With the popularity of outdoor activities like hiking, the demands of certain types of employment, or being a student, an individual’s ability to carry a load is an important mobility consideration. By understanding the changes to an individual’s gait when supporting a backpack load, an individual’s ability to carry heavy loads for prolonged periods could be improved. Most biomechanical studies have examined the changes in able-bodied gait when carrying a load. However, research is lacking on the effect of backpack loads on amputee gait patterns. This project examined the effects of a backpack load on the gait patterns of unilateral transtibial amputees. Ten participants performed walking trials on four surfaces (level ground, uneven ground, walking up an incline, and walking down an incline), without a pack and with a pack. A total of 40 trials were collected per subject, with 10 trials collected on each surface. Three-dimensional motion data were collected with an eight-camera Vicon Motion Analysis system to describe limb motion as well as compare kinematic outcomes between tasks and conditions. Force platform data were collected during the level ground trials and used to calculate kinetic measures for both limbs. With the addition of the pack changes were seen on each surface, with different changes occurring to each limb. The ramp up surface created the most changes when comparing the two conditions. The only change seen across all four surfaces was a decrease in ankle dorsiflexion before push-off on the prosthetic limb. The two next most common changes were increases in knee and hip flexion during weight-acceptance.

The aim of the study was to examine the muscle activities of fifteen male participants (23.44 ±2.63 years) during unilateral hockey bag load carrying of different weights (10%, 20%, and 30% bodyweight) and sizes (small and large). Walking without a hockey bag was the control condition. The results showed that increased peak and integrated EMG occurred with an increased load weight in the semitendinosus, gastrocnemius, rectus abdominis, and vastus medialis. The left rectus femoris and left semitendinosus were both significantly greater than the right corresponding muscle. Carrying the large hockey bag produced greater peak EMG in the right rectus abdominis and the right rectus femoris, whereas the right vastus medialis showed a larger peak EMG in the small hockey bag. It was concluded that the posterior-lateral carrying style of hockey bag load carriage explained the results being similar to both backpack and side pack load carriage studies.

The last full review of load models used for power system studies occurred in the 1980s. Since then, new types of loads have been introduced and system load mix has changed considerably. The examples of newly introduced loads include drive-controlled motors, low energy consumption light sources and other modern power electronic loads. Their numbers have been steadily increasing in recent years, a trend which is expected to escalate. Accordingly, the majority of load models used in traditional power system studies are becoming outdated, as they are unable to accurately represent power demand characteristics of existing and future loads. Therefore, in order to accurately predict both active and non-active power demand characteristics of aggregated modern power system loads in different load sectors (e.g. residential, commercial or industrial), existing load models should be updated and new models developed. This thesis aims to fill this gap by developing individual, generic and aggregated steady state models of the most common loads in use today, as well as of those expected to show significant growth in the future. The component-based approach is adopted for load modelling, where individual load models are obtained in detailed simulations of physical devices. Whenever possible, the developed individual load models are validated by measurements. These detailed individual load models are then simplified and expressed as equivalent circuit and analytical models, which allowed the establishment of generic load models that can be easily aggregated. It should be noted that since all non-active power characteristics are correctly represented, the developed aggregated load models allow for a full harmonic analysis, which is not the case with the standard steady state load models. Therefore, the proposed load models form an extensive library of comprehensive load models that are suitable for use in multiple areas of power system research. Based on the results of research related to typical domestic/residential sector load mix, the newly developed load models are aggregated and then applied to a typical UK/Scotland distribution network. Considerable differences are seen between network characteristics of newly proposed and previously developed models. The voltage distortion of a typical distribution system bus is investigated, and it is shown that distortion of the system voltage is likely to increase significantly in the future. The results of the presented research also suggest that neglecting the harmonic characteristics from the set of general load attributes may introduce errors in standard load flow studies.

Title: EMGs of Back Muscles in Relation with Different Settings of the Straps of Backpacks Objectives: The aim of this study is to compare the electrical activity of chosen muscles during the gait with student backpack and during the different types of placing the backpack on the back in the vertical plane. The second aim is to find what it the best type of the backpack placement on the back based on the electrical activity. Methods: This thesis is an analytical-experimental research. In the theoretical part, there is a review of available sources relating to existing studies about load carriage, especially backpack carrying. It is preferentially about school type of backpaks, the recommended load limit, the way of placing a backpack on the back and the way of placing a load in the backpack. In the experimental part, there are methods used during experiment. The surface electromyografy was chosen as a experimental method. M. trapezius pars descendens, m. erector spinae and m. rectus abdomis were chosen for recording the EMG signal. The data were recorded during the gait with the backpack of 10% of proband's weight and during 3 different types of backpack placement. The upper type of placement was placed with the centre of the backpack in the level of seventh thoracic vertebra (T7), the middle type...

Title: Verification and optimalization level of load during the soccer small side games Objectives: In this thesis, we discuss the current trend of increasing physical performance in football by specific means, i.e. with a ball, using methodological - organizational forms: small side games. The thesis will include examples of modified small side games that will be used in practice (tested in training sessions). During preparatory games will be monitored (using sporttesters) how are they acting with their load on the body (achieving ANP, SF max, etc.). Then we specify whether these exercises are appropriate for inclusion in the training process and what would be their recommendations for practice (IZ: IO). Methods: Selected (test) group consisted of 11 players aged 18-19 years junior league level. This group attended two training sessions, where they comleted selected preparatory games. In this work it is indirect (mediated) observation, since data were recorded by the devices from which the data was then processed in the result form. For the size of locomotive loads were used Testers' Polar RS800 ". Results: The final section provides information on the effectiveness of selected exercises in relation to fitness abilities of the players. In the evaluation has been found that a very important roles...

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Orientador: Helio Langoni / Coorientador: Silvio Luis de Oliveira / Banca: Maria Cecilia Rui Luvizotto / Banca: Juliana Giantomassi Machado / Banca: Simone Baldini Lucheis / Banca: Lisiane Almeida Martins / Resumo: O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a resposta humoral, a carga parasitária e os aspectos histopatológicos presentes no fígado em camundongos BALB/c experimentalmente infectados por L. (L.) chagasi e imunossuprimidos. 96 camundongos foram subdivididos em quatro grupos: controle (I) - sem tratamento; imunossuprimidos (II) - tratamento com dexametasona (DXM) e pentoxifilina (PTX); infectado (III) - infecção por L (L.) chagasi e infectados e imunossuprimidos (IV) - infecção por L (L.) chagasi e tratados com DXM e PTX. O dia de infecção foi considerado como o dia zero e a imunossupressão ocorreu 60 dias pós-infecção. As amostras foram obtidas de cada grupo, em momentos distintos 15, 30, 60, 75 e 90 dias pós-infecção, em que se coletou sangue total, para detecção de IgG1 e IgG2a pelo ensaio imunoenzimático (ELISA), fragmentos de baço e fígado, para detecção da carga parasitária pela técnica de microtitulação em cultura e fragmentos de fígado para o exame histopatológico. Houve diferença significativa na produção das imunoglobulinas e IgG1 foi à subclasse de imunoglobulina mais produzida pelos grupos (P < 0,0001). Quando comparadas a subclasses de imunoglobulinas dentro do mesmo grupo, IgG1 também apresentou médias maiores de produção nos grupos III e IV (P = 0,014 e P = 0,009). E quando se considera o momento, não houve diferenças significativas entre IgG1 e IgG2a. Aos 90 dias pós-infecção foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre as médias de produção de IgG1 e IgG2a, entre os grupos III e IV e o grupo III produziu mais as duas subclasses (P = 0,02). Nos momentos 75 e 90 dias pós-infecção houve produção maior de IgG1 e IgG2a. O Grupo IV apresentou maior carga parasitária (P < 0,005). A carga parasitária no fígado foi mais elevada 15 e 30 dias pós-infecção... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the humoral response, the parasite load and liver histopathological features in BALB/c experimentally infected by L. (L.) chagasi and immunosuppressed Ninety-six mice divided into four groups: control (I) - no treatment; immunosuppressed (II) - Treatment with dexamethasone (DXM) and pentoxifylline (PTX), infected (III) - infection by L. (L.) chagasi and infected and immunosuppressed (IV) - infection by L (L.) chagasi and treated with PTX and DXM. The days of infection was considered as day zero and immunosuppression occurred 60 days post-infection. Samples were obtained from each group at different times 15, 30, 60, 75 and 90 days post-infection, which collected whole blood for detection of IgG1 and IgG2a by test immunoassay (ELISA), fragments of spleen and liver, to detect the parasite load in the technique microtiter culture and fragments of liver for histopathology. Significant differences in production of immunoglobulins, IgG1 was the subclass immunoglobulin produced by most groups (P<0.0001). When comparing the immunoglobulin subclasses within the same group, IgG1 also showed higher average production in groups III and IV (P=0.014 and P=0.009). When one considers the time, there were no significant differences between IgG1 and IgG2a. At 90 days post-infection were significant differences between the means of production of IgG1 and IgG2a between group III and IV and group III produced over the two subclasses (P=0.02). In periods of 75 and 90 days post-infection there was increased production of IgG1 and IgG2a. Group IV showed a higher parasite load (P <0.005). The parasite load in the liver was higher 15 and 30 days post-infection and 60 post-infection in spleen (P = 0.0001, P = 0.004, P=0.01), regardless of group. Considering the group IV, 15 days post-infection... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

The reliability of structures subjected to time-invariant or time-variant random loads is considered herein. This is an important field of engineering, as it provides the framework for assessing whether newly designed or existing structural systems meet their design requirements in a given lifetime, or whether they experience what is termed “structural failure”. An important aspect of reliability analysis is the study of structures subjected to multiple time-varying loads. For this class of systems, it is well-known that by modelling the loads as (time-variant) random processes, the reliability may be evaluated by considering the outcrossing of a vector process out of a safe domain. However, due to the possibility that the loads may not be fully-dependent, all loads may not necessarily contribute to structural failure. To account for this the treatment of vector-outcrossings may need to allow for the possibility of outcrossings being caused by individual loads, as distinct from combinations of all loads. The procedure used to analyse combinations of loads depends on the stochastic process model used to represent the loads. Two well-known load models have been presented in the literature—they are referred to herein as the ‘on-off’ model and the ‘standard’ model. The ‘on-off’ model typically assumes loads are non-negative, and are either ‘on’ (eg their value is non-zero) or ‘off’ (eg their value is strictly zero). They can contribute to failure only when they are ‘on’. This model is represented by a somewhat artificial ‘composite’ probability distribution, obtained by modifying the original load probability density function (pdf) so that a ‘finite’ non-zero probability represents explicitly the possibility that the load is ‘off’. To implement this model in time-variant analysis, it is necessary to consider all possible combinations of loads being ‘on’ and ‘off’. In contrast, the ‘standard’ model (which is the more commonly used) typically allows loads to be negative; it is also typically represented solely by the original load pdf, and therefore effectively assumes each load is always ‘on’. To allow for the possibility of one or more loads not to cause failure, herein the value of such loads is held ‘constant’ at the time of failure, when the value of all loads actually causing failure is allowed to change. Use of the ‘standard’ model is examined herein. The “Directional Simulation in the Load Space (DS-LS)” approach is a tool used to perform reliability analysis. It is particularly suitable for time-variant analysis, as it allows loads to be represented as random processes, and to be modelled properly. DS-LS has so far been shown to work well for relatively simple structures subjected to one or more time-invariant random loads, and has been used to examine vector outcrossings in systems comprising either discrete or continuous loads. To enable the proper consideration of load combinations, and to provide some improvements in the formulation of the technique, a generalisation of the DS-LS approach is proposed herein. The generalisation is achieved in two stages. The first involves modifying the time-invariant and time-variant DS-LS formulation to allow for the possibility of positioning the origin of DS-LS not only in the ‘safe’ region of the load space (which the formulation currently requires) but in the ‘failure’ region, or even ‘exactly’ on the boundary separating the safe and failure regions. The modifications are necessary because for even simple structures, the ‘exact’ location of the safe and failure region is not always known explicitly ‘a priori’. The second involves developing the time-variant DS-LS formulation to consider explicitly outcrossings caused by combinations of one or more loads, during analysis of systems comprising stationary continuous gaussian loads. To do this, the direction of the load process vector is ‘fixed’ at each point of outcrossing, to physically represent the particular combination of loads causing the outcrossing. By considering each possible load combination, all loads not causing an outcrossing are then held constant during radial integration, thereby modelling those that do not contribute to each outcrossing. The proposed formulation differs from most load combination analysis techniques (which, evidently, simplify the analysis) as it is analytically ‘exact’, and it considers explicitly all possible combinations of loads. The concepts and formulations proposed herein may provide further understanding of reliability analysis performed by DS-LS (or other techniques) and may aid their future development. / PhD Doctorate

<p>Introduction: Dolomite AB was in need of a dummy arm for crutch testing, to complement their existing test capabilities. Background: A large number of people need crutches on a daily basis. For them it is essential that their crutches do not fail. ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) conducts ongoing work to guarantee the durability and function of e.g. crutches. ISO has recently adopted a new standard for testing if elbow crutches. This has already met resistance, it has been claimed that the tests in it should include loading of the crutch in the frontal plane. Aim: To enable Dolomite to test elbow crutches in accordance with guidelines in ISO/FDIS 11334-1. And examine the magnitude of loads on a crutch in the horizontal- sagittal- and frontal plane. This to see if loading of the crutch in the fontal plane should be included in a new ISO-test. Goal: To fabricate a dummy arm for testing of elbow crutches. To gain knowledge of the magnitude of the load a crutch is subject to in the horizontal-, sagittal-, and frontal plane. Method: A dummy arm was made using methods and tools described in DPD (dynamic product development), and conventional fabrication methods. A test equipment was made, which registered the loads on a crutch, in three directions. Eleven persons, constituted the test group, one was excluded. Result: A fully functional dummy arm was manufactured. The average maximum load for the ten test subjects was: 33 kilos downwards, 12 kilos backwards and 2 kilos side wards. Discussion: The choice of materials was influenced by the strength demands, ease of manipulation, access and price. Dummy arm design was mostly a question of durability and function. The test group was made up of persons available when the test was done The crutch loading test indicates that the forces applied to a crutch In the frontal plane are small, compared to forces in the horizontal- and sagittal plane, almost negligible. Conclusion: A fully functional dummy arm was fabricated, no need for a new ISO-test for standard crutches was identified.</p>

<p>This master thesis is Atlas Copco Craelius’ first step in incorporating numericalmethods in load case analysis during the development process. Atlas Copco needs toconstantly evolve and refine their methods in the design process to remain as thenumber one manufacturer of mining and construction equipment. Poor knowledge ofloads results either in structural failures or in oversized structures, both very costlyfor Atlas Copco.The main goal of this thesis is to examine the potential in MBS software by using it toidentify extreme load cases in one of Atlas Copco Craelius’ surface drill rigs, Mustang5. The MBS-software ADAMS View is used to build a model of the Mustang 5 drill rigand evaluate simulation results. The rig model is subject to motions which representreal case scenarios. The feed positioning possibilities are examined thoroughly since it was expected that the positioning has impact on the load levels. 25 different feedpositioning are simulated.The main conclusion is that the load levels are highly dependent on the feedpositioning. For example, the load levels in the boom raising cylinder can increaseseven times, if the rig is operated with the most unfavorable positioning compared tothe recommended. It could also be concluded that not only one positioning isextreme in terms of loads; it depends on which part of the boom system is beingobserved. Thus, several positioning cases have to be taken into consideration in orderto optimize the design of parts in the boom system.</p>