The research problem addressed in this study was to analyse and report on the potential use of Spoornet’s excess warehousing to support the Industrial Development Zones (IDZs) in the Eastern Cape. In order to achieve this objective, a literature study was undertaken to ascertain the world-class practices for warehousing. A study was conducted on Spoornet strategy in order to determine whether the company can apply its existing strategy for warehouse operations. The empirical results obtained, indicated that there would be a need for warehousing to support the IDZs in the Eastern Cape. There would be opportunities for storage of raw materials, distribution of parts for production, and finished goods to be delivered to consumers. Spoornet has gained ground on its competitor with respect to logistics and has progressed with its “Freight Logistics Solution” initiative. In conclusion it was recommended that Spoornet uses its existing strategy and convert their goods sheds into world-class warehousing. The warehouse space can be used as a trade-off to gain rail clients.

Contexte : Le cancer de l'endomètre est le plus fréquent des cancers gynécologiques. Il a été suggéré que les traitements oncologiques entraînent des dysfonctions des muscles du plancher pelvien. Ces dysfonctions pourraient contribuer au développement de conditions débilitantes comme la douleur lors des relations sexuelles (dyspareunie) qui atteint plus de la moitié des survivantes. Or, à l'heure actuelle, aucune étude n'a investigué la fonction des muscles du plancher pelvien en lien avec la dyspareunie chez des survivantes d'un cancer de l'endomètre. Objectifs : L'objectif principal vise à explorer les différences quant à la fonction des muscles du plancher pelvien entre des survivantes d'un cancer de l'endomètre atteintes de dyspareunie et des femmes sans douleur ayant subi l'hystérectomie totale pour des raisons bénignes. L'objectif secondaire est d'explorer les différences entre les deux groupes quant aux variables urogynécologiques, sexuelles, psychologiques et sociales. Méthodologie : Dans cette étude comparative exploratoire bicentrique, des survivantes d'un cancer de l'endomètre atteintes de dyspareunie (n=7) et des femmes asymptomatiques (n=7) ont assisté à une séance d'évaluation menée par une physiothérapeute. Les deux groupes ont été équilibrés selon l'âge, l'indice de masse corporelle et le nombre d'accouchements par voie vaginale. La fonction des muscles du plancher pelvien, y compris le tonus, la force maximale, la vitesse de contraction, la coordination et l'endurance, a été évaluée à l'aide du spéculum dynamométrique. Des questionnaires validés ont permis d'évaluer les variables secondaires. Des tests de Mann-Whitney ont été employés pour comparer les deux groupes quant à la fonction des muscles du plancher pelvien et les variables urogynécologiques, sexuelles, psychologiques et sociales (!=0,050). Résultats : Concernant la fonction des muscles du plancher pelvien, les survivantes atteintes de dyspareunie ont démontré un tonus à une ouverture vaginale minimale supérieur (p=0,018) et une endurance inférieure (p=0,048) aux femmes asymptomatiques. Les survivantes ont également présenté plus d'incontinence fécale (p=0,005) et une fonction sexuelle inférieure (p=0,004) comparativement aux femmes asymptomatiques. Aucune différence n'a été détectée pour les variables psychologiques et sociales. Conclusion : Les résultats de cette étude exploratoire suggèrent des dysfonctions des muscles du plancher pelvien, notamment un tonus supérieur et une endurance inférieure, chez les survivantes d'un cancer de l'endomètre atteintes de dyspareunie. D'autres études sont nécessaires afin de confirmer ces résultats. Ces constats préliminaires pourraient servir d'assises pour mieux comprendre les dysfonctions des muscles du plancher pelvien impliquées dans la dyspareunie chez cette population. / Abstract : Context: Endometrial cancer is the most common cancer in gynecological cancers. Oncological treatments are suggested to cause pelvic floor muscle dysfunction that could contribute to the development of debilitating conditions such as pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia), which affects more than half of survivors. However, to date, no study investigated pelvic floor muscle function in relation to dyspareunia in endometrial cancer survivors. Objectives: The main objective is to explore differences in pelvic floor muscle function between endometrial cancer survivors with dyspareunia and women without pain who underwent a total hysterectomy for benign conditions. The secondary objective is to explore differences between the two groups on urogynecological, sexual, psychological and social variables. Methodology: In this exploratory, bicentric comparative study, endometrial cancer survivors with dyspareunia (n=7) and asymptomatic women (n=7) attended one evaluation session conducted by a physiotherapist. The two groups were balanced in terms of age, body mass index and number of vaginal deliveries. The pelvic floor muscle function, including tone, maximal strength, contraction speed, coordination and endurance, was assessed with the dynamometric speculum. Validated questionnaires were used to evaluate secondary variables. Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare the two groups on muscular, urogynecological, sexual, psychological and social variables (!=0.050). Results: Concerning pelvic floor muscle function, survivors with dyspareunia demonstrated higher tone at a minimal vaginal aperture (p=0.018) and lower endurance (p=0.048) compared to asymptomatic women. Survivors also presented more fecal incontinence (p=0.005) and lower sexual function (p=0.004) compared to asymptomatic women. No differences were detected for psychological and social variables. Conclusion: The results of this exploratory study suggest impaired pelvic floor muscle function, notably higher tone and lower endurance, in endometrial cancer survivors with dyspareunia. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings. This preliminary evidence can be used as empirical data to better understand pelvic floor muscle impairments implicated in dyspareunia in this population.

[pt] Este estudo tem por objetivo avaliar o comportamento estrutural de um sistema de vigamento de piso tipo stub-girder, modificado para melhor aproveitamento dos perfis em sua fabricação. O estudo é baseado em formulações não lineares a partir do método dos elementos finitos (MEF), com uso do software ANSYS. Através do software FTOOL foi criado um modelo simplificado para a análise estrutural e o cálculo das resistências nominais foi feito com base na norma canadense CAN-S16-10 da Canadian Standards Association. Além disso, foram avaliadas as cargas de máximas e de serviço do sistema, bem como os deslocamentos associados a estes carregamentos. Com base nos resultados obtidos, foram feitas recomendações de projeto do sistema e foram avaliadas as condições de economia de material e possibilidade de utilização na prática de construção de edificações de andares múltiplos. Com vistas à fase de construção, é feita a discussão sobre a possibilidade de obtenção de um método construtivo industrializado, já que o sistema de fabricação é caracterizado pela rapidez de produção e montagem, que são facilitadas pelo fato deste sistema permitir a reutilização de pequenos comprimentos de perfis que sobram no processo normal de fabricação. / [en] This study s purpose was to evaluate the structural behavior of a stub-girder floor-system, which was modified to better utilize the steel profiles in its manufacturing process. The study is based on nonlinear analysis through the use of the finit element method (FEM), employing the software ANSYS. For the structural analysis, a simplified model was created through the use of the software FTOOL and the nominal resistances was obtained based on the canadian CAN-S16-10 Standard, by the Canadian Standards Association. Furthermore, the working and tensile loads were evaluated, as were the displacements associated to them. Based on the results, designs recommendations were made and the conditions of economy of material, as well the possibility of the system s practical use in multi-storey buildings were discussed. With regards to the construction phase, a discussion was made on the possibility of obtaining an industrialized construction method, since the manufacturing process is characterized by the fast production and assembly, which are facilitade by the fact that this system allows the reuse of small lenghts of remaining profiles from the normal manufacturing process.

Le laboratoire d’Embryologie Moléculaire étudie les mécanismes moléculaires contrôlant le développement embryonnaire et utilise comme système expérimental l’embryon de xénope. En collaboration le laboratoire du Dr Daniel Christophe, nous avons abordé l’étude du gène XHRT1 chez le xénope. Ce gène est l’orthologue du gène HRT-1/Hey1/Hesr-1/HERP2/CHF2 de souris. Celui-ci, avec deux autres protéines apparentées (HRT2 et HRT3) forme une sous-famille de facteurs de transcription de type bHLH-O qui se différencient des autres facteurs bHLH-O par l’absence d’un motif carboxy-terminal de séquence « WRPW » et par la présence d’un nouveau motif carboxy-terminal conservé de séquence « TEI/VGAF ». Le rôle de ces facteurs HRT dans le développement est encore actuellement mal connu. <p>Dans un premier temps, nous avons déterminé le profil d’expression de XHRT1 au cours de l’embryogenèse. Nous avons observé que ce gène est fortement exprimé au stade neurula dans le plancher du tube neural, et que plus tardivement celui-ci est exprimé dans différentes régions du système nerveux, dans les somites et le dans le pronéphros. Comme attendu pour un membre de la famille des facteurs bHLH-O, nous avons également observé que l’expression précoce de HRT1 au niveau du plancher du tube neural est bien régulée par la voie de signalisation Notch.<p>Dans un deuxième temps, nous nous sommes intéressés au rôle et au mode d’action du facteur XHRT1 dans le développement du plancher du tube neural. Nous avons pu montrer que XHRT1 agit comme répresseur transcriptionnel et que cette répression nécessite la présence du domaine bHLH et de séquences en aval de celui-ci. Nous avons montré en embryon que la surexpression précoce de XHRT1 induit un blocage de l’expression des marqueurs du mésoderme et une augmentation de marqueur du plancher du tube neural, ce qui est en accord avec le modèle selon lequel la voie de signalisation Notch interviendrait dans le choix de la destinée des cellules de la région médiane en inhibant la différenciation des cellules en notocorde et en favorisant leur différenciation en cellules du plancher du tube neural. XHRT1 n’étant cependant activé qu’à partir du stade neurula, nous avons conclu que les effets observés n’étaient probablement pas dus à XHRT1 mais à un autre facteur bHLH-O apparenté exprimé plus précocement dans les cellules de la ligne mediane de l’embryon. Afin d’éviter ces effets non spécifiques précoces, nous avons utilisé un vecteur d’expression de XHRT1 permettant un contrôle temporel de l’activité de la protéine. Nous avons ainsi montré que l’activation de XHRT1 au stade neurula dans l’ectoderme inhibe la différenciation des cellules précurseurs neurales en neurones et qu’il pourrait ainsi jouer un rôle important dans le développement du plancher du tube neural. Nos résultats ont montré également que XHRT1 est capable d’homo- et hétérodimériser in vivo avec les facteurs Xhairy1 et Xhairy2b coexprimés avec XHRT1 dans le plancher du tube neural. Enfin, nous avons montré que les propriétés de dimérisation de XHRT1 sont dépendantes non seulement du domaine bHLH, mais aussi du domaine Orange et des séquences situées en aval, séquences jouant un rôle important dans le choix du partenaire.<p>Des travaux récents ayant montré que la voie de signalisation Notch joue un rôle important dans le développement du rein, nous avons voulu déterminer l’importance de XHRT1 dans le développement du pronéphros. Nos résultats ont montré que XHRT1 ainsi que d’autres facteurs bHLH-O sont exprimés de manière dynamique, d’abord dans le glomus puis dans la partie dorso-antérieure de l’ébauche du pronéphros à l’origine des tubules proximaux, et que leur expression est régulée positivement par Notch. La surexpression de XHRT1 à la fin de la neurulation inhibe la formation du canal et du tubule distal, tandis que l’inhibition de la traduction de la protéine entraîne une réduction de l’expression de marqueurs spécifiques des tubules proximaux et du glomus. Ces résultats démontrent que XHRT1 joue un rôle important comme médiateur de la voie de signalisation Notch dans le pronéphros. / Doctorat en sciences, Spécialisation biologie moléculaire / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

No description available.

Ce travail de recherche met en avant l'intérêt qu'offre la simulation en ligne comme outil d'aide à la décision, outil centré sur le pilotage d'atelier vis-à-vis d'événements se produisant en temps réel et pour un horizon à très court terme. Après avoir présenté le contexte général du pilotage des systèmes de production, nous avons étudié les outils existants et utilisés industriellement pour l'exploitation de la production, de même que les outils d'aide au pilotage permettant d'assurer le respect optimal des objectifs fixés. Après un travail préalable sur la simulation hors ligne, nous proposons de coupler un outil de simulation en ligne à un outil d'exécution d'atelier de type MES afin de piloter en temps réel le processus de production. Une démarche de modélisation faisant appel de façon complémentaire à deux approches, analytique et simulatoire, est finalement mise en place. Nous mettons en exergue l'utilisation de la simulation de flux en ligne pour aider au pilotage d'un processus opérationnel. Ainsi nous modélisons le processus de pilotage en temps réel afin de décrire les fonctions requises. Pour cela, nous utilisons différentes stratégies d'utilisation des simulateurs en ligne pour le pilotage, avec un ou deux modèles et avec plusieurs méthodes d'utilisation de ces modèles. La simulation en ligne apporte alors des informations objectives sur les conséquences à court terme d'un événement, ainsi que sur les divers scenarii de correction envisagés. Pour mieux convaincre les industriels de l'intérêt de la simulation en ligne, nous présentons des solutions pratiques aux spécifications et besoins énoncés précédemment en nous appuyant sur une plate-forme expérimentale. / This research work highlights the interest of online simulation as a decision support tool. This tool is focused on workshop control in relation with real time and short-term events. Online simulation enables to analyze and compare scenarios affecting the production, such as failures or unexpected orders. Moreover online simulation allows a very short term projection in the future in order to quantify the consequences of some unexpected event: we call it projection simulation. Finally, online simulation is helpful to choose the solution that will reduce the impact of a critical event, through the simulation of several scenarios. To conclude, online simulation is one the most interesting decision support tool in workshop piloting. However, there are few industrial applications in manufacturing systems. The first part of this research work introduces the overall context of production system management. The different generic functions of controlling the production, the modes of piloting and the evolutions of workshop are detailed. We also explain piloting typologies according to their reactivity. In the second part, we study the existing software tools used in industry for the operation of production, and support tools that ensure optimal compliance in regard to the objectives. After a preliminary work on the offline simulation, we propose to couple an online simulation tool with a type MES delivery tool in order to control the production process in real time. A modeling approach using two complementary approaches, an analytical one and simulation, is then introduced. The objective of the third part is to emphasize the use of online flow simulation to assist in operating a production process. Thus we model the process in real time to describe the required functions. Therefore we try out different strategies of use of online simulators, through one or two models and several methods of using these models. Online simulation then provides realistic information on the short-term consequences of an event, as well as on the different ways of correcting the scenarios. To convince industry of the relevance of online simulation, the fourth part presents practical solutions to the specifications and requirements previously stated. An experimental platform helped us validate the concept of online simulation as piloting support tool, but also underline the difficulties of development.

Magister Commercii - MCom / This study aimed to assess employee’s responses with regard to the implementation of a new workplace improvement programme. The purpose of this research was to focus on the understanding that could be gained about employee’s responses to organisational change using qualitative research

Deep-water strata of the Neoproterozoic Kaza Group and Isaac Formation (Cariboo Group) in the southern Canadian Cordillera (B.C.) were deposited in a passive-margin basin during the break-up of supercontinent Rodinia. At the Castle Creek and Mount Quanstrom study areas, a remarkably continuous stratigraphic interval throughout these units preserves a record of basin-floor overlain by strata deposited in the lowermost part of the slope. Although similar stratal intervals have been described from ancient and modern deep-marine settings, they still remain poorly understood. Three main stratal units are recognized within the study areas. The lower unit consists of three channel-lobe systems formed in the basin floor to slope transition. Uniquely, siliciclastic-dominated strata here consist of a variety of small- and few large-scale scour elements, indicating transport bypass along the channel-lobe transition zone, in addition to detached or attached depositional lobes composed mostly of distributary channels, fine-grained deposits, and uncommon splays, and a rare slope leveed channel complex. The middle unit is a siliciclastic-dominated succession of stacked, km-scale mass-transport deposits (i.e. debrites and slides), which indicates the more frequent emplacement of increasingly larger mass failures on a prograding slope, and are overlain by fine-grained, splay deposits that are successively overlain by channel, ponded and fine-grained deposits. In contrast, the upper unit is a mixed siliciclastic-carbonate slope succession of the first Isaac carbonate, a regional marker horizon that comprises mostly carbonate-rich and siliciclastic-rich fine-grained strata intercalated with channel and gully complexes that are mostly filled with coarser-grained strata. Abrupt changes in facies trends, stratal stacking patterns and depositional styles throughout these units are largely linked to long-term changes in relative sea level and its control on sediment supply, namely sediment caliber, volume and mineralogy. Notably, in the upper unit, small-scale changes in sediment source and supply are related to shorter sea-level variations superimposed on the long-term eustatic change.

Historically, the paper market has consisted of few customers with high demands. However, the market has changed and nowadays it consists of many customer with lower demands, which causes problems in the warehouse process of Braviken Papermill. The main problem is that the utilization rates in the storage bays are low due to the relatively large bays compared to the order quantities. The purpose of this project is to develop a new set of bays that fits the current market and increases the utilization rates. The goal of the new set is to decrease the amount of manual operations and instead use the full potential of the allocation system.    The new set of bays consist of four bay types, dimensioned for 2, 4, 8 and 16 reel stacks respectively. Several experiments are done, and the new set of bays performs better than the current one, in terms of the utilization rates for storage events in the bays. The average utilization rate is significantly higher for the new set compared to the current. A decrease in effective storage space can be compensated by an increased degree of utilization. Also, it is beneficial with more and smaller bays in a market situation like the one of Holmen Paper.

INTRODUÇÃO: A incontinência urinária de esforço (IUE) é definida como a queixa de perda involuntária de urina em situações de esforço ou esforço físico, espirros ou tosse. O fortalecimento dos músculos do assoalho pélvico (MAPs) tem nível A de evidência científica no tratamento da IUE, mas não há respostas sobre o efeito de uma intervenção envolvendo o sinergismo muscular entre os MAPs e os músculos do quadril. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar se o fortalecimento dos MAPs associado ao fortalecimento dos músculos adutores de quadril, glúteo máximo e glúteo médio é mais eficaz do que o fortalecimento isolado dos MAPs, em relação à frequência de perda urinária, força do assoalho pélvico, perineometria e qualidade de vida. METODOLOGIA: Ensaio clínico randomizado e cego, com 43 mulheres (média de idade 50,09 ± 8,35) com diagnóstico de IUE. Após a avaliação inicial, as pacientes foram randomizadas para o grupo que realizava somente exercícios para fortalecimento dos músculos do assoalho pélvico (AP, n= 21) ou para o grupo de exercícios para fortalecimento dos músculos do assoalho pélvico, adutores de quadril, glúteo máximo e médio (APQ, n= 22). Como medida primária foi considerada a frequência de perda urinária avaliada pelo diário miccional de três dias e pela ficha de acompanhamento por sessão. As medidas secundárias foram: avaliação bidigital da força dos MAPs, a perineometria, e a avaliação da qualidade de vida realizada pelo International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnarie - Short Form (ICIQ-SF) e pelo King\'s Health Questionnaire (KHQ). As avaliações foram realizadas antes e após 20 sessões de fisioterapia. RESULTADOS: Na análise do diário miccional, entre o início e fim do tratamento, somente o grupo APQ teve redução significante da frequência de perda urinária, porém sem diferença estatisticamente significante entre os grupos no final do tratamento. A frequência diária de perda urinária obtida pela ficha de acompanhamento por sessão, constatou que somente o grupo APQ teve redução significativa da perda urinária ao longo do tratamento (efeito do fator tempo) (p-valor 0,0048), sendo que na comparação entre os grupos, o APQ resultou em maior redução da frequência diária de perda em relação ao grupo AP. Ambos os grupos tiveram aumento significativo da força e endurance dos MAPs, porém sem diferença estatisticamente significante entre os grupos. Não foi detectada diferença significativa na perineometria pré/ pós-tratamento, assim como na comparação entre os grupos. Na análise da qualidade de vida, ambos os grupos tiveram melhora significativa nos escores do ICIQ-SF, porém não apresentaram diferença significativa na comparação entre os grupos. Dos nove domínios do KHQ, seis apresentaram redução estatisticamente significativa no grupo APQ e quatro no grupo AP, porém os escores dos nove domínios não apresentaram diferença significativa entre os grupos no final do tratamento. CONCLUSÕES: Para o tratamento da incontinência urinária de esforço, os exercícios de fortalecimento do assoalho pélvico acrescidos do fortalecimento de músculos como os adutores de quadril, o glúteo máximo e glúteo médio apresentam melhor resultado ao longo do tratamento para a redução da perda urinária do que somente o fortalecimento perineal, ainda que não haja diferença significativa entre os tratamentos em relação à força e perineometria dos músculos do assoalho pélvico e na qualidade de vida / BACKGROUND: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is defined as the complaint of involuntary leakage of urine in situations of stress or physical exertion, sneezing or coughing. Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) have the level A of scientific evidence in the treatment of SUI, but there are no findings on the effect of an intervention involving muscle synergism between PFM and hip muscles. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether the strengthening of PFM associated with the strengthening of the hip adductor muscles, gluteus medius and gluteus maximus is more effective than isolated strengthening of PFM, regarding the frequency of urine loss, strength of pelvic floor perineometry and quality of life. METHODS: This is a blind randomized clinical trial with 43 women (mean age 50.09 ± 8.35) diagnosed with SUI. After initial evaluation, patients were allocated to the group that performed only exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor (PF, n = 21) or to the group of exercises to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor, hip adductors, gluteus maximus and gluteus medius (PFH, n = 22). As a primary measure, the frequency of urinary incontinence was considered as assessed by a three-day voiding diary and the accompanying sheet, per session. Secondary measures were: bidigital assessment of the strength of PFM, perineometry, and the assessment of quality of life conducted by the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire - Short Form (ICIQ-SF) and the King\'s Health Questionnaire (KHQ). Evaluations were performed before and after 20 sessions of physiotherapy. RESULTS: In the analysis of the voiding diary, between the beginning and end of treatment, only the PFH group had a significant reduction in the frequency of urinary leakage, although there was no statistically significant difference between groups at the end of treatment. The daily frequency of urinary leakage obtained by the accompanying sheet per session, showed that only the PFH group had significantly reduced urinary loss throughout the treatment (time effect factor) (p-value 0.0048), and in that comparison between groups, the PFH group resulted in greater reduction in daily frequency of loss of urine in relation to the PF group. Both groups had a significant increase in strength and endurance of PFMs, although there was no statistically significant difference between groups. There was no significant difference in perineometry pre / post-treatment, as well as in the comparison between groups. In analyzing the quality of life, both groups had significant improvement in the scores of the ICIQ-SF, but did not show a significant difference between groups. Of the nine KHQ domains, six showed a statistically significant reduction in PFH group and four in the PF group, but the scores of the nine domains showed no significant difference between groups at the end of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: For the treatment of stress urinary incontinence, exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles plus the strengthening of muscles like the hip adductors, gluteus maximus and gluteus medius have a better outcome during treatment for the reduction of urine loss than only the perineal strengthening, although there is no significant difference between treatments with respect to strength and perineometry of pelvic floor muscles, and the quality of life