This paper has been undertaken, first, to contribute several more cases of various congenital anomalies to the literature on human genetics, and, second, by an analysis of the genealogies, to determine the possible modes of transmission of these anomalies.

This thesis contains introduction to the principles of dynamic plantography and it´s clinical application. Afterwards it is described feet anatomy, types of feet arch and human walking process. Next part describes principles of various types of tactile sensors and electrical platform Arduino. Most important part of this thesis is focused on teoretical design of device and it’s practical realization. The last part of diploma thesis is devoted to discussion of parameters of the device and to results of measuring of group of volunteers.

Master of Arts / Department of English / Dean G. Hall / Salman Rushdie's 1999 novel The Ground Beneath Her Feet is ostensibly a rock 'n' roll novel, largely set in the 1960s, that traces the commercial rise of Indian rock star protagonists Vina Apsara and Ormus Cama. As their fame and wealth rise to global status and their stage show comes to entail a logistical complexity of military proportions, it becomes increasingly difficult to discern the couple's earlier countercultural ideals within their new established culture status. I argue that despite the change from countercultural to establishment-based values in the novel's protagonists, Rushdie does make a case in The Ground Beneath Her Feet for the possibility of countercultural efficacy against the commodifying culture of global capitalism (which I refer to as the "Frame"). His recipe for combating the exclusive hierarchies produced by the Frame is a combination of the non-totalizing politics of postmodernism and the subversive potential of uncommodified rock music. I pay close attention to establishing the historical templates--John Lennon of the Beatles and Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys--of the novel's protagonists in an effort to understand the sort of countercultural alternative Rushdie is proposing. I likewise focus on the novel's depiction of the Beach Boys' Smile album, which as a still commercially unreleased record, reinforces Rushdie's imperative in The Ground Beneath Her Feet for an uncommodifying counterculture and works in tandem with his portrayals of the artistic plights of several minor characters in the novel as well.

Title: Effects of dance sport in the musculoskeletal system of the individual Objectives: The goal is to musculoskeletal examination of selected individuals and evaluation the effect of dance sport on examined status. The results should be the basis for further research in this area. Methods: Kinesiology analysis, bioimpedance analysis and X-ray were used for scrutiny of the musculoskeletal system. Primary and secondary data were analyzed afterwards. Results: Findings of struktural deformities: flat feet (both), both sided hallux valgus with incipient degenerative changes of I. MTP joint (male), limit angle of I. MTP joint of left leg (female). These deviations are related to the using of dance shoes. Muscle imbalance upper thoracic region and lateral imbalance of tested people are the result of the prescribed holding and leading used in dance. Keywords: dance sport, musculoskeletal system, muscle imbalances, feet deformities

Title: Dysmenorrhea and its possible treatment by physiotherapy Objectives: The aim of this thesis has been to assess the effect of simple feet exercises along with the practice of pelvic floor activation and relaxation on women struggling with dysmenorrhea. Subsequently, it also deals with the issue of whether the pelvic floor treat- ment per rectum together with the exercises is more effective than just plain exercising. Methods: This research has been based on an experiment. This thesis includes both a the- oretical part and a practical part. The methods used for the practical part are as follows: questionnaire (specifically Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire), simple feet exercises, ex- ercises used for the activation and relaxation of the pelvic floor as well as the pelvic floor treatment per rectum and final processing of the gathered data into statistics. Results: The menstrual cycle of every woman is completely individual and every woman perceives it quite differently. The result of the research was that simple feet exercises along with the practice of pelvic floor activation, relaxation and the pelvic floor treatment per rectum help women struggling with dysmenorrhea. We didn't discover any data that confirms whether the pelvic floor treatment per rectum, together with the exercises, is more...

Neste estudo foram avaliados os efeitos de restrições biomecânicas e de carga sobre a adaptação de respostas posturais automáticas (RPAs) a perturbações externas não-antecipadas. No Experimento 1 o objetivo foi avaliar o efeito do ângulo de orientação dos pés em RPAs causadas por perturbações de diferentes magnitudes. A perturbação foi gerada a partir da liberação inesperada de carga presa ao tronco do participante, levando à oscilação anterior do corpo. Foram avaliadas RPAs para cargas correspondendo a 5% e 10% do peso corporal do participante, comparando as seguintes orientações dos pés: paralelos, preferida (M = 10,46°), 15° e 30° para cada pé a partir da linha média do corpo. Os resultados mostraram que a perturbação com a carga 10% levou a maiores deslocamentos do centro de pressão e rotação das articulações, além de respostas musculares mais fortes e mais rápidas. Os pés orientados em 30° levaram ao maior deslocamento do centro de pressão em comparação com as outras angulações. A perturbação com a carga 5% levou a respostas similares para ambas as articulações, enquanto que com a carga 10% a amplitude de rotação das articulações foi maior com pés orientados em 30°. No Experimento 2, os objetivos foram avaliar o efeito de tentativas prévias com carga distinta, e a adaptação das respostas posturais em tentativas repetidas com mesma carga, em RPAs a uma perturbação não-antecipada. Foram empregadas três cargas para perturbação: 6%, 8% e 10% do peso corporal do participante. Este experimento foi realizado por meio da comparação de dois grupos: sequência alta-baixa, para o qual a ordem de aplicação das cargas se dava de forma decrescente; e sequência baixa-alta, para o qual a ordem de aplicação das cargas se dava de forma crescente. Os resultados mostraram que as respostas posturais foram graduadas de acordo com a magnitude da carga. O efeito de sequência de cargas foi observado na maior amplitude de deslocamento do centro de pressão para o grupo decrescente em relação ao crescente. A análise do centro de massa indicou adaptação intertentativas, com redução progressiva da amplitude de deslocamento entre a primeira e a última tentativa na carga de 10%. Esses resultados sugerem que respostas posturais reativas são produzidas levando em consideração não apenas feedback sensorial, mas também respostas posturais precedentes. Em uma análise global, os resultados deste estudo revelam a sensibilidade do sistema de controle postural a fatores contextuais, incluindo restrições biomecânicas e respostas a perturbações prévias, na geração de respostas posturais automáticas a uma perturbação da estabilidade do equilíbrio corporal / In this study we evaluated the effects of biomechanical constraints and load on the adaptation of automatic postural responses (APRs) to external perturbations of different magnitudes. The objective of Experiment 1 was to evaluate the effect of feet orientation angle in APRs caused by perturbations of different magnitudes. The perturbation was generated through unexpected load release attached to the participant\'s trunk, leading to forward body sway. APRs were evaluated for loads corresponding to 5% and 10% of participant\'s body weight, comparing the following feet orientations: parallel, preferred (M = 10.46°), 15° and 30° for each foot regarding the body midline. Results showed that APRs were sensitive to perturbation magnitude, with 10% load leading to higher center of pressure displacement and amplitude of leg joints rotation, in addition to stronger and faster muscle responses. Feet oriented at 30° led to higher center of pressure displacement compared to other angles. The 5% load led to similar responses for both the hip and ankle joints in the different orientations, while for the 10% load amplitude of legs joints rotation was higher for the feet oriented at 30° in comparison with the other orientation angles. In Experiment 2, we evaluate the effects of previous responses to a different perturbation load, and adaptation to the same load over repeated perturbations, on APRs to unanticipated perturbations. Three perturbation loads were employed: 6%, 8% and 10% of participant\'s body weight. The experiment was performed by comparing two groups: high-low sequence, with decreasing sequence of loads; and low-high sequence, with increasing sequence of loads. Results showed that postural responses were scaled according to load magnitude. The decreasing loads sequence led to higher amplitudes of center of pressure displacement in comparison to the increasing sequence. Analysis of center of mass indicated intertrials adaptation, with progressive reduction of amplitude displacement between the first and last trial in the 10% load. These results suggest that reactive postural responses are produced taking into consideration not only sensory feedback but also previous postural responses. Overall, results from this study reveal the sensitivity of the postural control system to contextual factors, including biomechanical constraints and responses to previous perturbations, in the generation of automatic postural responses to an unanticipated perturbation of balance stability.

Neste estudo foram avaliados os efeitos de restrições biomecânicas e de carga sobre a adaptação de respostas posturais automáticas (RPAs) a perturbações externas não-antecipadas. No Experimento 1 o objetivo foi avaliar o efeito do ângulo de orientação dos pés em RPAs causadas por perturbações de diferentes magnitudes. A perturbação foi gerada a partir da liberação inesperada de carga presa ao tronco do participante, levando à oscilação anterior do corpo. Foram avaliadas RPAs para cargas correspondendo a 5% e 10% do peso corporal do participante, comparando as seguintes orientações dos pés: paralelos, preferida (M = 10,46°), 15° e 30° para cada pé a partir da linha média do corpo. Os resultados mostraram que a perturbação com a carga 10% levou a maiores deslocamentos do centro de pressão e rotação das articulações, além de respostas musculares mais fortes e mais rápidas. Os pés orientados em 30° levaram ao maior deslocamento do centro de pressão em comparação com as outras angulações. A perturbação com a carga 5% levou a respostas similares para ambas as articulações, enquanto que com a carga 10% a amplitude de rotação das articulações foi maior com pés orientados em 30°. No Experimento 2, os objetivos foram avaliar o efeito de tentativas prévias com carga distinta, e a adaptação das respostas posturais em tentativas repetidas com mesma carga, em RPAs a uma perturbação não-antecipada. Foram empregadas três cargas para perturbação: 6%, 8% e 10% do peso corporal do participante. Este experimento foi realizado por meio da comparação de dois grupos: sequência alta-baixa, para o qual a ordem de aplicação das cargas se dava de forma decrescente; e sequência baixa-alta, para o qual a ordem de aplicação das cargas se dava de forma crescente. Os resultados mostraram que as respostas posturais foram graduadas de acordo com a magnitude da carga. O efeito de sequência de cargas foi observado na maior amplitude de deslocamento do centro de pressão para o grupo decrescente em relação ao crescente. A análise do centro de massa indicou adaptação intertentativas, com redução progressiva da amplitude de deslocamento entre a primeira e a última tentativa na carga de 10%. Esses resultados sugerem que respostas posturais reativas são produzidas levando em consideração não apenas feedback sensorial, mas também respostas posturais precedentes. Em uma análise global, os resultados deste estudo revelam a sensibilidade do sistema de controle postural a fatores contextuais, incluindo restrições biomecânicas e respostas a perturbações prévias, na geração de respostas posturais automáticas a uma perturbação da estabilidade do equilíbrio corporal / In this study we evaluated the effects of biomechanical constraints and load on the adaptation of automatic postural responses (APRs) to external perturbations of different magnitudes. The objective of Experiment 1 was to evaluate the effect of feet orientation angle in APRs caused by perturbations of different magnitudes. The perturbation was generated through unexpected load release attached to the participant\'s trunk, leading to forward body sway. APRs were evaluated for loads corresponding to 5% and 10% of participant\'s body weight, comparing the following feet orientations: parallel, preferred (M = 10.46°), 15° and 30° for each foot regarding the body midline. Results showed that APRs were sensitive to perturbation magnitude, with 10% load leading to higher center of pressure displacement and amplitude of leg joints rotation, in addition to stronger and faster muscle responses. Feet oriented at 30° led to higher center of pressure displacement compared to other angles. The 5% load led to similar responses for both the hip and ankle joints in the different orientations, while for the 10% load amplitude of legs joints rotation was higher for the feet oriented at 30° in comparison with the other orientation angles. In Experiment 2, we evaluate the effects of previous responses to a different perturbation load, and adaptation to the same load over repeated perturbations, on APRs to unanticipated perturbations. Three perturbation loads were employed: 6%, 8% and 10% of participant\'s body weight. The experiment was performed by comparing two groups: high-low sequence, with decreasing sequence of loads; and low-high sequence, with increasing sequence of loads. Results showed that postural responses were scaled according to load magnitude. The decreasing loads sequence led to higher amplitudes of center of pressure displacement in comparison to the increasing sequence. Analysis of center of mass indicated intertrials adaptation, with progressive reduction of amplitude displacement between the first and last trial in the 10% load. These results suggest that reactive postural responses are produced taking into consideration not only sensory feedback but also previous postural responses. Overall, results from this study reveal the sensitivity of the postural control system to contextual factors, including biomechanical constraints and responses to previous perturbations, in the generation of automatic postural responses to an unanticipated perturbation of balance stability.

In this thesis, I am interested in transnational feminist scholarship and dialogue. Through close readings of Helena Maria Viramontes's texts, I place her writing in conversation with several transnational feminist scholars and themes. I begin with home, a frequently discussed topic within transnational feminism, as the experiences of diasporic and migrant populations challenge the notion of home. I locate the multiple homes presented in Viramontes's texts, arguing that these homes are unreliable spaces for their residents. I then consider male characters and masculinity in Viramontes's stories, as these men significantly influence the homes of women. In Viramontes's later texts, some of these characters support the women in their lives, as well as embrace the multiplicity of masculinity. I also explore invisibility and hypervisibility, two themes which figure prominently within transnational feminism and Viramontes's texts. Viramontes makes visible women, workers, and youth, challenging their invisibility and hypervisibility. In my analysis, I include Viramontes's two novels, Under the Feet of Jesus (1995) and Their Dogs Came With Them (2007), as well as two short stories, "Growing" (1983) and "The Jumping Bean" (1992). By analyzing these works, which were published over a period of twenty four years, we can more intricately see Viramontes's exploration of transnational feminist themes.

Les fictions contemporaines, plus particulièrement les téléséries américaines, semblent actuellement accorder une place prépondérante à la thématique de la mort au sein de leur récit. Il semble ainsi possible de discerner une véritable tendance aux thanatofictions dans le paysage médiatique américain d'aujourd'hui. Considérant la place importante que revêt la thématique de la finitude dans toute culture ainsi que le rôle que les médias contemporains peuvent avoir concernant la formation du rapport social à la mort, nous avons décidé d'interroger la représentation de la mort qui est proposée dans une télésérie américaine contemporaine. Pour ce faire, nous avons choisi d'analyser la télésérie américaine Six Feet Under, présentée sur les ondes de la chaîne câblée HBO de 2001 à 2005. À travers cette analyse de Six Feet Under, nous avions pour objectif de chercher à mieux comprendre quelles significations une télésérie américaine d'aujourd'hui véhicule au sujet de la mort. Plus encore, nous cherchions à comprendre comment Six Feet Under représente le rapport de la culture américaine actuelle à la mortalité. La télésérie Six Feet Under fut analysée grâce à une méthode herméneutique, ce qui nous a permis d'étudier le récit, les récurrences narratives ainsi que les représentations de la mort véhiculées à travers les discours visuels et verbaux de cette fiction. À l'issue de notre analyse, nous avons pu conclure que la télésérie Six Feet Under propose une représentation de la mort en tant que phénomène universel, ontologique et essentiel. Cette représentation s'accompagne également d'une critique de l'attitude dénégatoire des Américains d'aujourd'hui concernant la mort. Plus globalement, notre interprétation révèle que Six Feet Under propose une représentation alternative et plus positive de la mort, laquelle pourrait avoir une pertinence sociale particulière dans notre paysage télévisuel actuel. ______________________________________________________________________________ MOTS-CLÉS DE L’AUTEUR : Mort, Représentation, Télésérie, Fiction, Herméneutique

Orientador: Aparecido Augusto de Carvalho / Banca: Antônio de Pádua Lima Filho / Banca: Augusto Cesinando de Carvalho / Resumo: Neste trabalho descreve-se um sistema constituído por duas plataformas de forças e seus respectivos circuitos de condicionamento e interfaceamento de sinais, projetado para medir a distribuição de descarga de peso na região plantar de pacientes. Em cada plataforma de força foram acopladas 24 células de carga construídas com extensômetros. As características estáticas do sistema foram determinadas em laboratório utilizando pesos conhecidos. O sistema apresentou linearidade, com coeficiente de determinação de 0,9997, baixa histerese, precisão de 0,84% e resolução de 0,5 N. As medidas são apresentadas na tela de um computador facilitando a visualização para especialistas da área, principalmente médicos, fisioterapeutas e terapeutas ocupacionais. Utilizando o sistema foram medidas as distribuições de peso na região plantar de 87 indivíduos sem hemiplegia (sem histórico de queixas de dores ou problemas no sistema neuromusculoesquelético) e de 10 hemiplégicos crônicos, com mais de um ano de hemiplegia. Estes foram submetidos à avaliação utilizando a Escala de Equilíbrio de Berg. Entre os indivíduos se hemiplegia, estudou-se mais detalhadamente um grupo de 15 bailarinos e um de 12 ginastas rítmicas. Determinou-se a relação entre a distribuição de pesos nos antepés esquerdo e direito de indivíduos sem hemiplegia e hemiplégicos com o sistema implementado. Através do sistema constatou-se que a relação entre a distribuição de pesos no antepé esquerdo e direito dos indivíduos hemiplégicos é muito mais elevada que a dos indivíduos sem hemiplegia. Este resultado era de se esperar, uma vez que o hemiplégico descarrega seu peso predominantemente no lado não plégico / Abstract: This work describes a system consisting of two force platforms and their conditioning circuits and interfacing signals, designed to measure the distribution of weight load on the plantar region of patients. Each force platform was constructed with 24 load cells with strain gages. The static characteristics of the system were determined in laboratory using known weights. The system showed linearity with determination coefficient of 0.9997, low hysteresis, accuracy of 0.84% and resolution of 0.5 N. The measurements are presented in a computer screen in a friend way for specialists in the health field, mainly doctors, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. Using the system we measured the weight distributions in the plantar region of 87 normal patients (no history of complaints of pain or problems in the neuromuscular system) and 10 hemiplegic, with more than a year of hemiplegia. The latter were evaluated using the Berg Balance Scale. Among normal subjects, we studied a further group of 15 dancers and one of 12 rhythmic gymnasts. The relationship between the distribution of weights in the left and right forefeet of patients with normal and hemiplegic was determined with the implemented system. Through the system we found that the relationship between weight distribution on the left and right forefoot of hemiplegic patients is much higher than that of normal patients. This result was expected, since the hemiplegic unloads his weight predominantly in non-paralyzed side / Mestre