Η ΒΥΠ διαθέτει αντίτυπο της διατριβής σε έντυπη μορφή στο βιβλιοστάσιο διδακτορικών διατριβών που βρίσκεται στο ισόγειο του κτιρίου της. / Εκτελώντας δυναμικές αναλύσεις με χρήση πεπερασμένων στοιχείων, αναλύεται η σεισμική απόκριση τεσσάρων τοίχων αντιστήριξης οπλισμένου εδάφους στην Ταϊβάν με στοιχεία πρόσοψης κυβόλιθους. Οι τοίχοι, των οποίων τα ύψη κυμαίνονται από 3.20 m έως 5.60 m και έχουν ως οπλισμούς στρώσεις γεωπλέγματος, υποβλήθηκαν στο σεισμό Chi-Chi (1999) και η συμπεριφορά τους κρίθηκε από επιτυχής έως ανεπιτυχής: δύο από αυτούς κατέρρευσαν, ένας υπέστη μόνο ελαφρές βλάβες, ενώ ο τέταρτος τοίχος παρέμεινε πρακτικά ανέπαφος. Η μη-γραμμική ανάλυση βασίσθηκε στα γνωστά γεωμετρικά και μηχανικά χαρακτηριστικά του κάθε τοίχου, του γεωπλέγματος, των γεωτεχνικών συνθηκών σε κάθε θέση, του είδους και των ιδιοτήτων του υλικού επίχωσης. Η συμπεριφορά του εδαφικού υλικού προσομοιώθηκε κάνοντας χρήση του κριτηρίου Mohr-Coulomb, ενώ ως διέγερση βάσης στις δυναμικές αναλύσεις πεπερασμένων στοιχείων χρησιμοποιήθηκαν τα καταγεγραμμένα επιταχυνσιογραφήματα κοντά στις θέσεις των τοίχων. Τα αποτελέσματα των αναλύσεων (και ειδικά η εκτιμώμενη παραμορφωμένη μορφή των τοίχων) επαλήθευσαν την παρατηρούμενη συμπεριφορά των τοίχων. Βασιζόμενοι στα αποτελέσματα, βρέθηκαν οι λόγοι της ανεπιτυχούς συμπεριφοράς των δύο τοίχων που κατέρρευσαν, ενώ εξηγήθηκε η διαφοροποίηση της συμπεριφοράς των δύο τοίχων που δεν υπέστησαν βλάβες. Επιπροσθέτως, πραγματοποιήθηκαν παραμετρικές αναλύσεις για να ευρεθεί η επίδραση σημαντικών παραμέτρων σχεδιασμού, όπως το βάθος θεμελίωσης του τοίχου, η απόσταση και το μήκος των οπλισμών, η συνεισφορά των ράβδων σύνδεσης στην ευστάθεια των στοιχείων πρόσοψης και η συνεισφορά της ανώτατης στρώσης οπλισμού στην ευστάθεια του τοίχου. Επίσης αναλύθηκε η ευστάθεια των τοίχων χρησιμοποιώντας ένα εμπορικά διαθέσιμο λογισμικό οριακής ισορροπίας, το οποίο βρέθηκε ικανό να προβλέψει την παρατηρούμενη επιτυχή και ανεπιτυχή συμπεριφορά των τεσσάρων τοίχων. / The seismic response of four reinforced soil segmental retaining walls in Taiwan, is analyzed using the dynamic finite element method. The walls – whose heights ranging from 3.20 m to 5.60 m and layers of geogrid reinforcement – were subjected to the Chi-Chi earthquake (1999) and their performance ranged from successful to unsuccessful: two of them were collapsed, one suffered only minor damage whereas the fourth wall remained practically intact. The non-linear analyses were based on the known geometrical and mechanical characteristics of each wall and of the geogrid reinforcement, the geotechnical conditions at each site and the type and properties of backfill material. The soil material behavior was modeled by using the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion whereas recorded accelerograms in the vicinity of the sites of the walls were used as base excitation in the dynamic finite analyses. The results of the analyses (and especially the estimated deformed shape of the walls) showed a remarkable agreement with the observed performance of the walls. Based on these results the reasons for the unsuccessful performance of the two failed walls were identified whereas the differentiation of the behavior of the two undamaged walls was explained. Furthermore, parametric analyses were conducted to identify the effects of such important design parameters as the depth of the foundation of the wall, the spacing and length of reinforcement, the contribution of connecting pins to the stability of the facing elements as well as the contribution of the top layer of reinforcement to the stability of the wall. The stability of the walls were also analyzed by using a commercially available limit equilibrium software which was found to be able to predict the observed successful and unsuccessful performance of the four walls.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disorder and one of the leading causes of disability in elderly. Tai Chi is seen to be effective in relieving symptoms of OA knee joint. The main aim of this study is to design a Tai Chi program and a strength training program for the elderly with knee OA and to compare the effects of these programs on the range of motion, gait, pain and balance. 20 participants age 55 and over were divided into two groups (Tai Chi and Strength training) based on predetermined criteria. Both the groups showed improvement in WOMAC scores, balance and strength following Tai Chi and strength training intervention for 2 months.

The mystery of Canis Major overdensity is addressed. We discuss concurrent methods and their limitations on the determination of interstellar reddening. We establish a new way to determine line of sight interstellear reddening by observing stellar spectral lines and UBV colors. We observe and analyze spectra of 22 stars in different open clusters. We find that Hydrogen Balmer line at 4861 angstrom can predict the stellar atmospheric parameters and intrinsic colors with reasonable accuracy. Comparing with observed colors we derive the reddening of the stars. We compare our results with standard database WEBDA and find that within 90% probability limit the standard deviation of the error is 0.102798. This is improved by taking the absolute maximum probabilities and the scatter becomes 0.0688865.

Intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) have proven to be effective tools for aiding in the instruction of new skills for young kids; however, interaction methods that employ traditional input devices such as the keyboard and mouse may present barriers to children who have yet learned how to write. Existing applications which utilize pen-input devices better mimic the physical act of writing, but few provide useful feedback to the users. This thesis presents a system specifically designed to serve as a useful tool in teaching children how to draw basic shapes, and helping them develop basic drawing and writing skills. The system uses a combination of sketch recognition techniques to interpret the handwritten strokes from sketches of the children, and then provides intelligent feedback based on what they draw. Our approach provides a virtual coach to assist teachers teaching the critical skills of drawing and handwriting. We do so by guiding children through a set of exercises of increasing complexity according to their progress, and at the same time keeping track of students' performance and engagement, giving them differentiated instruction and feedback. Our system would be like a virtual Teaching Assistant for Young Kids, hence we call it TAYouKi. We collected over five hundred hand-drawn shapes from grownups that had a clear understanding of what a particular geometric shape should look like. We used this data to test the recognition of our system. Following, we conducted a series of case studies with children in age group three to six to test the interactivity efficacy of the system. The studies served to gain important insights regarding the research challenges in different domains. Results suggest that our approach is appealable and engaging to children and can help in more effectively teach them how to draw and write.

Thesis (M. P. H.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007.

Thesis (M.M.) -- Florida State University, 2004. / Advisor: Matthew Shaftel, Florida State University, School of Music. Title and description from thesis home page (viewed 12-14-04). Document formatted into pages; contains 90 pages. Includes biographical sketch. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. P. H.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Also available in print.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 174-204).

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Educação Física, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação Física, 2016. / Submitted by Fernanda Percia França (fernandafranca@bce.unb.br) on 2017-04-19T15:40:39Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2016_JunhitiNagazawa.pdf: 2733093 bytes, checksum: 03c160df755d72e680d11e67ab691ad3 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Guimaraes Jacqueline(jacqueline.guimaraes@bce.unb.br) on 2017-04-20T11:12:12Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2016_JunhitiNagazawa.pdf: 2733093 bytes, checksum: 03c160df755d72e680d11e67ab691ad3 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-20T11:12:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2016_JunhitiNagazawa.pdf: 2733093 bytes, checksum: 03c160df755d72e680d11e67ab691ad3 (MD5) / Pessoas com Doença de Parkinson (DP) geralmente são acometidas por prejuízos na mobilidade e equilíbrio, pois quando submetidas às condições desafiadoras, sua coordenação para ajustar o equilíbrio torna-se mais complexa. A prática regular de Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) demanda movimentos em múltiplas direções, concentração e mentalização do controle da base de sustentação, bem como seu deslocamento (lento) com controle respiratório e manutenção da postura, favorecendo o aumento da força muscular de membros inferiores e aumentando a atenção à estabilidade durante a mudança de posição dos pés. Embora a prática de TCC demonstre melhora no equilíbrio de pessoas com DP, esta melhora precisa ser demonstrada através de avaliações sensíveis que analisem a resposta autonômica postural pela margem de estabilidade, a qual é prejudicada pela postura curvada na DP. Desta forma, com o intuito de verificar os benefícios do TCC para esta população, foi realizado um estudo quase experimental visando aferir o efeito de 12 semanas de treinamento de Tai Chi Chuan estilo Yang no equilíbrio dinâmico e na estabilidade postural de idosos com doença de Parkinson. Participaram da pesquisa 39 indivíduos com diagnóstico clínico de DP, sendo divididos em grupo experimental (Grupo TCC) com n = 23 e média de idade de 67,17 ± 10,299, e grupo controle (GC) com n = 16 e média de idade de 68,94 ± 10,421. Todos os participantes foram submetidos à avaliação dos sintomas motores, do nível de severidade da doença, equilíbrio estático e dinâmico. Na análise estatística foi verificada a normalidade da amostra dos dois grupos pelo teste de Shapiro-Wilk e em seguida foi aplicada a ANOVA fatorial 2 way (pré e pós) X 2 grupos (controle e TCC) para verificar possíveis diferenças entre grupos e intra grupos, adotando um nível de significância de p ≤ 0,05. O Grupo TCC realizou 12 semanas de treinamento e o GC manteve suas atividades habituais; após este período, todos foram avaliados novamente e não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre o GC e o Grupo TCC, mas houve diferença no equilíbrio estático e dinâmico no Grupo TCC após o treinamento (F= 6,110 e p = 0,02). Verificou-se que após o treinamento com TCC houve uma melhora nas amplitudes de deslocamento do centro de pressão (COP) e na velocidade do COP. Houve uma melhora das amplitudes AP (p = 0,006) quando o equilíbrio é testado sem estímulo visual e ML (p = 0,027) com base de apoio fechada e estímulo visual. A melhora na velocidade do COP foi verificada em todas as condições testadas. Conclui-se então, que o treinamento de TCC em 12 semanas é capaz de alterar positivamente o equilíbrio estático e dinâmico em indivíduos com DP. Diante disso, podemos afirmar que a prática do TCC não foi significativamente melhor quando comparada ao grupo controle; no entanto, mais ensaios clínicos com mais tempo de seguimento são necessários para confirmar os resultados atuais dos benefícios da prática do TCC para indivíduos com Doença de Parkinson. Devido à existência de poucos estudos abordando esta metodologia, são necessárias novas pesquisas nessa área. / Usually people with Parkinson's disease (PD) are affected by impairments in mobility and balance, on this account when are subjected to challenging conditions, the more complex coordination becomes to adjust the balance. The regular practice of Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) demands movements in multiple directions, concentration and mentalization of the control of the base of support as well as its (slow) displacement with respiratory control and maintenance of the posture, favoring the increase of muscular strength of lower limbs, And increasing attention to stability during changing of foot position. Although the practice of TCC demonstrates an improvement in balance of people with PD, this improvement needs to be demonstrated through sensitive assessments through the analysis of postural autonomic response by the margin of stability which is imparired by the curved posture in Dini order to verify the benefits of TCC, a quasi-experimental study was carried out to verify the effect of 12 weeks of Yang Tai Chi Chuan training on the dynamic balance and postural stability of elderly patients with Parkinson's disease. A total of 39 individuals with clinical diagnosis of PD were divided into experimental group (TCC Group) with n = 23 and mean age of 67.17 ± 10.299, and control group (CG) with n = 16 and mean age of 68.94 ± 10.421. All participants were submitted to evaluation of motor symptoms, level of disease severity, static and dynamic balance. In the statistical analysis, the normality of the sample of the two groups was verified by the Shapiro-Wilk test and then the 2-way factorial ANOVA (pre and post) X 2 groups (control and TCC) was applied to verify possible differences between groups and intra groups Adopting a significance level of p ≤ 0.05. The TCC Group performed 12 weeks of training and the CG maintained it usual activities, after this period all were reassessed and there was no statistically significant difference between the CG and the TCC Group, but there was a difference in the static and dynamic balance in the TCC Group after Training (F = 6.110 and p = 0.02). There was an improvement in the pressure center displacement amplitudes (COP) and COP velocity after TCC training. There was an improvement in AP amplitudes (p = 0.006) when the balance was tested without visual stimulus and ML (p = 0.027) with closed support base and visual stimulus. The improvement in COP speed was verified under all conditions tested. It is concluded that the training of TCC in 12 weeks is able to positively alter the static and dynamic balance in individuals with PD. Therefore, we can say that the practice of TCC was not significantly better when compared to the control group, however, more clinical trials with longer follow-up are necessary to confirm the current results of Tai Chi for Parkinson's disease. Due to few studies addressing this methodology, further research is needed in this area.

The use of complementary and alternative medicine continues to increase among people with depression. Tai chi, qigong, and yoga are classified as a subset of complementary and alternative medicine, called mind-body movement therapies. Tai chi originated thousands of years ago in China. Traditionally, tai chi is described as a practice that combines intentional breath and conscious movement to realign the opposing forces of yin and yang in the body. Nowadays, there is a diverse array of tai chi styles that may differ in their emphasis of physicality, flexibility, and attention to breath. Common forms include Yang and Sun styles. The current literature has postulated different biological mechanisms by which tai chi improves physical and mental health. Previous studies have found evidence of improved structural connectivity in brain regions involved in emotion regulation and self-awareness after regular tai chi practice. Furthermore, decreases in inflammation and improved balance between parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems have been identified as potential biological mechanisms. Promoting systemic changes in biology, tai chi may have great value as a clinical intervention for a range of disease populations with comorbid depression. Indeed, 44 original clinical trials have been identified in patients with depression alone as well as comorbid metabolic and gastrointestinal conditions, cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, cognitive decline, neurodegenerative diseases, and other psychiatric disorders. In sum, the findings of these trials are mixed, with several studies suffering from small sample sizes and a lack of clearly detailed and published trial protocols. Furthermore, differences in intervention format as well as follow up-data duration across studies makes comparison of trials’ results difficult. Future research to assess tai chi’s efficacy would benefit from larger sample sizes, inclusion of more methodologically rigorous control and comparator groups, and a reproducible description of trial protocol. As complementary and alternative medicine becomes more established in traditional health care institutions, greater funding and research into how tai chi specifically impacts depression symptoms in different patient populations would improve the individually tailored nature of health care for people with complex disease profiles.