Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Dept. of Statistics, August 2001. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2001. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-115). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2001. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-115). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 438-442).

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2001. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

The increasing prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease poses a considerable socioeconomic challenge in the years ahead. There are few clinical treatments available and none capable of halting or slowing the progressive nature of the condition. Despite decades of experimental research and testing over 300 interventions in transgenic mouse models of the condition, clinical success has remained elusive. Deepening our understanding of how such studies have been conducted is likely to provide insights which could inform future preclinical and clinical research. Therefore I performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on interventions tested in transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease. My systematic search was performed by electronically searching for publications reporting the efficacy of interventions tested in transgenic models of Alzheimer's disease. Across these publications I extracted data regarding study characteristics and reported study quality alongside outcome data for pathology (i.e. plaque burden, amyloid beta species, tau, cellular infiltrates and neurodegeneration) and neurobehaviour. From these data I calculated estimates of efficacy using random effects meta-analysis and subsequently investigated the potential impact of study quality and study characteristics on observed effect size. My search identified 427 publications, 357 interventions and 55 transgenic models representing 11, 688 animals and 1774 experiments. There were a number of principal concerns regarding the dataset: (i) the reported study quality of such studies was relatively low; less than 1 in 5 publications reported blinded assessment of outcome or random allocation to group and no studies reported a sample size calculation, (ii) the depth of data on any individual intervention was relatively poor-only 16 interventions had outcomes described in 5 or more publications and (iii) publication bias analyses suggested 1 in 5 pathological and 1 in 7 neurobehavioural experiments remain unpublished. Where I inspected relationships between outcomes, meta-regression identified a number of notable associations. Changes in amyloid beta 40 were reflective of changes in amyloid beta 42 (R2 = 0.84, p<0.01) and within the Morris water maze changes in the ‘training’ acquisition phase could explain 44% of the changes in the probe ‘test’ phase (p<0.05). Additionally, I identified measures of neurodegeneration as the best pathological predictors of changes in neurobehaviour (R2 = 0.72, p<0.01). Collectively this work identifies a number of potential weaknesses within in vivo modelling of Alzheimer’s disease and demonstrates how the use of empirical data can inform both preclinical and clinical studies.

A three-dimensional finite element model is constructed to predict the failure of a hybrid and thick laminate containing bolted joints. The results of the simulation are compared with test results. The simulation comprises two main challenging steps. Firstly, for a realistic model, a 3D model is established with geometric nonlinearities and contact is takeninto account. The laminated composite model is constructed by 3D layered elements. The effect of different number of elements through the thickness is investigated. The failure prediction is the second part of the simulation study. Solutions with and without progressive failure approach are obtained and the effect of progressive failure analysis for an optimum simulation of failure is discussed. The most appropriate failure criteria to predict the failure of a thick composite structure is also investigated by considering various failure criteria. By comparing the test results with the ones found from the finite element analyses, the validity of the developed model and the chosen failure criteria are discussed.

This study is concerned with developing a model to identify small-medium U.K. companies at risk of financial failure up to five years in advance. The importance of small companies in an economy, the impact of their failures, and the lack of failure research with respect to . this population, provided justification for this study. The research was undertaken in two stages. The first stage included a detailed description and discussion of the nature and role of small business in the UK economy, heir relevance, problems and Government involvement in this sector, together with literature review and assessment of past research relevant to this study. The second stage was involved with construction of the models using multiple discriminant analysis, applied to published accountancy data for two groups of failed and nonfailed companies. The later stage was performed in three parts : (1) evaluating five discriminant models for each of five years prior to failure; (2) testing the performance of each of the .five models over time on data not used . in their construction; (3) testing the discriminant models on a validation sample. The purpose was to establish the "best" discriminant model. "Best" was determined according to classification ability of the model and interpretation of variables. Finally a model comprising seven financial ratios measuring four aspects of a company's financial profile, such as profitability, gearing, capital turnover and liquidity was chosen. The model has shown to be a valid tool for predicting companies' health up to five years in advance.

O aço SAE 1552 modificado é um desenvolvimento recente da família do aço carbono manganês ligado ao silício, sendo utilizado para confecção de grampo U que tem como finalidade prender o feixe de molas no eixo do veículo. A somatória das fases de produção dessa matéria prima introduz os limites de resistência mecânica final necessária para atender a classe de resistência normativa. A peça produzida com esse aço tem alcançado crescimento de utilização na indústria automotiva devido à mesma apresentar propriedades mecânicas que atendem a requisitos normativos de classe de resistência e com vantagem de evitar tratamento térmico na fase de confecção do grampo e sendo esse processo realizado a frio em todas as suas fases. O objetivo desse trabalho foi estudar falha de grampo na etapa do processo de dobramento em forma de U e aplicar ensaios como: programa de simulação de tratamento térmico Stecal 3.0, ultrassom, fadiga, teste de cela e análise de fratura para solucionar essas falhas. Também foi realizado ensaios para prever fraturas catastróficas como: elementos finitos através de programa de computador Abaqus, ensaio de extensometria, tenacidade a fratura e medições de tensões residuais através de técnica de difração de raios-x. Foi concluído através dos resultados dos estudos de microestrutura resultante de tratamento térmico da matéria prima que o processo com resfriamento controlado em esteira é mais adequado para a produção do aço para confecção de grampo. O ensaio de ultrassom antes e após ensaio de fadiga possibilitou dimensionar o crescimento da profundidade da trinca em cotovelo de grampo e através de elementos finitos e extensometria associado com mecânica da fratura foi possível conhecer as tensões em ponto de estudo e entender o motivo de não ocorrer falha catastrófica. O ensaio de difração de raios-x permitiu o entendimento das tensões residuais introduzidas na peça de estudo. / SAE 1552 steel modified is a recent development of manganese carbon steel group linked to silicon, which is used to manufacture u-bolt that aims to fix leaf spring at vehicle axle in the back part. The sum of production stages of this raw material introduces the final mechanical resistance limits to meet class rules resistance. The piece produced with this steel has achieved growth of use in the automotive industry due to the mechanical properties it presents, which meet regulatory requirements for strength class and the advantage of avoiding heat treatment during manufacturing of the u-bolt and all the phases of this process are carried out in cold. This work aims to study the u-bolt failure during the folding process in the form of U and apply tests such as heat treatment simulation -Stecal 3.0, ultrasonic test, fatigue test, cell testing and analysis of crack. Other tests have been carried out to predict catastrophic fractures such as: finite element through computer program called Abaqus, extensometry testing, toughness testing for fracture and residual stress measurement by X ray diffraction technique. Results of heat treatment studies, by microstructure analysis, allowed choosing appropriate process for steel production. Ultrasonic testing before and after fatigue testing enabled to measure growth of crack depth on u-bolt elbow, and through finite element and extensometry testing associated with Mechanical of Fracture it was possible to know the stress concentrated at a point and to understand why catastrophic failure did not occur. Residual stress understanding has provided overall vision of u-bolt studied and contributed to have precision in measurement at inner and outer part of the u-bolt elbow.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:43:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PolianaMCD_DISSERT.pdf: 1792247 bytes, checksum: 7f68d2f3ec1dcc9a4fd54fc8a9e991be (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-12-13 / The evaluation criteria of the cases treated with dental implants are based on clinical and radiographic tests. In this context it is important to conduct research to determine prognosis of different types of prosthetic rehabilitation and determination of the main problems affecting this type of treatment. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the prosthetic conditions of individuals rehabilitated with implant-supported prosthesis. In this cross-sectional study 153 patients were treated, accounting for a sample of 509 implants. The failures were observed by clinical and radiographic examination. The results showed that the fracture (0.2%) loss (0.4%) and loosening of the screws (3.3%) were failures are less frequent. The fracture structures as the resin (12.4%), porcelain (5.5%) and metallic (1.5%), loss of resin that covers the screw (23.8%) and loss of retention overdentures on implants (18.6%) had a higher occurrence. The failure of adaptation between the abutment and the implant (6.9%) and especially between the prosthesis and the abutment (25.4%) had a high prevalence and, when related to other parameters showed a significant association, particularly with the cemented prosthesis (OR = 6.79). It can be concluded that to minimize the appearance of failures, protocols must be observed from diagnosis to the settlement and control of prostheses on implants, particularly with respect to technical steps of the making of the prosthesis and care in radiographic evaluating the fit between their components / Os crit?rios de avalia??o dos casos tratados com implantes osseointegrados s?o baseados em testes cl?nicos e exames radiogr?ficos. Nesse contexto, ? importante a realiza??o de pesquisas na determina??o do progn?stico dos diferentes tipos de reabilita??es prot?ticas e na determina??o dos principais problemas que atingem este tipo de tratamento. Desta forma, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as condi??es prot?ticas de indiv?duos reabilitados com implantes osseointegrados e pr?teses sobre implantes. Neste estudo transversal foram atendidos 153 pacientes, contabilizando uma amostra de 509 implantes. As falhas foram observadas atrav?s do exame cl?nico e radiogr?fico. Os resultados demonstraram que a fratura (0,2%), a perda (0,4%) e o afrouxamento dos parafusos (3,3%) foram as falhas menos frequentes. A fratura das estruturas como a resina (12,4%), porcelana (5,5%) e met?lica (1,5%), a perda da resina que recobre o parafuso de fixa??o (23,8%) e a perda de reten??o nas pr?teses overdentures (18,6%), tiveram uma ocorr?ncia maior. A falha de adapta??o, entre o pilar e o implante (6,9%) e principalmente entre a pr?tese e o pilar (25,4%) teve uma alta preval?ncia e, quando relacionada com outros par?metros, demonstrou uma associa??o significativa, principalmente com a fixa??o do tipo cimentada (OR= 5,39). Pode-se concluir que para minimizar o aparecimento de falhas, protocolos devem ser observados desde o diagn?stico at? o assentamento e controle das pr?teses sobre implantes, principalmente com rela??o aos passos t?cnicos da confec??o da pr?tese e com o cuidado em avaliar radiograficamente a adapta??o entre seus componentes