Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Recall election'

This thesis looks at entertainment bias, specifically bias on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno towards Arnold Schwarzenegger during the time leading up to the California recall election in 2003. Entertainment media possess a unique ability to communicate messages to an unguarded audience, which gives them the potential to have more of a political impact than traditional news media. The basic theory is that Jay Leno showed political bias in his monologues towards his friend and gubernatorial candidate, Arnold Schwarzenegger. This theory was tested through a highly detailed descriptive analysis of monologue jokes and summary data for the time period March 31, 2003 to October 6, 2003. In total, there were 388 jokes from monologues of the Tonight Show analyzed. These jokes were broken down into categories based on their content and the subject. They were then compared to jokes delivered on the Late Show with David Letterman about the California recall election. The analysis of jokes showed that the manner in which candidates were portrayed on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno was politically biased towards Arnold Schwarzenegger. Due to the differences in program structure it was difficult to determine if this political bias was also present in the Late Show with David Letterman.
Master of Arts

More research is needed to be able to fully understand the role that social media plays in elections, specifically in local elections. Candidates need to understand how it works and how they can effectively use this new communication medium. By exploring Diffusion of Innovation Theory, Social Information Processing Theory, and the Two-Way Symmetrical Model of communications this study sought to answer one overarching question: how should a candidate employ social media in a local election? This qualitative, single case study explores the 2014 recall and general election in Yorba Linda, California. Councilman Tom Lindsey and candidate Matt Palmer are the primary subjects of study. Observations were made through analysis of documentation, interviews, and participant and direct observation. The researcher was employed as the campaign manager for both Lindsey's and Palmer's campaigns. The findings support the use of social media in local campaigns on a case by case basis. Determining use depends on the demographics of the voters and the abilities of the candidate. The data suggests that social media needs to be part of comprehensive strategy that includes traditional communication tools. Observations from the case study illustrate the need for candidates to engage in two-way communication that is monitored and regulated. This study begins to establish social media as a tool that candidates can use to inexpensively reach voters in a way that showcases the candidate's personality and allows them to connect on a personal level with constituents. Social media will play a role in politics at all levels.

We measured of the recoil momentum dependence of the d(e,e$\sp\prime$n)p cross section at a central $\vec q$ of 335 MeV/c. These measurements were part of experiment 85-05 at the Bates Linear Accelerator Center which also measured the electric and magnetic form factors of the neutron, G$\sbsp{\rm E}{n}$ and G$\sbsp{\rm M}{n}$. The experiment was run with a 444 MeV electron beam incident on a 5 cm target of liquid deuterium. Outgoing electrons of different momenta were selected by changing the dipole field of the electron spectrometer OHIPS which was at a fixed angle of 47$\sp\circ$. Neutrons were measured using an 1 x 4 array of mineral oil scintillators at an angle of $-$57$\sp\circ$. The recoil momentum transfer covered a range of $-$43 to 165 MeV/C in six overlapping points. The kinematics were such that extensive radiative corrections were needed and techniques for performing these corrections are described. The shape of the cross section as a function of recoil momentum was compared to and found to be in good agreement with a nonrelativistic calculation which included final-state-interactions.

L'étude détaillée des distributions transverses du halo du faisceau est importante du point de vue des pertes de faisceau et du contrôle du bruit de fond dans ATF2 et les futurs collisionneurs linéaires (FLC). Un nouveau type de capteur diamant sous vide (DSv) déplacable, avec quatre pistes, a été conçu et développé pour la mesure des distributions transverses du halo du faisceau et la détection du spectre des électrons de recul Compton après le point d'interaction (IP) d'ATF2, qui est un prototype à basse énergie (1.3 GeV) de la section de focalisation finale pour les projets de collisionneurs linéaires ILC et CLIC.Cette thèse présente les études du halo du faisceau et des électrons de recul Compton, ainsi que la caractérisation, les études de performance et les tests des capteurs diamant (DS), tant sur PHIL, un photo-injecteur à basse énergie (<10 MeV) au LAL, que sur ATF2. Les résultats des premières mesures du halo du faisceau, utilisant des wire scanner (WS) et un DSv, sur ATF2 sont également présentés et comparés dans cette thèse.Des simulations utilisant Mad-X et CAIN ont été réalisées afin d'estimer le nombre d'électrons composant le halo du faisceau ainsi que le nombre d'électrons de recul Compton. Les résultats des simulations ont indiqué qu'une grande gamme dynamique, supérieure 10⁶ , est nécessaire pour une mesure simultanée du cœur du faisceau, du halo du faisceau et des électrons de recul Compton. Un DSv mono-cristallin, fabriqué par CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition), a été développé dans ce but.Avant l'installation du capteur diamant, une première tentative de mesure du halo du faisceau a été effectuée en 2013, en utilisant les wire scanners (WS) actuellement installés sur ATF2. En raison de leur dynamique limitée de ~10³ , la distribution du halo du faisceau a été mesurée seulement jusqu'à ~±6σ dans la ligne d'extraction (EXT). Un paramétrage des distributions mesurées du halo du faisceau a montré que les distributions mesurées sont cohérentes avec des mesures faites précédemment, en 2005, sur l'ancienne ligne faisceau d'ATF. Durant ces mesures, une distribution asymétrique du halo vertical du faisceau a été observée pour la première fois en utilisant le WS situé après l'IP, son origine est actuellement sous investigation en utilisant le DSv.Des études pour caractériser des capteurs diamants de dimensions 4.5x4.5x0.5 mm³ ont été réalisées en utilisant des sources α et β. Les paramètres de transport des porteurs de charge (durée de vie, vitesse de saturation, etc.) ont été obtenus en utilisant la technique des courants transitoires (TCT). Par ailleurs, la linéarité de la réponse du DS a été testée sur PHIL avec différentes intensités de faisceau après la fenêtre de sortie de d'accélération. Un signal maximum de 10⁸ électrons a été mesuré, avec une réponse linéaire jusqu'à 10⁷ électrons. Des études similaires de la linéarité ont été faites pour le DSv sur ATF2. Nous avons pu y exploiter avec succès, pour la première fois une gamme dynamique de ~10⁶ , permettant de mesurer simultanément le cœur du faisceau (~10⁹ électrons) et le halo du faisceau (~10³ électrons). Le pick-up électromagnétique induit par le passage du cœur du faisceau et des effets de saturation, qui sont les limitations empêchant actuellement le DSv d'atteindre une gamme dynamique supérieure à 10⁶ , ont également été identifiés et étudiés.Les premières mesures de la distribution horizontale du halo, en utilisant le DSv, ont été effectuées jusqu'à ~±20σx , et ont permis de prouver que le halo du faisceau est collimaté par les ouvertures de la ligne ATF2. Une distribution horizontale du halo compatible avec les paramétrages de 2005 et 2013 a été confirmée. La possibilité de détecter les électrons de recul Compton a été étudiée. Différentes solutions pour accroître la sensibilité des mesures ont été proposées
The investigation of beam halo transverse distributions is an important issue for beam losses and background control in ATF2 and in Future Linear Colliders (FLC). A novel in vacuum diamond sensor (DSv) scanner with four strips has been designed and developed for the investigation of beam halo transverse distributions and also for the diagnostics of Compton recoil electrons after the interaction point (IP) of ATF2, a low energy (1.3 GeV) prototype of the final focus system for ILC and CLIC linear collider projects. This thesis presents the beam halo and Compton recoil electrons studies as well as the characterization, performance studies and tests of the diamond sensors (DS) both at PHIL, a low energy (<10 MeV) photo-injector at LAL, and at ATF2. First beam halo measurement results using wire scanners (WS) and DSv at ATF2 are also presented and compared in this thesis. Simulations using Mad-X and CAIN were done to estimate the rate of the beam halo and Compton recoil electrons. Simulation results have indicated that a large dynamic range of more than 10⁶ is needed for a simultaneous measurement of the beam core, beam halo and Compton recoil electrons. A single crystalline Chemical Vapor-Deposition (sCVD) based DSv was developed for this purpose. Prior to the diamond detector installation, first attempt of beam halo measurements have been performed in 2013 using the currently installed WS. With a limited dynamic range of ~10³ , the beam halo distribution was measured only up to ~±6σ in the extraction (EXT) line. Parametrizations of the measured beam halo distribution showed a consistent distribution with previous measurements done in 2005 at the old ATF beam line. Meanwhile, an asymmetric vertical beam halo distribution was observed for the first time using the post-IP WS, the origin of which is currently under investigation using the DSv.Studies to characterize DS pads with dimensions of 4.5x4.5x0.5 mm³ were carried out using the α and β sources. Charge carrier transport parameters (lifetime, saturation velocity etc.) were obtained using the transient-current technique (TCT). Furthermore, the linearity of the DS response was tested at PHIL with different beam intensities in air: a maximum signal of 108 electrons was measured with a linear response up to 10⁷ electrons. Similar linearity studies were done for the DSv at ATF2, where we have successfully demonstrated and confirmed for the first time a dynamic range of ~10⁶ by a simultaneous beam core (~10⁹ e-) and beam halo (~10³ e-) measurement using the DSv. Present limitations due to signal pick-up and saturation effects, which prevent the DSv from reaching a dynamic range higher than 10⁶ , were also studied.First measurements of the horizontal beam halo distribution using the DSv were performed up to ~±20σx, where the beam halo was proved to be collimated by the apertures. Horizontal beam halo distributions consistent with the 2005 and 2013 parametrizations were confirmed. The possibility of probing the Compton recoil electrons has been investigated and different ways to increase their visibility have been proposed

The Large Underground Xenon (LUX) experiment has recently placed the most stringent limit for the spin-independent WIMP-nucleon scattering cross-section. The WIMP search limit was aided by an internal tritium source resulting in an unprecedented calibration and understanding of the electronic recoil background. Here we discuss corrections to the signals in LUX, the energy scale calibration and present the methodology for extracting fundamental properties of electron recoils in liquid xenon. The tritium calibration is used to measure the ionization and scintillation yield of xenon down to 1 keV, the results is compared to other experiments. Recombination probability and its fluctuation is measured from 1 to 1000 keV, using betas from tritium and Compton scatters from an external ¹³⁷Cs source. Finally, the tritium source is described and the most recent results for ER discrimination in LUX is presented.

Aquest estudi avalua la utilitat diagnòstica clínica dels biomarcadors imflamatoris respecte de la complicació sèptica intraabdominal en el postoperatori de pacients intervinguts de cirurgia electiva de còlon. La peritonitis postoperatòria és la principal causa de sèpsia postoperatòria i de mort en un postoperatori de cirurgia intraabdominal. Malgratls darrers avenços en maneig perioperatori en els hospitals, el seguiment es fa en base a criteris de gravetat, fet que fa que el pacient sigui diagnosticat més tard de l’inici de la complicació. Nous biomarcadors de sèpsia com la proteïna C reactiva (PCR), procalcitonina (PCT), han estat usats en clínica com a marcadors diagnòstics de sèpsia. El present treball pretén trobar els indicadors de mala evolució clínica i dels marcadors imflamatoris plasmàtics usats en clínica a partir dels quals es podrien indicar maniobres diagnostico-terapèutiques específiques. Es fa una anàlisi descriptiva d’una mostra de 341 casos de neoplasia colo-rectal recollits de forma prospectiva consecutiva, amb 73 casos d’infecció d’òrgan-espai (ILQ-OE), de les quals 53 corresponen a casos de dehiscència de sutura (DS), i 23 a DS clínica. La mostra per a l’anàlisi de biomarcadors és sobre 298 pacients, mostra que inclou 45 casos de DS, i 67 casos d’ILQ-OE. La morbiditat mèdica inclou 146 complicacions mèdiques no sèptiques (42,82%). La morbiditat infecciosa global ha estat del 47,51%, amb 162 casos entre ILQ i IDLQ. La IDLQ ha estat del 17,30%. La ILQ ha estat del 37,24%. La incidència de la ILQ-OE ha estat del 21,41%. L’índex de DS és del 15,54%. La DS dintre de les ILQ-OE ha estat del 72,60%. El dia mediana de diagnòstic ha estat el 7è dia PO (rang 2-35 dies). La reintervenció global ha estat del 12,17%. L’índex de mortalitat ha estat del 6,40%, amb 22 casos de mort postoperatòria. La mortalitat entre el grup que presenta ILQ-OE és del 16%. La DS precoç abans del 6è dia postoperatori ha mostrat una mortalitat (26,67%) doblement superior a la tardana, a partir del 6è dia (10,53%). S’han detectat 19 casos amb retard diagnòstic, definit com la diferència entre el dia de diagnòstic i el de primer dia de sospita. La distribució dels retards diagnòstics abarca un rang de valors de 30 dies, distribuíts en 2 pics, un de principal entorn els 2,5 dies, i un de més tardà i menor, entorn els 22,5 dies. El 30,33% dels pacients presenten almenys un criteri SIRS el dia abans de la IQ. A l’anàlisi multivariant les variables que mostren relació estadísticament significativa amb el desenvolupament d’una ILQ-OE són (Xi2) el valor de la PCR, la presència d’identificadors IMEC, 3 criteris SIRS, o la presència d’hepatopatia crònica. Aquests paràmetres permeten la construcció d’un score de risc per a la consecució d’una complicació sèptica intraabdominal postoperatòria. L’score, un cop aplicat a la mostra objecte d’estudi, obté una mitjana de dies guanyats al diagnòstic de 6,95 dies (mediana de 6,0, mínim de -2 dies, màxim de 32 dies) al diagnòstic d’ILQ-OE. L’aplicació a la mostra obté una sensibilitat (S) de 83,56%, i una especificitat (E) del 52,61%, amb un VPN del 92,16%. Com a conclusions podem afirmar que els nous biomarcadors imflamatoris (PCR, PCT, PCT-US, i pPCT 1-116) sí compleixen una funció com a eina diagnòstica complementària del procés sèptic intraabdominal postoperatori en cirurgia colo-rectal electiva, obtenint la seva major utilitat en combinació amb els identificadors de mala evolució clínica (IMEC) a la mostra estudiada, i no per separat (definits com la presència de 10 possibles identificadors de mala evolució clínica, recollits a peu de llit, d’entre febre, trastorn hemodinàmic, alteració de consciència, taquipnea, abdominalgia, ili paralític perllongat, diarrea, oliguria, petició de proves complementàries i alteració del dèbit dels drenatges o altres). Aquesta combinació no es veu afavorida per la inclusió de més d’un biomarcador en un mateix score de predicció diagnòstic. L’score compost pels valors de la PCR, conjuntament amb el nombre d’IMEC i la presència o no d’hepatopatia crònica constitueix una eina diagnòstica més eficaç que els criteris de sospita clàssics, arribant a avançar fins a 6 dies de mediana el diagnòstic de la complicació sèptica intraabdominal en el model simulat sobre la mostra recollida. El present estudi demostra que la combinació de marcadors clínics i biològics o biomarcadors (combinats entre ells i/o amb marcadors tradicionals de sèpsia) dintre dels 10 primers dies en el postoperatori d’una intervenció de còlon amb anastomosi o sutura intraabdominal, permeten un diagnòstic més acurat de la complicació sèptica intraabdominal que la clínica, traduïble en dies guanyats al diagnòstic, i permet, per tant, la possibilitat d’iniciar abans maniobres diagnòstico-terapèutiques específiques precoces.
This study evaluates the clinical diagnostic utility of the inflammatory biomarkers concerning the septic postoperative complication of patients taken part of elective colo-rectal surgery. The postoperative peritonitis is the main cause of postoperative sepsis and cause of death in those patients. Despite of the last advances in postoperative management, the follow-up usually is being made in base to criteria of gravity, so delaying the diagnostic of the complication. Biomarkers of sepsis like C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT), have been used in clinical as diagnostic markers of sepsis. The present work pretends to find the indicators of bad clinical evolution from the inflammatory biomarkers used in clinical practice, which from to be able to indicate diagnostic-therapeutic specific manoeuvres. It does a descriptive analysis from a sample of 341 cases of colo-rectal cancer prospective-consecutive collected, with 53 cases of anastomotic leakage (AL), 23 of them clinical leaks, and 73 organ-space surgical-site infection (OS-SSI). The sample for biomarkers analysis is of 298 patients, sample that includes 45 cases of AL, and 67 cases of OS-SSI. The global infection rate, taking both surgical site infection (SSI) and non-surgical or “at distance” site infection (DI), is 47.51%. The DI has been of 17.30%. The SSI has been of 37.24%. The incidence of the SSI-OE has been of 21.41%. The AL rate is of 15.54%. The AL within the SSI-OE has been of 72.60%. The mean day of diagnostic has been the 7th postoperative day (rank 2-35 days). The global reoperation index has been of 12.17%. The mortality index has been of 6.40%, with 22 cases of death. The mortality in the OS-SSI group is of 16.00%, so on the other hand the precocious AL (before the 6th day) has showed a mortality (26.67%) doubly upper to the late, from the 6th day and beyond (10.53%). It has been detected 19 cases with diagnostic delay, defined as the difference between the day of diagnostic and the first day of suspicion. The distribution of the diagnostic delay takes a rank of values about 30 days, distributed in two modes, one of main surroundings the 2.5 days, and one of later and lesser, surroundings the 22.5 days. The 30.33% of the patients present at least one criterion SIRS the day before of the SI. From the multivariant analysis the variables that shows statistical relationship with the development of OS-SSI are (Xi2) the addition of 50 points in the value of the CRP, the presence of 3 identifiers of bad clinical evolution (IBCE), 3 criteria SIRS, or the presence of chronic hepathopaty. These parameters allow the building of a score of risk for the achievement of the septic complication identification. The score, once applied to the study sample, obtains an average of overcoming days of 6,95 days (mean of 6,0, minimum of 0 days, maximum of 32 days) to the diagnostic of OS-SSI. The application to the sample obtains a sensitivity of 83,56%, and a specificity of 52,61%, with a negative predictive value of 92,16%. As a conclusions it can be affirmed that the new inflammatory biomarkers (CRP, PCT) do fulfil a function as a diagnostic tool of the septic intraabdominal postoperative complication in elective colo-rectal surgery, obtaining his greater utility in combination with the identifiers of bad clinical evolution (IBCE) in the sample studied, and not separately (IBCE defined as the presence of 10 possible identifiers of bad clinical evolution, collected at the bedside, including fever, haemodinamic disfunction, alteration of consciousness, taquipnoea, abdominal pain, paralytic ileum, diarrhoea, low urine output, request of complementary tests and alteration of the debit of the drainages or other). This combination does not take advantage by the inclusion of more biomarkers in a same prediction diagnostic model. The score compounded by the values of the CRP, jointly with the numeral IBCE and the presence (or not) of chronic hepathopaty constitutes a more powerful diagnostic tool than the classical suspicion criteria, reaching a mean save of 6 days to the diagnostic of the septic complication in the simulation over the study sample. The present study shows that the combination of clinical bad evolution parameters and biomarkers (combined between them) within of the 10 first days in the postoperative period of an elective colo-rectal intervention with anastomosis or suture, allows a more powerful diagnostic of the septic complication that the clinical alone, then changeable in days won in front of the diagnosis, and allows, therefore, the possibility of initiate diagnostic-therapeutic specific manoeuvres precociously.

Pour expliquer le deplacement et l'elargissement du pic compton,lorsque l'energie du photon est voisine de l'energie de liaison de l'electron, il est necessaire d'introduire non seulement la liaison et le mouvement de l'electron, mais aussi le recul du mnoyau. On donne un calcul relativiste de la valeur quadratique moyenne de l'impulsion de l'electron et une expression generale des fonctions d'onde radiales. Pour le calcul analytique covariant de l'element de matrice ou utilise un propagateur pour un electron lie dans le schema de furry et determine la secton efficace, sans aucune integration

This thesis addresses the effects of neoadjuvant cancer treatment (CRT) and a preoperative exercise training programme on physical fitness and physical activity levels (PAL) in people with locally advanced rectal cancer prior to elective surgery. An observational study was conducted to investigate the effects of neoadjuvant CRT on physical fitness cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) derived variable oxygen uptake (V o2) at lactate threshold (ˆθL) and PAL (daily step-count), and other associated exploratory CPET and PAL variables in people with locally advanced rectal cancer scheduled for elective surgery. Following completion of neoadjuvant CRT (week-0) prior to surgery, a randomised controlled study (RCT) was conducted. Participants were randomised to an in-hospital pre-operative exercise training programme or to a usual care control group. The primary endpoint was V o2 at ˆθL at week-9 measured using CPET. The secondary endpoint was daily step-count at week-9 measured using physical activity monitors. Exploratory endpoints were associated CPET and PAL variables. Thirty-one participants were recruited, of which, 24 completed the study (five dropped out and two were deemed palliative). Findings from the observational study showed no significant differences in V o2 at ˆθL or daily step-count following neoadjuvant 4 CRT (p>0.05). Findings from the RCT showed a significant difference in V o2 at ˆθL (ml.kg^-1.min^-1) at week-9 following participation in the exercise group programme (n=13) compared to the usual care control group (n=11): 16.7 (5.1) vs. 12.9 (1.6); p=0.021. There were no statistical significant differences between the groups in daily step-count at week-9 (p>0.05). These findings suggest that pre-operative in-hospital exercise training can optimise physical fitness prior to major surgery. These results will aid the design of a large, multi-centre trial, to determine whether an increase in physical fitness improves postoperative outcome, length of stay and other important clinical outcomes.

This thesis presents work towards the first measurement of the mass of the W boson (m_W) at ATLAS at the Large Hadron Collider using √s = 7 TeV collision data taken in 2011. The electron energy calibration is presented, including a detailed study of the linearity of the ATLAS electromagnetic calorimeter. Separately, the measurement of the W boson recoil is calibrated using Z boson events. Recoil corrections for the underlying event, pileup, recoil magnitude resolution, recoil angular resolution and recoil response mismodelling are determined, with statistical uncertainties on these corrections corresponding to an estimated uncertainty on m_W of 3.9 MeV. The corrections for calorimeter non-linearity and recoil modelling improve the description of the data, though systematic biases remain. To achieve a precision commensurate with the statistics of the data, these biases will need to be understood.

La première partie de la thèse contient une description de la méthode d'étalonnage du calorimètre électromagnétique, corrigeant les différences entre les données et la simulation pour ce qui concerne le développement des cascades électromagnétiques dans le calorimètre. La méthode améliore l'identification des électrons et réduit l'incertitude systématique associée. La majeure partie de la thèse est consacrée à la mesure précise du spectre en impulsion transverse (pT) du boson W à l'aide des données collectées par l'expérience ATLAS à des énergies dans le centre de masse de 5 et 13 TeV lors de deux prises de données spéciales, à faible taux d’empilement, en 2017 et en 2018. La motivation pour la mesure précise du spectre en impulsion transverse du boson W est double. Premièrement, elle sert de test pour les prédictions théoriques obtenues dans le cadre du Modèle Standard et permet de comparer les performances des générateurs Monte-Carlo (MC). La deuxième raison est que ce spectre est un ingrédient à la mesure de la masse du boson W, qui est un paramètre du Modèle Standard. L'utilisation de données à faible taux d'empilement permet de réduire significativement l'incertitude systématique due au recul hadronique et améliore de ce fait la précision sur la mesure du spectre. La thèse décrit la méthodologie de la mesure du spectre en pT du boson W ainsi que les étalonnages appliqués, les corrections et les incertitudes associées. Le résultat final est obtenu à partir du recul hadronique mesuré à l'aide d'une procédure de déconvolution des effets de détecteur et est comparé aux prédictions théoriques obtenues avec différents générateurs Monte-Carlo. Une méthode alternative pour la reconstruction du recul hadronique, avec l'utilisation de réseaux neuronaux profonds est proposée dans la thèse. Il y est montré que cette méthode améliore la résolution du recul hadronique mesuré d'environ 10% dans la région la plus pertinente, de faible pT. Les observables obtenus par cette approche améliorent la sensibilité à la masse du boson W
The initial part of the thesis contains the description of the method for electromagnetic calorimeter calibration, correcting for the Data-MC discrepancy in the development of the electromagnetic showers in the calorimeter. The method improves electron identification and reduces the associated systematic uncertainty.The major part of the thesis is dedicated to the precise measurement of the W boson transverse spectrum using the data, collected by the ATLAS experiment at the energies of 5 and 13 TeV during two special low pile-up runs in 2017 and 2018. The motivation for the precise measurement of the W boson transverse spectrum is twofold. First, it serves as a test for the theoretical predictions obtained within the Standard Model and allows to benchmark the performance of the Monte-Carlo (MC) generators. The second reason is because the W pT spectrum is an input component for the measurement of the W boson mass which is a Standard Model parameter. The use of low pile-up data allows to significantly reduce the hadronic recoil systematic uncertainty improving the precision of the spectrum measurement. The thesis describes the methodology of the W boson pT spectrum measurement as well as the imposed calibrations, corrections and the associated uncertainties. The final result is obtained from the measured hadronic recoil using an unfolding procedure and is compared to the theoretical predictions obtained with different Monte-Carlo generators. An alternative method for the hadronic recoil reconstruction with the use of deep neural networks is proposed in the thesis. The method is shown to improve the resolution of the measured hadronic recoil by about 10% in the most relevant region of low pT. The observables obtained using approach improve the sensitivity to the mass of the W boson

Previous studies demonstrated that increased levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) after colo-rectal surgery are correlated to postoperative organ-space surgical site infection (OS-SSI) even at 48 hours time point. Such early inflammatory response might suggest that intraoperative haemodynamic factors might influence intestinal anastomosis healing. Objective: To evaluate the correlation between early postoperative venous lactate, CRP at 48 hours and intraoperative haemodynamics and the incidence of OS-SSI in patients operated on elective colorectal surgery with anastomosis. Materials and methods. From March 2013 to August 2014, all patients undergoing colorectal surgery with anastomosis were prospectively included. Levels of venous lactate were measured at the end of surgery (L-PO) and at 6 (L-6) and 24 hours afterwards (L-24). CRP levels at postoperative 48 hours (CRP-48) were also measured. We compared lactate levels and CRP values in patients with and without OS-SSI infection. Proportion of time that patients developed intraoperative systolic hypotension (SBP<100 mmHg) or tachycardia (>90 bpm) were also assessed. Data are summarized as mean ± SD. To analyze data, Student t-test and a logistic regression model with L-0 and CRP-48 with a ROC curve of this model were performed. Results. One hundred patients were included, with an age of 69±11 years-old. Forty-four percent of patients were operated by laparoscopic approach. Eleven out of 100 patients (11%) complained OS-SSI. OS-SSI patients had significantly higher venous lactate levels at L-PO and at L-24 (3,2 vs 1,5, p<0,001 and 1,8 vs 1,2, p=0,0002, mmol/L, respectively). Overall, patients with L-PO >2,5 mmol/L had higher CRP-48 levels (140±85 vs. 78±57 mg/L, respectively, p=0,001). With the logistic regression model with L-PO and CRP-48 and ROC curve of this model: in patients with more than 0,26 of probability, OS-SSI should be discarded (AUC 0,899). Analysing haemodynamics behaviour, patients who developed OS-SSI remained hypotensive (50 % vs 30%, p=0,03) and tachycardic (18% vs 5%, p=0,02) for a longer period of time. Conclusions. Early postoperative venous lactate and CRP at 48 hours correlated to OS-SSI appearance. Determination of biological markers and haemodynamics goal-oriented intraoperative management might improve the postoperative outcome.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc
Hydrogen has high energy density and it is regarded as the future energy carrier. Hydrogen can be stored as a gas in high-pressure cylinders, as a liquid in cryogenic tanks and as a solid in metal hydrides. The storage of hydrogen in gas and liquid form has many limitations. Light metal hydrides show high energy density and are a promising and more practical mode of hydrogen storage. In particular, titanium and its alloys are promising metal hydrides for hydrogen storage due to their high affinity to hydrogen. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of thermal annealing on hydrogen storage capacity of Ti-Pd multilayer systems. Ti-Pd multilayer films were prepared on CP-Ti (commercial pure Ti) and Ti6Al4V substrates using an electron beam evaporator equipped with a thickness monitor. The sequential deposition of layers Pd(50nm)/Ti(25nm)/Pd(50nm) was done at a constant deposition rate of 0.6 Å/s. The first batch of samples were thermally annealed at 550 °C in vacuum for two hours, the second batch of samples were annealed at 550 oC under H2(15%)/Ar(85%) gas mixture for two hours and the third series of samples was annealed under pure H2 gas at 550 oC for one hour. SEM showed relatively homogeneous and smooth topography of surfaces in as-deposited samples, while a rough textured surface was observed in both samples annealed under vacuum and under H2/Ar gas mixture. The samples annealed under pure H2 gas did not show any sign of crystallites grow but instead a relatively smooth surface with sign of etching. XRD revealed structural transformation as evidenced by the presence of PdTi2 phase in samples annealed under vacuum; in samples annealed under the gas mixture Pd2Ti was noted in addition to TiH2 and TiO2. While the TiH2 phase is an indication of hydrogen absorption, the TiPd2 phase suggests intermixing of the deposited layers and the presence of TiO2 is evidence of oxidation. The samples annealed under pure H2 gas showed only TiH2 with no trace of structural transformation. RBS confirmed the intermixing of layers in the samples annealed under vacuum and H2(15%)/Ar(85%) gas mixture, while samples annealed under pure H2 gas did not show any intermixing of layers. ERDA revealed an average H content of ~ 3.5 at.% in CP-Ti and ~6.2 at.% in Ti6Al4V for samples annealed under H2(15%)/Ar(85%) gas mixture. We recorded an hydrogen content of ~19.5 at.% in CP-Ti annealed under pure H2 while ~25.5 at.% was found in Ti6Al4V annealed under the same conditions. When the thickness of the Pd catalyst layers was increased to 100 nm (i.e. Pd (100 nm)/Ti (25 nm)/Pd (100 nm)), only ~ 12.5 at.% and 11.2 at. % hydrogen content was recorded in samples prepared on CP-Ti and Ti6Al4V alloy respectively, both annealed under pure hydrogen for one hour as above.

The management of patients undergoing colorectal surgery has changed in recent decades. Efforts have been made to show that perioperative physiological stress to the patient can be minimised with standardised care programmes and thus improve short term outcome after colorectal surgery. Mechanical bowel preparation (MBP), for instance, has been questioned as part of standard management. There are studies highlighting the effect of cancer treatment and its side effects in the elderly, showing that geriatric patients benefit from oncological therapy in much the same way as younger patients. The impact of this information on surgical and oncological practice in Sweden today is not known. To assess the effectiveness of colorectal surgery we need both randomised controlled trials and population-based cohort studies. We have performed a trial on colonic surgery with and without preoperative mechanical bowel preparation, as well as a nation-wide register study comparing treatment and outcome of rectal cancer in two age groups. In a randomised controlled trial 1505 patients from 21 hospitals were randomised to MBP or no-MBP prior to open elective colonic resection. There were no differences in overall complication rates between the groups: cardiovascular 5.1% with MBP vs. 4.6% without MBP; general infection 7.9% vs. 6.8%; and surgical site complications 15.1% vs. 16.1%. The proportion of patients reaching at least one primary endpoint was 24.5% vs. 23.7% respectively. The patients experience of and postoperative recovery after MBP or no-MBP was evaluated in 105 of the patients in the bowel preparation trial at three of the participating hospitals. Sixty-five patients received MBP and 40 patients did not. In the MBP group 52% needed assistance with bowel preparation. Day 4 postoperatively patients in the no-MBP group perceived more discomfort than patients in the MBP group, p<0.05. Bowel emptying occurred significantly earlier in the no-MBP group than in the MBP group, p<0.05. In an experimental study the effect of MBP on intramucosal bacterial count was evaluated. Macroscopically normal colon mucosa was collected from 37 patients (20 MBP and 17 No-MBP) undergoing elective colorectal surgery at three hospitals. MBP did not influence the median colony count of E. coli, Bacteroides, or total median colony count, information that was previously unknown. These three studies imply that MBP can be omitted before elective colonic resection. In a population-based register study, treatment for rectal cancer in patients ≥ 75 years and those < 75 years was evaluated using data from the Swedish Rectal Cancer Register 1995-2004 (N=15104). This study revealed that preoperative radiotherapy was used less in patients > 75 years. There was also a higher threshold for surgery in this group, and they more often received a permanent stoma compared to younger patients. Outcome in terms of 5-year local recurrence rate and 5-year cancer-specific survival differed very little between the older and younger patient groups who underwent abdominal tumour resection with curative intent. We suggest future studies focusing on ways of reducing surgical and perioperative stress and on quality of life when assessing suitable treatment modalities for rectal cancer.

Identification de 417 raies de ar i a ar ix et de nouvelles raies de ar vi a ar vii dans le domaine 90-850 a obtenues par impact d'ions lourds d'energie inferieur au mev/nucleon. Obtention de differents types de spectres suivant le fonctionnement du faisceau: 1) en continu, spectre total a 2 dimensions (intensite, longueur d'onde) correspondant a l'emission prompte, 2) en pulse, spectre a 3 dimensions (intensite, temps, longueur d'onde) associe a l'emission retardee. Mise en evidence de phenomenes de capture electronique par collisions secondaires entre ions de recul et ar neutre, conformement aux previsions du modele classique de la barriere de potentiel

Résumé : Le contrôle de la chimie de l'eau dans un réacteur nucléaire refroidi à l'eau nécessite une compréhension détaillée des effets de la radiolysede l'eau afin de limiter la corrosion et la dégradation des matériaux par oxydation générée par les produits de cette radiolyse. Toutefois, la mesure directe de la chimie dans le cœur des réacteurs est extrêmement difficile, sinon impossible, en raison des conditions extrêmes de haute température et haute pression, et les champs d’irradiation mixtes neutrons/γ, qui ne sont pas compatibles avec l'instrumentation chimique normale. Pour ces raisons,des modèles théoriques et des simulations sur ordinateur sont essentielles pour la prédiction de la chimie sous rayonnement de l'eau de refroidissement dans le cœur et son impact sur les matériaux. Dans ce travail, des simulations Monte Carlo ont été utilisées pour calculer les rendements des principales espèces (e[indice supérieur -][indice inférieur aq], H[indice supérieur •], H[indice inférieur 2], [indice supérieur •]OH et H[indice inférieur 2]O[indice inférieur 2]) formées lors de la radiolyse de l’eau liquide neutre par des neutrons mono-énergétiques de 2 MeV à des températures entre 25 et 350 °C. Le choix des neutrons de 2 MeV comme énergie d'intérêt est représentatif du flux de neutrons rapides dans un réacteur. Pour l'eau légère, la contribution la plus significative à la radiolyse vient des quatre premières collisions des neutrons qui produisent, dans la majorité des cas, des protons avec des énergies de recul de ~1.264, 0.465, 0.171 et 0.063 MeV et des transferts d’énergie linéique (TEL) moyens respectivement de ~22, 43, 69et 76 keV/[micro]m. Par ailleurs, nous avons négligé les effets des radiations dus aux ions de recul de l’oxygène. Les rendements moyens finaux peuvent alors être estimés comme étant la somme des rendements résultant de l’action de ces protons après pondérations en fonction de l’énergie déposée. Les rendements ont été calculés à 10[indice supérieur -7], 10[indice supérieur -6] et 10[indice supérieur -5] s. Les valeurs obtenues sont en accord avec les données expérimentales disponibles. En comparant nos résultats avec les données obtenues pour les rayonnements à faible TEL (rayons γ de [indice supérieur 60]Co ou électrons rapides), nos rendements calculés pour les neutrons rapides ont montré une dépendance en température essentiellement similaire, mais avec des valeurs plus faibles pour les rendements en radicaux libres et des valeurs plus élevées pour les rendements moléculaires. Nous avons également utilisé les simulations Monte Carlo pour étudier l'existence de la chute rapide de la constante de vitesse de réaction de l'électron hydraté (e[indice supérieur -][indice inférieur aq]) sur lui-même – l’une des principales sources de formation de H[indice inférieur 2] – au-dessus de 150 °C. Cette dépendance en température a été observée expérimentalement en milieu alcalin par divers auteurs, mais jamais en milieu neutre. Lorsque cette baisse de la constante de vitesse d’auto-réaction de e[indice supérieur -][indice inférieur aq] est incluse dans nos codes de simulation, tant pour des rayonnements de bas TEL (grappes isolés) que de haut TEL (trajectoires cylindriques), g(H[indice inférieur 2]) montre une discontinuité marquée à la baisse à ~150°C, ce qui n'est pas observée expérimentalement. Les conséquences de la présence de cette discontinuité dans le rendement en H[indice inférieur 2] pour les rayonnements à bas et haut TEL sont discutées. Enfin, nous avons tenté d’expliquer l'augmentation – considérée comme anormale – du rendement en H[indice inférieur 2] en fonction de la température au-dessus de 200 °C par l’intervention de la réaction des atomes H[indice supérieur •] avec l'eau, préalablement proposée par Swiatła-Wojcik et Buxton en 2005. La constante de vitesse de cette réaction est toujours controversée. // Abstract : Controlling the water chemistry in a water-cooled nuclear power reactor requires understanding and mitigating the effects of water radiolysis to limit the corrosion and degradation of materials by oxidizing radiolysis products. However, direct measurement of the chemistry in reactor cores is extremely difficult due to the extreme conditions of high temperature, pressure, and mixed neutron/γ-radiation fields, which are not compatible with normal chemical instrumentation. For these reasons, theoretical models and computer simulations are essential for predicting the detailed radiation chemistry of the cooling water in the core and the impact on materials. Monte Carlo simulations were used to calculate the yields for the primary species (e[superscript -][subscript aq], H[superscript •], H[subscript 2], [superscript •]OH, and H[subscript 2]O[subscript 2]) formed from the radiolysis of neutral liquid water by mono-energetic 2-MeV neutrons and the mechanisms involved at temperatures between 25 and 350 °C. In this work, we chose 2-MeV neutron as our energy of interest since it is known as representative of a fast neutron flux in a nuclear reactor. For light water, for that chosen energy, the most significant contribution to the radiolysis comes from the first four neutron collisions that generate mostly ejected protons with energies of ~1.264, 0.465, 0.171, and 0.063 MeV, which had, at 25 °C, mean linear energy transfers (LETs) of ~22, 43, 69, and 76 keV/[micro]m, respectively. In this work, we simply neglected the radiation effects due to oxygen ion recoils. The average final fast neutron yields could be estimated as the sum of the yields for these protons after allowance was made for the appropriate weightings (by using the Eq (2) in Chapter 4) according to their deposited energy. Yields were calculated at 10[superscript -7], 10[superscript -6] and 10[superscript -5] s. Our computed yield agreed reasonably well with the available experimental data. By comparing our results with data obtained for low-LET radiation ([superscript 60]Co γ-rays or fast electrons), our computed yields for fast neutron radiation showed essentially similar temperature dependences over the range of temperature studied, but with lower values for yields of free radicals and higher values for molecular yields. In this work, we also used our Monte Carlo simulation to investigate the existence of drop of hydrated electron (e[superscript -][subscript aq]) self-reaction rate constant at 150 °C. One of the main sources of H[subscript 2] formation is the self-reaction of hydrated electrons. The temperature dependence of the rate constant of this reaction (k[subscript 1]), measured under alkaline conditions, reveals that the rate constant drops abruptly above ~150 °C. However, when this drop in the e[superscript -][subscript aq] self-reaction rate constant is included in our code for low (isolated spurs) and high (cylindrical tracks) linear energy transfer (LET), g(H[subscript 2]) shows a marked downward discontinuity at ~150 °C which is not observed experimentally. The consequences of the presence of this discontinuity in H[subscript 2] yield for both low and high LET radiation are discussed. Another reaction that might explain the anomalous increasing of H[subscript 2] yield with temperature is the reaction of H[superscript •] atoms with water previously proposed by Swiatla-Wojcik and Buxton (2005) whose rate constant is still in controversial.

Mechanical property and thermal stability of Zr-Si-N films of varying silicon contents deposited on Al₂O₃ (0001) substrates are characterized. All films provided for characterization were deposited by reactive DC magnetron sputter deposition technique from elemental Zr and Si targets in a N₂/Ar plasma at 800 ^oC. The hardness and microstructures of the as deposited films and post-annealed films up to 1100 ^oC are evaluated by means of nanoindentation, X-ray diffractometry and transmission electron microscopy. The Zr-Si-N films with 9.4 at.% Si exhibit hardness as high as 34 GPa and a strong (002) texture within which vertically elongated ZrN crystallites are embedded in a Si₃N₄ matrix. The hardness of these two dimensional nanocomposite films remains stable up to 1000 ^oC annealing temperatures which is in contrast to ZrN films where hardness degradation occurs already above 800 ^oC. The enhanced thermal stability is attributed to the presence of Si₃N₄ grain boundaries which act as efficient barriers to hinder the oxygen diffusion. X-ray amorphous or nanocrystalline structures are observed in Zr-Si-N films with silicon contents > 13.4 at.%. After the annealing treatments, crystalline phases such as ZrSi₂, ZrO₂ and Zr₂O are formed above 1000 ^oC in the Si-containing films while only zirconia crystallites are observed at 800 ^oC in pure ZrN films because oxygen acts as artifacts in the vacuum furnace. The structural, compositional and hardness comparison of as-deposited and annealed films reveal that the addition of silicon enhances the thermal stability compared to pure ZrN films and the hardness degradation stems from the formation of oxides at elevated temperatures.

碩士
國立臺灣大學
國家發展研究所
106
The right of recall is one of the types of constitutional right that gives the people. It not only has the function of making the politicians self-vigilant but also have the functions of recall the incumbent public officials. However, the recall of our system has its shortcomings, resulting in the recall of activities and the recall of regulations on the application are very difficult and unreasonable , but also caused the people and the government have a strong conflict between the relationship. the problem is that the recall of the operation of the system difficulties to activity. The article hopes from the perspective of the liberal democratic constitutional order, to explore the recall system, activities and legal norms, hope to clarify the causes of its problems. The results of the study found that the reasons for the difficulty of the recall of the system are that the construction of the normative norms is not timely; the law is conservative, one is due to inherit the old law and law of recall is disrepair, and the repair of the recall law is not keeping pace with the times, Constitutional spirit cannot be implemented, if we want to make Taiwan in the democratic politics on the next level, there is a need to adjust the recall of law and legislate.

碩士
國立臺北大學
法律學系一般生組
101
If we observe the civil servants elections in Taiwan, including elections for central government and local division seats , we can easily find that many candidates will try every means and tricks to manipulate the results in order to win the election, hence shaped the unique election campaign culture of Taiwan. The Civil Servants Election And Recall Act has been passed and enacted in May 1980, which means regulations for electoral defamatory speech has already existed for a long time, and protection of fair election seems to be a common recognition. However, there still exist defamatory speech during every election period, even some former candidates were sentenced due to such speech. Whenever there is a national election, malicious accusations toward other candidates or cries for clarification always pop up in newspaper headline, shown the progress of our election tradition is pretty limited. This thesis is divided into six chapters. Based on Article 104 of Civil Servants Election And Recall Act, the author discuss the regulation and relating problems of electoral defamatory speech , examine the legal interest(Rechtsgut) of this very Article, distinguish the commonness and differences between Article 310 of the Criminal Code(offense of slander), find out whether the impunity of criminal code(Article 310 Section 3,and Article 311 of Criminal Code) and the ‘actual malice theory’ founded from the U.S. will apply or analogize to electoral defamatory situations. This thesis also clarifies the burden of proof which the accuser bear are not the same in these two counts. To illustrate, the author also take a comparative approach, search the relevant legislations of Japan, South Korea, Spain, and France. This thesis argues that a clear distinction should be made between Article 104 of Civil Servants Election And Recall Act and Article 310 of Criminal Code, this clarification could not only protect the freedom of speech, but also promote the quality and fairness of elections. In addition, the author examine some previous judgements to show the defects of reasoning based on current theory, and provide a new theory model as a better solution. The author hopes this new theory will effectively deter electoral defamatory speech and stop negative campaign traditions.

The objective of the submitted diploma thesis is to analyze the subject of a direct democracy system in the Czech Republic focusing on the local level of governance. The possibility of being able to participate imminently in the municipal government and thus amending the current representative model became the subject of not only political discussions over the last few years. The thesis is composed of a foreword and five chapters, which are hereafter divided to subchapters for better transparency. Findings and author suggestions concerning the possible future forms of the local democracy are summarized in the conclusion. The introductory chapter presents the direct democracy in a theoretical way and shows how it differs from the representative democracy model. It also contains the definition of the five most respected forms of a direct democracy, which are: referendum, plebiscite, citizen initiative, petition and recall. Following two chapters are focused on the situation in Czech Republic, first in general, then with an emphasis on the municipal scene. Efforts to establish an individual form of a direct democracy can be observed already from the year 1918 with various results, new possibilities appeared later as Czech Republic had entered supranational communities. A local referendum still remains...

Auger electron spectra of matrix-isolated metal atoms have been recorded for the first time. Differences in extra-atomic relaxation between bulk metal and argon matrix isolated atoms resulted in shifts in the energy of LMM Auger electrons, $-3.1$ eV for potassium and $-8.7$ eV for titanium. The sum of the shift and the known difference between the energies of LMM Auger electrons from gaseous and frozen argon is a good estimate of the total extra-atomic relaxation energy for the bulk metal after Auger processes. Polyimide Isoindolo Quinazolin-dione (PIQ) was studied in detail with Direct Recoil Spectroscopy (DRS), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (SIMS) to determine the effects of argon and nitrogen ion implantation, oxygen recoil implantation, and vacuum annealing. A hydrocarbon contaminant that cannot be detected by XPS alone was confirmed to exist with DRS. Ion bombardment, even at relatively low energies, causes profound graphitization of the surface. DRS and XPS data show that appreciable amounts of nitrogen and oxygen can be implanted into the polymer, and that the implanted species are stable up to 300$\sp\circ$C. DRS evidence suggests that water dissociates on the 3 keV argon ion bombarded PIQ surface, adding hydrogen to the surface but not oxygen. DRS, XPS and SIMS have been used to examine chemisorption and annealing on polycrystalline titanium. Dynamic surface processes were studied with DRS on the time-scale of 30 seconds, revealing that a surface phase transition takes place on Ar$\sp{+}$ sputtered titanium at only 500$\sp\circ$K. DRS in conjunction with XPS showed conclusive evidence for formation of a subsurface nitride after a nitride titanium sample was exposed to oxygen. A 'trickle down' mechanism is proposed to account for the formation of the subsurface species. There are at least two surface sites for hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen. At room temperature, the hydrogens' lower site is saturated, even after sputter-cleaning.