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В магистерской диссертации исследуются рукописные воспоминания непрофессионального, наивного автора Фенина В. Е. в свете теории речевых жанров. Рассматривается концепция адресанта в рукописных воспоминаниях. Анализируются строевые элементы гипержанра воспоминаний (субжанры) – метатекстовые высказывания, выделяются их функции. Разбирается информативно-оценочная программа построения субжанров рукописных воспоминаний. / In the master's dissertation the handwritten memories of a non-professional, naive author Fenin V. E. are examined in the light of the speech genres theory. The concept of the addressee in handwritten memories is considered. The structural elements of the hypergenre of memories (subgenres) – metatextual statements – are analyzed and their functions are highlighted. The informative-evaluative program of the subgenres' construction in handwritten memories is analyzed.

<p><strong>ABSTRACT</strong></p> <p><strong>Background and Objectives</strong>:<strong> </strong>Informed health care decision making depends on the available evidence base. Where the available evidence comes from different sources methods are required that can synthesise all of the evidence. The synthesis of different types of evidence poses various methodological challenges. The objective of this thesis is to investigate the use of Bayesian methods for combining evidence on effects from randomised and non-randomised studies and additional evidence from the literature with patient level trial data. <strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>Methods</strong>: Using a Bayesian three-level hierarchical model an approach was proposed to combine evidence from randomised and non-randomised studies while adjusting for potential imbalances in patient covariates. The proposed approach was compared to four other Bayesian methods using a case study of endovascular versus open surgical repair for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms. In order to assess the performance of the proposed approach beyond this single applied example a simulation study was conducted. The simulation study examined a series of Bayesian approaches under a variety of scenarios. The subsequent research focussed on the use of informative prior distributions to integrate additional evidence with patient level data in a Bayesian cost-effectiveness analysis comparing endovascular and open surgical repair in terms of incremental costs and life years gained.</p> <p><strong>Results and Conclusions</strong>: The shift in the estimated odds ratios towards those of the more balanced randomised studies, observed in the case study, suggested that the proposed Bayesian approach was capable of adjusting for imbalances. These results were reinforced in the simulation study. The impact of the informative priors in terms of increasing estimated mean life years in the control group, demonstrated the potential importance of incorporating all available evidence in the context of an economic evaluation. In addressing these issues this research contributes to comprehensive evidence based decision making in health care.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Nesta tese apresentam-se desenvolvimentos metodológicos para analisar dados com omissão e também estudos delineados para compreender os resultados de tais análises. Escrutinam-se análises de sensibilidade bayesiana e clássica para dados com respostas categorizadas sujeitas a omissão. Mostra-se que as componentes subjetivas de cada abordagem podem influenciar os resultados de maneira não-trivial, independentemente do tamanho da amostra, e que, portanto, as conclusões devem ser cuidadosamente avaliadas. Especificamente, demonstra-se que distribuições \\apriori\\ comumente consideradas como não-informativas ou levemente informativas podem, na verdade, ser bastante informativas para parâmetros inidentificáveis, e que a escolha do modelo sobreparametrizado também tem um papel importante. Quando há omissão em variáveis explicativas, também é necessário propor um modelo marginal para as covariáveis mesmo se houver interesse apenas no modelo condicional. A especificação incorreta do modelo para as covariáveis ou do modelo para o mecanismo de omissão leva a inferências enviesadas para o modelo de interesse. Trabalhos anteriormente publicados têm-se dividido em duas vertentes: ou utilizam distribuições semiparamétricas/não-paramétricas, flexíveis para as covariáveis, e identificam o modelo com a suposição de um mecanismo de omissão não-informativa, ou empregam distribuições paramétricas para as covariáveis e permitem um mecanismo mais geral, de omissão informativa. Neste trabalho analisam-se respostas binárias, combinando um mecanismo de omissão informativa com um modelo não-paramétrico para as covariáveis contínuas, por meio de uma mistura induzida pela distribuição \\apriori\\ de processo de Dirichlet. No caso em que o interesse recai apenas em momentos da distribuição das respostas, propõe-se uma nova análise de sensibilidade sob o enfoque clássico para respostas incompletas que evita suposições distribucionais e utiliza parâmetros de sensibilidade de fácil interpretação. O procedimento tem, em particular, grande apelo na análise de dados contínuos, campo que tradicionalmente emprega suposições de normalidade e/ou utiliza parâmetros de sensibilidade de difícil interpretação. Todas as análises são ilustradas com conjuntos de dados reais. / We present methodological developments to conduct analyses with missing data and also studies designed to understand the results of such analyses. We examine Bayesian and classical sensitivity analyses for data with missing categorical responses and show that the subjective components of each approach can influence results in non-trivial ways, irrespectively of the sample size, concluding that they need to be carefully evaluated. Specifically, we show that prior distributions commonly regarded as slightly informative or non-informative may actually be too informative for non-identifiable parameters, and that the choice of over-parameterized models may drastically impact the results. When there is missingness in explanatory variables, we also need to consider a marginal model for the covariates even if the interest lies only on the conditional model. An incorrect specification of either the model for the covariates or of the model for the missingness mechanism leads to biased inferences for the parameters of interest. Previously published works are commonly divided into two streams: either they use semi-/non-parametric flexible distributions for the covariates and identify the model via a non-informative missingness mechanism, or they employ parametric distributions for the covariates and allow a more general informative missingness mechanism. We consider the analysis of binary responses, combining an informative missingness model with a non-parametric model for the continuous covariates via a Dirichlet process mixture. When the interest lies only in moments of the response distribution, we consider a new classical sensitivity analysis for incomplete responses that avoids distributional assumptions and employs easily interpreted sensitivity parameters. The procedure is particularly useful for analyses of missing continuous data, an area where normality is traditionally assumed and/or relies on hard-to-interpret sensitivity parameters. We illustrate all analyses with real data sets.

Nesta tese apresentam-se desenvolvimentos metodológicos para analisar dados com omissão e também estudos delineados para compreender os resultados de tais análises. Escrutinam-se análises de sensibilidade bayesiana e clássica para dados com respostas categorizadas sujeitas a omissão. Mostra-se que as componentes subjetivas de cada abordagem podem influenciar os resultados de maneira não-trivial, independentemente do tamanho da amostra, e que, portanto, as conclusões devem ser cuidadosamente avaliadas. Especificamente, demonstra-se que distribuições \\apriori\\ comumente consideradas como não-informativas ou levemente informativas podem, na verdade, ser bastante informativas para parâmetros inidentificáveis, e que a escolha do modelo sobreparametrizado também tem um papel importante. Quando há omissão em variáveis explicativas, também é necessário propor um modelo marginal para as covariáveis mesmo se houver interesse apenas no modelo condicional. A especificação incorreta do modelo para as covariáveis ou do modelo para o mecanismo de omissão leva a inferências enviesadas para o modelo de interesse. Trabalhos anteriormente publicados têm-se dividido em duas vertentes: ou utilizam distribuições semiparamétricas/não-paramétricas, flexíveis para as covariáveis, e identificam o modelo com a suposição de um mecanismo de omissão não-informativa, ou empregam distribuições paramétricas para as covariáveis e permitem um mecanismo mais geral, de omissão informativa. Neste trabalho analisam-se respostas binárias, combinando um mecanismo de omissão informativa com um modelo não-paramétrico para as covariáveis contínuas, por meio de uma mistura induzida pela distribuição \\apriori\\ de processo de Dirichlet. No caso em que o interesse recai apenas em momentos da distribuição das respostas, propõe-se uma nova análise de sensibilidade sob o enfoque clássico para respostas incompletas que evita suposições distribucionais e utiliza parâmetros de sensibilidade de fácil interpretação. O procedimento tem, em particular, grande apelo na análise de dados contínuos, campo que tradicionalmente emprega suposições de normalidade e/ou utiliza parâmetros de sensibilidade de difícil interpretação. Todas as análises são ilustradas com conjuntos de dados reais. / We present methodological developments to conduct analyses with missing data and also studies designed to understand the results of such analyses. We examine Bayesian and classical sensitivity analyses for data with missing categorical responses and show that the subjective components of each approach can influence results in non-trivial ways, irrespectively of the sample size, concluding that they need to be carefully evaluated. Specifically, we show that prior distributions commonly regarded as slightly informative or non-informative may actually be too informative for non-identifiable parameters, and that the choice of over-parameterized models may drastically impact the results. When there is missingness in explanatory variables, we also need to consider a marginal model for the covariates even if the interest lies only on the conditional model. An incorrect specification of either the model for the covariates or of the model for the missingness mechanism leads to biased inferences for the parameters of interest. Previously published works are commonly divided into two streams: either they use semi-/non-parametric flexible distributions for the covariates and identify the model via a non-informative missingness mechanism, or they employ parametric distributions for the covariates and allow a more general informative missingness mechanism. We consider the analysis of binary responses, combining an informative missingness model with a non-parametric model for the continuous covariates via a Dirichlet process mixture. When the interest lies only in moments of the response distribution, we consider a new classical sensitivity analysis for incomplete responses that avoids distributional assumptions and employs easily interpreted sensitivity parameters. The procedure is particularly useful for analyses of missing continuous data, an area where normality is traditionally assumed and/or relies on hard-to-interpret sensitivity parameters. We illustrate all analyses with real data sets.

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Dans le cadre de cette thèse, nous investiguons la capacité de chaque hémisphère cérébral à utiliser l’information visuelle disponible lors de la reconnaissance de mots. Il est généralement convenu que l’hémisphère gauche (HG) est mieux outillé pour la lecture que l’hémisphère droit (HD). De fait, les mécanismes visuoperceptifs utilisés en reconnaissance de mots se situent principalement dans l’HG (Cohen, Martinaud, Lemer et al., 2003). Puisque les lecteurs normaux utilisent optimalement des fréquences spatiales moyennes (environ 2,5 - 3 cycles par degré d’angle visuel) pour reconnaître les lettres, il est possible que l’HG les traite mieux que l’HD (Fiset, Gosselin, Blais et Arguin, 2006). Par ailleurs, les études portant sur la latéralisation hémisphérique utilisent habituellement un paradigme de présentation en périphérie visuelle. Il a été proposé que l’effet de l’excentricité visuelle sur la reconnaissance de mots soit inégal entre les hémichamps. Notamment, la première lettre est celle qui porte habituellement le plus d’information pour l’identification d’un mot. C’est aussi la plus excentrique lorsque le mot est présenté à l’hémichamp visuel gauche (HVG), ce qui peut nuire à son identification indépendamment des capacités de lecture de l’HD. L’objectif de la première étude est de déterminer le spectre de fréquences spatiales utilisé par l’HG et l’HD en reconnaissance de mots. Celui de la deuxième étude est d’explorer les biais créés par l’excentricité et la valeur informative des lettres lors de présentation en champs divisés. Premièrement, nous découvrons que le spectre de fréquences spatiales utilisé par les deux hémisphères en reconnaissance de mots est globalement similaire, même si l’HG requière moins d’information visuelle que l’HD pour atteindre le même niveau de performance. Étonnament toutefois, l’HD utilise de plus hautes fréquences spatiales pour identifier des mots plus longs. Deuxièmement, lors de présentation à l’HVG, nous trouvons que la 1re lettre, c’est à dire la plus excentrique, est parmi les mieux identifiées même lorsqu’elle a une plus grande valeur informative. Ceci est à l’encontre de l’hypothèse voulant que l’excentricité des lettres exerce un biais négatif pour les mots présentés à l’HVG. De façon intéressante, nos résultats suggèrent la présence d’une stratégie de traitement spécifique au lexique. / In this thesis, we investigate the cerebral hemispheres’ ability to use the available visual information for word recognition in lateral periphery. It is generally acknowledged that the left hemisphere (LH) is more able at reading than the right (RH). Accordingly, the visuoperceptual mechanisms of the brain for word recognition are primarily localized in the LH (Cohen, Martinaud, Lemer et al., 2003). As normal readers use medium spatial frequencies (about 2,5 – 3 cycles per degree of visual angle) to recognize words, it is possible that the LH is better tuned for processing these spatial frequencies than the RH (Fiset, Gosselin, Blais et Arguin, 2006). Furthermore, studies concerned with reading abilities in the cerebral hemispheres commonly present words in visual periphery. However, the effect of visual eccentricity on word recognition is thought to be unequal between hemifields, notably because the first letter in a word usually carries the most information for its accurate identification. It is also the most eccentric letter when a word is presented in the LVF, which may cause a negative bias for the identification of words presented to the LVF regardless of the actual reading capacities of the RH. The main objective of the first study is to determine the spatial frequency tuning functions of the LH and RH for word recognition. The goal of our second study is to explore letter identification biases for words presented to the left and right visual fields as a function of eccentricity by varying the information value of letter positions. Firstly, we discover that the spatial frequency tuning of both hemispheres is globally similar, even though the LH requires less visual information than the RH to reach the same level of performance. Surprisingly however, the RH requires higher spatial frequencies to identify longer words. Secondly, we find that for LVF displays, the first letter, i.e. the most eccentric, is among the most accurately identified, even when it has a greater information value. This argues against the hypothesis that letter eccentricity exerts a negative bias for words presented to the LVF. Interestingly, our findings also suggest a lexical-specific processing strategy.

De nos jours, différentes ressources littéraires de vulgarisation scientifique (VS), notamment la littérature jeunesse, sont utilisées pour aborder des contenus scientifiques en classe de primaire. Sans tenter de se substituer aux manuels scolaires, ces outils d’éducation non formels proposent différents textes narratifs et informatifs qui présentent des concepts scientifiques. En plus de développer la curiosité scientifique, la littérature jeunesse propose souvent des textes scientifiques d’une grande qualité. Néanmoins, son utilisation n’est pas exempte de difficultés. Notamment, ce type de littérature présente parfois des concepts erronés entraînant le développement de fausses conceptions. Afin d’accompagner les vulgarisateurs scientifiques dans l’élaboration de ressources de VS adaptées aux conceptions alternatives des jeunes lecteurs, et ultimement les amener à remettre en question leurs idées préconçues, nous avons identifié un dispositif didactique conçu essentiellement pour le travail en classe : le texte de réfutation. Pour tenter d’amener un changement conceptuel chez les élèves, ce texte énonce d’abord une conception alternative, puis la réfute, pour ensuite présenter l’explication scientifique du phénomène décrit. Pour donner suite à l’analyse de trois textes de réfutation, nous avons été à même d’identifier certains concepts qui sont au cœur de ce dispositif didactique, notamment la carte conceptuelle, les niveaux de formulation et la transposition didactique. Inspiré par ces concepts, nous avons élaboré un modèle didactique de VS ayant pour but d’accompagner pas à pas un vulgarisateur scientifique dans la conception de ressources adaptées au public de jeunes lecteurs. Le modèle Design Experiment nous a permis de mettre à l’essai et de bonifier cette version provisoire du modèle didactique de VS, grâce à la participation de deux vulgarisateurs scientifiques qui ont chacun élaboré deux textes de vulgarisation scientifique : l’un, des textes narratifs et l’autre, des textes informatifs, pour une cohorte de 83 élèves de cinquième année du primaire. Les sujets abordés dans ces textes sont le requin blanc, le béluga, et les muscles et l’entraînement. Pour que nous puissions étudier l’évolution des conceptions des élèves, chacun d’eux a répondu à un prétest et un posttest, et certains élèves ont également été sollicités pour participer à des entrevues de groupe avec les vulgarisateurs. Cette recherche a permis de réunir la didactique et la VS. Les vulgarisateurs ont pu mesurer la pertinence de prendre en compte les conceptions alternatives des jeunes lecteurs, tirer profit du texte de réfutation et adapter le niveau de formulation de leurs textes. / Nowadays, different literary resources of popular science, including children's literature, are used to address the scientific content in elementary classrooms. Without trying to replace textbooks, these non-formal educational tools offer different narrative and informative texts that present demonstrations of science. In addition to developing scientific curiosity, children's trade books propose scientific texts of high quality. However, these texts would not be without some level of weakness. In particular, they sometimes present erroneous concepts leading to misconceptions. To support the science writers in the popular science resource development suited to alternative conceptions of young learners, and ultimately to get them to change these conceptions, we identified a didactic text designed primarily for classroom work called refutation text. To promote conceptual change, the text first sets out an alternative design, refutes the alternative conception, and then presents scientific explanation. After the analysis of three refutation texts, we were able to identify some didactic concepts at the heart of this text pattern; the concept map, the learner’s knowledge level, and didactic transposition. Inspired by these concepts, we have developed a didactic model of popular science to accompany a science writer, step by step, in the design of appropriate resources for young readers. The Design Experiment model has allowed us to test and improve this experimental model of popular science through the participation of two science writers who each developed two popular science texts. One writer composed two narrative texts, another wrote two informative texts for a group of 83 students in fifth grade. Topics covered in these texts were white sharks, beluga whales, and muscles and training. To study the evolution of student conception, each answered pre-test and post-test questions and some students were also asked to participate in group interviews with the science writers. This research brought together didactics and popular science. Science writers were able to measure the relevance of taking into account the views of young readers’ conceptions, the use of refutation text, and the adaptation of the texts to learner’s knowledge level.

[pt] A presente Dissertação de Mestrado Uma nova abordagem para o ensino de metrologia dimensional, propõe uma alternativa de utilização de tecnologia da informação e de internet como ferramenta educacional, focando, sobretudo, um novo conceito de sistema educacional interativo orientado para o treinamento de profissionais em metrologia dimensional. O sistema implementado, cujo o acesso foi facultado à comunidade universitária da Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) e aos profissionais e clientes da Mitutoyo Sul Americana Ltda., constitui-se como parte do esforço do Programa de pósgraduação em Metrologia da PUC-Rio voltado ao desenvolvimento de técnicas mais eficazes de ensino e treinamento à distância em metrologia. O trabalho aborda, também, a evolução da educação a distância (EaD), sua utilização nos ambientes coorporativos, enfatizando as dificuldades associadas à disseminação da educação vocacional profissionalizante no Brasil e no mundo. Sugere, ainda, ações que possam efetivar a internet como ferramenta eficaz na preparação de profissionais para a sua inserção em um mercado globalizado competitivo. / [en] The present Master`s Degree Dissertation A new approach for teaching dimensional metrology, suggests an alternative for the use of information technology and world wide web (Internet) techniques applied to education in metrology, focusing on a new concept of interactive educational system devoted to professionals interested in dimensional metrology. The implemented system, made available to the university community of the Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) and also to professionals and clients of Mitutoyo Sul Americana Ltda., constitutes part of the inherent effort developed by the Post-Graduate Program in Metrology of PUC-Rio aiming at the development of more efficient and advanced techniques for teaching metrology. The work also addresses the evolution of distance education (EaD) and its use in corporate environments, emphasizing most common difficulties met to disseminate education in Brazil and around the world. Additionally, it also suggests actions that may turn the Internet into an efficient tool in preparing professionals for their entry into a competitive globalized market.

The industry that shows the strongest growth and development online is the foodindusty. The prognosis shows that this development will only continue to increase. One problem with the online grocery shopping lies in the fact that consumers find it difficult to differentiate the product packaging. Consumers also find it more difficult to evaluate the product traits online versus in physical stores. Companies must therefore start thinking about designing packaging that should also fit digitally. Companies who do not adapt to the new digital landscape run the risk of losing customers, see the margins fall and being out- competed by other companies who have come further in this work. This study therefore aims to analyze which communicative elements on the digital packaging that consumers consider ease their purchasing decisions when shopping for groceries online. This is to be able to create direct communication on the digital packaging which in turn can lead to purchases. In order to examine this, theories in visual communication and consumer purchasing behavior have been analyzed as secondary data together with primary data in the form of three focus groups and fifteen semi-structured interviews. The interview answers have then been analyzed and set against previous theories. This led to the following conclusions: The communicative elements on the digital packaging that consumers consider eases their purchasing decisions when shopping for groceries online are: Consumers want to be able to easily see the brand's logotype and quantity/volume must be clearly stated. It is also important to have an image presenting the packaging's content, clearly state what the product is and labels, especially in the form of eco-labels and origin. / Den bransch som visar på den starkaste tillväxten och utvecklingen online är livsmedelshandeln. Prognosen visar att denna utveckling bara kommer fortsätta öka. En problematik med handeln av livsmedel online ligger i att konsumenter nästan inte ser någon skillnad på förpackningarna. Konsumenter har även svårare att utvärdera produktegenskaper online kontra fysisk butik. Företag måste därmed börja tänka på att designa förpackningar som även ska passa digitalt. Företag som inte anpassar sig till det nya digitala landskapet riskerar förlora kunder, se marginalerna falla och bli utkonkurrerade av andra aktörer som kommit längre i detta arbete. Denna studie syftar därmed till att undersöka vilka kommunikativa element på digitala förpackningar som konsumenter anser underlättar deras köpbeslut när de handlar livsmedel online. Detta för att kunna skapa en tydlig kommunikation på digitala förpackningar som i sin tur ska kunna leda till köp. För att undersöka detta har författarna analyserat teorier inom visuell kommunikation och konsumentköpbeteende som sekundärdata tillsammans med primärdata i form av tre fokusgrupper samt femton semistrukturerade intervjuer. Intervjusvaren har sedan analyserats och ställts mot tidigare teorier. Våra slutsatser är följande: De kommunikativa element på digitala förpackningar som konsumenter anser underlättar deras köpbeslut när de handlar livsmedel online är: Att lätt kunna se varumärkets logotyp och att mängd/volym tydligt framgår. Det är också viktigt med en bild som förmedlar förpackningens innehåll, vad det är för produkt och märkningar, framförallt i form av miljömärkningar och ursprung.