My current work revels in a state of flux. I strive for the work to be electrically charged, conveying a feverish sense of immediacy and vitality that implies motion and frenetic energy. The work is an accretion of brightly colored biomorphic forms that extend out from the wall and onto the floor. Viscous parts ooze and drip while others are globular and bulbous. The hyper-organic forms suggest a paradoxical state of both ripening and rotting, becoming and unbecoming. The work is an attempt to traverse between seemingly divergent constructs, some of which include: growth and decay, the artificial and the natural, the body and the landscape, the infinite and the miniscule, and the real and the imagined. I intend for the works to be suggestive of mutation, of systems becoming cross-wired and melting into each other.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Titel: The evaluation of different test protocol of pull up exercise as a maximum strenth test in Czech Republic soldiers Goals: The aim of this study is to compare different methodological ways during pull up exercise as a test of uper externities and back maximum strenght. And to assesed which load to use in case of test reason. Ant find out, what influence has the soldiers equipment on strenght test. Method: The study is based on an experiment consisting in the performance of different testing protocols, the same group of probands and subsequent comparison probands ordinal position in selected test methodologies. Selected tests, the maximum number of pull-ups with their own weight, the maximum number of pull-ups with essential military equipment (15 kg), the maximum number of pull-ups with 40% of your own body weight, the maximum load lifted in pull up excercise and the absolute pull up, which was calculated on the maximum load lifted . Use was basic statistics and serial correlation by Kendall correlation coefficient. Results: Test with military equipment (load weighing 15 kg) correlated with the test pull up with its own body weight value τr = 0.83 for statistical significance level α = 0.05. Test the pull up with 40% correlated with test pull up with their own body weight value τr = 0.72, for...

Background: Women partaking in businesses as entrepreneurs is a field getting increased attention in Palestine. Women’s underutilized economic potential along with entrepreneurial activity as a key driver behind economic progress, make the field of women entrepreneurship in Palestine a matter of importance. The agricultural sector is one of the larger for Palestinian women employment, which is why it might attract aspiring entrepreneurs. With investments from Palestinian authorities as well as NGOs, directed towards developing Palestinian women entrepreneurship, one could argue that the opportunities for women to become entrepreneurs exist. But what is the opinion of the women entrepreneurs themselves regarding existing possibilities and obstacles?Purpose of the study: To examine the process for women entrepreneurs of establishing and running micro companies in the agricultural sector on the West Bank in order to highlight the possibilities and obstacles that they experience.Methodological framework: The study had a qualitative approach in which we conducted semi-structured interviewes with eleven women entrepreneurs, active in agriculture.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that women enter entrepreneurship out of necessity as well as reasons more connected to self fulfilment and grasping at possibly profitable business opportunities. Previous experience in agriculture affected both the willingness to start a business and proved helpful for the entrepreneurial success. Notable challenges were found in marketing, legal matters and the physically tiring work. Most of our respondents did not concentrate on developing the support activities connected to their businesses, directing more of their attention towards primary activities. Our respondents also made use of networks, spanning from private connections to professional contacts.

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the perceptions and experiences of the middle school students who participated in learning center support as elementary students in independent schools. There were 16 participants from three sites included in the study: six students, seven parents, and three learning specialists. The research questions guiding this study included: (1) What are the perspectives of students on the impact of the learning center experience in regard to reading development? (2) How does the child's discernment of how he or she is perceived academically by his or her reading teacher contribute to/hinder the process of learning to read? (3) How does a child's sensitivity to being identified as needing extra support in learning to read affect/support the experience? (4) What do students, parents, and teachers think about learning centers? (5) How do children perceive reading teacher effectiveness and successful reading instruction? (6) How does a child's perception of a model of reading intervention inform the planning of teachers, interventionists, and reading specialists? (7) What do students think about the activities they participate during learning center time? Literature reviewed for the study included the existence of the reading problem in the United States, models of reading intervention, strategies shown to accelerate reading growth, teacher knowledge, and student perspectives. Data was collected in the form of interviews and observations, and was reviewed in consideration of narrative inquiry, typological analysis, and polyvocal analysis. All participant responses were considered across cases with specific attention given to the guiding research questions. The six students interviewed believed that their participation in the learning center helped them in some way. Some of them were able to verbalize what was helpful, while others provided few details. Nonetheless, the student participants offered specific recommendations on how to improve the learning center structure. Parent interviews shored up varying perspectives and recommendations for ways that the structure of the learning center should remain the same and also how it should change. Finally, learning specialists shared their views and experiences and added a richer understanding to the study in general. Three major themes emerged from the data. First, that students and parents attach a stigma to resource support. Second, that students and parents feel like they had to give something up because of their participation in the learning center. And third, methodological issues on the structure of the interviews were raised. Findings and current research were connected, and considerations for future research were made.

Despite research focused on the control of E. saccharina Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), it remains the most destructive pest of sugarcane in South Africa and therefore a shift in the approach to the control of this insect was required. Habitat management techniques were employed through trials to understand the mechanisms used by insect pests in their host plant oviposition behaviour. Indigenous and beneficial non-crop plants, which could be used to attract insect pests away from sugarcane were identified and tested. An African grass, Melinis minutiflora, shown to be repellent to lepidopteran stemboring pests, was used in field trials in sugarcane. Eldana saccharina was shown to be fairly indiscrimate in choosing host plant species. Oviposition trials showed that females made no choice for host plants oviposition based on the volatiles released by those plants. Females showed no preference for males over test plants. But did consistently move and make a plant choice more often than male moths. Moths were not attracted by the volatile stimuli of a host plant and the availability of cryptic sites might be a factor that influenced ovipositing females to choose a host plant. Field trials tested the repellent action of Melinis minutiflora against E. saccharina and were shown to be more effective over a big field with space for M. minutiflora to establish thick undergrowth alongside a field plot. The other field sites showed no significant effect from M. minutiflora intercropped into treatment plots, or a slight negative effect. Later sugarcane planting times in relation to the grass planting time was a possible reason for the positive result in only two field sites allowing the grass to grow and establish before the sugarcane competed with the grass for sunlight. A cost benefit analysis of planting a hectare of sugarcane with M. minutiflora showed an economic benefit linked to reduction in E. saccharina infestation. Field sites with low population pressure from E. saccharina would not yield the economic benefit of planting this grass. There was no significant loss in the height, density or sucrose yield (ERC% cane) between control and treatment plots in the field plots due to the presence of M. minutiflora. Comparison of weed biomass between treatment and control plots showed a significant reduction in the treatment plot where M. minutiflora out-competed the weeds already present. This grass was advantageous in the sugarcane field as it sometimes reduced moth infestation but did not significantly compete with sugarcane and showed weed suppressing potential.

Os ensaios de arrancamento e de cisalhamento direto são os ensaios de laboratório mais usados para mensurar a resistência da interface solo geossintéticos. Em algumas ocasiões somente os ensaios de arrancamento avaliam convenientemente bem o comportamento das inclusões em meio ao maciço de solo. Esse trabalho apresenta um equipamento de ensaios de arrancamento em geossintéticos, de grandes dimensões, e resultados de ensaios executados com ele. Os resultados foram analisados segundo uma metodologia sugerida por Ochiai et al. (1996), levemente modificada pelo autor. Dos dados de ensaios de arrancamento, pôde-se concluir que o equipamento se presta à finalidade a que se destina, além disso, analisando-se os resultados segundo o método mencionado, verificou-se que a resistência ao arrancamento de geogrelhas se concentra na sua porção inicial, quando são aplicadas pequenas cargas. À medida que se aumenta a força aplicada, a resistência é gradativamente mobilizada nos trechos posteriores até à ruptura generalizada por arrancamento. / The pull-out and direct shear tests are the more used laboratory test for measure the resistance of soil-geosynthetic interface. In some occasions only the pull-out test evaluate well the behaviour of the inclusions amid the massive of soil. This work presents an pull-out test equipment, of great dimensions, and results of tests executed with him. The results were analysed according to a methodology suggested by Ochiai et al. (1996), slightly modified by the author. From the pull-out tests data, it may be concluded that the equipment is rendered to the purpose that it is destined, besides, being analysed the results according to the mentioned method, it was verified that the pull-out resistance of geogrids concentrates in initial portion, when it is applied small loads. When the applied force increases, the resistance is mobilized in the posterior portions and occur to the generalised pull-out rupture.

O comportamento estrutural do concreto armado depende da união entre o concreto e a armadura. Esta união se estabelece por meio da aderência, que funciona como um mecanismo de transferência de tensões e garante a compatibilidade de deformações entre a armadura e o concreto. Este trabalho tem como objetivo investigar os efeitos da adição de fibras de aço e armadura transversal no comportamento da ancoragem. A investigação experimental foi feita por meio de dois tipos de ensaio de arrancamento de barras, sendo eles o modelo-padrão do RILEM-CEB-FIP e modelo proposto pelo autor, este considerando barras de pontas retas e com ganchos de 90º. Todos os modelos utilizaram comprimento aderente igual a cinco vezes o diâmetro da barra. As armaduras longitudinais eram compostas por barras de 10 mm e 16 mm e a resistência à compressão média do concreto era igual a 50 MPa no dia do ensaio. Foram utilizadas fibras de aço com ganchos nas extremidades, com relação de aspecto igual a 65, comprimento igual a 35 mm e fração volumétrica de 2% (157 Kg/m³). Também foram realizadas comparações com modelos teóricos, analisados através do estudo de bibliografias existentes e das normas NBR 6118:2003 e ACI-318-08. Os resultados experimentais mostraram que os estribos e as fibras exercem influência significativa na resistência ao fendilhamento do concreto. Observou-se ainda que, para os corpos de prova com barras de aço de 10 mm e 16 mm com pontas retas, as fibras estudadas exerceram pequena influência na resistência ao arrancamento. / The structural behavior of reinforced concrete depends on connection behavior of concrete and steel. This union is established by means of bond, which serves as a mechanism to transfer forces and ensure the compatibility of deformation between the reinforcement and the concrete. This research aims investigating the effects of the use of steel fibers and stirrups on the behavior of the anchorage. An experimental investigation was carried out by means of pull-out tests according to the RILEM-CEB-FIP standard model and pull-out tests of straight and with 90º hooked bars, with a bonded length of five times the bar diameter. The longitudinal reinforcement bars were of 10 mm and 16 mm and concrete compressive strength was 50 MPa at the day of test. Steel fibers with hooked ends, aspect ratio of 65, and length of 35 mm and volumetric fraction of 2% (157 kg /m³) were used. Comparisons with theoretical models, analyzed through the literature review and recommendations of NBR 6118:2003 and ACI-318-08 were also performed. The experimental results showed that the stirrups and the fibers have significant influence on the cracking of the concrete. It was also observed that, for the specimens with steel bars of 10 mm and 16 mm with straight anchorage, the fibers had small influence on the pull-out resistance.

A presente pesquisa propõe analisar, avaliar e validar o uso de ensaios de aderência açoconcreto para estimativa da resistência à compressão axial do concreto in loco nas primeiras idades em canteiros de obras, como alternativa ao controle de qualidade tradicional. Alguns pesquisadores propuseram a utilização de um ensaio de aderência modificado, que denominaram Appropriate Pull-Out Test (APULOT), como uma adaptação do método pullout test (POT) tradicional, normalizado pela norma EN12504-3. Para viabilizar o uso do ensaio APULOT como ensaio que possa ser implementado na prática do controle tecnológico do concreto em canteiros de obras e seja representativo da resistência in loco é necessário definir um padrão para o mesmo. O presente trabalho desenvolveu um molde específico para o ensaio, analisou a influência do processo da cura nos resultados da tensão máxima de aderência, estudou como a medição da maturidade no concreto pôde auxiliar na determinação do momento certo para fazer o ensaio de arrancamento e comparou resultados dos ensaios feitos em corpos de prova para teste de aderência com ensaios de arrancamento de barras de aço em painéis de concreto. Para tanto foram feitos nove concretagens empregando diferentes tamanhos e configurações de corpos de prova, ensaios de arrancamento, extrações de testemunhos de painéis de concreto, ensaios à compressão simples e medições de maturidade dos concretos empregados. Também se realizaram registros de temperatura ambiente e velocidade do vento na vizinhança dos painéis, buscando estabelecer relações entre a maturidade e as condições ambientais do canteiro. Os ensaios descritos anteriormente realizaram-se às idades de 3, 5, 7 e 28 dias. Os resultados obtidos mostram que, sob condições padronizadas de ensaio, existe ótima correlação entre a tensão máxima de aderência e a resistência à compressão do concreto e por tanto o ensaio de aderência pode ser utilizado para fazer uma estimativa da resistência à compressão do concreto in loco nas primeiras idades. / This research aims to analyze, evaluate and validate the use of steel-concrete bond tests to estimate the axial compression strength of in situ concrete at early ages on construction sites, as alternative to conventional strength control tests. Some researchers have proposed the use of a modified bond test, named Appropriate Pull-Out Test (APULOT), as an adaptation of the traditional pull-out test method (POT) standardized by the EN12504-3. To implement the APULOT as a strength control procedure for concrete on construction site, standardization is needed. This study developed a specific mold for the test; analyzed the influence of curing process on the results of the maximum bond stress; studied how measuring the maturity in the concrete could help to determine when is the right time to make the pull-out test; compared results of tests made on cores for testing the bond and pull-out tests on steel bars in concrete panels. Therefore, it have been made nine concrete events, pull-out tests using different sizes and configurations of cylindrical concret specimen, pull-out tests and extraction of cores from concrete panels, compressive test and maturity measurements of specific employees. Also, temperature and wind speed records have been performed in the panel´s sourrundings, seeking to establish relationships between maturity and ambiental conditions on construction site. The tests described above were carried out at 3, 5, 7 and 28 days. The results show that, under standardized test conditions, a correlation between the maximum bond stress and the concrete compression strength exists, and therefore, bond test can be used to estimate the in situ compression strength of the concrete in the first ages.

This study is concerned with the development of a method for creating shapes and form in clothing with minimum exertion on the cloth, using simple construction techniques. It is an exploration of an approach to producing clothing in a less familiar manner to the usual way of working which involves, almost always, drafting or flat-pattern making. With the expression of the movement of the textile around the body as the main aim, the ‘push/pull’ principle is employed to direct its flow in both a symmetric and asymmetric fashion. It is a principle inspired by Madame Gres, the French designer of the 1930s to 1980s, famous for her neo-classic inspired gowns. The textile, usually a rectangle, is manipulated without cutting into it but by pushing and pulling first, through the upper limbs of the body, and then ‘worked’ around the rest of the body, using draping and pleating to create shapes which are spontaneous, elaborate and not pre-determined. Furthermore, the approach explores the aesthetic potential of draping and combining the Filter 80 PPI, an industrial textile used for filtering, with conventional clothing materials, linen and/or cotton in this case. The parallels and constasts of this mix are noted, together with the distinct expressions, which nonetheless both display a simple approach in construction, minimal manipulation of the textile, the use of the upper limbs as natural obstacles, and the ‘no-cut’ principle of the rectangular piece of cloth. With free form construction and reflection, one discovers expressions possible only through the use of an experimental approach in working. / Program: Master Programme in Fashion and Textile Design