The forest floor represents the uppermost organic and organicenriched mineral soil horizons. They have been formed by the deposition of organic material and the subsequent biologically mediated decomposition. The forest floor influences rooting-zone temperature, aeration, moisture, and nutrient conditions, and hence, forest productivity. Considering the importance of the forest floor, and the fact that it is exposed to disturbance (being the surface layer), we need to assess the potential impacts our logging practices may have. Clearcutting, one of the contentious silvicultural practices used in British Columbia, is imputed to most adversely affect ecosystems and sustainability. We assessed the long-term impact of clearcutting on the forest floor by documenting changes in the thickness, chemical and biotic properties of the humus form across a chronosequence of forest stands. The study was located in the largest and most representative portion of the coastal rainforest the Very Wet Maritime Coastal Western Hemlock (CWHvm) subzone.

In the wetter climates associated with the coastal forests of the Pacific Northwest, coarse woody debris (CWD) accumulations in the form of snags, downed boles, and large branches can be large in natural forest ecosystems. Although maintaining organic matter for sustainable site productivity is not in dispute, the importance of CWD as a source of soil organic matter is questionable. Forest managers attempting to optimize timber production need to know how CWD affects short-term forest tree growth and productivity. This study addresses the question of the immediate value of CWD for growth of mature (90 year old) western hemlock (Hw). Because of practical difficulty with mature trees growing in different substrates, we utilized fine root distribution or proliferation, as an indicator of important substrates.

Background Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is the leakage of urine when coughing, sneezing, or on exertion. It affects 10-35% of women, and can impair quality of life (QOL). First-line treatment is pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT). However, access barriers and embarrassment may prevent women from seeking care. There is a need for new, easily accessible ways to provide treatment. Aim To evaluate the treatment outcome, patient satisfaction, and cost-effectiveness of an Internet- based treatment programme for SUI. Methods We recruited 250 community-dwelling women aged 18-70 years, with SUI ≥1/week via our website. Participants were randomised to 3 months of PFMT with either an Internet-based programme (n=124), or a programme sent by post (n=126). We had no-face-to face contact with the participants, but the Internet group received individually tailored e-mail support from an urotherapist. Treatment outcome was evaluated after 4 months with intention-to-treat analysis. After treatment, we telephoned a strategic selection of participants (Internet n=13, postal n=8) to interview them about their experiences, and analysed the results according to grounded theory principles. We also performed a cost-utility analysis with a 1-year societal perspective, comparing the treatment programmes with each other and with a no-treatment alternative. To scrutinize our measure of QOL, we performed a reliability study of the ICIQ-LUTSqol questionnaire. Results Participants in both intervention groups achieved highly significant improvements (p<0.001) with large effect sizes (>0.8) in the primary outcomes symptom score (ICIQ-UI SF: mean change Internet 3.4 [SD 3.4], postal 2.9 [3.1]), and condition-specific QOL (ICIQ-LUTSqol: mean change Internet 4.8 [SD 6.1], postal 4.6 [SD 6.7]); however, the differences between the groups were not significant. Compared with the postal group, more participants in the Internet group perceived they were much or very much improved after treatment (40.9%, vs. 26.5%, p=0.01), reduced their use of incontinence aids (59.5% vs. 41.4%, p=0.02), and indicated satisfaction with the treatment programme (84.8% vs. 62.9%, p<0.001). Results from the interviews fell into three categories: about life with SUI and barriers to seeking care; about the treatments and the patient-provider relationship; about the sense of empowerment many women experienced. A core category emerged: “Acknowledged but not exposed.” The extra cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained through use of the Internet-based programme compared with the postal programme was €200. The extra cost per QALY for the Internet-based programme compared with no treatment was €30,935. The condition-specific questionnaire ICIQ-LUTSqol is reliable in women with SUI, with high degrees of agreement between overall scores (Intraclass correlation coefficient 0.95, p<0.001). Conclusion Internet-based treatment for SUI is a new, effective, and patient-appreciated treatment alternative, which can increase access to care in a sustainable way.

Tyrimo tikslas: nustatyti diafragmos, skersinio pilvo ir dubens dugno raumenų funkcinius ryšius ir jų kaitą moterims po gimdos šalinimo operacijos. Tyrimo uždaviniai: 1. Įvertinti skersinio pilvo raumens aktyvumą ir ištvermę prieš ir po gimdos šalinimo operacijos kontrolinėje ir skersinio pilvo raumens lavinimo grupėje ir tarp jų. 2. Įvertinti diafragmos aktyvumą prieš ir po gimdos šalinimo operacijos kontrolinėje ir skersinio pilvo raumens lavinimo grupėje ir tarp jų; 3. Įvertinti dubens dugno raumenų jėgą ir ištvermę prieš ir po gimdos šalinimo operacijos kontrolinėje ir skersinio pilvo raumens lavinimo grupėje ir tarp jų. Tyrimo kontingentas ir metodai. Tyrime dalyvavo savanorės moterys, kurioms planuota gimdos šalinimo operacija. Jos atsitiktine tvarka buvo suskirstytos į dvi grupes: kontrolinę grupę (n=17), kurioje poveikis netaikytas, ir skersinio pilvo raumens lavinimo grupę (n=15), kurioje skirti skersinio pilvo raumens lavinimo pratimai. Diafragmos aktyvumas tirtas kvėpavimo slėgio matuokliu “MicroRPM“, dubens dugno raumenų jėga ir ištvermė – „Peritron 9300“ aparatu, o skersinio pilvo raumens aktyvumas ir ištvermė – Stabilizer“ prietaisu dieną prieš gimdos šalinimo operaciją ir praėjus šešioms savaitėms bei trims mėnesiams po jos. Išvados: 1. Po gimdos šalinimo operacijos, nelavinant skersinio pilvo raumens, jo aktyvumas ir ištvermė mažėja ir didžiausias mažėjimas stebimas šeštą savaitę po operacijos. Lavinant skersinį pilvo raumenį, jo jėga didėja tolygiai visu... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Research aim: To evaluate functional relations and their changes between diaphragm, transversus abdominis and pelvic floor muscles after hysterectomy. Objectives of study: 1.To evaluate an activity, endurance of transversus abdominis muscle in control group, transversus abdominis muscle training group and between these groups before and after hysterectomy. 2.To evaluate an activity of diaphragm muscle in control group, transversus abdominis muscle training group and between these groups before and after hysterectomy. 3.To evaluate strength and endurance of pelvic floor muscles in control group, transversus abdominis muscle training group and between these groups before and after hysterectomy. Contingent and methods of the study: All investigative women were divided randomly into two training groups: control (n=17), and transversus abdominis muscle (n=15). The strength of diaphragm was estimated with “MicroRPM“, pelvic floor muscles strength and endurance – „Peritron 9300“ device, and the activity and strength of transversus abdominis muscles was assessed with „Stabilizer“ one day before the operation of hysterectomy, six weeks and three months after it. Conclusions: 1.If there is no training of transversus abdominis muscle after uterus removal surgery, its activity and endurance decreases and the largest decrease is observed in the sixth week after surgery. While the transversus abdominis muscle is trained, its strength increases progressively all postoperative period and... [to full text]

The increasing importance of computer leads to develop new manufacturing methods. One of the most important example / &ldquo / unmanned shop floor&rdquo / model aims, the mankind can work in jobs that they can be more efficient and more comfortable. As the base of this model, in Middle East Technical University Computer Integrated Manufacturing Laboratory (METUCIM) &ldquo / Agent Version 1.1&rdquo / system is developed. Windows Distributed Internet Applications (DNA) modeling technique is used for the software development. In the developed system, by using web pages, one can give work orders to the flexible manufacturing cell in METUCIM. The manufacturing capabilities of the cell are limited by the capabilities of CNC Lathe and CNC Milling machine that exist in the system. By the developed agent based dynamic scheduling method, it is prevented to be only an experimental system for the manufacturing cell. The real manufacturing environment is adapted to the cell that it is possible to give unlimited number of work orders. The work orders can be queued and manufactured according to their &ldquo / priorities&rdquo / . By the &ldquo / web-cam&rdquo / application the given work orders can be watched from the web site so the system reliability is increased for the engineer. In the real manufacturing environment it is very frequent that the &ldquo / urgent part&rdquo / is needed to manufacture. In this system it is possible to give &ldquo / urgent orders&rdquo / for these situations.

Steel-deck composite floor systems are being increasingly used in high-rise building construction, especially in Australia, as they are economical and easy to construct. These composite floor systems use high strength materials to achieve longer spans and are thus slender. As a result, they are vulnerable to vibration induced under service loads. These floors are normally designed using static methods which will not reveal the true behaviour and miss the dynamic amplifications resulting in inappropriate designs, which ultimately cause vibration and discomfort to occupants. At present there is no adequate design guidance to address the vibration in these composite floors, due to a lack of research information, resulting in wasteful post event retrofits. To address this gap in knowledge, a comprehensive research project is presented in this thesis, which investigated the dynamic performance of composite floors under various human induced loads. A popular type of composite floor system was selected for this investigation and subjected to load models representing different human activities. These load models have variable parameters such as load intensity, activity type (contact ratio), activity frequency and damping and are applied as pattern loads to capture the maximum responses in terms of deflections and accelerations. Computer models calibrated against experimental results are used in the analysis to generate the required information. The dynamic responses of deflections and accelerations are compared with the serviceability deflection limits and human comfort levels (of accelerations) to assess these floor types. This thesis also treats the use of visco-elastic (VE) dampers to mitigate excessive vibrations in steel-deck composite floors. VE damper properties have been presented and their performances in reducing the excessive vibrations have been assessed this thesis. The results identified possible occupancies under different loading conditions that can be used in planning, design and evaluation. The findings can also be used to plan retrofitting measures in problematic floor systems.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:07:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MarcioLVNM.pdf: 5750272 bytes, checksum: b9659e465f3e2145cd82ea67e7bd6083 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-07-02 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / Nowadays, industries from all sectors have great concerns over the disposition of the residues generated along the productive process. This is not different in the mineral sector, as this generates great volumes of residues. It was verified that the kaolin improvement industry generates great volumes of residue basically constituted of kaolinite, muscovite mica and quartz, which are basic constitution elements to formularisations of ceramics masses to the production of covering of stoneware tiles type. This happens because the methodology applied to the improvement process is still very rudimentary, what causes a very low yield, only ? from all the material volume that enters the improvement process, in the end, is marketable. The disposal of this residue, in a general way, causes a very big negative environmental impact, what has justified the researches efforts aiming to find a rational solution to this problem. In this way, the intention of this present work is the utilization of this residue in the manufacture of products to high quality ceramics covering, stoneware tiles in an industrial scale. For this purpose, the influence of the addition of the residue to a standard ceramics mass used by a ceramics sector company, already established in the market, with the intention of verifying the possibility of use of this residue as the mass complementary raw material and even the possible partial or total substitution of one of the components of the mass for the raw material in evidence will be studied. To the accomplishment of this work, the kaolin improvement residue generated by an industry of exploitation and improvement of kaolin, located in the region of Equador-RN, in the levels 1,2,4,8, 16 and 32% will be added to the standard mass already used for the production of stoneware tiles. The raw materials used, kaolin residue and the standard mass, were characterized through DRX, FRX, DTA, TGA and dilatometry. After the sintering of the bodies of test, tests of water absorption, apparent porosity, post burning linear retraction, apparent specific mass and flexural strength (3 point bending) were realized to determinate the technological properties of these materials. The results show the studied residue can be considered raw material of great potential to the industry of floor and ceramics covering of the stoneware tiles type / Atualmente, h? uma grande preocupa??o por parte das ind?strias, de todos os setores, com a disposi??o dos res?duos gerados ao longo do processo produtivo. No setor mineral n?o ? diferente, pois este gera grandes volumes de res?duos. Verificou-se que a ind?stria de beneficiamento do caulim gera grandes volumes de res?duo constitu?do basicamente de caulinita, mica muscovita e quartzo, que s?o constituintes b?sicos para formula??es das massas cer?micas para produ??o de revestimento tipo porcelanato, isso se d? porque a metodologia aplicada no processo de beneficiamento ainda ? muito rudimentar o que ocasiona um rendimento muito baixo, apenas 1/4 de todo o volume de material que entra do processo de beneficiamento, ao final, ? produto comercializ?vel. O descarte desse res?duo, de um modo geral, ocasiona um impacto ambiental negativo muito grande, o que tem justificado os esfor?os de pesquisas visando encontrar uma solu??o racional para este problema. Deste modo, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo a utiliza??o desse res?duo na fabrica??o de produtos para revestimento cer?mico de alta qualidade, gr?s e/ou porcelanato, em escala industrial. Para isso ser? estudada a influ?ncia do acr?scimo do mesmo a uma massa cer?mica padr?o utilizada por uma empresa do setor cer?mico, j? consolidada no mercado, com a inten??o de verificar a possibilidade de uso desse res?duo como mat?ria-prima completar desta massa em quest?o. Para a realiza??o deste trabalho ser? adicionado o res?duo do beneficiamento do caulim gerado por uma ind?stria de explora??o e beneficiamento de caulim, localizada na regi?o de Equador-RN, nos teores de 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 e 32% na massa padr?o j? utilizada para produ??o de porcelanato. As mat?rias-primas utilizadas, res?duo de caulim e a massa padr?o, foram caracterizadas atrav?s de DRX, FRX, DTA, ATG e dilatometria. Ap?s sinteriza??o dos corpos-de-prova foram realizados ensaios de absor??o de ?gua, porosidade aparente, retra??o linear ap?s queima, massa espec?fica aparente e tens?o de ruptura ? flex?o tr?s pontos para determina??o das propriedades tecnol?gicas destes materiais. Os resultados mostram que o res?duo estudado pode ser considerado como mat?ria-prima de grande potencial para a ind?stria de pisos e revestimentos cer?micos do tipo porcelanato. De acordo com os resultados obtidos verificou-se a possibilidade de utiliza??o do res?duo de caulim em um percentual de at? 16% de adi??o a massa padr?o, MP16. Essa formula??o apresentou resultados compat?veis com os exigidos pela norma em vigor, NBR 13818/1997 Placas cer?micas para revestimento especifica??o e m?todos de ensaios, al?m de diminuir o custo da massa e o custo com energia durante o ciclo de queima. Observou-se que o valor do m?dulo de ruptura a flex?o em tr?s pontos encontrado na temperatura 1210 ?C (55,4 MPa) ? inferior ao obtido quando se sinteriza a mesma formula??o MP16 a 1230 ?C (61,3 MPa). Por?m, o exigido pela norma em vigor s?o 35 MPa, que est? muito abaixo do menor valor. Para os outros ensaios, os valores obtidos para esta formula??o sinterizada a 1210 ?C s?o sempre melhores que os resultados a 1230 ?C

La prédiction de l'organisation topologique du plan de masse d'un circuit VLSI complexe est très importante pour sa conception. Cette thèse présente une étude sur les proprietés statistiques des dessins des masques des principaux blocs constituant un circuit intégré. Un outil prototype d'évaluation topologique est également présenté. Cet outil donne une évaluation de la forme et de la taille de ces blocs, à partir de leurs spécifications fonetionelles. Il est composé par un ensemble de sousprogrammes d'évaluation spécialisés pour les différents types de blocs fonetionnels qui peuvent constituer un circuit VLSI. / The prediction of the floor plan topological organization in the design process of a complex VLSI circuit is very important. This thesis presents a study about statistical properties of the main blocks that compose an integrated circuit. A prototype tool for topological evaluation is also presented. This tool provides an evaluation of the shape and size of these blocks from their functional specifications. It is composed of a set of evaluation rotines specialized for the different functional blocks which may constitute a VLSI circuit.

Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2018-11-21T11:51:02Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Augusto Felippe Caramico dos Santos.pdf: 1308243 bytes, checksum: 4a9f444e0b4ed4d812a0cacfb653b505 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-21T11:51:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Augusto Felippe Caramico dos Santos.pdf: 1308243 bytes, checksum: 4a9f444e0b4ed4d812a0cacfb653b505 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-10-11 / Fundação São Paulo - FUNDASP / This thesis aims to investigate if traders have better decision management under stress, obtaining greater financial results. The Iowa Gambling Task was used to verify the hypothesis of research and the influence of the somatic markers in decision making, integrated to the theories of Behavioral Finance and Emotional Finance. The results indicated trading floor operators has better quality of decision making, faster learning, greater adaptability and superior financial result compared to control group. Among the subgroups of operators, there was a significant difference in the learning process and financial result obtained, demonstrating better ability to recognize patterns and higher financial results of the floor traders when compared to the group of electronic desk traders / Esta tese tem como objetivo investigar se traders possuem melhor qualidade decisória sob estresse, obtendo maiores resultados financeiros. Foi utilizada a metodologia do Iowa Gambling Task como meio de verificar as hipóteses de pesquisa e a influência dos marcadores somáticos na tomada de decisão dos indivíduos, integrada às teorias das Finanças Comportamentais e das Finanças Emocionais. Os resultados indicaram que os operadores de pregão apresentaram melhor qualidade de tomada de decisão, aprendizado mais rápido, maior adaptabilidade e resultado financeiro superior ante o grupo de controle. Entre os subgrupos de operadores foi verificada diferença significativa no processo de aprendizagem e resultado financeiro obtido, demonstrando melhor capacidade no reconhecimento de padrões e maiores resultados financeiros dos operadores de mesa quando comparados ao grupo de operadores viva-voz

Considéré comme la matérialité de l’espace, le sol est un élément déterminant en archéologie pour la compréhension de l’habitat. Au regard « de l’absence » des sols néolithiques, les recherches sur l’habitat dans le Nord de la France sont basées sur les structures en creux. Pour la fin du Néolithique, ceci est un problème puisque seuls quelques plans de bâtiments sont connus et les fréquents sites peu stratifiés à concentrations de mobilier sont peu documentés. Dans trois quarts des cas, les attributs du mobilier (à plat, domestique…) suggèreraient des sols d’occupation préservés, et donc des habitats potentiels. En questionnant la relation Société-Sol, la démarche géoarchéologique, fondée sur la micromorphologie, vise à déterminer les processus de formation de ces couches pour interroger le caractère préservé des sols d’occupation ainsi que la nature des activités humaines enregistrées. Ces recherches s’assoient sur l’étude de cinq sites à concentrations de mobilier (Gas, Sours, Poupry, Pussigny et Maillé), découverts en Beauce et en Touraine par l’archéologie préventive. L’élaboration d’un modèle qualitatif du sol néolithique, exprimé par une classification de micro-ethnofaciès, a permis d’identifier sa nature, de confirmer le statut d’habitat de ces sites et de discuter des modes d’occupation des sols. La pratique des terrassements pour l’implantation des habitats semble généralisée, tout comme l’emploi de la terre crue pour la construction des sols et des bases de murs. Si des variations semblent apparaitre dans les espaces intérieurs, les résultats pour les sols extérieurs permettent de proposer un modèle théorique de l’organisation spatiale de l’espace de cour. / Considered as the materiality of space, floor is a crucial element in archaeology to understand the settlement. Regarding the “lack” of neolithic floors, the researches of settlements in North of France, are established from negative features. For the end of Neolithic, this is truly a problem because only few plans of buildings are discovered and the sites with very thin and massive anthropogenic layers are common, but not well documented. In three-quarters of cases, the characteristics of materials (flat, domestic…) would suggest preserved floors, and so, potential settlements. Answering the relation Society-Soil, the geoarchaeological approach, based on micromorphology of soil, pursue to characterise the processes of formation of thin layers to question the preserved aspect of floors and the nature of human activities recorded. The searches are seated on the study of five sites à thin layer with concentrations of materials, discovered in Beauce and Touraine by survey archaeology. The elaboration of qualitative models of neolithic floor, expressed by a classification of micro-ethnofaciès, leads to identify its nature, to confirm the status of the settlement of its type of sites. The earthwork practice of the implantation of a settlement seems extensive, as well as, the use of earthen materials to the construction of floors and walls. If spatial organisation of interior space remains difficult to approach, the results lead to propose a theoretical model of courtyard spaces.