University, Diss., 2005--Heidelberg.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 115-138).

O presente trabalho desenvolveu uma nova prótese para substituição de disco da coluna vertebral lombossacra, dividido em três macros etapas. Primeira etapa: conceito biomecânico e projeto assistido por computador (CAD/CAE), simulando estruturalmente o modelo virtual do implante. Segunda etapa: análise dos processos de fabricação, metalurgia do pó convencional (MPC) e por moldagem de pós por injeção (MIM), avaliando seus parâmetros. Terceira etapa: seleção do processo que mais se adaptou ao desenvolvimento de um implante, até a produção do protótipo de um implante. Foi utilizado pó comercialmente puro (99,5% Ti), com morfologia lamelar. A metalurgia do pó convencional (MPC) foi a selecionada para a fabricação do protótipo da nova prótese, compactada a 600 MPa e sinterizada a 1100°C durante 3h, neste patamar. O limite de elasticidade após a sinterização dos corpos de prova foi superior a 600 MPa, com densidade próxima a 4,04g/cm³. A porosidade foi avaliada por comparação volumétrica e imagens obtidas em MEV. Posteriormente foi analisada em software de processamento de imagens em diferentes regiões das amostras. A porosidade foi obtida por dois métodos: o primeiro considerou a imagem de uma superfície da amostra seguida pela variação da densidade em "bulk". O resultado da porosidade ficou entre 100µm e 500µm, faixa considerada adequada para a vascularização e crescimento ósseo. Foi aplicado uma carga de 3400N no modelo virtual do implante e a tensão resultante ficou abaixo de 60MPa. O resultado médio das densidades dos protótipos por Arquimedes do implante fabricados, foi de 4,05g/cm³. / The present study developed a new prosthesis to replace lumbosacral disks. It was divided in three steps. First step: biomechanical concept and computer assisted project (CAD/CAE), simulating the structure of the virtual model of the implant. Second step: analysis of manufacture process, conventional powder metallurgy (PM) and powder molding through injection, evaluating its parameters. Third step: selection of the process which best adapted to the development of an implant, up to the production of the implant prototype. Commercially pure powder (99,5% Ti) with lamellar morphology was used. Conventional powder metallurgy was selected to manufacture the new prosthesis, compacted at 600 MPa and sintered at 1100°C for 3 hours. The limit of elasticity after billets were sintered was above 700 MPa, and the density around 4,04g/cm³. Porosity was evaluated through images obtained in a SEM which were later analyzed by an image processing software in different parts of the billets. The result of porosity was between 100µm and 500µm, an adequate range for vascularization and bone growth. A charge of 3400N was applied to the virtual model of the implant and the resulting tension was under 60MPa. The resulting density in the manufactured prototypes was 4,05g/cm³, on average.

O presente trabalho desenvolveu uma nova prótese para substituição de disco da coluna vertebral lombossacra, dividido em três macros etapas. Primeira etapa: conceito biomecânico e projeto assistido por computador (CAD/CAE), simulando estruturalmente o modelo virtual do implante. Segunda etapa: análise dos processos de fabricação, metalurgia do pó convencional (MPC) e por moldagem de pós por injeção (MIM), avaliando seus parâmetros. Terceira etapa: seleção do processo que mais se adaptou ao desenvolvimento de um implante, até a produção do protótipo de um implante. Foi utilizado pó comercialmente puro (99,5% Ti), com morfologia lamelar. A metalurgia do pó convencional (MPC) foi a selecionada para a fabricação do protótipo da nova prótese, compactada a 600 MPa e sinterizada a 1100°C durante 3h, neste patamar. O limite de elasticidade após a sinterização dos corpos de prova foi superior a 600 MPa, com densidade próxima a 4,04g/cm³. A porosidade foi avaliada por comparação volumétrica e imagens obtidas em MEV. Posteriormente foi analisada em software de processamento de imagens em diferentes regiões das amostras. A porosidade foi obtida por dois métodos: o primeiro considerou a imagem de uma superfície da amostra seguida pela variação da densidade em "bulk". O resultado da porosidade ficou entre 100µm e 500µm, faixa considerada adequada para a vascularização e crescimento ósseo. Foi aplicado uma carga de 3400N no modelo virtual do implante e a tensão resultante ficou abaixo de 60MPa. O resultado médio das densidades dos protótipos por Arquimedes do implante fabricados, foi de 4,05g/cm³. / The present study developed a new prosthesis to replace lumbosacral disks. It was divided in three steps. First step: biomechanical concept and computer assisted project (CAD/CAE), simulating the structure of the virtual model of the implant. Second step: analysis of manufacture process, conventional powder metallurgy (PM) and powder molding through injection, evaluating its parameters. Third step: selection of the process which best adapted to the development of an implant, up to the production of the implant prototype. Commercially pure powder (99,5% Ti) with lamellar morphology was used. Conventional powder metallurgy was selected to manufacture the new prosthesis, compacted at 600 MPa and sintered at 1100°C for 3 hours. The limit of elasticity after billets were sintered was above 700 MPa, and the density around 4,04g/cm³. Porosity was evaluated through images obtained in a SEM which were later analyzed by an image processing software in different parts of the billets. The result of porosity was between 100µm and 500µm, an adequate range for vascularization and bone growth. A charge of 3400N was applied to the virtual model of the implant and the resulting tension was under 60MPa. The resulting density in the manufactured prototypes was 4,05g/cm³, on average.

電針夾脊穴治療腰椎間盤突出症的研究進展 摘要：筆者通過對近10年來關於電針夾脊穴治療腰椎問盤突出症的研究132篇，其中有49篇是對於電針夾脊穴治療腰椎間盤突出症的有效性觀察﹔有67篇論述電針夾脊穴聯合其他治療方法的臨床觀察﹔有16篇為專門討論電針夾脊穴對治療腰間盤突出的機理的探討﹔通過對文獻的整理發現目前研究者的研究主要集中在幾個問題方面，一是電針夾脊穴治療腰椎間盤突出症的有效性觀察，目前電針夾脊穴對於腰椎問盤突出症的鎮痛效應經筆者整理，各文獻治療組鎮痛的即時起效時間為3.5-4min ，而對照組在12-13.5 min之間。治癒率治療組平均在80-90%之間，對照組在65-90%之間﹔二是電針夾脊穴的方法如選穴、針刺方法及波形、頻率等參數的運用。在筆者所搜集的文獻中，採用疏密波的文獻占48%，採用連續波（疏波）的占52%，波形的應用各有其治療特色。電針頻率色選擇，各研究者通過大量的實驗，得出高頻和低頻的有效結合對腰椎間盤突出症的治療其有較好的效果﹔三是電針夾脊穴聯合其他方法治療腰椎間盤突出症。如電針夾脊穴聯合牽引治療、電針夾脊穴聯合穴位注射治療、電針夾脊穴聯合正骨推拿治療、電針夾脊穴聯合重要薰蒸治療等，臨床上都取得了良好的效果。四是電針夾脊穴治療的作用機制，包括圍繞中醫理論指導下的機制與現代醫學的生化機制。 關鍵字：電針夾脊穴 腰椎問盤突出 電針參數

O presente trabalho desenvolveu uma nova prótese para substituição de disco da coluna vertebral lombossacra, dividido em três macros etapas. Primeira etapa: conceito biomecânico e projeto assistido por computador (CAD/CAE), simulando estruturalmente o modelo virtual do implante. Segunda etapa: análise dos processos de fabricação, metalurgia do pó convencional (MPC) e por moldagem de pós por injeção (MIM), avaliando seus parâmetros. Terceira etapa: seleção do processo que mais se adaptou ao desenvolvimento de um implante, até a produção do protótipo de um implante. Foi utilizado pó comercialmente puro (99,5% Ti), com morfologia lamelar. A metalurgia do pó convencional (MPC) foi a selecionada para a fabricação do protótipo da nova prótese, compactada a 600 MPa e sinterizada a 1100°C durante 3h, neste patamar. O limite de elasticidade após a sinterização dos corpos de prova foi superior a 600 MPa, com densidade próxima a 4,04g/cm³. A porosidade foi avaliada por comparação volumétrica e imagens obtidas em MEV. Posteriormente foi analisada em software de processamento de imagens em diferentes regiões das amostras. A porosidade foi obtida por dois métodos: o primeiro considerou a imagem de uma superfície da amostra seguida pela variação da densidade em "bulk". O resultado da porosidade ficou entre 100µm e 500µm, faixa considerada adequada para a vascularização e crescimento ósseo. Foi aplicado uma carga de 3400N no modelo virtual do implante e a tensão resultante ficou abaixo de 60MPa. O resultado médio das densidades dos protótipos por Arquimedes do implante fabricados, foi de 4,05g/cm³. / The present study developed a new prosthesis to replace lumbosacral disks. It was divided in three steps. First step: biomechanical concept and computer assisted project (CAD/CAE), simulating the structure of the virtual model of the implant. Second step: analysis of manufacture process, conventional powder metallurgy (PM) and powder molding through injection, evaluating its parameters. Third step: selection of the process which best adapted to the development of an implant, up to the production of the implant prototype. Commercially pure powder (99,5% Ti) with lamellar morphology was used. Conventional powder metallurgy was selected to manufacture the new prosthesis, compacted at 600 MPa and sintered at 1100°C for 3 hours. The limit of elasticity after billets were sintered was above 700 MPa, and the density around 4,04g/cm³. Porosity was evaluated through images obtained in a SEM which were later analyzed by an image processing software in different parts of the billets. The result of porosity was between 100µm and 500µm, an adequate range for vascularization and bone growth. A charge of 3400N was applied to the virtual model of the implant and the resulting tension was under 60MPa. The resulting density in the manufactured prototypes was 4,05g/cm³, on average.

We find two chemically distinct populations separated relatively cleanly in the [Fe/H]-[Mg/Fe] plane, but also distinguished in other chemical planes, among metal-poor stars (primarily with metallicities [Fe/H] < -0.9) observed by the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) and analyzed for Data Release 13 (DR13) of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. These two stellar populations show the most significant differences in their [X/Fe] ratios for the alpha-elements, C+N, Al, and Ni. In addition to these populations having differing chemistry, the low metallicity high-Mg population (which we denote "the HMg population") exhibits a significant net Galactic rotation, whereas the low-Mg population (or "the LMg population") has halo-like kinematics with little to no net rotation. Based on its properties, the origin of the LMg population is likely an accreted population of stars. The HMg population shows chemistry (and to an extent kinematics) similar to the thick disk, and is likely associated with in situ formation. The distinction between the LMg and HMg populations mimics the differences between the populations of low-and high-a halo stars found in previous studies, suggesting that these are samples of the same two populations.

M.Ing. / Shaft encoders, are devices generally used in speed and position control applications for sensing position of rotational and linearly moving objects. Most conventional shaft encoders operate on the principle of reading encoded information off a disk, which is fitted to the shaft or using resolver units. Problems are often experienced in fitting high-resolution encoder disks or resolvers to small motors or moving objects. The resolution of an encoder system, using an encoded disk, is a function of the maximum number of slots that are cut in the disk. If the disk itself has to be very small, physical constraints limit the accuracy of the encoder. However, any machined surface will have characteristic marks on it and it is believed that these marks can be used to obtain a unique analogue signature for the shaft. This analogue signature can then be used to gain further knowledge about the rotational speed and possibly the position of the shaft. This project was an investigation into the possibility of gaining accurate, absolute positional information for a rotating shaft. An optical source- and detector system is used in the process of observing the irregularities on the shaft surface. This signal data is gathered and processed using a technique, which compensates for variation in shaft speed during the period in which data is sampled. The entire algorithm, which calculates the absolute position of the shaft from the data gathered, was implemented on a digital signal processor board. Results were evaluated and the maximum non-linearity of the test system was found to vary between 1.8% and 3.7% of full-scale deflection. The resolution of the sensor was between 1.5 and 2.5 degrees with hysteresis between 1% and 1.5% of full scale deflection. The test system allows for rotation in any direction. Possible problems that might be encountered with this type of encoder system are pointed out in this report. Future developments and possible improvements are also discussed.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / We investigate the link between environment and radiative accretion efficiency using a sample of 8946 radio-loud AGN detected at 1 − 2 GHz in the SDSS Stripe 82 region. We quantify their environments using the surface-density parameter, ƩN, which measures galaxy density based on distances to Nth nearest neighbours. Comparing Ʃ2 and Ʃ5 between AGN and control galaxies, we obtain relative densities that quantify the degree of galaxy clustering around each AGN. Using this, we examine the relation between density and the HERG-LERG dichotomy (accretion-modes) classified using a 1.4 GHz luminosity (L1.4GHz) threshold. Our results indicate that, in the low-redshift interval (0.1 < z < 0.2), LERGs occupy environments denser than the field. At intermediate redshifts (0.2 < z < 1.2), both LERGs and HERGs occupy regions denser than the field. Spearman’s rank tests show that correlations between density and L1.4GHz in both redshift intervals are weak. We conclude that the absence of a strong correlation is confirmation of the idea that galaxy density plays a more secondary role on AGN activity and also, accretion-mode classification (both measured using L1.4GHz). It is likely that the rate of gas accretion or properties of galactic-scale magnetic fields correlate more strongly with L1.4GHz, hence being primarily influential. / National Research Foundation (NRF)

We present H-band near-infrared polarimetric imaging observations of the F5V star HD 157587 obtained with the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI) that reveal the debris disk as a bright ring structure at a separation of similar to 80-100 au. The new GPI data complement recent Hubble Space Telescope/STIS observations that show the disk extending out to over 500 au. The GPI image displays a strong asymmetry along the projected minor axis as well as a fainter asymmetry along the projected major axis. We associate the minor and major axis asymmetries with polarized forward scattering and a possible stellocentric offset, respectively. To constrain the disk geometry, we fit two separate disk models to the polarized image, each using a different scattering phase function. Both models favor a disk inclination of similar to 70 degrees and a 1.5 +/- 0.6 au stellar offset in the plane of the sky along the projected major axis of the disk. We find that the stellar offset in the disk plane, perpendicular to the projected major axis is degenerate with the form of the scattering phase function and remains poorly constrained. The disk is not recovered in total intensity due in part to strong adaptive optics residuals, but we recover three point sources. Considering the system's proximity to the galactic plane and the point sources' positions relative to the disk, we consider it likely that they are background objects and unrelated to the disk's offset from the star.