A proposta deste estudo foi determinar se as escalas visual analógica (VAS) e CR10 (Category-Ratio) de Borg são eficientes para avaliar o esforço geral percebido em um teste de exercício físico dinâmico contínuo. A amostra foi composta por 20 participantes do sexo masculino, com idade entre 18 e 29 anos, universitários, saudáveis, sedentários e que apresentavam valores ergoespirométricos compatíveis com a normalidade (Consenso Brasileiro de Ergometria). Os participantes realizaram o protocolo do teste de exercício físico dinâmico contínuo do tipo rampa (TEFDC-R) em um cicloergômetro eletromagnético à 60 rpm, juntamente com a aplicação das escalas psicofísicas escolhidas. A freqüência do esforço na presença do exercício foi induzida através do aumento da complexidade e da resistência, com a utilização do teste já mencionado. Para a análise dos dados foi utilizada análise psicofísica e estatística paramétrica por meio da correlação de Pearson, regressão linear e teste t de Student. Foram encontradas correlações estatisticamente significativas (p<0,05) entre as escalas (r=0,97), as escalas em função do consumo de oxigênio (CR10: r=0,90; VAS: r=0,90) e em função da freqüência cardíaca (CR10: r=0,89; VAS: r=0,91). Foram encontrados também julgamentos precisos independente da escala utilizada (n=0,99; r2=0,998). Estes resultados sugerem que as magnitudes físicas das escalas VAS e CR10 de Borg são altamente correlacionadas. Além disso, em ambas as escalas, o aumento da potência, da freqüência cardíaca e do consumo de oxigênio corresponderam ao aumento das estimativas subjetivas dos participantes em relação ao esforço físico. Isto pode indicar uma boa interação entre as diferentes variáveis atuantes durante o exercício físico dinâmico contínuo. / The purpose of this study was to determine if the visual analogue and Borg´s CR10 (Category-Ratio) scales are efficient for assessment of the perceived general exertion in a continuous dynamic physical exercise test. The sample was composed of 20 healthy male university students, with ages ranging from 18 to 29, sedentary and presenting compatible spirometric values with normality (Brazilian Consensus on Ergometry). The subjects filled out the protocol of the ramp continuous dynamic physical exercise test (RCDPET) using an electrically braked cycle ergometer at a pace of 60 rpm, with the application of the psychophysical scales. The frequency of the effort during the exercise was induced through the increase of the complexity and the resistance, using the test already mentioned. For the data analysis psychophysics analysis and parametric statistics were used, through the Pearson correlation, linear regression and Student-t test. A clear linear correlation was found between the scales (r=0,97, p<0,05), the scales and oxygen uptake (CR10: r=0,90; VAS: r=0,90) and heart rate values (CR10: r=0,89; VAS: r=0,91). Precise assessment were also found irrespective from the scale used (n=0,99; r2=0,99). These results suggest that the physical magnitudes of VAS and Borg´s CR10 scales are highly correlated. Moreover, in both scales, the increase of the power, the heart rate and the oxygen uptaken corresponds to the increase of the subjective estimations of the participants in relation to the physical effort. These may indicate a clear interaction between the different variable present during the continuous dynamic physical exercise test.

Os objetivos deste estudo foram mensurar a intensidade de dor durante o trabalho de parto com ou sem analgesia raqui-peri combinada através de métodos psicofísicos, quais sejam estimação de categorias (escala analógica visual-VAS) e de estimação de magnitude, verificar a estabilidade, validar a escala psicofísica de percepção da dor e caracterizar os descritores de dor durante o trabalho de parto. Os métodos psicofísicos utilizados foram estimação de magnitudes e emparelhamento intermodal. Quatro experimentos foram realizados: Experimento 1 - Tarefa de determinação de limiares de dor; Experimento 2 - estimação de magnitudes e estimação de categorias, Experimento 3 - estimação de magnitudes e comprimento de linhas e Experimento 4- validação da escala psicofísica. Participaram 68 parturientes (42 receberam analgesia e 26 sem analgesia), internadas no centro obstétrico do Hospital do interior do estado de São Paulo, idade entre 18 a 35 anos, com feto único, estado físico ASA I ou II e que estavam em trabalho de parto. As diferentes sensações de dor foram avaliadas a cada 60 minutos (após a rotina obstétrica), até a finalização do parto (parturientes que não receberam analgesia) ou até a realização da analgesia de parto indicada pela equipe médica. A analgesia de parto foi realizada por meio da técnica raqui-peri combinada. Quinze minutos após a instalação do cateter uma nova avaliação da dor foi realizada, quando o período de observação foi finalizado. O trabalho de parto com ou sem analgesia foi de responsabilidade da equipe médica, não tendo o pesquisador influenciado, a participante poderia ou não ter aceitado. Os resultados obtidos foram que cada participante apresentou um tempo próprio na determinação do seu limiar. Os aspectos fisiológicos e psicológicos evidenciam que a dor é uma experiência única e individual. Para comparação da intensidade da dor durante o trabalho de parto nos grupos com analgesia (após medicação) e sem analgesia, através do teste estatístico de Mann-Whitney, constatou-se que houve uma diferença significativa entre as intensidades de dor nos 2 grupos (p<0,001). A escala psicofísica da intensidade de dor antes da analgesia foi validada com o expoente de 0,63, depois da analgesia o expoente foi de 0,95 e sem analgesia o expoente foi de 0,91. O coeficiente de correlação de Kendall (W) aplicado a estimação de magnitude e comprimento de linha antes, depois e sem analgesia, mostrou W=0,46, W=0,90 e W=0,66 respectivamente, indicando correlação entre os dados. Os descritores de dor mais atribuídos pelas parturientes durante o trabalho de parto foram insuportável, desesperadora e terrível. / The aim of this study was to measure the pain intensity during labor with or without combined spinal-epidural analgesia utilizing psychophysical methods, whether they be category estimations (visual analogical scale VAS) , or magnitude estimations, to verify the stability, to validate the psychophysical scale of pain perception, and to characterize the pain descriptors during labor pain. The psychophysical methods utilized were magnitude estimations and cross-modal matching. A total of four experiments were performed: Experiment 1 Pain threshold determination task; Experiment 2 magnitude estimations and category estimations; Experiment 3 magnitude estimations and line lengths; and Experiment 4 psychophysical scale validation. The study was comprised of 68 parturients (42 received analgesia, and 26 without analgesia), admitted in the Obstetrics center of the Interior Hospital in the state of Sao Paulo, age ranging from 18 to 35, with a singleton fetus, physical state ASA I or II, and who were in labor.The diverse pain sensations were assessed every 60 minutes (after obstetric routine), until the the end of labor (parturients who did not receive analgesia) , or until the application of labor analgesia recommended by the medical team.The analgesia was applied by means of combined spinal epidural analgesia . Fifteen minutes after installing the catheter, a new pain assessment was carried out when the observation period was concluded. Labor with or without analgesia was the responsibility of the medical team, not undergoing influence from the researcher, and the participant could accept or decline. The results were that each participant presented personal timing in determining their threshold. The physiological and psychological aspects evidenced that pain is a unique and individual experience.For the comparison of pain intensity during childbirth labor in the groups with analgesia and the groups without analgesia (after measurement), utilizing the Mann-Whitney statistical test, a significant difference between the pain intensities for both groups (p<0,001) was found. The psychophysical scale for pain intensity before analgesia was validated with the exponent 0,63, after analgesia the exponent was 0,95, and without analgesia 0,91. Kendall`s correlation coefficient (W) was applied to the magnitude estimations and the line-lengths before, after and without analgesia , W=0,46, W=0,90, and W=0,66 resepctively, indicating correlation between the data. The parturients` most attributed pain descriptors during labor were: unbearable, despairing, and terrible.

Purpose To investigate ocular surface sensations, specifically ocular discomfort using psychophysical and clinical techniques. The measurement of discomfort on the ocular surface has been limited to the use of traditional rating scales until recently. This thesis focuses on the scaling of discomfort using a psychophysical approach and also investigates the less explored area of the influence of blur on ocular discomfort. The specific aims of each chapter are: Chapter 2: To evaluate the difference thresholds of the central cornea in lens and non-lens wearers. Chapter 3: To devise a novel scale for ocular discomfort, relating subjective estimation of discomfort arising from contact lens wear to discomfort produced by the pneumatic stimuli delivered by a modified Belmonte esthesiometer. Chapter 4: To evaluate the influence of blur on ocular comfort while systematically manipulating vision using habitual refractive correction, induced spatial and optical blur, and under the absence of visual structure. Chapter 5: To examine if subjects rate discomfort and intensity of suprathreshold pneumatic stimuli differently when viewing clear and defocused targets and to examine the suprathreshold scaling of stimuli under the same visual conditions. Methods Chapter 2: The mechanical sensitivity of the central cornea was determined in 12 lens wearers and 12 non-lens wearers using a modified Belmonte pneumatic esthesiometer. The mechanical threshold of the central cornea was first estimated using the method of limits. Then, a series of systematically increasing stimuli were presented, with the first stimuli being 25% less than the threshold. The subjects were asked to compare the intensity of each stimulus with the preceding one and report if any difference in intensity was detectable. The intensities at which the subjects perceived an increased intensity from the previous was recorded. The difference threshold (DL) was the differences between the stimulus intensities at which an increase was perceived and five DLs were measured for each subject. Weber’s constants that relate the size of the difference thresholds to the stimulus intensity were derived for each DL level and repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare the Weber’s constants in the lens and non-lens wearing groups. Chapter 3: Twenty seven participants were enrolled for this magnitude matching study. Soft (HEMA) contact lenses of eight different lens designs varying in base curve and diameter were fit on all participants. The study was conducted on two separate days with four lenses randomly assigned on each day. The assigned soft contact lens was placed on the chosen eye and the sensations were measured using a numerical rating scale. Following this, the subjects were asked to regulate the intensity of the pneumatic stimulus using the control dial in order to match the discomfort from the stimulus to the discomfort from contact lens wear. At the completion of magnitude matching, ratings of sensations were again recorded. Pearson product moment correlation was used to correlate the objective esthesiometer matches to the subjective ratings of discomfort reported by each participant. The method of least log squares was used to derive the power exponents as defined by Stevens’ power law and analyze the psychophysical functions. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to investigate the effect of lens sequence and session on ocular discomfort with contact lens wear. The impact of lens type and time on discomfort was studied using linear mixed modeling. Chapter 4: Twenty emmetropic subjects rated ocular comfort, vision and sensation attributes (burning, itching and warmth) under conditions of normal vision, spatial blur and dioptric defocus, each session lasting for five minutes. Subjects viewed digital targets projected from a distance of 3m, and ocular surface sensations, vision were rated using magnitude estimation. Dioptric defocus was produced using +6.00DS contact lenses and equivalent spatial blur was created by spatially blurring the targets. Clear target images were used during dioptric defocus and blurred images during spatial blur session. Comfort was also rated under the absence of visual structure in fifteen of the participants using a ganzfeld and black occluders. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare vision and comfort ratings between the different experimental conditions. Chapter 5: Twenty one participants were enrolled. Ocular discomfort was produced by delivering mechanical stimuli from a pneumatic esthesiometer, and participants were asked to rate the intensity of stimulus and the discomfort induced by it under clear and defocused visual conditions. Esthesiometry was performed on one eye while the fellow eye viewed either a clear or blurred 6/60 fixation target through a trial lens. For the clear visual condition, the trial lens contained +0.25DS over their distance refractive correction and for the defocused condition, an additional +4.00DS was used. Mechanical thresholds from the central cornea were estimated using ascending methods of limits and then stimuli that were 25%, 50%, 75% and 100 % above threshold were presented in random order. Participants rated intensity and discomfort of each stimulus using a 0-100 numerical scale where 0 indicated no sensation and 100 indicated highest imaginable intensity/discomfort. There were 3 sessions with clear visual conditions and 3 sessions with defocus, in random order. Results Chapter 2: The functions relating Weber’s constants to stimulus intensities were slightly different in lens and non-lens wearing groups, although the absolute thresholds were similar. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant main effect of DL level on Weber’s constant (p<0.001), with the Weber’s fraction at the first DL being higher than the following DLs. A significant main effect of the group type was also observed, with the lens wearers showing higher Weber’s constants than the non-lens wearers (p=0.02) However, there was no interaction between DL level and lens wearing group on Weber’s constants (p=0.38). Chapter 3: The average and individual psychophysical functions appeared to follow Stevens’ power function, with mechanical and chemical stimuli giving rise to different power exponents. Examination of the individual transducer functions revealed that only about half of the subjects were able to match the contact lens sensations to the pneumatic stimulus discomfort, with both mechanical and chemical stimulation. The lens types did not have any impact (p=0.65) on the session or sequence in which the lens was presented, although an effect of session and sequence on discomfort was observed. The average discomfort ratings produced by the different lens types were similar. There appeared to be significant effects of time (p<0.001) on the reporting of discomfort with lens wear, with the discomfort upon lens insertion rated to be higher than after lenses settling. Chapter 4: Ratings of vision under spatial blur and dioptric defocus were significantly different (p<0.001) from normal vision condition. Vision with dioptric defocus was rated worse (p<0.001) than spatial blur. Significant differences in comfort were observed between normal vision and blur, including spatial blur (p=0.02) and dioptric defocus (p=0.001). However, there was no significant difference (p=0.99) in comfort between spatial blur and dioptric defocus. Comfort remained unchanged between normal vision, occluders and ganzfeld although vision was absent in the later two conditions. Chapter 5: There was no significant difference in mechanical thresholds under clear and defocused conditions with a paired t-test (p=0.66) and similar results were obtained with repeated measures ANOVA, with no significant difference in discomfort (p=0.10) and intensity (p=0.075) ratings between the two visual conditions. However, paired t-test between the derived exponents under clear and defocused conditions showed significant differences for discomfort (p=0.05) and no significant difference for the ratings of intensity (p=0.22). Comparison of exponents between discomfort and intensity showed a significant difference in both clear (p=0.02) and defocus conditions (p<0.001). Conclusions: Chapter 2: The differential sensitivity of the ocular surface can be successfully measured with a pneumatic esthesiometer and it appears that Weber’s law holds true for corneal nociceptive sensory processing. There are subtle differences in mechanical difference thresholds between lens and non-lens wearers suggesting the possibility of different neural activity levels in the two groups. Chapter 3: Subjective ratings of discomfort can be scaled by corneal esthesiometry in a selective group of people. In the subset of subjects with poorer correlations, perhaps the pneumatic mechanical stimulus was too localized and specific to match the complex sensations experienced while wearing contact lenses. However, there is also a group of subjects who are poor at making judgments about ocular comfort. Hence, the use of special sensory panels should be considered when ocular comfort is the primary outcome. Chapter 4: There does seem to be an association between clarity of vision and ocular comfort, although the pathways for pain and vision are perhaps exclusive. Interactions between vision and other senses have been reported, but a similar inter-sensory interaction between pain and vision is yet to be clearly demonstrated. The decreased comfort observed in this study might perhaps be due to nocebo or Hawthorne effects. Chapter 5: Suprathreshold scaling of pneumatic stimuli can vary with the viewing conditions, with defocus associated with higher exponents than clear visual conditions. However, the ratings of comfort appear to be similar under both the conditions. If defocus does affect comfort, it is subtle and does not affect the sensory components, but tiny effects through the affective aspect of pain can contribute to the differences in power exponents. The differences in the perception of comfort do not appear to be attributable to the differences in threshold or sensory intensity.

Purpose To investigate ocular surface sensations, specifically ocular discomfort using psychophysical and clinical techniques. The measurement of discomfort on the ocular surface has been limited to the use of traditional rating scales until recently. This thesis focuses on the scaling of discomfort using a psychophysical approach and also investigates the less explored area of the influence of blur on ocular discomfort. The specific aims of each chapter are: Chapter 2: To evaluate the difference thresholds of the central cornea in lens and non-lens wearers. Chapter 3: To devise a novel scale for ocular discomfort, relating subjective estimation of discomfort arising from contact lens wear to discomfort produced by the pneumatic stimuli delivered by a modified Belmonte esthesiometer. Chapter 4: To evaluate the influence of blur on ocular comfort while systematically manipulating vision using habitual refractive correction, induced spatial and optical blur, and under the absence of visual structure. Chapter 5: To examine if subjects rate discomfort and intensity of suprathreshold pneumatic stimuli differently when viewing clear and defocused targets and to examine the suprathreshold scaling of stimuli under the same visual conditions. Methods Chapter 2: The mechanical sensitivity of the central cornea was determined in 12 lens wearers and 12 non-lens wearers using a modified Belmonte pneumatic esthesiometer. The mechanical threshold of the central cornea was first estimated using the method of limits. Then, a series of systematically increasing stimuli were presented, with the first stimuli being 25% less than the threshold. The subjects were asked to compare the intensity of each stimulus with the preceding one and report if any difference in intensity was detectable. The intensities at which the subjects perceived an increased intensity from the previous was recorded. The difference threshold (DL) was the differences between the stimulus intensities at which an increase was perceived and five DLs were measured for each subject. Weber’s constants that relate the size of the difference thresholds to the stimulus intensity were derived for each DL level and repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare the Weber’s constants in the lens and non-lens wearing groups. Chapter 3: Twenty seven participants were enrolled for this magnitude matching study. Soft (HEMA) contact lenses of eight different lens designs varying in base curve and diameter were fit on all participants. The study was conducted on two separate days with four lenses randomly assigned on each day. The assigned soft contact lens was placed on the chosen eye and the sensations were measured using a numerical rating scale. Following this, the subjects were asked to regulate the intensity of the pneumatic stimulus using the control dial in order to match the discomfort from the stimulus to the discomfort from contact lens wear. At the completion of magnitude matching, ratings of sensations were again recorded. Pearson product moment correlation was used to correlate the objective esthesiometer matches to the subjective ratings of discomfort reported by each participant. The method of least log squares was used to derive the power exponents as defined by Stevens’ power law and analyze the psychophysical functions. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to investigate the effect of lens sequence and session on ocular discomfort with contact lens wear. The impact of lens type and time on discomfort was studied using linear mixed modeling. Chapter 4: Twenty emmetropic subjects rated ocular comfort, vision and sensation attributes (burning, itching and warmth) under conditions of normal vision, spatial blur and dioptric defocus, each session lasting for five minutes. Subjects viewed digital targets projected from a distance of 3m, and ocular surface sensations, vision were rated using magnitude estimation. Dioptric defocus was produced using +6.00DS contact lenses and equivalent spatial blur was created by spatially blurring the targets. Clear target images were used during dioptric defocus and blurred images during spatial blur session. Comfort was also rated under the absence of visual structure in fifteen of the participants using a ganzfeld and black occluders. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare vision and comfort ratings between the different experimental conditions. Chapter 5: Twenty one participants were enrolled. Ocular discomfort was produced by delivering mechanical stimuli from a pneumatic esthesiometer, and participants were asked to rate the intensity of stimulus and the discomfort induced by it under clear and defocused visual conditions. Esthesiometry was performed on one eye while the fellow eye viewed either a clear or blurred 6/60 fixation target through a trial lens. For the clear visual condition, the trial lens contained +0.25DS over their distance refractive correction and for the defocused condition, an additional +4.00DS was used. Mechanical thresholds from the central cornea were estimated using ascending methods of limits and then stimuli that were 25%, 50%, 75% and 100 % above threshold were presented in random order. Participants rated intensity and discomfort of each stimulus using a 0-100 numerical scale where 0 indicated no sensation and 100 indicated highest imaginable intensity/discomfort. There were 3 sessions with clear visual conditions and 3 sessions with defocus, in random order. Results Chapter 2: The functions relating Weber’s constants to stimulus intensities were slightly different in lens and non-lens wearing groups, although the absolute thresholds were similar. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant main effect of DL level on Weber’s constant (p<0.001), with the Weber’s fraction at the first DL being higher than the following DLs. A significant main effect of the group type was also observed, with the lens wearers showing higher Weber’s constants than the non-lens wearers (p=0.02) However, there was no interaction between DL level and lens wearing group on Weber’s constants (p=0.38). Chapter 3: The average and individual psychophysical functions appeared to follow Stevens’ power function, with mechanical and chemical stimuli giving rise to different power exponents. Examination of the individual transducer functions revealed that only about half of the subjects were able to match the contact lens sensations to the pneumatic stimulus discomfort, with both mechanical and chemical stimulation. The lens types did not have any impact (p=0.65) on the session or sequence in which the lens was presented, although an effect of session and sequence on discomfort was observed. The average discomfort ratings produced by the different lens types were similar. There appeared to be significant effects of time (p<0.001) on the reporting of discomfort with lens wear, with the discomfort upon lens insertion rated to be higher than after lenses settling. Chapter 4: Ratings of vision under spatial blur and dioptric defocus were significantly different (p<0.001) from normal vision condition. Vision with dioptric defocus was rated worse (p<0.001) than spatial blur. Significant differences in comfort were observed between normal vision and blur, including spatial blur (p=0.02) and dioptric defocus (p=0.001). However, there was no significant difference (p=0.99) in comfort between spatial blur and dioptric defocus. Comfort remained unchanged between normal vision, occluders and ganzfeld although vision was absent in the later two conditions. Chapter 5: There was no significant difference in mechanical thresholds under clear and defocused conditions with a paired t-test (p=0.66) and similar results were obtained with repeated measures ANOVA, with no significant difference in discomfort (p=0.10) and intensity (p=0.075) ratings between the two visual conditions. However, paired t-test between the derived exponents under clear and defocused conditions showed significant differences for discomfort (p=0.05) and no significant difference for the ratings of intensity (p=0.22). Comparison of exponents between discomfort and intensity showed a significant difference in both clear (p=0.02) and defocus conditions (p<0.001). Conclusions: Chapter 2: The differential sensitivity of the ocular surface can be successfully measured with a pneumatic esthesiometer and it appears that Weber’s law holds true for corneal nociceptive sensory processing. There are subtle differences in mechanical difference thresholds between lens and non-lens wearers suggesting the possibility of different neural activity levels in the two groups. Chapter 3: Subjective ratings of discomfort can be scaled by corneal esthesiometry in a selective group of people. In the subset of subjects with poorer correlations, perhaps the pneumatic mechanical stimulus was too localized and specific to match the complex sensations experienced while wearing contact lenses. However, there is also a group of subjects who are poor at making judgments about ocular comfort. Hence, the use of special sensory panels should be considered when ocular comfort is the primary outcome. Chapter 4: There does seem to be an association between clarity of vision and ocular comfort, although the pathways for pain and vision are perhaps exclusive. Interactions between vision and other senses have been reported, but a similar inter-sensory interaction between pain and vision is yet to be clearly demonstrated. The decreased comfort observed in this study might perhaps be due to nocebo or Hawthorne effects. Chapter 5: Suprathreshold scaling of pneumatic stimuli can vary with the viewing conditions, with defocus associated with higher exponents than clear visual conditions. However, the ratings of comfort appear to be similar under both the conditions. If defocus does affect comfort, it is subtle and does not affect the sensory components, but tiny effects through the affective aspect of pain can contribute to the differences in power exponents. The differences in the perception of comfort do not appear to be attributable to the differences in threshold or sensory intensity.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to explore the relationships between preoperative psychosocial factors in relation to postoperative chronic pelvic pain (CPP) in adolescents and young women with endometriosis, which is a significant public health concern. As a pilot sample, there is large need to present preliminary data exploring the biopsychosocial correlates and possible predictors of central sensitization and CPP, which remains non-existent in the realm of adolescents and young adults with CPP secondary to endometriosis. METHODS: Eligible candidates included patients 12-22 years old who were diagnosed with CPP after laparoscopic confirmation of endometriosis. 25 successfully enrolled subjects had pre-surgical information obtained from baseline surveys and underwent a postoperative sensory protocol to assess mechanical allodynia, pressure pain sensitivity, central sensitization, and a self-report measure of pain sensitivity. Correlation calculations were conducted between pre-surgical factors (pain intensity, pain catastrophizing (PCS), and quality-of-life (from SF-36)) and post-surgical factors (pain and sensitivity thresholds as measured by QST and the PSQ) in the subject population as a whole, and in two population subgroups: those exhibiting central sensitization and those who are not. One-way ANOVA calculations and one sample t-tests were conducted to compare differences between cohorts and between abdominal and control sites for various study parameters. RESULTS: 6 of 25 (24%) subjects experienced a wind-up phenomenon during the temporal summation for pain test, serving as a surrogate for central sensitization. The differences in study parameters that this group (+CS) exhibited in comparison to the –CS group, failed to reach significance in all study parameters. Both cohorts exhibited positive correlations between pre-operative disability due to bodily pain (SF-36) and sensitivity of the abdomen, as well as negative correlations between disability due to bodily pain and pressure pain thresholds of the abdomen. The +CS cohort also exhibited a negative correlation between disability due to bodily pain and pinprick pain scores, a positive correlation between role limitations due to physical health (SF-36) and sensitivity of the abdomen, and a positive correlation between pain catastrophizing and sensitivity of the abdomen. As a whole, the subject population had significantly higher levels of catastrophizing than published means. In all cohorts, pressure pain thresholds of the abdomen were significantly lower than the control values, and PSQ-minor scores were significantly higher than published means. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest the importance of pre-operative pain and psychosocial functioning on pain outcomes, particularly when considering subjects presenting with central sensitization, in young women with CPP secondary to endometriosis. The results indicate the need for a larger sample as well as established control values to further explore the relationships between these variables.

Os objetivos deste estudo foram mensurar a intensidade de dor durante o trabalho de parto com ou sem analgesia raqui-peri combinada através de métodos psicofísicos, quais sejam estimação de categorias (escala analógica visual-VAS) e de estimação de magnitude, verificar a estabilidade, validar a escala psicofísica de percepção da dor e caracterizar os descritores de dor durante o trabalho de parto. Os métodos psicofísicos utilizados foram estimação de magnitudes e emparelhamento intermodal. Quatro experimentos foram realizados: Experimento 1 - Tarefa de determinação de limiares de dor; Experimento 2 - estimação de magnitudes e estimação de categorias, Experimento 3 - estimação de magnitudes e comprimento de linhas e Experimento 4- validação da escala psicofísica. Participaram 68 parturientes (42 receberam analgesia e 26 sem analgesia), internadas no centro obstétrico do Hospital do interior do estado de São Paulo, idade entre 18 a 35 anos, com feto único, estado físico ASA I ou II e que estavam em trabalho de parto. As diferentes sensações de dor foram avaliadas a cada 60 minutos (após a rotina obstétrica), até a finalização do parto (parturientes que não receberam analgesia) ou até a realização da analgesia de parto indicada pela equipe médica. A analgesia de parto foi realizada por meio da técnica raqui-peri combinada. Quinze minutos após a instalação do cateter uma nova avaliação da dor foi realizada, quando o período de observação foi finalizado. O trabalho de parto com ou sem analgesia foi de responsabilidade da equipe médica, não tendo o pesquisador influenciado, a participante poderia ou não ter aceitado. Os resultados obtidos foram que cada participante apresentou um tempo próprio na determinação do seu limiar. Os aspectos fisiológicos e psicológicos evidenciam que a dor é uma experiência única e individual. Para comparação da intensidade da dor durante o trabalho de parto nos grupos com analgesia (após medicação) e sem analgesia, através do teste estatístico de Mann-Whitney, constatou-se que houve uma diferença significativa entre as intensidades de dor nos 2 grupos (p<0,001). A escala psicofísica da intensidade de dor antes da analgesia foi validada com o expoente de 0,63, depois da analgesia o expoente foi de 0,95 e sem analgesia o expoente foi de 0,91. O coeficiente de correlação de Kendall (W) aplicado a estimação de magnitude e comprimento de linha antes, depois e sem analgesia, mostrou W=0,46, W=0,90 e W=0,66 respectivamente, indicando correlação entre os dados. Os descritores de dor mais atribuídos pelas parturientes durante o trabalho de parto foram insuportável, desesperadora e terrível. / The aim of this study was to measure the pain intensity during labor with or without combined spinal-epidural analgesia utilizing psychophysical methods, whether they be category estimations (visual analogical scale VAS) , or magnitude estimations, to verify the stability, to validate the psychophysical scale of pain perception, and to characterize the pain descriptors during labor pain. The psychophysical methods utilized were magnitude estimations and cross-modal matching. A total of four experiments were performed: Experiment 1 Pain threshold determination task; Experiment 2 magnitude estimations and category estimations; Experiment 3 magnitude estimations and line lengths; and Experiment 4 psychophysical scale validation. The study was comprised of 68 parturients (42 received analgesia, and 26 without analgesia), admitted in the Obstetrics center of the Interior Hospital in the state of Sao Paulo, age ranging from 18 to 35, with a singleton fetus, physical state ASA I or II, and who were in labor.The diverse pain sensations were assessed every 60 minutes (after obstetric routine), until the the end of labor (parturients who did not receive analgesia) , or until the application of labor analgesia recommended by the medical team.The analgesia was applied by means of combined spinal epidural analgesia . Fifteen minutes after installing the catheter, a new pain assessment was carried out when the observation period was concluded. Labor with or without analgesia was the responsibility of the medical team, not undergoing influence from the researcher, and the participant could accept or decline. The results were that each participant presented personal timing in determining their threshold. The physiological and psychological aspects evidenced that pain is a unique and individual experience.For the comparison of pain intensity during childbirth labor in the groups with analgesia and the groups without analgesia (after measurement), utilizing the Mann-Whitney statistical test, a significant difference between the pain intensities for both groups (p<0,001) was found. The psychophysical scale for pain intensity before analgesia was validated with the exponent 0,63, after analgesia the exponent was 0,95, and without analgesia 0,91. Kendall`s correlation coefficient (W) was applied to the magnitude estimations and the line-lengths before, after and without analgesia , W=0,46, W=0,90, and W=0,66 resepctively, indicating correlation between the data. The parturients` most attributed pain descriptors during labor were: unbearable, despairing, and terrible.

no / In recent years inverse tone mapping techniques have been proposed for enhancing low-dynamic range (LDR) content for a high-dynamic range (HDR) experience on HDR displays, and for image based lighting. In this paper, we present a psychophysical study to evaluate the performance of inverse (reverse) tone mapping algorithms. Some of these techniques are computationally expensive because they need to resolve quantization problems that can occur when expanding an LDR image. Even if they can be implemented efficiently on hardware, the computational cost can still be high. An alternative is to utilize less complex operators; although these may suffer in terms of accuracy. Our study investigates, firstly, if a high level of complexity is needed for inverse tone mapping and, secondly, if a correlation exists between image content and quality. Two main applications have been considered: visualization on an HDR monitor and image-based lighting.

Master of Landscape Architecture / Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / Brent Chamberlain / Streets and sidewalks are important public places for a wide variety of activities, such as social interaction and physical activities. Public spaces can provide numerous benefits, such as physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and aesthetic wellbeing; in order to maximize these benefits effective planning and design is critical. However, there is a need to increase empirical data which can support good planning for these public spaces. The purpose of this research study is to better understand how different elements of streetscape design influence a person’s preferences for the design of the space. A streetscape consists of a variety of different infrastructure and natural forms, which are combined together to create a space centered on the movement of people. A survey was conducted with the aims to better understand how key design elements may influence users’ preferences with regard to safety and attractiveness. The project study site is Moro Street in Aggieville Business District in Manhattan, KS. The study and survey were developed using the psychophysical approach, which employed a quantitative methods to analyze the perceptions of Aggieville patrons. The research methods consists of four main parts: variable selection, streetscape design, public survey, and data analysis. An ANOVA was conducted that revealed statistically significant effects related to the preference for streetscape design in terms of safety and attractiveness, as well as a combined average evaluation. Evidence shows that the on street parking (Parking) and green infrastructure (Green Infrastructure) are statistically significant (p < .05), whereas seating and biking had no statistically significant effect on the evaluation of attractiveness. Also, the on street parking (Parking), green infrastructure (Green Infrastructure) and bike lane (biking)are statistically significant (p < .05), whereas seating had no statistically significant effect on the evaluation of safety. Overall, on street parking (Parking) and green infrastructure (Green Infrastructure) are statistically significant (p < .05), whereas seating and biking had no statistically significant effect on the evaluation of both safety and attractiveness. These results support previous work from environmental psychologists, and provide additional empirical evidence to support effective street design.

Xing-ju literally means 'New Theatre' in Mandarin and denotes the non-traditional performing style in Taiwan. Xing-ju is regarded as the product of colonisation in Taiwan. The thesis began with the first emergence of Xing-ju in the Japanese colonial era at the beginning of the twentieth century, and went on to examine the development of Xing-ju and its sub-forms within a colonial historical context. Having gone through different colonial regimes, Xing-ju has developed into the local theatre form characterizing the hybridity of Taiwanese culture. My study aims to fill a gap in Taiwanese contemporary theatre history, to look at Xing-ju and its sub-forms from a post-colonial perspective, and to provide a continuous and complete Xing-ju history within a theoretical context. In addition, how Xing-ju has exemplified ‘Taiwaneseness’ while presenting multiple cultural characteristics is also examined. This thesis also draws on primary source data, obtained via field research, to analyse the characteristics of Xing-ju performances. Finally, while addressing my research questions through theoretical analysis, I also examine them through the lens of practical work. Inspired by critical syncretism, I experiment with an alternative way to explore the nature of Taiwanese culture and theatre form. With its hybrid cultural characteristics including Japanese Shinpa-geki, Chinese Peking Opera, Ge-zai Xi and Western theatre styles, I discuss how a definition of ‘Taiwaneseness’ emerges through Xing-ju.

The aim of this paper is to illuminate how the principles of the Alexander Technique and the role of bodily systems can serve as a foundational support for actor training. Inclusion of the Alexander Technique in the acting curriculum proves to be an effective tool for bridging the gap between kinesthetic learning and its application to beginning acting training. Starting with the nervous system, the operating principles of the Alexander Technique are discussed through research and personal insights. Next, in light of how self-discovery plays a key role in the first year of actor training, the idea of release in the neuromuscular system is explored as a way to support that process. Delving further into the actor’s process of character development, the efficient use of the skeletal system and the spine specifically is examined as the center of physical expression. Lastly, the breath and proper use of the respiratory system is discussed in relation to how it aids actors in making connected use of themselves. The outcome of this thesis through research, my personal journey as a teacher trainee of the Alexander Technique and observations and feedback though conducting workshops, elucidates the importance of creating harmony and release within the whole mechanism as a means of facilitating full expression, of mind, body and spirit, in the actor.