Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Orientador: Marilza Vieira da Cunha Rudge / Resumo: Introdução: A nova ênfase no diagnóstico e tratamento da Diabetes Mellitus Gestacional (DMG) não é apenas para prevenir a morbidade e mortalidade perinatal, mas também representa a lacuna única de oportunidades para prover cuidados a longo prazo da mãe e do feto. Os efeitos de toda essa informação dada às mães sobre DMG no meio da gravidez e sua responsabilidade de gerenciar os fatores metabólicos intrauterinos por controle hiperglicêmico rigoroso enfrentam um estado de ansiedade e incerteza sobre problemas futuros atuais ou potenciais. Todos esses ajustes podem afetar a emoção, a mentalidade e a sexualidade aprovada pela declaração da Organização Mundial de Saúde como o direito fundamental para todas as pessoas. As dificuldades sexuais mais frequentes durante a gestação estão associadas a fatores psicológicos, físicos, relacionais, socioculturais e religiosos, bem como medos e mitos sobre a sexualidade feminina durante a gravidez. Objetivos: Este estudo foi projetado para investigar a função sexual usando índices de composição e pontuação específica do Inventário de Resposta Sexual de Gravidez (PSRI) em uma população bem categorizada de pacientes recentemente diagnosticados e sob tratamento de mulheres com Diabetes Mellitus Gestacional (GDM). Método: O presente estudo de coorte transversal foi composto por dois grupos, sendo um com 168 participantes no grupo de normoglicêmicas e outro com 108 participantes no grupo de hiperglicêmicas. Foi aplicado o questionário Pregnancy Se... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The new emphasis on the diagnosis and treatment of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is not only to prevent perinatal morbidity and mortality but also represents the unique gap in opportunities to provide long-term care for the mother and fetus. The effects of all this information given to mothers about GDM in the midst of pregnancy and their responsibility for managing the intrauterine metabolic factors for rigorous hyperglycemic control face a state of anxiety and uncertainty about current or potential future problems. All of these adjustments can affect the emotion, mentality and sexuality endorsed by the World Health Organization statement as the fundamental right for all people. The most frequent sexual difficulties during gestation are associated with psychological, physical, relational, sociocultural and religious factors, as well as fears and myths about female sexuality during pregnancy. Objectives: This study was designed to investigate sexual function using composite indexes and specific Pregnancy Sexual Response Inventory (PSRI) scores in a well-categorized population of newly diagnosed and under-treated women with GDM (Gestational Diabetes Mellitus). Method: The present cross-sectional cohort study consisted of two groups, one with 168 participants in the normoglycemic group and another with 108 participants in the hyperglycemic group. The Pregnancy Sexual Response Inventory (PSRI) questionnaire was applied to evaluate the sexual quality of pregnant women in th... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Esta pesquisa examina e compara os níveis de satisfação e preferência estética de espaços abertos públicos delimitados por interfaces térreas com diferentes taxas de conexão visual, diferentes posições da interface em relação à calçada, e diferentes posições das edificações em relação às edificações adjacentes. Também é objetivo avaliar o impacto das diferentes taxas de conexão visual e física, dos diferentes usos dos recuos frontais, dos tipos de usos nos pavimentos térreos e da configuração espacial no uso dos espaços abertos públicos. Adicionalmente, as taxas de conexão visual e física, os diferentes tipos de elementos que configuram a interfaces e os diferentes usos nos pavimentos térreos também são avaliados quanto à percepção de segurança urbana e ocorrência de crimes. Para tanto, foram selecionadas seis quadras na cidade de Caxias do Sul e divididas em três grupos, conforme o predomínio das seguintes características: altas taxas de conexão visual (acima de 66% de permeabilidade) e física (acima de 10 portas/100m de rua); taxas médias de conexão visual (entre 33% e 66% de permeabilidade) e física (entre 6 e 10 portas/100m de rua); e baixas taxas de conexão visual (entre 0% de 33% de permeabilidade) e física (entre 0 e 5 portas/100m de rua). Tais quadras foram avaliadas por moradores e trabalhadores dessas quadras quanto à estética, ao uso e a segurança urbana. Ainda, vídeos de percursos urbanos delimitados por interfaces térreas com distintos atributos, de acordo com cada objetivo, foram avaliados no tocante a estética e a percepção de segurança urbana, por um grupo de arquitetos e outros de não arquitetos com curso universitário. Os dados foram coletados através de múltiplos métodos utilizados na área de estudos Ambiente e Comportamento, tais como: contagens de movimento, observações de comportamento, questionários e entrevistas. A análise dos dados quantitativos foi realizada através de testes estatísticos não paramétricos. Os dados de natureza qualitativa foram analisados através de frequência, conteúdo e importância dos pontos mencionados pelos entrevistados nas quadras selecionadas. Os resultados revelam que os impactos estéticos positivos das interfaces térreas estão relacionados com taxas de permeabilidade visual acima de 66%. Ainda, altas taxas de conexão física e visual associadas a usos nos pavimentos térreos conectados com o movimento das calçadas têm impacto positivo no uso dos espaços abertos públicos, principalmente em relação às atividades estacionárias. Os resultados também mostram que a percepção de segurança urbana é influenciada positivamente por interfaces térreas caracterizadas por taxas de conexão visual acima de 66% e funcional acima de 10 portas/100m de rua. Assim, espera-se que os resultados obtidos no tocante às interfaces térreas possam contribuir para a tomada de decisões de profissionais envolvidos com a forma urbana e na elaboração de legislações urbanísticas que qualificam a estética urbana e contribuam para o uso e segurança dos espaços abertos públicos. / This research examines and compares satisfaction levels and aesthetic preference of public open spaces bounded by ground interfaces with different visual connection rates, different interface positions relating to the sidewalks, and different building positions relating to the adjacent buildings. It also aims to evaluate the different impacts of visual and physical connection rates, of the different uses of setbacks, of ground floor uses and spatial configuration on use of public open spaces. In addition, visual and physical connection rates, different types of elements that configure interfaces and ground floors different uses are also evaluated in terms of perception of security and crimes incidence. Therefore, six blocks in the city of Caxias do Sul were selected and divided into three groups, according to the following features predominance: high rates of visual (above 66% of permeability) and physical connection (over 10 doors / 100m of street); average rates of visual (between 33% and 66% of permeability) and physical connection (between 6 and 10 doors / 100m of street); and low rates of visual (between 0% of 33% of permeability) and physical connection (between 0 and 5 doors / 100m of street). These blocks were evaluated by residents and workers of these blocks regarding their aesthetics, use and urban safety. Moreover, videos representing urban paths delimited by ground interfaces with different features, according to each objective, were evaluated regarding its aesthetic and safety perception, by a group of architects and a group of nonarchitects college graduates. Data were collected through multiple methods of the Environment and Behaviour studies area, such as: movement count, behavior observations, questionnaires and interviews. The analysis of the quantitative data was performed through non-parametric statistical tests. Data of a qualitative nature were analyzed through frequency test, content and importance of the topics mentioned by the interviewees in each block. The results show that ground interfaces aesthetic positive impacts are related to visual permeability rates above 66%. Also, physical and visual connection high rates associated to ground floor use connected to sidewalks movement have a positive impact on public open spaces use, mostly relating to stationary activities. Results also reveal that urban security perception is positively influenced by ground floor interfaces characterized by visual connection rates above 66% and functional connection rates over 10 doors / 100m of street. Therefore, it is expected that the results obtained regarding the ground interfaces may contribute to the decision-making of professionals involved with urban form and the elaboration of urban legislation which qualify urban aesthetics and contribute to public open spaces use and safety.

Orientador: Hamilto Akihissa Yamamoto / Resumo: Proposta: O câncer de próstata é o tumor sólido mais comum em homens. A prostatectomia radical é importante forma curativa dessa doença, mas tem como uma das complicações mais temidas a disfunção erétil. Estudos prévios demonstram ação da fisioterapia como forma de tratamento dessa complicação, mas sua real importância ainda está por ser definida. Neste artigo foi proposta a avaliação da fisioterapia através de exercícios para reabilitação do assoalho pélvico e através de eletroestimulação no tratamento e reabilitação precoce da disfunção erétil após a prostatectomia radical.Materiais e métodos: Estudo clínico randomizado e controlado comparando três grupos: observação (G1), exercícios domiciliares do assoalho pélvico (G2) e eletroestimulação anal (G3). Os pacientes foram avaliados no pré-operatório e com 1, 3, 6 e 12 meses após a cirurgia através da perineometria (avaliar força do assoalho pélvico), eletromiografia (registro elétrico da atividade muscular) e o IIEF-5 (Índice Internacional de Função Erétil), somente o IIEF-5 foi realizado até 24 meses após a cirurgia.Resultados: Os grupos foram homogêneos quanto a presença de comorbidades, estadiamento clínico e preservação de feixes nervosos. A presença de disfunção erétil no pré-operatório foi alta (62% dos pacientes). Não houve correlação entre os tratamentos fisioterapêuticos e a recuperação da função erétil no pós-operatório. Conclusão: Não foi encontrado benefício da intervenção fisioterapêutica precoce na recuperação d... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Proposal: Prostate cancer is the most common solid tumor in men. A radical prostatectomy is important curative form of this disease, but it has one of the most feared complications that is, erectile dysfunction. Previous studies have demonstrated the action of physical therapy as a treatment for this complication, but its real importance is yet to be defined. In this paper the evaluation of physiotherapy was proposed by rehabilitation exercises for the pelvic floor and through electrostimulation in the treatment and early rehabilitation of erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy.Materials and methods: a randomized controlled clinical study comparing three groups: observation (G1), home pelvic floor exercises (G2) and anal electrostimulation (G3). Patients were evaluated preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery by perineometry (assessing strength of the pelvic floor), Electromyography (electrical record of muscle activity) and the IIEF-5 (International Index of Erectile Function). Only the IIEF-5 was performed up to 24 months after surgery .Results: The groups were homogeneous regarding the presence of comorbidities, clinical staging and preservation of nerve bundles. The presence of erectile dysfunction preoperatively was high (62% of patients). There was no correlation between the physical therapy treatments and the recovery of erectile function postoperatively. Conclusion: No benefit was found of early physiotherapy intervention in the recovery of ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

This paper presents an algorithm with the purpose of automatically dividing a simple floor plan into sections. Sections include names, size and location on the image, all of which will be automatically extracted by the algorithm as a step of converting a simple image into an interactive map. The labels for each section utilizes tesseract-OCR wrapper tesseractJS to extract text and label location. In regards to section borders pixel traversing is employed coupled with CIE76 for color comparison which results in the discovery of size and location of the section. Performance of the algorithm was measured on three different maps using metrics such as correctness, quality, completeness, jaccard index and name accuracy. The metrics showed the potential of such an algorithm in terms of automating the task of sectioning an image. With results ranging between lowest percentage of 48% and highest of 100% on three different maps looking at correctness, quality, completeness, average jaccard index and average name accuracy per map.

Este estudo avaliou o efeito de um programa fisioterápico no pré-natal, como uma proposta pedagógica através do exercício do assoalho pélvico, que facilitaria a fase de expulsão do parto, em dois grupos constituídos de gestantes adolescentes e adultas - primíparas e multíparas. O tempo de expulsão no segundo estágio do parto variou de 1 a 18 mínutos, no grupo de gestantes que realizou o exercício (experimental) e, de 1 a 20 minutos, no grupo controle. Esta diferença não foi significativa e, em ambos os grupos, foi menor que o valor mínímo de 20 mínutos, descrito na literatura. O grupo experimental evidenciou, embora fracamente, as seguintes correlações: o tempo expulsivo dimínuiu com o aumento dos exercícios nas gestantes acima de 18 anos e aumentou, nas gestantes com menos de 18 anos. O Apgar dos bebês, no primeiro e no quinto minuto, não mostrou diferença signíficativa entre os grupos. Ficou demonstrado o valor pedagógico do programa fisioterápico de preparação para o parto pelo incremento do nível de informação das gestantes e pela aquisição da consciência e controle motor da musculatura do assoalho pélvico, assim como o nível de satisfação das gestantes. / This study evaluated the effect of a prenatal physiotherapy program, as a pedagogical proposal, by means of pelvic floor exercising which would improve delivery, in two groups of pregnants including adolescent and adult women - primiparae and multiparae. The second stage delivery time ranged from 1 to 18 minutes within the experimental group of pregnant women performing the exercises and from 1 to 20 minutes, within a control group. This difference was not significant and both groups showed delivery times under the 20 minutes reported in the literature. Although weakly, the experimental group evidenced the following correlations: delivery time was reduced as exercising increased, for pregnant women over 18 years old, and increased, for those below 18 years old. Babies bom from both groups showed no significant differences concerning Apgar scores, at the first and fifth minutes. The prenatal physiotherapy program showed to be pedagogically valuable because it increased the pregnants' information levei, pelvic floor musculature awareness and motor control, as well as women's satisfaction degree.

Introdução: Incontinência Urinária (IU) é comum na população feminina afetando um terço das mulheres adultas, podendo comprometer sua função sexual (FS). Ainda há controvérsia sobre o impacto da IU sobre a FS. A associação da FS e da funcionalidade da MAP é uma questão relevante que necessita aprofundamento. Objetivo: Comparar a FS de mulheres com Incontinência Urinária de Esforço (IUE) e Incontinência Urinária Mista (IUM), e correlacionar a funcionalidade da musculatura do assoalho pélvico (MAP) à FS destas mulheres. Método: Observacional e transversal, n=61 mulheres, de 30 a 70 anos que tiveram relação sexual nos últimos 12 meses. As participantes foram classificadas em dois grupos: IUE (n=22) E IUM (n=39). A avaliação foi constituída por ficha de anamnese, biofeedback pressórico, escala PERFECT, e questionário PISQ-12. A análise estatística foi realizada através do teste Shapiro-Wilk para verificar a normalidade dos dados. Para comparação dos dados foi utilizado o teste T de amostras independentes e o teste U de Mann-Whitney. Para correlação foi utilizado o teste de Correlação de Spearman. O nível de significância adotado foi de 5%. Resultados: Diferença significativa na paridade e duração da queixa entre os grupos; na comparação do escore total do PISQ-12 e no domínio físico; nos itens P e F da escala PERFECT. Não houve correlação significativa entre a CVM Média e o Escore Total PISQ-12. Conclusão: Não foi demonstrado correlação entre a função da MAP e a FS nos grupos. Porém, houve diferença significativa entre a FS nos grupos. / Introduction: Urinary Incontinence (UI) is common among the female population. It affects one third of adult women and can compromise their sexual function (SF). There are still controversy about the impacts of UI on the SF. The association of the SF and the functionality of the pelvic floor muscles (PMF) is a relevant issue that needs to be better comprehended. Goal: Comparing the SF of women with Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) and Mixed Urinary Incontinence (MUI), and correlating these women’s PMF functionality to their SF. Method: Observational and cross-sectional, n=61 women aged 30 to 70 yo, who had had sexual relations in the last 12 months. The participants were divided into two groups: SUI (n=22) and MUI (n=39). The assessment consisted of the anamnesis record, pressure biofeedback, PERFECT scale and the PISQ-12 questionnaire. Statistical analysis was carried out using the Shapiro-Wilk test to verify the normality of the data. The independent t-test and the Mann-Whitney U test were used for data comparison. Spearman’s rank correlation was used to correlate data. The adopted level of significance was 5%. Results: Significant difference between the groups regarding the parity and duration of complaints; the PISQ-12 total score and the physical domain; the items Power-Pressure and Fast of the PERFECT scale. There was no significant correlation between the Maximum Voluntary Contraction (MVC) and the PISQ-12 total score. Conclusion: The tests did not find a correlation between the PFM functions and the SF in the groups. However, there was a significant difference in the SF between groups.

Title: Pelvic floor dysfunctions Objectives: The aim of this thesis is to determine the effect of physiotherapy based on the methodology of Ludmila Mojzisova on patients that were showing pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms. The objective is to take the clinical picture of the patients and compare it to the typical findings of Mojzisova. Also to determine which one of the clinical history events had most likely the biggest impact on the development of the dysfunction. Methodology: For the assessment of the effectiveness of the therapy on the patient, I used the pain scale called visual analogic scale (VAS), that was recorded at the beginning and at the end of the therapy. For the comparison of the clinical picture, I used the aspection while focusing on the divergence from the posture and assessment of spasms and blockades according to Mojzisova. This was completed with a test of stretching maneuvers and deep and superficial sensation. In order to determine the root cause of the problem of each patient, I used their clinical history. Findings: This diploma thesis confirmed the benefit of the Mojzisova method therapy in lowering the pain levels and improving the functional state of probands. This was further confirmed by the clinical picture of the study subjects. The most probable root cause of the...

Traditional vineyard floor management in humid regions consists of mown perennial grass or mown resident vegetation in aisles. Many vineyard sites in the eastern USA have climate and soil that support excessive vine vigor and rapid growth of aisle vegetation. Frequent mowing or unmanaged aisles are not a practical option. To explore vineyard floor management options for vine vigor and weed management while maintaining soil cover, vine balance, and fruit quality in the eastern USA, seven cover crop treatments: 1) grower control mown tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea L.), 2) chemically mown tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), 3) little barley (Hordeum pusillum Nutt.), 4) downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.), 5) oilseed radish (Raphanus sativus L.), 6) spring oats (Avena sativa L.), 7) chemically mown sorghum-sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench sp.) were established for the 2011 and 2012 growing seasons in a commercial Cabernet franc vineyard, planted in 2000, in southern Illinois, on an Menfro silt loam soil. In fall 2011, oilseed radish reduced the fresh weight of grapevine shoots removed with summer hedging 46% compared to the grower control. In 2012, spring oats increased the weight of grapevine shoots removed with summer hedging 160% compared to the grower control. In 2012, spring oats, and chemically mown sorghum-sudangrass produced 82% and 73%, respectively, greater pruning weights compared to grower control mown fescue, also, spring oats, downy brome, and chemically mown sorghum-sudangrass produced 54%, 48%, and 50%, respectively, greater yields compared to the grower control in 2012. Cover crop did not affect Ravaz index in 2011 or 2012. Chemically mown sorghum-sudangrass reduced total soluble solids in grape must 7% compared to the grower control in 2012. Downy brome produced the most ground cover and greatest weed control at bloom time in 2011 and 2012, and harvest time in 2011. In 2012, oilseed radish at veraison and harvest time produced 97% and 177%, respectively, more ground cover than grower control. The persistent mulch produced by little barley and downy brome followed by burndown herbicide, Rely ® (glufosinate 1 lb ai/gal) 76 fl oz/acre in August reduced their average weed cover by a range of 99% to 89% compared to all other treatments except grower control at harvest 2012. Downy brome established in vineyard aisles had the greatest potential for maintaining weed control at bloom and harvest time, while increasing yield without decreasing vine size. However, more research is needed to develop a residue management program which encourages self-reseeding of downy brome and little barley. In a season with above average rainfall, oilseed radish reduced excessively vigorous vine growth. While all treatments studied had the potential for vineyard use, downy brome and oilseed radish had the most potential to be readily incorporated into practical vineyard aisle management systems provided they are managed to produce moderate vine size, without adverse effects to yield or fruit quality, while still maintaining effective weed control.

This thesis investigates the stability of coal pillars under realistic conditions of varying weak floor thickness with and without the use of paste backfill. Weak floor strata underlying coal seams are common in the Illinois Basin. They consist mainly of underclay, which is a gray, argillaceous rock that usually occurs immediately beneath beds of coal. Underclay thickness may vary from less than a foot to twenty feet at different locations in the basin (Grim and Allen, 1938). Locally, underclay thickness may vary gradationally over a distance of two pillars. Even though weak floor thickness is not consistent (Gadde, 2009), most research to date has focused on parametric studies with a fixed underclay thickness and formulated coal pillar designs on the basis of the maximum underclay thickness measured in the field. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate more realistic field conditions and quantify the influence of a gradated weak floor thickness using additional parametric studies. This research is primarily numerical modeling incorporating various constitutive models and using some calibration. Therefore, the two dimensional plane strain finite difference model in FLAC 3D is employed to carry out parametric studies on gradated weak floor conditions. Underclay exhibits Mohr Coulomb elastic plastic behavior; hence, the Mohr Coulomb constitutive model is used for the behavior of overburden, coal, and floor. Well-calibrated numerical models can assist in understanding load and failure processes provided that coal, overburden, and weak floor are modeled with sufficient realism. The theoretical approach considers a friction angle of 0° to calculate the load bearing capacity of the weak floor for design of pillars with long-term stability, even if the weak floor has a non-zero friction angle. The stiffness of the weak floor increases with an increase in friction angle (Gadde, 2009; Kostecki and Spearing, 2015). As stiffness increases, a point can be reached where floor bearing capacity exceeds coal pillar strength and coal pillar strength becomes the governing factor. For this scenario, the Mohr Coulomb strain softening model is more realistic in estimating loads carried by coal pillars in the post-failure stage. The three-dimensional Mohr Coulomb strain softening model in FLAC 3D is employed to study qualitatively the floor response in strain softening coal behavior conditions. Maintaining stable coal pillar responses has been a challenge for the coal mining industry due to attempts to increase the primary extraction ratio. Presently, the best available solution seems to be backfilling when considering short-term pillar stability (i.e., less than the long-term factor of safety) with increased extraction ratio. There are various types of mine backfill that have benefits to the mining industry depending on the application, but paste backfill produced from total mill tailings containing no free water is the best option for post-mining ground control in room-and-pillar mines as it prevents weakening of the floor and will not contaminate the ground water. The influence of paste backfill on floor bearing capacity and coal pillar response is studied with numerical modeling using the same constitutive models already identified. Finally, an economic analysis is carried out to look at cost implications of a proposed system with backfill.