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by Chau Man Pan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 74-75). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter 1 --- Preliminaries --- p.6 / Chapter 1.1 --- General Theory of C* algebras --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2 --- Hilbert Modules and Induced representations --- p.11 / Chapter 1.3 --- Crossed Products --- p.15 / Chapter 2 --- Twisted crossed products --- p.18 / Chapter 2.1 --- Basic definition --- p.18 / Chapter 2.2 --- Iterated twisted crossed products --- p.24 / Chapter 3 --- Induced representations --- p.27 / Chapter 3.1 --- Construction of Imprimitivity bimodule --- p.27 / Chapter 3.2 --- Basic theory about induced representations --- p.32 / Chapter 4 --- Ideal Theory --- p.38 / Chapter 4.1 --- Induction and Restriction processes --- p.38 / Chapter 4.2 --- Sub-quotients of twisted crossed products --- p.48 / Chapter 5 --- Mackey Machine --- p.53 / Chapter 5.1 --- Quasi regular systems --- p.53 / Chapter 5.2 --- First Step of Mackey Machine --- p.57 / Chapter 5.3 --- Second step of Mackey Machine --- p.59 / Chapter 6 --- Abelian systems --- p.64 / Chapter 6.1 --- Dual spaces of Abelian systems --- p.64 / Chapter 7 --- Appendix --- p.69 / Chapter 7.1 --- Classical version of induced representation --- p.69

You can only perceive the location of a touch when you know where your hands are in space. Locating a touch to the body requires the integration of internal (somatotopic) and external (spatial) reference frames. In order to explore the relative contribution of internal versus external information, this thesis employed a crossed-hands tactile temporal order judgment (TOJ) task. This task requires participants to indicate which of two vibrations, one to each hand, occurred first. The magnitude of the deficit observed when the hands are crossed over the midline provides an index into how internal and external reference frames are integrated. This thesis first showed that the crossed-hands tactile TOJ task is a reliable measure, supporting its use as a measure of reference frame integration. Next, this thesis applied a probabilistic model to theoretically estimate the weights placed on the internal and external reference frames. We showed that a bias towards external information results in a larger external weight and vice versa for internal information. Finally, using the model we showed that the crossed-hands deficit is reduced while lying down, supporting an influence of vestibular information on the external reference frame. Taken together, this thesis highlights that we are able to flexibly adapt the weighting of different spatial representations of touch. / Thesis / Doctor of Science (PhD) / Determining the boundary of our body requires we localize the touches to our body. When the body moves and interacts with the world this determination becomes more difficult. Integrating information from other senses can support the localization of touch, and thus knowledge of our body. For example, to locate a touch to your right hand, you must feel the touch on your right hand, but also determine where your right hand is located in space. This thesis shows that the contributions of each sense to locate a touch is consistent within an individual and remains consistent over time. Interestingly, based on the availability of each sense, we flexibly adapt their contributions to ensure that our ability to locate the touch remains unchanged. What we define as our body is constructed based on the information available in the present moment.

Attended information is perceived quicker than unattended information. This is known as prior entry. When making judgments on the temporal order of two successive stimuli, performance is influenced based on attention. We were interested in whether this same attentional shift would occur when we adopt a crossed hands posture. Typically when making these tactile temporal order judgments, performance declines when the hands are crossed. This may be due to a greater influence of the external environment in the crossed posture. We investigated this by providing an exogenous visual cue at one or both of the hands prior to making judgments about the temporal order of two successive vibrations. This was completed with the hands crossed and uncrossed. In Experiment 1 responses were to which stimulus occurred first. In Experiment 2 participants responded to which stimulus occurred second. Changing the response requirement did not influence overall performance. In both experiments we observed prior entry that was in the same direction for both crossed and uncrossed postures. The size of the prior entry effect was larger when the hands were crossed. We remap tactile information quickly to external coordinates, however we are less certain of the hand’s location. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Signal formation in a photon-counting x-ray/gamma-ray imaging detector is a complex process resulting in detector signals governed by multiple random effects. Recovering maximum possible information about event attributes of interest requires a systematic collection of calibration data and analysis provided by estimation theory. In this context, a likelihood model provides a description of the connection between the observed signals and the event attributes. A quantitative measure of how well the measured signals can be used to produce an estimate of the parameters is given by Fisher Information analysis. In this work, we demonstrate several applications of the Fisher Information Matrix (FIM) as a powerful and practical tool for investigating and optimizing potential next-generation x-ray/gamma-ray detector designs, with an emphasis on medical-imaging applications. Using FIM as a design tool means to explore the physical detector design choices that have a relationship with the FIM through the likelihood function, how are they interrelated, and determining whether it is possible to modify any of these choices to yield or retain higher values for Fisher Information. We begin by testing these ideas by investigating a new type of a semiconductor detector, a Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) detector with double-sided-strip geometry developed by our collaborators at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The statistical properties of the detector signals as a function of interaction positions in 3D (x, y, z) are presented with mathematical expressions as well as experimental data from measurements using synchrotron radiation at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory. We show the computation of FIM for evaluating positioning performance and discuss how various detector parameters, that are identified to affect FIM, can be used in detector optimization. Next, we show the application of FIM analysis in a detector system based on multi-anode photomultiplier tubes coupled to a monolithic scintillator in the design of smart electronic read-out strategies. We conclude by arguing that a detector system is expected to perform the best when the hardware is optimized jointly with the estimation algorithm (simply referred to as the "software" in this context) that will be used with it. The results of this work lead to the idea of a detector development approach where the detector hardware platform is developed concurrently with the software and firmware in order to achieve optimal performance.

Cross-over electrophoresis, an immunological method for analyzing blood residues on archaeological artifacts, is tested. Artifacts from three sites were utilized in the testing of this methodology. The sites are the Dietz site in south-central Oregon (282 artifacts), Konemehu in northern California (48 artifacts tested for Winthrop Associates), and Chimney Shelter in southwestern Oregon (3 artifacts from the Umpqua National Forest).

M.Tech. (Chiropractic) / This study aims to determine whether muscle energy technique of the psoas muscle can be used as an effective treatment for low back pain with lower crossed syndrome or whether it is better to be used alone or in conjunction with spinal adjustments with regards to pain and disability, lumbar range of motion and degree of lumbar lordosis. Thirty participants who met the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated to one of three different groups of ten participants each. Group 1 had muscle energy technique performed on the psoas muscle of each participant. Group 2 received spinal adjustment/s over the restricted joint/s in the lumbar spine. Group 3 received spinal adjustment/s over the restricted joint/s in the lumbar spine in conjunction with muscle energy technique on the psoas muscle. All participants were assessed over a four week period. All groups attended six treatment sessions over three weeks of which muscle energy technique and/or spinal manipulation was performed. In the fourth week only measurements were taken and no treatment was administered.Subjective data was collected at the first and fourth consultations prior to treatment, as well as on the seventh consultation by means of a Numerical Pain Rating Scale and Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire to assess pain and disability. Objective data was collected at the first and fourth consultations prior to treatment, as well as on the seventh consultation by means of a digital inclinometer for assessing active lumbar range of motion and a flexible ruler for measuring the degree of lumbar lordosis. Analysis of collected data was performed by a statistician.Statistically significant improvements were seen in Groups 1, 2 and 3 over the duration of the study with regards to pain, disability and lumbar range of motion as well as degree of lumbar lordosis. The data gathered in this study showed statistically significant changes in Groups 1, 2, 3 with regards to lumbar range of motion, lumbar lordosis, pain and disability, with Group 3 showing the most statistically significant changes with regard to pain and disability...

Purpose of my graduation thesis is to find out the influence of a targeted physical activity upon formation of a correct posture habit by pupils of sekunda and tercie at a multiannual high school Česko-anglické gymnázium in České Budějovice. There were 34 probands participating in the research and devided into two groups, experimental and checking, where as both groups counted 17 probands. Both groups were put under an entering test that analysed posture according to Jaroš and Lomíček, shuttle run 4 x 10 metres, which specially tests fitness, and tests for shortened and weakened muscles. Classes of health PE with the experimental group took place under my leading in the following six weeks. The checking group continued with ordinary PE according to the school curriculum under leading of it{\crq}s school teacher. After aforesaid six weeks took place a check out measurement idetical with the entering test. In the entering test 88% of pupils in experimental group had correct posture and 12% had poor posture while 94% pupils of the checking group had correct posture and 6% had poor posture. After six weeks of exercising with the experimental group had 94% of pupils in the check out test correct posture and 6% had excellent posture. 88% of the checking group had in the check out test correct posture and 12% had poor posture. The outcomes displayed that it is possible to improve a posture habit under an influence of a targeted physical activity.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Two compact planar crossed-dipole antennas loaded with near-field resonant parasitic (NFRP) elements are reported. The NFRP and crossed-dipole elements are designed for the desired circularly polarized (CP) radiation. By placing the NFRP element over the driven element at angles of 0 degrees and 45 degrees, respectively, dual-band and broadband CP antennas are realized. All radiating elements of antennas are 35 mm x 35 mm x 0.508 mm (0.187 lambda(0) x 0.187 lambda(0) x 0.0027 lambda(0) at 1.6 GHz) in size. The dual-band CP antenna has a measured vertical bar S-11 vertical bar < -10-dB bandwidth of 226 MHz (1.473-1.699 GHz) and measured 3-dB axial ratio (AR) bandwidths of 12 MHz (1.530-1.542 GHz) and 35 MHz (1.580-1.615 GHz) with minimum AR CP frequencies of 1.535 GHz (AR = 0.26 dB) and 1.595 GHz (AR = 2.08 dB), respectively. The broadband CP antenna has a measured vertical bar S-11 vertical bar< -10-dB bandwidth of 218 MHz (1.491-1.709 GHz) and a 3-dB AR bandwidth of 145 MHz (1.490-1.635 GHz). These compact antennas yield bidirectional electromagnetic fields with high radiation efficiency across their operational bandwidths.