abstract: Anxiety disorder diagnosis is a risk factor for alcohol use disorders (AUDs), but mechanisms of risk are not well understood. Studies show that anxious individuals receive greater negative reinforcement from alcohol when consumed prior to a stressor, but few studies have examined whether anxious individuals receive greater negative (or positive) reinforcement from alcohol in a general drinking context (i.e., no imminent stressor). Previous studies have also failed to examine possible moderating effects of specific drinking contexts (e.g., drinking in a group or alone). Finally, no studies have investigated mediating variables that might explain the relationship between anxiety and reinforcement from alcohol, such as physiological response to alcohol (e.g., cortisol response). Data for this study were drawn from a large alcohol administration study (N = 447) wherein participants were randomized to receive alcohol (target peak BAC: .08 g%) or placebo in one of four contexts: group simulated bar, solitary simulated bar, group sterile laboratory, solitary sterile laboratory. It was hypothesized that anxiety would be associated with positive subjective response (SR) under alcohol (above and beyond placebo), indicating stronger reinforcement from alcohol. It was also hypothesized that social and physical drinking context would moderate this relationship. Finally, it was hypothesized that anxiety would be associated with a blunted cortisol response to alcohol (compared to placebo) and this blunted cortisol response would be associated with stronger positive SR and weaker negative SR. Results showed that anxiety was not associated with positive SR in the full sample, but drinking context did moderate the anxiety/SR relationship in most cases (e.g., anxiety was significantly associated with positive SR (stimulation) under placebo in solitary contexts only). There was no evidence that cortisol response to alcohol mediated the relationship between anxiety and SR. This study provides evidence that anxious drinkers expect stronger positive reinforcement from alcohol in solitary contexts, which has implications for intervention (e.g., modification of existing interventions like expectancy challenge). Null findings regarding cortisol response suggest alcohol’s effect on cortisol response to stress (rather than cortisol response to alcohol consumption) may be more relevant for SR and drinking behavior among anxious individuals. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Psychology 2018

abstract: In this study, I examine the extent to which firms rely on relative performance evaluation (RPE) when setting executive compensation. In particular, I examine whether firms use information about peer performance to determine compensation at the end of the year, i.e. after both firm and peer performance are observed. I find that RPE is most pronounced for firms that allow little or no scope for ex post subjective adjustments to annual bonuses. Conversely, firms that rely mainly on subjectivity in determining bonus exhibit little use of RPE. These findings suggest that information about peer performance is not used at the end of the year. Instead, peer performance seems to be incorporated in performance targets at the beginning of the year, at least among firms primarily using objective performance measurements. In addition, I provide new evidence on the determinants of the use of subjectivity. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Accountancy 2013

O objetivo geral desta tese foi avaliar o impacto do sistema de trabalho em turnos nos trabalhadores de dois setores de uma indústria de filmes e embalagens flexíveis para alimentos que opera em três turnos de trabalho fixos, considerando o cronotipo do trabalhador. Foi feita a caracterização do sexo, experiência profissional, faixa etária e cronotipo (por meio de dois questionários) de 42 trabalhadores do setor de Impressão e 43 do setor de Corte/Solda nos três diferentes turnos e avaliadas as cargas física e mental (com ferramentas subjetivas e indicadores fisiológicos) das atividades realizadas e as demandas ergonômicas dos Construtos: Ambiente, Posto de trabalho, Organização de Trabalho, Conteúdo do Trabalho, Empresa e Risco/Dor. Foram coletados parâmetros ambientais (ruído, temperatura e umidade) para identificar o seu grau de impacto sobre o desempenho do trabalhador. Embora dentro dos limites legais, principalmente o ruído e a temperatura apresentaram baixa satisfação nos dois setores. Os resultados estatísticos apontaram diferenças entre os resultados em função dos setores (o setor de Impressão com maiores demandas do que o Corte/Solda), turnos (o turno noturno com mais demandas) e influência do cronotipo discrepante ao horário de turno. Os trabalhadores com cronotipo desajustado ao horário do turno tendem a perceber mais negativamente a carga de trabalho, tendem à menor satisfação com vários itens de demanda ergonômica e a sentir maior intensidade de dor. Houve variação dos indicadores fisiológicos (nível de cortisol salivar, catecolaminas urinárias, pressão arterial, frequência cardíaca e consequentemente, do percentual da máxima capacidade aeróbica) dependendo do indivíduo e eles foram consistentes com a avaliação subjetiva de carga de trabalho. Os resultados deixam claro que os trabalhadores sabem a que horas querem iniciar e finalizar o trabalho (que são compatíveis com o cronotipo) e não gostam de trabalhar em turno, mas se o turno for necessário, a preferência é por turno fixo. A proposta é que no caso de trabalho em turno, seja considerado o cronotipo do trabalhador e que este tenha autonomia para escolher o turno, pois necessidades familiares e sociais também são fatores de decisão nesta escolha. / This thesis aimed to evaluate the impact of shiftwork on the workers of two sectors of a flexible packaging manufacturer which operates in three shifts, considering the cronotype of the worker. 42 workers from the three shifts of the Imprint sector and 43 from the Cutting/Welding sector were characterized according to sex, professional experience, age and cronotype (based on two questionnaires). Both mental and physical workload were evaluated using subjective tools and physiological parameters. The satisfaction with their work (i.e., the Environment, the Workstation, the Work Organization, the Work Content, the Enterprise and the Risk of pain) was evaluated by questionnaire. Environmental data (noise, temperature and humidity) were gathered for evaluation of their impact on the workers. Although within the law limits, noise and temperature were not satisfactory in both sectors..The statistical results showed differences between the sectors (the Imprint one with more esrgonomic demands), among the shifts (the night one with more ergonomic demandas) and influence of the worker cronotype. The workers whose cronotype were not compatible with their shiftwork tend to be less satisfied with their work, tend to feel more pain and overloaded. The physiological parameters (hormonal levels of cortisol, urinary cathecholamines, arterial pressure, heart rate and consequently the percent of maximum aerobic work capacity) varied with the individual and were consistent with the subjective workload evaluation. The results showed that the workers know their best work time (which is compatible with their cronotype), they do not like shiftwork but if it is necessary, they prefer the fixed shift. The proposal is that if shiftwork is necessary, the worker cronotype has to be considered and he/she should choose the shift because familiar and social issues are also part of this choice.

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No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Fernanda Priscilla Pereira da Silva.pdf: 1931608 bytes, checksum: 0fd97d97ad04475348f9b5ef71351e45 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-12-10 / This dissertation is the result of a qualitative study conducted in an open environment social educational measures context in Manaus, theoretically anchored in the Cultural-Historical Psychology and the Theory of Subjectivity. The research has the overall goal of understanding the subjective processes of adolescents in compliance with an open environment socio-educational measures in the city of Manaus. The methodological aspects were based on Qualitative Epistemology and its course was composed of a documental analysis phase and a field survey one. The documental phase was made through a criteria script to provide the characterization of the childcare open environment service network and the adolescents that are inserted in it. It was served as an investigative base 218 adolescent records of 5 Decentralized Poles of Probation and Community Service Provision (PDLA / PSC) distributed between the South, Mid-South, Midwest and East Areas in the city of Manaus. The analytical data were organized into a matrix according to the criteria investigated. The field survey phase had as a locus the Midwest Area PDLA / PSC, it had the participation of 4 adolescents and it aimed to develop theoretical models about these adolescents’ subjective processes based on their life-histories narrative. The instrument of this construction was a semi-structured individual interview script and it was based on the information construction process. The presentation and discussion of the results was performed by a constructive-interpretative analysis of the narratives, culminating into zones of sense designed for each adolescent. The results are presented in three chapters: 1. characterization of the open environment service network; 2. characterization of the adolescents inserted in this network and 3. the production of subjective senses, presented in four case researches, composed by the interpretive theoretical constructs and the zones of sense they are related to. The results indicate that the childcare open environment service network in the city of Manaus still has many challenges to overcome, despite the admirable work being done, considering the current conditions, with all personal efforts of the professional team. The characterization of the adolescents raises the reflection on the socioeconomic and cultural issues about the production of their infringement and who these teenagers are who come to be inserted into the socio-educational network. As a defining aspect of the production of these results, we have the fact that the subjective productions of every teenager is unique, according to their each life path, the sociocultural context and way of life, and individual, cognitive and affective aspects. As a conclusion highlight, we emphasize that it is urgent to Psychology to approach increasingly socio-educational contexts for promoting paradigms review; production of concrete knowledge, guided by the reality; and the methodology development which promotes the construction of devices that trigger new subjectivity processes in order to enhance the lives of young people when socio-educational measures have been used / Essa dissertação é resultado de um estudo de abordagem qualitativa realizado no contexto de medidas socioeducativas em meio aberto na cidade de Manaus, ancorado teoricamente na Psicologia Histórico-Cultural e na Teoria da Subjetividade. A pesquisa teve o objetivo geral de compreender os processos de subjetivação de adolescentes em cumprimento de medida socioeducativa em meio aberto na cidade de Manaus. Os aspectos metodológicos foram baseados na Epistemologia Qualitativa e a trajetória foi composta por uma fase documental e uma de campo. A fase documental foi feita por intermédio de roteiro de critérios para fazer a caracterização da rede de atendimento socioeducativo em meio aberto e dos adolescentes que estão nela inseridos. Serviram de base investigativa 218 prontuários de adolescentes de 5 Polos Descentralizados de Liberdade Assistida e Prestação de Serviços à Comunidade (PDLA/PSC) distribuídos entre as Zona Sul, Centro-Sul, Centro-Oeste e Leste da cidade de Manaus. Os dados foram organizados numa matriz analítica de acordo com os critérios investigados. A fase de campo do estudo teve como lócus o PDLA/PSC da Zona Centro-Oeste, contou com a participação de 4 adolescentes e objetivou desenvolver modelos teóricos acerca dos processos de subjetivação dos adolescentes partindo da narrativa de suas trajetórias de vida. O instrumento dessa construção foi um roteiro de entrevista individual semiestruturada e se pautou no processo de construção da informação. A apresentação e discussão dos resultados foi realizada por meio de uma análise construtiva-interpretativa das narrativas, culminando em zonas de sentido elaboradas para cada adolescente. Os resultados estão apresentados em três capítulos: 1. a caracterização da rede de atendimento em meio aberto; 2. a caracterização dos adolescentes inseridos nessa rede e 3. a produção de sentidos subjetivos, apresentados em quatro estudos de caso, compostos pelas construções teórico interpretativas e as zonas de sentidos a elas correspondentes. Os resultados indicam que a rede de atendimento socioeducativo em meio aberto na cidade de Manaus ainda tem diversos desafios a serem superados, apesar do admirável trabalho que vem sendo realizado, considerando as condições atuais, com todo esforço pessoal da equipe profissional. A caracterização dos adolescentes suscita a reflexão sobre as questões socioeconômicas e culturais acerca da produção da infração e sobre quem são os adolescentes que chegam a ser inseridos na rede socioeducativa. Como um aspecto marcante da produção dos resultados temos o fato de que as produções subjetivas de cada adolescente são singulares, de acordo com cada trajetória de vida, o contexto sociocultural e os modos de vida e os aspectos individuais, cognitivos e afetivos. Destacamos que é urgente para a Psicologia se aproximar cada vez mais dos contextos socioeducativos para a promoção de revisão de paradigmas; produção de saberes concretos, pautados na realidade e desenvolvimento de metodologia que promovam a construção de dispositivos que acionem novos processos de subjetivação, de modo a potencializar a vida dos jovens em cumprimento de medida socioeducativa

Os parâmetros acústicos subjetivos são critérios que definem a qualidade acústica de uma sala de música. A apreciação musical dentro da sala é afetada por diversas impressões acústicas que ocorrem ao mesmo tempo. Cada uma dessas impressões é associada a um parâmetro acústico de natureza subjetiva que está correlacionado a uma grandeza física mensurável, constituindo um conjunto de parâmetros acústicos objetivos que formam uma base científica para a análise acústica das salas de música. Neste trabalho desenvolvemos pesquisa de âmbito teórico e experimental envolvendo a análise dos parâmetros acústicos subjetivos mais relevantes para a avaliação da qualidade acústica de salas de escuta musical. Fizemos um levantamento abrangente do material já publicado sobre o assunto, o que nos orientou a respeito das medições acústicas pertinentes à referida análise e nos permitiu formalizar as devidas conclusões. Implementamos e aplicamos a tecnologia necessária para a obtenção dos parâmetros. Determinamos a metodologia experimental mais adequada e efetuamos medições em seis importantes salas de concerto, comparando os resultados. Fizemos uma análise crítica a respeito dos parâmetros acústicos obtidos e aprofundamos a compreensão sobre seus significados e suas utilidades. Por fim, fizemos uma análise subjetiva de júri correlacionando os parâmetros acústicos medidos às respectivas impressões acústicas sobre amostras musicais gravadas nas salas. / Acoustic parameters are the criteria that define the acoustic quality of a music hall. The musical audition inside a room is influenced by a group of acoustic impressions that occur at the same time. Each one of such impressions is associated with a particular subjective parameter that is correlated to a measurable physical value. These values are taken as a set of objective parameters that constitute a scientific basis for the acoustical analysis of a music hall. In this work we have conducted both a theoretical and an experimental investigation on the analysis of the most important acoustic parameters for the evaluation of the quality of a music hall. Also, we have done an extensive research on the related bibliography to support our measurement procedures and formal conclusions. We have implemented the necessary technology to obtain the acoustic parameters. We also have determined the most efficient experimental methodology to carry out acoustic measurements and we have applied this methodology to the measurement of six important concert halls. Then we have compared the data related to each hall and performed a critical analysis of this data, increasing our understanding on the meaning and the usefulness of the acoustic parameters. Finally, we have made a subjective jury analysis, correlating the measured acoustic parameters to the impressions about music samples recorded into those concert halls.

Lycka är en viktig beståndsdel i en människas liv och innehåller komponenter som livstillfredställelse och påverkan av yttre förhållanden. En typ av yttre förhållande som lycka skulle kunna påverkas av är fysisk aktivitet. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka om det fanns ett samband mellan lycka och grad av fysisk aktivitet hos högskolestudenter beroende på kön, ålder, civilstånd och antalet studerade terminer. En enkät med två instrument, Oxford happiness questionnaire och International physical activity questionnaire delades ut till 99 högskolestudenter där data bearbetades med variansanalyser. Resultatet visade att högskolestudenter med låg grad av fysisk aktivitet skattade sin lycka lägre än högskolestudenter med måttlig och hög grad av fysisk aktivitet. Även ålder och civilstånd hade en inverkan på hur deltagarna skattade sin lycka. Deltagarantalet ses som en bidragande faktor till resultatet och framtida studier bör fokusera på faktorer som ligger till grund för lyckonivå vid låg grad av fysisk aktivitet.

This thesis presents different solutions for enhancing a prototype for a 3D video conferencing system, and investigates their advantages and disadvantages. The setup of the system consists of two cameras and a autostereoscopic display hence eliminating the need to use any eyewear. The autostereoscopic display shows seven successive stereo pairs, therefore the 3D content needs ideally to be eight images captured from different views. The system uses a simple algorithm that shifts each image horizontally with a specific value for each view. The second part of the work is to perform a subjective testing for the system. The ITU-T standards P.1301 were used as a reference for the test. The system was compared to 2D traditional conferencing systems and the improvements presented in this work were also included in the test to evaluate the reality of depth perception in the image.

Information fusion is to combine information from a variety of sources, or sensors. When the sources are uncertain or contradicting conflict can arise. To deal with such uncertainty and conflict a trust model can be used. The most common ones in information fusion currently is bayesian theory and Dempster-Shafer theory. Bayesian theory does not explicitly handle ignorance, and thus predetermined values has to be hard coded into the system. This is solved in Dempster-Shafer theory by the introduction of ignorance. Even though Dempster-Shafer theory is widely used in information fusion when there is a need for ignorance to be modelled, there has been serious critique presented towards the theory. Thus this work aims at examining another trust models utility in information fusion namely subjective logic. The examination is executed by studying subjective logic using two scenarios from the literature. The results from the scenarios points to subjective logic being a reasonable approach for modelling trust in information fusion.

No description available.

The aim of the study was to examine the determinants of well-being in Malaysian students at home and overseas. Prior to the main study, interviews were conducted with seven PhD students of Malaysia studying in Plymouth, to explore their needs and values, and their adaptation experiences in terms of missing and enjoyment experiences abroad. Based on the interview findings and literature reviews, a questionnaire was developed and named as the Adaptation to Life Index, which consisted of two scales - ‘missing experience’ and ‘enjoyment experience’. A longitudinal survey was carried out using Malaysian students in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, the US, Ireland, and Canada as well as students who remained in Malaysia. At Time 1, data were collected from 1118 students who were enrolling at various overseas preparatory studying programmes and 972 first year students in one of the public university in Malaysia who were continuing their education in Malaysia. Measurements used were the Big Five Personality Inventory (John, Donahue, & Kentle, 1991), Schwartz’s Short Value Scale (SSVS) (Lindeman & Verkasalo, 2005; Schwartz, 1992), Positive and Negative Affect Scales (PANAS) (Watson, et al, 1988), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) (Diener, et al., 1985), perceived stress scale (based on the results of Malaysian Certificate of Education and perceived English language fluency), and a section on socio-demographic background. At time 2, 30 % of the participants (N= 628) were retained. Life satisfaction for home students remained constant over time. However, life satisfaction for overseas students started much lower at Time 1 but increased at Time 2. Results showed that life satisfaction at time 1 strongly predicted life satisfaction at Time 2, but neither personality nor values were predicted life satisfaction at Time 2. Personality and values at Time 1 predicted ‘missing experience at Time 2 and in the overseas students, being fluent in English predicted less ‘missing experience’. There were few predictors of Time 1 for ‘enjoyment’ at Time 2, but fluency with English predicted better enjoyment.