A deglutição é um processo coordenado e extremamente complexo, envolvendo contração e inibição de músculos localizados entre a boca e o estômago. Alterações neste sistema podem gerar disfagia, sinal comum de diversas doenças orgânicas, alterações neurológicas ou doenças neuromusculares, produzindo no paciente dificuldade na mastigação e deglutição de alimentos. Prover deglutição segura para indivíduos disfágicos é um desafio, contudo, esta pode ser facilitada se os alimentos tiverem a textura modificada e os líquidos forem espessados. Dessa maneira, este trabalho teve por objetivo desenvolver uma formulação de espessante alimentar, com valor nutricional agregado, para espessar diferentes líquidos, tornando-os com consistência adequada para pacientes disfásicos e avaliar sua ação em diferentes líquidos, testando a influência do tempo de espessamento e temperatura, sobre a estabilidade das viscosidades obtidas com as amostras. O ingrediente base usado para formulação e fonte de proteína foi o concentrado protéico de soro de leite (WPC), obtido experimentalmente, através da utilização das tecnologias de membranas, ultrafiltração (UF) e diafiltração (DF), através de três experimentos distintos. Inicialmente, 30 litros de soro em pó reconstituído, foram concentrados através da ultrafiltração, com redução do volume para cinco litros, a partir deste volume realizaram-se as diafiltrações. No primeiro experimento executaram-se quatro DF, duas de cinco litros e duas de 2,5 litros, obtendo-se WPC-1 com 56% de proteína. No segundo experimento também com quatro DF, executaram-se dois deles com 10 litros e dois com cinco litros, obtendo-se o WPC-2, com 71% de proteína. Para o terceiro experimento, os ciclos das diafiltrações foram aumentados para seis DF de cinco litros cada, obtendo-se o WPC-3, com 80% de proteína. Os concentrados obtidos foram liofilizados e caracterizados em relação a suas propriedades funcionais, sendo a solubilidade a mais importante por estar diretamente ligada à utilização em formulações alimentares de bebidas. Obteve-se solubilidade média de 70, 77 e 85% para WPC-1, 2 e 3 respectivamente. Pelas características obtidas de concentração de proteínas e percentual de solubilidade, o concentrado protéico obtido no terceiro experimento foi o selecionado para ser utilizado na formulação. Esta ficou constituída de 68% de concentrado protéico de soro de leite, 2% de mix de vitaminas e minerais e 30% do agente espessante (goma guar). Através de testes preliminares realizados com o agente espessante, determinou-se a porção do produto formulado necessária de ser adicionada aos líquidos para que os mesmos atingissem os níveis de consistência desejados, ou seja, 4,2 g para consistência de néctar (50 – 351 cP), 6,7 g para consistência de mel (351-1750 cP) e 9,2 g para consistência de pudim (> 1750 cP), tradicionalmente recomendadas para indivíduos disfásicos, segundo o National Dysphagia Diet Guidelines (NDD). Diferentes amostras (leite, sucos de abacaxi, de uva e de laranja) foram espessadas e realizadas medidas da viscosidade aparente, expressas em centipoise (cP), nos tempos pós-preparo: 10 minutos, 2 horas com taxa de cisalhamento (“shear rate”) de 50s-1 a 25ºC. As amostras foram armazenadas sob refrigeração e após 24 horas, novas medidas foram realizadas com taxa de cisalhamento de 50s-1 a 10ºC. Houve diferença estatística significativa entre as médias de viscosidade nos tempos de preparo de todos os níveis de consistência, demonstrando que o agente espessante utilizado continuou agindo, hidratando-se e aumentando a viscosidade com o passar do tempo. Também foi encontrada diferença significativa entre algumas amostras, com diferentes líquidos de diluição, quando comparadas entre si no mesmo nível de consistência. No entanto, as amostras apresentaram viscosidade dentro dos níveis sugeridos pela National Disfagic Diet, com exceção da consistência de pudim que, no tempo 10 minutos, permaneceu abaixo dos limites, adequando-se com o tempo, para o consumo de indivíduos disfágicos. / The swallowing is a coordinated and extremely complex process, involving contractions and inhibitions of muscles located between the mouth and the stomach. Alterations on this system can generate dysphagia, common sign of several organic diseases, neurological alterations or neuromuscular diseases, producing in the patient difficulty in the mastication and Swallowing of food .To provide safe swallowing for dysphagic individuals is a challenge, however, this can be facilitated, if the food has modified texture and if the liquids are thickened. In this way, the purpose of this work was to develop a formulation of food thickener, with aggregated nutritional value, to thicken different liquid foods, giving them an appropriate consistence for dysphagic individuals and to evaluate its action in different liquid foods, testing the influence of the time of thickening and temperature, over the stability of the viscosities obtained by the samples. As ingredient base for formulation and protein source was used whey protein concentrate (WPC), obtained experimentally, through the use of the technologies of membranes, the ultrafiltration (UF) and diafiltration (DF), through three different experiments. Initially, 30 liters of reconstituted powder serum, were concentrate through ultrafiltration, with reduction of the volume for cinco liters, starting from this volume the diafiltration took place. In the first experiment quatro DF were executed, two of cinco liters and two of 2.5 liters, obtained WPC-1 with 56% of protein. In the second experiment quatro DF were executed, two of them with 10 liters and two with cinco liters, obtaining WPC-2 with 71% of protein. For the third experiment, the cycles of the diafiltration were increased for 6 DF of 5 liters each, obtaining WPC-3 with 80% of protein.The obtained concentrates were liofilized and characterized in relation to its functional properties, being the solubility the most important for being directly linked to the use in alimentary formulations and drink. Average solubility of 70, 77 and 85% were obtained for WPC, 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Due to the obtained characteristics of protein concentrate and its solubility, the WPC obtained in the third experiment was selected for if used in the formulation. This was constituted of 68% of whey protein concentrate, 2% of mix of Vitamins and Minerals and 30% of the thickning agent (gum guar). Through preliminary tests accomplished with the thickening agent the amount of formulated product necessary to reach the desired consistence levels was determined, being 4.2 g for nectar consistence (50 – 351 cP), 6.7 g for honey consistence (351-1750 cP) and 9.2 g for pudding (> 1750 cP), traditionally recommended for dysphagic individuals according to National Dysphagia Diet Guidelines (NDD). Different samples (milk, pineapple juices, and grape and orange) were thickened and measurements of apparent viscosity were carried out, expressed in centipoise (cP), in the times after preparation: 10 minutes, 2 hour with shear rate of 50s-1 to 25±2ºC. The samples were stored under refrigeration and after 24 hours, new measurements were accomplished with shear rate of 50 s-1 to 10±2ºC. There were significant statistic difference among the average viscosity in the times of preparation of all the consistence levels, demonstrating that the thickening agent used continued acting, increasing the viscosity in the course of time. As well as significant differences among some samples when compared to each other in the same consistence level, caused by the different constituents of the drinks taken as sample. However, all samples presented viscosity inside the levels suggested by National Dysphagic Diet, except for the pudding consistence that, in the time of 10 minutes, was below these limits, fitting with time, being for this inside the levels suggested, appropriated for consumption by dysphagic individuals.

Résumé : Ce projet de recherche s’inscrit dans le cadre d’une requête de l’entreprise partenaire, Golder Associés Ltée. Cette dernière s’interrogeait sur la consolidation d’un résidu minier épaissi, une approche de plus en plus utilisée dans le domaine de la gestion des aires de déposition des résidus miniers. Ce type de matériau est épaissi jusqu’à un point où une fois déposé, il ne connaît pas ou peu de ségrégation, rejette moins d’eau et possède généralement un angle de repos plus grand que les résidus conventionnels. L’intérêt de cette approche dans le cadre de cette étude consiste en la réduction des empreintes des aires de déposition par la combinaison des résidus épaissis et des rehaussements par l’amont. La consolidation de ce type de résidus a été peu étudiée depuis leur développement. En rassemblant les observations rapportées dans les écrits scientifiques, il est possible de ressortir que le mécanisme physique générant la dissipation des pressions interstitielles en excès et le tassement au moment de la déposition est essentiellement la consolidation sous le poids propre. Un essai en colonne de tassement instrumentée de transmetteurs de pression a permis l’étude de la consolidation sous le poids propre en termes de dissipation des pressions d’eau avec une grande précision. Un essai en consolidomètre a permis de définir la compressibilité du matériau durant cette étape de consolidation sous le poids propre avec une précision acceptable. Les résultats expérimentaux ont été reproduits à l’aide du modèle CS2 suite à quelques ajustements des relations constitutives. CS2 considère la consolidation sous le poids propre et les grandes déformations d’une déposition instantanée. Le rapprochement entre le modèle CS2 et les résultats expérimentaux est sans équivoque et permet de prendre connaissance de certains aspects de la consolidation sous le poids propre qui étaient peu détaillés jusqu'à maintenant dans les écrits scientifiques. L’importance de la consolidation sous le poids propre et son intégration dans le plan de déposition proposé par l’entreprise partenaire a été évaluée à l’aide du logiciel SIGMA/W. Les capacités de ce logiciel ont tout d’abord été étudiées en 1D. Ces vérifications visaient la considération de la consolidation sous le poids propre tout en examinant la formulation de SIGMA/W pour un remplissage progressif. Ces simulations 1D ont pu être comparées aux résultats du modèle CS4, un modèle calqué sur CS2 qui permet un remplissage progressif. Finalement, une campagne de simulation à grande échelle en 2D visant la simulation d’une aire de déposition de résidus épaissis a permis d’examiner les éléments importants dans la considération de ce mécanisme à l’aide du logiciel commercial SIGMA/W. Il en ressort que le logiciel SIGMA/W n’est pas le logiciel idéal pour simuler la déposition progressive de résidus épaissis en considérant la consolidation sous le poids propre et ce pour maintes raisons. Les résultats de cette étude viennent situer l’importance de la consolidation sous le poids propre dans les résidus épaissis et fournissent une base solide pour la compréhension et la modélisation numérique de ce mécanisme en 1D ou en 2D. // Abstract : This research project was done through an academic partnership between the Université de Sherbrooke and Golder Associés Ltée., a mining consultant from Montréal. The latter had interrogations at regarding consolidation mechanisms controlling thickened tailings deposition, a relatively new approach in tailings management. This type of material are thickened to a point from which they don’t show any segregation, they expulse less water and can be stacked with a greater beach angle than conventional tailings. The combination of this method with the upstream raising method results in the possible reduction of the footprint of the tailings disposal facility. Thickened tailings have not been studied extensively. However, by gathering available information from the existing technical literature, it is apparent that the sole mechanism creating both a dissipation of excess pore water pressure and a settlement following deposition is self-weight consolidation. A settling column monitored with pressure transmitters was used to define accurately the self-weight consolidation process in terms of dissipation of excess pore water pressure. A consolidometer setup was used to define the compressibility of this material during the self-weight consolidation. Experimental results were reproduced with the numerical model CS2 which considers the self-weight consolidation and large strains. Following a few adjustments of the constitutive relationships, the numerical reproduction is clear; it represents closely the experimental results. This made it possible to document certain elements that were not well defined in the technical literature about the self-weight consolidation. The use of the finite element model SIGMA/W and its capability to consider self-weight consolidation within a tailings deposition scheme were evaluated. Firstly, the model capabilities were verified through 1D simulations that helped to document the method to adopt to model the self-weight consolidation. The formulation of SIGMA/W related to the sequential tailings placement was also studied during this phase. A comparison with the model CS4 was also performed. Secondly, the tailings disposal facility was modeled at large scale by including the sequential tailings placement and the consideration of the self-weight consolidation for each deposition. This process allowed evaluating the capabilities of SIGMA/W in large scale analysis. It appears that this numerical tool presents some numerical weaknesses especially with regards to the sequential tailings placement. Moreover, the results of this study place the self-weight consolidation of hard rock thickened mine tailings as an important mechanism that needs to be considered in a deposition scheme as it controls the short term displacements of the impoundment. Finally, they document the self-weight consolidation mechanism and provide reliable information for modelling this process in one or two-dimensional numerical analysis.

Résumé : Ce projet de recherche s’inscrit dans le cadre d’une requête de l’entreprise partenaire, Golder Associés Ltée. Cette dernière s’interrogeait sur la consolidation d’un résidu minier épaissi, une approche de plus en plus utilisée dans le domaine de la gestion des aires de déposition des résidus miniers. Ce type de matériau est épaissi jusqu’à un point où une fois déposé, il ne connaît pas ou peu de ségrégation, rejette moins d’eau et possède généralement un angle de repos plus grand que les résidus conventionnels. L’intérêt de cette approche dans le cadre de cette étude consiste en la réduction des empreintes des aires de déposition par la combinaison des résidus épaissis et des rehaussements par l’amont. La consolidation de ce type de résidus a été peu étudiée depuis leur développement. En rassemblant les observations rapportées dans les écrits scientifiques, il est possible de ressortir que le mécanisme physique générant la dissipation des pressions interstitielles en excès et le tassement au moment de la déposition est essentiellement la consolidation sous le poids propre. Un essai en colonne de tassement instrumentée de transmetteurs de pression a permis l’étude de la consolidation sous le poids propre en termes de dissipation des pressions d’eau avec une grande précision. Un essai en consolidomètre a permis de définir la compressibilité du matériau durant cette étape de consolidation sous le poids propre avec une précision acceptable. Les résultats expérimentaux ont été reproduits à l’aide du modèle CS2 suite à quelques ajustements des relations constitutives. CS2 considère la consolidation sous le poids propre et les grandes déformations d’une déposition instantanée. Le rapprochement entre le modèle CS2 et les résultats expérimentaux est sans équivoque et permet de prendre connaissance de certains aspects de la consolidation sous le poids propre qui étaient peu détaillés jusqu'à maintenant dans les écrits scientifiques. L’importance de la consolidation sous le poids propre et son intégration dans le plan de déposition proposé par l’entreprise partenaire a été évaluée à l’aide du logiciel SIGMA/W. Les capacités de ce logiciel ont tout d’abord été étudiées en 1D. Ces vérifications visaient la considération de la consolidation sous le poids propre tout en examinant la formulation de SIGMA/W pour un remplissage progressif. Ces simulations 1D ont pu être comparées aux résultats du modèle CS4, un modèle calqué sur CS2 qui permet un remplissage progressif. Finalement, une campagne de simulation à grande échelle en 2D visant la simulation d’une aire de déposition de résidus épaissis a permis d’examiner les éléments importants dans la considération de ce mécanisme à l’aide du logiciel commercial SIGMA/W. Il en ressort que le logiciel SIGMA/W n’est pas le logiciel idéal pour simuler la déposition progressive de résidus épaissis en considérant la consolidation sous le poids propre et ce pour maintes raisons. Les résultats de cette étude viennent situer l’importance de la consolidation sous le poids propre dans les résidus épaissis et fournissent une base solide pour la compréhension et la modélisation numérique de ce mécanisme en 1D ou en 2D. // Abstract : This research project was done through an academic partnership between the Université de Sherbrooke and Golder Associés Ltée., a mining consultant from Montréal. The latter had interrogations at regarding consolidation mechanisms controlling thickened tailings deposition, a relatively new approach in tailings management. This type of material are thickened to a point from which they don’t show any segregation, they expulse less water and can be stacked with a greater beach angle than conventional tailings. The combination of this method with the upstream raising method results in the possible reduction of the footprint of the tailings disposal facility. Thickened tailings have not been studied extensively. However, by gathering available information from the existing technical literature, it is apparent that the sole mechanism creating both a dissipation of excess pore water pressure and a settlement following deposition is self-weight consolidation. A settling column monitored with pressure transmitters was used to define accurately the self-weight consolidation process in terms of dissipation of excess pore water pressure. A consolidometer setup was used to define the compressibility of this material during the self-weight consolidation. Experimental results were reproduced with the numerical model CS2 which considers the self-weight consolidation and large strains. Following a few adjustments of the constitutive relationships, the numerical reproduction is clear; it represents closely the experimental results. This made it possible to document certain elements that were not well defined in the technical literature about the self-weight consolidation. The use of the finite element model SIGMA/W and its capability to consider self-weight consolidation within a tailings deposition scheme were evaluated. Firstly, the model capabilities were verified through 1D simulations that helped to document the method to adopt to model the self-weight consolidation. The formulation of SIGMA/W related to the sequential tailings placement was also studied during this phase. A comparison with the model CS4 was also performed. Secondly, the tailings disposal facility was modeled at large scale by including the sequential tailings placement and the consideration of the self-weight consolidation for each deposition. This process allowed evaluating the capabilities of SIGMA/W in large scale analysis. It appears that this numerical tool presents some numerical weaknesses especially with regards to the sequential tailings placement. Moreover, the results of this study place the self-weight consolidation of hard rock thickened mine tailings as an important mechanism that needs to be considered in a deposition scheme as it controls the short term displacements of the impoundment. Finally, they document the self-weight consolidation mechanism and provide reliable information for modelling this process in one or two-dimensional numerical analysis.

Liquefaction is a major challenge in geotechnical engineering in which soil strength and stiffness are compromised due to earthquake activity. Understanding and predicting the behaviour and liquefaction susceptibility of soils under cyclic loading is a critical issue in civil engineering, mining and protective engineering. Numerous earthquake-induced ground failure events (e.g., substantial ground deformation, reduced bearing capacity) or liquefaction in natural fine-grained soils or manmade fine-grained soils (i.e., fine tailings) produced by mining activities have been observed and reported in the literature. Tailings are manmade soils that remain following the extraction of metals and minerals from mined ore in a mine processing plant. Traditionally, such tailings are stored in surface tailings impoundments at the mine’s surface. However, geotechnical and environmental risks and consequences related to conventional tailings impoundments have attracted the attention of the engineering community to develop novel methods of tailings disposal and management to minimize geotechnical and environmental risks. Thus, engineers have introduced and implemented innovative tailings technologies—thickened tailings and paste tailings—as cost-effective means for tailings management in mining operations. As both thickened tailings and paste tailings have lower water content and higher solid content than tailings in conventional impoundments, these tailings may be more resistant to liquefaction. However, it should be noted that the seismic or cyclic behaviour of these thickened and paste tailings, with and without heavy rainfall effects, are not fully understood. There is little technical information or data about the behaviour and liquefaction of thickened and paste tailings under seismic or cyclic loading conditions. The objective of the present PhD research is to investigate the response of layered thickened and paste tailings deposits, with and without heavy rainfall effects, to cyclic loads by conducting shaking table tests. To simulate the field deposition of thickened and paste tailings, tailings were deposited in three thin layers in a flexible laminar shear box (FLSB) attached to the shaking table equipment. A sinusoidal seismic loading at a frequency of 1 Hz and peak horizontal acceleration of 0.13g was applied at the bottom of the layered tailings deposits. Acceleration, displacement and pore water pressure responses to the cyclic loading were monitored at the middle depth of each layer of the tailings deposits. Regarding the acceleration response of these thickened and paste tailings deposits (without the effect of heavy rainfall), there was no difference between the middle of the bottom and middle layers or at the base of the shaking table. However, the acceleration at the middle of the top layer differed from the acceleration at the base of the shaking table. Throughout shaking, the layered tailings deposits (with and without the effect of heavy rainfall) exhibited contraction and dilation responses. The excess pore water pressure ratios of the layered thickened tailings deposit that was not exposed to heavy rainfall prior to shaking were found to exceed 1.0 during shaking. However, for the layered paste tailings deposit that was not exposed to the effect of heavy rainfall prior to shaking, the excess pore water pressure ratios were found to be lower than 0.85 during shaking. This reveals that without the effect of heavy rainfall, the layered thickened tailings deposit was susceptible to liquefaction, whereas the layered paste tailings deposit was resistant to liquefaction during shaking. The excess pore water ratios of the layered thickened and the paste tailings deposits that were exposed to heavy rainfall prior to shaking were found to be lower than 0.8 during shaking. This reveals that with the effect of heavy rainfall, the layered thickened and paste tailings deposits were resistant to liquefaction during shaking. The results and findings of this PhD research thus provide valuable information for the implementation of tailings in earthquake-prone areas.

DNA graph structures can self-assemble from branched junction molecules to yield solutions to computational problems. Self-assembly of graphs have previously been shown to give polynomial time solutions to hard computational problems such as 3-SAT and k-colorability problems. Jonoska et al. have proposed studying self-assembly of graphs topologically, considering the boundary components of their thickened graphs, which allows for reading the solutions to computational problems through reporter strands. We discuss weighting algorithms and consider applications of self-assembly of graphs and the boundary components of their thickened graphs to problems involving minimal weight Eulerian walks such as the Chinese Postman Problem and the Windy Postman Problem.

台灣高齡者之吞嚥困難解決方案的市場分析與商機 / It has been suggested that dysphagia affects approximately 8 % of the world’s population. People may be completely unable to swallow or may have trouble in safely swallowing liquids, foods, or saliva. When that happens, eating becomes a challenge. Recent studies have identified elderly people who require the long- term care as being at increased risk for dysphagia due to changes in the swallowing mechanism as aging occurs, it may affect 30% to 40% of the population at 65 years old or more. Taiwan is on course to go from being an “aging society” to an “aged society” and is experiencing a rapid increase in the number of older adults who require long-term care. Dysphagia is a prevalent difficulty among elderly people. Though increasing age facilitates subtle physiological changes in the swallow function, age-related diseases are significant factors in the presence and severity of dysphagia. Among elderly diseases and health complications, stroke and dementia reflect high rates of dysphagia. In both conditions, dysphagia is associated with nutritional deficits and increased risk of pneumonia. Recent efforts have suggested that long-term care organizations or nursing homes are also at risk for dysphagia and are associated deficits in nutritional status and increased pneumonia risk. Swallowing rehabilitation is an effective approach to increase safe oral intake in these populations and recent research has demonstrated extended benefits related to improved nutritional status and reduced pneumonia rates. Living with dysphagia is challenging, but it can be managed. For elderly people with dysphagia, it's important to continue the principle of maintaining hydration, calories and nutrients, especially protein and fluids. Texture-modified foods and thickened liquids can help achieve nutritional and hydration goals. This research provides the market analysis of dysphagia solution and its market opportunities in Taiwan. It concludes with a market plan to assess the viability of such a business opportunity. Well- structured management of dysphagia can not only provide elderly people’s physical, mental and social well-being but also brings the elderly people the pleasures of eating and the dignity during the last few years of their lives.