Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 105-106).

Thesis (Ph. D. in civil engineering)--Washington State University, December 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 210-217).

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-12T18:35:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 arquivo7426_1.pdf: 1109693 bytes, checksum: 8476f11c10c229ebe7442e9ff5835e23 (MD5) license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / O presente trabalho estabelece um estudo de um fenômeno de variação do português brasileiro. O objetivo da pesquisa foi analisar o uso variável da lateral /l/ em coda silábica na fala de Arcoverde, PE, com localização no sertão pernambucano. Para a realização deste estudo, adotamos a abordagem sociolingüística, apoiando-nos, para a análise dos resultados, na Teoria da Variação (LABOV, 1972; 1984; 1996). Analisamos a fala de 48 informantes, estratificados segundo restrições sociais, quais sejam: sexo, escolaridade, faixa etária e localização na cidade. Foram computadas quatro variantes, sendo a vocalização [w] (73%) e o apagamento (22%) as que obtiveram maior percentual de ocorrências, enquanto a fricativa glotal [h] com 3% e a iotização com menos de 1% foram mais restritas. Considerando as variantes mais recorrentes, os resultados da pesquisa revelaram que o apagamento da lateral não é decorrente de restrições sociais, mas sensível ao contexto fonético. Apenas na localização do falante a variação foi mais evidente, pois os moradores da zona urbana se revelaram favorecedores à vocalização do fonema, enquanto os moradores da zona rural tendem a aplicar significativamente a regra do apagamento. Para a análise lingüística, consideramos as restrições contexto precedente, contexto seguinte, classe de palavra, tonicidade e posição da sílaba da coda, e os resultados indicaram que a restrição classe de palavra foi a maior favorecedora da vocalização, enquanto o apagamento foi mais evidente nos contextos precedentes /i/ e /u/. Do ponto de vista da Fonologia, recorremos à Teoria da Otimalidade (PRINCE & SMOLENSLKY, 1993), na perspectiva de Anttila (1997). Para associarmos os resultados obtidos com a teoria, consideramos o processo de variação estável como se comportaram as variantes mais recorrentes. Diante disso, propusemos tableaux diferentes com um ranqueamento variado, para que cada uma das variantes constituísse um candidato ótimo. Pela organização dos ranqueamentos, percebemos que a restrição MAX-IO regula tanto a vocalização, quando ranqueada em posição mais alta, quanto o apagamento, quando ranqueada em posição mais baixa na hierarquia. Os resultados obtidos com a análise permitiram o encaminhamento de discussão relativa ao comportamento do fenômeno na fala na comunidade investigada

The flat dilatometer (DMT) and piezocone penetration (CPTU) tests are likely to be among the most widely used in situ testing methods for soil characterization and indirect determination of geotechnical design parameters such as: strength, stiffness, permeability and compressibility. The flat dilatometer has proved to be a reliable, robust and adaptable tool, and the data obtained with this instrument is very repeatable, and easy to reduce and process. Furthermore, the addition of a seismic module to the standard flat dilatometer (SDMT) to measure the shear wave velocity (Vs) significantly complements the set of data typically obtained with a standard DMT test. Nonetheless, the experience in interpreting the combination between Vs and DMT data is fairly limited due to the recent introduction of the SDMT for commercial applications. Additionally, the estimation of the coefficient of earth pressure at rest (K₀) has been the most important application of the DMT since its introduction. However, a potential weakness of the DMT is that the derivation of K₀ is based upon empirical correlations developed some time ago and neither improvement work nor upgrade of these approaches has been performed in the last 10 years. Throughout the years several additional sensors have been developed in order to supplement the data collected with the CPTU test. Among the wide variety of sensor developed, the lateral stress module mounted behind a piezocone represents a promising tool for estimation of in situ lateral stress conditions from the interpretation of lateral stress penetration data. However, the popularity of the so called lateral stress cone has declined over the years due to constraints in both the instrumentation and the interpretation of measured data. Also, the application of this instrument remains limited to specific soils conditions and specific projects. However, the valuable experience gained throughout the years in the development and application of several lateral stress cones in combination with developments in electronics and understanding of soil behaviour allow the improvement of this type of technology. This thesis presents the results of a comprehensive laboratory and field testing programs performed by the author at several research sites located in the Lower Mainland of BC, undertaken in order to assess the performance of the seismic flat dilatometer and lateral stress seismic piezocone (LSSCPTU), built and develop at UBC. Firstly, the analysis of field measurements with the SDMT collected at several sites have demonstrated the potential for an improved soil characterization through the combination of DMT parameters and the small strain shear modulus (G₀). Additionally the usefulness of the DMT-C closing pressure for soil identification is shown. On the basis of several relationships identified from this data, a new soil type behaviour system based upon SDMT measurements is proposed. Furthermore, empirical correlations based upon fairly large and updated databases have been developed to estimate K₀ and Vs values from DMT parameters. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Civil Engineering, Department of / Graduate

No description available.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects between 14,000 to 15,000 Americans. The upper and lower motor neurons degenerate, which eventually causes muscle paralysis, atrophy, and ultimately death from respiratory failure. It has a high treatment cost as well as a high toll on the patient and their families and friends. Currently, there are only two drugs approved by the FDA for the treatment of ALS: riluzole and edaravone. Research is constantly being conducted to understand and develop further treatment modalities, however, many drugs have failed to demonstrate significant improvement in phase III trials. One of the pathophysiology that these drugs, including riluzole, target is excitotoxicity of the motor neurons. This review will briefly expand upon the different trials that were conducted targeting the excitotoxicity pathway. Although they may have not been successful in prolonging survival in ALS patients, we can learn from these studies and build upon them.

Ankle taping and bracing are important components in the world of sports medicine and athletic training. There are different types of tape that are used for athletes by athletic trainers. However, little research has compared the performance of Kinesio™ Tape and an ASO ankle brace on a lateral grade I ankle sprain. The purpose of this study was to determine if there are therapeutic effects of Kinesio™ tape on a grade I lateral ankle sprain, using an ASO as the control group. The gold standard protocol for a grade I lateral ankle sprain is an ASO ankle brace.Twenty five students from 9 different high schools in 2 sister counties participated in the study. These students were all athletes, who suffered a grade I lateral ankle sprain. Twelve student-athletes were in the Kinesio™ tape group and thirteen of the student-athletes were in the ASO brace group, also known as the control group. The student-athletes completed five functional tests; Single Leg Stance, Single Leg Squat, Single leg Hop, Box Drill , and the Illinois Test, at each of the three sessions 0, 4, and 8 weeks.Results found there was no significant difference between the Kinesio™ tape group and the ASO™ ankle brace group when it came to pain level, single leg hop for distance, the box drill or the Illinois test, when tested at three different times; week 0, week 4, and week 8. However, results showed that there was a significant difference between the two groups on the single leg squat test. It was determined that the control group also known as the ASO™ ankle brace group, were able to perform more squats at week 4 and week 8, than the treatment groups also known as the Kinesio™ Tape group. / Ph. D.

No / Scytalidium catalase is a homotetramer including heme d in each subunit. Its primary function is the dismutation of H2O2 to water and oxygen, but it is also able to oxidase various small organic compounds including catechol and phenol. The crystal structure of Scytalidium catalase reveals the presence of three linked channels providing access to the exterior like other catalases reported so far. The function of these channels has been extensively studied, revealing the possible routes for substrate flow and product release. In this report, we have focussed on the semi-conserved residue Val228, located near to the vinyl groups of the heme at the opening of the lateral channel. Its replacement with Ala, Ser, Gly, Cys, Phe and Ile were tested. We observed a significant decrease in catalytic efficiency in all mutants with the exception of a remarkable increase in oxidase activity when Val228 was mutated to either Ala, Gly or Ser. The reduced catalytic efficiencies are characterized in terms of the restriction of hydrogen peroxide as electron acceptor in the active centre resulting from the opening of lateral channel inlet by introducing the smaller side chain residues. On the other hand, the increased oxidase activity is explained by allowing the suitable electron donor to approach more closely to the heme. The crystal structures of V228C and V228I were determined at 1.41 and 1.47 Å resolution, respectively. The lateral channels of the V228C and V228I presented a broadly identical chain of arranged waters to that observed for wild-type enzyme. / The full-text of this article will be released for public view at the end of the publisher embargo on 19 Apr 2022.

The purpose of this research was to investigate and create preliminary design aids for the determination of lateral resistance capacity and spacing requirements of deck tie fasteners in curved railroad bridges with smooth top girders. In railroad bridge design, required lateral resistance dictates the spacing of deck tie fasteners. Currently, no provisions exist to aid in the calculation of lateral resistance for systems that include bridge ties, fasteners, and girders which experience centrifugal or lateral forces. Thus, design practices specific to each railroad vary, producing inconsistent fastener spacing in existing railroad bridges. This project identified and quantified three factors contributing to lateral resistance through experimental testing: resistance due to friction at the tie-girder interface; resistance from the fastener; and resistance from dapped ties bearing against the girder flange. Three fastener types were studied in this research: Square body hook bolts, Lewis Forged hook bolts, and Quikset Anchors. Results indicated that frictional resistance is a product of the train wheel load and the friction coefficient. Fastener resistance was determined to be a function of fastener type and lateral track displacement. Finally, dap resistance was found to be a function of the area of the shear plane in a dapped tie. A preliminary equation for calculating the total lateral resistance capacity was developed utilizing superposition of all three resistance contributions. Lateral demand loads were compared with reported lateral capacity to create a preliminary design aid to determine fastener spacing. / Master of Science

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2010.