Orientador: Antonio Celso de Oliveira Braga / Banca: Vagner Roberto Elis / Banca: César Augusto Moreira / Resumo: Estudos ambientais envolvendo investigação e mapeamento do meio geológico por meio de métodos geoelétricos apresentam resultados satisfatórios para contaminantes iônicos (chorume) que sugerem eficácia no emprego desses métodos em situações que apresentem alterações dos componentes do subsolo devido à presença de combustíveis, como o etanol. Integrando a aplicação dos métodos geofísicos da eletrorresistividade, polarização induzida e potencial espontâneo, por meio das técnicas de caminhamento elétrico e perfilagem elétrica foi monitorada a variação temporal dos parâmetros físicos resistividade, cargabilidade elétrica e potencial espontâneo em sedimentos arenosos alterados devido à contaminação controlada de etanol, contidos em um tanque de monitoramento. O tanque de monitoramento contém um sistema de controle do nível de saturação, possibilitando análises das variações nos parâmetros geoelétricos investigados em dois extratos geoelétricos: insaturado e saturado. O presente trabalho objetiva avaliar o comportamento do etanol num experimento que simula condições hidrogeológicas reais, bem como caracterizar as variações temporais nos parâmetros geoelétricos analisados. Este tipo de pesquisa objetiva também a geração de subsídios técnico/científico que auxiliem a compreensão de estudos de caso em ambientes naturais / Abstract: Environmental studies involving research and mapping of geological environment by geoelectrical methods present satisfactory results for ionic contaminants (leachate) that suggest effectiveness in their use in situations that present changes in components of the basement due to the presence of fuels such as ethanol. Integrating the application of geophysical methods of resistivity, induced polarization and spontaneous potential, through the techniques of electrical profiling and electrical profiling was monitored temporal variation of physical parameters, resistivity, chargeability and electrical spontaneous potential in sandy sediments changed due to contamination of controlled ethanol contained in a tank monitoring. The tank contains a monitoring system to control the saturation level, allowing analysis of variations in geoelectrical parameters investigated in two extracts geoelectrical: unsaturated and saturated. This study aims to evaluate the behavior of ethanol in an experiment that simulates actual hydrogeological conditions and to characterize temporal variations in geoelectrical parameters analyzed. This type of research also aims to generate subsidies technical / scientific understanding to help the case studies in natural environments / Mestre

Submitted by Deyse Queiroz (deysequeirozz@hotmail.com) on 2018-05-30T12:11:20Z No. of bitstreams: 1 JOSÉ DA SILVA SOUSA - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGSA PROFISSIONAL 2014..pdf: 1561653 bytes, checksum: aa1844de8c3babe6fa251dc328c9832c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-05-30T12:11:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JOSÉ DA SILVA SOUSA - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGSA PROFISSIONAL 2014..pdf: 1561653 bytes, checksum: aa1844de8c3babe6fa251dc328c9832c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-11-11 / O coentro (Coriandrum sativum L.) é uma olerícola herbácea anual com altura média de 10 a 20 cm planta-1, dependendo das condições edáficas que esteja sendo cultivado, da cultivar e adubação. O seu cultivo é principalmente voltado para atender à demanda para o consumo fresco de hastes e para as indústrias de condimentos. Nesse sentido a pesquisa objetivou avaliar a jitirana (Merremia aegyptia), flor-de-seda (Calotropis procera) e mata-pasto (Senna uniflora) como fonte de adubo verde no desempenho agroeconômico do coentro. O experimento foi conduzido na Fazenda Experimental Rafael Fernandes, localizada no distrito de Alagoinha, zona rural de Mossoró-RN, no período de julho a setembro de 2013. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos completos casualizados, com os tratamentos arranjados em esquema fatorial 4 x 3, com 3 repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram da combinação de quatro quantidades de espécies espontâneas (0,4; 0,8; 1,2 e 1,6 kg/m2) e o segundo fator, correspondendo a três tipos de espécies espontâneas (jitirana, flor-de-seda e mata-pasto). Cada parcela constou de doze fileiras de plantas espaçadas de 0,1 m x 0,05 m, com 05 plantas cova-1. Dez dias após a emergência realizou-se o desbaste, trinta e três dias após o plantio foi realizada a colheita. As características avaliadas foram as seguintes: altura de planta, número de hastes por planta, massa fresca de coentro, massa seca de coentro e número de molhos de coentro, os parâmetros econômicos foram: Renda bruta, renda líquida, taxa de retorno por real investido e índice de lucratividade. Para altura de planta em relação aos tipos de adubos verdes, observou-se diferença da jitirana em relação a florde- seda e mata-pasto, com valores médios de 18,9; 16,8 e 16,0 cm planta-1. Para a massa fresca, observou-se que a jitirana foi superior à flor-de-seda e mata-pasto, com produtividade máxima de 0,9; 0,7 e 0,8 kg m-2 de canteiro, equivalente a 18, 14 e 16 molhos m-2 de canteiro, na quantidade de 16,0 t ha-1. A aplicação de espécies espontâneas da caatinga, proporcionou rentabilidade líquida de R$ 6.070,00, taxa de retorno da ordem de R$ 2,80 e índice de lucratividade de 64,2% para jitirana. Rentabilidade líquida de R$ 2.920,00, taxa de retorno de 1,86 e índice de lucratividade de 46,3% para a flor-de-seda e rentabilidade líquida de R$ 4.270,00, taxa de retorno de 2,26 e índice de lucratividade de 55,8%. Nesse sentido, o cultivo de coentro adubado com espécies espontâneas da caatinga constitui-se em alternativa como adubo verde. / Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is an annual herbaceous vegetable crop with average height 10-20 cm plant-1, depending on the soil conditions that are being grown, cultivar and fertilization. Its cultivation is mainly geared to meet the demand for fresh consumption stems and condiments industries. In this sense the research aimed to evaluate the jitirana (Merremia aegyptia), silk-flower (Calotropis procera) and kills pasture (Senna uniflora) as a source of green manure on agroeconomic performance of cilantro. The experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm Rafael Fernandes, located in the district of Alagoinha, rural area of Mossoró-RN, in the period from July- September 2014. The experimental design was complete randomized block with treatments arranged in a factorial 4 x 3, with 3 repetitions. Treatments included a combination of four amounts of wild species (0,4; 0,8; 1,2 e 1,6 kg/m2) and the second factor, corresponding to three types of spontaneous species (jitirana, silk-flower and bush-pasture). Each plot consisted of twelve rows of plants spaced 0,1 mx 0,05 m, with 05 plants pit-1. Ten days after germination thinning took place thirty-three days after the planting to harvest was performed. The characteristics evaluated were: plant height, number of stems per plant, fresh coriander mass, dry mass and number of bunches cilantro coriander, economic parameters were: gross income, net income, rate of return per dollar invested and profitability index. Plant height in relation to the types of green manures, a difference was observed in relation to the jitirana-flowered silk-flower and bush-pasture, with average values of 18.9; 16.8 and 16.0 cm plant-1. For fresh pasta, it was observed that the jitirana was superior to silk-flower and bush-pasture and woods with maximum productivity of 0,9; 0,7 to 0,8 kg m-2 construction, equivalent to 18, 14 and 16 m2 sauces construction, the quantity of 16.0 t ha-1. The application of spontaneous caatinga species yielded net profit of R $ 6.070,00, return rate of R$ 2,80 and the profit margin of 64,2% for jitirana. Net profit of R $ 2.920,00, rate of return of 1.86 and profitability index of 46,3% for the silk-flower and net profit of R$ 4.270,00, rate of return of 2,26 and profitability index of 55,8%. Accordingly, the cultivation of coriander fertilized with wild species of the caatinga constitutes alternatively as green manure.

Submitted by Jorge Silva (jorgelmsilva@ufrrj.br) on 2017-10-11T20:09:52Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2016 - Liliane de Souza Ferreira.pdf: 1966686 bytes, checksum: eebcf58399ae9c79283075f9e54588e5 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-10-11T20:09:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2016 - Liliane de Souza Ferreira.pdf: 1966686 bytes, checksum: eebcf58399ae9c79283075f9e54588e5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-08-09 / The management of weeds is complex and comprises a major component of the production cost of most cultures. Growing cover crops is one of the forms of management to reduce weeds competing. Agrobiodiversity, including the biota and the surrounding properties, constituting a cultural and natural capital able to provide ecosystem services. In this context, we developed a study to investigate the potential of wild species Crotalaria incana (rattlesnake rattle or Xique-Xique) and Diodia saponariifolia (Poaia the swamp), which occur in a nearby landscape the Atlantic Forest fragments in the River Basin region Guapi-Macacu-RJ, as part of sustainable agro-ecosystems, constituting strategy to reduce the use of herbicides and enhancing local biodiversity. This potential was assessed in C. incana through phenological studies of plant height, crown diameter, number of branches, presence of inflorescence and number of pods along the cycle and at different times, October, January, February and March. Also evaluated in its interaction with the climate and planting dates. It was found that the planting October C. incana had the longest growing season, low seed production. In the planting in February, the performance of C. incana was good in both parameters; while planting in March, C. incana demonstrated lower performance for mass production and seeds. Preliminary assessments of total biomass and macronutrients, indicate the potential of C. incana as a cover crop that needs to be better investigated. As for D. saponariifolia, a creeping species characterized as macrophyte, evaluations were made of soil coverage percentage after its introduction, compared to the most frequently dominant families in the system, Poaceae and Cyperaceae. Subsequently evaluated the seed bank behavior in this same area after being introduced (experimental area), compared to natural area, which was already established spontaneously. We observed a cooling populations of Poaceae and Cyperaceae after the introduction D. saponariifolia. The spontaneous seed bank revealed a reduction in the expression of these families, important competitors in the system. Possible allelopathic effect of D. saponariifolia in suppressing spontaneous, was evaluated by bioassay with the soil of the natural area where D. saponariifolia prevails spontaneously. In this ground sesame seeds were germinated Sesame indicu L. () in 15-cell trays 3 treatments (T1, T2, T3). T1, activated carbon was added to neutralize allelopathic effects harmful to the development of seedlings. T2, do not add anything. In T3 (control) used a soil adjacent area without the presence of individuals D. saponariifolia. There was no significant difference in the development of seedlings in 3 treatments, indicating no evidence of allelopathic effects of D. saponariifolia on Sesame germination. We can infer that the suppression of processes D. saponariifolia are only for "muffling". / O manejo de plantas espont?neas ? complexo e comp?e um dos principais componentes do custo de produ??o da maioria das culturas. O cultivo de plantas de cobertura ? uma das formas de manejo para redu??o das plantas espont?neas competidoras. Neste contexto desenvolveu-se um estudo com objetivo de investigar o potencial das esp?cies espont?neas Crotalaria incana (Xique-Xique) e Diodia Saponariifolia (Poaia do brejo), que ocorrem em uma paisagem pr?xima a fragmentos de Mata Atl?ntica, na regi?o da Bacia do Rio Guapi-Macacu-RJ, como parte integrante de agroecossistemas sustent?veis, constituindo estrat?gia para redu??o do uso de herbicidas e incremento da biodiversidade local. Este potencial foi avaliado em C. incana, atrav?s de estudos fenol?gicos de altura da planta, di?metro de copa, n?mero de ramos, presen?a de infloresc?ncia e n?mero de vagens ao longo do ciclo e em diferentes ?pocas Outubro, Janeiro, Fevereiro e Mar?o). Avaliou-se tamb?m sua intera??o com o clima e ?pocas de plantio. Constatou-se que no plantio de Outubro, C. incana teve o ciclo vegetativo mais longo, com pouca produ??o de sementes. J? no plantio em Fevereiro, o desempenho de C. incana foi bom em ambos par?metros; enquanto no plantio de Mar?o, C. incana demonstrou menor desempenho tanto para produ??o de massa como de sementes. Avalia??es preliminares de macronutrientes totais e biomassa indicam bom potencial de C. incana a ser melhor investigado. Quanto ? D. Saponariifolia, uma esp?cie rasteira caracterizada como macr?fita, foram feitas avalia??es de porcentagem de cobertura do solo ap?s sua introdu??o, comparando com as fam?lias mais frequentemente dominantes no sistema, Poaceae e Cyperaceae. Posteriormente avaliou-se o comportamento do banco de sementes nesta mesma ?rea ap?s ser introduzida (?rea experimental), comparando com ?rea natural onde j? estava estabelecida espont?neamente. Observou-se um arrefecimento das popula??es de Poaceae e Cyperaceae ap?s a introdu??o D. saponariifolia. O banco de sementes de espont?neas revelou uma redu??o na express?o destas fam?lias e de Asteraceae, importantes competidoras no sistema. Poss?vel efeito alelop?tico de D. saponariifolia na supress?o de espont?neas, foi avaliado atrav?s de biosensaio com o solo da ?rea natural, onde D. saponariifolia predomina espontaneamente. Neste solo foram germinadas sementes de Sesamo indicu L. (Gergelim) em bandejas de 15 c?lulas, com 3 tratamentos (T1,T2,T3). Em T1, adicionou-se carv?o ativado, que neutralizaria efeitos alelop?ticos prejudiciais ao desenvolvimento das pl?ntulas. Em T2, n?o se adicionou nada. Em T3 (controle) utilizou-se um solo da ?rea adjacente, sem presen?a de indiv?duos de D. saponariifolia. N?o houve diferen?a significativa no desenvolvimento das pl?ntulas nos 3 tratamentos, indicando n?o haver evid?ncias de efeitos alelop?ticos de D. saponariifolia na germina??o de Gergelim. Podemos inferir que os processos de supress?o de D. saponariifolia sejam apenas por ?abafamento?.

A utilização das emissões otoacústicas (EOs) têm contribuído na avaliação do sistema auditivo eferente por meio do estudo do efeito da estimulação acústica simultânea à pesquisa das EOs, descrito na literatura como supressão das EOs. Este trabalho teve por objetivo comparar o efeito da estimulação contralateral do ruído na amplitude das emissões otoacústicas evocadas por clique (EOE-c), em crianças que apresentam audição normal e em crianças com Neuropatia Auditiva/Dessincronia Auditiva. A casuística foi constituída de 16 crianças com audição normal e 11 crianças com o diagnóstico audiológico de Neuropatia Auditiva/Dessincronia Auditiva. As EOE-c foram pesquisadas, utilizando-se o clique linear na intensidade de 60 dB NPS e, para a estimulação contralateral do ruído, foi utilizado o ruído branco na intensidade de 65 dB NPS, com monitoramento do nível de pressão sonora, gerado no conduto auditivo externo, por meio do microfone sonda. Os resultados demonstraram que, nas crianças com audição normal, além da redução da amplitude das EOE-c, foi observada supressão das EOE-c, ou seja, a ausência do registro das EOE-c com a estimulação contralateral do ruído. Nas crianças com Neuropatia Auditiva/Dessincronia Auditiva, foi observado que a estimulação contralateral do ruído não provocou mudanças significativas na amplitude das EOE-c. Este trabalho permitiu concluir que a amplitude das EOE-c do grupo de crianças com audição normal se comportou de maneira estatisticamente diferente do grupo de crianças com Neuropatia Auditiva/Dessincronia Auditiva na presença da estimulação contralateral do ruído, e que a média da redução da amplitude das EOE-c frente à estimulação contralateral do ruído nas crianças com audição normal é estatisticamente maior que a redução da amplitude das EOEc nas crianças com Neuropatia Auditiva/Dessincronia Auditiva. / The use of otoacoustic emissions (EOs) has contributed to the evaluation of the efferent auditory system through the effect of the acoustic stimulation simultaneous to the EOs, described in the literature as EOs suppression. This study had the objective of comparing the effect of the contralateral stimulation of the noise in the amplitude of the click-evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOE-c), in children having normal hearing and in children with Auditory Neuropathy/ Auditory Dsy-synchrony. The casuistry was constituted by 16 children having normal hearing and 11 children diagnosed audiologically as having Auditory Neuropathy/ Auditory Dsy-synchrony. The EOE-c were scrutinized by using the linear click in the intensity of 60 dB SPL, and to the contralateral noise stimulation, the white noise was employed in the intensity of 65 dB SPL, with the monitoring of the level of sound pressure generated in the external auditory conduit, by using the microphone probe. The results have shown that in children with normal hearing, besides the reduction of amplitude of the EOE-c, it was noticed their suppression, that is, the absence of the record of the EOE-c with the contralateral noise stimulation. It was observed that the contralateral noise stimulation havent provoked significative change in the amplitude of the EOE-c in children with Auditory Neuropathy/ Auditory Dsy-synchrony. This study allowed us to conclude that the amplitude of EOE-c in children with normal hearing presented a different statistical result in the group of children with Auditory Neuropathy/ Auditory Dsy-synchrony in the presence of the contralateral noise stimulation and the average of the amplitude reduction of the EOE-c in the face of children with normal hearing is statistically higher than the amplitude reduction of the EOE-c in the children with Auditory Neuropathy/Auditory Dsy-synchrony.

INTRODUÇÃO: Dentre as medidas da função coclear, a curva de crescimento das Emissões Otoacústicas por produto de distorção (CCEOA PD) permite o registro da amplitude da emissão em função do crescimento sistemático nos níveis de tons primários. A CCEOA PD fornece parâmetros específicos sobre o limiar e o comportamento não-linear das EOA PD, porém a variabilidade das respostas inter e intrasujeitos reduz a confiabilidade dessa medida na avaliação da robustez das respostas cocleares e a relação dessa robustez com os limiares auditivos. OBJETIVOS: Esta pesquisa estudou as interações entre as medidas timpanométricas da orelha média e as medidas de função coclear em adultos jovens sem queixas auditivas, de acordo com as variáveis: antecedentes de alterações de orelha média, sexo e orelha direita / esquerda. MÉTODOS: Participaram 69 indivíduos com audição normal e idades entre 18 e 34 anos, sendo 21 homens e 48 mulheres. A caracterização das condições de orelha média foi obtida pela anamnese, com a informação dos antecedentes de alterações de orelha média e pela timpanometria com sondas de admitância de 226 e 1000 Hz. A audiometria foi realizada com resolução de 01 dB NA, o que possibilitou comparações mais refinadas entre o limiar psicoacústico da audiometria tonal, a amplitude do DP-Gram e os limiares das CCEOA PD. Além dessas variáveis, a interferência dos fatores sexo e orelha foram testadas em todas as análises. RESULTADOS/DISCUSSÃO: Os resultados apontaram que as curvas de crescimento sofreram influência significativa das variáveis sexo, antecedentes de alterações de orelha média e orelha direita \\ esquerda, porém, apenas a interferência dos antecedentes foi constante e causou um padrão de modificação, ou seja, o grupo com antecedentes apresentou respostas aquém das respostas do grupo sem antecedentes. Os limiares audiométricos também apresentaram alta correlação com as amplitudes das EOA PD e com os limiares das CCEOA PD, quando identificadas as variáveis que interferiram nos resultados. Considerando que o ruído de fundo foi controlado nessa pesquisa, durante a avaliação das EOA PD e CCEOA PD, os resultados confirmaram a importância da consideração dessas variáveis na composição de grupos com audição normal em pesquisas com medidas de emissões otoacústicas. Ainda sobre os resultados, foi possível, por meio da medida da curva de crescimento (slope e limiar), demonstrar que o padrão de crescimento das CCEOA PD é diferente nos casos de modificação nas condições de orelha média e isso foi verificado tanto pelos antecedentes de alterações de orelha média quanto pelas medidas timpanométricas com sonda de admitância de 1000 Hz. CONCLUSÃO: O limiar das CCEOA - PD estudado nessa pesquisa apresentou correlação positiva com valores audiométricos e negativa com o DP-Gram. A inclinação da curva de crescimento (slope) também apresentou alta correlação com os antecedentes de alterações de orelha média, apontando o potencial valor desta medida no estudo da função coclear saudável e alterada e, conseqüentemente, sua possível utilização nas medidas prescritivas de amplificação / INTRODUCTION: The Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions Input/Output function (DPOAE I/O function) is a subdivision of DPOAE, where the response amplitude is recorded such as a systematic growth function in the primary tones. The DPOAE I/O function provides specific parameters about the DPOAEs threshold and non-linearity. However, the response variability reduces the measure reliability to evaluate the cochlear robustness and the relationship between robustness and hearing thresholds. OBJECTIVE: This research studied the interaction between the tympanometric measures and cochlear functions measures in young adults without hearing complaints, considering the variables: middle-ear alteration antecedents, gender and right / left ear. METHODS: 69 normal hearing subjects, aged from 18 to 34 years participated of the study. From the total, 21 were men and 48 women. To reach the proposed objectives, the middle ear conditions were assessed by anamneses and 226 and 1000 Hz admittance probe-tone tympanometry. The audiometric thresholds were searched with 01 dBHL resolution to enable refined comparisons among pure-tone audiometry and DP-Gram amplitude and DPOAE I/O function thresholds. The gender and ear interference were also evaluated in all analyses. RESULTS/DISCUSSION: The results showed that the variables gender, antecedents and ear affected the I/O functions responses, but only the middle-ear alterations antecedents presented a constant modification pattern. In other words, the group with antecedents presented mainly reduced responses in comparison with no antecedents group. The audiometric thresholds also presented high correlation with DPOAE amplitudes and DPOAE I/O functions thresholds, after the detection of the variables affecting the results. As the background noise was controlled during this study, the results confirmed the importance of monitoring these variables in the normal hearing group compositions to perform researches with DPOAE. Regarding the DPOAE I/O functions (slope and threshold), the growth pattern was modified according the middle ear conditions, verified by the antecedents of middle ear alterations and 1000 Hz admittance probe-tone tympanometry. CONCLUSION: The DPOAE I/O function threshold studied presented positive correlation with audiometric thresholds and negative correlation with DP-Gram. The DPOAE I/O functions slope also showed high correlation with antecedents of middle ear alterations, denoting the potential value of this measure in the study of the healthy and damaged cochlear function and, hence, it possible application in amplification prescriptive measures

No description available.

This study uses the mindset of Bryan Eisenbergs four behavior types (Competitive, Spontaneous, Humanistic, and Methodical), to in- crease the conversion rate and the user experience while shopping online. Traditional retailers, i.e physical stores, are not a priority anymore and a challenge for an e-commerce site is to maintain a relationship to the customer online. The mindset of the four be- havior types is aimed to be used to target the universe of buyers. This mindset and theory will be applied to a CRO-design process, where the focus is to increase the conversion rate optimization of a website. An extensive literature study, an analysis phase, user tests and a questionnaire were used to decide whether this concept is worth using as a part of the process or not. The results indicate that the concept of the four behavior types can be used to target the audience. The thesis states that the concept could be used as a general foundation to further develop this mindset.

Spontaneous combustion of coal has historically been a major problem for the coal industry, predominantly during storage and transportation. Various methods have been used in the laboratory for evaluating the propensity of different coal sources to self-heat. However, the heterogeneity of coal and the complexity of the system has resulted in inconsistencies and sometimes conflicting results as indicated by the findings reported in several publications. The primary objective of the current study was to build a laboratory scale apparatus that simulates the condition of a coal stockpile to evaluate the events leading to spontaneous combustion and develop potential remedies. As such, the influential factors can be identified with confidence, thereby providing an improved understanding of the spontaneous combustion. An adiabatic heating apparatus was designed and constructed which included instrumentation to closely monitor the oxidation process and the stages leading to spontaneous combustion under various conditions. The device was equipped with thermocouples which measured the temperature rise as a function of time leading to the determination of an index value that indicated the propensity of a given coal source to spontaneously combustion. The index was referred to as the R70 value which was measured as the temperature was increased during the period of rapid oxidation. The units for the index was degrees Celsius per hour. As such, a high index value reflected the likelihood of spontaneous combustion for a given coal source. To standardize the test procedure, a detailed three-level statistical experimental design was conducted involving three critical parameters, i.e., particle size, oxygen flow rate and the duration of the drying period prior to feeding oxygen to the system. Using empirical models describing the R70 value as a function of the parameter values developed from the test data, it was determined that R70 was sensitive to the sample particle size and drying time. A decrease in particle size and drying time significantly increased the R70 value while the oxygen rate did not have a significant impact over the range of values tested. Based on the results of the test program, a standard test procedure was established to evaluate various coal sources and identify chemicals that could be used to remediate the spontaneous combustion issue. Several sub-bituminous coal sources collected from the Powder River Basin were tested in the apparatus and found to be prone to spontaneous combustion as indicated by R70 values that approached 50oC per hour. Several chemicals were evaluated as a means of eliminating or slowing the spontaneous combustion process. These agents included anti-oxidants, binders and humectants. Organic binders were used to agglomerate the fine coal particles which limited surface area exposure. The effect significantly reduced the oxidation rate as indicated by a reduction in the R70 index from 44.07oC/hr to 5.71oC/hr. However, after entering the latent heat stage, the temperature increased rapidly at a rate of 27.58oC/hr. Humectants were evaluated which contained several hydrophilic groups, mainly hydroxyl groups, and thus have an affinity for water. As a result, when the coals were treated with humectant, the latent heat rate was reduced to 4.24oC/hr although the R70 remained relatively high. By using a combination of humectant and binder, the optimum result was obtained with an R70 value of 5.04oC/hr and a latent heat rate of 11.06oC/hr. These findings were successfully implemented into industrial practice for significantly delaying the spontaneous combustion event.

Ce travail est une contribution à la compréhension des capacités adaptatives des personnes âgées déprimées et non déprimées. Pour répondre à cet objectif nous avons utilisé une méthode expérimentale et une observation clinique : une étude de cas suivie longitudinalement pendant 6 ans. La relation dépression - flexibilité cognitive est évaluée au moyen d'épreuves de shifting et de fluence auprès de deux groupes de personnes âgées non démentes, déprimées et non déprimées, résidant en maisons de retraite.L'analyse quantitative et qualitative met en évidence un affaiblissement de la flexibilité cognitive qui se traduit par une corrélation négative entre les scores de dépression et ceux obtenus aux épreuves de flexibilité réactive et spontanée. Nous établissons une analogie entre les comportements adaptatifs au quotidien et les données quantitatives, et nous proposons un schéma théorique expliquant le comportement adaptatif des personnes âgées. Notre étude de cas permet une meilleure compréhension de la relation dépression-flexibilité cognitive notamment l'amélioration des capacités adaptatives suite à la baisse du niveau de dépression. / This thesis is a contribution to the understanding of adaptive capacity of depressed and non-depressed aging adults. To achieve this goal we have used an experimental method and a clinical observation: a six-year longitudinal case study. The relationship between depression and cognitive flexibility is assessed by means of shifting and fluency tasks applied to two groups of non-dement depressed and non-depressed elderly who reside in nursing institutions.The quantitative and qualitative analysis shows a decrease in cognitive flexibility which highlights a negative correlation between depression and flexibility scores. We establish an analogy between daily adaptive behaviours and quantitative data, and we propose a theoretical mechanism that explains the adaptive behaviour of the elderly. Our case study offers a deeper understanding of the relationship between depression and cognitive flexibility, particularly the improvements of adaptive capacities due to a decrease of depression.

The focus of this thesis is to investigate the use of art therapy in the treatment of an individual diagnosed with schizophrenia. In this qualitative narrative single case study, eleven art therapy sessions are described using non-directive spontaneous art making with a 37-year-old man residing in a psychosocial rehabilitation program. The research study describes this client�s delusional world, and explores the struggle of making sense of his traumatic experiences in early childhood. The themes that emerge in this exploratory study are many and grief and bereavement are the focus as the client uncovers the connections between the past and the present. The process of the art therapy sessions and the progression in the imagery from chaos to serenity is described as the client moves from darkness into light, and as we witness his exploration of space in the images of the whirlwind that reappear throughout the sessions.