A model of gender prejudice, power, and discrimination: How hierarchy-enhancing factors predominate over hierarchy-attenuating factors

Gender inequalities remain an issue in our society and particularly in the workplace. Several factors can explain this gender difference in top-level managerial positions such as career ambitions but also biases against women. In our chapter, we propose a model explaining why gender inequalities and particularly discrimination against women is still present in our societies despite social norms and existing legislation on gender equality. To this purpose, we review research on discrimination through two different approaches, (a) a prejudice approach through the justification-suppression model developed by Crandall and Eshleman (2003) and (b) a power approach through the social dominance theory (Pratto, Sidanius, Stallworth, & Malle, 1994; Sidanius & Pratto, 1999). In our work, we integrate these two approaches and propose a model of gender prejudice, power and discrimination. The integration of these two approaches contributes to a better understanding of how discrimination against women is formed and maintained over time.

Optical Character Recognition for Symbian OS

This Master's thesis addresses the design and implementation of the optical character recognition (OCR) system for a mobile device working on the Symbian operating system. The developed OCR system, named OCRCapriccio, emphasizes the modularity, effective extensibility and reuse. The system consists of two parts which are the graphical user interface and the OCR engine that was implemented as a plug-in. In fact, the plug-in includes two implementations of the OCR engine for enabling two types of recognition: the bitmap comparison based recognition and statistical recognition. The implementation results have shown that the approach based on bitmap comparison is more suitable for the Symbian environment because of its nature. Although the current implementation of bitmap comparison is lacking in accuracy, further development should be done in its direction. The biggest challenges of this work were related to developing an OCR scheme that would be suitable for Symbian OS Smartphones that have limited computational power and restricted resources.

Measuring higher order optical aberrations of the human eye: techniques and applications

In the present paper we discuss the development of "wave-front", an instrument for determining the lower and higher optical aberrations of the human eye. We also discuss the advantages that such instrumentation and techniques might bring to the ophthalmology professional of the 21st century. By shining a small light spot on the retina of subjects and observing the light that is reflected back from within the eye, we are able to quantitatively determine the amount of lower order aberrations (astigmatism, myopia, hyperopia) and higher order aberrations (coma, spherical aberration, etc.). We have measured artificial eyes with calibrated ametropia ranging from +5 to -5 D, with and without 2 D astigmatism with axis at 45º and 90º. We used a device known as the Hartmann-Shack (HS) sensor, originally developed for measuring the optical aberrations of optical instruments and general refracting surfaces in astronomical telescopes. The HS sensor sends information to a computer software for decomposition of wave-front aberrations into a set of Zernike polynomials. These polynomials have special mathematical properties and are more suitable in this case than the traditional Seidel polynomials. We have demonstrated that this technique is more precise than conventional autorefraction, with a root mean square error (RMSE) of less than 0.1 µm for a 4-mm diameter pupil. In terms of dioptric power this represents an RMSE error of less than 0.04 D and 5º for the axis. This precision is sufficient for customized corneal ablations, among other applications.

Optical and photoelectric properties of dry bacteriorhodopsin sensors

In this thesis, bacteriorhodopsin (BR) photosensor’s optical and electrical properties were studied. The BR sensor consisted of a dry film with BR in polyvinyl alcohol and covered with transparent conductors. In the experiments the BR photocycle was started with two lasers. The characteristics of the BR sensor were measured in two ways. The first approach was theoretical and it required knowing the laser parameters. The second way required assembling a measurement setup for the optical response measurements. However, no measurable results were obtained due to low laser power. The photoelectric response was measured in the experiments with two laser systems and the amplifier was tested. In the experiment with a Cavitar laser, the photoelectric response was obtained. In the experiment with FemtoFiber Pro laser, the photoelectric response was not measured. The expected amplitude of the response was obtained. The experimental data was analyzed and possible solutions for reducing the interference were given.

Optical imaging and two-photon microscopy study of hemodynamic changes contralateral to ictal focus during epileptiform discharges

Il est relativement bien établi que les crises focales entraînent une augmentation régionale du flot sanguin dans le but de soutenir la demande énergétique en hémoglobine oxygénée des neurones épileptiques. Des changements hémodynamiques précoces ont également été rapportés dans la région homologue controlatérale, bien que ceci ait été moins bien caractérisé. Dans cette étude, notre objectif est de mieux caractériser, lors de crises focales, la nature des changements hémodynamiques précoces dans la région homologue controlatérale au foyer épileptique. L'imagerie optique intrinsèque (IOI) et la microscopie deux-photons sont utilisées pour étudier les changements hémodynamiques dans la région homologue controlatérale au site de crises focales induites par l’injection de 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) dans le cortex somatosensitif ipsilatéral de souris. Dans l'étude d'IOI, des changements de l’oxyhémoglobine (HbO), de la désoxyhémoglobine (HbR) et du débit sanguin cérébral ont été observées dans la région homologue controlatérale au site de crises focales lors de toutes les crises. Toutefois, ces changements étaient hétérogènes, sans patron cohérent et reproduisible. Nos expériences avec la microscopie deux-photons n’ont pas révélé de changements hémodynamiques significatifs dans la région homotopique controlatérale lors de trains de pointes épileptiques. Nos résultats doivent être interprétés avec prudence compte tenu de plusieurs limitations: d’une part absence de mesures électrophysiologiques dans la région d’intérêt controlatérale au foyer simultanément à l’imagerie deux-photons et à l'IOI; d’autre part, lors des expériences avec le deux-photons, incapacité à générer de longues décharges ictales mais plutôt des trains de pointes, couverture spatiale limitée de la région d’intérêt controlatérale, et faible puissance suite au décès prématuré de plusieurs souris pour diverses raisons techniques. Nous terminons en discutant de divers moyens pour améliorer les expériences futures.

Characterization of radio frequency plasma using Langmuir probe and optical emission spectroscopy

The radio frequency plasma generated during the sputtering of Indium Tin Oxide target using Argon was analyzed by Langmuir probe and optical-emission spectroscopy. The basic plasma parameters such as electron temperature and ion density were evaluated. These studies were carried out by varying the RF power from 20 to 50 W. A linear increase in ion density and an exponential decrease in electron temperature with rf power were observed. The measured plasma parameters were then correlated with the properties of ITO thin films deposited under similar plasma conditions.

Optical and electrical properties of co-sputtered amorphous transparent conducting zinc indium tin oxide thin films

Highly conductive and transparent thin films of amorphous zinc indium tin oxide are prepared at room temperature by co-sputtering of zinc 10 oxide and indium tin oxide. Cationic contents in the films are varied by adjusting the power to the sputtering targets. Optical transmission study of 11 films showed an average transmission greater than 85% across the visible region. Maximum conductivity of 6×102 S cm−1 is obtained for Zn/In/ 12 Sn atomic ratio 0.4/0.4/0.2 in the film. Hall mobility strongly depends on carrier concentration and maximum mobility obtained is 18 cm2 V−1 s−1 13 at a carrier concentration of 2.1×1020 cm−3. Optical band gap of films varied from 3.44 eV to 3 eV with the increase of zinc content in the film 14 while the refractive index of the films at 600 nm is about 2.0.

An analytical study of the power distribution pattterns of silica waveguides with high paraboloic cylindrical deformation

An attempt is made to determine the relative power distribution in a step-index parabolic cylindrical waveguide (PCW) with high deformation across the direction of propagation. The guide is assumed to be made of silica. The scalar field approximation is employed for the analysis under which a vanishing refractive-index (RI) difference in the waveguide materials is considered. Further, no approximation for folds- is used in the analytical treatment. Due to the geometry of such waceguides, PCWs lose the well-defined modal discreteness, and a kind of mode bunching is observed instead, which becomes much more prominent in PCWs with high bends. However, with the increase in cross-sectional size, the mode-bunching tendency is slightly reduced. The general expressions for power in the guiding and nonguiding sections are obtained, and the fractional power patterns in all of the sections are presented for PCWs of various cross-sectional dimensions. It is observed that the confinement of power in the core section is increased for PCWs of larger cross-sectional size. Moreover, a fairly uniform distribution of power is seen over the modes having intermediate values of propagation constants

Optical Emission Diagnostics Of Laser Produced Plasma From Graphite And Yba2cu3o7

This thesis is entitled “OPTICAL EMISSION DIAGNOSTICS OF LASER PRODUCED PLASMA FROM GRAPHITE AND YBa2Cu3O7. The work presented in this thesis covers the experimental results on the plasma produced with moderately high power laser with irradiance range in between 10 GW cm 2 to 100 GW cm -2. The characterization of laser produced plasma from solid targets viz. graphite and high temperature superconducting material like YBa2Cu3O7 have been carried out. The fundamental frequency from a Q - switched Nd: YAG laser with 9 ns pulse duration is used for the present studies. Various optical emission emission diagnostic techniques were employed for the the characterization of the LPP which include emission spectroscopy, time resolved studies, line broadening method etc. In order to understand the physical nature of the LPP like recombination, collisional excitation and the laser interaction with plasma, the time resolved studies offer the most logical approach

Raman spectra of polymethyl methacrylate optical fibres excited by a 532 nm diode pumped solid state laser

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) optical fibres are fabricated by a preform drawing process. The Raman spectra of PMMA fibres are recorded using a diode pumped solid state laser emitting at 532 nm and a CCD-spectrograph in the 400–3800 cm−1 range. The variation of the Raman intensity with the length of the optical fibre is studied. Investigations are carried out on the variation of FWHM of the Raman peak at 2957 cm−1 with the length of the optical fibre and pump power. The differential scattering cross section and gain coefficient of the Raman peak at 2957 cm−1 in PMMA are calculated in relation to that of toluene.

Raman spectra of polymethyl methacrylate optical fibres excited by a 532 nm diode pumped solid state laser

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) optical fibres are fabricated by a preform drawing process. The Raman spectra of PMMA fibres are recorded using a diode pumped solid state laser emitting at 532 nm and a CCD-spectrograph in the 400–3800 cm−1 range. The variation of the Raman intensity with the length of the optical fibre is studied. Investigations are carried out on the variation of FWHM of the Raman peak at 2957 cm−1 with the length of the optical fibre and pump power. The differential scattering cross section and gain coefficient of the Raman peak at 2957 cm−1 in PMMA are calculated in relation to that of toluene

Fabrication and Characterization of All-Fiber Components for Optical Access Networks

This Thesis deals with the fabrication and characterization of novel all-fiber components for access networks. All fiber components offer distinctive advantages due to low forward and backward losses, epoxy free optical path and high power handling. A novel fabrication method for monolithic 1x4 couplers, which are vital components in distributed passive optical networks, is realized. The fabrication method differs from conventional structures with a symmetric coupling profile and hence offers ultra wideband performance and easy process control. New structure for 1x4 couplers, by fusing five fibers is proposed to achieve high uniformity, which gives equivalent uniformity performance to 1x4 planar lightwave splitters, isolation in fused fiber WDM is improved with integration of long period gratings. Packaging techniques of fused couplers are analyzed for long term stability.

Fabrication and characterisation of polymer optical fibers for smart sensing and optical amplification

The thesis presented the fabrication and characterisation of polymer optical fibers in their applications as optical amplifier and smart sensors.Optical polymers such as PMMA are found to be a very good host material due to their ability to incorporate very high concentration of optical gain media like fluorescent dyes and rare earth compounds. High power and high gain optical amplification in organic dye-doped polymer optical fibers is possible due to extremely large emission cross sections of oyes. Dye doped (Rhodamine 6G) optical fibers were fabricated by using indigenously developed polymer optical fiber drawing tower. Loss characterization of drawn dye doped fibers was carried out using side illumination technique. The advantage of the above technique is that it is a nondestructive method and can also be used for studying the uniformity in fiber diameter and doping. Sensitivity of the undoped polymer fibers to temperature and microbending were also studied in its application in smart sensors.Optical amplification studies using the dye doped polymer optical fibers were carried out and found that an amplification of l8dB could be achieved using a very short fiber of length lOcm. Studies were carried out in fibers with different dye concentrations and diameter and it was observed that gain stability was achieved at relatively high dye concentrations irrespective of the fiber diameter.Due to their large diameter, large numerical aperture, flexibility and geometrical versatility of polymer optical fibers it has a wide range of applications in the field of optical sensing. Just as in the case of conventional silica based fiber optic sensors, sensing techniques like evanescent wave, grating and other intensity modulation schemes can also be efficiently utilized in the case of POF based sensors. Since polymer optical fibers have very low Young's modulus when compared to glass fibers, it can be utilized for sensing mechanical stress and strain efficiently in comparison with its counterpart. Fiber optic sensors have proved themselves as efficient and reliable devices to sense various parameters like aging, crack formation, weathering in civil structures. A similar type of study was carried out to find the setting characteristics of cement paste used for constructing civil structures. It was found that the measurements made by using fiber optic sensors are far more superior than that carried out by conventional methods. More over,POF based sensors were found to have more sensitivity as well.

Realization of Optical Logic Gates Using the Thermal Lens Effect

A sensitive method based on the principle of photothermal phenomena to realize optical logic gates is presented. A dual beam thermal lens method using low power cw lasers in a dye-doped polymer can be very effectively used as an alternate technique to perform the logical function such as NAND, AND and OR.

Photoacoustic signal saturation and optical limiting in C70-toluene solution

Pulsed photoacoustic studies in solutions of C70 in toluene are made using the 532-nm radiation from a frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser. It is found that contrary to expectation, there is no photoacoustic (PA) signal enhancement in the power-limiting range of laser fluences. Instead, the PA signal tends to saturate during optical power-limiting phenomenon. This could be due to the enhanced optical absorption from the photoexcited state and hence the depletion of the ground-state population. PA measurements also ruled out the possibility of multiphoton absorption in the C70 solution. We demonstrate that the nonlinear absorption leading to optical limiting is mainly due to reverse saturable absorption.