<p> This study is one of the projects of the artificial joints group conducted by Professor W. R. Newcombe, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Dr. G. R. Viviani, Department of Surgery.</p> <p> A summary of the literature survey of the lower back which is pertinent to the design of a replacement for the lumbar spine is reported. Motions, force system, and strengths of the lumbar intervertebral joint are obtained from the literatures and calculation.</p> <p> Advantages of silicone elastomer and titanium as the biomaterials for the artificial disc are presented. An experiment to test the bond between titanium and silicone reveals that the strength provided by only applying primer is insufficient.</p> <p> Surface structure for prosthetic stabilization and initial fixation is discussed. Proposed design alternatives for artificial discs are presented with the attempts to reduce the number of moulds needed by introducing a prosthesis with a more regular shape.</p> <p> An important part of this thesis is to indicate the direction in which further work in this area should proceed.</p> / Thesis / Master of Engineering (MEngr)

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that can impair physical, psychological and social functioning. A sub-population of people living with psoriasis believe that psychological stress exacerbates their physical symptoms. Stress may exacerbate psoriasis via a psychoneuroimmunological pathway. The cortisol awakening response can be used to indicate whether this pathway is functional or dysfunctional. People with psoriasis have an elevated risk of emotional distress (anxiety and depression) and an impaired quality of life. Mindfulness based cognitive therapy has been effective in reducing stress, emotional distress, quality of life impairment as well as improving physical health. The aim of this thesis is to examine the efficacy and acceptability of mindfulness-based intervention for people living with psoriasis and whether the cortisol awakening response mediates the relationship between perceived stress and physical severity of psoriasis. This thesis adopted a mixed-methods design. A pilot, randomised control trial examined the effects of mindfulness based cognitive therapy upon the physical severity, perceived stress, emotional distress, quality of life and cortisol awakening response of people living with psoriasis. These variables were entered into a correlation analysis to examine whether the cortisol awakening response was associated with any of the reported study outcomes (physical severity, perceived stress, emotional distress and quality of life). Completers of the mindfulness intervention were invited to a semi-structured interview to explore the characteristics of the participants who adhered to the intervention and their experiences of participating. The mindfulness intervention significantly improved physical (z=1.96, p=0.05) and quality of life (z=2.30, p=0.02) measurements without changing perceived stress (z=0.07, p=0.94), emotional distress (z=1.60, p=0.12) or cortisol awakening responses (z=-0.33, p=0.74). The overall cortisol awakening response was not associated with physical severity (r=-0.30, p=0.07) or perceived stress (r=-0.20, p=0.25) but was significantly correlated with emotional distress (r=-0.35, p=0.04). The intervention was perceived as an acceptable adjunct treatment option. Participants reported some process barriers that inhibited their learning of mindfulness skills. A profile emerged that described a sub-population of people with psoriasis. This sub-population may be more likely to accept and adhere to mindfulness based cognitive therapy.This thesis provides preliminary support to the concept that increasing mindfulness skill can reduce the physical severity and quality of life impairment in people with psoriasis. It recommends that a fully powered trial be conducted to examine the effectiveness of mindfulness in improving physical and overall functioning for people with psoriasis. This thesis suggests clinicians screen their patients and offer a psychological intervention best suited to their needs and characteristics.

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Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T20:28:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fernanda de Moraes Perez.pdf: 312230 bytes, checksum: d677071f12d933d9fb26dc778025752a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-11-14 / This work has the purpose of examining the legal regime of the Neighborhood Impact Preliminary Study - NIS, with the interest to define and delineate the requirements and conditions for its application by Brazilian municipalities. The NIS is a new instrument created by the Statute of the City - Federal Law No. 10.257, 2001-7-10, which for its application on behalf of the municipality while carrying out its urban policy, must initially be regulate by a specific law, based on the Director Plan. Relevant, in this sense, the delimitation of their content so that it not be confused with the Environmental Impact Study - EIS, since the NIS will be required by municipal agencies for projects and activities, as defined in specific municipal law, private or public, causing a great neighbourhood impact of the urban order, as a requirement for obtaining licenses or permits for construction, expansion or operation under municipal supervision. Therefore, by being an instrument still little discussed and addressed in the Brazilian doctrine and jurisprudence and that requires a legislative act in the various municipalities of the country, the current study is clearly justified. To this end, the present monographic study will be developed based on research of national doctrine, based on consultation of books, monographs and articles, plus analysis of case studies and homeland legislation. Finally, we note its importance in planning the use and occupation of urban land to be held by municipalities as an instrument of democratic management that will secure the balance of the urban order and well-being of its inhabitants / O presente trabalho tem o intuito de analisar o regime jurídico do Estudo Prévio de Impacto de Vizinhança EIV, com o interesse de definir e delimitar os requisitos e condições para a utilização do mesmo pelos Municípios brasileiros. O EIV é um instrumento novo criado pelo Estatuto da Cidade Lei Federal n.º 10.257 de 10-7-2001, segundo o qual para que a municipalidade possa utilizá-lo na execução de sua política urbana deverá regulamentá-lo mediante lei específica, baseada no Plano Diretor. Relevante, neste sentido, a delimitação de seu conteúdo para que o mesmo não seja confundido com o Estudo Prévio de Impacto Ambiental EIA, uma vez que o EIV será exigido pelo Poder Público municipal para empreendimentos e atividades, definidos em lei municipal específica, privados ou públicos, causadores de grande impacto de vizinhança à ordem urbanística, como requisito para a obtenção das licenças ou autorizações de construção, ampliação ou funcionamento a cargo do mesmo. Por tais razões, por ser um instrumento ainda pouco debatido e abordado na doutrina e jurisprudência brasileira e que demandará uma atuação legislativa nos diversos Municípios do país, justifica-se tal estudo. Para tanto, a monografia será desenvolvida com base na pesquisa da doutrina nacional, fundamentada na consulta de livros, monografias e artigos, além de análise de casos práticos e legislação pátrias. Por fim, constatamos sua grande importância no planejamento do uso e ocupação do solo urbano a ser realizado pelos Municípios como instrumento de gestão democrática garantidor do equilíbrio da ordem urbanística e do bem-estar de seus habitantes