Honors Project--Smith College, Northampton, Mass., 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 49-52).

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Un des marqueurs biophysique le plus prometteur pour la détection des accouchements prématurés (AP) est l'activité électrique de l'utérus, enregistrée sur l’abdomen des femmes enceintes, l’électrohystérogramme (EHG). Plusieurs outils de traitement du signal (linéaires, non linéaires) ont déjà été utilisés pour l'analyse de l'excitabilité et de la propagation de l’EHG, afin de différencier les contractions de grossesse, qui sont inefficaces, des contractions efficaces d’accouchement, qui pourraient provoquer un AP. Dans ces études nombreuses, les paramètres sont calculés sur des bases de données de signaux différentes, obtenus avec des protocoles d'enregistrement différents. Il est donc difficile de comparer les résultats afin de choisir les «meilleurs» paramètres pour la détection de l’AP. En outre, ce grand nombre de paramètres augmente la complexité de calcul dans un but de diagnostic. Par conséquent, l'objectif principal de cette thèse est de tester, sur une population de femmes donnée, quels outils de traitement du signal EHG permettent une discrimination entre les deux types de contractions (grossesse/accouchement). Dans ce but plusieurs méthodes de sélection de paramètres sont testées afin de sélectionner les paramètres les plus discriminants. La première méthode, développée dans cette thèse, est basée sur la mesure de la distance entre les histogrammes des paramètres pour les différentes classes (grossesse et accouchement) en utilisant la méthode « Jeffrey divergence (JD)». Les autres sont des méthodes de fouille de données existantes issues de la littérature. Les EHG ont été enregistrés en utilisant un système multivoies posé sur l'abdomen de la femme enceinte, pour l'enregistrement simultané de 16 voies d'EHG. Une approche monovariée (caractérisation d’une seule voie) et bivariée (couplage entre deux voies) sont utilisées dans notre travail. Utiliser toutes les voies, analyse monovariée, ou toutes les combinaisons de voies, analyse bivariée, conduit à une grande dimension des paramètres. Par conséquent, un autre objectif de notre thèse est la sélection des voies, ou des combinaisons de voies, qui fournissent l'information la plus utile pour distinguer entre les contractions de grossesse et d’accouchement. Cette étape de sélection de voie est suivie par la sélection des paramètres, sur les voies ou les combinaisons de voies sélectionnées. De plus, nous avons développé cette approche en utilisant des signaux monopolaires et bipolaires.Les résultats de ce travail nous permettent de mettre en évidence, lors du traitement de l’EHG, les paramètres et les voies qui donnent la meilleure discrimination entre les contractions de grossesse et celles d’accouchement. Ces résultats pourront ensuite être utilisés pour la détection des menaces d’accouchement prématuré. / One of the most promising biophysical markers of preterm labor is the electrical activity of the uterus, picked up on woman’s abdomen, the electrohysterogram (EHG). Several processing tools of the EHG signal (linear, nonlinear), allow the analysis of both excitability and propagation of the uterine electrical activity in order to differentiate between pregnancy contractions, which are ineffective, from labor effective contractions that might cause preterm birth. Therefore, on these multiple studies, the parameters being computed from different signal databases, obtained with different recording protocols, it is sometimes difficult to compare their results in order to choose the “best” parameter for preterm labor detection. Additionally, this large number of parameters increases the computational complexity for diagnostic purpose. Therefore, the main objective of this thesis is to select, among all the features of interest extracted from multiple studies, the most pertinent feature subsets in order to discriminate, on a given population, pregnancy and labor contractions. For this purpose, several methods for feature selection are tested. The first one, developed in this work, is based on the measurement of the Jeffrey divergence (JD) distance between the histograms of the parameters of the 2 classes, pregnancy and labor. The other are “Filter” and “Wrapper” Data Mining methods, extracted from the literature. In our work monovariate (in one given EHG channel) and bivariate analysis (propagation of EHG by measuring the coupling between channels) are used. The EHG signals are recorded using a multichannel system positioned on the woman’s abdomen for the simultaneous recording of 16 channels of EHG. Using all channels, for the monovariate, or all combinations of channels for the bivariate analysis, leads to a large dimension of parameters for each contraction. Therefore, another objective of our thesis is the selection of the best channels, for the monovariate, or best channel combinations, for the bivariate analysis, that provide the most useful information to discriminate between pregnancy and labor classes. This channel selection step is then followed by the feature selection for the channels or channel combinations selected. Additionally, we tested all our work using monopolar and bipolar signals.The results of this thesis permits us to evidence, when processing the EHG, which channels and features can be used with the best chance of success as inputs of a diagnosis system for discrimination between pregnancy and labor contractions. This could be further used for preterm labor diagnosis.

The Master's Thesis deals with the theme of coming-of-age in American literature. The aim of the theoretical part is to provide theoretical framework and the subsequent examination of common narrative strategies and themes characteristic of this specific genre. We will focus more closely on the three key themes of identity, sexuality and death. In the practical part of this thesis these main themes and their use will be examined in selected novels of American literature; Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar and Jeffrey Eugenides The Virgin Suicides.

Serial crime is an element of society that continues to disturb and fascinate scholars. There is thus a need to understand the uniqueness of serial murderers and their psychological development. The field of psychobiography is a qualitative approach to uncover the story of an individual life through greater understanding of psychological concepts. Psychobiographical research is invaluable in the application of theory to the finished lives of exemplary or enigmatic individuals to develop and test theories of human development. Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer (1960 – 1994), a cannibalistic serial killer who killed 17 young men, served as the single psychobiographical subject in this study. Dahmer was selected based on interest value, his uniqueness and the lack of a specifically academic and psychologically focused case study on his life. A qualitative psychobiographical research method was utilized in this study. The primary aim of the research was to explore and describe Jeffrey Dahmer’s personality development across his lifespan. This was achieved by applying Erikson’s (1950) psychosocial theory of staged developmental crises to the lifespan developmental process and Adler’s (1929) dynamic individual psychology to provide a more comprehensive idiographic interpretation of Dahmer as an individual. Jeffrey Dahmer’s life history was uncovered in this psychobiographical case study research through the systematic and consistent collection, analysis and interpretation of life history materials, which highlighted five significant historical periods: (a) Childhood of Fantasy, (b) The Quiet Loner, (c) Hiatus – or Build-up, (d) Seeking a Compliant Partner and (e) Arrest, Trial and Death. The two theoretical frameworks were used to discern, transform and reconstruct his life into a coherent and illuminating narrative of his psychological movement through life. Alexander’s (1988) model of identifying salient themes was used to analyze data for analytical generalization (Yin, 1994). A conceptual framework derived from the two theoretical perspectives was constructed to organize and integrate data and to guide the presentation and discussion of the findings of the study in an integrative and comprehensive manner. The findings suggested that both theoretical perspectives considered the biopsychosocial as well as cultural and historical influences of situations and experiences in Dahmer’s personality development throughout the lifespan. Adlerian theory indicated that Dahmer held a socially useless lifestyle whose movement was guided purposively towards a fictional goal xxii of godlikeness through creative, concrete expressions of personal superiority. Eriksonian theory held that Dahmer remained in role confusion, which was viewed as a functional, fragmented identity to survive in society and achieve a fantasy. Thus, both theories indicated, despite their different conceptualizations, that Dahmer’s personality development was ultimately not socially beneficial. The study of Dahmer’s personality development has provided a positive demonstration of the value of both Erikson (1950) and Adler’s (1929) theories to understand the processes of personality development in an individual life. It has further highlighted the uniqueness of individual responses to life tasks and consequently unlocked the possibility of perceiving people and their actions differently. Recommendations were made for future research undertakings that utilize a psychobiographical research design and methodology to uncover, illuminate and reconstruct the lives of enigmatic personalities.

The National Theatre's Frankenstein is not the first time Shelley's novel has been adapted for the stage, but it is the first time a stage adaptation has returned the popular story to its source material's feminist themes. Departing from the iterations that portrayed Victor Frankenstein as a Byronic hero, Nick Dear's adaptation has re-designed Frankenstein to be misogynistic and calloused. His new nature is best observed in the scene wherein Frankenstein presents the Woman-Creature he's built for his first Creature. She is naked, silent, submissive, and viciously dismembered at the end of the scene. While such submissiveness might justifiably be criticized by a society that has become incredibly concerned for the representation of women in media, this scene has striking similarities to several performance art pieces of the 1960's and 1970's. Building on an understanding of how these pieces function, the Woman-Creature stops being problematic, and becomes poignant. This thesis compares the Woman-Creature's scene to three particular pieces: Marina Abramovic's "Rhythm 0,"Carolee Schneeman's "Meat Joy,"and Suzanne Lacey's "Three Weeks in May."While not a performance art piece itself, this particular scene in Frankenstein has similar purposes, mainly to show the consequences of a social structure that places men as the dominant leader. By not shying away from the visceral nature of these consequences, this production of Frankenstein shocks the audience and reminds them of the harsh realities of the patriarchal structure still seen today.

<p>Based on different integration policies, we aim to examine how five municipalities in Stockholm County are working to promote integration at a local level with focus on voter participation and to some extent, representativeness among foreign-born. Statistics provided by SCB shows that foreign-born tends to vote to a lesser extent than those born in Sweden. Further, we aim to examine the implementation of two policy documents established at a national level concerning integration in contrast to policy documents established at a local level in each different municipality. Further, we aim to examine summaries of actions taken in response to the local integration programs, as well as personal interviews. Each municipality will be considered separately, but we thus seek to make a comparative study. The study will be based on a qualitative approach. The implementation process of both central and local policy decisions concerning the promotion of integration will also be discussed in terms of two existing theories of implementation, based on two different perspectives. The result shows that interaction between different participants, such as local officials and politicians, is of importance for the implementation process. All of the studied municipalities have taken some actions in order to implement their goals concerning integration.</p>

Based on different integration policies, we aim to examine how five municipalities in Stockholm County are working to promote integration at a local level with focus on voter participation and to some extent, representativeness among foreign-born. Statistics provided by SCB shows that foreign-born tends to vote to a lesser extent than those born in Sweden. Further, we aim to examine the implementation of two policy documents established at a national level concerning integration in contrast to policy documents established at a local level in each different municipality. Further, we aim to examine summaries of actions taken in response to the local integration programs, as well as personal interviews. Each municipality will be considered separately, but we thus seek to make a comparative study. The study will be based on a qualitative approach. The implementation process of both central and local policy decisions concerning the promotion of integration will also be discussed in terms of two existing theories of implementation, based on two different perspectives. The result shows that interaction between different participants, such as local officials and politicians, is of importance for the implementation process. All of the studied municipalities have taken some actions in order to implement their goals concerning integration.

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