The objective of the work was to establish strong correlations between midsole materials, biomechanics assessment and field test concerning running shoes and thus, for two crucial parameters: cushioning and ride.                A large range of mechanical testing (Shock tower, Compression, Dynamical Mechanical Analysis, Hardness) was carried out on EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) foam planks used in midsoles. Distinct sample sizes were needed according to the lab test and external machining was utilized to get appropriate specimens. Similar experiments have been led on prototypes finished shoes (Shock tower, Hardness) when it was feasible. The whole toolbox of current Salomon Footwear midsole formulations was so reviewed in detail. A phase of Biomechanics assessment of cushioning and ride was then undertaken with the help of a dozen of testers using sensors, procedures and data processing software. The field test was conducted at the same time to have the perception of the runners about several criteria once they worn the shoes in real condition.                Computational software were used to elaborate correlations matrices between determining parameters (finished shoes) and explicative ones (foams) while reducing the number of laboratory testing.  Prediction models for shoe performance anticipation were developed for the cushioning. Unfortunately, ride prediction model was not realized due to time and feasibility limitations. Shoe rebound resiliency and biomechanical parameters (Kurtosis and Power Spectral Density) proved to be strongly linked to the foam properties (Shock tower, Compression, Dynamical Mechanical Analysis). It could thus be forecast before making any shoe prototype. The reorganization of the Salomon Footwear toolbox has been started with the aim of finding one proper midsole for one proper application or runner practice. Established prediction models have been used to elaborate a cushioning index to sort the foam formulation according to their performance, density and price. Recommendations have been made for the choice of materials.

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A potential factor for curve accidents are anticipatory skills. Horizontal curves have been recognized as a significant safety issue for many years. This study investigates the impact and effectiveness of three curve based perceptual speed calming countermeasures (advanced curve warning signs, chevron sign, and heads-up display(HUD) sign) on drivers’ hazard anticipation and mitigation behavior across both left and right-winding curves, and sharp (radius 200m) and flat (radius 500m) curves. Experimental results show that the speed and lateral control in the horizontal curves differed with respect to curve radii, direction, and the type of countermeasure presented. These differences in behavior are probably due to curve-related disparities, the type of perceptual countermeasure, and the presence of hazard at the apex of the curve. HUD is found to be effective at not only reducing the drivers’ speed in the curve, but also improve the latent hazard anticipation ability of the driver at the apex of the curve. Flat and sharp curves with indications of a safety problem were virtually developed in the simulator as representative as possible without upsetting the simulator’s fidelity. 48 participants were recruited for this study between the age range of 18 and 34, and driving experience range was from 0.25 to 17.75 years.

Researchers and instructors have only recently embraced the role of errors as vehicles for learning in the algebra classroom. Studying a mixture of correct and incorrect worked examples has been shown to be beneficial relative to correct worked examples alone. This study examines the effectiveness of having students generate, or anticipate, errors another student might make. Five Algebra 1 sections at a suburban mid-Atlantic public high school participated amid an early equation-solving unit. During teacher-led instruction, all five sections examined 2-3 correct worked examples. The final example varied across conditions. One section received an additional correct worked example. Two sections examined an incorrect worked example. The remaining two sections engaged in an error anticipation exercise where the teacher wrote an equation on the board and asked the students to predict errors another student might make in solving. The study measured conceptual and procedural knowledge, encoding ability, and student-generated errors. Although no meaningful significant differences were found, students in the error anticipation condition saw no difference in performance in conceptual and procedural items versus those who examined incorrect worked examples. Analysis that combined the error anticipation and incorrect worked examples conditions showed that those students trended toward outperforming those who examined correct examples only on procedural items. These results support further examination of error anticipation as a worthwhile instructional activity. / Math & Science Education

Of all children in the US born with Cerebral Palsy (CP), 30-40% of them will be diagnosed with Hemiplegic CP (HCP), presenting with one side of the body weaker than the other. The resulting asymmetries impede the ability of children with HCP to distribute weight evenly between their lower limbs. This often contributes to poor postural control and 'favoring' of their uninvolved side for stability during balance and gait. Much is still unknown about the biomechanical characteristics of asymmetry in the lower limbs. There are a few previous research studies completed in biomechanics labs that highlight some gaps in knowledge regarding our understanding of posture and balance in this population of children, but the availability of clinical assessments that help inform the implementation and impact of treatment targets for posture and balance are sparse. This dissertation showcases two independent studies aimed at some of the gaps in knowledge for posture and balance in children with HCP. The first study in this dissertation presents and tests the reliability when a clinical measure, the Posture and Postural Ability Scale (PPAS) was modified for use in children with HCP going through a therapeutic process. The PPAS was originally developed and tested with adults in controlled settings, often with individuals being placed in postures for examination. For the study presented here, modifications focused on scoring postures when children with HCP naturally assumed various sitting and standing postures during treatment. Researchers and an experienced therapist video-coded the modified PPAS. Intrarater and interrater reliability was calculated via Cohen's kappa, percent agreement and Intraclass Correlation Coefficients. Although reliability amongst and between researchers were weak (kappas < 0.7), videos were successfully scored, demonstrating the tool is feasible. In addition, some high levels of intrarater reliability was obtained by a more experienced clinician. Suggestive that this modified PPAS could serve as a potential tool for qualified clinicians to collect meaningful posture and postural control data. The second study addressed a specific gap in knowledge about the characteristics of gait anticipation (GA, i.e., expectation of initiating a step) in children with HCP on balance. Balance and limb symmetry metrics were compared during standing in three children with HCP and typically developing (TD) peers that were matched by age and sex, alongside a third (independent) sample of 12 unmatched TD children. Motion capture analysis and force plate technology were utilized to record and follow how center of pressure (COP) and center of mass (COM) move during quiet standing (without anticipating gait) and standing with GA. This study applied a Symmetry Index (SI) to COP displacement and COP velocity allowing for quantification of asymmetries between the lower limbs during standing with and without the anticipation of gait. Children completed multiple standing trials where they were ask to stand for 35 seconds (5 seconds to obtain balance and 30 seconds of data collection). Standing trials, involved sets where children were instructed that they would not walk forward and GA trials where they were asked to stand knowing that a light would indicate they should walk forward. The light also indicated which limb (i.e. right or left) the child should step forward with first. Limb designation for stepping forward was randomly generated. Data was examined across and within (15 second blocks) 30 seconds of standing. We had the following hypotheses: 1) GA would increase COP displacement and COP velocity for children with HCP greater than TD peers who would have no change; 2) children with HCP would have different levels of symmetry between the lower limbs when expecting to walk than TD peers; and 3) children with HCP would have different reaction times based on the limb (i.e., involved versus uninvolved) they were asked to start walking with. The HCP group showed the largest increase in COP displacement when comparing standing with no expectation of walking where they had an average of 22.0 ± 10.0 mm over 30 seconds of standing to an average of 24.5 ±9.90mm during GA. The matched group average was 11.3 ±8.87mm with no expectation of walking and 4.6 ±12.6mm with GA. The TD group's COP displacement remained relatively similar with an average of 8.04 ±6.40mm during when not expecting to walk and an average of 8.29 ±6.70mm with GA. Similar increases were seen for COP velocity. Comparisons for symmetry between limbs showed that COP was displaced more underneath the uninvolved side (first 15s was 79.52%) for children with HCP, and that COP displacement asymmetry switched to become larger underneath the involved side over time (the latter 15s was -82.81%) when there was no expectation for walking. This was inverted during GA, where children with HCP initially had more COP displacement on the involved side (-72.68%) and transitioned to higher levels on the uninvolved side (99.66%) as they prepared for gait initiation. Children with HCP took 0.2 seconds longer to initiate gait with their uninvolved (not preferred) side and also took twice as long to initiate gait overall in comparison to TD peers. Our data suggests that our listed hypotheses may be correct. However, this study has limitations to sample size, demographics and biomechanical metrics. Future studies should replicate these findings and include larger, more diverse samples with further metrics such as load. If findings are confirmed, this data suggests that therapies should consider that children with HCP might change postural strategies during standing when they are anticipating walking forward in comparison to simply standing in place. This dissertation seeks to set a foundation for collaborations between biomechanists and therapists alike, potentially highlighting novel opportunities to develop more innovative treatment options for children with HCP. / Doctor of Philosophy / Children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (HCP) show limitations in coordination and activation of muscles on one side of their body; additionally, clinicians report an asymmetrical distribution of weight in their legs during standing and walking based on observation. This lower limb asymmetry is often paired with poor coordination and is believed to negatively impact posture and balance. Children with HCP often have difficulty starting and stopping walking, altered balance during sitting and standing, and challenges completing everyday activities such as navigating around or across obstacles and climbing up steps. I have worked together with my committee members to complete two independent projects measuring posture and postural control. The first project is a reliability study where researchers tested the utility of a modified measurement tool that could be used to score postures and postural control of children assuming natural postures during therapy sessions. The modified tool was based on a previously developed tool called the Posture and Postural Ability Scale (PPAS). The study had multiple researchers and a therapist score previously recorded treatment videos. Outcomes suggest that our modified PPAS could be used to score postures from video recordings of therapy session, but that increased modifications in the tool and scoring protocol are needed to improve the reliability of the tool. The second project funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development involved children with HCP and typically developing (TD) peers. The goal of the project was to understand if children with HCP change characteristics of standing when they know they will begin to walk. We also wanted to better understand issues surrounding how symmetrical (or not) children with HCP were with the use of both their involved and uninvolved legs. We found that children with HCP do alter characteristics of standing when they anticipate walking much more that TD peers. We also found asymmetries between the two limbs during standing that differed based on children with HCP's anticipation of walking.

A discussion concerning the frame, foundation, midsection and stair of the Odd Fellows Lodge. Influenced by the precedents of rural Virginia's pragmatic building techniques and the personal and poetic work of architect Carlo Scarpa, the interventions to the Lodge maintain its gentle existence while asserting a new presence as an introduction to downtown Blacksburg. / Master of Architecture

Critical infrastructure provides essential services to the maintenance and progression of societal functions. Due to its importance, critical infrastructure is, to a larger extent, at threat of and subject to antagonistic attacks, such as IT-attacks and cyber-attacks, during times of geopolitical instability. As a result, critical infrastructure providers face externaland internal pressures to build resilience to ensure the continuous provision of essential services. Despite this, and despite the established research field of critical infrastructure resilience, the organizational resilience of critical infrastructure providers has not been properly addressed. Through the lens of the Dynamic Capabilities Framework, the purpose of this study is to provide an insight into how critical infrastructure providers build resilience capabilities prior to adversity in the current geopolitical context. Despite their noted significances, the organizational resilience building of critical infrastructure providers and how organizational resilience is built prior to adversity are under-researched. To develop an understanding of this phenomenon, we conducted a qualitative study on six Swedish critical infrastructure providers using semi-structured interviews using a grounded theory inspired research strategy.With our findings, we discovered that in the face of geopolitical instability, critical infrastructure providers (1) build the sensing capability of observing and identifying adversity by developing situation awareness. This capability is developed by utilizing the internal expertise of selected employees and by building relationships with the external network to gather information. Furthermore, to develop the seizing capability of preparing for adversity in the given context, we found that critical infrastructure providers (2) develop multi-level human resource competencies through communicating clear expectations and responsibilities, providing education to employees, and by cultivating and establishing a safety culture. Additionally, the preparation capability is developed through (3) strategic preparation by developing scenario plans, action plans, and by collaborating with the external network. Lastly, critical infrastructure providers’ capability to prepare is developed by (4) investing capital into organization-wide physical security. With this study, we contribute novel insights of the phenomenon of the organizational resilience building of critical infrastructure providers. In the end, we have found that the organizational resilience building of critical infrastructure providers deviates from existing assessment and suggestive frameworks within the research body on organizational resilience. Accordingly, our findings have generated practical insights to managers of critical infrastructure providers, and an increased understanding to policy makers of how critical infrastructure providers approach resilience in the current geopolitical climate.