personal branding, Facebook, Musician Stars, SNS (social network service), online

Le but de ce projet de maîtrise est d’explorer la dynamique des jonctions Supraconducteur/métal Normal/Supraconducteur (SNS) diffusives dans un régime de fréquence de l’ordre du temps électron-phonon, soit l’échelle de temps sur laquelle un électron diffuse sur les phonons. Les jonctions utilisées possèdent des bornes en niobium tandis que le métal normal est de l’aluminium. Les mesures sont réalisées à des températures supérieures à 1.4 K, soit au-dessus de la température critique de l’aluminium (1.20 K) et largement en dessous de celle du niobium (9.26 K). On étudie ces jonctions en mesurant leurs caractéristiques courant-tension lorsqu’elles sont excitées avec un signal radio-fréquence (rf). Pour une demi-période d’excitation sinusoïdale (demi-cycle), on observe deux possibilités : soit la jonction reste dans l’état supraconducteur, soit elle transite vers l’état normal. En variant la fréquence et l’amplitude de l’excitation, on relève la statistique de ces transitions. On met ainsi en évidence des changements dans le comportement dynamique de la jonction lorsqu’on varie les paramètres de l’excitation. Si l’on fixe la fréquence d’excitation à une valeur suffisamment basse et qu’on augmente progressivement l’amplitude de cette excitation, on observe une variation graduelle du pourcentage de cycles (ou demi-cycles) d’excitation sinusoïdale où la jonction transite de l’état supraconducteur à l’état normal. Pour les très basses fréquences, cette variation se fait sur un intervalle d’amplitude d’excitation qui coïncide avec la largeur de la distribution du courant critique de la jonction. En augmentant la fréquence d’excitation, cette variation est de plus en plus abrupte et devient un saut discontinu au-delà d’une fréquence critique [florin]*. Ce saut discontinu à haute fréquence s’accompagne d’une hystérèse. Pour un régime de fréquence intermédiaire, les cycles présentant une transition vers l’état normal se regroupent dans le temps et forment des blocs de transitions vers l’état normal. On a montré que la durée moyenne de ces regroupements croît exponentiellement avec la fréquence. Par exemple, pour une température de 1.4 K, la durée moyenne de ces regroupements peut varier de sept ordres de grandeur sur la plage de radio-fréquence étudiée. Enfin, ces comportements dynamiques sont fortement dépendants de la température. En caractérisant ces changements de comportement en fonction des divers paramètres d’excitation et de la température, on met en évidence que le bruit thermique associé au bain de phonons fait partie intégrante du mécanisme causant les regroupements dans le régime de fréquence intermédiaire. À suffisamment basse fréquence (ou à toutes les fréquences dans l’approximation que la dynamique n’affecte pas le « bain »), la caractérisation de ce régime transitoire constitue en soi une « mesure » de l’occurrence d’événements rares, ici les fluctuations thermiques menant la jonction à transiter vers l’état normal.

Facebookanvändandet ökar i alla åldrar i Sverige. 2010 var hälften av alla svenskar med i ett eller flera sociala nätverk (Findal, 2010). Användarna skickar meddelanden, skriver statusuppdateringar, laddar upp bilder, planerar evenemang och chattar med sina Facebookvänner som ofta består av en blandning av familj, släkt, vänner och ytligt bekanta. Med tanke på blandningen av Facebookvänner uppstår frågan om hur de sociala relationerna ser ut och fungerar på Facebook. Skiljer de sig från fysiska sociala relationer och i sådant fall på vilka sätt? Tidigare forskning i ämnet visar att på Facebook kommunicerar vi ofta med personer som vi är ytligt bekanta med. Fem högaktiva Facebook användare har intervjuats inför denna studie. Resultatet av studien visar att informanterna bland annat använder Facebook till att chatta, skriva och skicka meddelanden och att skriva statusuppdateringar. De kommunicerar ofta med personer som de har svaga band med eller inte har möjlighet att träffa ofta fysiskt. Facebookvännerna är en blandning av nära vänner, bekanta och familj och släkt. Denna blandning av vänner leder till att informanterna är restriktiva med vad de skriver och vilka bilder de väljer att ladda upp på Facebook. Samtidigt så upplever informanterna att det kan vara lättare att kommunicera på Facebook än i den fysiska verkligheten, genom att informanterna ges möjlighet att vara mer eftertänksamma där än i den fysiska verkligheten.  Kommunikationen på Facebook är inte tidsbunden och interaktionen mellan informanterna sker inte alltid vid samma tidpunkt. Studien visar att deras användande av Facebook inte minskar deras fysiska sociala relationer utan i vissa fall kan öka dessa. Informanterna i studien upplever Facebook som användarvänligt och anser att layouten och upplägget är lätta att förstå.

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Developments such as the ubiquity of electronic networks and the breadth of digital platforms beyond simple forums have lead to major economic and social transformations worldwide (Agarwal et al, 2008). This research will explore developments in the area of social networking using Internet technology in order to determine factors that lead to success. Despite considerable growth among the number of online communities available, very few are successful at retaining members and continued usage by its members (Ma & Agarwal, 2007). The purpose of this dissertation is to determine factors leading to a successful social networking site (SNS). Through the unification of the IS success model and social capital theory, a new model is develop called the SNS success model. The result of this study support eight hypotheses with one hypothesis unsupported. It was shown that content quality, system quality, and trust positively affect social capital and user satisfaction. User satisfaction positively affects continued use intention. Social capital was shown to support user satisfaction but the relationship with continued use intention was non-significant. Further investigation demonstrated that the relationship between social capital and continued use intention was fully mediated by user satisfaction. This study contributes to knowledge by developing a model displaying success factors for SNS success. Further, it demonstrates the relationship between social capital and continued use intention through the mediation of user satisfaction. This study serves as a foundation of research in the emerging area of SNSs. It also has practical implications for practitioners to help SNS administrators understand factors that influence usage. Recommendations for future research and practical implications for SNS administrators are also discussed.

No description available.

As the use of social networking sites (SNSs) has become more wide-spread, some age groups have taken to the media much more readily than other groups. Older adults are lagging behind in their adoption of SNSs, while this group of the population tends to be more socially isolated and lonely. In this thesis, the uses of SNSs have been broken down into different components such as the intimacy level of the message content, types of contacts, etc. A framework for social capital is utilized, in order to bridge the knowledge gap between how older adults use social networking sites to gauge its impact on loneliness. The findings suggest that the use of SNSs increases social capital but does not directly reduce loneliness. The impact of the increase of social capital by using SNSs on loneliness is negligible. However, increased social capital due to SNSs use tends to moderate the effects that health status, financial wellbeing and satisfaction with offline relationships have on loneliness. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

O sistema nervoso simpático (SNS) inerva a maioria dos órgãos linfoides e durante situações de estresse, por meio da liberação da noradrenalina de seus ramos eferentes, emitem sinais capazes de modular as repostas imunes. Nossa hipótese foi de que esta via poderia alterar a função de células dendríticas (DCs) derivadas de monócitos humanos, uma vez que receptores adrenérgicos já foram demonstrados em DCs murinas e pelo fato de que as estas células são chave na iniciação de respostas imunes adaptativas, bem como indutoras de tolerância. Desta forma, DCs diferenciadas a partir de monócitos sanguíneos provenientes de doadores saudáveis tratadas com ligantes adrenérgicos foram analisadas quanto a expressão de marcadores de membrana, atividade fagocítica, apresentação antigênica em ensaio de reação mista de linfócitos, expressão gênica de marcadores de diferenciação e ativação, bem como produção de citocinas. Os resultados revelaram que as DCs apresentam transcritos apenas para o adrenoceptor β2, e esta expressão é similar à de macrófagos, mas inferior a de linfócitos. A análise dos marcadores fenotípicos de membrana, atividade fagocítica, apresentação antigênica e produção de citocinas não mostraram alterações nas células tratadas com agonistas adrenérgicos. No entanto, o tratamento com ligantes adrenérgicos foi capaz de alterar a expressão dos genes CD40, CD80, CD83, CXCL1, TGFB1, FCGR3A, CCR7 e CCL5 em DCs e macrófagos estimulados com LPS ou TNF-α. Embora os efeitos dos ligantes adrenérgicos não tenham sido fortemente evidenciados nos testes realizados, os resultados sugerem que pequenas alterações podem ser provocadas pela ligação das catecolaminas em DCs, sugerindo que estas possam ser moduladas pelo SNS, modificando as respostas imunes / The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) innervates most of the lymphoid organs and during stress situations, by releasing norepinephrine from its efferent branches, emit signals capable of modulating immune responses. Our hypothesis was that this pathway could alter the function of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs), since adrenergic receptors have already been demonstrated in murine DCs, and by the fact that these cells are key in initiating adaptive immune responses as well as tolerance inducers. Thus, differentiated DCs from blood monocytes from healthy donors treated with adrenergic ligands were analyzed for expression of membrane markers, phagocytic activity, antigenic presentation in a mixed lymphocyte reaction assay, gene expression of differentiation and activation markers and cytokine production. The results revealed that DCs present transcripts only for the β2 adrenoceptor, and this expression is similar to that observed in macrophages, but lower than what it is found in lymphocytes. The analysis of phenotypic membrane markers, phagocytic activity, antigenic presentation and cytokine production did not revealed any changes in the cells treated with adrenergic agonists. However, treatment with the adrenergic ligands was able to alter the expression of CD40, CD80, CD83, CXCL1, TGFB1, FCGR3A, CCR7 and CCL5 genes in DCs and macrophages stimulated with LPS or TNF-α. Although the effects of adrenergic ligands have not been strongly demonstrated in the tests performed, the results suggest that small changes can be caused by the binding of catecholamines in DCs, suggesting that they can be modulated by the SNS, modifying immune responses.

O sistema nervoso simpático (SNS) inerva a maioria dos órgãos linfoides e durante situações de estresse, por meio da liberação da noradrenalina de seus ramos eferentes, emitem sinais capazes de modular as repostas imunes. Nossa hipótese foi de que esta via poderia alterar a função de células dendríticas (DCs) derivadas de monócitos humanos, uma vez que receptores adrenérgicos já foram demonstrados em DCs murinas e pelo fato de que as estas células são chave na iniciação de respostas imunes adaptativas, bem como indutoras de tolerância. Desta forma, DCs diferenciadas a partir de monócitos sanguíneos provenientes de doadores saudáveis tratadas com ligantes adrenérgicos foram analisadas quanto a expressão de marcadores de membrana, atividade fagocítica, apresentação antigênica em ensaio de reação mista de linfócitos, expressão gênica de marcadores de diferenciação e ativação, bem como produção de citocinas. Os resultados revelaram que as DCs apresentam transcritos apenas para o adrenoceptor β2, e esta expressão é similar à de macrófagos, mas inferior a de linfócitos. A análise dos marcadores fenotípicos de membrana, atividade fagocítica, apresentação antigênica e produção de citocinas não mostraram alterações nas células tratadas com agonistas adrenérgicos. No entanto, o tratamento com ligantes adrenérgicos foi capaz de alterar a expressão dos genes CD40, CD80, CD83, CXCL1, TGFB1, FCGR3A, CCR7 e CCL5 em DCs e macrófagos estimulados com LPS ou TNF-α. Embora os efeitos dos ligantes adrenérgicos não tenham sido fortemente evidenciados nos testes realizados, os resultados sugerem que pequenas alterações podem ser provocadas pela ligação das catecolaminas em DCs, sugerindo que estas possam ser moduladas pelo SNS, modificando as respostas imunes / The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) innervates most of the lymphoid organs and during stress situations, by releasing norepinephrine from its efferent branches, emit signals capable of modulating immune responses. Our hypothesis was that this pathway could alter the function of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs), since adrenergic receptors have already been demonstrated in murine DCs, and by the fact that these cells are key in initiating adaptive immune responses as well as tolerance inducers. Thus, differentiated DCs from blood monocytes from healthy donors treated with adrenergic ligands were analyzed for expression of membrane markers, phagocytic activity, antigenic presentation in a mixed lymphocyte reaction assay, gene expression of differentiation and activation markers and cytokine production. The results revealed that DCs present transcripts only for the β2 adrenoceptor, and this expression is similar to that observed in macrophages, but lower than what it is found in lymphocytes. The analysis of phenotypic membrane markers, phagocytic activity, antigenic presentation and cytokine production did not revealed any changes in the cells treated with adrenergic agonists. However, treatment with the adrenergic ligands was able to alter the expression of CD40, CD80, CD83, CXCL1, TGFB1, FCGR3A, CCR7 and CCL5 genes in DCs and macrophages stimulated with LPS or TNF-α. Although the effects of adrenergic ligands have not been strongly demonstrated in the tests performed, the results suggest that small changes can be caused by the binding of catecholamines in DCs, suggesting that they can be modulated by the SNS, modifying immune responses.

Au cours de cette thèse, on étudie les systèmes différents : graphène (une monocouche de carbone), graphène fonctionnalisé et les nanofils de Bismuth en induisant la supraconductivité par l’effet proximité. On montre que l’effet proximité fonctionne comme un probe sensible pour les effets des interactions, de couplage spin-orbite, etc.La structure de band de graphène a une relation dispersion linéaire au niveau de Fermi, et le band de conductance et le band de valence est lié aux six points dans l’espace réciproque, appelé le point Dirac. Autour du point Dirac, graphène occupe d’une densité d’état faible (par rapport aux métaux). Alors le niveau de Fermi dans graphene est modulable. On fabrique les jonctions S/Graphene/S avec les contacts de matériaux différents (Al, ReW, Nb). En comparant avec la théorie, on a complété le diagramme du produit R_N I_c (R_N la résistance d’état normal, I_c le courant critique dans une jonction) vs l’énergie Thouless E_Th (une énergie caractéristique intervient dans la jonction SNS longue et dépend la partie normale). Une réduction de R_N I_c globale de la jonction courte à la jonction longue, surtout dans la limite de la jonction longue, la réduction est 10 fois plus grande que celle de la jonction courte. On l’explique par une réduction d’une énergie Thouless effective à cause l’interface S/G imparfaite. Une suppression du supercourant près du point Dirac dans les jonctions longues est considérée comme une signature de la réflexion Andreev spéculaire sur les « puddles » dans le graphène. Aussi, l’injection des paires de Cooper dans les états de bord de l’effet Hall quantique du graphène est étudiée dans cette thèse.L’interaction du couplage spin-orbite et l’effet proximité peut produire les physiques très intéressantes comme le supra de triplet, jonction π, et récemment la formation des Fermions majoranas. Motivé par ces possibilités d’explorer les nouvelles physiques, on a essayé d’induire le couplage spin-orbite dans graphène dans lequel ce couplage est initialement très faible. En greffant les molécules de Pt-porphyrines, qui tiennent un atome de Pt au milieu, on espère que le couplage spin-orbite fort dans l’atome de Pt peut « diffuser » dans le graphène. Au lieu d’avoir vu le couplage spin-orbite, on a plutôt découvert un magnétisme qui dépend la grille dans le graphène induit par les molécules. Plusieurs échantillons avec les contacts normaux ou supraconducteurs sont mesurés avant et après mettant les molécules. Un transfert de charge dans deux sens (électron ou trou) est observé à la température ambiante. Il est lié à l’alignement des niveaux de Fermi des molécules et le graphène. A basse température (~70mK), les hystérésis dans la magnétorésistance (MR) et une asymétrie en B_(//) et B_⊥ impliquent un magnétisme dans graphène. Plus spectaculaire, une asymétrie en la dépendance de la grille du supercurrent est détectée. Bismuth est un élément très lourd et un matériau avec le couplage Rashba spin-orbite fort. On a connecté les nanofils de Bismuth avec tungstène (H_c∼12T) électrodes par FIB (Focused Ions Beam) et induit l’effet proximité dans les fils. Les résultats les plus étonnants sont : (1) le supercourant se tient au champ magnétique jusqu’à 11 Tesla. (2) Il y a des oscillations dans le courant critique en fonction du champ avec une période de centaine gauss qui ressemble à celui d’une structure de SQUID (composé des deux jonctions Josephson en parallèles. (3) Sur ces oscillations, nous trouvons aussi une modulation quasi-périodique lente de quelque milles gauss. Pour expliquer tous ces phénomènes, nous proposons qu’il y a quelques canaux étroites balistiques 1D se forment aux bords des certaines surfaces qui se tiennent au champ jusqu’à 11T et se construisent une interférence entre eux. L’effet Zeeman cause une modulation de phase entre les quasi-particules dans une paire d’Andreev qui module donc le supercourant en échelle de quelques milles gauss. / In this thesis we investigated graphene and Bi nanowire systems by inducing superconducting proximity effect in them. Typically the samples are realized in the form of S/N/S junction. The special properties of these systems are revealed by observing some unusual proximity effect in them. The interplay of the superconducting proximity effect and other effects (spin-orbit coupling, Zeeman effect, quantum Hall effect, impurities, etc...) at the mesoscopic scale gives rise to new physics. Some of our main results are listed below.GrapheneWe succeeded to induce superconducting proximity effect in the very long junction limit, thus completing the diagram of the superconducting proximity effect in graphene. Since by changing the gate voltage, one changes the carrier density in graphene and eventually the transport characteristic quantities (l_e, E_Th etc...). We could scan a whole range of Thouless energy. We present a diagram of eR_N I_c vs Thouless energy compared to theoretical prediction. The Thouless energy dependence of the eR_N I_c products varies from the long junction limit to the short junction limit. The discrepancy (mainly due to the imperfect S/G interface) between theory and experiment is also limit dependent: in the short junction limit, the eR_N I_c products are smaller than the theoretical prediction (with a perfect interface) by a factor of about 3-4; in the long junction limit, however, the disagreement is increased to about 100. We show that the factor deduced from the junctions in different limits is length dependent. This can be explained by the effect of finite transmission at the S/G interface in both the critical current I_c and the induced mini-gap in the graphene. In another hand, a suppression of supercurrent near the Dirac point is observed in long junctions which is attributed to the indication of the specular Andreev reflection upon the puddles in graphene. Also the injection of the Cooper pairs into the QHE edge states is investigated in this thesis.Graphene grafted with Pt-porphyrinsBy grafting the Pt-porphyrins onto graphene, we observed a charge transfer between molecules and the graphene both for electrons and holes. One of the important consequences of the charge transfer is that when the molecules are ionized, a collective magnetic order can be formed by the long range RKKY interaction: the magnetic moments interact via the carrier in graphene. This effect is detected by a hysteretic magnetoresistance of the graphene in a perpendicular field and the asymmetric magnetoresistance in parallel field. Even more striking, the observation of a unipolar supercurrent in S/G/S junction implies that this magnetism induced by porphyrins is gate dependent. The theoretical calculations by Uchoa et al. using the Anderson model indeed find that the gate voltage should tune the impurities in graphene between non-magnetic state and magnetic state.Bi nanowireThe observation of a SQUID-like oscillations persisting up to 10 T and thousands Gauss range modulation in I_c hints to a complex physic in the W-Bi nanowire-W junctions. The results are consistent with a SQUID structure consisting of 2 edges channels which could have an I_c oscillation with period defined by the area between the two edges, typically the size of the nanowire. The origin of the edge states formation is attributed to the strong spin-orbit coupling in Bi that leads to the quantum spin Hall (QSH) state. The thousands Gauss range modulation is the consequence of the interplay between the Zeeman effect and the proximity effect. The phase accumulation in an Andreev quasiparticle pair is Δϕ=g_eff⋅μ_B⋅B_(//) (ℏv_F/L) which is of the order of few thousands Gauss. In one particular sample, a full modulation of the critical current with about 1 T range is observed. This is similar to the proximity effect in S/F/S junctions which suggests a 0-π junction transition.