Neste trabalho investigamos pela primeira vez flutuações dependentes de spin em correntes eletrônicas polarizadas através de estruturas magnéticas. Nosso sistema físico consiste de uma heteroestrutura com tunelamento ressonante formada por um poço ou \"ponto\" quântico contendo Mn, confinado entre duas barreiras de potencial. Usamos um modelo semiclássico baseado em equações de taxa para calcular as ocupações dos estados ressonantes up e down. Estas equações são derivadas de uma equação mestra que descreve a probabilidade de ocupação dos estados de spin em um dado tempo. Funções correlação corrente-corrente são expressas em termos das funções correlação hop-hop (associadas à transições entre os níveis ressonantes up e down) e o shot noise dependente de spin é determinado em termos da matriz variância do sistema, também derivada da equação mestra. Quando consideramos um feixe polarizado e tempos distintos (&#964 &#8593 &#8595 &#8800 &#964 &#8595 &#8593), podemos obter ambas \"correlações positivas\" (&#8249 &#916 &#8593 &#916 &#8595 &#8250 &#8805 0) e/ou \"negativas\" (&#8249 &#916 &#8593 &#916 &#8595 &#8250 &#8804 0) no nosso modelo. A generalização e reinterpretação do modelo de ilhas nos possibilitou (i) investigar flutuações dependentes de spin em correntes polarizadas; (ii) observar aumento e atenuação do shot noise; (iii) verificar que processos de \"spin-flip\" com (&#964 &#8593 &#8595 &#8800 &#964 &#8595 &#8593) são relevantes na atenuação do shot noise e (iv) verificar que o ruído contém informações sobre o processo de \"spin-flip\" / In this work we investigate for the first time spin-dependent fluctuations in spin-polarized electronic currents through magnetic structures. Our physical model consists of a resonant-tunneling heterostructure formed by a Mn-based quantum well or \"point\", confined between a double-barrier potential. We used a semiclassical model based on rate equations to calculate the occupations of the spin-up and spindown resonant states. These equations are derived from a master equation describing the probability of occupation of the spin states at a given time. Current-current correlation functions are expressed in terms of hop-hop correlation functions (for hops between islands representing the up and down states) and the spin-dependent shoi noise is determined in terms of the variance matrix of the system; also derived from the master equation. When we consider a polarized beam and distinctive times (&#964 &#8593 &#8595 &#8800 &#964 &#8595 &#8593), we can obtain both \"positive correlations\" (&#8249 &#916 &#8593 &#916 &#8595 &#8250 &#8805 0) and \"negative correlations\" (&#8249 &#916 &#8593 &#916 &#8595 &#8250 &#8804 0) in our model. The generalization and reinterpretation of the island model allowed us (i) to investigate spin-dependent fluctuations in spinpolarized electronic currents; (ii) to observe enhancement and suppression of shot noise; (iii) to verify that spin-flip processes with (&#964 &#8593 &#8595 &#8800 &#964 &#8595 &#8593) are relevant to shotnoise suppression and (iv) to verify that noise contains information about spin-flip processes

廣泛的區域內和跨民族的轉錄變化反映了人類的適應和自然選擇。基因表達是轉化基因組信息為功能基因產品 - 蛋白質的主要機制。異常基因的表達和疾病的發病機制有關。基因組革命提供了獨特的機會為複雜的人類轉錄組進行全面的研究。轉錄分析需要複雜的生物信息學方法。在技術角度，一個實證模型用了哺乳動物基因組中內含子長度幾何尾分佈的定律準確地確定剪接交界處和非唯一映射讀取的位置。這種方法在處理非唯一映射讀取比BWA更好。這方法還比其他工具檢測出更多已經實驗證實的剪接交界處。核糖核酸測序首先用於北京漢人和西歐之間的表達表型與的轉錄變化的詳盡研究。民族的具體剪接交界處被發現。此外，民族的具體特點體現在相對異構體的豐度差。最後，這分子表型剪接頻譜的變化在不同種族之間的不同表明了另一個描繪種族多樣性的方法，核糖核酸測序還被用於探索的一種複雜的疾病：二型糖尿病的分子異常。二型糖尿病表現在廣泛不同的基因表達。（1）這研究證實先前公佈的全基因組關聯研究;（2）改善策劃不佳的位點和（3）發現新型2型糖尿病相關的基因。本研究通過整合各種改變的信號，並在一個高度可信的基因 - 基因相互作用網絡進行解釋，增強表達異常在2型糖尿病的認識。在更廣泛的69×79的情況下，對照組的結果進行了驗證。本研究增強表達異常在2型糖尿病的認識。 / Extensive intra- and inter- ethnic transcriptome variation reflects human adaptation and natural selection. Gene expression is the primary mechanism that translates genome information into functional gene product that lead to physiological phenotypes. Aberrant gene expression has been associated to the pathogenesis of diseases. The genome revolution has offered unique opportunity for a comprehensive interrogation of the complexity of human transcriptome. Analysis of transcriptome using RNA-Seq requires sophisticated bioinformatics approach. In a technical perspective, an empirical model based on the geometric-tail distribution of intron lengths in mammalian genome was developed to accurately determine splice junctions from junction reads and locations of non-uniquely mapped reads. Such method handles non-uniquely mapped reads better than BWA. The method can also detect more experimentally confirmed splice junction than other tools. Expressional phenotyping was employed to explore global transcriptomic variation between Beijing Han Chinese and Western European. In addition to inter-ethnic variations in gene expression, ethnic specific splice juctions were found. Further, ethnic specific trait manifests in differential relative isoform abundance. Lastly, such spectrum of variations was different between different ethnic groups, suggesting alternative splicing as another molecular phenotype that delineates ethnic diversity. Expressional phenotyping was then used in a case-control study to explore the molecular abnormalities of a complex disease: Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM). T2DM manifested in wide-spread repression of gene expression. The study (1) confirmed previously reported Genome-wide Association Study (GWAS) loci; (2) curated poorly characteriezed GWAS loci and (3) discovered novel T2DM associated genes. By integrating various alteration signals and interpretation performed in a highly confident gene-gene interaction network, this study augmented the understanding of expressed abnormalities in T2DM. The results were validated in a broader 69 x 79 case-control group. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Li, Jing Woei. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 118-130). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese. / Abstract --- p.v / 中文擇要 --- p.vi / Thesis/Assessment Committee --- p.ix / Acknowledgement --- p.ix / List of figures --- p.x / List of tables --- p.xii / List of Abbreviations --- p.xiii / Scientific contributions --- p.xv / List of Publication(s) related to this thesis --- p.xvi / Conference presentations --- p.xvii / Chapter Chapter 1: --- Introduction and Literature Reviews --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- The variable human transcriptome --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Significance of variation in gene expression and transcript variants --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Transcriptomic study in a technological perspective --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Microarray: Probing what was designed to be probed --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- RNA-Seq: the ab initio decoder of biological sequences --- p.9 / Chapter 1.4 --- Analysis of RNA-Seq data --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- The bioinformatics challenges prevail --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Identifying changes in gene expression --- p.16 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Identifying splice site, quantification of isoform level expression --- p.17 / Chapter 1.5 --- Conclusion --- p.19 / Chapter 1.6 --- Aims of this study --- p.20 / Chapter 1.6.1 --- Splice junction determination --- p.20 / Chapter 1.6.2 --- Expressional phenotyping in ethnical context --- p.20 / Chapter 1.6.3 --- Expressional phenotyping in a disease context --- p.20 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- Detection of splicing events --- p.21 / Chapter 2.1 --- Abstract --- p.21 / Chapter 2.2 --- Introduction --- p.22 / Chapter 2.3 --- Methods and workflow --- p.25 / Chapter 2.4 --- Algorithm --- p.29 / Chapter 2.5 --- Geometric-tail distribution --- p.32 / Chapter 2.6 --- Insert-size distribution --- p.33 / Chapter 2.7 --- Multiread analysis --- p.34 / Chapter 2.7.1 --- GT model probably places multiread more accurately than BWA --- p.35 / Chapter 2.8 --- Splice-site comparison --- p.37 / Chapter 2.8.1 --- GT model discovers more experimentally confirmed splice junction --- p.37 / Chapter 2.8.2 --- GT model is highly accurate --- p.39 / Chapter 2.9 --- Discussion --- p.40 / Chapter 2.10 --- Limitation --- p.40 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- Transcriptomic variation in a ethnicity context --- p.41 / Chapter 3.1 --- Abstract --- p.41 / Chapter 3.2 --- Introduction --- p.42 / Chapter 3.3 --- Materials and Methods --- p.46 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- HapMap lymphoblastoid cell-lines --- p.46 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Sequenced samples --- p.48 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Paired-end RNA-Seq, dataset and reads processing --- p.48 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Genome reference and annotation --- p.49 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- Strategies for reads mapping --- p.49 / Chapter 3.3.6 --- Pathway and Gene Ontology analysis --- p.50 / Chapter 3.3.7 --- Differential gene expression analysis --- p.50 / Chapter 3.3.8 --- Ethnic specific splice junction --- p.51 / Chapter 3.3.9 --- Junction sites saturation analysis --- p.51 / Chapter 3.3.10 --- Ethnical novel transcribed regions --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3.11 --- Isoform dynamics and meta-analysis --- p.53 / Chapter 3.4 --- Result --- p.54 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Paired-end RNA-Seq --- p.54 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Differential gene expression and meta-analysis --- p.56 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Ethnic specific splice junction is rare --- p.58 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Saturation of discovery of highly confident annotated junctions --- p.59 / Chapter 3.4.5 --- Novel transcribed regions --- p.62 / Chapter 3.4.6 --- Isoform dynamics and meta-analysis --- p.63 / Chapter 3.5 --- Discussion --- p.66 / Chapter 3.6 --- Limitations --- p.67 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- HapMap LCLs may not reflect the entire spectrum of natural variation --- p.67 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- Sequencing depth and the usefulness of published dataset --- p.67 / Chapter 3.6.3 --- Knowledge gap in understanding of the human genome --- p.69 / Chapter Chapter 4: --- Transcriptomic investigation of complex disease: Type 2 Diabetes --- p.70 / Chapter 4.1 --- Abstract --- p.70 / Chapter 4.2 --- Introduction --- p.72 / Chapter 4.3 --- Materials and Methods --- p.75 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Subjects --- p.75 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Strand-specific RNA-Seq Library Construction --- p.77 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Genome annotation sequencing reads processing --- p.81 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Reads mapping for expression analysis --- p.82 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Differential Gene expression analysis --- p.82 / Chapter 4.3.6 --- GWAS candidate genes --- p.83 / Chapter 4.3.7 --- Individual network, pathway and Gene Ontology analysis --- p.83 / Chapter 4.3.8 --- Alternative Splicing Variation --- p.83 / Chapter 4.3.9 --- Reads mapping and processing for expressed genomic variants discovery --- p.84 / Chapter 4.3.10 --- Expressed and functional genomic variants --- p.85 / Chapter 4.3.11 --- Screening for gene fusion --- p.86 / Chapter 4.3.12 --- Sense and Antisense analysis --- p.86 / Chapter 4.3.13 --- Integrated multi-level T2DM alternations gene interaction network --- p.87 / Chapter 4.3.14 --- Validation of selected genes --- p.87 / Chapter 4.4 --- Results --- p.88 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- High quality strand-specific pair-ended RNA-Seq facilitated downstream analyses --- p.88 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Definition of significance --- p.91 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Wide-spread repressed gene expression in T2DM --- p.91 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Confirmation and curation of T2DM GWAS loci by RNA-Seq --- p.92 / Chapter 4.4.5 --- Global expression alteration on T2DM associated genes --- p.97 / Chapter 4.4.6 --- Alteration of relative splicing isoforms variations and T2DM specific isoforms --- p.100 / Chapter 4.4.7 --- Rare and deleterious SNPs --- p.100 / Chapter 4.4.8 --- Absence of alteration in Sense/Antisense ratio and expressed fusion gene --- p.101 / Chapter 4.4.9 --- T2DM manifests a broad spectrum of expressed abnormalities --- p.101 / Chapter 4.4.10 --- Pathway-based integration of multiple levels of alteration expanded the T2DM network --- p.103 / Chapter 4.4.11 --- Validation of selected genes --- p.107 / Chapter 4.5 --- Discussion --- p.108 / Chapter Chapter 5: --- Conclusions and future perspectives --- p.115 / Chapter 5.1 --- Conclusions --- p.115 / Chapter 5.2 --- Future perspective --- p.115 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Splicing detection --- p.115 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Studies related to ethnicity --- p.116 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Complex diseases --- p.116 / References --- p.118 / Appendix --- p.131

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2003. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 146 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Categorizing knowledge into different disciplines and units may block knowledge within separate “folders”, which could limit its later retrieval and transfer to new contexts. To test this hypothesis, two experiments had been conducted. In one experiment, participants memorized a list of words with or without cuing which category these words belonged to. One week later, they were asked to recall all the positive adjectives, which required them to retrieve words that came from different categories. In the other experiment, participants read exactly the same story but embedded in two different subject domains or no context. A survey report was presented to test whether people from different contexts would have different transfer effect. The current study replicated previous results that successful transfer was hard to observe in the laboratory settings without explicit prompts. The memory test and transfer task in this study were too difficult and resulted into to the poor performance of the participants. The initial hypothesis had been neither supported nor rejected. To test the hypothesis, future studies could reduce the time interval between study and test, and modified the transfer task to lower the difficulty of the experiment. / text

This dissertation studies models of belief-dependent motivations in three essays.The first essay studies the Koszegi-Rabin model of reference-dependent preferences in a laboratory experiment. The propose a model where the reference point to which consumption outcomes are compared is endogenously determined as a function of lagged, probabilistic beliefs. This paper presents an experiment designed to test some predictions of the Koszegi-Rabin model. The experimental design controls for potential confounds suggested by their theory. The experimental results support their prediction of an endowment effect but do not show the attachment effect predicted by their model.The second essay, coauthored with Martin Dufwenberg and Matt Van Essen, studies how revenge may mitigate the hold-up problem from contract theory. When contracts are incomplete or unenforceable, inefficient levels of investment may occur due to hold-up. If individuals care for negative reciprocity these problems may be reduced, as revenge becomes a credible threat. However, negative reciprocity has this effect only when the investor holds the rights of control of the investment proceeds. We explore this issue analytically, deriving predictions for hold-up games which differ as regards assignment of rights of control. We also test and support these predictions in an experiment.Revenge may be driven by anger. The third essay proposes two belief-dependent models of anger: frustrated anger and anger from blame, which correspond to differing views of the emotion in the psychology literature. Both models build upon the idea that anger occurs when outcomes differ from players expectations. They differ in that anger from blame also incorporates updated beliefs and a notion of other-responsibility. The models are compared with each other and with existing models of negative reciprocity in several examples.

Diet recommendations to achieve target metabolic control for prevention of micro and macrovascular complications have been outlined. Although previous studies in individuals with type 2 diabetes have identified certain factors associated with adherence to diet recommendations, adherence is multi-factorial in nature and includes demographic, biological and psychosocial variables. Our main objective was to identify factors associated With dietary behaviour among individuals with type 2 diabetes attending an out-patient clinic. Furthermore, we attempted to identify factors associated with frequency of seeing the dietitian and stages of change far lower fat intake. Principal hypothesis: those who are younger, female, lower in body mass index (BMI), higher in education level, exposed to a dietitian in the past year, higher in stage of change, having greater nutrition knowledge, greater perception of risk and benefits as well as fewer perceived barriers, would consume less total and saturated fat. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

This study presents a combined viscoelastic (VE)-viscoplastic (VP) analysis for Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites subject to simultaneous mechanical load and conduction of heat. The studied FRP composites consist of unidirectional fibers, which are considered as linearly elastic with regards to their mechanical response, and isotropic polymeric matrix, which shows viscoelastic-viscoplastic response under various stresses and temperatures. Due to the viscoelastic and viscoplastic behavior of the polymeric matrix, the overall FRP composites exhibit a combined time-dependent and inelastic behavior. A simplified micromechanical model, consisting of a unit-cell with four fiber and matrix subcells, is formulated to homogenize the overall heat conduction and viscoelastic-viscoplastic responses of the FRP composites. The micromechanical model is compatible with a displacement based finite element (FE) and is implemented at the Gaussian integration points within the continuum finite elements, which is useful for analyzing the overall time-dependent response of FRP composite structures under various boundary conditions. The Schapery nonlinear integral model combined with the Perzyna viscoplastic model is used to describe the viscoelastic-viscoplastic response of the polymer constituents. An integrated time integration algorithm is formulated at the micromechanics level in order to solve the nonlinear viscoelastic-viscoplastic constitutive model at the matrix subcells and obtain the overall nonlinear response of the FRP. The viscoelastic-viscoplastic micromechanical model is validated usingexperimental data on off-axis glass/epoxy FRP composites available in literature. The overall response of the FRP composites determined from the simplified micromechanical model is also compared with the ones generated from microstructures of FRP with various fiber arrangements dispersed in homogeneous polymer matrix. The microstructural models of the FRP with detailed fiber arrangements are generated using FE. The effects of thermal stresses, due to the mismatches in the coefficient of thermal expansions of the fibers and polymeric matrix, and stress concentrations/discontinuities near the fiber and matrix interfaces on the overall thermo-mechanical deformation of FRP composites are studied using the two micromechanical models discussed above. Finally, an example of structural analysis is performed on a polymeric smart sandwich composite beam, having FRP skins and polymeric foam core with piezoelectric sensors integrated to the FRP skins, undergoing three point bending at an elevated temperature. The creep displacement is compared to experimental data available in literature.

Previous studies reported that noncompliance to diabetes treatment may result in a series of health complications. To further understand patients’ noncompliance to meal plans, a study on meal planning strategy was developed. Through a survey Certified Diabetes Educators determined which meal planning strategies were the most effective in encouraging patients’ compliance to meal plan according to age groups (18 and under, 19 to 49, 50 to 70, and 71 and above) and recency of diagnosis (newly- and non-newly diagnosed) with Type 2 diabetes. Results identified that nutrition labels had the greatest mean rating for effectiveness in age groups 18 and under, 19 to 49, and 50 to 70; and healthy food choices had the greatest mean rating for effectiveness with age group 71 and above. / Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2002. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.