Considerable evidence indicates that the expectations individuals hold about the effects of alcohol determine, to a degree, the amount of alcohol they drink. However, the bulk of this evidence was acquired using verbally-based measures of expectancy. The present study sought to extend the validation network by utilizing an electrophysiological measure -- the P300 component of the Event Related Potentials (ERPs) -- which is thought to index fundamental neurophysiological processes sensitive to expectancy.Previous research has demonstrated that, when presented with various outcomes of alcohol consumption, heavier drinkers endorse statements that assert positive and arousing effects of alcohol, while lighter drinkers endorse sedating and negative effects of alcohol. Given the sensitivity of the P300 to violation of subjective expectancies, it was hypothesized that P300 amplitude elicited by stimuli violating one's alcohol expectancies (e.g., statements describing sedating effects of alcohol for individuals with high positive expectancies) would be correlated with the participants' alcohol expectancies measured by traditional self-report measures.Participants were presented with statements reflecting a wide range of alcohol outcome effects, which either violated or confirmed the participant's own set of alcohol expectancies, while the ERPs evoked by these stimuli were recorded. As predicted, the P 300 amplitude elicited by negative alcohol expectancy stimuli was positively correlated with the degree of endorsement of positive/arousing expectancies on the self-report measure. That is, the higher the individual's positive/arousing expectancies, the larger the P300 elicited by stimuli asserting the negative effects of alcohol. There was no significant correlation, however, between P300 amplitude elicited by positive alcohol expectancy stimuli and the degree of endorsement of negative/sedating expectancies on the self-report measure.In sum, variations in the amplitude of the P300 were consistent with the model of Alcohol Expectancies: Namely, words imputing negative/sedating effects of alcohol elicited a large P300 in individuals with high but not low positive alcohol expectancies. By indexing the brain's electrophysiological response sensitive to expectancy violations, these findings demonstrate concordance between verbal measures of alcohol expectancies, which by their very nat ure are introspective, and a psychophysiological index of expectancy thought to operate automatically and to be independent of overt responding.

The concept of time in physics underwent significant changes in the decades following World War II. This dissertation considers several ways in which American physicists grappled with these changes, analyzing the extent to which philosophical methods and questions played a role in physicists' engagement with time. Two lines of questioning run through the dissertation. The first asks about the professional identities of postwar American physicists in relation to philosophy, as exemplified by their engagement with the concept of time. The second analyzes the heterogeneous nature of time in physics, and the range of presuppositions and assumptions that have constituted this "fundamental" physical concept. The first chapter looks to the development of atomic clocks and atomic time standards from 1948-1958, and the ways in which new timekeeping technologies placed concepts such as “clock”, “second,” and “measure of time” in a state of flux. The second chapter looks to the experimental discovery of CP violation by particle physicists in the early 1960s, raising questions about nature of time understood as the variable “t” in the equations of quantum mechanics. The third chapter considers attempts to unify quantum mechanics and general relativity in the late 1960s, which prompted physicists to question the “existence” of time in relation to the universe as a whole. In each episode considered, physicists engaged with the concept of time in a variety of ways, revealing a multiplicity of relationships between physics, philosophy, and time. Further, in each case physicists brought a unique set of assumptions to their concepts of time, revealing the variety ways in which fundamental conceptsfunctioned and changed in late twentieth century physics. The result is a heterogeneous picture of the practice of physics, as well as one of physics’ most basic concepts. / History of Science

The observation of a permanent electric dipole moment (EDM) in a non-degenerate system would indicate the violation of discrete symmetries of Time reversal (T) or combined application of Charge (C) and Parity (P) symmetry violation through the CPT theorem. The diamagnetic 225Ra atom with nuclear spin I=1/2 is a favorable candidate for an EDM search. Experimental sensitivity to its EDM is enhanced due to its high atomic mass and the increased Schiff moment of its octupole deformed nucleus. An experimental setup is developed where laser cooled neutral radium atoms are collected in a magneto-optical trap (MOT). The collected atoms are transported 1 meter with a far off-resonant optical dipole trap (ODT) and then the atoms are transferred to a second standing-wave ODT in an experimental chamber. The atoms are then optically polarized and allowed to Larmor precess in parallel and antiparallel electric and magnetic fields. The difference between the Larmor precession frequency for parallel and antiparallel fields is experimentally determined to measure the EDM. This thesis is about the first measurement of the EDM of the 225Ra atom where an upper limit of |d(225Ra)|<5.0*10-22 e cm (95\% confidence) is reached.

Το στατιστικό μοντέλο είναι μία τυποποίηση στοχαστικών σχέσεων μεταξύ μεταβλητών σε μορφή μαθηματικών εξισώσεων με σκοπό την όσο το δυνατόν πιο ακριβή περιγραφή ενός συστήματος (φαινομένου ή γεγονότος). Σχεδόν σε κάθε σύστημα, υπάρχουν μεταβλητές ποσότητες που αλλάζουν. Ένα ενδιαφέρον ζήτημα είναι η μελέτη των επιδράσεων που αυτές οι μεταβλητές ασκούν (ή φαίνεται να ασκούν) πάνω σε άλλες. Η μελέτη αυτή είναι το αντικείμενο της ανάλυσης παλινδρόμησης, μίας ευρέως χρησιμοποιούμενης στατιστικής τεχνικής, την οποία χρησιμοποιούμε για να ανιχνεύσουμε και να μοντελοποιήσουμε σχέσεις και εξαρτήσεις μεταξύ μεταβλητών. Όταν οι σχέσεις μεταξύ των μεταβλητών είναι γραμμικές, προκύπτουν τα λεγόμενα γραμμικά παλινδρομικά μοντέλα. Τα στατιστικά μοντέλα παλινδρόμησης, βασίζονται σε κάποιες βασικές υποθέσεις, τις οποίες υποχρεούμαστε να ελέγχουμε πριν την ανάλυση του μοντέλου. Στην πράξη, όμως, οι υποθέσεις αυτές συχνά παραβιάζονται. Όταν δε, έχουμε να κάνουμε με δεδομένα του πραγματικού κόσμου, η παραβίαση των υποθέσεων αυτών είναι τόσο συχνή που αποτελεί στη συντριπτική πλειοψηφία τον κανόνα παρά την εξαίρεση. Η παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία πραγματεύεται το σημαντικότατο θέμα που ανακύπτει σε περιπτώσεις στις οποίες κάποιες από τις βασικές υποθέσεις που διέπουν το γραμμικό μοντέλο παλινδρόμησης παραβιάζονται. Σκοπός της εργασίας αυτής είναι : α)να αναλυθούν οι αιτίες που προκαλούν την κάθε παραβίαση και οι επιπτώσεις που έχει αυτή στο μοντέλο, β)να καταγραφούν οι βασικότεροι τρόποι ανίχνευσης των παραβιάσεων στο υπόδειγμα, γ)να βρεθούν τρόποι αντιμετώπισης των "προβληματικών καταστάσεων". Τα αποτελέσματα δείχνουν ότι ο συνδυασμός της καθεστηκυίας γνώσης (του θεωρητικού υποβάθρου) για το αντικείμενο και των σύγχρονων μεθόδων και ιδεών μπορούν να μειώσουν σημαντικά τις δυσμενείς επιπτώσεις που επιφέρουν οι παραβιάσεις των κανόνων στο μοντέλο, και παράλληλα μας επιτρέπει να "περισώσουμε" ικανοποιητικό ποσό πληροφορίας. / The statistical model is a standarization of stochastic relationships between variables in a form of mathematical equations in order to accurately describe a system, either phenomena, or facts. Almost every system includes some variable amounts that change.The interesting question is to investigate the effects those variables have (or appear to have) on other variables. This kind of investigation is the object of the regression analysis,a widely used statistical technic, which is used so as to detect relations and dependences between variables. Linear regression models are created when there are linear relations between variables. In addition, statistical models are based on some significant assumptions, that we are obliged to validate before we analyze the model. However, these assumptions are often violated in practise. Especially when we have to face with <<real world>> data, the violation is too frecuent that ends to be the rule instead the exception. The current thesis addresses the important subject which arises when some basic assumptions of the linear regression model are violated.The purpose of writing this thesis is : a)to analyse the reasons why the basic assumptions are violated and how these violations effect to our model b)to report the main methods in order to scan the model for violations c)to find ways to fight the problems The investigation results to the fact that if we combine the theoretical backround and the modern methods and techniques, we can reduce the adverse consecuences -and occasionally even reverse the damages- that the violations breed to the model, with simultaneous <<salvation>> of a quite satisfactory amount of information.

No description available.

Visų pasaulio vaikų teisių įgyvendinimas nusipelno nuolatinio visuomenės dėmesio. Šis darbas turi būti dirbamas kasdien ir visur. Kai nėra veiksmingos nacionalinės Vaiko teisių konvencijos nuostatų įgyvendinimo sistemos, pastangos įgyvendinti vaiko teises pasmerktos būti tik simboliniais ir atsitiktiniais poelgiais. Kita vertus, vaiko teisių įgyvendinimas reikalauja imtis neatidėliotinų ir skubių veiksmų, nes šiuo metu labiausiai pažeidžiamos vaiko kaip žmogaus teisės. Milijonų vaikų teisės pasaulyje yra pažeidžiamos kiekvieną dieną visais įmanomais būdais. Nors kai kurių valstybių pažanga yra didesnė nei kitų, nė viena nepasiekė Konvencijos reikalaujamo lygio. Vaiko teisės bus įgyvendintos tik tada, kai valstybės dalyvės bus politiškai nusistačiusios tai padaryti bei turės tam pakankamai galimybių ir žinių. / The implementation of all children‘s rights in the world deserves a constant attention in the society.The work of implementing children‘s rights should be done everyday and everywhere. When there is no efficient national system of the implementation of Children‘s rights conventions standards,all effort to implement the children‘s rights is condemned to be only symbolic and incidental actions. On the other hand, the implementation of children‘s rights requires immediate actions because nowadays the rights of a child as a human are being notably violated. Everyday the rights of millions of children are being infringed in all possible ways. Even though in some countries significantprogress has been made in comparison with others, no country has reached the standard required by the Children‘s rights convention yet. The children‘s rights will be implemented only when the member countries are politically set on doing it and have enough possibilities and knowledge.

Darbe įvertinti Raseinių rajono aplinkos apsaugos kontrolės ir priežiūros rezultatai. Analizei pasirinkti 2005 – 2009 metai, analizuotos aplinkos apsaugos agentūros ataskaitos, įvertinti pagrindiniai įstatymų ir reikalavimų pažeidimai. Darbo objektas – Lietuvos Respublikos aplinkos ministerijos Kauno regiono aplinkos apsaugos departamento Raseinių rajono agentūra. Jos vykdomų darbų apžvalga, protokolai, metinės ataskaitos, bylos. Darbo tikslas – Įvertinti aplinkos apsaugos būklę ir parodyti pagrindines jos raidos tendencijas. Išanalizuoti per paskutiniuosius penkerius metus padarytus aplinkos apsaugos administracinius pažeidimus, jų priežastis, nustatyti būdingiausius pažeidimus ir pasiūlyti pažeidimų mažinimo priemones. Darbo metodika – Išanalizuotos metinės veiklos ataskaitos nuo 2005 iki 2009 m, sugretintos tarpusavyje, ir remiantis gautais analizės rezultatais padarytos išvados. Detaliai analizuotos 2007 – 2009 metų ataskaitos, agentūros patikrinimų planų sėkmių ir nesėkmių įvertinimai, agentūros darbuotojų sustatyti aktai dėl nustatytos neteisėtos veiklos ir kitų administracinių pažeidimų. Taip pat išanalizuoti skundai dėl padarytos žalos ar nusikalstamos veiklos užfiksuoti agentūros vedamose knygose. Remiantis atlikta analize nustatyti dažniausiai padaromi prasižengimai, prasižengimų priežastys, pažeidėjų požiūris į savo neteisėtą veiklą. Darbo rezultatai. Nustatyta, kad pažeidimų skaičius nuolat mažėja. 2005 metais bendras nustatytas prasižengimų skaičius buvo 394, o... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The thesis estimates the results of environmental protection control and monitoring in Raseiniai district. To be precise, the peculiarities of Environmental Protection Agency reports as well as the main violations of environmental laws and regulations are analysed and measured. Analysis is based on data of 2005-2009. Object of the thesis is the review of operations, cases, protocols and annual reports carried out in Raseiniai Environmental Protection Agency of Kaunas Regional Environmental Protection Department controlled by Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania. The aim of the thesis is to assess the condition of environment protection and expose its essential development trends. The thesis also aims at evaluation of the main causes of violations in environmental protection during the last five-year period and measures against them. Method used in the thesis is the comparative analysis of annual reports during the period of 2005-2009. To be precise, an explicit analysis is made on the annual reports, overview of successes and failures control schedule, acts for illegal actions and other administrative violations performed by Agency personnel. Moreover, claims for damages and other types of offence recorded in Agency registers are defined too. The obtained data indicates causes of frequently occurring violations and offenders’ treatment of their own illegal activities. The results of the survey reveal that the number of environmental violations is gradually... [to full text]

The Qweak experiment at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) will measure the proton's weak charge by measuring the parity violating asymmetry in elastic electron-proton scattering at very low momentum transfer, with the aim of determining the proton's weak charge with 4% combined statistical and systematic errors. The experimental apparatus includes a longitudinally polarized electron beam, a liquid hydrogen target, a room temperature toroidal magnetic spectrometer, and a set of precision detectors for the scattered electrons. The toroidal magnetic spectrometer, which will deflect away the inelastic scattered electrons and focus the elastic scattered electrons onto the detectors, plays a crucially important role in the experiment. In this thesis, in order to meet the requirements for the installation and calibration of the toroidal magnetic spectrometer, the numerical simulation of the spectrometer's magnetic field based on a realistic magnet model is discussed, a precise 3D field mapping is introduced, and some simulation results are provided. The zero-crossing analysis technique, which can be used to precisely infer the individual coil locations of the toroidal magnet, is presented and explored in detail.

The LHCb experiment is dedicated to making precision measurements involving beauty and charm hadrons at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The LHCb RICH detectors provide charged particle identification required to distinguish final states in many decays important to the LHCb physics programme. Time alignment of the RICH photon detectors is necessary in order to ensure a high photon collection efficiency. Using both a pulsed laser and proton-proton collision data the photon detectors are aligned to within 1 ns. The LHCb detector is uniquely positioned to measure production cross-sections at energies and rapidities inaccessible to other experiments. With 1.81 nb−1 of proton-proton collisions collected by the LHCb experiment in 2010 at center-of-mass energy √s = 7 TeV the production crosssection of D±s and D± mesons decaying to the φ{K+K−}π ± final state have been determined in bins of transverse momentum and rapidity. These measurements use a data-driven recursive optimisation technique to improve signal significance. The cross-section ratio is measured to be σ(D± ) σ(D± s ) = 2.32±0.27(stat)±0.26(syst), consistent with the ratio of charm-quark hadronisation fractions to D± and D±s mesons. Time-dependent interference between mixing of B0s -B0s mesons and decay to the final state J/ψφ gives rise to a CP violating phase φs. This phase is constrained to be small within the Standard Model, a significant deviation from which would be a signal of new physics. φs has been measured with 0.37 fb−1 of protonproton collision data recorded during 2011 by the LHCb experiment. Isolation of the signal distribution is achieved using the S-plot technique, and the analysis accounts for inclusive B0s →J/ψK+K− s-wave contributions. The measured value of φs = 0.16±0.18(stat)±0.06(syst) rad is the most precise measurement to date, and is consistent with Standard Model predictions.

CP violation is an important condition to explain the preponderance of baryons in our universe, yet the available CP violation in the Standard Model (SM) via the so-called Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa mechanism seems to not provide enough CP violation. Thus searching for new sources of CP violation is one of the central tasks of modern physics. In this thesis, we focus on a new possible source of CP violation which generates triple-product correlations in momenta which can appear in neutron and nuclear radiative β decay. We show that at low energies such a CP violating correlation may arise from the exotic coupling of nucleon, photon and neutrino that was proposed by Harvey, Hill, and Hill (HHH). One specialty of such an exotic HHH coupling is that it does not generate the well-known CP-violating terms such as ``D-term'', ``R-term'', and neutron electric dipole moment, in which particle's spins play critical role. We show that such a new HHH-induced CP violating effect is proportional to the imaginary part of c5gv, where gv is the vector coupling constant in neutron and nuclear β decay, and c5 is the phenomenological coupling constant that appears in chiral perturbation theory at O(M-2) with M referring to the nucleon or nuclear mass. We consider a possible non-Abelian hidden sector model, which is beyond the SM and may yield a nontrivial Im(c5). The available bounds on both Im(c5) and Im(gv) are considered, and a better limit on Im(c5) can come from a direct measurement in radiative beta decay. We calculate the competitive effect that arises from the general parameterization of the weak interaction that was proposed by Lee and Yang in 1956. We also show that in the proposed measurements, the CP-violating effect can be mimicked by the SM via final-state interactions (FSI). For a better determination of the bound of Im(c5), we consider the FSI-induced mimicking effect in full detail in O(α) as well as in leading recoil order. To face ongoing precision measurements of neutron radiative β decay of up to 1% relative error, we sharpen our calculations of the CP conserving pieces of neutron radiative β decay by considering the largest contributions in O(α2): the final-state Coulomb corrections as well as the contributions from two-photon radiation.