La thèse porte sur les effets de l’Internet sur la démocratie et la pratique de la citoyenneté, dans le contexte d’une civilisation marquée par une certaine apathie, où la télévision occupe une place centrale. Il s’agit d’interroger la pertinence des théories déterministes qui accordent aux nouvelles technologies de l’information et de la communication un pouvoir important de transformation de l’humain, soit dans le sens de son émancipation, soit dans celui de son aliénation. L’objectif de la recherche est de produire l’évaluation la plus réaliste possible de l’impact de l’Internet sur notre autonomie individuelle et collective. La thèse présente trois grands moments : dans le premier, les notions d’opinion publique, de démocratie et le rôle des médias traditionnels sont examinés à travers leurs fonctions latentes et manifestes, et révèlent une tension constante de l’humain entre son aspiration à la liberté et la nécessité du conformisme. Dans le deuxième moment, sont mis en évidence les différents effets possibles du web sur les citoyens, selon leurs pratiques ; nous voyons clairement se dessiner une coupure entre une minorité active, sur laquelle le web a des effets majeurs dans son rapport à l’information et à sa citoyenneté, et une majorité plus passive. Dans le troisième moment, nous décrivons l’activité d’un média citoyen, sorte d’utopie numérique pour les citoyens actifs. Cette thèse de philosophie emprunte aussi à d’autres disciplines comme l’histoire et la sociologie, et analyse précisément et concrètement certains phénomènes observés en ligne. / The thesis focuses on the effects of the Internet on democracy and the practice of citizenship in the context of a civilization marked by apathy, where television plays a central role. It is to question the relevance of deterministic theories that accord to new technologies of information and communication a significant power to transform the human is in the direction of emancipation, or in that of his alienation. The objective of the research is to produce the most realistic assessment of the impact of the Internet on our individual and collective autonomy.The thesis has three main stages: in the first, the concepts of public opinion, democracy and the role of traditional media are examined through their overt and latent functions, and reveal a constant tension between the human aspiration to the freedom and the need to conform. In the second time, are highlighted various possible effects of the web on citizens. According to their practices, we can clearly see emerge a partition between an active minority, on which the web has a major impact in his relation to the information and citizenship, and a more passive majority. In the third stage, we describe the activity of a citizen media, digital kind of utopia for active citizens.This thesis of philosophy also borrows from other disciplines such as history and sociology, and analyzes some specific and concrete phenomena online.

Fragestellung: Wie nützlich ist das Mehrschicht-Spiral-CT bei der Diagnostik der Darmischämie? Studiendesign: Retrospektive Studie Patientenkollektiv: 112 Patienten, die in einem Zeitraum von drei Jahren bei Verdacht auf Darmischämie in einem Mehrschicht-Spiral-CT untersucht wurden. Ergebnis: Bei den 112 Verdachtsfällen handelte es sich in 26 Fällen um eine Darmischämie. Das CT erkannte davon 24 (92%), ein Fall wurde falsch negativ (4%) befundet und ein Fall (4%) wurde als unklar eingestuft. Von den 86 Fällen ohne Darmischämie wurden 77 (89%) korrekt erkannt, drei (4%) wurden falsch positiv befundet und 6 (7%) Fälle wurden als unklar eingestuft. Die Ergebnisse der bei manchen Patienten zusätzlich durchgeführten Sonografie – und Röntgenuntersuchungen waren erheblich schlechter (Sono: Sensitivität: , Spezifität: ; Röntgen: Sensitivität: , Spezifität: ). Die erhobenen Laborparameter (Leukozyten, Lactat, D-Dimere) waren zur Beurteilung, ob es sich um eine Darmischämie handelt, nicht spezifisch genug. Schlussfolgerung: Das Mehrschicht-Spiral-CT ist mit einer Sensitivität von 92% und einer Spezifität von 97% gut zur Erkennung einer Darmischämie geeignet. Unklare Fälle sind mit hoher Wahrscheinlichkeit nicht operationswürdig. / Objective: To verify the diagnostic importance of helical CT in the diagnosis of mesenteric ischemia. Design: Retrospective study Subjects: 112 patients, who where examined by helical CT during a 3-year-period, with suspected mesenteric ischemia. Main Outcome: 26 cases proved to be mesenteric ischemia. Helical CT was diagnostic in 24 (92%) cases, wrong in one (4%) case and uncertain in one (4%) case. No ischemia was correctly diagnosed in 77/86 (89%) cases, wrongly in three (4%) and 6 (7%) were uncertain. Sonografie and plain film radiographs were taken on some patients, but the results were unsatisfactory. Sonography: Sensitivity: 0%, specificy: 85,7%. Plain film radiographs sensitivity: 0%, specificy: 100%. Results of laboratory test were of little diagnostic value (white blood cell count, lactate, d-dimere). Conclusions: Helical CT is a valuable tool for detecting mesenteric ischemia with a sensitifity of 92% and a specificy of 97%. Suspected mesenteric ischemia which cannot be proved by helical CT are most probable non surgical cases.

Uterine NK (uNK) cells are a distinct subset of NK cells in the decidua of humans and rodents during pregnancy, which are essential for remodelling of the spiral arteries supplying the feto-placental unit. Similarly to peripheral NK cells, uNK cells express Natural Killer receptors (NKRs) that engage MHC class I molecules. Evidence from human genetic association studies suggests that, in the presence of allogeneic cognate paternal MHC class I ligands, inhibitory uterine NKRs are associated with disorders of pregnancy arising from impaired decidual vascular remodelling. Conversely, enhancement of human uNK cell activity through activating NKRs is associated with high birth weight. Evidence from mouse models corroborates that uNK cell activity is modulated by interactions between NKRs and MHC class I, but has largely focussed on the effect of paternal MHC. In this study, the contribution of maternal immunogenetic regulation of NK cell function to reproductive outcome was assessed independently of parental MHC disparity in mice. To evaluate the role of NKR genes in isolation, I used congenic B6.BALB-TC1 (TC1) mice that differ from C57BL/6 (B6) mice only within the region of chromosome six encoding NKRs that recognise MHC class I. Absence of a major inhibitory NKR for self-MHC, Ly49I, in TC1 mice causes a compensatory shift in the NKR repertoire expressed and preserves a majority subpopulation of educated NK cells. B6 and TC1 splenic and uterine NK cells are similarly functionally reactive and mature, and no significant differences could be detected in spiral arterial remodelling or fetal growth between these strains in MHC-syngeneic matings. This supports data from human immunogenetic studies showing that maternal uterine NKRs are not associated with differences in pregnancy outcome in the absence of novel paternal MHC class I ligands, and highlights the importance of maternal and paternal co-regulation of uNK cell activity during pregnancy. No mouse models of uNK cell activation are currently available with which to corroborate human immunogenetic associations between activating uterine NKRs and high birth weight. Male m157-transgenic (m157-Tg) mice, which ubiquitously express viral m157 glycoprotein ligands for the activating NKR Ly49H, were mated with B6 females. Exclusive expression of m157 glycoprotein by trophoblast improved placental efficiency, but did not enhance fetal growth. Some fertility clinics surmise that uNK cell activation initiates the pathogenesis of spontaneous abortion. It has been suggested that this may occur due to reduced expression by human uNK cells of miR-483-3p, which stimulates endogenous insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 production and uNK cell cytotoxicity in vitro. It is demonstrated here that neither miR-483-3p nor IGF-1 regulate murine NK cell development, maturation or function. No discernible reproductive phenotype is evident in miR-483 deficient females. It can be inferred that post-transcriptional control by miR-483 is not biologically relevant to murine NK cell function. Although m157-Tg mice may provide an interesting model to further study uNK cell-mediated placental adaptations, it remains important to identify a murine model of enhanced uNK cell function to corroborate human immunogenetic associations with high birth weight and to challenge the supposition that uNK cell activation is harmful to pregnancy.

O planejamento da fabricação de peças de caldeiraria para hidrelétricas tais como caixa espiral, tubo de sucção e conduto forçado, necessita de bons conhecimentos em caldeiraria e muita experiência na área devido à complexidade dos cálculos, tornando-se uma tarefa trabalhosa e com muitas possibilidades de erros. A seqüência de operações, no entanto, é altamente repetitiva facilitando o desenvolvimento de um sistema computacional de apoio. O trabalho proposto a seguir tem como objetivo apresentar um sistema desenvolvido como um aplicativo em software CAD para auxiliar as tarefas de projetar e fabricar caixa espiral, tubo de sucção e conduto forçado. O sistema colocou o conhecimento técnico da engenharia industrial de hidrogeradores de uma empresa de bens de capital ao alcance de projetistas desta área, de forma a aumentar a produtividade nestas, e em outras atividades similares, minimizando as possibilidades de erro e padronizando os procedimentos de cálculos. Os resultados foram, entre outros, diminuição do tempo de geração das informações para o processo de fabricação, tais como croquis de delineamento e desenhos de montagem, acima de 90% e perda zero de peças na fabricação. / The manufacturing process of hydroelectric weld parts, such as spiral cases, draft tubes and penstocks, demands good knowledge and experience in the area due to the calculations needed, revealing to be a difficult work with a high risk of errors. However, the operation sequence is highly repetitive which enables the development of a computational support system. This thesis has the purpose to present a system developed as an application in CAD software to aid the projecting and manufacturing activities of the spiral boxes, draft tubes and penstocks. Such system was disposed to the technical body of an industrial engineering department maintained by a heavy equipment company which manufactures hydro generators, so professionals were able to increase their productivity, being the system also used in similar areas, minimizing possibilities of mistakes and standardizing calculations procedures. Results were, among others, decrease of time needed to develop process information, such as sketch outlines and assembly drawings, above 90% and zero losses on parts production.

O planejamento da fabricação de peças de caldeiraria para hidrelétricas tais como caixa espiral, tubo de sucção e conduto forçado, necessita de bons conhecimentos em caldeiraria e muita experiência na área devido à complexidade dos cálculos, tornando-se uma tarefa trabalhosa e com muitas possibilidades de erros. A seqüência de operações, no entanto, é altamente repetitiva facilitando o desenvolvimento de um sistema computacional de apoio. O trabalho proposto a seguir tem como objetivo apresentar um sistema desenvolvido como um aplicativo em software CAD para auxiliar as tarefas de projetar e fabricar caixa espiral, tubo de sucção e conduto forçado. O sistema colocou o conhecimento técnico da engenharia industrial de hidrogeradores de uma empresa de bens de capital ao alcance de projetistas desta área, de forma a aumentar a produtividade nestas, e em outras atividades similares, minimizando as possibilidades de erro e padronizando os procedimentos de cálculos. Os resultados foram, entre outros, diminuição do tempo de geração das informações para o processo de fabricação, tais como croquis de delineamento e desenhos de montagem, acima de 90% e perda zero de peças na fabricação. / The manufacturing process of hydroelectric weld parts, such as spiral cases, draft tubes and penstocks, demands good knowledge and experience in the area due to the calculations needed, revealing to be a difficult work with a high risk of errors. However, the operation sequence is highly repetitive which enables the development of a computational support system. This thesis has the purpose to present a system developed as an application in CAD software to aid the projecting and manufacturing activities of the spiral boxes, draft tubes and penstocks. Such system was disposed to the technical body of an industrial engineering department maintained by a heavy equipment company which manufactures hydro generators, so professionals were able to increase their productivity, being the system also used in similar areas, minimizing possibilities of mistakes and standardizing calculations procedures. Results were, among others, decrease of time needed to develop process information, such as sketch outlines and assembly drawings, above 90% and zero losses on parts production.

Esta dissertação é o compartilhar dos caminhos criados e trilhados por mim durante o processo de feitura do experimento cênico Entre o brilho do relâmpago e o canto do trovão, na linguagem da meia máscara expressiva. Ao longo de todo o percurso, inspirada pelo pensamento sistêmico, pela pedagogia de Jacques Lecoq e pela ideia de currículo em espiral de Jerome Bruner, desenvolvo a ideia de \"Cena-Mundo\" e amadureço a proposta de \"processo de criação em espiral\". / This master\'s thesis shares the paths that I\'ve created and walked through during the development process of the scenic experiment Between the lightning\'s glaring and the thunder\'s song through the usage of the expressive half mask. Throughout the journey, which was inspired by the systemic thinking, the pedagogy of Jacques Lecoq and the idea of spiral curriculum of Jerome Bruner, I\'ve developed the idea of \"scene-world\" and I\'ve grown in maturity over the proposal of \"spiral creation process\".

Dans un contexte d'integration des dispositifs de conversion d'energie de petite puissance, le travail de these presente porte sur la realisation de micro-bobines integrees sur silicium. Les contraintes liees a ce type d'integration resident dans la mise au point, la compatibilite des procedes technologiques contribuant a la fabrication du systeme complet et le cout de fabrication. Dans un premier temps, une etude bibliographique nous a permis de faire une synthese sur les structures integrables de micro-bobines ainsi que sur les materiaux conducteurs et magnetiques et leurs techniques de depot. Une fois les objectifs fixes, notamment concernant la nature des materiaux a deposer, nous avons mis au point les depots electrochimiques et les procedes photolithographiques de resines epaisses destinees a la realisation de moules. Ces resines doivent resister a la fois a des contraintes chimiques et physiques fortes. Une premiere structure de micro-bobine de type spirale a ete dimensionnee et le processus de fabrication a ete identifie. En parallele, des motifs specifiques de forme bien definie ont ete etudies puis realises afin de caracteriser les couches deposees par electrochimie, en termes de resistivite, permeabilite et composition de l'alliage. La derniere partie de la these a consiste a appliquer ce procede de fabrication a une seconde structure de bobine dont la geometrie a ete definie dans le but de reduire le nombre d'etapes technologiques. Actuellement les premiers prototypes de ces bobines ont ete realises avec de faibles epaisseurs de materiaux. Ceci nous a permis de valider les procedes de fabrication de ces dispositifs.

<p>Den latinamerikanska befrielseteologin har nått ut över världen. I alla fall till en del grupper. De radikala katolska befrielseteologerna och deras medkämpar har med hjälp av Bibeln kombinerad med samhällsvetenskaplig analys ökat medvetenheten om de sociala och ekonomiska orättvisorna men de har inte lyckats lösa problemen. Konservativa krafter har motarbetat befrielseteologerna i alla år. Samtidigt som befrielseteologerna hyllas över världen för sitt arbete till förmån för de fattiga och förtryckta har de blivit hårt kritiserade. Bland annat har de kritiserats för sitt samarbete med marxister och för att de blandar politik och religion. Befrielseteologerna har också kritiserats för att de inte har tänkt tillräckligt på kvinnofrågor och ursprungsbefolkningar.</p><p>I denna uppsats söker författaren via litteraturstudier svaret på om befrielseteologin har någon förankring i den latinamerikanska kulturen. Latinamerika är stort. Därför har arbetet avgränsats till att handla om den brasilianska kulturen. Brasilien är ett motsägelsefullt land. Kontrasterna är stora mellan kulturerna, mellan fattiga och rika samt mellan utveckling och underutveckling. Miljöproblemen och de sociala problemen är komplicerade. Befrielseteologerna är många. Författaren har valt att titta närmare på peruanen Gustavo Gutiérrez som brukar anses som befrielseteologins grundare, brasilianaren Leonardo Boff som nyligen fick alternativa nobelpriset för fredsbevarande arbete och brasilianaren Helder Camara som levde ett långt liv i befrielseteologins tjänst.</p>

Phase Shifters are one of the most important building cells of the applications in microwave and millimeter-wave range, especially for communications and radar applications / to steer the main beam for electronic scanning. This thesis includes all of the stages starting from the theoretical design stage to the measurements of the phase shifters. In detail, all-pass network phase shifter configuration is used to achieve broadband and ultra wide-band differential phase characteristics. For these reasons, 1 to 2 GHz, 2 to 4 GHz, and 3 to 6 GHz 4-bit, 22.5&deg / phase resolution phase shifter realization with surface micromachined lumped components are designed, simulated, fabricated and measured. Basic building blocks of the phase shifters, i.e., surface micromachined lumped components, square planar spiral inductors and Metal-Insulator-Metal capacitors are designed with EM simulation and lumped equivalent model extractions. The validation of the designed square planar spiral inductors is done with fabrication and measurement steps, very low error, below 1%, between the designs and fabricated samples are observed. Using this knowledge on lumped elements finally phase shifters are designed with surface micromachined lumped components, fabricated using an in house technology provided by METU-MEMS facilities, RF MEMS group. Low phase rms error, good return and insertion loss considerations are aimed, and achieved. In addition to the main work of this thesis, a generalized theoretical calculation method for 2n-1 number of stages all-pass network phase shifters is presented for the first time in literature. A different, new, broadband, and combined phase shifter topology using two-stage all-pass filters is presented. Moreover, the implementation of this idea is proved to be practical to 3 to 6 GHz 5.625&deg / and 11.25&deg / combined phase shifter. A new approach for stage numbers other than power of 2 is indicated, which is different from what is already presented in the literature. An example practical implementation results are provided for the three-stage 4-bit 1 to 6 GHz phase shifter. Also, a small improvement in SRF of the high inductance valued inductors is achieved with the mitering of the corners of square planar spiral inductors. Comparison of the measured data between the normal inductors and mitered versions shows that the first SRF of the inductors are increased about 80 MHz, and second SRF of the inductors are increased about 200 MHz.

The overall aim of this thesis was to develop, deploy and evaluate new IT-based methods for supporting treatment and assessment of treatment of advanced Parkinson’s disease. In this condition a number of different motor and non-motor symptoms occur in episodes of varying frequency, duration and severity. In order to determine outcome of treatment changes, repeated assessments are necessary. Hospitalization for observation is expensive and may not be representative for the situation at home. Paper home diaries have questionable reliability and storage and retrieval of results are problematic. Approaches for monitoring using wearable sensors are unable to address important non-motor symptoms. A test battery system consisting of both self-assessments of symptoms and motor function tests was constructed for a touch screen mobile phone. Tests are performed on several occasions per day during test periods of one week. Data is transmitted over the mobile net to a central server where summaries in different symptom dimensions and an overall test score per patient and test period are calculated. There is a web application that graphically presents the results to treating clinical staff. As part of this work, a novel method for assessment of spiral drawing impairment useful during event-driven sampling was developed. To date, the system has been used by over 100 patients in 10 clinics in Sweden and Italy. Evidence is growing that the test battery is useful, reliable and valid for assessment of symptoms during advanced Parkinson’s disease. Infusion of a levodopa/carbidopa gel into the small intestine has been shown to reduce variation in plasma drug levels and improve clinical response in this patient category. A pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model of this intestinal gel infusion was constructed. Possibly this model can assist the process of individualization of dosage for this treatment through in numero simulations. Results from an exploratory data analysis indicate that severity measures during oral levodopa treatment may be factors to consider when deciding candidates for infusion treatment.