Introduction: Intrinsic and extrinsic urethral factors play a significant role in urinary continence mechanism in women. Urethral wall structure including inervation, perfusion of submucosal layer etc. is not clinically assessed despite its important role in urethral closure function. The association of incontinence and pelvic floor reconstructive surgery is well known. Every postoperative healing process is associated with factors of ischemia and neovascularisation. According those facts we would expect that the healing and scaring should involve intrinsic urethral mechanism. After reconstructive surgery Implants further increase scaring process. Methods: In our study we included patients with anterior compartment defect. We randomized patients into three interventional arms according the surgical approach and use of implants. Before and 3-5 month after the surgery we performed urodynamic studies and pelvic floor ultrasound examination, including Doppler for urethral perfusion assessment. Another early ultrasound scan was added forth day after surgery. We correlated ultrasound and urodynamic parameters. Results: We randomized 87 patients. We couldn't find any correlation between the morphologic changes and severity of incontinence. Methods for urethral perfusion assessment showed high inaccuracy...

The master´s thesis deals with the volume changes of concrete during its concrete glow. These volume changes are generally more susceptible to high-strength concretes – HSC, which contain a bigger dose of binder. The theoretical section describes the possible reduction volume change especially in HSC, which are focused on the composition of concrete, especially on the type and particle size distribution of aggregate. Then attention is also paid to the different types of cements and their possible substitution. The part of the theoretical work describes the types of volume changes that may occur. In the experimental part are suggested the HSC by to secure informations. Different kinds of aggregates are used and a continuous or discontinuous grain curve and a different maximum grain size. Part of the sample was made only from CEM I 42,5 R and the second part of the sample from CEM I 42,5 R with the addition of very finely ground limestone. In terms of the part of the work were monitored volume changes of concrete with different composition and also their mechanical properties after 7, 28 and 90 days. Specifically, compressive strength, tensile strength, strength of the surface layers of concrete, water absorption and water-permeability test concrete. In conclusion, are listed all the results of tests.

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This study deals with municipal planning in municipalities that has a declining population, often referred to as shrinking municipalities. Data collection was done by interviews with civil servants tasked with planning in municipalities. The interview’s purpose was to gather knowledge on the experience of working within a shrinking municipality. The civil servants interviewed worked within Laxå, Sävsjö, Vimmerby, Hultsfred and Valdemarsvik municipality. The data from the interview was analyzed in relation to earlier research about societies and region with a decline in population and has its theoretical framework in the growth-critical theory degrowth. The results that’s the basis for analysis is structured after four different themes. These themes touch on the subjects of challenges, possibilities, strategies, activities as well as attitude in relation to the civil servants’ experiences.  The analysis of the results ends up problematizing the growth paradigm since shrinking municipalities becomes disadvantaged by creating growth-oriented strategies. Furthermore, the results show how creative solutions to counter or alternatively adapt shrinkage remains absent in shrinking municipalities due to a lack of a long-term perspective in planning. / Denna studie behandlar samhällsplanering i kommuner med en minskande befolkning, ofta benämnt som krympande kommuner. Materialinsamlingen till studien genomfördes med intervjuer där tjänstepersoner som jobbar med samhällsplanering tillfrågades. Syftet med intervjuerna var att ta in tjänstepersonernas erfarenheter om att jobba i en krympande kommun. Tjänstepersonerna som intervjuades tillhörde Laxå, Sävsjö, Vimmerby, Hultsfred och Valdemarsvik kommun. Intervjumaterialet analyserades i relation tidigare forskning om minskande samhällen och regioner med teoretisk utgångspunkt i tillväxtkritiska teorin degrowth. I resultatet presenteras det material som vidare ligger till grund för analysen strukturerade efter fyra olika teman. Dessa teman berör utmaningar, möjligheter, strategier, verksamheter och inställning i förhållande till tjänstepersonernas erfarenheter. Analysen av resultatet leder i slutet till en problematisering av tillväxtparadigmet då minskande kommuner missgynnas av att utforma tillväxtorienterade strategier. Vidare påvisade även resultatet att kreativa lösningar för att motverka alternativt anpassa krympande uteblir i krympande kommuner till följd av brist på långsiktigt perspektiv i samhällsplaneringen.

Lamellar cast iron is a very important technical alloy and the most used material in the casting production, and especially in the automotive industry which is the major consumer. Beside the many great properties, it is inclined to form casting defects of which some can be prevented, and some may be repaired subsequently. Shrinkage porosity is a randomly returning problem, which is difficult to understand and to avoid. This defect is a volumetric deficiency which appear as cavities inside the casting in connection to the casting surface. Another frequent defect is the metal expansion penetration. This defect is a material surplus squeezed to the casting surface containing sand inclusion from the mold material. Shrinkage porosity is usually mentioned together with metal expansion penetration as the formation mechanism of both defects have common roots. It is also generally agreed, that these type of defects are related to the volumetric changes occurring during solidification. Additionally, the formation of these defects are in connection with the coherency of the primary austenite dendrites. The purpose of this work was to develop knowledge on factors affecting a volume-change related casting defect formation in order to minimize the presence of these defects in engine component production. This was done by extending the existing solidification investigation methods with novel solutions. Introduction of expansion force measurement in the determination of dendrite coherency combined with multi axial volume change measurement refine the interpretation of the solidification. Comparison of registered axial and radial linear deformation in cylindrical samples indicated an anisotropic volume change. Different methods for dendrite coherency determination have been compared. It was shown that the coherency develops over an interval. Dependent on the added inoculant the coherency is reached at different levels of fractions of a solidified primary phase. It is also shown, that inoculation has an effect on the nucleation and growth of the primary phase. Quantitative image analysis has been performed on the primary phase in special designed samples designed to provoke shrinkage porosity and metal expansion penetration. It was found, that the inter-dendritic space varies within a casting. This was explained by the coarsening of the primary dendrites which originates from differences in the local time of solidification. / <p>QC 20131210</p>

The embedment behavior of dowels in timber structures, as an essential parameter in the design of connections, is the subject of this thesis. There are numerous advantages using timber structures, including sustainability, energy efficiency, and aesthetic appeal. The mechanical performance of connections in timber structures can be affected by environmental variables, such as moisture content. Thus, in the thesis the embedment behavior of dowels in timber, including the embedment strength and elastic and plastic stiffness at various moisture levels was investigated. In addition to different moisture contents, the effects coming along with changing the moisture content, like swelling and shrinkage, in combination with the assembly history were studied. The study investigated the effects of moisture content variations on the embedment behavior of dowels in timber loaded perpendicular to the grain at relative humidity levels of 38%, 65%, and 85% at a temperature of 20◦C. The study also explored the impact of assembly history of the steel dowels on the embedment behavior. The expression ”assembly history” refers the effects of drilling and assembling steel dowels at different times, i.e. if drilling the timber occurs before changing the moisture content or after changing the moisture content.  Full-hole embedment tests were conducted in five different series to cover all three levels of moisture content while taking the assembly history into account. In total, 100 embedment experiments were carried out, with 50 samples of spruce and 50 samples of birch being assessed perpendicular to the grain. In addition, 20 solid timber specimens were exposed to cyclic loading to evaluate the embedment behavior under these conditions. To evaluate the stress on the timber around the dowel, finite-element simulations, using linear-elastic material behavior in combination with volumetric changes due to moisture variation were conducted. Corresponding to the assembly history in the experiments, the situations of moisture variation in presence and absence of the steel dowel for the swelling and shrinkage case were investigated. The experimental results showed that while the elastic and plastic embedment stiffness can be impacted by moisture content only in low MC situations, it can potentially affect embedment strength in both dry and wet conditions. Additionally, the assembly history influences only the plastic stiffness in a low MC condition. Results from cyclic loading have shown no significant difference to embedment strength and stiffness gained from monotonic loading. According to numerical simulations, the tensile normal stress in the direction perpendicular to the load direction is higher than the tension strength for the shrinkage case with the dowel present. This might be explained by using a simple linear elastic material model in the FEM simulation, which causes an overestimation in the stiffness properties. In conclusion, this thesis offers new perspectives and a deeper knowledge of how moisture content, assembly history, and cyclic loading perpendicular to the grain affect the embedment behavior of dowels in timber connections.

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