement does not try to unify the symbolic body and the biological body but affirms the gap as generative. The term Generative Choreography is coined in order to emphasise the performative aspect of choreography that is not defined by what it is, but what it does. / <p>QC 20140519</p>

Three languages with polymorphic type disciplines are discussed, namely the λ-calculus with Milner's polymorphic type discipline; a language with imperative features (polymorphic references); and a skeletal module language with structures, signatures and functors. In each of the two first cases we show that the type inference system is consistent with an operational dynamic semantics. On the module level, polymorphic types correspond to signatures. There is a notion of principal signature. So-called signature checking is the module level equivalent of type checking. In particular, there exists an algorithm which either fails or produces a principal signature.

The construction of the generalized continuous wavelet transform (GCWT) on Hilbert spaces is a special case of the coherent state transform construction, where the coherent state system arises as an orbit of an admissible vector under a strongly continuous unitary representation of a locally compact group. In this thesis we extend this construction to the setting of Hilbert C*-modules. In particular, we define a coherent state transform and a GCWT on Hilbert modules. This construction gives a reconstruction formula and a resolution of the identity formula analogous to those found in the Hilbert space setting. Moreover, the existing theory of standard normalized tight frames in finite countably generated Hilbert modules can be viewed as a discrete case of this construction We also show that the image space of the coherent state transform on Hilbert module is a reproducing kernel Hilbert module. We discuss the kernel and the intertwining property of the group coherent state transform.

<p>Studying protein interaction networks using functional and topological information is important for understanding cellular organization and functionality. This study deals with identifying important proteins in protein interaction networks using SWEMODE (Lubovac, et al, 2006) and analyzing topological and functional properties of these proteins with the help of information derived from modular organization in protein interaction networks as well as information available in public resources, in this case, annotation sources describing the functionality of proteins. Multi-modular proteins are short-listed from the modules generated by SWEMODE. Properties of these short-listed proteins are then analyzed using functional information from SGD Gene Ontology(GO) (Dwight, et al., 2002) and MIPS functional categories (Ruepp, et al., 2004). Topological features such as lethality and centrality of these proteins are also investigated, using graph theoretic properties and information on lethal genes from Yeast Hub (Kei-Hoi, et al., 2005). The findings of the study based on GO terms reveal that these important proteins are mostly involved in the biological process of “organelle organization and biogenesis” and a majority of these proteins belong to MIPS “cellular organization” and “transcription” functional categories. A study of lethality reveals that multi-modular proteins are more likely to be lethal than proteins present only in a single module. An examination of centrality (degree of connectivity of proteins) in the network reveals that the ratio of number of important proteins to number of hubs at different hub sizes increases with the hub size (degree).</p>

BACKGROUND: Although Chagas disease is not an endemic health concern in the United States, it is prevalent with estimates of approximately 300,000 infected individuals. Of this, an estimated 20 – 30% will develop severe, life-threatening consequences. While what is known about Chagas disease is extensive, there is limited knowledge of this disease, especially among medical providers and clinicians in the United States. In order to bridge the gap between what is known about Chagas disease and those who lack this knowledge, adequate and effective education interventions must be developed and delivered. Education that is tailored for medical providers and clinicians most likely to encounter individuals at greastest risk for having Chagas disease is essential. Once this knowledge is gained, accurate evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of indivuals with Chagas disease may be pursued, ultimately decreasing and preventing disease-associated morbidity and mortality. PROPOSAL: Clinicians from six departments (infectious disease, cardiology, internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, and obstretrics and gynecology) will be recruited from Boston Medical Center where they will be given an educational module about Chagas disease. Their knowledge of Chagas disease and how to clinically apply it will be assessed prior to the educational module, immediately following the educational module and 1-month and 6-months following the educational module. CONCLUSION: Chagas disease is a burden to health systems in many countries worldwide including the United States, and awareness of Chagas disease is lacking among medical personnel of multiple specialities in the United States. Educational interventions have provided knowledge of various diseases leading to protocol development, ultimately influencing clinical practice to a degree that reduces morbidity and mortality. The same is needed with respect to Chagas disease. The goal of this educational intervention is to provide a knowledge base through teaching and resources for clinicians to learn, understand, and review the steps needed to clinically evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients with Chagas disease. Using the reseach identified in this study as well as the proposed educational intervention, it is hoped that this disease burden can be alleviated.

L’homologie persistante est un outil fondamental dans la topologie computationnelle. Cette méthode est utilisée pour reconnaître et comparer les formes. Dans ce travail nous étudions d’abord l’homologie persistante dans le cas unidimensionnel d’ordre 0 qu’on appelle aussi fonction de taille. Nous présentons une démonstration du fait que toute fonction de taille peut être représentée comme un ensemble de points et de lignes dans le plan réel, avec des multiplicités. Cela permet une approche algébrique aux fonctions de taille et la construction de nouvelles pseudo distances entre les fonctions de taille pour comparer les formes. Nous calculons ensuite l’homologie persistante unidimensionnelle d’ordre n avec différentes méthodes de filtration de l’espace correspondant à l’histoire d’un complexe croissant. Nous classons un changement topologique qui se produit pendant la croissance soit comme une caractéristique ou un bruit, en fonction de sa durée de vie ou de sa persistance dans la filtration. Une présentation avec des codes barres affiche alors la persistance de ces invariants. L’homologie persistante multidimensionnelle nous permet de soutirer plus d’informations sur les formes en utilisant la fonction de filtration avec des valeurs dans [nombre réel]k. Pour fournir un descripteur de forme concis et complet dans le cas multidimensionnel nous réduisons le calcul de l’homologie persistante multidimensionnelle au calcul de l’homologie persistante ordinaire pour une famille paramétrée de fonctions à valeur dans [nombre réel].

Testing of summing electronics and VDC A/D Cards was performed to assure proper functioning and operation within defined parameters. In both the summing modules and the VDC A/D cards, testing for minimum threshold voltage for each channel and crosstalk between neighboring channels was performed. Additionally, the modules were installed in Hall A with input signals from shower detectors arranged to establish a trigger by summing signals together with the use of tested modules. Testing involved utilizing a pulser to mimic PMT signals, a discriminator, an attenuator, a scaler, a level translator, an oscilloscope, a high voltage power supply, and a special apparatus used to power and send signal to the A/D cards. After testing, modules were obtained that meet necessary criteria for use in the APEX experiment, and the A/D cards obtained were determined to have adequate specifications for their utilization, with specific results included in the appendix.

There is a well-known correspondence between two-dimensional topological quantum field theories (2-D TQFTs) and commutative Frobenius algebras. Every 2-D TQFT also gives rise to a diffeomorphism invariant of closed, orientable two-manifolds, which may be investigated via the associated commutative Frobenius algebras. We investigate which such diffeomorphism invariants may arise from TQFTs, and in the process uncover a distinction between two fundamentally different types of commutative Frobenius algebras ("weak" Frobenius algebras and "strong" Frobenius algebras). These diffeomorphism invariants form the starting point for our investigation into marked cobordism categories, which generalize the local cobordism relations developed by Dror Bar-Natan during his investigation of Khovanov's link homology. We subsequently examine the particular class of 2-D TQFTs known as "universal sl(n) TQFTs". These TQFTs are at the algebraic core of the link invariants known as sl(n) link homology theories, as they provide the algebraic structure underlying the boundary maps in those homology theories. We also examine the 3-manifold diffeomorphism invariants known as skein modules, which were first introduced by Marta Asaeda and Charles Frohman. These 3-manifold invariants adapt Bar-Natan's marked cobordism category (as induced by a specific 2-D TQFT) to embedded surfaces, and measure which such surfaces may be embedded within in 3-manifold (modulo Bar-Natan's local cobordism relations). Our final results help to characterize the structure of such skein modules induced by universal sl(n) TQFTs.

This work deals with the fundamental principles of wireless communications in mobile robotics. It introduces overview of the use of different frequency bands for wireless communications needs and control of mobile devices in Czech Republic. It also contains a brief overview of all applicable technologies and available modules that can be used for wireless communication. The theoretical part deals with some of the protocols that were used in the practical part of this work and the manner of wave propagation in buildings. The practical part consisted of a design of our own application to monitor and control the module Mikrotik Routerboard. With this application we have tested and compared two wireless cards of this module.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a carbohydrate metabolism issue during pregnancy that is dangerous for mother and the baby. GDM occurs in 1 out of 3 diabetic women in 16.2% of live births. GDM knowledge and treatment practices among nurses were found inadequate when nurses’ effectiveness in treating a disease they have a shallow knowledge about (GDM) was investigated in the local medical facility. A GDM instructional module was applied and its effectiveness in promoting nurse’s use of GDM education as a treatment strategy tested. The total concept for knowledge and care, empowerment and the social cognitive theories grounded this research. Methodology was Mixed. A population/patient problem-intervention-comparison-outcome-time (PICOT) design was applied in the analysis of data from a sample size {n=40}, whereby the treatment group (TG=20) had an intervention, and control group (CG=20) did not. Data was analyzed descriptively and inferentially with t-test statistic, including the Cohen’s d test for effect size. Evidence showed a significantly high post-intervention gain in scores CG and TG, higher among DNPs than other nurses. Also, the Cohen’s d test indicated high magnitude effect size. Overall confidence in GDM treatment method improved. A comparison of mean test completion time and scores indicated that TG completed the posttest at a shorter time than CG. Knowledge improvement results were TG 27%; CG 2%. GDM education is an effective path to positive social change, beneficial to nurses, the medical facility and the community. Improved GDM treatment means a healthier population and increased productivity for the community. GDM education is non-medicated and more affordable - a huge savings for the community.