Grande parte dos problemas em Anéis de Grupo centraliza-se em torno do estudo do seu grupo de unidades. Torna-se importante então conhecermos a estrutura do grupo de unidades de um anel de grupo U(ZG). No entanto, salvo raras exceções, pouco se conhece acerca da estrutura de U(ZG). Uma das idéias para se conhecer um pouco mais sobre a estrutura do grupo de unidades seria estudarmos a sua série central superior. No caso em que o grupo G é finito, um resultado de Gruenberg pode ser usado para mostrar que a série central superior de U = U(ZG) estaciona. Este fato nos possibilita estudarmos o hipercentro de U(ZG). A fim de obter mais informações sobre as unidades hipercentrais de U(ZG), nós necessitamos de uma descrição dos subgrupos de torção do hipercentro de U(ZG), o qual obtemos através dos resultados de Bovdi sobre os subgrupos normais periódicos de U(ZG). De modo geral, utilizando os resultados de Bovdi obtemos uma classificação dos grupos periódicos G em função do subgrupo dos elementos % de torção do hipercentro de U(ZG). Neste momento, surgem algumas perguntas, as quais procuraremos expor neste trabalho. Entre elas: O limitante superior para a série central superior de U(ZG) depende do grupo G? Como determinar a altura central superior de U(ZG)? Neste momento é interessante salientarmos como a Conjectura do Normalizador nos possibilita obtermos uma estimativa para a altura central de U(ZG). Todas estas perguntas são respondidas no capítulo 4, como resultado dos trabalhos de Arora, Hales, Passi que nos garantem que neste caso a altura central de U(ZG) é no máximo 2. Embora a demonstração original deste fato, devido a Arora, Hales e Passi, não tenha utilizado a Conjectura do Normalizador, tomamos neste trabalho a idéia de supormos um provável caminho que levasse a este resultado obtendo estimativas para a altura central de U(ZG) utilizando a Conjectura do Normalizador e um teorema de Gross. Nosso intuito com isso foi o de conectarmos a resolução do problema em questão com um problema de pesquisa intensa atual na área, ou seja, a Conjectura do Normalizador. Nesse caso, surge mais uma pergunta: Quais os grupos G tais que U(ZG) admite altura central exatamente 0, 1 ou 2? Pergunta que é respondida por Arora, Hales e Passi também. Finalmente, mais um resultado de Arora, Hales e Passi nos mostram uma caracterização do hipercentro de U(ZG) que surpreendentemente bate com a estimativa dada pela Conjectura do Normalizador. É interessante notar aqui o aparecimento da Conjectura do Normalizador tanto para obtermos uma estimativa da altura central de U(ZG) como na caracterização do hipercentro de U(ZG). No capítulo 5 apresentamos a generalização dos resultados de Arora, Hales e Passi para o caso em que o grupo G é periódico, cujos resultados se devem basicamente a Y.Li. No caso em que o grupo G é periódico, Li mostrou que a altura central de U(ZG) é no máximo 2. E introduzindo o conceito de n-centro de um grupo, obtém-se uma caracterização do n-centro de U(ZG) em função dos resultados sobre o hipercentro do grupo de unidades. / A great deal of problems in Group Rings centralize around the study of its group of units. Hence it becomes important to know the structure of the group of units U(ZG). But with a few exceptions, we do not have much information about its structure. Trying to obtain more information about the structure of U(ZG), we could, for example, study the upper central series of U(ZG). In case G is finite, a result of Gruenberg implies that U(ZG) has finite central height. This fact allow us to study the hypercenter of U(ZG). In order to obtain more information about the hypercentral units of U(ZG) we need a description of the torsion subgroup of the hypercenter of U(ZG) which is provided by results of Bovdi on periodic normal subgroups of U(ZG). Gruenberg\'s result suscites some questions which we will try to answer in this work. Among them: The upper bound for the upper central serie of U(ZG) depends on of the group G? How could we determine the central height of U(ZG)? It is interesting to see how we could obtain an estimative for the central height of U(ZG) using the Normalizer Conjecture. All these questions are answered in chapter 4, as a consequence of Arora, Hales and Passi\'s work which guarantees us that in this case the central height of U(ZG) is at most 2. Nevertheless this result of Arora, Hales and Passi doesn\'t use the Normalizer Conjecture, we suppose here that the Normalizer Conjecture holds and used a result of Gross to obtain estimatives to the central height of U(ZG). Our aim was to connect the question discussed ahead with a intensive research problem, the Normalizer Conjecture. This arises the following question: For which groups does U(ZG) have central height exactly 0, 1 or 2? This question is also answered by Arora, Hales and Passi. Finally, another result of Arora, Hales and Passi present us a characterization of the hypercenter of U(ZG), which surprisingly satisfies the condition presented in the Normalizer Conjecture. It is interesting to observe here the appearing of Normalizer Conjecture to obtain an estimative for the central height of U(ZG) and to obtain a characterization of the hypercenter of U(ZG). In chapter 5 we present a result of Li which generalizes the result of Arora, Hales and Passi to the case when G is a periodic group. He proves that the central height of U(ZG) is also at most 2. Introducing the concept of n-center he was able to use the results about the hypercenter of U(ZG) to obtain a characterization of the n-center of U(ZG).

Magister Curationis - MCur / The provision of mental health care, treatment and rehabilitation of the acutely ill mental health care users (MHCUS) poses a major challenge to the nurses working in acute units. Nurses spend long hours ensuring that acutely ill psychiatric patients receive quality patient care in acute admission units in different psychiatric hospitals in South Africa. With few studies showing a rise in the prevalence of mental disorders in the South Africa and the Western Cape Province, acute psychiatric inpatient units across the province have experienced intense pressure and persistent rise in the number of acute patient admissions. Dealing with this group of patients is a difficult task particularly for nurses who spent prolonged hours caring for them. Despite the continuing provision of care to MHCUS by nurses in acute admission units, very little is known about the lived experiences of nurses in acute admission units. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the lived experiences of nurses who care for the acutely ill MHCUS in an acute male admission unit at a psychiatric hospital in the Western Cape. Acutely ill MHCUS in acute psychiatric units show severely disturbed behaviour at times, aggression, hostility, acute psychotic symptoms and many other symptoms related to psychiatric illness. Methods: a qualitative, descriptive phenomenological research design was used to explore and describe the lived experiences of nurses who care for acutely ill patients in an acute admission unit. A purposive sample of eight nurses was selected. Individual, semi structured phenomenological interviews were used to collect data from nurses caring for MHCUS in an acute admission unit. Data saturation was reached after carrying out the eight interviews. These interviews were audio taped and transcribed verbatim and Collaizi’s (1978) seven steps method of qualitative data was applied to analyse the collected data. Findings: The study found that nurses in the acute admission unit experienced several challenges while caring for MHCUs. Nurses reported both negative and positive experiences. Positive experiences included MHCUs recovery, teamwork and passion for caring while negative experiences were feeling unappreciated and unsupported by authorities. Furthermore, they reported physical assault by MHCUs which led to fear. Challenges experienced included shortage of staff and increased workload which led to burnout amongst nurses in acute admission units.

abstract: The overall goal of this research project was to assess the feasibility of investigating the effects of microgravity on mineralization systems in unit gravity environments. If possible to perform these studies in unit gravity earth environments, such as earth, such systems can offer markedly less costly and more concerted research efforts to study these vitally important systems. Expected outcomes from easily accessible test environments and more tractable studies include the development of more advanced and adaptive material systems, including biological systems, particularly as humans ponder human exploration in deep space. The specific focus of the research was the design and development of a prototypical experimental test system that could preliminarily meet the challenging design specifications required of such test systems. Guided by a more unified theoretical foundation and building upon concept design and development heuristics, assessment of the feasibility of two experimental test systems was explored. Test System I was a rotating wall reactor experimental system that closely followed the specifications of a similar test system, Synthecon, designed by NASA contractors and thus closely mimicked microgravity conditions of the space shuttle and station. The latter includes terminal velocity conditions experienced by both innate material systems, as well as, biological systems, including living tissue and humans but has the ability to extend to include those material test systems associated with mineralization processes. Test System II is comprised of a unique vertical column design that offered more easily controlled fluid mechanical test conditions over a much wider flow regime that was necessary to achieving terminal velocities under free convection-less conditions that are important in mineralization processes. Preliminary results indicate that Test System II offers distinct advantages in studying microgravity effects in test systems operating in unit gravity environments and particularly when investigating mineralization and related processes. Verification of the Test System II was performed on validating microgravity effects on calcite mineralization processes reported earlier others. There studies were conducted on calcite mineralization in fixed-wing, reduced gravity aircraft, known as the `vomit comet' where reduced gravity conditions are include for very short (~20second) time periods. Preliminary results indicate that test systems, such as test system II, can be devised to assess microgravity conditions in unit gravity environments, such as earth. Furthermore, the preliminary data obtained on calcite formation suggest that strictly physicochemical mechanisms may be the dominant factors that control adaptation in materials processes, a theory first proposed by Liu et al. Thus the result of this study may also help shine a light on the problem of early osteoporosis in astronauts and long term interest in deep space exploration. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Bioengineering 2013

A água do equipo odontológico pode servir como meio de disseminação de microrganismos, uma vez que é a segunda maior fonte de contaminação na Odontologia. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar o nível de contaminação por bactérias aeróbias totais em água de equipos odontolóicos (reservatórios, seringas tríplices e alta rotação) e torneiras de 5 Clínicas Odontológicas da Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto - USP, por meio do método convencional (R2A Agar) e o sistema Petrifilm AC (3M St, Paul, MN, USA). Além disso, determinou-se o nível de contaminação por Pseudomonas spp. (Cetrimide Agar Base), coliformes (Endo Agar) e fungos (Petrifilm YM para bolores e leveduras), como também identificou-se as bactérias com série bioquimica na forma de kit comemial (API 20NE), detectou-se bactérias da boca pela técnica de Checkerboard DNA-DNA Hybridization e analisou-se o biofilme formado nas linhas dágua dos equipos (seringas tríplice e alta rotação), com auxilio de microscópio eletrônico de varredura (MEV). Por outro lado, foram sugeridas recomendações para a manutenção da qualidade microbiológica da água de equipos odontológicos. As comparações estatísticas mostraram que os níveis de contaminação bacteriana das águas de torneiras, bem como dos equipos foram mais elevados pelo método R2A Agar do que pelo sistema Petrifilm AC (p<0,001). Embora, as amostras de água das torneiras utilizadas para preencher os reservatórios dos equipos tivessem pequeno número de bactérias (908UFC/ml) - R2A e (2UFC/ml) Petrifilm AC, as dos 25 equipos apresentaram: reservatórios de 0 a 3.900.000 UFC/ml (média de 211.705 UFC/ml) - R2A Agar, e de 0 a 231.000 UFC/ml (média de 14.065 UFC/ml) Petrifilm AC; seringas tríplices de 0 a 5.200.000 UFC/ml (média de 509.068 UFC/ml) - R2A Agar, e de 0 a 610.000 UFC/ml (média de 30.842 UFC/ml) Petrifilm AC; e alta rotação de 0 a 6.300.000 UFC/ml (média de 862.279 UFC/ml) - R2A Agar, e de 0 a 730.000 UFC/ml (média de 61.817 UFC/ml) Petrifilm AC. As placas Petrifllm AC incubadas a 23°C por 7 dias demonstraram um nível maior de contaminação bacteriana do que aquelas incubadas a 35°C por 48h (p<0,001). De acordo com o método de cultura, Escherichia coli, coliformes totais e Pseudomonas spp. estavam ausentes das amostras de água das torneiras, embora 11 (44%) dos equipos tivessem apresentado E. coli e/ou coliformes totais e em 1 (4%) de alta rotação, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Todavia, segundo o método molecular, 1 (50%) amostra de água de torneira e 36 (48%) de equipos mostraram contaminação por E. coli. Das águas de 10 torneiras e 25 equipos, 1 (10%) e 17 (68%) estavam contaminadas com fungos, respectivamente. As análises com MEV mostraram biofilmes nas linhas d\'água de todos os equipos, constituídos por uma diversidade microbiana embutida em densas e extensas matrizes de substâncias poliméricas extracelulares. As bactérias identificadas por meio do API 20 NE foram Acinetobacter Iwoffii, Brevundimonas vesicularis, Burkholderia cepacia, Moraxella spp., Oligel/a ureo/ytica, Pasteurella spp., P. aeruginosa e Sphingomonas paucimobi/is. Nas águas dos equipos, as bactérias mais prevalentes exclusivas da boca forem Streptococcus gordonii (35/46,7%), Treponema denticola (28/37,3%), e Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans(b) (9/25,6%). Em conclusão, o BIOFILME formado nas linhas d\'água dos equipos funciona como um \"sistema amplificador\" do pequeno número de microrganismos das águas de torneiras, sendo a causa principal dessa alarmante contaminação das águas dos equipos. Assim, recomendações para a manutenção da qualidade microbiológica da água de equipos, bem como a avaliação de fungos deveriam ser acatadas pelos profissionais da Odontologia. / Dental unit water may serve as microorganism dissemination, since it is the second major source of contamination in dentistry. The aim of this research was to assess the contamination level of total aerobic bacteria in water from dental units (reservoirs, air-water syringes and high-speed handpieces) and taps from 5 Dental Clinics at the Faculdade de odontologia de Ribeirão PReto USP using conventional method (R2A Agar) and Petrifilm SYSTEM (3m, St Paul, MN, USA). Moreover, to evaluate the level of contamination by Pseudomonas spp. (Centrimide Agar Base), coliforms (Endo Agar) and fungi (Petrifilm YM for yeasts and molds) as well as to identify the bacteria by means biochemical test in form of kit (API 20NE), to detect mouth microorganisms by Checkerboard DNA-DNA Hybridization technique and to analyze the biofilm formed on dental unit waterlines (air-water syringes and high-speed handpieces) by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The levels os bacteria in water from tap and dental unit were higher by R2A Agar than Petrifilm AC (p<0.001). Although, the tap water used to supply the dental unit reservoirs had few bacteria (908CFU/ml) R2A and (2CFU/ml) Petrifilm AC, water from 25 dental units showed: reservoir from 0 to 3,900,000CFU/ml (average of 211,705FCU/ml) R2A Agar, and from 0 to 610,000 CFU/ml (average of 30,842CFU/ml) Petrifilm AC; air water syringes from 0 to 5,200,000CFU/ml (average of 509,068CFU/ml) R2A Agar, and from 0 to 610,000CFU/ml (average of 30,842CFU/ml) Petrifilm AC; and high-speed handpieces from0 to 6,000,000CFU/ml (average of 862,279CFU/ml) R2A Agar, and from and0 to 730,000CFU/ml (average of 61,817CFU/ml) Petrifilm AC. The Petrifil AC plates incubated at 23ºC for 7 days demonstrated a level of bacterial contamination higher than those at 35ºC for 48h (p<0.001). According to culture method, Escherichia coli, total coliforms and Pseudomonas spp. Were not detected in water from taps, but E. coli and/or total coliforms were presented in 11 (44%) high-speed handpiece water. However, according to molecular method, 1 (50%) water sample from a tap and 36 (48%) from dental units showed contamination with E. coli. Water from 10 taps and 25 dental units were contamined with fungi in 1 (10%) and 17 (68%) samples, respectively. The analysis by SEM showed in all dental unit waterlines biofilms constituted of a microbial diversity embedded in dense and extensive matrices of extracellular polymeric substances. The bacteria identified by API 20 NE were Acinetobacter iwoffiii, Brevundimonas vesicularis, Burkholderia cepacia, Morexella spp., Oligella ureolytica, Pasteurella spp., P. aeruginosa and Sphingomonas paulcimobilis. The oral bacteria prevalent in dental unit water samples were Streptococcus gordonii (35/46.7%), Treponema denticola (28/37.3%) and Aggregatibacter actiomycetemcomitansb (9/25.6%). In conclusion, BIOFILM formed in dental nit waterlines serve as an amplifier system of few microorganisms from tap water, being the major cause of high contamination of dental unit water. Besides, recommendations to maintain the microbiological quality of dental units as well as the fungal evaluation should be employed for Dentistry professionals

A verificação de forma independente do cálculo de dose e de unidades monitoras num plano de tratamento de IMRT é um passo importante nos procedimentos de garantia de qualidade da técnica em questão. Atualmente este verificação é baseada apenas em medidas experimentais demoradas e trabalhosas. Neste trabalho foi desenvolvido uma metodologia de cálculo de unidades monitoras de forma independente como uma nova ferramenta para garantir a qualidade e exatidão dos tratamentos de IMRT. Os valores encontrados se aproximam bastante dos valores calculados pelo sistema de planejamento utilizado, de forma que o algoritmo de cálculo desenvolvido apresentou uma concordância dentro de ± 1,8 % para uma geometria simples. Após diversos testes e com os níveis de ação devidamente estabelecidos, a verificação independente da unidade monitora para planos de tratamento de IMRT se tornará uma ferramenta efetiva e eficiente no controle de qualidade que ajuda a identificar e reduzir possíveis erros de tratamento em radioterapia. Como contribuição original deste trabalho, assegura-se aos serviços de Radioterapia a utilização da metodologia desenvolvida como ferramenta de controle de qualidade em tratamentos com IMRT. Em especial aos serviços que não dispõem de recursos econômicos para adquirirem softwares comercialmente disponíveis para o cálculo independente da unidade monitora. / Independent verification of dose calculations and monitor units settings of IMRT treatment plans is an important step in the quality assurance procedure for IMRT technique. At present, the verification is mainly based on experimental measurements, which are time consuming and laborious. In this work an independent methodology of monitor units calculation was developed as a new tool for IMRT treatments quality and precision assurance. The values found are near those calculated by the treatment planning system used, in a manner that the calculation algorithm demonstrated ± 1,8 % concordance in a simple geometry with the system. After several tests and the levels of action well established, the independent monitor units verification for IMRT treatment plans will become an effective and efficient tool in quality assurance, helping identification and the reduction of possible mistakes in radiotherapy treatments. To radiotherapy services is assured the use of the developed methodology as a tool of quality control in IMRT treatments as an original contribution of this work, specially those that do not dispose financial resources to acquire commercially available independent monitor unit calculus software.

Este trabalho é uma análise sobre uma unidade de conservação de proteção integral o Parque Natural Municipal do Pedroso, em Santo André dentro de um contexto urbano. A paisagem do Pedroso é fruto de uma herança de processos econômicos e sociais, que atuaram na formação do território, configurando-o como um remanescente fundiário e um fragmento de Mata Atlântica. Parte da problemática atual advém dessa herança de apropriações, de exploração dos recursos da natureza e do contato com a área urbana que avançou sobre seus limites, e que atualmente representa uma pressão antrópica sobre essa área natural, envolvendo outros municípios além de Santo André. Da necessidade de garantir a integridade de um manancial de abastecimento da cidade é que surge o parque, inicialmente como uma reserva florestal, passando por um período como parque urbano com atividades voltadas para o lazer, e no final da década de 1990, sendo elevado a categoria de unidade de conservação, dentro de um arcabouço legal que visa proteger ecossistemas naturais e oferecer maior garantia a sua conservação. O que se discute a partir daí, são as contradições que essa legislação apresenta diante de um contexto urbano como o do Pedroso, tendo sido importada de uma realidade distinta da brasileira, a partir de um ideário que privilegia a conservação da natureza e não o homem integrado a ela. O enfoque da paisagem expõe a complexidade e a pluralidade de compreensões acerca do tema. / This dissertation refers to an analysis about a Conservation Unit with environmental severe restrictions the Pedroso Municipal Natural Park , within an urban area in the city of Santo André, state of São Paulo. Pedrosos landscape is the legacy of social and economic processes that produced the territory configuration, thus consolidating it as a land property remnant and as an Atlantic Forest fragment. Part of the current problems is due to the inheritance of those processes for appropriation and exploitation of natural resources together with the sprawl of the urban areas towards its boundaries, which represents a pressure over this natural area, reaching other municipalities beyond Santo André. The Park emerges from the demand of protecting the citys watershed, firstly as a forest reserve, then as an urban park with recreation activities and finally, in the 1990s, it was raised to the category of a Conservation Unit, supported by legislation aiming the natural ecosystem preservation and offering more guarantees to its conservation. This work then reflects about the contradictions represented by this legislation when confronted with the urban context over Pedroso, having also been imported from a foreign reality, distinct from the Brazilian one, and which is based on the restricted conservation of nature, without the integration of man. This work focuses on the park as a broader concept of landscape revealing both the complexity and the diversity of approaches on the subject.

This thesis presents a 6 degree of freedom (DOF) position and orientation tracking solution suitable for pedestrian motion tracking based on 6DOF low cost MEMS inertial measurement units. This thesis was conducted as an extension of the ongoing efforts of the Precision Personnel Location (PPL) project at WPI. Prior to this work most of the PPL research focus has been on Radio Frequency (RF) location estimation. The newly developed inertial based system supports data fusion with the aforementioned RF system in a system currently under development. This work introduces a methodology for the implementation of a position estimation system based upon a Kalman filter structure, constructed from industry standard inertial sensor specifications and analytic noise models. This methodology is important because it allows for both rapid filter construction derived solely from specified values and flexible system definitions. In the course of the project, three different sensors were accommodated using the automatic design tools that were constructed. This thesis will present the mathematical basis of the new inertial tracking system followed by the stages of filter design and implementation, and finally the results of several trials with actual inertial data captures, using both public reference data and inertial captures from a foot mounted sensor that was developed as part of this work.

O rio Gravataí, no final da década de 60, teve seu curso natural retificado visando a drenagem das áreas úmidas da bacia para expansão das áreas cultiváveis. O que implicou em impactos tanto sociais como ambientais em toda a bacia. Visto isso, o comitê gestor fomentou uma série de estudos buscando alternativas para regularização da vazão no trecho retificado, das quais, elencou-se a construção de duas barragens como solução imediatista. O conceito para descanalização de um rio e o retorno de seus traçados é abordado nesse trabalho sob a ótica da renaturalização. Assim, a presente dissertação tem como objetivo identificar uma área com potencial de renaturalização no trecho retificado do rio Gravataí/RS, localizado no interior de uma UC de Uso Sustentável. O trabalho estrutura-se em cinco etapas: Identificação e delimitação da área piloto; Análise da série histórica de vazão; Definição de técnicas de bioengenharia e seleção de espécies vegetais; Projeção tridimensional de uma unidade experimental e a metodologia de aplicação e monitoramento da unidade. O desenvolvimento desta pesquisa, através das etapas metodológicas, gerou como resultados uma série temporal de imagens sob o recorte da área potencial de renaturalização com aplicação de NDWI. Bem como a análise histórica da série de vazão que resultou na constatação de alterações no padrão de vazão no período pós-retificação. A partir das características locais elaborou-se uma proposta metodológica de intervenção através de técnicas de bioengenharia para a renaturalização do canal retificado. O principal produto resultante da pesquisa consiste na projeção de uma unidade experimental para aplicação em campo da proposta de renaturalização, e sua metodologia de instalação e monitoramento. A vista disso gerou-se uma ferramenta metodológica para identificação e projeção de propostas de renaturalização para canais retificados e não cimentados. / The Gravataí river, in the late 60's, had its natural course rectified aimed at draining the wetlands of the basin for the expansion of cropland. What resulted in social and environmental impacts throughout the basin. On this, the management committee fomented a series of studies seeking alternatives for flow regularization in the amended section of which, has listed the construction of two dams like immediate solution. The concept for descanalização of a river and the return of their paths is discussed in this paper from the perspective of renaturalization. Thus, this search aims to identify an area with renaturalization potential in the stretch of the river rectified Gravataí/RS, located inside of a UC of Sustainable Use . The work is divided into five steps: Identification and delimitation of the pilot area; Analysis of the series of flow output; Definition of bioengineering techniques and selection of plant species; three-dimensional projection of an experimental unit and the application of methodology and monitoring unit. The development of this research through methodological steps, generated results as a time series of images under the cut of the potential renaturalization area with application of NDWI. And the historic analysis of flow series which resulted in the finding of changes in the flow pattern in the post-rectification period. From the local characteristics was elaborated a methodology of intervention through bioengineering techniques for renaturalization of the rectified channel. The main result of this research is the projection of an experimental unit for application of renaturalization proposed, and its installation and monitoring methodology. Therefore was generated a methodological tool for identification and projection of the renaturalisation in rectified channels and no cementless.

Background: Care of premature infants is challenging for health care professionals. When the preterm infant is separated from its mother the parent-child interaction is impeded. In the last few decades, there has been increasing interest in the effectiveness of massage as an intervention to counter the negative physiological, clinical and behavioral consequences of prematurity and the neonatal intensive care unit environment. Aims: To establish the effectiveness of moderate pressure massage from evidence in the literature and to then explore the cultural, organisational and contextual factors that may act as facilitators and/or barriers for its future implementation in Lebanon. Methods: This thesis utilizes a two-step approach. Two literature reviews were undertaken to establish recent evidence on moderate pressure massage. A qualitative exploratory investigation was adopted as no articles were found that elucidated the contextual barriers and facilitators for massage implementation in the neonatal intensive care unit. The normalization process theory was used as a sensitizing framework to understand implementation issues and address the observed difficulties in implementing new interventions in clinical settings. This study was also concerned with context and culture as moderate pressure massage is not practiced in the Lebanese neonatal intensive care units. A purposive sample of Lebanese health care professionals and parents were recruited from three university hospitals with data generated through focus group discussions and observational notes. Framework analysis was used for the analysis and interpretation of the findings. The study drew on the principles and practice of ethnographic approaches. Findings: The findings from the two literature reviews only revealed randomized control trials that observed mostly the short-term physiological and psychological effects of moderate pressure massage. There were no studies that examined the organizational and contextual issues that need to be understood before any trial could be designed in the neonatal intensive care unit setting. The evidence from this review suggested there is a need to explore the views of health care professionals and parents on the practice of massage in the neonatal intensive care units to provide insight into the subsequent design of an intervention study that would be culturally sensitive, appropriate, and acceptable in practice. The findings from the qualitative study then revealed that despite the participants’ interest in implementing massage intervention, parents’ participation in the neonatal intensive care unit is almost absent except for breastfeeding. Participants in both groups, parents and health care professionals, highlighted the parents’ fear and anxiety. In general, nurses are in charge and parents are passive observers. Transportation difficulties, unavailability of helpful staff, and fear were reported as major barriers to parent-implemented infant moderate pressure massage; health care professionals highlighted staff attitude and resistance, workload and time constraints. Communication, gradual implementation, encouragement and support were identified by parents as potential facilitators. In comparison, having extra staff and a protocol for teaching nurses, training parents and openness to innovation were the main potential facilitators of implementation identified by health care professionals. Conclusion: This study helped to reveal the potential challenges of applying such a complex intervention as moderate pressure massage by the parents in the neonatal intensive care unit. Adopting infant massage in the Lebanese neonatal intensive care unit without preparation of health care professionals and parents would be premature. Good communication between parents and health care providers is a key element to facilitate early bonding and parent-infant interaction. Missing the opportunity to involve parents in neonatal intensive care unit care puts the family in a difficult situation to adapt to the new challenges after discharge. The findings of this study will advance current knowledge in understanding the factors that determine applicability, acceptability and feasibility of massage implementation in the neonatal intensive care unit setting. It will also assist and inform the design of future randomized control trials. The noramalization process theory was a valuable lens to guide the process of inquiry and to make sense of the emergent findings from this exploratory qualitative study.

In the effort to reduce the release of harmful gases associated with the transportation sector, Plug-in Electric Vehicles (PEV) have been deployed on the account of zero-tail pipe emissions. With electrification of transport it is imperative to address the electrical grid emissions during vehicle charging by motivating the use of distributed generation. This thesis employs optimal charging strategies based on solar availability and electrical grid tariffs to minimize the cost of retrofitting an existing parking lot with photovoltaic (PV) and PEV infrastructure. The optimization is cast as a unit-commitment problem using the CPLEX optimization tool to determine the optimal charge scheduling. The model determines the optimal capacity of system components and assesses the techno-economic feasibility of PV infrastructure in the microgrid by minimizing the net present cost (NPC) in two case studies: Victoria, BC and Los Angeles, CA. It was determined that due to a relatively low grid tariff and scarcity of solar irradiation, it is not economically feasible to install solar panels and coordination of charging reduces the operating cost by 11% in Victoria. Alternatively, with a high grid tariff and abundance of solar radiation, it shown that Los Angeles is a promising candidate for PV installations. With the implementation of a charging coordination scheme in this region, NPC savings of 8-16% are simulated with the current prices of solar infrastructure. Additionally, coordinated charging was assessed in conjunction with various commercial buildings posing as a base load and it was determined that the effects of coordination were more prominent with smaller base loads. / Graduate