Submitted by Bernardo de Abreu Guelber Fajardo (bernardo.fajardo@fgv.br) on 2016-12-09T18:49:10Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE_BernardoFajardo.pdf: 1774119 bytes, checksum: 70a18f70acbf0a8e65838a5db6552043 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by ÁUREA CORRÊA DA FONSECA CORRÊA DA FONSECA (aurea.fonseca@fgv.br) on 2016-12-14T14:21:20Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE_BernardoFajardo.pdf: 1774119 bytes, checksum: 70a18f70acbf0a8e65838a5db6552043 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-20T12:07:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE_BernardoFajardo.pdf: 1774119 bytes, checksum: 70a18f70acbf0a8e65838a5db6552043 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-09-05 / This study presents the thesis that the Brazilian states have an incentive to manipulate its budget revenues’ forecast aiming to expand its discretion in the management of public accounts as a way to escape the limitations imposed by the national federal structure (in political, fiscal and administrative aspects). We start from the assumption that because of the institutional similarity between the state level and the federal level, the strategic behavior of budget revenues’ forecast would be similar to the behavior performed by the incumbent of the central entity. This presupposes that state executives tend to overestimate their budget revenues to accommodate the wishes of state legislators - as described by Pereira and Mueller (2014). The observation of empirical data, however, shows that at specific times, state executives underestimate their budget revenues’ forecasts. The investigation into the apparent contradiction in the behavior of the agents is what motivates the realization of this thesis. Regarding the complexity surrounding the forecast process of budget revenues (Beaver, 1991) in order to give greater rigor to these results, we propose an algebraic exercise to identify the amount of prediction error that can be attributed to the state executives’ discretionary budget manipulation, separating other components as errors arising from random aspects. This exercise is performed for the Total Reveue and for the main component of the states’ Budget Revenue (Tax Revenue), aiming to capture differences in behavior between such items, as noted by Aquino and Azevedo (2015). Finally, econometric panel data models are used to test hypotheses concerning the Brazilian federalism (in its fiscal, political and administrative aspects) to justify the share of discretionary error in each of the analyzed items. The results support the thesis presented, identifying that the Brazilian states use the forecast of discretionary budget revenues according to their momentary needs, so that when it identifies the need to enlarge the support of the Legislative Assembly, it overestimates budgeted revenues to facilitate the accommodation of requests from state parliament. Conversely, in times in which identifies fiscal pressure, the state underestimates up their budget revenues to request more funds transfer from the federal government / Este trabalho apresenta a tese de que os estados brasileiros têm incentivo a manipular a previsão de suas receitas orçamentárias objetivando ampliar sua discricionariedade na gestão das contas públicas como forma de escapar às limitações impostas pela estrutura federativa nacional (em âmbito político, fiscal e administrativo). Partindo-se do pressuposto de que, devido à similaridade institucional entre o nível estadual e o nível federal, o comportamento estratégico de estimação das receitas orçamentárias seria similar ao comportamento realizado pelo incumbente do ente central, coteja-se que os Executivos estaduais tendem a superestimar suas receitas orçamentárias para acomodar os anseios dos parlamentares estaduais – conforme descrito por Pereira e Mueller (2014). A observação dos dados empíricos, porém, dá conta de que em momentos específicos, os Executivos estaduais subestimam a previsão de suas receitas orçamentárias. A investigação acerca da aparente contradição dos comportamentos dos agentes é o que motiva a realização dessa tese. Devido à complexidade que cerca o processo de estimação das receitas orçamentárias (BEAVER, 1991), para que seja conferida maior rigor aos resultados encontrados, propõe-se um exercício algébrico para identificar o montante do erro de previsão que pode ser atribuído à manipulação orçamentária discricionária dos Executivos estaduais, separando de outros componentes como erros oriundos de aspectos aleatórios. Esse exercício é realizado para a Receita Total e para a principal rubrica componentes da Receita Orçamentária dos estados (Receita Tributária), objetivando capturar diferenças dos comportamentos entre tais rubricas, conforme observado por Aquino e Azevedo (2015). Por fim, são utilizados modelos econométricos de dados em painel para testar hipóteses concernentes ao federalismo brasileiro (em seus aspectos fiscal, político e administrativo) que justifiquem a parcela do erro discricionário em cada uma das rubricas analisadas. Os resultados corroboram a tese apresentada, identificando que os estados brasileiros utilizam as estimações de receitas orçamentárias discricionariamente conforme suas necessidades momentâneas, de tal forma que, quando se identifica a necessidade de se ampliar o apoio da Assembleia Legislativa, superestima-se as receitas orçamentárias para facilitar a acomodação das solicitações do parlamento estadual. Em contrapartida, em momentos em que se identifique pressão de aspectos fiscais, subestima-se suas receitas orçamentárias para solicitar mais recursos de transferências ao Governo Federal.

Den här studien undersöker hur diskussioner på ekokammare ser ut i sociala medier. Mer specifikt undersöks kommentarsfälten i två olika länkar från den sociala länkaggregatorn Reddit och underforumet /r/Politics. Undersökningen görs i syfte att se hur diskussioner tar form på Reddit för att ge en klarare bild av ekokammare som fenomen på internet. Studiens teoretiska grund ligger i teorierna om selektiv exponering och partisk assimilering, samt i en teoretisering av hur grupper formas på de sociala medierna Twitter och Reddit. Studien använder sig av både en kvantitativ innehållsanalys och en kvalitativ textanalys, vilka främst grundar sig i argumentationsanalysen. Innehållsanalysen används först för att jämföra /r/Politics användares ställningstagande till de länkar som de kommenterar på och sedan för att möjliggöra en korrelationsanalys av arguments styrka och dess användargivna poäng på Reddit. Textanalysen görs med hjälp av begrepp från argumentationsanalysen och används för att sätta in studiens material i fem olika teman. Det mest framträdande temat får namnet Kommentarer av papegojor och beskriver kommentarer som konstrueras likadant som tidigare kommentarer utan försök till att föra något nytt till diskussionen. Överlag visar studiens resultat att responsen ser likadan ut för båda länkarna och att en stor majoritet av kommentarerna är på samma sida i argumentet. Resultatet visar också att argumentens styrka är oberoende av om en kommentar får en positiv respons eller inte. / This study explores how discussions in echo chambers take form on social media. More specifically, the study explores the comment section of two different links on the social news-aggregator website Reddit and the sub-forum /r/Politics. The purpose of the aforementioned exploration is to give a clearer picture of echo chambers as a phenomena on the Internet. The study’s theoretical background is based on selective exposure and biased assimilation theory, as well as a theorization of how groups form on Twitter and Reddit. The study uses a quantitative content analysis and a qualitative text analysis, which are both based on argumentation theory. The content analysis is first used to compare the viewpoint of /r/Politics users with the subject of the links they comment on, and then to make a correlation analysis of the strength of arguments and the arguments’ user-given points on Reddit. Last a qualitative text analysis is done using concepts from argumentation theory, which allows for the observation of five different themes. The most prominent of these themes was given the name Comments by parrots and describes comments that are constructed in a similar fashion to older comments, without an attempt to bring something new to the discussion.  Overall, the study’s result shows that the response to the two links is similar, and that both have an overwhelming majority of comments supporting one side. The result also shows that a strong argument does not necessarily mean that the comment will get a positive response.

Le récepteur de la sérotonine (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) 2A a été identifié comme la cible principale des hallucinogènes psychédéliques comme le diéthylamide de l'acide lysergique (LSD). Ces agonistes sont connus pour reproduire quelques uns des principaux symptômes de la schizophrénie. Un paradoxe non résolu est que seuls certains agonistes des récepteurs 5-HT2A présentent une activité hallucinogène, alors que des composés de structure apparentée avec une affinité comparable au niveau du récepteur n'ont pas des propriétés psychoactives. En utilisant une approche quantitative phosphoproteomic combinant un marquage isotopique stable en acides aminés dans la culture cellulaire (SILAC), un double enrichissement en phosphopeptides par chromatographie d'interaction hydrophile (HILIC) / chromatographie d'affinité (IMAC) et la spectrométrie de masse haute résolution, nous avons comparé les phosphoprotéome dans des cellules HEK-293 cellules exprimant de manière transitoire le récepteur 5-HT2A sous trois conditions: cellules non stimulées, cellules exposées aux hallucinogènes [2,5-diméthoxy-4-iodophényl]-2-aminopropane (DOI) et LSD les cellules exposées aux agonistes non- hallucinogènes Lisuride et Ergotamine. Parmi les 5996 phosphopeptides identifiés, 454 sont spécifiquement régulés par les hallucinogènes. Il s'agit notamment d'un résidu sérine du récepteur 5-HT2A éventuellement impliqués dans la régulation de la désensibilisation des récepteurs qui a été spécifiquement phosphorylée lors de l'exposition aux deux hallucinogènes. La phosphorylation différentielle des récepteurs 5-HT2A dans les cellules exposées aux agonistes hallucinogènes (DOI et le LSD) vs non hallucinogènes (lisuride et l'ergotamine) a été confirmé par l'analyse par spectrométrie de masse du récepteur purifié. Parallèlement, l'exposition des cellules aux agonistes hallucinogènes induit une internalisation et une désensibilisation des récepteurs moins prononcée qu'après exposition à la non-agonistes hallucinogènes. En conclusion, les résultats de cette thèse révèlent que la stimulation du récepteur 5-HT2A par les hallucinogènes et les agonistes non hallucinogènes induit deux modèles différents de phosphorylation qui pourraient être impliqués directement dans leurs réponses comportementales distinctes. ils fournissent également l'une des premières manifestations de la phosphorylation différentielle d'un récepteur couplé aux protéines G lors de la stimulation du récepteur par des agonistes biaisée. / The serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT)2A receptor has been identified as the primary target of psychedelic hallucinogens such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), which reproduce some of the core symptoms of schizophrenia. A non-resolved paradox is that only some 5-HT2A receptor agonists exhibit hallucinogenic activity, whereas structurally related compounds with comparable affinity and agonist activity lack psychoactive properties. Using a quantitative phosphoproteomic approach combining stable isotope labelling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC), phosphopeptide enrichment by hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) / immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) and high resolution mass spectrometry, we compared the phosphoproteome in HEK-293 cells transiently expressing the 5-HT2A receptor under three conditions: non-stimulated cells, cells exposed to the phenethylamine hallucinogen 1-[2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl]-2-aminopropane (DOI) and cells exposed to the non-hallucinogenic 5-HT2A agonist lisuride. Among the 5,996 identified phosphopeptides, 454 were specifically regulated by DOI but not by lisuride. These include a serine residue of 5-HT2A receptor possibly involved in regulation of receptor desensitization which was specifically phosphorylated upon DOI exposure. Differential phosphorylation of 5-HT2A receptor in cells exposed to hallucinogenic (DOI and LSD) vs. non-hallucinogenic (lisuride and ergotamine) agonists was further confirmed by mass spectrometry analysis of purified receptor. Correspondingly, cell exposure to hallucinogenic agonists induced a less pronounced receptor desensitization and internalization than exposure to non-hallucinogenic agonists. In conclusion, our phosphoproteomic analysis revealed that 5-HT2A receptor stimulation by hallucinogenic and non hallucinogenic agonists induces different phosphorylation patterns that might underlie their distinct behavioural responses. It also provides one of the first demonstrations of differential phosphorylation of a G protein-coupled receptor upon stimulation by biased agonists.

Le mécanisme d‘interaction d‘un composé xénobiotique avec la membrane est un des facteurs clés qui influence son mécanisme d‘action biologique et donc son action thérapeutique pour un principe actif. Une analyse précise des interactions intermoléculaires à l‘échelle atomique peut être obtenue par dynamique moléculaire, une méthode qui apparait plus que jamais comme une alternative élégante aux techniques expérimentales. Les simulations de dynamique moléculaire permettent d‘évaluer ces interactions avec une résolution temporelle et spatiale difficiles à atteindre avec les méthodes expérimentales. Ces informations constituent une pierre angulaire de la compréhension des mécanismes d‘action des xénobiotiques . Les résultats obtenus corrèlent généralement bien avec les données expérimentales. Dans ce travail théorique, nous avons utilisé des dynamiques moléculaires non -biaisées et biaisées (z-Contraint). Nous avons étudié les modes d‘insertion (positionnement et orientation), les coefficients de partition, et la capacité de différents xénobiotiques à traverser la bicouche lipidique (perméation passive). Plusieurs composés de différentes familles thérapeutiques ont été étudiés (antiviraux, immunosuppresseurs et antioxydants), tous étant utilisés en transplantation d‘organes ; les antioxydants sont étudiés en tant que protecteurs d‘organe contre les phénomènes d‘ischémie -reperfusion. Pour la perméation passive, les profils d‘ énergies, les coefficients de diffusion locaux et la résistance à la traversée ont été calculés pour finalement obtenir des coefficients globaux de perméabilité. Nous avons montré que ces techniques de calcul donnent une description qualitative du processus d‘insertion/perméation, montrant notamment le rôle de différentes propriétés physiques (ex., polarité, charge). Des résultats remarquables ont été obtenus pour les larges molécules. Malgré la taille, ces mol cules peuvent s‘ insérer dans la bicouche lipidique relativement facilement (faibles barrières énergétiques). Par contre, leur diffusion dans les différentes régions de la membrane peut augmenter d‘une manière signifiante. Ce travail donne une confiance accrue dans les méthodes de dynamique moléculaire pour devenir prédictive dans les années avenirs, et aide de façon concrète les pharmacologues dans la recherche de nouvelles stratégies thérapeutiques. / The mechanism of interaction between drugs or any xenobiotic and membrane is one of thekey factors that affect its biological of action, and so its therapeutic activity. A thoroughrationalization of the relationship between the intrinsic properties of the xenobiotics and theirmechanism of interaction with membranes can now be assessed with atomistic details.Molecular dynamics (MD) is a powerful research tool to study xenobiotics-membraneinteractions, which can access time and space scales that are not simultaneously accessibleby experimental methods. Semi-quantitative molecular and thermodynamic descriptions ofthese interactions can be provided using in silico model of lipid bilayers, often in agreementwith experimental measurements.The main goal of our investigation consisted to get in depth insight into the mechanisms ofinteraction/partitioning/insertion/crossing with/in/into/through membrane and drug deliveryusing MD. In this thesis, we have focused on both drugs used in renal transplantation (e.g.,antivirals, immunosuppressants) and antioxidants, which can also be used to protect organsalong the transplantation processes. We have provided a series of clues showing that MDsimulations can tackle the delicate process of drug passive permeation.Both, unbiased and biased MD (z-constraint) simulations have been used to elucidate thexenobiotics-membrane interactions (i.e., positioning and orientation) and to evaluate crossingenergies, diffusion coefficients, and permeability coefficients. These findings led us to drawqualitative structure-permeability relationships (SPR). We have carefully analyzed how thechemical and physical properties of xenobiotics affect the mechanism of interactions andthus permeability. The robustness of these MD-based methodologies has been determinedto qualitatively predict these pharmacological parameters. Hydrophobic compounds showeda favorable partitioning into the lipid bilayer and relatively low Gibbs energy of crossing thecenter of membrane (ΔGcross). Hydrophilic or charged compounds showed partitioning closeto membrane surface, in interaction with the polar head groups and water molecules; this hasbeen shown to dramatically increase ΔGcross. Amphiphilic compounds are intermediatecompounds in terms of membrane insertion/positioning/crossing. It clearly appears that theyshould be analyzed case by case, an analysis for which MD simulations could be particularlysupportive. Also the influence of size at predicting permeation has been studied (i.e.,relatively large drugs were tested). The molecular size has shown no significant influence onΔGcross whereas diffusion coefficients were significantly affected, depending on themembrane regions.

This thesis investigates individual and interpersonal predictions of future affect and explores their relation to implicit theories of emotion, prediction recall, debiasing, and focalism. Studies 1, 2, and 3 assessed affect predictions to upcoming reasoning tests and academic results, and Studies 4, 5, and 6 concerned predictions for self-identified events. The first study investigated the influence of implicit theories of emotion (ITE; Tamir, John, Srivastava, & Gross, 2007) on impact bias and prediction recall manipulating ITE between participant pairs who predicted and reported their affective reactions to feedback on a test of reasoning skills. Neither impact bias nor recalled predictions were affected by the manipulation. Recalled affect predictions differed from original affect predictions, but were not influenced by experienced affect. Study 2 further investigated the effects of target event timing on impact bias and affect prediction recall. The results showed no differences between individual and interpersonal impact biases across conditions. Again, recalled predictions differed from original predictions, and were not influenced by experienced affect. Study 3 investigated the influence of prior information about impact bias on interpersonal affective forecasting involving real-world exam results. The results demonstrated no differences in predictions due to information, however, significantly less unhappiness was predicted for participants’ friends compared to self-predictions. Study 4 examined the effect of different de-biasing information on affective predictions. The results demonstrated no differences in affective predictions by condition and found that participants’ ITE were not associated to affect predictions. Study 5 examined individual and interpersonal affect predictions using a between-subjects design in place of the within-subjects design. The results demonstrated no differences between the affect predictions made for self and for friends, and ITE were not associated with predictions. Study 6 examined the impact bias in interpersonal affective forecasting and the role of focalism. The results demonstrated distinctions between individual and interpersonal affecting forecasting with individual impact bias for positive reactions for negative events and individual and interpersonal reverse impact bias for calm emotional reactions to positive events. Immune neglect was found not to be associated with predictions. Overall, the studies found evidence for similar individual and interpersonal predictions which are resistant to influence.

Language plays an indispensable role in the transmission, maintenance, and formation of culturally shared beliefs. Yet beliefs about groups, in particular, are shared despite the existence of prohibitive norms that act to inhibit their expression. This apparent incongruity suggests that cultural beliefs become shared through linguistic means other than explicit expression. In support of this, the linguistic bias paradigm proposes that linguistic bias is the implicit and unintentional expression of beliefs through the differential use of linguistic abstraction (Franco & Maass, 1996; Maass, 1999; Maass, Salvi, Arcuri, & Semin, 1989), as defined by the Linguistic Category Model (Semin & Fiedler, 1988). According to this paradigm, linguistic bias not only reveals the speakers’ privately held beliefs but also transmits these beliefs to recipients, leading to belief sharedness. The consequences of exposure to linguistic bias, however, have yet to be shown and this is the aim of the present research program. The first study focuses on belief transmission, by determining if there is a direct causal effect from linguistic abstraction to individual impression formation. Results show that biased language transmits information about individuals but the communication context, specifically whom the message is about, is also important. Given this, it is likely that the content of the message will also affect the reception of biased language. The second study thus focuses on belief maintenance, by considering the relative effects of different levels of linguistic abstraction on pre-existing beliefs. Results were inconclusive, but may have been affected by methodological limitations. The third study addresses these limitations while focusing on belief formation, by measuring the impact of biased language in the absence of pre-existing beliefs. Recipients, in general, formed beliefs that corresponded to the biased language to which they were exposed. Together, these studies suggest that linguistic bias plays a role in belief sharedness as a mechanism through which cultural beliefs are transmitted and formed. Linguistic bias, however, must be understood within the specific communication context, which also independently affects reception.

[EN] Common audio systems are designed with the intent of creating real and immersive scenarios that allow the user to experience a particular acoustic sensation that does not depend on the room he is perceiving the sound. However, acoustic devices and multichannel rendering systems working inside a room, can impair the global audio effect and thus the 3D spatial sound. In order to preserve the spatial sound characteristics of multichannel rendering techniques, adaptive filtering schemes are presented in this dissertation to compensate these electroacoustic effects and to achieve the immersive sensation of the desired acoustic system. Adaptive filtering offers a solution to the room equalization problem that is doubly interesting. First of all, it iteratively solves the room inversion problem, which can become computationally complex to obtain when direct methods are used. Secondly, the use of adaptive filters allows to follow the time-varying room conditions. In this regard, adaptive equalization (AE) filters try to cancel the echoes due to the room effects. In this work, we consider this problem and propose effective and robust linear schemes to solve this equalization problem by using adaptive filters. To do this, different adaptive filtering schemes are introduced in the AE context. These filtering schemes are based on three strategies previously introduced in the literature: the convex combination of filters, the biasing of the filter weights and the block-based filtering. More specifically, and motivated by the sparse nature of the acoustic impulse response and its corresponding optimal inverse filter, we introduce different adaptive equalization algorithms. In addition, since audio immersive systems usually require the use of multiple transducers, the multichannel adaptive equalization problem should be also taken into account when new single-channel approaches are presented, in the sense that they can be straightforwardly extended to the multichannel case. On the other hand, when dealing with audio devices, consideration must be given to the nonlinearities of the system in order to properly equalize the electroacoustic system. For that purpose, we propose a novel nonlinear filtered-x approach to compensate both room reverberation and nonlinear distortion with memory caused by the amplifier and loudspeaker devices. Finally, it is important to validate the algorithms proposed in a real-time implementation. Thus, some initial research results demonstrate that an adaptive equalizer can be used to compensate room distortions. / [ES] Los sistemas de audio actuales están diseñados con la idea de crear escenarios reales e inmersivos que permitan al usuario experimentar determinadas sensaciones acústicas que no dependan de la sala o situación donde se esté percibiendo el sonido. Sin embargo, los dispositivos acústicos y los sistemas multicanal funcionando dentro de salas, pueden perjudicar el efecto global sonoro y de esta forma, el sonido espacial 3D. Para poder preservar las características espaciales sonoras de los sistemas de reproducción multicanal, en esta tesis se presentan los esquemas de filtrado adaptativo para compensar dichos efectos electroacústicos y conseguir la sensación inmersiva del sistema sonoro deseado. El filtrado adaptativo ofrece una solución al problema de salas que es interesante por dos motivos. Por un lado, resuelve de forma iterativa el problema de inversión de salas, que puede llegar a ser computacionalmente costoso para los métodos de inversión directos existentes. Por otro lado, el uso de filtros adaptativos permite seguir las variaciones cambiantes de los efectos de la sala de escucha. A este respecto, los filtros de ecualización adaptativa (AE) intentan cancelar los ecos introducidos por la sala de escucha. En esta tesis se considera este problema y se proponen esquemas lineales efectivos y robustos para resolver el problema de ecualización mediante filtros adaptativos. Para conseguirlo, se introducen diferentes esquemas de filtrado adaptativo para AE. Estos esquemas de filtrado se basan en tres estrategias ya usadas en la literatura: la combinación convexa de filtros, el sesgado de los coeficientes del filtro y el filtrado basado en bloques. Más especificamente y motivado por la naturaleza dispersiva de las respuestas al impulso acústicas y de sus correspondientes filtros inversos óptimos, se presentan diversos algoritmos adaptativos de ecualización específicos. Además, ya que los sistemas de audio inmersivos requieren usar normalmente múltiples trasductores, se debe considerar también el problema de ecualización multicanal adaptativa cuando se diseñan nuevas estrategias de filtrado adaptativo para sistemas monocanal, ya que éstas deben ser fácilmente extrapolables al caso multicanal. Por otro lado, cuando se utilizan dispositivos acústicos, se debe considerar la existencia de no linearidades en el sistema elactroacústico, para poder ecualizarlo correctamente. Por este motivo, se propone un nuevo modelo no lineal de filtrado-x que compense a la vez la reverberación introducida por la sala y la distorsión no lineal con memoria provocada por el amplificador y el altavoz. Por último, es importante validar los algoritmos propuestos mediante implementaciones en tiempo real, para asegurarnos que pueden realizarse. Para ello, se presentan algunos resultados experimentales iniciales que muestran la idoneidad de la ecualización adaptativa en problemas de compensación de salas. / [CAT] Els sistemes d'àudio actuals es dissenyen amb l'objectiu de crear ambients reals i immersius que permeten a l'usuari experimentar una sensació acústica particular que no depèn de la sala on està percebent el so. No obstant això, els dispositius acústics i els sistemes de renderització multicanal treballant dins d'una sala poden arribar a modificar l'efecte global de l'àudio i per tant, l'efecte 3D del so a l'espai. Amb l'objectiu de conservar les característiques espacials del so obtingut amb tècniques de renderització multicanal, aquesta tesi doctoral presenta esquemes de filtrat adaptatiu per a compensar aquests efectes electroacústics i aconseguir una sensació immersiva del sistema acústic desitjat. El filtrat adaptatiu presenta una solució al problema d'equalització de sales que es interessant baix dos punts de vista. Per una banda, el filtrat adaptatiu resol de forma iterativa el problema inversió de sales, que pot arribar a ser molt complexe computacionalment quan s'utilitzen mètodes directes. Per altra banda, l'ús de filtres adaptatius permet fer un seguiment de les condicions canviants de la sala amb el temps. Més concretament, els filtres d'equalització adaptatius (EA) intenten cancel·lar els ecos produïts per la sala. A aquesta tesi, considerem aquest problema i proposem esquemes lineals efectius i robustos per a resoldre aquest problema d'equalització mitjançant filtres adaptatius. Per aconseguir-ho, diferent esquemes de filtrat adaptatiu es presenten dins del context del problema d'EA. Aquests esquemes de filtrat es basen en tres estratègies ja presentades a l'estat de l'art: la combinació convexa de filtres, el sesgat dels pesos del filtre i el filtrat basat en blocs. Més concretament, i motivat per la naturalesa dispersa de la resposta a l'impuls acústica i el corresponent filtre òptim invers, presentem diferents algorismes d'equalització adaptativa. A més a més, com que els sistemes d'àudio immersiu normalment requereixen l'ús de múltiples transductors, cal considerar també el problema d'equalització adaptativa multicanal quan es presenten noves solucions de canal simple, ja que aquestes s'han de poder estendre fàcilment al cas multicanal. Un altre aspecte a considerar quan es treballa amb dispositius d'àudio és el de les no linealitats del sistema a l'hora d'equalitzar correctament el sistema electroacústic. Amb aquest objectiu, a aquesta tesi es proposa una nova tècnica basada en filtrat-x no lineal, per a compensar tant la reverberació de la sala com la distorsió no lineal amb memòria introduïda per l'amplificador i els altaveus. Per últim, és important validar la implementació en temps real dels algorismes proposats. Amb aquest objectiu, alguns resultats inicials demostren la idoneïtat de l'equalització adaptativa en problemes de compensació de sales. / Fuster Criado, L. (2015). Linear and nonlinear room compensation of audio rendering systems [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/59459 / TESIS

In this work, we investigated the behavior of the -opioid receptor (MOR) and the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) ion channel in the plasma membrane and their mutual communication. Both these receptors are implicated in pain perception and analgesia. We observed that the lateral mobility of MOR was strongly affected by different biased opioid agonists. DAMGO and endomorphin-2 display opposite bias towards MOR. According to our results, they also have the opposite effects on the mobility of MOR. Morphine induced only small changes in the mobility of MOR. Moreover, cholesterol depletion and blockage of G protein signaling by pertussis toxin (PTX) affected the ability of different MOR agonists to alter MOR mobility in a unique manner. The effects of DAMGO and endomorphin-2 were compromised under these conditions. On the other hand, we observed increased movement of MOR after the addition of morphine. PTX alone did not affect receptor movement, but it completely disrupted the effect of cholesterol depletion on morphine induced changes the mobility of MOR. Next we studied the mobility of TRPV1. The TRPV1 agonist capsaicin changed the lateral mobility of TRPV1. Surprisingly, after adding the MOR antagonist naloxone, the apparent diffusion coefficient of TRPV1 but to a lower extent than...

The thesis deals with the question of Egypt's role of a biased mediator towards the Palestinian side in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and its stabilising effects on the region in the form of a case study applying the theory of a biased mediator in conflict resolution on the Egyptian example. In addition to this, the goal of this thesis is to demonstrate the beneficial effects of different forms of mediation activities and their combination, including biased and neutral mediation, in the transformation of intractable and protracted conflicts into their tractable form, using the example of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The identification of Egypt's positive role in contributing to the resolving of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, of which it was once a warrying party, portrays the transformational capacity of conflicts. The thesis also highlights Egypt's potential in moderating extremist trends in the region, also through the successful mediation efforts in the inter-palestinian conflict involving the Fatah and Hamas movements, contributed to by Egypt's changing position in the region, her historical role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and her strategic and security concerns in the region.

Thesis (M. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / Background: Gender bias in the Physical Sciences education favours male learners to the disadvantages of female learners, bringing along sex discrimination. Physical Sciences Curriculum reinforces masculinity, resulting in few females enrolling for science-related subjects. Male learners outperform female learners in Physical Sciences. Also, sex discrimination due to gender bias is visible in the workforce in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Therefore, the purpose of this study was aimed at exploring gender biased texts in the Physical Sciences CAPS document and also its impact on Grade 12 female learners. Method: A qualitative exploratory phenomenological study design was conducted. In my study, participants were Physical Sciences Grade 12 female learners and their teachers. The total number of participants was 12 (8 female learners and 4 teachers) and the sample depended on data saturation. Also, data were collected using document review (Physical Sciences Curriculum and AssessmentPolicy Statements document and prescribed textbook), classroom observation and interviews with learners and teachers. One-on-one interviews were conducted with participants using interview guides for both teachers and learners. Data collected from interviews were analysed using thematic 8 steps of Tesch’s inductive and descriptive open coding technique. Results: The results from the document review showed the existence of gender bias in the Physical Sciences textbooks and Curriculum and AssessmentPolicy Statement document. Classroom observation showed that male learners were more interested and participated actively in the Physical Sciences lesson as compared to female learners. Both teachers and learners are aware of the existence of gender biased texts in Physical Sciences education. Further, this impacts negatively towards female learners leading to a bad attitude towards sciences and subsequently, to poor performance as compared to male learners. Female learners believe that they were to perform better in Physical Sciences if they were of the male gender. Conclusion: The existence of gender biased texts in the Physical Sciences Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements document and prescribed textbooks reinforce masculinity in the field. There is a need to review the Physical Sciences Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement document and prescribed textbooks to ensure inclusivity, eliminate sex discrimination and also to achieve balance in the workforce in the science field. Key concepts Physical Sciences; Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements; Female learner; Gender Biased texts; Performance; Inclusive education