Submitted by Irene Nascimento (irene.kessia@ufpe.br) on 2017-05-11T18:40:05Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Dissertação Paula Daniele Final.pdf: 3339086 bytes, checksum: 9326f524883e28113fb0a5af3ac830c5 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-11T18:40:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Dissertação Paula Daniele Final.pdf: 3339086 bytes, checksum: 9326f524883e28113fb0a5af3ac830c5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-11 / A Caatinga é o único bioma exclusivamente brasileiro, ou seja, localiza-se totalmente no território brasileiro e não faz divisa com outros países, e ocupa aproximadamente 83% da área total do Estado de Pernambuco. Apesar de apresentar uma grande riqueza biológica, com diversas espécies endêmicas, fundamental para a sobrevivência de grande parte da sua população, consiste em um dos biomas mais degradados e também um dos menos protegidos do ponto de vista legal e estudados pela ciência. O desmatamento autorizado pelo Estado representa um dos fatores de degradação desse bioma. Desta forma, esta pesquisa buscou compreender como esse desmatamento vem ocorrendo nas Caatingas pernambucanas, suas principais causas e impactos socioambientais. Foram analisados os processos de autorização de supressão de vegetação nativa, deferidos pela CPRH, nos anos de 2013 a 2014. Após análise, verificou-se que a agricultura, uma das atividades responsáveis pela degradação histórica das Caatingas, continua desmatando esse bioma para ampliação de suas atividades, embora hoje de forma “legal”. Outro tipo de atividade que se destacou foi a produção de energia eólica, que apesar de ser considerada uma atividade limpa, renovável e de baixo potencial poluidor, vem demandando grandes áreas de supressão de vegetação nativa para a sua implantação. A área total de supressão autorizada nas Caatingas, durante 2013 a 2014, foi de 5.929,43 ha, entretanto, os impactos oriundos da supressão não se restringem apenas à flora suprimida, mas aos diversos componentes bióticos e abióticos associados à mesma. Foram identificados impactos socioambientais, como por exemplo, a fragmentação de habitat, perda de biodiversidade, através da autorização de supressão em áreas prioritárias para a conservação da biodiversidade e redução dos recursos naturais para a população. A forma como a compensação ambiental, decorrente da supressão de vegetação, vem sendo adotada pelo Estado também vem contribuindo para o desenvolvimento insustentável no bioma. Foi verificado a ausência de compensação pelo desmatamento autorizado de 1.022,03 ha e a cada hectare de supressão foi exigido a compensação de apenas 0,55 ha. Considerando ainda que para 4.403,94 ha de supressão foi aprovada a compensação florestal de 2.616,86 ha, através da preservação de áreas que já continham vegetação, a situação quanto à redução de áreas de vegetação nativa no bioma e consequentemente de seus recursos e serviços ambientais é ainda mais grave. / The Caatinga is the only exclusively Brazilian biome that is located entirely in Brazil and not borders with other countries, and occupies approximately 83% of the total area of the State of Pernambuco. Despite a great biological wealth, with many endemic species, fundamental to much of its population to survive, it is one of the most degraded biomes and also one of the least protected from a legal point of view and studied in science. Deforestation authorized by the State is one of this biome degradation factors. Thus, this study sought to understand how it is happening in Pernambuco Caatingas, its main causes and socio-environmental impacts. Authorization procedures were analyzed suppression of native vegetation, granted by CPRH during the years from 2013 to 2014. After analysis, it was found that agriculture, one of the activities responsible for the degradation of Caatingas story continues deforesting for expansion its activities, although today's "cool" way. Another type of activity that stood out is the wind energy, which despite being considered a clean, renewable and low polluting potential activity, is demanding large areas of suppression of native vegetation for its deployment in the biome. The total area of suppression authorized in Caatingas was 5929.43 ha, however, the impacts from suppression are not restricted to the flora deleted, but the various biotic and abiotic components associated with it. Several socio- environmental impacts have been identified, such as for example, the habitat fragmentation, biodiversity loss by removing authorization in priority areas for biodiversity conservation, and reduction of natural resources for the population. The way the environmental compensation resulting from the removal of vegetation, has been adopted by the State has also contributed to unsustainable development in the biome. It was noted that the absence of compensation authorized deforestation 1022.03 ha and each hectare of suppression was required the compensation of only 0.55 ha. Whereas further to 4403.94 ha of suppression was approved the compensation of 2616.86 ha forest, through conservation areas already containing vegetation, the situation regarding the reduction of native vegetation areas in the biome and consequently of its resources and services environment is even more serious.

Submitted by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2018-08-03T12:41:19Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertação_Yadini P. Lopez.pdf: 3876547 bytes, checksum: b6ee2f55b965310100cf0116374ef994 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2018-08-03T12:41:35Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertação_Yadini P. Lopez.pdf: 3876547 bytes, checksum: b6ee2f55b965310100cf0116374ef994 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-03T12:41:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertação_Yadini P. Lopez.pdf: 3876547 bytes, checksum: b6ee2f55b965310100cf0116374ef994 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-04-13 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by a slow-growing bacterium named Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MT). Since 2000 has been included among the top 10 leading causes of death worldwide. In 2015, Brazil ranked eighteenth in TB incidence, representing 9% and 33% of the estimated cases worldwide and for the Americas respectively. Light field smear microscopy is the most commonly used exam in developing countries for diagnosis and follow-up of the disease. Since 2008, several researches have been developed focused on TB bacillus detection, aiming the automation of light field smear microscopy. These studies used datasets with different amounts of images, explored different color aspects of bacilli, and applied Digital Image Processing and / or Machine Learning techniques, and more recently, Deep Learning using Grayscale images. However, Deep Learning techniques have not been explored using a robust smear microscopy image dataset that reflect real conditions of smear microscopy exams. This work presents a method for automatic detection of TB bacillus using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) using a dataset of images taken from 2 patients in RGB, R-G and Grayscale color formats. To reach the proposed goal, a patch dataset containing bacilli (positive patches) and without bacilli (negative patches) was generated. This patch dataset was used for training three different RNC architectures. Then, Non-maximum Suppression (NMS) algorithm was applied using CNN models and complete smear images for bacillus detection. Best results in the patch classification stage were obtained using R-G and RGB images and two CNN models, achieving an accuracy of 99% in both cases. At final stage, Bacilli detection in full smear images, best results were achieved using RGB images reaching a Precision of 56,82%, Recall of 86,15% and F1-score of 68,47%. / A Tuberculose (TB) é uma doença causada por uma bactéria de crescimento lento, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MT) e desde o ano 2000 tem sido incluída entre as dez causas principais de morte a nível mundial. No ano 2015 o Brasil ocupou a 18ª posição em incidência de tuberculose, representando 9% dos casos estimados no mundo, e 33% dos estimados para as Américas. O exame de baciloscopia de campo claro é o mais utilizado em países em desenvolvimento para o diagnóstico e acompanhamento da doença. Desde o ano de 2008 têm sido desenvolvidos trabalhos pela comunidade científica focados na detecção do bacilo da TB visando a automatização da baciloscopia de campo claro. Esses estudos utilizaram bases de dados com diferentes quantidades de imagens, exploraram aspectos de cor dos bacilos e aplicaram técnicas de Processamento Digital de Imagens e/ou Aprendizado de Máquina, e mais recentemente Aprendizado de Máquina Profundo. Entretanto, verificou-se que técnicas de Aprendizado de Máquina Profundo não têm sido exploradas utilizando bases de dados de imagens de baciloscopia robustas que refletem as condições reais dos exames de baciloscopia de campo claro. O presente trabalho visa o desenvolvimento de um método de detecção automática do bacilo da TB mediante a utilização de Redes Neurais Convolutivas (RNC), utilizando conjuntos de imagens baciloscópicas de 2 pacientes nos formatos de cor RGB, R-G e Escala de Cinza. Para atingir o objetivo proposto, foi gerada uma base de dados de patches contendo bacilos (positivos) e patches sem bacilos (negativos), os quais foram utilizados no treinamento de três arquiteturas diferentes de RNC. Posteriormente, foi aplicado o algoritmo Non-maximum Suppression utilizando imagens completas de baciloscopia para detectar cada bacilo. Os melhores resultados na etapa de classificação de patches foram obtidos utilizando as imagens de baciloscopia R-G e RGB e dois modelos RNC de duas e três camadas convolutivas, alcançando uma acurácia de 99%. Na etapa final de detecção dos bacilos nas imagens completas de baciloscopia os melhores resultados foram alcançados utilizando as imagens no formato RGB atingindo um Precision de 56,82%, um Recall de 86,15% e um F1-score de 68,47%.

Submitted by Luanna Matias (lua_matias@yahoo.com.br) on 2015-03-11T19:34:37Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Uadson Ramos da Silva - 2013.pdf: 1276051 bytes, checksum: 83bde2792d8c561a4a23bd4016e3add2 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2015-03-16T11:26:30Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Uadson Ramos da Silva - 2013.pdf: 1276051 bytes, checksum: 83bde2792d8c561a4a23bd4016e3add2 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-16T11:26:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Uadson Ramos da Silva - 2013.pdf: 1276051 bytes, checksum: 83bde2792d8c561a4a23bd4016e3add2 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-08-23 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / SUMMARY: The adoption of no-till techniques in the Brazilian Savanna, it becomes interesting to the vegetal cover formation that has low speed of decomposition. Crave yet that the specie chosen is able to suppress the weeds, especially the difficult to control as well as being easily controlled by herbicides used in desiccation. In order to meet these demands, two tests have been developed. In the first trial assessed the coverage of soil and the accumulation of dry biomass provided by Urochloa ruziziensis cv. Kennedy, U. decumbens cv. Basilisk, U. brizantha cv. BRS Piatã and without Urochloa (spontaneous vegetation). It was found that the Urochloas presented coverage of top soil to spontaneous vegetation, greater accumulation of dry weight of shoot and reduction of weed dry mass, in which the U. ruziziensis stood out from other species by the quick establishment and the mastery on the area. In the second test it was verified the efficacy of desiccation by dosages of glyphosate herbicide, evaluated at various dates after application. It is concluded that U. ruziziensis is controlled effectively in less time and lower dosage of glyphosate that other species of Urochloas searched. Still, it was found that the doses of glyphosate adopted in the survey were not sufficient to control efficiently, the U. brizantha cv. BRS Piatã. / RESUMO: Na adoção da técnica de Plantio Direto no Cerrado, torna-se interessante a formação de cobertura vegetal que apresente baixa velocidade de decomposição. Almeja-se também que a espécie escolhida seja capaz de suprimir a flora daninha, especialmente as de difícil controle, além de ser controlada com facilidade pelos herbicidas adotados na dessecação. Visando atender a estas demandas, foram desenvolvidos dois ensaios. No primeiro ensaio avaliou-se o índice de cobertura do solo e o acúmulo de biomassa seca proporcionado pelas Urochloa ruziziensis cv. Kennedy, U. decumbens cv. Basilisk, U. brizantha cv. BRS Piatã e sem Urochloa (vegetação espontânea). Verificou-se que as Urochloas apresentaram índice de cobertura do solo superior à vegetação espontânea, maior acúmulo de massa seca da parte aérea e redução de massa seca de plantas daninhas, na qual a U. ruziziensis se destacou das demais espécies pela rapidez no estabelecimento e domínio do espaço. No segundo ensaio verificou-se a eficácia de dessecação proporcionada por dosagens do herbicida glyphosate, avaliado em diferentes datas após a aplicação. Conclui-se que U. ruziziensis é controlada com eficácia em menor tempo e menor dose de glyphosate quando comparada às demais espécies de Urochloas pesquisadas. Ainda, constata-se que as doses de glyphosate adotadas na pesquisa não foram suficientes para controlar de forma eficiente a U. brizantha cv. BRS Piatã.

O trato olivococlear medial realiza o controle eferente das células ciliadas externas, regulando as contrações lentas e atenuando as contrações rápidas. Com o surgimento das técnicas de pesquisa da amplitude das emissões otoacústicas sem e com estimulação acústica contra, ipsi ou bilateralmente, é possível estimar clinicamente as condições fisiológicas desse trato, uma vez que o efeito resultante de redução/supressão das emissões otoacústicas indica seu funcionamento efetivo. O envelhecimento implica em diminuição da atividade do sistema auditivo central, em função da degeneração das estruturas envolvidas nas habilidades auditivas. A perda de fibras axonais e a diminuição da bainha de mielina nas estruturas do trato representam perda da eficácia de sua função. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o efeito da idade na atividade do trato sobre as propriedades mecânicas da cóclea, por meio da análise da amplitude das emissões otoacústicas com estimulação acústica contralateral. A casuística foi composta por 75 indivíduos ouvintes, de ambos os sexos, agrupados conforme a idade. A metodologia para captação das emissões otoacústicas foi o modo convencional, com clique linear na intensidade de 60 dB NPS e o ruído branco, como estímulo contralateral, em 60 dB NPS. A análise dos resultados considerou o valor do response das orelhas e a comparação entre os grupos etários. Os resultados revelam diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre os valores do response das EO sem e com estimulação acústica contralateral, nos indivíduos de 20 a 39 anos. O efeito redução/supressão das EOE-T diminui substancialmente com a idade, por volta da quarta década. Conclui-se que o envelhecimento prejudica a efetividade da atividade do trato sobre a cóclea. / Medial olivocochlear tract makes the efferent control of the outer hair cells, controlling the slow contractions and mitigating rapid contractions. Upon the appearance of techniques for the investigation of the amplitude of otoacoustic emissions with and without acoustic stimulation against, ipsi and bilaterally, it is now possible to stimulate clinically the physiologic conditions of this tract, once the resulting effect of reduction/suppression of otoacoustic emissions indicates its effective action. Aging brings a decrease of the activity of central auditory system, as a function of the degeneration of structures involved in auditory abilities. The loss of axon fibers and the decrease of myelin sheath in tract structures causes the loss of efficacy in its function. It was the objective of this study to assess the effect of aging in tract activity upon mechanical properties of cochlea, through the analysis of the amplitude of acoustic emissions with a contralateral acoustic stimulation. Casuistic comprised 75 both sex hearing individuals, grouped according to age. Methodology to capture otoacoustic emissions employed conventional means, with a linear click at a 60 dB NPS intensity and white sound, as a contralateral stimulus, at 60 dB NPS. The analysis of results considered the value of the response of the ears and the comparison of between age groups. Results show statistically significant differences between values for response of EO with and without a contralateral acoustic stimulation, in individuals between 20 to 39 years of age. The reduction/suppression effect of EOE-T decreases greatly with aging, around the fourth decade. It is concluded that aging impairs the efficacy of the activity of tract upon the cochlea.

Constantly increasing demand for wireless communications in various applications has always led to new ways of modulating the radio frequency (RF) carrier signal by advancing waveform structure throughout generations. Although communication data rates are limited by the theoretical capacity, specific signaling designs for the signal that experiences natural and artificial effects in the transmission medium such as multipath fading channel, hardware impairments and multiuser environment promised better solutions in providing improved wireless access to various type of users and networks. Besides communication capacity, broadcasting nature of radio signals poses the information security as another main concern in wireless communications. In this dissertation, new advanced methods for improving signal statistics in multiple domains are studied. Instead of focusing on a single aspect, the waveform design approaches studied in this dissertation tackle with improving the orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM)-based signaling in multiple perspectives such as out-of-band (OOB) emission reduction, peak-to-average-power ratio (PAPR) reduction, and secure transmission with minimum or no eect at the receiver side. Various concepts are coherently exploited while achieving aforementioned goals with minimal cost such as unexplored spaces in the signal space like (CP), guard band, multipath fading; multivariate nature of the multicarrier signals; time spreading and location uniqueness of the wireless channels. The proposed techniques are analyzed theoretically and performance results are presented including related previous works in the literature. It is worth noting that the methods presented in the dissertation can be easily applicable to conventional OFDM systems thanks to having no or minimal change in the receiver structure.

Accroître la compétitivité des cultures vis-à-vis des adventices est un levier essentiel pour concevoir des systèmes de culture moins dépendants des herbicides. Les légumineuses sont des espèces majeures pour diversifier les systèmes mais elles sont réputées peu compétitives vis-à-vis des adventices. Cependant la variabilité entre espèces en particulier pendant la phase précoce a été peu explorée. Ce travail vise à i) étudier, via deux expérimentations en rhizotrons en serre, les traits impliqués dans la croissance et l’acquisition d’azote (N) en début de cycle chez une gamme d’espèces de légumineuse et les conséquences sur la compétition légumineuse-adventice et à ii) quantifier au champ l’intérêt d’associations légumineuse-non légumineuse (colzalégumineuses, maïs-légumineuses pérennes, la légumineuse étant plante de service) sur la croissance et la composition de la flore adventice. Nous montrons qu’il existe une variabilité entre espèces de capture d’N en début de cycle en lien avec les réserves azotées de la semence et l’exploration racinaire. La croissance et l’acquisition d’N de l’adventice sont impactées différemment selon l’espèce de légumineuse pendant la phase précoce. Les essais au champ montrent l’intérêt de combiner des espèces aux traits complémentaires pour l’utilisation des ressources conduisant à un meilleur contrôle des adventices tout en maintenant la productivité de la culture. Cette étude montre aussi que la composition de la flore est modifiée en fonction de la légumineuse insérée dans le système en lien à la fois avec les traits des légumineuses et les traits de réponse des adventices. / Enhancing crop competitiveness against weeds is a relevant way in order to design cropping system less dependent on herbicides. Legumes are key species in diversified cropping systems but they are known to be low competitive against weeds. However, inter-specific variability especially in the early growth had been little studied. Our work aims to i) study, via two greenhouse experiments in rhizotrons, the traits involved in the growth and nitrogen (N) acquisition for a range of legume species and the impacts on weed-legume competition at the beginning of crop cycle and to ii) quantify under field experiments the interest of legume-non legume intercropping (oilseed rapelegumes, maize-perennial legumes, where legume species were grown as service plant) on weed growth and weed species composition. Our results highlighted the inter-specific variability for soil N uptake in the early growth in relation with seed reserves and rooting exploration. Weed growth and N acquisition are influenced differently as a function of legume species in the early growth. Field experiments show the advantage of species combinations with complementary traits for using resources, leading to better weed control while maintaining crop productivity. This study shows also that weed species composition was modified as a function of legume species in relation with both legume traits and weed traits response.

Symmetry suppression was conducted for five subjects who demonstrated a tendency to derive equivalence relations based on conditional discrimination training in a match-to-sample procedure. Symmetry suppression was applied in three consecutive sessions in which symmetrical responses were suppressed for one stimulus class in the first condition, two stimulus classes in the second condition, and all three stimulus classes in the final condition. Symmetry suppression slowed the emergence of transitivity for two subjects and prevented it for the other three. Results indicated that unplanned features of stimulus configurations emerged as discriminative variables that controlled selection responses and altered the function of consequent stimuli. Disruption of cognitive development by conflicting contingencies in natural learning environments is discussed.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of 0.23T low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nanocolloid (NC) scintigraphy in assessing joint pathology associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Fat suppression methods combined with contrast media enhancement aid in distinguishing enhancing inflamed tissue from the surrounding fat, especially in the imaging of arthritic joints. The feasibility and image quality of a phase-shift water-fat MRI method for fat suppression at low-field 0.23T open configuration MR scanner was evaluated. The technique was combined with contrast-enhanced imaging to assess the conspicuity of synovial hypertrophy in the joints of 30 RA patients. Improved conspicuity and delineation of synovitis was detected with this method. However, because of a great amount of manual post processing, future development is needed to make this method more feasible. Contrast-enhanced MRI and NC scintigraphy may provide objective and quantitative information about the inflammatory activity in arthritic joints. The value of quantitative and semiquantitative measures of inflammation derived from NC scintigraphy and low-field MRI of the wrist joint of 28 early RA patients was evaluated. Furthermore, it was investigated whether these parameters have predictive value of further erosive development during two years of follow-up. Strong correlations were detected between the NC scintigraphy and MRI measures, and these parameters were associated with laboratory markers of inflammation. During the two-year follow-up, the initial MRI and NC scintigraphy measures were closely related with the progression of wrist joint erosions. Small erosive-like bone defects can occasionally be found in wrist MRI of patients without clinically overt arthritis. The prevalence of these lesions was studied in bilateral wrist MRI examinations of 31 healthy persons. Small lesions resembling erosions were detected in 14 out of 31 subjects. Altogether 24 of the 930 wrist bones evaluated showed such lesions (3%). Thus small changes resembling erosions can be found in the wrist MRI of healthy subjects; the significance of these findings must always be interpreted with reference to the clinical picture. In conclusion, early RA patients with high local inflammatory activity, as detected by NC scintigraphy and MRI are at risk of developing further bone damage. Furthermore, in the follow-up of early RA patients, if clinically sustained response is not achieved, these methods help to identify patients who need more intensive drug treatment.

Abstract Conventional versions of linear multiuser detectors (MUD) are not feasible in the wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) downlink due to the use of long scrambling sequences. As an alternative, linear channel equalizers restore the orthogonality of the spreading sequences lost in frequency-selective channels, thus, suppressing multiple access interference (MAI) in the WCDMA downlink. In this thesis, linear channel equalizers in WCDMA terminals are studied. The purpose of the thesis is to develop novel receivers that provide performance enhancement over conventional rake receivers with an acceptable increase in complexity, and to validate their performance under WCDMA downlink conditions. Although the WCDMA standard is emphasized as the candidate system, the receivers presented are suitable for any synchronous direct sequence code division multiple access downlink employing coherent data detection and orthogonal user or channel separation. Two adaptive channel equalizers are developed based on the constrained minimum output energy (MOE) criterion and sample matrix inversion method. An existing equalizer based on the matrix inversion lemma is also developed further to become a prefilter-rake equalizer. Performance analysis is carried out for equalizers trained using a common pilot channel and for the channel response constrained MOE (CR-MOE) and sample matrix inversion (SMI) based equalizers developed in the thesis. The linear minimum mean square error (LMMSE) channel equalizer, which assumes a random scrambling sequence, is shown to approximate the performance of the LMMSE MUD. The adaptive CR-MOE, SMI-based, and prefilter-rake equalizers are observed to attain performance close to that of an approximate LMMSE channel equalizer. The equalizers considered are also shown to be suitable for implementation with fixed-point arithmetic. The SMI-based equalizer is shown to provide good performance and to require an acceptable increase in complexity. It is also well suited for symbol rate equalization after despreading, which allows for computationally efficient receiver designs for low data rate terminals. Hence, the SMI-based equalizer is a suitable receiver candidate for both high and low data rate terminals. Adaptive equalizers are considered in conjunction with forward error correction (FEC) coding, soft handover, transmit diversity and high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA). The adaptive equalizers are shown to provide significant performance gains over the rake receiver in frequency selective channels. The performance gains provided by one antenna equalizers are noted to decrease near the edges of a cell, whereas the equalizers with two receive antennas achieve significant performance improvements also with soft handover. The performance gains of one or two antenna equalizers are shown to be marginal in conjunction with transmit antenna diversity. Otherwise the equalizers are observed to attain good signal-to-noise-plus-interference ratio performance. Therefore, they are also suitable receiver candidates for HSDPA.

Firefighters respond to a wide range of critical incidents in which they face exposure to multiple stressors. Previous studies have reported prevalence rates of various symptomatology and identified some risk factors for firefighters, but accord has not been reached across studies on the extent of vulnerability or resilience and potential predictors of each have not all been identified. Studies with firefighters in the United Kingdom are comparatively rare. The purpose of this series of studies was, therefore, to investigate the prevalence of PTSD symptomatology and that of its associated comorbid conditions (depression, anxiety and alcohol misuse) in UK firefighters. On the basis of a literature review, the role of thought control, counterfactual thinking and humour style in predicting symptoms was examined. Study I examined this together with the demographic, occupational, event-specific and cognitive factors associated with these conditions in a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of multiple exposure in firefighters. Results indicated that these firefireghters demonstrated high levels of resilience, recording relatively low rates of PTSD, depression, anxiety and alcohol misuse symptomatology. No DSM-IV Criterion A1 exposure variable independently predicted symptomatology of PTSD, but A2 responses of fear and helplessness predicted PTSD symptomatology, and A2 fear predicted alcohol misuse. Individual aspects of A1 exposure did predict symptomatology of depression, anxiety and alcohol misuse; one operating schedule predicted symptomatology of depression and anxiety; and both previous divorce and previous psychiatric diagnosis predicted symptomatology of alcohol misuse. Of the three cognitive predictors, nonreferent counterfactual thinking and self-defeating humour independently predicted higher levels of PTSD symptomatology, whilst self-enhancing humour predicted lower symptomatology of depression. Results were essentially the same in both regression models, indicating no difference between the predictive power of these cognitive constructs between the models where humour was used at work and when used with the person closest to the participant. Study 2 evaluated the same symptomatology in a longitudinal investigation of firefighters exposed to a single critical incident in which the casualty's life could not be saved, again addressing the cognitive factors of thought control strategies, counterfactual thinking and humour style. Results showed high levels of resilience with firefighters recording relatively low rates of PTSD, depression, anxiety and alcohol misuse symptomatology, although symptomatology of depression, anxiety and alcohol misuse increased over time for a small number. Factors associated with development of symptomatology were firefighter type and rank, A2 horror, body recovery, and the use of thought suppression and 'if only' counterfactuals). However, these were not long-lasting. Similarly, associations between depression/anxiety symptomatology and A2 helplessness; anxiety and previous psychiatric diagnosis also had a short term effect on symptoms. Those who were younger and who had not been involved in body handling had higher depression scores at T2 although the sample size was small and these results may be anomalies. Study 3 explored the firefighters' responses to the same critical incident in greater depth in order to draw out any aspects of it which caused distress and any factors which were found to be helpful in coping with such distress. This qualitative exploration was designed to identify the meaning attached to aspects of critical incidents and how firefighters individually experienced such a critical incident response in comparison with other critical incidents. Results showed positive emotions, professional pride and a strong sense of duty were expressed far more than 'negative' emotions, suggesting a high degree of resilience. Identification with the dying or dead is a marker for distress because meaning has been attributed to the event through recognition of the deceased's humanity. Dissonance arose because of the struggle between this recognition and the desire to protect colleagues and it appears that it is this dissonance which adversely affects those with responsibility for making decisions. Feelings of helplessness arose through operational limitations and are also a marker for distress. Avoidance techniques were utilised, but thought suppression was not identified as such, although the transposition of distressing images through humour was reported. Downward counterfactuals were reported more frequently than upward, and the latter related to decision making and operational difficulties. The type of humour commonly used is banter which includes 'taking the piss' out of colleagues and situations although it was not experienced the same way by all firefighters. The purpose of banter is to cope with the stressors inherent in the job of firefighting and to facilitate bonding through its use as a private language. This study identified three 'rules of banter': it is reciprocal, the timing of it is critical, and it has contextual restrictions. Adaptive banter may be expressed as the self-enhancing or affiliative styles of humour and maladaptive as self-defeating, or banter may itself be a separate style of humour. Together, the studies' findings show that these firefighters were resilient to exposure to a range of stressors but that suffering may be seen on a spectrum. This has implications for theory and further research, and for the development of psychoeducational interventions to increase resilience in those first responders who may be at risk of developing symptoms.