Le brillant est un attribut de l'apparence visuelle. Il s'agit d'une construction du système visuel, basée sur le signal optique en provenance d’une surface et capté par l'œil. Les développements récents en spectrophotométrie fondamentale ont produit des instruments à même de mesurer la réflexion lumineuse avec une acuité égale à celle du système visuel humain. Une description transverse, visuelle et optique, d'un même ensemble d'échantillons est maintenant possible. Dans ce travail, nous construisons via des procédés sol-gel une échelle de brillant métrologique multivariée en termes de topologie de surface, indice de réfraction, teinte et niveaux de brillant. Cette échelle est caractérisée par la suite en rugosité, en indice de brillant spéculaire et en BRDF. Nous présentons les techniques de mesure et les corrections employées sur ConDOR, notre goniospectrophotomètre dédié à la mesure haute résolution du pic spéculaire. Au terme de cette étude, l'instrument présente une résolution angulaire de 0,014°, la meilleure résolution atteinte à ce jour, deux fois inférieure à celle du système visuel humain. La dynamique est de 6,5 décades. ConDOR est employé pour mesurer les BRDF de plusieurs échantillons brillants issus de différentes échelles. Elles sont étudiées et les discutées. Un premier lien entre rugosité et BRDF est esquissé. Nous étudions finalement en nous basant sur une échelle de référence de brillant deux aspects de sa perception : l’effet d'un changement d'angle solide d'illumination et l’effet du réalisme de l'environnement d'observation. Nos résultats montrent que le système visuel est plus sensible aux variations de brillant dans des conditions d'observations réalistes, tant en matière d'éclairage que d'environnement. L’effet est particulièrement prononcé pour les échantillons mats. Les conditions moins réalistes ou moins naturelles peuvent mener les observateurs à la confusion. / Gloss is a visual appearance attribute. It is a construction from the visual system built on the optical signal from a surface and sensed by the eye. Recent developments in fundamental spectrophotometry lead to instruments able to measure luminous reflection with an acuity equal to the visual system in terms of angular resolution and dynamic. A cross-discipline description between optics and vision is now possible on a same set of samples. In this work, we build through sol-gel process a metrological gloss scale. It is multivariate in terms of surface topology, refractive indices, hue and gloss levels. This scale is then characterized in roughness, specular gloss and BRDF. We expose the measurement techniques and corrections used on our goniospectrophotomer ConDOR. This instrument is dedicated to high resolution measurement of specular peaks. By the end of this study, Condor has reached an angular resolution of 0.014°, the smaller achieved until now, twice better than the human visual system acuity. The dynamic range extends over 6.5 decades. ConDOR is used to measure BRDF of several glossy samples from different scales. These measurements are studied and discussed. A first link between roughness and BRDF is drawn.Using a reference gloss scale, we finally study two aspects of gloss perception: both effects of a change in the solid angle of illumination and in the observation environment realism. Our results indicate that the visual system is more sensitive to gloss variations under realistic conditions as well in lighting as in environment. This effect is particularly noticeable on matt samples. Lesser realistic or lesser natural conditions could lead observers to confusion.

This is a methodological development study with psychometric approach, which aims to build an assessment tool of self-care of patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2). The methodological path was guided by theoretical processing procedures of psychometric instruments and the theoretical foundation for self-care model of Dorothea Orem was used. Theoretical procedures included the definition of the construct "Self-care of patients with DM2" and was conducted with the use of the theoretical framework adopted; it gives related and qualitative study literature, with the focus group technique, using content analysis. Three different focus groups, one of eight health professionals with experience in the management of patients with DM2 and the other two compounds in 26 patients with DM treated in an educational program of a health service outpatient formed in the State Sergipe. This study allowed us to describe the meanings attributed by professionals and patients to self-care six requirements in the diversion of Health according to the theory of Orem, which were defined as the theoretical dimensions of the instrument. We requirements were: finding and securing adequate multidisciplinary care (mutual accountability, accessibility, basic conditioning factors); know and consider the disease and its complications (disease-related aspects); adhere to treatment (drug treatment and drug); know and consider the inconvenience of treatment (side effects and psycho-emotional distress); accept the disease (humanization of treatment, recognizing the need to control the disease, recovery team Health and treatment outcomes), and learn to live with the effects of the disease (enhancement of style and self-esteem). It was developed an assessment tool Self-care of patients with DM2 (INAAP-DM2) containing 131 itens and consists of a Likert scale of five points and to measure in each of the dimensions the requirements of self, classifying three levels: Totally Compensatory, Partially Compensatory and education support. The same was subjected to a validation process content. For this, the instrument passes through a semantic and conceptual analysis by a panel of seven judges. It was subsequently conducted a pre-test with 14 patients with DM2. For content validation, the judges evaluated items related to the domains to which they belonged, their stay in the instrument and presents psychometric criteria. It was calculated the content validity index for each items (IVCi) and mean IVCi (IVCS) for all the items of each domain. The content validity of the instrument was considered excellent when it came to a IVCi ≥ 0.75 and an average of IVCS ≥ 0.90. After calculation was obtained those 129 items were IVCi ≥ 0.78 and all domains showed IVCS ≥ 0.90. With regard to remain in the instrument, all items showed IVCi ≥ 0.78 and the set of items for each domain presented IVCS ≥ 0.90, that is, the domain A (0.99) B (1.00) C (0, 98) D (1.00) E (0.97) and F (0,96). In the trial of psychometric criteria (objectivity, clarity, precision, criminality, simplicity, relevance and credibility mode), in general, they showed a satisfactory assessment items, and have been updated according to the suggestions of the panel of judges. The development of a technology that takes into account the multidimensional nature of this disease can help multidisciplinary teams in the use of a model of comprehensive care of patients with DM2. / Trata-se de um estudo de desenvolvimento metodológico com abordagem psicométrica que teve por objetivo construir um instrumento de avaliação do autocuidado dos pacientes com diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2). O percurso metodológico norteou-se nos procedimentos teóricos para elaboração de instrumento psicométrico e fundamentou-se no modelo teórico do autocuidado de Dorothea Orem. Os procedimentos teóricos compreenderam a definição do construto “autocuidado de pacientes com DM2”, o qual delineou-se a partir do referencial teórico adotado, da literatura pertinente e de estudo qualitativo, com a técnica de grupo focal, utilizando a análise de conteúdo. Foram formados três grupos focais distintos, um composto por oito profissionais de saúde com experiência no manejo de pacientes com DM2 e os outros dois compostos por 26 pacientes com DM cadastrados em um programa educativo de um serviço ambulatorial de referência do Estado de Sergipe. Esse estudo permitiu descrever os significados atribuídos pelos profissionais e pacientes aos seis requisitos de autocuidado no desvio da saúde de Orem, definidos como as dimensões teóricas do instrumento, a saber: buscar e garantir assistência multiprofissional apropriada (responsabilização mútua, acessibilidade, fatores condicionantes básicos); conhecer e considerar a doença e suas complicações (aspectos relacionados à doença); aderir ao tratamento (tratamento medicamentoso e não medicamentoso); conhecer e considerar os desconfortos do tratamento (efeitos colaterais e desconfortos psicoemocionais); aceitar a doença (humanização terapêutica, reconhecimento da necessidade de controlar a doença, valorização da equipe de saúde e dos resultados do tratamento) e aprender a viver com os efeitos da doença (valorização do estilo de vida e autoestima). O instrumento foi submetido à análise semântica e conceitual por um painel de sete juízes e, na sequência, a um pré-teste com 14 pacientes com diabetes, resultando em um instrumento com 131 itens. Na validação de conteúdo, os juízes avaliaram os itens quanto aos domínios a que pertenciam, à permanência no instrumento e aos critérios psicométricos que possuiam, sendo calculado o Índice de Validade de Conteúdo para cada um dos itens (IVCi) e a média de IVCi (IVCs) para o conjunto de itens de cada domínio. A validade de conteúdo de uma escala foi considerada excelente quando atingiu um IVCi ≥ 0,75 e uma média de IVCs ≥ 0,90. Quanto aos domínios, 129 itens apresentaram IVCi ≥ 0,78 e todos os domínios exibiram IVCs ≥ 0,90. Para permanência no instrumento, todos os itens apresentaram IVCi ≥ 0,78 e o conjunto de itens de cada domínio apresentou IVCs ≥ 0,90, a saber domínio A (0,99), B (1,00), C (0,98), D (1,00), E (0,97) e F (0,96). No julgamento dos critérios psicométricos (objetividade, clareza, precisão, tipicidade, simplicidade, relevância, modalidade e credibilidade), de maneira geral, os itens apresentaram uma avaliação satisfatória, e foram reformulados conforme as sugestões do painel de juízes. Foi desenvolvido e validado o conteúdo do Instrumento de Avaliação do Autocuidado dos pacientes com DM2 (INAAP-DM2), que consiste em uma escala tipo Likert de cinco pontos e permite mensurar em cada dimensão os requisitos de autocuidado, classificando-os em três níveis: Totalmente Compensatório, Parcialmente Compensatório e Apoio-Educação. O desenvolvimento de uma tecnologia, que considere a multidimensionalidade dessa enfermidade, poderá instrumentalizar equipes multiprofissionais na utilização de um modelo de atenção integral aos pacientes com DM2, com base nos pressupostos teóricos de Orem para os requisitos de autocuidado.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Human-looking computer interfaces, including humanoid robots and animated humans, may elicit in their users eerie feelings. This effect, often called the uncanny valley, emphasizes our heightened ability to distinguish between the human and merely humanlike using both perceptual and cognitive approaches. Although reactions to uncanny characters are captured more accurately with emotional descriptors (e.g., eerie and creepy) than with cognitive descriptors (e.g., strange), and although previous studies suggest the psychological processes underlying the uncanny valley are more perceptual and emotional than cognitive, the deep roots of the concept of humanness imply the application of category boundaries and cognitive dissonance in distinguishing among robots, androids, and humans. First, laddering interviews (N = 30) revealed firm boundaries among participants’ concepts of animated, robotic, and human. Participants associated human traits like soul, imperfect, or intended exclusively with humans, and they simultaneously devalued the autonomous accomplishments of robots (e.g., simple task, limited ability, or controlled). Jerky movement and humanlike appearance were associated with robots, even though the presented robotic stimuli were humanlike. The facial expressions perceived in robots as improper were perceived in animated characters as mismatched. Second, association model testing indicated that the independent evaluation based on the developed indices is a viable quantitative technique for the laddering interview. Third, from the interviews several candidate items for the eeriness index were validated in a large representative survey (N = 1,311). The improved eeriness index is nearly orthogonal to perceived humanness (r = .04). The improved indices facilitate plotting relations among rated characters of varying human likeness, enhancing perspectives on humanlike robot design and animation creation.

In this study, a model of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) was developed, implemented and assessed. The aim of this model is to assist HIV-positive women in dealing with internalised and enacted stigma. Since much of the research about therapies developed to deal with HIV-related stigma so far has been done within a western frame of reference, in the current study a model was developed to suit the local South African situation. Women were specifically targeted as they are more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS and are disproportionately affected by the epidemic. Because of culturally determined gender roles, women are not always in a position to take control of their sexual health. Furthermore, because of the negative experiences of HIV diagnosis, the stigma has a negative impact on women’s behaviour. As a result, there is a need for a therapeutic model to assist HIV-positive women in changing the experience of internalised stigma and discrimination. A CBT approach was used in therapy to challenge the women’s dysfunctional beliefs, to change their automatic thoughts and to promote more realistic adaptive patterns of thinking. All of these aimed to assist them in dealing with stigma. Eight therapy sessions (one a week for eight weeks) were planned for each of the women. This research was conducted in two phases. In Phase 1, data was gathered about the experiences of HIV-positive women to gain an understanding of their experiences of HIV-related stigma and discrimination. Various sources of information were used to identify not only the relevant themes contributing to the individual’s experience of internalised stigma, but also possible ways to change them. These sources included a study of the available literature, the researcher's own experience and focus group discussions with other psychologists in practice, and interviews with five HIV-positive women (in the form of case studies). Five women living with HIV/AIDS, who were experiencing difficulties in dealing with stigma, were recruited at Witbank Hospital, where they were interviewed and asked to complete five psychometric instruments. The researcher scrutinised the data gained from the psychometric scales to assess the validity of the instruments to identifying the feelings of the participants the researcher observed in the interviews. Rubin and Rubin's (1995) method was used to analyse the data. The findings that emerged from Phase 1 were used to identify common themes to be addressed in the intervention, for example feelings of powerlessness, feelings of guilt, behavioural implications of stigma, the experience of the reaction of others and uncertainty about the future. These themes were used as guidelines and were adapted according to the specific needs of each of the women seen in therapy so as to address negative feelings and behaviour. Phase 2 focused on the implementation and evaluation of the cognitive behavioural model. A purposive sampling technique was used for this study. The model was tried out with ten HIV-positive women who served as the experimental group. A quasi-experimental design was used, involving a pre-and post-test and a control group consisting of ten other women identified at the same hospital. The scores that the experimental group and the control group obtained before the intervention were compared to verify that the two groups were comparable prior to the intervention. Post-test scores were compared to investigate differences between the groups after the intervention. The process notes of the therapy sessions were analysed by means of qualitative analysis to understand the reactions of the women in therapy. This contributed to the researcher’s understanding of the appropriateness and effectiveness of various therapeutic techniques used with the experimental group. Findings of this research indicate that, when compared to the control group, the experimental group not only experienced less depression, internalised stigma and negative coping, but also higher levels of self-esteem and positive coping after having participated in eight therapy sessions. The study further revealed that being HIV positive and trying to cope with stigma and discrimination involve diverse experiences for women, although there are common themes for all participants. It was recommended that the intervention be altered in future use in the following ways: Those techniques that were found to be more effective with the majority of women (positive cognitive reframing, teaching of coping strategies, homework assignments, decatastrophising and assertiveness training) could probably be used with success in similar conditions. Only the techniques that worked well should be used, and care should be taken not to use too many techniques. Each client should be given the time to question the evidence for her automatic thoughts and to draw her own conclusions about her situation, feelings or thoughts and to grasp the cognitive strategies, rather than to bombard her with many different techniques. The therapist should also relate more to the individual client and adapt the model to her context, rather than to implement the model rigorously. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Psychology / unrestricted