This thesis reports on the application of ground penetrating radar (GPR) as a non-destructive technique for the monitoring of ring separation in brick masonry arch bridges. In addition, research is reported on the assessment of the clay capping layer often used in construction as a waterproof backing to arches. The thrust of the research is numerical modelling, verified by large laboratory experiments. Due to the heterogeneity of these structures, the resultant signals from the interaction between the GPR system and the bridge are often complex and hence, hard to interpret. This highlighted the need to create a GPR numerical model that would allow the study of the attributes of reflected signals from various targets within the structure of the bridge. The GPR numerical analysis was undertaken using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. Since micro regions in the bridge structure need to be modelled, the introduction of subgrids of supporting finer spatial resolution into the standard FDTD method was considered essential in order to economise on the required computational resources. In the main part of this thesis, it is demonstrated how realistic numerical modelling of GPR using the FDTD method could greatly benefit from the implementation of subgrids into the conventional FDTD mesh. This is particularly important when (a) parts of the computational domain need to be modelled in detail (i.e., ring separation between the mortar layers and the brick units, which is the case studied in this thesis); and also (b) when there are features or regions in the overall computational mesh with values of high relative permittivity supporting propagation of waves at very short wavelengths. A scheme is presented that simplifies the process of implementing these subgrids into the traditional FDTD method. This scheme is based on the combination of the standard FDTD method and the unconditionally stable alternating-direction implicit (ADI) FDTD technique. Given that ADI-FDTD is unconditionally stable, its time-step can be set to any value that facilitates the accurate calculation of the electromagnetic fields. By doing so, the two grids can efficiently communicate information across their boundary without requiring to use a time-interpolation scheme. The performance of ADI-FDTD subgrids when implemented into the traditional FDTD method is discussed herein. The developed algorithm can handle cases where the subgrid crosses dielectrically inhomogeneous and/or conductive media. In addition, results from the comparison between the proposed scheme and a commonly employed purely FDTD subgridding technique are presented. After determination of the optimum ADI-FDTD scheme, numerical experiments were conducted and calibrated using GPR laboratory experiments. Good correlations were obtained between the numerical experiments and the actual GPR experiments. It was shown both numerically and experimentally that significant mortar loss between the masonry arch rings can be detected. Dry hairline delaminations between the mortar and the brick masonry are difficult to detect using standard GPR procedures. However, hairline faults containing water produce distinct and detectable GPR responses. In addition, the clay layer was successfully identified and its thickness calculated to a satisfactory accuracy.

Il a été démontré que la torsion des têtes métatarsiennes est influencée par le mode de locomotion chez les primates et peut être utilisée pour déterminer la présence ou non d’une arche longitudinale chez les ancêtres hominines. Chez l’humain moderne, l’arche longitudinale rend le pied plus inversé que chez les grands singes, provoquant un léger basculement de l’axe dorsoplantaire de l’articulation proximale des métatarses. Ainsi, les têtes métatarsiennes subissent une torsion par rapport à l’axe de la diaphyse pour que leur surface plantaire reste parallèle au sol. Comme les femmes ont une arche longitudinale plus haute que les hommes et comme le port du soulier à semelles rigides provoque des changements morphologiques au niveau du pied, rendant l’arche longitudinale plus haute et l’hallux moins divergeant, il est attendu que la torsion métatarsienne soit différente selon le sexe et le type de soulier porté. Ce mémoire examine donc l’effet du contexte environnemental du pied et de la plasticité de la torsion des têtes métatarsiennes en comparant différentes populations humaines. L’échantillon disponible pour cette étude est constitué de 166 individus provenant de 18 sites archéologiques différents comprenant 57 hommes, 35 femmes et 74 individus de sexe indéterminé qui ont été divisés en quatre grands groupes : Amérindiens, Inuits, Militaires et Euro-canadiens. Il n’y a aucune différence de torsion entre les hommes et les femmes, ce qui suggère que la différence de hauteur de l’arche longitudinale entre les hommes et les femmes n’est pas assez importante pour être perçues au niveau de la torsion des têtes métatarsiennes. La topographie ne semble pas provoquer assez de modifications au niveau du pied pour provoquer une torsion différentielle des têtes métatarsiennes. Cependant, la surface du sol, plat ou accidenté, pourrait être un facteur modifiant ce trait. Finalement, le port de souliers constrictif à semelles dures comparativement aux souliers souples, tels les mocassins, provoque une torsion différentielle des têtes métatarsiennes. Les individus chaussant des souliers à semelles souples ont un premier métatarsien présentant une plus grande éversion et un troisième, quatrième et cinquième métatarsien présentant une plus petite éversion comparativement aux individus chaussant des souliers constrictifs. Ces résultats viennent appuyer l’hypothèse de la capacité plastique de la torsion des têtes métatarsiennes. / It has been shown that the metatarsals head torsion can be influenced by the mode of locomotion in primates and can be used to determine the presence or absence of a longitudinal arch in hominin ancestors. In modern humans, the longitudinal arch results in a foot more inverted than in apes, causing a slight tilting of the dorsoplantary axis of the metatarsals proximal joints. Thus, the metatarsal heads undergo torsion relative to the axis of the shaft so their plantar surface lie parallel to the ground. Since women have a higher longitudinal arch than men and since wearing hard sole shoes causes morphological changes in the foot, making the longitudinal arch higher and the hallux less abducted, it is expected that torsion will be different according to sex and type of shoes worn. By comparing different human populations, this paper examines whether metatarsal torsion is a plastic trait that can be influenced by the loading environment. The sample available for this study, consists of 166 individuals from 18 different archaeological sites including 57 men, 35 women and 74 of indetermined sex that were divided into four groups: Amerinds, Inuits, Military and Euro-canadian. There is no significant difference in torsion between men and women, suggesting that the slight difference in longitudinal arch height between men and women is not sufficient to be perceived in metatarsal variation torsion. The topography of the land does not seem to cause significant changes in the foot such as torsion. However, the surface of the ground, flat or irregular, could be a factor modifying torsion. Finally, wearing constrictive shoes with hard soles compared to flexible shoes, such as moccasins, increased variation in torsion angles. Individuals known to wear moccasins present more eversion of the first metatarsal and less eversion of the third, fourth and fifth metatarsals compared to individuals who used to wear constrictive footwear. These results support the hypothesis that metatarsal torsion is a relatively plastic feature.

Thesis (M A(Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1997. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 237-268). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1997. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 237-268). Also available on the Internet.

Resumo: A aterosclerose é uma doença multifatorial, lenta e progressiva e a hiperlipidemia um dos fatores potenciais no desenvolvimento de doenças cardíacas ateroscleróticas. As vantagens da indução das dislipidemias experimentais são a produção de lesões ateromatosas em curto espaço de tempo; adequado controle dietético e fatores ambientais; a possibilidade de estudos sobre a reversibilidade de lesões ateroscleróticas e ensaios pré clínicos de substâncias hipolipidêmicas. Este estudo visou avaliar a capacidade do surfactante na indução aterogênica na região do arco aórtico de ratos por meio de estudos morfológico e morfométrico das túnicas íntima, média e adventícia da aorta, bem como analisar o perfil lipídico sérico. Foram utilizados 28 ratos Wistar, machos, albinos, adultos e hígidos. Estes foram distribuídos em quatro grupos experimentais formados por sete animais cada, a saber: Grupo I - (controle); Grupo II - tratado com tyloxapol, na dose de 500 mg/Kg de peso corporal, via intraperitoneal a cada 48 horas, durante duas semanas; Grupo III - tratado com tyloxapol na dose de 500 mg/Kg de peso corporal, via intraperitoneal a cada 48 horas, durante três semanas; Grupo IV - tratado com tyloxapol na dose de 500 mg/Kg de peso corporal, via intraperitoneal a cada 48 horas, durante quatro semanas. A análise morfológica do arco aórtico dos animais dos grupos II, III e IV evidenciou características histológicas semelhantes às do grupo I nas túnicas íntima, média e adventícia. No estudo morfométrico, os valores da espessura, em μm, da túnica íntima indicaram que o grupo III diferiu significativamente dos grupos I, II e IV. Os valores da espessura, em μm, encontrados para a túnica média e adventícia revelaram que não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos I, II, III e IV. Na avaliação do perfil lipídico os valores de colesterol total... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial, progressive and slow disease, and hyperlipidaemia is one of the potential factors in the development of atherosclerotic cardiac diseases. The experimental dyslipidaemia carrying out advantages are the production of atheromatous lesions in a short period of time, an adequate dietetic control and environmental factors, the possibility of studies concerning reversibility of atherosclerotic lesions, and pre-clinic experiments with hypolipidaemic substances. This study aims at evaluating tyloxapol ability in atherogenic inducing, in the rats' aortic arch region, through morphologic morphometric studies, in intima, media and adventitia tunicas of the aortic arch, as well as analyzing serum lipid levels. Twenty-eight healthy Wistar adults' albino male rats, weighing an average of 200 g were utilized. They were distributed into four experimental groups with seven animals each, as follows: Group I - (control); Group II - treated with tyloxapol at a dose of 500mg/Kg of body weight, through intraperitoneal via each 48 hours, for two weeks; Group III - treated with tyloxapol at a dose of 500mg/Kg of body weight, through intraperitoneal via each 48 hours, for three weeks; Group IV - treated with tyloxapol at a dose of 500mg/Kg of body weight, through intraperitoneal via each 48 hours, for four weeks. Morphological analysis of the aortic arch of the animals from groups II, III and IV, showed similar histological characteristics to group I at intima, media and adventitia tunicas. The intima tunica values at the morphometric study indicated that group III has significant differed from groups I, II and IV. The media and adventitia tunicas values revealed that there were no significant differences between groups I, II, III, and IV. As lipid profile evaluation is concerned, the values of total cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL have indicated... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Orientadora: Maria Rita Pacheco / Coorientador: Silvana Martinez Baraldi Artoni / Banca: Lucia Helena Vasques / Banca: Mirela Tinucci Costa / Mestre

The diploma thesis deals with modelling of time series (stock and commodities) by using the models of volatility. The theoretical part focuses on the term of volatility and other terms connected to it. There is a theoretical description of the models as well. The practical part of the thesis focuses on the analysis of the time series and modelling of volatility using the program R.

Submitted by Marco Antônio de Ramos Chagas (mchagas@ufv.br) on 2016-11-09T11:49:16Z No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1299455 bytes, checksum: b0302d1f4c935e4a25f8a29b9a7a25aa (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-11-09T11:49:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1299455 bytes, checksum: b0302d1f4c935e4a25f8a29b9a7a25aa (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-02-21 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Os Fundos de Pensão têm se tornado cada vez mais representativos no cenário mundial e nacional devido à sua importância social e econômica. A sustentabilidade dessas instituições passa por um eficiente processo de gerenciamento de suas carteiras de investimento. Ao mesmo tempo, as negociações com contratos futuros agropecuários vêm se consolidando no Brasil e surgem como uma alternativa para investidores que queiram diversificar suas carteiras. Desse modo, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a viabilidade da utilização de derivativos agropecuários como forma de minimização de riscos em carteiras de investimentos de Fundos de Pensão no Brasil, dentro dos limites legais aos quais essas entidades estão sujeitas, tomando como referência o perfil dessas instituições no país com relação à alocação de seus investimentos. Para isso, avaliou-se o desempenho de carteiras sem e com derivativos agropecuários para três perfis de Fundos de Pensão (Médio, Arrojado e Moderado). As análises de risco foram feitas através do modelo Value-at-risk (VaR), utilizando modelos de variância condicional (Família GARCH) para a extração da série diária de volatilidades. Os retornos foram ponderados pelo risco, através do Índice de Sharpe Adaptado (ISA). Os resultados mostraram que, dentro dos parâmetros estabelecidos para cada modalidade de investimento, a introdução de contratos futuros agropecuários foi benéfica para todos os perfis propostos, reduzindo o risco mais que proporcionalmente ao retorno. O trabalho torna-se mais significativo à medida que se analisam os montantes financeiros envolvidos. Considerando, por exemplo, que os Fundos de Pensão invistam, de forma geral, 1% de seus ativos, tem-se que seria injetado no mercado futuro de commodities agropecuárias mais de R$ 2 bilhões, valor que representa, dentro da movimentação financeira de 2004, aproximadamente 10% de todos os recursos investidos. Assim, uma maior participação das Entidades Fechadas de Previdência Complementar nesse mercado geraria benefícios notórios para a sua liquidez. A metodologia utilizada neste trabalho se mostrou valiosa, em virtude do tipo de informação que proporciona e da sua flexibilidade, e os resultados que mostram diminuição da relação risco/retorno para as carteiras dos Fundos de Pensão indicam a necessidade de novos estudos que fomentem ainda mais esse tipo de análise. / Pension Funds have become increasingly representative internationally and nationally due to their social and economic importance. These institutions present an efficient administration of their investment portfolios. At the same time, the negotiations with agricultural future contracts are consolidating in Brazil as an alternative for investors wanting to diversify their portfolios. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the viability of using agricultural derivatives as a form of minimizing the risks of investment portfolios of Pension Funds in Brazil, within the legal limits under which those entities are submitted, taking as reference the profile of these institutions in relation to the allocation of their investments in the country. Thus, the performance of portfolios without and with agricultural derivatives was evaluated for three Pension Fund profiles (Medium, Bold and Moderate). The risk analyses were accomplished through the model Value-at-risk (VaR) using conditional variance models (Family GARCH) for the extraction of the daily series of volatilities. The returns were risk - weighted by the Adapted Sharpe Index (ASI). The results showed that, within the established parameters for each investment modality, the introduction of agricultural future contracts was beneficial for all the proposed profiles, reducing the risk more than proportionally to the return. The work becomes more significant as the financial figures involved are analyzed. Assuming, for instance, that the Pension Funds invest, overall, 1% of their assets, it is expected that over R$ 2 billion would be injected into the future market of agricultural commodities, a value representing approximately 10% of all invested resources in the financial movement of 2004. Thus, a larger participation of Complementary Security Private Entities in this market would generate well-known benefits for their liquidity. The methodology used in this work was shown to be valuable due to its flexibility and type of information provided. The results indicating a decrease in the risk/return relationship of Pension Fund portfolios point to the need of further studies to foment this type of analysis. / Dissertação importada do Alexandria

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-07-23Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:15:32Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 araujo_ma_me_arafo.pdf: 564802 bytes, checksum: a6214f8afe7aa84ebdcdce92b8dd7436 (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Os aparelhos extrabucais removíveis são indicados no tratamento da Classe II divisão 1 de Angle com protrusão maxilar e atuam promovendo mudanças esqueléticas e dentoalveolares. Na primeira parte do trabalho, foi realizada uma revisão sistemática com o objetivo de avaliar as informações existentes a respeito dos efeitos dentários destes aparelhos. A literatura analisada revelou que os aparelhos extrabucais removíveis promovem aumento das distâncias intermolares e intercaninos, superiores e inferiores, aumento do comprimento do arco superior, diminuição do comprimento do arco inferior, aumento do perímetro do arco superior, diminuição do overjet e aumento do overbite, além de melhora na relação de molares. Dos estudos selecionados, apenas um realizou medidas em modelos de estudo em pacientes tratados com aparelhos extrabucais removíveis. Na segunda parte do trabalho foi realizada uma pesquisa com o objetivo de avaliar as mudanças na forma e dimensão dos arcos dentários em pacientes tratados com o aparelho extrabucal de Thurow modificado. Para este estudo foram obtidos modelos de estudo de uma amostra de dezessete pacientes com idade média de 8,8 anos tratados com o aparelho extrabucal de Thurow modificado, sendo os modelos obtidos ao início (T1) e após 1 ano de tratamento (T2). Um grupo controle pareado foi gerado a partir da amostra obtida por Moyers et al em 1976. A análise estatística demonstrou que o aparelho promoveu alterações significativas nas dimensões dos arcos superior e inferior e no relacionamento entre os arcos. Além disso os pacientes do Grupo Tratado após 1 ano de tratamento apresentavam-se mais próximos da normalidade, se aproximando dos valores observados no Grupo Controle, demonstrando a melhora do relacionamento maxilomandibular com o uso do aparelho extrabucal de Thurow modificado. / Removable extraoral appliances are indicated on the treatment of Angle Class II Division 1 malocclusion with maxilar protrusion and promote skeletal and dentoalveolar changes. On the first part of the study, a systematic review was conducted with the aim to evaluate information regarding dental effects of those appliances. The analysed literature related that removable extraoral appliances promoted an increase on intermolar and intercanine distances, upper and lower, an increase of upper arch depth, a decrease of lower arch depth, an increase of upper arch perimeter, decrease of overjet, increase of overbite and also an improvement on molar relationship. Of the reviewed studies, only one used cast models to evaluate the changes on dental arches of pacients treated with removable extraoral appliances. On the second part of the study, a research was conducted with the aim to evaluate shape and dimensions changes on dental arches of patients treated with modified Thurow extraoral appliance. For this study cast models of seventeen patients treated with modified Thurow extraoral appliance and with average age of 8.8 years old were obtained on the beggining (T1) and after 1 year of treatment (T2). A paired control group was generated using Moyers et al sample from 1976. The statistical analysis showed that the appliance promoted significative changes on upper and lower arch dimensions and on relationship between arches Furthermore, after 1 year of treatment the group of treated patients were closer to normality, approaching to the values observated on Control Group demonstrating the improvement of maxilomandibular relationship with the use of modified Thurow extraoral appliance.

Cette thèse vise à mieux comprendre l'influence de la coupe des pierres sur la résistance des arcs et des voûtes clavés en général, et des couvrements plans en particulier. L'étude historique et typologique des plates-bandes et des voûtes plates, à travers les exemples construits et les traités d'architecture et de coupe des pierres du XVIe au XVIIIe siècle, forme le préalable à l'étude mécanique de ces constructions. Les plates-bandes à joints en~X, les plates-bandes en fausse-coupe, et les voûtes plates d'Abeille sont étudiées en détail en raison de leur stéréotomie savante. Les règles géométriques utilisées pour l'appareillage des plates-bandes, d'une part par les architectes, et d'autre part par les appareilleurs et tailleurs de pierre, émergent de ce travail. Une extension de la méthode des réseaux de forces est proposée, pour tenir compte de l'appareil des voûtes, pour raffiner les réseaux, et pour intégrer rigoureusement les réseaux à la théorie du calcul à la rupture. Des stratégies de calcul pour la recherche des chargements extrêmes, dont la détermination fonde la faisabilité de la technique, sont proposées. Les études mécaniques conduites considèrent les arcs en plein-cintre et dômes hémisphériques, les plates-bandes et voûtes plates, et les voûtes hélicoïdales. Elles illustrent la précision de l'estimatif proposée pour le coefficient de sécurité géométrique, l'influence de la coupe des pierres pour les couvrements plans, et les possibilités et limites de l'application de la méthode des réseaux de forces à l'étude des constructions clavées / This work aims at a better understanding of the influence of stereotomy on the stability of stone-cut archs and vaults in general, and flat archs and flat vaults in particular. A study of the history and typology of flat archs and flat vaults, through the consideration of existing examples and treaties of architecture or stereotomy from 1500 to 1800, is a preambule to the mechanical study of these constructions. Flat archs with X-joints, flat archs en fausse-coupe, and Abeille's flat vaults are studied in detail because of their specific stereotomy. Geometric rules used to determine joint orientation, by architects on the one hand, and by stone masons on the other hand, emerge from this work. An extension of the force network method is presented, in order to take into account the vaults' stonework, to find new equilibrium solutions by refining networks, and to comply rigourously with the theory of yield calculus. Calculus strategies for the search of limit loads, whose determination is essential for the technique, are given. Mechanical studies are conducted on cylindrical archs and hemispherical domes, flat archs and flat vaults, and helicoidal vaults. They show the precision of the geometric safety factor estimate, the influence of stone cutting on flat archs and vaults, and the possibilities and limits of using the force networks method to study stone-cut vaults