Yes / Evidence-based national guidelines recommend that women practise pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFMEs) during their first pregnancy in order to reduce the likelihood of becoming incontinent of urine. Adherence to these exercises during pregnancy is low, although little is known about the factors that influence some women to exercise during pregnancy while others do not. The aim of this study was to increase understanding of the motivating factors for, and barriers to, performing PFMEs during a first pregnancy using data gathered from four qualitative interviews. Analysis of the interview transcripts revealed four relevant themes: knowledge and understanding; experience of incontinence; attitude to incontinence; and cues to exercise. Having adequate knowledge of the PFMEs and the benefits of these exercises, knowing an incontinent woman of the same age and believing that the PFMEs would prevent incontinence, and having a regular cue to exercise prompted exercise adherence. Recommendations are made for practice and further research.

Longitudinal slab splitting in composite hot rolled girders and joist girders was investigated. Two different type of framing configurations were studied with two tests conducted per configuration. The framing configurations were designated as either flush-framed or haunched, which describes the framing of the joists into the joist girders or H-shape. Each floor system consisted of at least one exterior or spandrel joist girder, one interior joist girder, and in three of the four tests, an exterior or spandrel H-shape. The nominal lengths of the girders were 30 ft 4 in. with a centerline spacing of 7 ft for the flush-framed tests and 6 ft 9 in. for the haunch tests. Varying amounts of transverse reinforcement were used in the slab over each girder. Shear connectors were all 0.75 in. diameter headed shear studs of varying lengths. The results of these tests were used to determine the minimum amount of transverse reinforcement required to prevent longitudinal splitting from controlling the strength of the section. A comparative analytical study was performed to generate a design procedure for determining the appropriate amount of transverse reinforcement. This consisted of adapting existing procedures in reinforced concrete for similar shear problems and generating alternative procedures based on existing research for composite construction. Results from these methods were then calibrated against experimental data obtained in this study. / Master of Science

The book is a series of plates, pictures and writings which are the results of an architectural thesis exploring, line, contour and layers. The plates are scans of original work by the author, made in a combination of media including: pencil, pastel, watercolor, photograph, study models, hand-drafted drawings, and computer aided drawings. A transcript of the presentation of the work at the thesis defense is included. The simple idea is the impression of contour by the expression of layers. The contour is a line tracing the motion and movement of architecture. Resulting from practice in drawing using pastels, pencil and paper the line, through continuity, can twist, pass over, go under and around- joining parts into an organized whole. Following a program of a modern bath, an architectural space is made, built by layers. The thesis is an architectural exploration of layers and the resultant contours. The best representation of this work is available in printed form at the Art and Architecture Library on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. / Master of Architecture

Yes / This paper presents an experimental study on an innovative composite floor system that can be demounted and deconstructed. In this system, the composite slab, formed with profiled metal decking, was connected to a steel beam via demountable shear connectors. A full-scale demountable composite floor system specimen was tested to ultimate load bearing capacity and compared with a similar non-demountable composite floor system specimen using conventional welded headed stud connectors. The experimental results and observations showed that the structural behaviour and load bearing capacity of both composite floor systems are very similar. However, the composite floor system with demountable shear connectors could be deconstructed after testing and the composite slab could be easily detached from the steel beam. The comparison and analysis presented in this paper indicated that the simple design methods currently provided in the Eurocode 4 for the welded shear connections could be used to assess the ultimate moment capacity of demountable composite floor systems.

Yes / A full-scale composite floor plate was tested to investigate the flexural behavior and in-plane effects of the floor slab in a grillage of composite beams that reduces the tendency for longitudinal splitting of the concrete slab along the line of the primary beams. This is important in cases where the steel decking is discontinuous when it is orientated parallel to the beams. In this case, it is important to demonstrate that the amount of transverse reinforcement required to transfer local forces from the shear connectors can be reduced relative to the requirements of Eurocode 4. The mechanism under study involved in-plane compression forces being developed in the slab due to the restraining action of the floor plate, which was held in position by the peripheral composite beams; while the secondary beams acted as transverse ties to resist the forces in the floor plate that would otherwise lead to splitting of the slab along the line of the primary beams. The tendency for cracking along the center line of the primary beam and at the peripheral beams was closely monitored. This is the first large floor plate test that has been carried out under laboratory conditions since the Cardington tests in the early 1990s, although those tests were not carried out to failure. This floor plate test was designed so that the longitudinal force transferred by the primary beams was relatively high (i.e., it was designed for full shear connection), but the transverse reinforcement was taken as the minimum of 0.2% of the concrete area. The test confirmed that the primary beams reached their plastic bending resistance despite the discontinuous decking and transverse reinforcement at the minimum percentage given in Eurocode 4. Based on this test, a reduction factor due to shear connectors at edge beams without U-bars is proposed.

A cinesioterapia aplicada à musculatura do assoalho pélvico na gestação pode ser grande aliada no controle das alterações músculo-esqueléticas. Para avaliar efeitos da cinesioterapia no assoalho pélvico durante a gravidez,utilizamos a perineometria com e sem "biofeedback" e a avaliação funcional do assoalho pélvico, e correlacionamos os valores da avaliação funcional com as perineometrias. Os efeitos da cinesioterapia nos músculos do assoalho pélvico revelaram aumento significativo na pressão e na força durante a gestação. Durante o período gestacional houve correlação positiva e significativa entre a avaliação funcional do assoalho pélvico e as perineometrias / Kinesiotherapy applied to this musculature during pregnancy is a useful tool in the control of musculoskeletal alterations. To evaluate the effects of pelvic floor kinesiotherapy during pregnancy by perineometry with and without biofeedback and by functional evaluation of the pelvic floor, and to correlated functional evaluation and perineometric readings. Analysis of the effects of kinesiotherapy on pelvic floor muscles revealed a significant increase in pressure and strength during pregnancy. In addition, a positive and significant correlation between functional evaluation of the pelvic floor and perineometric readings was observed during the gestational period

Die Zielstellung dieser Untersuchungen bestand darin, das Präferenzverhalten von Schweinen, also die Bevorzugung unterschiedlicher Haltungssysteme bzw. Segmente von Haltungsverfahren, sensorgestützt zu ermitteln, um die Basis für eine Bewertung zu liefern. Den Tieren wurden Wahlmöglichkeiten zwischen jeweils zwei Liegebereichen mit unterschiedlichen Fußböden (vollperforiert, teilperforiert und planbefestigt) angeboten. Das Verhalten der 42 Schweine wurde kontinuierlich über die gesamte Versuchsdauer durch ein sensorgestütztes System erfasst. Die Identifikation der Schweine wurde durch einen Ohr-Responder gewährleistet. Jeder Kontakt mit einer Tiererkennung bei einem Wechsel zwischen den Aufenthaltsbereichen oder auch den Futterautomaten wurde über eine Datenleitung an einen PC übermittelt und gespeichert. Der gewählte Forschungsansatz ging davon aus, dass die Präferenz gegenüber verschiedenen Angeboten als eine Funktion der Zeit durch Besuchshäufigkeit und Aufenthaltsdauer dargestellt werden kann. Die Ergebnisse der eigenen Untersuchung zeigten hohe individuelle Unterschiede in der Ausprägung dieser Merkmale. Es stellt sich die Frage der Bedeutung dieser beiden Merkmale hinsichtlich der Beschreibung der wahren Präferenz. Deshalb musste eine Möglichkeit gefunden werden, Zeitabschnitte, die eine Ruhephase charakterisieren, von denen die dem Erkundungsverhalten entspringen von einander zu unterscheiden. Das Ziel dieser Unterteilung bestand darin, die Ruhephasen für die weiteren Auswertungen zu verwenden. Dadurch wurde offensichtlich, dass die Merkmale Ruhedauer und Besuchshäufigkeit zum Ruhen wesentlich geringere tierindividuelle Variationen aufweisen und somit eine bessere Basis für die Bewertung der Präferenz liefern. Unter Berücksichtigung der durchgeführten Analyse stellt die vorgestellte Auswertungsmethode ein sinnvolles Hilfsmittel dar, unterschiedlich gestaltete Ruhebereiche in Hinblick auf das Präferenzverhalten von Mastschweinen miteinander zu vergleichen. / The aim of this project was to analyse and evaluate the preference of fattening pigs concerning different floors in the resting area using sensor based identification. The experiment was aimed at contributing to a more objective evaluation of housing systems in pig production. Preferences were identified by letting the animals chose between two lying areas with different flooring (totally slatted floor, partly slatted floor and non-slated floor). The behaviour of 42 pigs was recorded continuously throughout the whole fattening period. Each identifications of pigs by entering or leaving the resting areas or by using the feeders and drinkers was transmitted by the data line to a PC and stored. The individual identification of the pigs was ensured by ear-responders. The basic approach assumes that the preference can be calculated as a function of time via the frequency of visits and duration of stay in accessible resting areas. The results of this study showed high individual variations of these characteristics. This raises the question of the relevance of these two characteristics in the description of the true preference. It is assumed that the pigs do not only visit the resting areas to rest, but also to satisfy their exploration behaviour. It is expected that only the long duration of stays characterize the preferred flooring system. Therefore a method should be developed to classify this kind of visit. The aim of this classification was to use only the resting period (the long visits in the resting area) for further evaluations. The results of this study showed that the characteristics rest duration and frequency of rest periods provides a better basis for the evaluation of preference behaviour. In the context of these investigations, the presented evaluation method was a useful tool to compare differently designed resting areas.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-12-03T18:33:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Thiago_Borges_Ramalho.pdf: 1079128 bytes, checksum: de1270f3b50f5b1daf3cadce2353d803 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-08-28 / The premise of unbounded rationality advocated by the Efficient Market Hypothesis is challenged by the theoretical framework that involves the Behavioral Finance, whose basis, the Prospect Theory by Kahneman and Tversky (1979), questions the Expected Utility Theory, an important element of Neoclassical Economics as basis for decision making. This research aims to replicate the empirical investigation of the seminal article by Kahneman and Tversky (1979) to evaluate the decision-making process of employees (potential investors) of a major national financial institution. The results of this study were compared to those obtained in the original article and the studies led by C??rtes (2008), Cruz, Kimura and Krauter (2003), Rogers et al. (2007), Rogers, Favato and Securato (2008), and Torralvo (2010). The questionnaire adopted was an adaptation of the originally used, so that one could test, in studied sample, the applicability of Prospect Theory, more specifically with regard to Certain, Reflection and Isolation Effects. I also analyzed the differences in the decision making process considering the attributes of the respondents (gender, age, education, occupation, income and financial dependents). The results confirmed the existence of behavioral effects and proved that a large portion of the sample presented significant inconsistency in their choices according to the principles of the Expected Utility Theory, pointing that their decisions were not made under strictly rational behavior. Furthermore, in relation to violations observed, it was not possible to present significant conclusions in concern to the attributes by using regression analysis, suggesting the need of further studies / A premissa de racionalidade ilimitada preconizada pela Hip??tese dos Mercados Eficientes ?? contestada como ferramenta para tomada de decis??es pelo arcabou??o te??rico que envolve as Finan??as Comportamentais, cuja base, a Teoria da Perspectiva de Kahneman e Tversky (1979), questiona o que prediz a Teoria da Utilidade Esperada, importante elemento da Economia Neocl??ssica. A presente pesquisa objetiva replicar a investiga????o emp??rica do artigo seminal de Kahneman e Tversky (1979) para avaliar o processo decis??rio de funcion??rios (potenciais investidores) de uma importante institui????o financeira nacional. Os resultados deste estudo foram comparados aos obtidos no trabalho original e nas pesquisas realizadas por C??rtes (2008), Cruz, Kimura e Krauter (2003), Rogers et al. (2007), Rogers, Favato e Securato (2008) e Torralvo (2010). O question??rio adotado foi uma adapta????o do originalmente utilizado, para que se pudesse testar, na amostra estudada, a aplicabilidade da Teoria da Perspectiva, mais especificamente no que diz respeito aos Efeitos Certeza, Reflex??o e Isolamento. Foram analisadas, ainda, as diferen??as no comportamento frente ?? tomada de decis??es considerando os perfis demogr??ficos dos respondentes (g??nero, idade, forma????o, ocupa????o, renda e dependentes financeiros). Os resultados obtidos confirmaram a presen??a dos efeitos e comprovaram que uma grande parcela do p??blico amostral apresentou efetiva inconsist??ncia em suas escolhas segundo os fundamentos da Teoria da Utilidade Esperada, o que indica que suas decis??es n??o foram tomadas de forma estritamente racional. Al??m disso, em rela????o ??s viola????es observadas, n??o foi poss??vel apresentar conclus??es quanto ??s diferen??as entre os perfis demogr??ficos estudados por meio do modelo econom??trico proposto, apontando a necessidade da realiza????o de novos estudos

Os prolapsos dos órgãos pélvicos (POP) apresentam alta prevalência na população feminina, causando um grande impacto social e econômico negativo. Cerca de 11,1% das mulheres aos 80 anos têm indicação para a cirurgia de reparação de POP ou incontinência urinária. Há evidências de que o tratamento conservador, especificamente o treinamento dos músculos do assoalho pélvico (TMAP) é eficaz na redução dos sintomas do POP. No entanto, a literatura é escassa e controversa em relação à efetividade em associar-se o TMAP a procedimento cirúrgico quando há indicação cirúrgica. O objetivo primário deste estudo foi avaliar a eficácia em associar-se o TMAP a procedimento cirúrgico para correção de POP em relação aos seus sintomas. Os objetivos secundários foram verificar a capacidade de contração dos músculos do assoalho pélvico (MAP), a intensidade da contração voluntária máxima (CVM) dos MAP, percepção de melhora, a qualidade de vida, e função sexual. Foi conduzido um ensaio clínico randomizado e controlado com 96 mulheres com indicação médica para a cirurgia de reparação de POP em estágios II, III e IV alocadas em dois grupos: 48 no grupo submetido ao TMAP e 48 no grupo controle. O TMAP foi realizado em quatro sessões supervisionadas pré-cirúrgicas e sete sessões no pós-operatório. Todas as voluntárias foram avaliadas em três momentos: 15 dias antes da cirurgia e 40 e 90 dias após a cirurgia. O desfecho primário foi avaliado por meio do \"Questionário de desconforto no assoalho pélvico\" (PFDI-20) e os secundários por meio da Escala de Oxford Modificada, perineometria, \"Escala de impressão clínica global de melhora\" (PGI-I) \"Questionário de impacto no assoalho pélvico\" (PFIQ-7) e \"Questionário sexual para incontinência urinária e prolapso de órgãos pélvicos\" (PSIQ-12). Os dados foram analisados pela estatística descritiva por meio de frequências e porcentagens. Utilizou-se o teste t Student para verificar a diferença entre as médias dos dois grupos. Já o teste qui-quadrado para testar a diferença entre as proporções nas respostas dos dois grupos. Um modelo de regressão linear misto foi utilizado para verificar o efeito do tempo e dos grupos em relação aos desfechos. O nível de significância adotado foi p<=0,05. Ambos os grupos apresentaram melhora na sintomatologia após o seguimento. No entanto, não houve diferença significativa entre eles (4,3 IC 95%-14,4 a 23,2, p=0,65). Ambos os grupos apresentaram melhora na capacidade de contração dos MAP. Após 3 meses, a diferença entre os grupos em relação CVM foi -0,8 (IC 95% -8,1 a 6,4, p=0,81), em relação à percepção de melhora foi 0,4 (IC 95% -0,09 a 0,8, p=0,01), à qualidade de vida foi 2,7 (IC 95% -19,5 a 24,9, p=0,81) e em relação à função sexual -1,6 (IC 95% -7,6 a 4,4, p=0,59). Este estudo não demonstrou benefício adicional do TMAP em relação à sintomatologia de POP, capacidade de contração dos MAP, CVM dos MAP, qualidade de vida e função sexual. Entretanto, o grupo que recebeu o TMAP apresentou maior percepção de melhora / Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) has a high prevalence in the female population, causing a great negative social and economic impact. It is estimated that about 11.1% of women at age 80 are eligible for POP repair surgery or urinary incontinence. There is evidence that conservative treatment, specifically pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), is effective in reducing POP symptoms. However, the literature is scarce and controversial regarding the effectiveness in associating PFMT with a surgical procedure when there is a surgical indication. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy in associating PFMT to a POP surgery in relation to its symptoms. The secondary purposes were to verify the capacity of pelvic floor muscles\' contraction (PFM), the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) of the PFM, perception of improvement, quality of life and sexual function. A randomised controlled trial with 96 women with a medical indication for POP repair surgery in stage II, III and IV was conducted in two groups: 48 in the TMAP and 48 in control group. TMAP was performed in four supervised preoperative sessions and seven postoperative sessions. All volunteers were evaluated in three moments: 15 days before surgery and 40 and 90 days after surgery. The primary outcome was assessed using the \"Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory\" (PFDI-20) and the secondary endpoints using the \"Modified Oxford Scale\", perineometry, \"Patient Global Impression of Improvement\" (PGI-I), \"Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire\" (PFIQ-7) and \"Sexual Questionnaire for Urinary Incontinence /Pelvic Organ Prolapse\" (PSIQ- 12) and. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics using frequencies and percentages. Student\'s test was used to verify the difference between the means in the groups. The chi-square test was performed to test the hypothesis whether there was a difference between the proportions of responses in both groups. A mixed linear regression model was used to verify the effect of time and groups on outcomes. The level of significance was set at p<=0.05. Both groups presented improvement in the symptomatology after the follow-up. However, there was no significant difference between them (4.3 95% CI -14.4 to 23.2, p=0.65). Both groups showed improvement in PFM contraction. After 3 months, the difference between groups in relation to MVC was -0.8 (95% CI -8.1 to 6.4, p=0.81), in relation to the perception of improvement was 0.4 (95% CI -0.09 to 0.8, p = 0.01), in relation to the quality of life was 2.7 (95%CI, p=0.81) and in relation to sexual function -1.6 (95% CI -7.6 to 4.4, p = 0.59) and This study did not demonstrated the additional benefit of PFMT on POP symptoms, PFM contraction, MVC, quality of life and sexual function. However, the group that received TMAP showed a greater perception of improvement

A cinesioterapia aplicada à musculatura do assoalho pélvico na gestação pode ser grande aliada no controle das alterações músculo-esqueléticas. Para avaliar efeitos da cinesioterapia no assoalho pélvico durante a gravidez,utilizamos a perineometria com e sem "biofeedback" e a avaliação funcional do assoalho pélvico, e correlacionamos os valores da avaliação funcional com as perineometrias. Os efeitos da cinesioterapia nos músculos do assoalho pélvico revelaram aumento significativo na pressão e na força durante a gestação. Durante o período gestacional houve correlação positiva e significativa entre a avaliação funcional do assoalho pélvico e as perineometrias / Kinesiotherapy applied to this musculature during pregnancy is a useful tool in the control of musculoskeletal alterations. To evaluate the effects of pelvic floor kinesiotherapy during pregnancy by perineometry with and without biofeedback and by functional evaluation of the pelvic floor, and to correlated functional evaluation and perineometric readings. Analysis of the effects of kinesiotherapy on pelvic floor muscles revealed a significant increase in pressure and strength during pregnancy. In addition, a positive and significant correlation between functional evaluation of the pelvic floor and perineometric readings was observed during the gestational period