Polysaccharides are now popularly used in paper technology since they are able to improve mechanical properties of the paper. Xylan and pectin are two natural polymers that have a wide range of applications nowadays. These two polysaccharides can be used in their native forms as well as derivatives. In this study, xylan and pectin were modified to obtain cationic derivatives before adding into the paper for enhancement. The work was motivated by the fact that xylan and pectin share the same negative surface properties as cellulose. This leads to a slight repulsion effect between them once they are close. Their cationic derivatives, therefore, are believed to strengthen the paper due to electrostatic interactions between two oppositely charged objects beside hydrogen bonds. To fulfil the purposes, oat spelt xylan and apple pectin were chemically modified using different modification methods, including oxidation, amidation, and a combination of these two methods. A quantitative method to determine the adsorbed amount and relative retention capacity of xylan onto paper using high performance liquid chromatography was also developed. The results show that oat spelt and apple pectin, as well as their modified derivatives, can improve the paper mechanical properties. The oat spelt xylan significantly enhances the tensile strength, however, this contribution has a saturation level in correlation with the relative retention capacity of the xylan onto cellulose. The best retention capacity is achieved when 5% of xylan is added. This finding provides a practical approach to the application of xylan as a paper additive in consideration of economic issues. Although the application of apple pectin and its amidated derivatives in paper is rather rare, some interesting points have been discovered in this work. Among the apple pectin samples used, only the ones with low degree of esterification give a slight enhancement in tensile index at 5% dosage. The results also suggest that the dosage of the pectin added into the paper should not exceed 5% due to its viscous property at high concentrations.

Problems, emerging from requirements changes in software development and maintenance phases are analyzed in this thesis. Requirements for an architecture, which allow easier implementation of requirements changes, are discussed. There are analyzed world spread architectures, which ease the maintenance of the software. Also there is analyzed the three tier architecture implementation in the project “distributed basketball competition registration and analysis software”, analysis subsystem. The cons and pros of implemented architecture are discussed also.

Polysaccharides are now popularly used in paper technology since they are able to improve mechanical properties of the paper. Xylan and pectin are two natural polymers that have a wide range of applications nowadays. These two polysaccharides can be used in their native forms as well as derivatives. In this study, xylan and pectin were modified to obtain cationic derivatives before adding into the paper for enhancement. The work was motivated by the fact that xylan and pectin share the same negative surface properties as cellulose. This leads to a slight repulsion effect between them once they are close. Their cationic derivatives, therefore, are believed to strengthen the paper due to electrostatic interactions between two oppositely charged objects beside hydrogen bonds. To fulfil the purposes, oat spelt xylan and apple pectin were chemically modified using different modification methods, including oxidation, amidation, and a combination of these two methods. A quantitative method to determine the adsorbed amount and relative retention capacity of xylan onto paper using high performance liquid chromatography was also developed. The results show that oat spelt and apple pectin, as well as their modified derivatives, can improve the paper mechanical properties. The oat spelt xylan significantly enhances the tensile strength, however, this contribution has a saturation level in correlation with the relative retention capacity of the xylan onto cellulose. The best retention capacity is achieved when 5% of xylan is added. This finding provides a practical approach to the application of xylan as a paper additive in consideration of economic issues. Although the application of apple pectin and its amidated derivatives in paper is rather rare, some interesting points have been discovered in this work. Among the apple pectin samples used, only the ones with low degree of esterification give a slight enhancement in tensile index at 5% dosage. The results also suggest that the dosage of the pectin added into the paper should not exceed 5% due to its viscous property at high concentrations.

No description available.

Résumé: Les lésions méniscales sont des blessures fréquentes au genou et peuvent limiter la descente d’un escalier. À ce jour, la cinématique de la descente d’une marche d’escalier n’a jamais été étudiée dans les trois dimensions (3D) chez ces personnes. Le taping patellaire a déjà démontré des effets correcteurs sur la cinématique du genou mais ses effets n’ont jamais été étudiés chez des personnes souffrant d’une lésion méniscale. Cette étude vise à évaluer l’effet du taping patellaire ainsi que celui d’un taping sans tension sur la cinématique en 3D du genou lors de la descente d’une marche, à vitesse lente, chez cette clientèle. Dix patients ayant reçu un diagnostic de lésion méniscale, confirmé en imagerie par résonance magnétique, ont effectués cinq descentes d’une marche, à vitesse lente, sous trois différentes conditions: Aucune intervention, avec un taping patellaire et avec un taping sans tension. Les données de la cinématique en 3D ont été recueillies en utilisant un système d’analyse du mouvement de huit caméras infra-rouge de marque Vicon. Les angles maximums et minimums ainsi que l’amplitude de mouvement (angle maximal – angle minimum) dans chacun des trois plans de l’espace ont été comparés lors de la phase unipodale en utilisant une ANOVA à mesures répétées. Les résultats démontrent une réduction significative des angles maximums et minimums de flexion et de rotation interne, tout comme une réduction de l’amplitude de rotation interne lorsque la condition avec le taping patellaire est comparée aux deux autres conditions. Un décalage significatif vers des angles d’abduction plus petits est également observé avec les deux tapings par rapport à la condition de base. La tension appliquée dans le taping patellaire peut jouer un rôle bénéfique dans le contrôle du mouvement de la descente d’une marche. // Abstract: Meniscus lesions are common musculosquelettal knee injury often leading to pain, limitation and compensation in functional tasks like stair descent. To this day, no study has examined the knee’s three dimensional (3D) kinematics during this task with patients having a meniscal lesion. Patellar taping was shown to have corrective effect on the knee kinematics but its effect have never been observed on patients having a meniscal lesion. This study investigated the effect of a patellar taping and a tension-free taping on the three dimensional kinematics of the knee of patient having a meniscal lesion during a slow step descent task. Ten patients diagnosed with a meniscal lesion confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging underwent five step descent movements at slow speed under three different conditions: No intervention, tension-free taping and patellar taping with a medial tension applied. Three dimensional (3D) kinematics data were recorded at the injured knee using an eight camera infra-red Vicon motion analysis system. Maximum and minimum angle value and angle range (maximum - minimum value) in the three movement planes during single-limb stance were compared using a repeated measure ANOVA. Results showed significant reduction of the flexion and internal rotation maximum and minimum angle value, and a decreased internal rotational angle range when comparing the patellar taping with the two other conditions. A significant downward offset of the maximum and minimum abduction angle value was also observed under the two taping condition. Tension applied to taping plays a beneficial role in the control of the sagittal and transverse plane step - down movement in the patients of our study.

The anterior refracting surface of the eye is the thin tear film that forms on the surface of the cornea. When a contact lens is on worn, the tear film covers the contact lens as it would a bare cornea, and is affected by the contact lens material properties. Tear film irregularity can cause both discomfort and vision quality degradation. Under normal conditions, the tear film is less than 10 microns thick and the thickness and topography change in the time between blinks. In order to both better understand the tear film, and to characterize how contact lenses affect tear film behavior, two interferometers were designed and built to separately measure tear film behavior in vitro and in vivo. An in vitro method of characterizing dynamic fluid layers applied to contact lenses mounted on mechanical substrates has been developed using a phase-shifting Twyman- Green interferometer. This interferometer continuously measures light reflected from the surface of the fluid layer, allowing precision analysis of the dynamic fluid layer. Movies showing this fluid layer behavior can be generated. The fluid behavior on the contact lens surface is measured, allowing quantitative analysis beyond what typical contact angle or visual inspection methods provide. The in vivo interferometer is a similar system, with additional modules included to provide capability for human testing. This tear film measurement allows analysis beyond capabilities of typical fluorescein visual inspection or videokeratometry and provides better sensitivity and resolution than shearing interferometry methods. The in vitro interferometer system has measured the formation and break up of fluid layers. Different fluid and contact lens material combinations have been used, and significant fluid layer properties have been observed in some cases. This dissertation discusses the design of this interferometer along with analysis methods used. Example measurement results of different contact lens are presented highlighting the capabilities of the instrument. This dissertation also provides the in vivo interferometer design, along with the considerations that must be taken when designing an interferometer for on-eye diagnostics. Discussions include accommodating eye movement, design of null optics for a range of ocular geometries, and laser emission limits for on-eye interferometry in general.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the static and dynamic architecture of supraspinatus throughout its volume in the normal and pathological state. The architecture was first investigated in cadaveric specimens free of any tendon pathology. Using a serial dissection and digitization method tailored for supraspinatus, the musculotendinous architecture was modeled in situ. The 3D model reconstructed in Autodesk MayaTM allowed for visualization and quantification of the fiber bundle architecture i.e. fiber bundle length (FBL), pennation angle (PA), muscle volume (MV) and tendon dimensions. Based on attachment sites and architectural parameters, the supraspinatus was found to have two architecturally distinct regions, anterior and posterior, each with three subdivisions. The findings from the cadaveric investigation served as a map and platform for the development of an ultrasound (US) protocol that allowed for the dynamic fiber bundle architecture to be quantified in vivo in normal subjects and subjects with a full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tear. The architecture was studied in the relaxed state and in three contracted states (60º abduction with either neutral rotation, 80º external rotation, or 80º internal rotation). The dynamic changes in the architecture within the distinct regions of the muscle were not uniform and varied as a function of joint position. Mean FBL in the anterior region shortened significantly with contraction (p<0.05) but not in the posterior. In the anterior region, mean PA was significantly smaller in the middle part compared to the deep (p<0.05). Comparison of the normal and pathological muscle found large differences in the percentage change of FBL and PA with contraction. The architectural parameter that showed the largest changes with tendon pathology was PA. In sum, the results showed that the static and dynamic fiber bundle architecture of supraspinatus is heterogeneous throughout the muscle volume and may influence tendon stresses. The architectural data collected in this study and the 3D muscle model can be used to develop future contractile models. The US protocol may serve as an assessment tool to predict the functional outcome of rehabilitative exercises and surgery.

<b>Purpose:</b> Assess the relationship between tear film drying and sensation between blinks. <b>Methods:</b> MATLAB sampled a slitlamp video camera, a potentiometer and a microphone while subjects kept one eye open for as long as possible. 23 subjects rated the intensity of the ocular sensation while video and voice data were collected simultaneously. The tear drying on the cornea was measured. <b>Results:</b> The sensation was triphasic. Two linear functions described the latter 2 parts of the data (r &#8805; 0. 95). The correlation between TBUT and the elbow in the time-discomfort function was 0. 72. Extent of tear film drying was linearly correlated to time (median correlation = 0. 88). The correlation between the discomfort elbow and image elbow was 0. 93 with single data pair for each subject. Analysis of sensation characteristics showed significant differences between itching and burning for both intensity and time (p = 0. 03 and p = 0. 02 respectively). <b>Conclusions:</b> Simultaneous recording of ocular surface appearance, discomfort intensity and attributes of sensation provide novel information about the development of discomfort during ocular surface drying. The rapid increase in discomfort proceeding blinking has been quantified and the relationship between the time course of drying and discomfort is elucidated.

The visual quality effects from the dynamic behavior of the tear film have been determined through measurements acquired with a high resolution Twyman-Green interferometer. The base shape of the eye has been removed to isolate the aberrations induced by the tear film. The measured tear film was then combined with a typical human eye model to simulate visual performance. Fourier theory has been implemented to calculate the incoherent point spread function, the modulation transfer function, and the subjective quality factor for this system. Analysis software has been developed for ease of automation for large data sets, and outputs movies have been made that display these visual quality metrics alongside the tear film. Post processing software was written to identify and eliminate bad frames. As a whole, this software creates the potential for increased intuition about the connection between blinks, tear film dynamics and visual quality.

Title of work: Effect of manual lymph drainage on the healing of muscle Objective: The aim of this thesis is to assess the impact and effect of manual lymph drainage on wound rupture of the muscle. Method: Development and comparison of six case studies of patients diagnosed with muscle rupture. Three patients were treated with manual lymphatic drainage, the remaining three patients were treated with rest therapy. The effect of treatment was documented using diagnostic ultrasound. All patients were performed one frame muscle rupture after myocardial muscle injury and second inspection, after three weeks of the treatment. Size rupture were compared before and after treatment. Results: After comparing six case histories of patients diagnosed with muscle rupture was found that for the first group that was treated with manual lymphatic drainage has been reduced swelling, hematoma, and thus muscle rupture. Conclusion: The effect of manual lymph drainage in the group of probands was noticeable. However, such results shouldn't be generally applicable due to the small number of probands.