Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Strada Reale'

Con questo lavoro si vuole realizzare un sistema di riconoscimento e tracciamento delle buche stradali in tempo reale. Il lavoro si inserisce in un progetto più ampio che ha lo scopo di riconoscere le buche stradali, al fine di permettere al veicolo di attuare contromisure preventive, per supportare al meglio le sollecitazioni causate dalle buche. Per questo progetto si faranno uso di algoritmi di image-processing per riconoscere e tracciare la buca, sfruttando la differenza di contrasto e luminosità tra l’asfalto e la buca stradale. Verrà proposto un algoritmo che sarà valutato mediante un dataset etichettato con una apposita applicazione realizzata per tale scopo. Per valutare le prestazioni dell’algoritmo è stato definito anche un protocollo per descrivere le etichette che sarà implementato sia nella applicazione di etichettamento sia nella applicazione di valutazione dell’algoritmo. Inoltre verrà fatta una discussione sui diversi problemi ancora aperti, come la gestione di ombre e la presenza di veicoli nell'inquadratura, e sulle possibili strategie o specializzazioni per raffinare l'algoritmo e renderlo più preciso e accurato.

The present doctoral thesis discusses the ways to improve the performance of driving simulator, provide objective measures for the road safety evaluation methodology based on driver’s behavior and response and investigates the drivers' adaptation to the driving assistant systems. The activities are divided into two macro areas; the driving simulation studies and on-road experiments. During the driving simulation experimentation, the classical motion cueing algorithm with logarithmic scale was implemented in the 2DOF motion cueing simulator and the motion cues were found desirable by the participants. In addition, it found out that motion stimuli could change the behaviour of the drivers in terms of depth/distance perception. During the on-road experimentations, The driver gaze behaviour was investigated to find the objective measures on the visibility of the road signs and reaction time of the drivers. The sensor infusion and the vehicle monitoring instruments were found useful for an objective assessment of the pavement condition and the drivers’ performance. In the last chapter of the thesis, the safety assessment during the use of level 1 automated driving “ACC” is discussed with the simulator and on-road experiment. The drivers’ visual behaviour was investigated in both studies with innovative classification method to find the epochs of the distraction of the drivers. The behavioural adaptation to ACC showed that drivers may divert their attention away from the driving task to engage in secondary, non-driving-related tasks.

Members of the alphavirus genus pose a serious or potential threat to public health in many areas of the world. Nearly all alphaviruses are maintained in nature by transmission cycles that involve alternating replication in a susceptible vertebrate and invertebrate host. The maintenance of this transmission cycle depends on the establishment of a life-long persistent infection in the invertebrate vector host. Although alphavirus replication has been extensively studied in vertebrate models, the strand-specific replication kinetics of alphaviruses during persistent infections of the invertebrate host have not been reported. We investigated the strand-specific replication of different alphavirus genotypes in invertebrate cells.

By comparing different detection strategies and chemistries, we identified an optimal ssqPCR assay design for strand-specific quantification of viral RNAs in infected cells and tissues. We found that primer sets incorporating the use of a non-target tag sequence were able to avoid real-time PCR detection of amplicons that were falsely-primed during reverse-transcription. We also determined that DNA hydrolysis probes increased the sensitivity of ssqPCR assays when compared to a double-stranded DNA-specific dye, SYBR Green.

Using this information, we determined the replication kinetics of two different genotypes of o'nyong nyong virus (ONNV) and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in infected mosquito cells. We found that (-) strand viral RNAs persisted in invertebrate cells for up to 21 days after infection. We also found that significantly less (-) strand RNA was present in cells infected with opal variants of both ONNV and CHIKV than sense variants at several time points post infection, suggesting that the opal codon has a functional role in (-) strand RNA regulation. We also report the development of an ONNV replicon expression system.

In total, the tools we developed for this report will facilitate future replication studies in the mosquito that may shed light on questions regarding the regulatory role of the opal codon and the persistence of (-) strand RNAs during long-term infections. The strand-specific replication kinetics of ONNV and CHIKV genotypes reported here will serve as a foundation for such investigations.

Master of Science in Life Sciences

Mestrado em Engenharia Mecânica
Vision systems have already proven to be a useful tool in various elds. The ease of their implementation, allied to their low cost mean that their growth potential is immense. In this dissertation it is proposed a approach to measure strains in metallic surfaces, using stereo vision. This approach is based on the 3D DIC. This method measures the strain of the surface by dividing this surface in small sections, called subsets, and iteratively nding the equation that describes its shape variation through time. However, calculating the transformation of this subset is very timeconsuming. The proposed approach tries to optimize this calculation by rst determine the displacement eld, and then the strain eld by derivation. The dissertation also presents some experimental data and practical considerations relatively to the camera setup and image equalization algorithms in order to obtain better disparity maps. The results were veri ed experimentally and compared with the results obtained from other softwares.
Os sistemas de vis~ao j a provaram ser uma ferramenta util em v arios campos. A facilidade da sua implementa c~ao, aliada ao seu baixo custo signi cam que o seu potencial de crescimento e enorme. Nesta disserta c~ao e proposta uma abordagem para medir deforma c~oes em superf cies met alicas usando vis~ao stereo. Esta abordagem e baseada na t ecnica 3D DIC. Este m etodo mede as deforma c~oes da superf cie dividindo-a em pequenas se c~oes, designadas por sub- sets, tentando iterativamente encontrar a equa c~ao que de ne as varia c~oes das suas formas ao longo do tempo. No entanto, o c alculo das transforma c~oes destes subsets e demorado. A abordagem proposta pretende pretende otimizar este c alculo determinando primeiro o campo de deslocamentos e depois o campo das deforma c~oes atrav es da deriva c~ao. A disserta c~ao apresenta tamb em dados experimentais e considera c~oes pr aticas relativamente a con gura c~ao (setup) das c^amaras e algoritmos de equaliza c~ao de imagens de forma a se obterem melhores mapas de disparidade. Os resultados foram veri cados experimentalmente e comparados com os resultados obtidos por outros softwares.

La presente tesi si occupa di identificare la metodologia utilizzata per la definizione di percorsi Real Driving Emissions. Nel particolare sono stati individuati due percorsi, uno in piano, definite RDE Moderate Track ed uno in quota, definito RDE Extended Track. Si è anche eseguita una analisi dei cicli su banco a rulli NEDC e WLTC in ottica Real Driving Emissions.

Der stetig anwachsende Bedarf und die innovative Weiterentwicklung im Bereich der Großdieselmotoren als Antrieb für Schiffe und Generatoranlagen erfordert ebenfalls die Weiterentwicklung der Abgasturbolader. Hohe Leistungsfähigkeit und Wirtschaftlichkeit ist nur durch moderne Fertigungsverfahren und einer optimalen Ausnutzung der eingesetzten, hochwertigen Werkstoffe zu erreichen. Dies gilt insbesondere für die integralen Radialturbinenräder in Abgasturboladern, die aufgrund der hohen Betriebsbelastungen einen zentralen Punkt bei der Auslegung darstellen. Lebensdauerbegrenzend ist die hochzyklische Ermüdung aufgrund Resonanzschwingungen an der Beschaufelung der Turbinenräder. Die vorliegende Arbeit soll die Auslegungsmethodik zur Berechnung und Beurteilung der zu erwartenden Schwingbeanspruchungen der Turbinenräder im Hinblick der realen Geometrie verbessern. Dazu wird ein einfaches Berechnungsmodell zur Identifizierung der kritischen Schaufelmoden und Bestimmung der Schwingbeanspruchungen im integralen Turbinenrad erarbeitet. Das Modell wird auf vorhandene Turbinenräder angewendet und aus den Ergebnissen werden Hinweise für eine systematische Beurteilung der Schaufelmoden, Knotendurchmesser und Schaufelgestaltung bezüglich der kritischen Schwingbeanspruchungen angegeben. Desweiteren wird der Einfluss der Verstimmung (engl. Mistuning) des Schwingverhaltens realer, integraler Turbinenräder ausführlich im Hinblick auf die Schwingbeanspruchungen untersucht. Die wesentlichen Ursachen für die Verstimmung sind die innerhalb der Fertigungstoleranzen auftretenden Geometrieabweichungen der Schaufeln. Dabei wird ein Überblick über die typischen Geometrie- und Frequenzabweichungen Radialturbinen gegeben und Auswirkungen auf das Schwingverhalten des Rades wie Lokalisierung der Schwingformen und Amplitudenüberhöhungen ermittelt und in einen systematischen Zusammenhang mit den geometrischen Ursachen, der Komplexität der Schaufelschwingformen und Knotendurchmesser gestellt. Es zeigt sich, dass unter gewissen Voraussetzungen bei Radialturbinen KD0 und KD1 Schwingformen weniger sensibel auf die Verstimmung reagieren. Hieraus können Hinweise für die Verbesserung des Auslegungsprozess abgeleitet werden. Die Kenntnis über das reale Schwingverhalten verstimmter Turbinenräder ermöglicht die korrekte Auswahl geeigneter Schaufeln zur Applikation von Dehnmessstreifen, wodurch eine sichere Beurteilung der Betriebsbeanspruchungen erst möglich wird.

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Listeria monocytogenes is an infectious microorganism causing listeriosis, a foodborne illness affecting immunocompromised, pregnant, elderly and childrens. Pathogenic to men and animals is found naturally in the environment and has the ability to multiply on adverse conditions such as high salinity and chilling temperatures. However, their detection in food is difficult because it is laborious, time consuming and expensive. Therefore comes to searching for methods to detect simple and fast. Immunological methods are very promising in this regard, but the conditions under which the organism is grown should be ideal for maximizing the expression and subsequent detection of the target antigen. Internalin A protein (InlA) of L. monocytogenes is an excellent target for detection of this pathogen in immunological tests, but the ideal conditions to enhance its expression had not yet been described. Therefore thus study analyzed the expression of InlA in two strains of L. monocytogenes serotype 4b, a clínical and other non-clínical, in non selective enrichment broths Luria-Bertani (LB), Brain Heart Infusion (BHI), Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB) and selective broths Fraser Broth (FRA), Listeria Enrichment Broth (LEB), Listeria Enrichment Broth - University of Vermont Medium (UVM), to incubation at 29 and 37 °C, through the ELISA and real time RT-PCR. All data were statistically analyzed considering a significance level of 5% (p <0.05). In the ELISA it was found that expression of InlA is strain-specific, in other words, was influenced by the origin of the strain, because the strain non-clínical of L. monocytogenes showed higher InlA expression levels than the clínical strain, and the medium used directly interfere with the expression of this antigen, and the most appropriate medium of enrichment for use in detection methods, regardless of the origin of the strain,was FRA, TSB and LEB. It was also observed that there was no significant difference in the expression of InlA when strains were grown at 29 and 37 °C. The real-time RT-PCR data showed inconclusive, since there was no statistically significant difference between the conditions analyzed, requiring thus more study. In conclusion, it was found that InlA gene expression on influenced by origin of the strain and culture media. Regardless of the origin of the strain, the preferred media for use in InlA protein detection methods are FRA, TSB and LEB
Listeria monocytogenes é um microrganismo infeccioso causador de listeriose, uma doença de origem alimentar que acomete principalmente imunocomprometidos, gestantes, idosos e crianças. Considerado patogênico tanto para homens quanto para animais, está distribuído naturalmente no ambiente e possui a capacidade de multiplicar-se sobre condições adversas, como alta salinidade e temperaturas de refrigeração. Todavia, sua detecção em alimentos é dificultada por ser trabalhosa, demorada e dispendiosa. Por isso, vem-se buscando métodos de detecção mais simples e rápidos. Os métodos imunológicos são muito promissores neste sentido, mas as condições em que o microrganismo é cultivado devem ser ideais para maximizar a expressão e consequente detecção do antígeno alvo. A proteína internalina A (InlA) de L. monocytogenes é um excelente alvo para detecção desse patógeno em testes imunológicos, porém as condições ideais para potencializar sua expressão ainda não foram descritas. Portanto, nesse trabalho analisou-se a expressão de InlA em duas cepas de L.monocytogenes sorotipo 4b, uma de origem clínica e outra não-clínica, nos caldos de enriquecimento não seletivos Luria-Bertani (LB), Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) e Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB), assim como nos caldos seletivos Fraser Broth (FRA), Listeria Enrichment Broth (LEB) e Listeria Enrichment Broth - University of Vermont Medium (UVM), a 29 e 37 °C, utilizando ELISA indireto e RT-PCR em tempo real. Todos os dados obtidos foram submetidos a análises estatísticas considerando um nível de significância de 5% (p<0,05). Através do ELISA indireto verificou-se que a expressão da InlA é cepa-especifica, ou seja, foi influenciada pela origem da cepa, pois a L. monocytogenes não-clínica apresentou maiores níveis de expressão de InlA do que a cepa clínica, e que os meios utilizados interferem diretamente na expressão desse antígeno, sendo os meios de enriquecimento mais indicados para uso em métodos de detecção, independentemente da origem da cepa, o FRA, TSB e LEB. Observou-se também que não ocorreu diferença significativa na expressão de InlA quando as cepas foram cultivadas a 29 e 37°C. O RT-PCR em tempo real apresentou dados inconclusivos, visto que não houve diferença estatística significativa entre as condições analisadas, necessitando, dessa forma, de maiores estudos.

Currently, the wear of the articulating surfaces in contact have a significant influence on the life of hip joint replacement. It is therefore desirable to determine the influence of certain aspects on the wear of replacement. For this reason, master´s thesis deals with the influence of asperities of real surfaces of the hip joint replacement on its wear. The aim is to create computational models that would correspond to the real surface of the scanned prosthesis, performing strain- stress analysis and comparison with the results without the presence of asperities.

Desde o primeiro relato a Doença de Chagas permanece endêmica na América Latina com 18 milhões de pessoas cronicamente infectadas e, aproximadamente, 200.000 novos casos por ano. Doença parasitária causada por Trypanosoma cruzi, tem como transmissor \"natural\" da doença um inseto hematófago, o Reduris (barbeiro). Este inseto se torna infectado ao ingerir o sangue de um animal ou indivíduo infectado com o Trypanosoma cruzi. O contágio ocorre basicamente nas áreas rurais nas quais o homem, frequentemente, está em contato com hospedeiros e vetores ao destruir a mata nativa. Apesar da infecção geralmente ocorrer nos primeiros anos de vida, os pacientes infectados podem manifestar os sinais e sintomas da cardiopatia chagásica até 20 anos mais tarde. O custo propriamente dito e o sofrimento humano representados pela Doença de Chagas são grandes. Medicamentos, internações hospitalares frequentes e tratamento com dispositivos de alto custo (ex: marcapasso/ cardiodesfibrilador). Com quadro clínico insidioso, os pacientes podem apresentar insuficiência cardíaca franca, eventos tromboembólicos, arritmias ventriculares, dor torácica atípica e morte súbita. Seu diagnóstico baseia-se em epidemiologia positiva, anamnese, exame físico, alterações eletrocardiográficas, radiológicas e testes sorológicos. O envolvimento cardíaco é a principal causa de morte, sendo que a fisiopatologia e a evolução clínica da doença não são completamente compreendidas e a estratificação de risco permanece um desafio. A presença de disfunção miocárdica associada ou não à doença arterial aterosclerótica vem acompanhada de áreas de fibrose miocárdica e tem se mostrado como importante fator de pior prognóstico. A Ressonância Magnética Cardíaca (RMC) é um método já consagrado na detecção de fibrose miocárdica pela técnica de realce tardio (RT). Os objetivos dessa tese são: 1-Correlacionar o strain miocárdico nos segmentos do ventrículo esquerdo com as áreas de realce tardio detectadas na Ressonância Magnética Cardíaca, 2- Correlacionar o strain global do ventrículo esquerdo avaliado pela técnica de Speckle Tracking com a extensão de fibrose (numero de segmentos) avaliada pela Ressonância Magnética Cardíaca; 3- Comparar a Fração de ejeção avaliada pelo Ecocardiograma bidimensional e a Ressonância Magnética Cardíaca em pacientes com cardiopatia chagásica crônica; 4- Avaliar se existe relação entre a fração de ejeção avaliada pelo ecocardiograma bidimensional e a extensão de fibrose (número de segmentos) pela Ressonância Cardíaca. Foram selecionados 31 pacientes com o diagnóstico confirmado de Doença de Chagas. 27 pacientes que respeitaram os critérios de inclusão e exclusão, e que assinaram o termo de consentimento livre e esclarecido realizaram Ressonância Magnética Cardíaca com a técnica de realce tardio. De todos os pacientes selecionados, 27 completaram o protocolo da RMC e realizaram em sequencia o Ecocardiograma transtorácico para avaliar o strain miocárdico (speckle tracking) em intervalo máximo de 5 dias. Todos que completaram o protocolo não apresentaram efeitos adversos e os exames foram considerados interpretáveis. Para calcular a amostra de pacientes necessária, os cálculos foram feitos pela estatística de teste t, com distribuição t de Student, para comparação entre duas médias, com poder de teste de 80% e nível de significância de 5%, o que resultou numa estimativa de tamanho mínimo de amostra de 22 lesões por grupo (44 lesões) para que seja possível identificar diferenças significativas em todas as regiões numa amostra com medidas de mesmo comportamento que as observadas em Yajima et al e Jitsuo Higaki et al. Com isso, a amostra mínima seria de 22 pacientes. Para avaliar a concordância entre variáveis quantitativas, utilizou-se o coeficiente de concordância de Lin com intervalo de confiança (IC) 95% estimado segundo método Bootstrap. O coeficiente de concordância de Lin (Rc) combinada precisão e acurácia para determinar se observações desviam-se significativamente da linha de perfeita concordância (linha de 45 graus com origem no 0 dos eixos x e y). O coeficiente de Kappa de Cohen com IC 95% foi utilizado em analises de concordância para variáveis categóricas. Valores de p foram calculados utilizando-se método exato. Os critérios de Landis & Koch foram utilizados na interpretação dos coeficientes de concordância, assim definidos: (a) quase-perfeita, para valores de 0,81 a 1,00; (b) substancial, para valores de 0,61 a 0,80; (c) moderada, para valores entre 0,41 e 0,60; (d) regular, para valores entre 0,21 e 0,40; (d) discreta, para valores de 0 a 0,20. As estimações de intervalos de confiança 95% via bootstrap basearam-se em 1000 replicações. Estimativas de sensibilidade, especificidade, valores preditivo positivo e negativo com IC95% foram determinados. Variáveis quantitativas foram comparadas entre 2 grupos independentes utilizando-se testes não-paramétrico de Mann-Whitney com métodos exatos de cálculo do valor-p. Variáveis quantitativas comparadas com Mann-Whitney foram descritas com mediana e intervalo interquartil. Dado o reduzido tamanho de amostra, analise de regressão logística binaria univariada foi conduzida utilizando método exato. Para covariável quantitativa foi testada, a suposição de linearidade com o log-odds no modelo de regressão logística através da construção de \"Smoothed Scatter Plots\". Quando suposição não foi satisfeita, covariável originalmente quantitativa foi dicotomizadas segundo a mediana da distribuição. Odds ratios e seus respectivos intervalos de confiança 95% foram estimados. Analises de correlação entre variáveis quantitativas foram conduzidas utilizando-se coeficiente de correlação de Spearman(rho)(com IC95%). Forte correlação foi definida como |rho| >=0.70; correlação moderada para 0.5 <= |rho| <0.7 ; correlação fraca a moderada para 0.3<= |rho| <0.5; e fraca para |rho| <0.3. Normalidade foi avaliada com a inspeção visual de histogramas e aplicação do teste de normalidade Shapiro-Wilks. Todos os valores de p apresentados são do tipo bilateral: p < 0.05 e 0.05= 55% como normal e <55% alterada, comparamos à extensão de fibrose- numero de segmentos- ( realce tardio) pela CMR. Observou-se uma diferença marginalmente significativa na comparação das medianas do numero de segmentos com realce tardio na CMR entre os 2 grupos (p=0.064). ¹based on exact Mann-Whitney test. Comparamos também a fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo pela RMC e pelo Ecocardiograma transtorácico utilizando o método de Simpson. Ao nível de significância de 5% (coeficiente de Lin), observou-se uma quase perfeita concordância entre FEVE pela Ressonância Magnética Cardíaca e FEVE pelo Ecocardiograma transtorácico utilizando em ambos o método de Simpson. (Rc = 0.9335 IC95% 0.878-0.957; N=27).
Since the first report, Chaga\'s disease remains endemic in Latin America with 18 million chronically infected people and approximately 200,000 new cases per year. Parasitic disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is \"natural\" transmitter disease of a hematophagous insect, the Reduris (barber). This insect becomes infected by ingesting blood of an animal or individual infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. The infection occurs primarily in rural areas where men often are in touch with hosts and vectors by destroying the native forest. Despite the infection usually occurs early in life, infected patients may exhibit signs and symptoms of Chagas disease 20 years later. The cost itself and human suffering represented by Chagas disease are a public issue. Medication, frequent hospitalization and treatment with costly devices (eg pacemaker / defibrillator) are frequently necessary. With insidious clinical signs and symptons, patients may present with heart failure, thromboembolic events, ventricular arrhythmias, atypical chest pain and sudden death. Its diagnosis is based on positive epidemiology, history, physical examination, electrocardiographic, radiological and serological changes. Cardiac involvement is the leading cause of death, and the pathophysiology and clinical course of the disease are not fully understood and the risk stratification remains a challenge. The presence of myocardial dysfunction with or without atherosclerotic arterial disease is accompanied by myocardial fibrosis areas and has been an important factor of poor prognosis. Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR) is a method already established in the detection of myocardial fibrosis by delayed gadolinium enhancement technique (DGE). The objectives of this thesis are: 1-To correlate myocardial strain in left ventricular segments with areas of late enhancement detected in Cardiac Magnetic Resonance, 2- correlate the global left ventricular strain measured by Speckle Tracking technique with fibrosis extension (number of segments) evaluated by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance; 3- Compare the ejection fraction assessed by Two-dimensional echocardiography and cardiac Magnetic Resonance in patients with chronic cardiac Chagas\' disease; 4- To assess whether there is a relationship between the ejection fraction assessed by two-dimensional echocardiography and fibrosis extension (number of segments) by CMR. We selected 31 patients with confirmed diagnosis of Chagas\' disease. 27 patients who complied with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and who signed the informed consent , performed Cardiac Magnetic Resonance with late gadolinium enhancement (DGE) technique. Of all the selected patients, 27 completed the RMC protocol and were in sequence directed to the transthoracic echocardiogram to assess myocardial strain (speckle tracking) in maximum interval of 5 days. Everyone who completed the protocol showed no adverse effects and the tests were considered interpretable. To calculate the sample required patients, we used the test statistic t, with t Student distribution for comparison between two averages, with the power to test 80% and 5% significance level, which resulted in an estimate minimum sample of 22 injuries per group size (44 injuries) so you can identify significant differences in all regions in a sample with the same measures of behavior than those observed in Yajima et al and Jitsuo Higaki et al. Thus, the minimum sample size would be 22 patients. To evaluate the correlation between quantitative variables, we used the Lin\'s concordance coefficient (1,2) with a confidence interval (CI) 95% estimated second method Bootstrap (4). The correlation coefficient Lin (Rc) combines precision and accuracy to determine if observations deviate significantly from perfect correlation line (45 degree line with origin 0 of the x and y axes). Cohen\'s kappa coefficient with 95% (3) was used for analysis of agreement for categorical variables. P values were calculated using the exact method. The Landis and Koch criteria (5) were used in the interpretation of correlation coefficients defined as follows: (a) quasi-perfect for values 0.81 to 1.00; (b) substantial amounts of 0.61 to the 0.80; (c) Moderate to values between 0.41 and 0.60; (d) regular, to between 0.21 and 0.40; (d) mild to values from 0 to 0.20. The estimation of 95% confidence intervals by bootstrap based on 1000 replicates. Quantitative variables were compared between two independent groups using non-parametric Mann-Whitney test with exact methods of calculating the p-value. (6-8) Quantitative variables compared with Mann-Whitney were described as median and interquartile range. Given the small sample size, regression analysis univariate binary logistic regression was conducted using exact method (9-11). For quantitative covariate was tested, the linearity assumption with the log-odds in the logistic regression model by building \"Smoothed Scatter Plots\". (9) When assumption was not met, originally quantitative covariate was dichotomized according to the median of the distribution. Odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were estimated. All significance probabilities (p values) presented are the bilateral type and values less than 0.05 considered statistically significant. The R (R Foundation, Vienna, Austria) software was used for statistical analysis of data. In order to measure the correlation between the results of both tests in the study were calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value considering the CMR as the gold standard. Results: Of the 27 study patients have a average age of 53.1 + - 7.0 years and median of 54 years. 08 (29.7%) men and 19 (70.3%) women. The average ejection fraction by echocardiography was 55.1 + - 14.7%, and by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance was 55.8 + - 13.4%. The total number of evaluated segments was 453 (98.7%), with no interpretation performed in only 6 segments (1.3%) on echocardiography, a total of 459 segments. Delayed enhancement by Cardiac Magnetic Ressonance was found in 61 segments analyzed. In the order \"side\" 86 segmets registered an altered strain. As the gold standard the delayed enhancement in the MRC, compared to segment studied segment. We take into account the literature describing the prevalence of fibrosis in patients with chronic Chagas\' heart disease of approximately 40%. With this data we obtained a sensitivity of 95%, specificity 91%, positive predictive value of 88.6% and a negative predictive value of 96.6%. Correlating the Global Longitudinal Strain (SGL) and extent (number of segments with delayed enhancement by CMR) of fibrosis in this study, no difference was observed in the number of segments of medians in the CMR compared between Strain Global Longitudinal groups - Normal x changed (p = 0.287, exact Mann-Whitney). Using as an ejection fraction of the left ventricle limits > = 55% as normal and < 55% changed, compared to the extent of fibrose- number of segments- (delayed enhancement) by CMR. There was a marginally significant difference when comparing the median number of segments with delayed enhancement on CMR between the 2 groups (p = 0.064). ¹based on exact Mann-Whitney test. We also compared the ejection fraction of the left ventricle by CMR and transthoracic echocardiography using the Simpson method. At a significance level of 5% (Lin coefficient), there was an almost perfect correlation between LVEF by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance and LVEF by using transthoracic echocardiography in both the Simpson method. (Rc = 0.9335 95% CI 0878-0957; N = 27)

Newcastle disease (ND), caused by avian avulavirus 1 (AA1), an enveloped, negative sense, single stranded RNA virus belonging to the Paramyxoviridae family. ND is found world-wide and leads to severe economic losses from mortality and condemnation of carcasses. Virulent ND causes clinical signs such as respiratory distress, central nervous signs, drop in egg production, weakness, gastro-intestinal symptoms and death. The disease is listed by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and outbreaks require reporting to the OIE. The OIE requires a definitive diagnosis of virulent AA1 to enable effective control of an outbreak by strict control measures and trade restrictions. Currently the real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) assay used to diagnose ND does not differentiate between field and vaccine strain. The aim of this study was to develop and optimise a real time RT-PCR assay that detects chickens vaccinated with Vectormune® HVT NDV vaccine based on the F gene of the D26 strain. NDV F gene sequences were downloaded from Genbank® and aligned. A region unique to the D26 strain, between nucleotides 69 to 131 (using accession number M24692 for numbering) was identified and a TaqMan® MGB™ assay was developed. Primer and probe concentrations were optimised at 200 nM. Nucleic acid was purified using a MagMax™ Pathogen RNA/DNA extraction kit and a MagMax™ Express Magnetic Particle Processor (ThermoFisher Scientific). TaqMan Fast Advanced Master Mix PCR reagents were used to amplify the AA1 F gene with one StepOnePlus Real-time PCR system. The PCR efficiency was calculated to be 81.8% with 0.9942 coefficient correlation (R2). The 95% limit of detection was 10-1.31 plaque forming units per reaction. The assay was specific and did not detect any other AA1 isolates tested. Twenty-four spleen impression smear field samples from chickens (12 Vectormune® HVT NDV vaccine samples and 12 vaccinated with ND virus conventional vaccine) preserved on Whatman® FTA cards, were collected between day 21 and 28 post vaccination. The assay detected only the D26 vaccine strain and was negative when tested on other field samples. The developed real time PCR was sensitive, reliable and repeatable and will also be able to produce results rapidly as compared to other conventional methods.
Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2018.
Veterinary Tropical Diseases
MSc
Unrestricted

La tesi descrive lo studio e il dimensionamento delle pavimentazioni rinforzate di casi reali attraverso l'utilizzo di software specifico (Olcrack) e altri software (Alize e mePADS) ed inoltre la convenienza dell'utilizzo di essi negli interventi di manutenzione ordinaria.

The attachment efficiency of two strains of Escherichia coli O157:H7 – one pathogenic strain and another non-pathogenic strain – was measured over a range of solution ionic strengths and in two different granular systems: a simple system made of clean quartz sand and a real system made of natural subsurface soil. In this study, the relevance of the non-pathogenic strain of E. coli O157:H7 as a potential surrogate for its pathogenic counterpart was investigated. The results suggest that it is not straightforward to find an appropriate surrogate for the pathogenic strain. Different porous media begets different attachment efficiency of the potential surrogate strain relative to the attachment efficiency of the toxigenic strain. A modest attempt was also made to build an artificial system that mimics the natural soil, by coating the clean granular sand with humic acids and adding clay component.
Pour étudier la contamination d'eaux souterraines, l'efficacité d'adhésion de deux variétés d'E. coli O157:H7 – une pathogène et une autre non-pathogène – a été mesurée sur une gamme de force ionique dans deux systèmes granulaires : un système simple fait de sable de quartz propre et un système naturel de sol souterrain. Dans cette étude, la pertinence de la variété non-pathogène (E. coli O157:H7) comme substitut potentiel pour sa contrepartie fut étudiée. Les résultats suggèrent qu'il est très difficile de trouver un substitut approprié de la variété pathogène pour ce type d'études, car différents médias porreaux engendrent différentes efficacités d'adhésion de la variété substitut potentielle. Une tentative a aussi été faite de construire un système artificiel dans le labo qui imite le sol naturel, en enrobant le sable de quartz avec des acides humiques et par l'addition d'un composé d'argile.

Most salad vegetables are eaten fresh by consumers. However, raw vegetables may pose a risk of transmitting opportunistic bacteria to immunocompromised people, including cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. In particular, CF patients are vulnerable to chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections and this organism is the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in this group. Clonal variants of P. aeruginosa have been identified as emerging threats to people afflicted with CF; however it has not yet been proven from where these clones originate or how they are transmitted. Due to the organisms‟ aquatic environmental niche, it was hypothesised that vegetables may be a source of these clones. To test this hypothesis, lettuce, tomatoes, mushrooms and bean sprout packages (n = 150) were analysed from a green grocer, supermarket and farmers‟ market within the Brisbane region, availability permitting. The internal and external surfaces of the vegetables were separately analysed for the presence of clonal strains of P. aeruginosa using washings and homogenisation techniques, respectively. This separation was in an attempt to establish which surface was contaminated, so that recommendations could be made to decrease or eliminate P. aeruginosa from these foods prior to consumption. Soil and water samples (n = 17) from local farms were also analysed for the presence of P. aeruginosa. Presumptive identification of isolates recovered from these environmental samples was made based on growth on Cetrimide agar at 42°C, presence of the cytochrome-oxidase enzyme and inability to ferment lactose. P. aeruginosa duplex real-time polymerase chain reaction assay (PAduplex) was performed on all bacterial isolates presumptively identified as P. aeruginosa. Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus strain typing PCR (ERIC-PCR) was subsequently performed on confirmed bacterial isolates. Although 72 P. aeruginosa were isolated, none of these proved to be clonal strains. The significance of these findings is that vegetables may pose a risk of transmitting sporadic strains of P. aeruginosa to people afflicted with CF and possibly, other immunocompromised people.

Der Vortrag beschreibt wie sich mittels der unterschiedlichen Berechnungsverfahren zur Lösung dynamischer Strukturpobleme der Einschlag eines idealisierten Bruchstücks in eine Schutzwand berechnen lässt. Dies wird mittels zweier kommerzieller FEM-Programme beschrieben: a.) Creo Simulate nutzt zur Lösung die Methode der modalen Superposition, d.h., es können nur lineare dynamische Systeme mit rein modaler Dämpfung berechnet werden. Kontakt zwischen zwei Bauteilen lässt sich damit nicht erfassen. Die unbekannte Kraft-Zeit-Funktion des Einschlagvorganges muss also geeignet abgeschätzt und als äußere Last auf die Schutzwand aufgebracht werden. Je dynamischer der Einschlagvorgang, desto eher wird der Gültigkeitsbereich des zugrunde liegenden linearen Modells verlassen. b.) Abaqus/Explicit nutzt ein direktes Zeitintegrationsverfahren zur schrittweisen Lösung der zugrunde liegenden Differentialgleichung, die keine tangentiale Steifigkeitsmatrix benötigt. Damit können sowohl Materialnichtlinearitäten als auch Kontakt geeignet erfasst und damit die Kraft-Zeit-Funktion des Einschlages ermittelt werden. Auch bei extrem hochdynamischen Vorgängen liefert diese Methode ein gutes Ergebnis. Es müssen dafür jedoch weit mehr Werkstoffdaten bekannt sein, um das nichtlineare elasto-plastische Materialverhalten mit Schädigungseffekten korrekt zu beschreiben. Die Schwierigkeiten der Werkstoffdatenbestimmung werden in den Grundlagen erläutert
The presentation describes how to analyze the impact of an idealized fragment into a stell protective panel with different dynamic analysis methods. Two different commercial Finite Element codes are used for this: a.) Creo Simulate: This code uses the method of modal superposition for analyzing the dynamic response of linear dynamic systems. Therefore, only modal damping and no contact can be used. The unknown force-vs.-time curve of the impact event cannot be computed, but must be assumed and applied as external force to the steel protective panel. As more dynamic the impact, as sooner the range of validity of the underlying linear model is left. b.) Abaqus/Explicit: This code uses a direct integration method for an incremental (step by step) solution of the underlying differential equation, which does not need a tangential stiffness matrix. In this way, matieral nonlinearities as well as contact can be obtained as one result of the FEM analysis. Even for extremely high-dynamic impacts, good results can be obtained. But, the nonlinear elasto-plastic material behavior with damage initiation and damage evolution must be characterized with a lot of effort. The principal difficulties of the material characterization are described

Dreiaxiale Druckprüfungen können als Einstufenversuche, als Mehrstufenversuche oder als Versuche mit kontinuierlichen Bruchzuständen ausgeführt werden. Bei der Anwendung der Mehrstufentechnik ergeben sich insbesondere Fragestellungen hinsichtlich der richtigen Wahl des Umschaltpunktes und des optimalen Verlaufs des Spannungspfades zwischen den einzelnen Versuchsstufen. Fraglich beim Versuch mit kontinuierlichen Bruchzuständen bleibt, ob im Versuchsverlauf tatsächlich Spannungszustände erfasst werden, welche die Höchstfestigkeit des untersuchten Materials repräsentieren. Die Dissertation greift diese Fragestellungen auf, ermöglicht den Einstieg in die beschriebene Thematik und schafft die Voraussetzungen, die zur Lösung der aufgeführten Problemstellungen notwendig sind. Auf der Grundlage einer umfangreichen Datenbasis gesteinsmechanischer und petrophysikalischer Kennwerte wurde ein numerisches Modell entwickelt, welches das Spannungs-Verformungs-, Festigkeits- und Bruchverhalten eines Sandsteins im direkten Zug- und im einaxialen Druckversuch sowie in dreiaxialen Druckprüfungen zufriedenstellend wiedergibt. Das Festigkeitsverhalten des entwickelten Modells wurde in Mehrstufentests mit unterschiedlichen Spannungspfaden analysiert und mit den entsprechenden Laborbefunden verglichen.

碩士
國立屏東大學
不動產經營學系碩士班
105
The real estate registration has power of publicity, credibility and presumption, which is one of the foundations of the real estate market and closely related to the rights and interests of the people and the real estate practitioners. Taiwan current real estate registration system based on authorization of land law "land registration rules" to regulate. Mainland China promulgated the Provisional Regulations on real estate registration in November 2014 and implemented a unified registration system of real estate.The original Will be scattered in the land, housing, agriculture, forestry, marine and other departments of real estate registration responsibilities, integration by the real estate registration department to bear, So that the registration authority, registration books, registration basis and information platform four unified, is the mainland real estate registration system a new and significant change. 　　In recent years, the exchange of people across the Straits has been frequent, and the demand for real estate has been increasing day by day, This paper refers to cross-strait real estate registration works, academic journals, papers and network-related information , To explore the differences between the two sides in different political systems of real estate registration system, It also makes a comparative analysis of the real estate rights system, types and procedures of registration, the registration system and the remedy for registration errors and the liability for compensation, and to explore the related issues in legislation and practice, to develop countermeasures and suggestions, Hoping to help promote the cross-strait real estate registration system and academic research matters.

碩士
國立臺北大學
不動產與城鄉環境學系
94
Taiwanese real estate brokerage industry has crossed Taiwan strait to invest in China for more than ten years. Due to less operative funds needed compared with manufacture industry or other service industry, the cross-border investment obstacles in financial side are less in this industry. The thesis explores how Taiwanese real estate brokerages adjust themselves to adapt to local institutions and culture, at the same time mobilize their resources to shape the restructuring local institutions and industrial practices. It emphasizes the relationships of cross-border actors and local institutions. The study revises global production network (GPN)’s frameworks to observe the localization process under the interactions enterprise operative network, local institution and local asset. The study finds out that Taiwanese real estate brokerages cross-border investment in China not only develop operative models that were different from home country is operations to deal with local institutional environment, but also learn various capabilities that do not use in their home country, such as the capabilities to manage local uncertain cultural, politic and financial factors, and the embedded capabilities to interact with local relational actors. It also finds out Taiwanese real estate brokerages have different operative practices, including changes of franchise patterns, the divisions of custom groups, and the adoption of different cooperation approaches to deal with different local enterprises or local governments. Localization is an embedded and dynamic evolution process, with the deepening interactions with local institutions and local assent. During this process, the non-traded relationships with local players are essential for tackling the dilemma and challenges that they faced in the Chinese real estate market.

碩士
國立成功大學
土木工程學系
105
The construction of large-scale engineering facilities is increasing with the demand of society. Some large-span bridges and large space structures are affected by coupling factors such as environmental erosion, material aging, fatigue strain, etc., resulting in structural damage accumulation and resistance to natural disaster capacity decline, and even cause unexpected accidents. Before the accident, the structure has appeared cracks or deformation, if appropriate testing and monitoring measurements are taken, it is likely to avoid accidents or minimize the damage of accidents. The structure health monitoring systems have been increasingly applied to various types of practical structures. The primary method for evaluating the safety of a structure is to consider the maximum stress or strain generated in a structure by gravity loads, wind loads, seismic loads and unexpected loads. The strain monitoring system is composed of monitoring instruments and data acquisition system. The strain gauges are used to measure the strains of the real size steel building. The 6411 series strain amplifiers are used to amplify and adjust the low-level signals of strain gauges, and then supply to the USB data acquisition system. The measurement program is used to display the strain during the experiment and archive the data. Next, the finite element model is performed to analyze the strains of the real size steel building. The results of the finite element analysis are compared with the experimental results. The monitoring system can effectively measure the strain of the structure during the whole static load experiment. Finally, for the problems in the experiment, improve the measurement program and test the program, so that the entire strain monitoring system can be better applied to the strain measurement.

碩士
國立成功大學
電機工程學系碩博士班
90
With the significant discovery of photosensitivity in optical fibers, a new class of in-fiber component has been developed, called the fiber Bragg grating (FBG). The fiber Bragg gratings have many advantages, such as low loss transmission, immunity to electromagnetic interference, easy fabrication, make the intro-core grating an ideal candidate for use in telecommunications and sensory field. A method of extracting the strain profile along a fiber Bragg grating for the known reflection spectrum is described. By combining the T-matrix analysis method for calculating the reflection spectrum together with a real-coded genetic algorithm, we obtain a promising method for the spectrum synthesis. The synthesis procedure is based on a real-coded genetic algorithm that relates to the non-uniform grating pitch associated with the loading strain field. The strain-optic effect in an optical fiber, therefore, is considered. Several examples of the synthesis strain profile in fiber Bragg gratings for the band-pass, power discriminator filters, and EDFA gain flatten filter are presented. Including the design variables in length of grating and difference in refractive indices, the accuracy of the matching spectrum could be improved.

碩士
國立中興大學
獸醫微生物學研究所
96
Avian reovirus(ARV) consists of 10 segments of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) genome. ARV has been associated with a variety of disease conditions which are chronic wasting disease and viral arthritis in poultry. Different strains of ARV 2408 and S1133 have similar pathogenicity, pathogenesis, and alike gene and antigenicity between these two stains. In our study, 3-day-old chickens were inoculated by foot pad with 2408 and S1133 strains. The result shows that the mortality of 2408 is close to 100% at 96 h.p.i. and S1133 strain only causes piecemeal death at 48 h.p.i. (<10%). Therefore the different routes, intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, can also cause high mortality similar to that by foot pad, and suggests that chickens have age-resistant to the 2408 strain. Histologically, it shows the serious focal necrosis in the liver and serious lymphocyte necrosis and lymphopenia in the spleen, however the traditional pathological changes were almost not found. Because of such infrequent high and acute mortality caused by 2408 infection, we have developed a panel of real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays to quantify the expression of a wide variety of chicken cytokines, including IL-1, IL-6, IL-12, IFN-γ, IFN-β, C-reactive protein, TGF-β4, which have the potential to influence immune responses to ARV during infection and involve in pathogensis. The results show that both ARV strains induce a pro-inflammatory response, evidenced by increased mRNA transcription of IL-1β, IL-6 and down-regulation of TGF-β4, of similar magnitude and timing. IL-12. Type I & II IFNs and was induced only by ARV S1133 stain and there are no affection on Type I & II IFNs but IL-12 is suppression by ARV 2408 strain. To sum up, the results indicate that the adapted immune response and innate immune response were suppressed by ARV 2408 strain and suggests that both viruses modulate the host immune response, although probably by using different mechanisms.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) consistently ranks among the leading causes of death in the United States. The most common subtype of CVD, ischemic heart disease, is a frequent precursor of myocardial infarction and heart failure, most commonly affecting the left ventricle (LV). Today, echocardiography is regarded as the gold standard in screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of LV dysfunction. But while global assessment of LV function tends to be quantitative, cardiologists with specific expertise still perform many regional evaluations subjectively. However, a more objective and quantitative measure of regional function – myocardial strain – has been developed and widely studied using 2D echocardiography. With recent developments in real-time 3D echocardiography (RT3DE), it has become possible to measure strain in its native 3D orientation as well. Our laboratory’s earlier work introduced the Optical Flow (OF) method of strain analysis, which was validated on simulated echocardiograms as well as through animal studies. The principal goal of this thesis is to translate this OF-based method of strain estimation from the research setting to the patient’s bedside. We have performed a series of studies to evaluate the feasibility, accuracy, and reproducibility of OF-based myocardial strain estimation in a routine clinical setting. The first investigation focused on the optimization of RT3DE acquisition and the OF processing pipeline for use in human subjects. Subsequently, we evaluated the capacity of this technique to distinguish abnormal strain patterns in patients with CVD and varying degrees of LV dysfunction. Our analysis revealed that segmental strain measures obtained by OF may have better sensitivity and specificity than the more commonly used global LV strains. Our third validation study examined the reproducibility of these strain measures in both healthy and diseased populations. We established that OF-based strain measures demonstrate repeatability comparable to that achieved by the latest commercial software commonly used in clinical research to estimate 2D or 3D strain. These studies were driven in large part by the absence of a ground truth or accepted gold standard of 3D strain measurements in the human LV. However, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging has had considerable success in measuring some forms of strain in the human LV. We therefore began to develop an image-processing pipeline to derive strain estimates from a new pulse sequence called 3D-DENSE. We further sought to improve the OF pipeline by automating the process of tracking the LV border. To this end, we developed a level-set based technique which tracks the LV endocardium. Our evaluation of its performance on RT3DE data confirmed that this method performs within the limits of inter-observer variability. Overall, our pilot studies of OF-based strain estimation demonstrate that the technique possesses several promising features for improving cardiologists’ ability to quantify and interpret the complex three-dimensional deformations of the human LV.

Der stetig anwachsende Bedarf und die innovative Weiterentwicklung im Bereich der Großdieselmotoren als Antrieb für Schiffe und Generatoranlagen erfordert ebenfalls die Weiterentwicklung der Abgasturbolader. Hohe Leistungsfähigkeit und Wirtschaftlichkeit ist nur durch moderne Fertigungsverfahren und einer optimalen Ausnutzung der eingesetzten, hochwertigen Werkstoffe zu erreichen. Dies gilt insbesondere für die integralen Radialturbinenräder in Abgasturboladern, die aufgrund der hohen Betriebsbelastungen einen zentralen Punkt bei der Auslegung darstellen. Lebensdauerbegrenzend ist die hochzyklische Ermüdung aufgrund Resonanzschwingungen an der Beschaufelung der Turbinenräder. Die vorliegende Arbeit soll die Auslegungsmethodik zur Berechnung und Beurteilung der zu erwartenden Schwingbeanspruchungen der Turbinenräder im Hinblick der realen Geometrie verbessern. Dazu wird ein einfaches Berechnungsmodell zur Identifizierung der kritischen Schaufelmoden und Bestimmung der Schwingbeanspruchungen im integralen Turbinenrad erarbeitet. Das Modell wird auf vorhandene Turbinenräder angewendet und aus den Ergebnissen werden Hinweise für eine systematische Beurteilung der Schaufelmoden, Knotendurchmesser und Schaufelgestaltung bezüglich der kritischen Schwingbeanspruchungen angegeben. Desweiteren wird der Einfluss der Verstimmung (engl. Mistuning) des Schwingverhaltens realer, integraler Turbinenräder ausführlich im Hinblick auf die Schwingbeanspruchungen untersucht. Die wesentlichen Ursachen für die Verstimmung sind die innerhalb der Fertigungstoleranzen auftretenden Geometrieabweichungen der Schaufeln. Dabei wird ein Überblick über die typischen Geometrie- und Frequenzabweichungen Radialturbinen gegeben und Auswirkungen auf das Schwingverhalten des Rades wie Lokalisierung der Schwingformen und Amplitudenüberhöhungen ermittelt und in einen systematischen Zusammenhang mit den geometrischen Ursachen, der Komplexität der Schaufelschwingformen und Knotendurchmesser gestellt. Es zeigt sich, dass unter gewissen Voraussetzungen bei Radialturbinen KD0 und KD1 Schwingformen weniger sensibel auf die Verstimmung reagieren. Hieraus können Hinweise für die Verbesserung des Auslegungsprozess abgeleitet werden. Die Kenntnis über das reale Schwingverhalten verstimmter Turbinenräder ermöglicht die korrekte Auswahl geeigneter Schaufeln zur Applikation von Dehnmessstreifen, wodurch eine sichere Beurteilung der Betriebsbeanspruchungen erst möglich wird.

碩士
國立成功大學
光電科學與工程研究所
92
In this thesis we will propose that the methods of arbitrary strain distribution sensing with real-code genetic algorithm to analyze the reflection spectrums of Fabry-Perot-like of fiber Bragg gratings. The arbitrary strain distribution along the fiber Bragg gratings is recovered inversely from the Fabry-Perot-like reflective spectrum using the genetic algorithm optimization process. 　　The proposed methods permit accurate strain reconstruction with no restrictions on the applied strain profile or on the grating length. We demonstrate the validity and accuracy of these techniques by reconstructing the strain distribution along the grating with nonmonotonic strain profile, which includes: a constant strain distribution, linearly gradient strain, and strain discontinuities.

Tese de doutoramento em Engenharia Civil
Alternative binders based on the alkaline activation technology have been strongly investigated over the last decades as a potential replacement for Portland Cement. However, little research has been devoted to the shear behaviour of soft soils stabilised with those type of binders and their numerical modelling using constitutive models. This PhD thesis aims to deepen the knowledge in this area through the characterisation of the short- and long-term shear behaviour of soft soils stabilised with alkali-activated binders and the numerical modelling of the stress-strain behaviour of these geomaterials using a advanced constitutive model. In this context, triaxial tests were undertaken, after 28 and 90 curing days, in both a sandy lean clay and clay with high water content at reconstituted and stabilised states using alkali-activated blast furnace slags. The impact of the stress-history, represented by the overconsolidation ratio, and stress-state, represented by the initial mean effective stress, were investigated. Oedometer and isotropic consolidation tests were also undertaken. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy, x-ray powder diffraction and leachate analyses were carried out to investigate the nature of the binding phases formed and the risk of contamination of soils. The results were used to calibrate an advanced kinematic hardening constitutive model proposed by Rouainia and Muir Wood, 2000 for natural clays. It was the first attempt of using this constitutive model in artificially cemented soils. Additionally, the opportunity to be integrated within a research project related to the application of alkali-activated industrial wastes in situ allowed me to be deeply involved in constructing a full-scale prototype of a (sub)base layer stabilised with alkali-activated binders and conventional binders. Big challenges arose, including the definition of a construction methodology, equipment selection, on-site handling of distinct materials, quality control techniques, among others. The in situ performance of the stabilised geomaterials was assessed through falling weight deflectometer tests, plate load field tests and unconfined compressive strength tests after 36 and 90 days. For each layer, it was estimated the financial cost of the construction and the equivalent CO2 emissions. The work showed the feasibility of the on-site application of alkali-activated binders in the stabilisation of soil layers in the context of transport infrastructures.
Os ligantes alcalinos têm sido fortemente investigados nas últimas décadas como um potencial substituto do cimento Portland. Contudo, o comportamento ao corte de solos estabilizados com este tipo de ligantes é ainda uma área pouco explorada atualmente, juntamente com o uso de modelos constitutivos. A presente tese de doutoramento visa aprofundar o conhecimento existente nesta área, através da caracterização do comportamento ao corte de solos moles estabilizados com ligantes alcalinos a curto e longo prazo e a modelação numérica do comportamento tensão-extensão desses geomateriais utilizando um modelo constitutivo avançado. Nesse contexto, foram realizados ensaios triaxiais, ensaios edométricos e de consolidação isotrópica, numa argila magra arenosa e numa argila com alto teor em água, ambos no estado reconstituído e estabilizado com escórias de alto-forno ativadas por álcalis, aos 28 e 90 dias de cura. O impacto do grau de sobreconsolidação, representado pela razão de sobreconsolidação, e do estado de tensão in situ, representado pela tensão média efetiva inicial, foram investigados no comportamento ao corte desses geomateriais. Foram realizadas análises de microscopia eletrônica de varrimento com espectroscopia de energia dispersiva e difração de raios-X e testes de lixiviados para investigar a natureza dos géis formados e o risco de contaminação dos solos. Os resultados foram utilizados na calibração de um modelo constitutivo de endurecimento cinemático proposto por Rouainia and Muir Wood, 2000 para argilas naturais que, até ao momento, não tinha sido utilizado em solos artificialmente cimentados. Adicionalmente, a oportunidade de estar integrada num projeto de investigação relacionado com a construção à escala real de uma camada de (sub)base estabilizada com ligantes alcalinos e ligantes convencionais possibilitou-me enveredar por esta temática. Grandes desafios foram encontrados do longo deste projeto, entre os quais, a definição de uma metodologia de construção, a seleção de equipamentos, manuseio dos materiais in situ, definição dos ensaios de controle de qualidade, etc. O desempenho in situ dos geomateriais estabilizados foi avaliado através de ensaios de capacidade de carga com defletómetro de impacto, ensaios de carga em placa e de compressão uniaxial aos 36 e 90 dias. Para cada camada foram também estimados os custos financeiros de construção e as emissões de CO2 equivalentes. Este projeto mostrou a viabilidade de utilização local dos ligantes alcalinos para a estabilização de camadas de solo no contexto das infraestruturas de transporte.
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)
This research work was co-financed by the European Social Fund (FSE) through the Northern Regional Operational Program

The thesis aims to provide possible interdisciplinar explanatory schema of the fact, which is in literature as a mass conformity of citizens of real-socialistic régime in Czechoslovakia. Even in the 70s and 80s, in a time of ideological emptiness, was achieved that the vast majority of the population participated in the rituals of power, which could have a considerable psychological impact. People were regularly reminded of their humbling and social psychological task is to present concepts able to describe, how could be such a humiliation at one's self-image processed and what effect this may have on general conformity. By the most symbolic ritual, the elections, it is also necessary to examine, in what form were they period presented, because this also has an impact on the degree of tension between own actions and convictions.

碩士
國立中山大學
中國與亞太區域研究所
103
This research investigates the impact of Foreign Direct Investment （FDI） across the Taiwan Strait on Taiwan real estate cycles by analyzing the impact of Taiwanese firm’s investment in China and the effect of FDI in Taiwan on Taiwan real estate cycles respectively. Considering the abundant repatriation of earnings of Taiwanese firms in China back to Taiwan estate and financial markets, we pay special attention to the cash flow of the Taiwanese firms which may influence the Taiwan real estate cycles. In addition, we divide the FDI in Taiwan into three sections: overall FDI, FDI from China, and the investments from returning Taiwanese firms. The set of control variables includes five important non-economic variables which provides another aspect on comprehending the Taiwan real estate cycles. Augmented Dickey–Fuller test and OLS regression are used as the research method. We construct a time-series dataset employing the data of Taiwan that stems from January 1993 to September 2014. The empirical results show that the effect of Taiwanese firm’s investment in China on Taiwan real estate cycles is negative. However, the cash inflow from Taiwanese firms in China has significantly positive effect on the real estate cycles. None of the three FDI variables have significant effects on real estate cycles; however, when we employ the lag terms of the FDI variables the significantly positive impacts are identified.

The Grandview Woodland local area of Vancouver, British Columbia, is an area in transition. Retail, demographic, residential occupancy, and changes to built structures indicate that gentrification has escalated in the past seven years. Long standing impediments to gentrification, including industrial manufacturing, social housing, and crime, are not deterring change in this area to the extent they once did. This thesis examines how public policy has affected these changes in Grandview Woodland. Public policies embodied in laws and regulations have the capacity to either encourage or dissuade gentrification; however, other variables also influence gentrification making it difficult to determine the importance and influence of public policy in the process. This thesis uses semi-structured interviews and a document review in a case study of Grandview Woodland, to gain a better understanding of how public policies can influence gentrification in a local area where gentrification was previously impeded. The findings from this study suggest that public policies can have a substantial, but not autonomous, effect on gentrification in such an area. In Grandview Woodland, policy makers facilitate gentrification through city-wide and province-wide policies, including zoning changes, the Strata Title Act, and the Residential Tenancy Act. While these public policies have streamlined the advance of gentrification in Grandview Woodland, the catalysts for gentrification are the wider national trend of increased popularity of inner-city living, and the middle class moving eastwards in search of affordable homes in response to the massive property value increases in Vancouver’s West Side.
Graduate
0617
0615
0999
p.b.kasman@gmail.com

Dreiaxiale Druckprüfungen können als Einstufenversuche, als Mehrstufenversuche oder als Versuche mit kontinuierlichen Bruchzuständen ausgeführt werden. Bei der Anwendung der Mehrstufentechnik ergeben sich insbesondere Fragestellungen hinsichtlich der richtigen Wahl des Umschaltpunktes und des optimalen Verlaufs des Spannungspfades zwischen den einzelnen Versuchsstufen. Fraglich beim Versuch mit kontinuierlichen Bruchzuständen bleibt, ob im Versuchsverlauf tatsächlich Spannungszustände erfasst werden, welche die Höchstfestigkeit des untersuchten Materials repräsentieren. Die Dissertation greift diese Fragestellungen auf, ermöglicht den Einstieg in die beschriebene Thematik und schafft die Voraussetzungen, die zur Lösung der aufgeführten Problemstellungen notwendig sind. Auf der Grundlage einer umfangreichen Datenbasis gesteinsmechanischer und petrophysikalischer Kennwerte wurde ein numerisches Modell entwickelt, welches das Spannungs-Verformungs-, Festigkeits- und Bruchverhalten eines Sandsteins im direkten Zug- und im einaxialen Druckversuch sowie in dreiaxialen Druckprüfungen zufriedenstellend wiedergibt. Das Festigkeitsverhalten des entwickelten Modells wurde in Mehrstufentests mit unterschiedlichen Spannungspfaden analysiert und mit den entsprechenden Laborbefunden verglichen.

Non c’è dubbio sul fatto che la RAI, dal 1954 a oggi, abbia contribuito in misura considerevole a determinare la fisionomia dell’immaginario collettivo e dell’identità culturale dell’Italia. Si tratta di un assunto che, a distanza di più di sessant’anni, resta sempre di grande attualità, per chi si occupa della questione televisiva (e non solo). Ma a differenza di quanto avveniva nel passato, quando la tv appariva più preoccupata dei reali interessi dei cittadini, oggi essa sembra rispondere prevalentemente a dinamiche di mercato, in grado di alterarne la funzione etica e sociale. E nonostante il livello di istruzione e di benessere economico si siano evidentemente alzati, in questi ultimi anni si è assistito a programmi di sempre più bassa qualità e in controtendenza a un incremento del potere modellante e suggestivo sull’immaginario dei telespettatori. C’è di più: l’interesse verso la tv ha coinvolto anche gli storici dell’epoca contemporanea, i quali hanno iniziato a prendere coscienza che le produzioni audiovisive sono strumenti imprescindibili per la ricerca. Se si pensa ad esempio al ‹‹boom economico›› del Paese, negli anni Cinquanta e Sessanta, non si può non considerare che la tv, insieme agli altri media, abbia contributo a raccontare e allo stesso tempo ad accelerare i progressi economici e sociali di quell’epoca. Partendo, dunque, dal presupposto che la televisione da sempre esercita un potere decisivo sulla collettività, si è scelto di concentrarsi sulla fase meno indagata della sua storia, quella della televisione delle origini: ‹‹migliore›› perché senza competitor, ‹‹autentica›› perché incontestabile e soprattutto ‹‹pedagogica›› perché è di istruzione e di formazione che, quell’Italia appena uscita dalla guerra, aveva più urgenza. La storia della televisione italiana inizia il 3 gennaio 1954, con la nascita del servizio pubblico televisivo e insieme di un mezzo che, di lì a poco, avrebbe completamente rivoluzionato la società italiana, trasformandola in una civiltà di massa. Si accorciano le distanze territoriali e insieme culturali e la società inizia a omologarsi nei gusti, poi nei consumi e infine nel pensiero. Il punto d’arrivo si colloca negli anni Settanta, quando ha termine il monopolio della RAI, che fino a quel momento era stato visto come il garante del pluralismo culturale. La RAI passa dal controllo governativo a quello parlamentare, mentre si assiste al boom delle televisioni private e alla necessità della tv di Stato di stare al passo con la concorrenza, attraverso una produzione diversa da quella degli esordi. Dunque cambia la tv, come pure cambia la sua funzione e la forma mentis di chi ne detiene le redini. Ne risulta un’indagine trasversale, che passa nel mezzo di molteplici discipline che afferiscono alla materia televisiva e che non evita di porsi quelle domande scomode, necessarie tuttavia a comprendere la verità sugli artefici della prima RAI e sui loro obiettivi. E allora: qual era il valore attribuito alla televisione degli esordi? Era davvero uno strumento pedagogico? Sulla base di quali presupposti? Chi scriveva i palinsesti di quegli anni? Chi e perché sceglieva temi e format televisivi? Chi decideva, in ultima analisi, la forma da dare all’identità culturale nazionale attraverso questo nuovo apparecchio? Il metodo di ricerca si è articolato su tre distinte fasi di lavoro. In primis si è puntato a individuare e raccogliere bibliografia, sitografia, studi e materiale bibliografico reperibile a livello nazionale e internazionale sulla storia della televisione italiana e sulla sua programmazione nel primo ventennio. In particolare sono stati presi in esame i programmi scolastici ed educativi (Telescuola, Non è mai troppo tardi), la Tv dei Ragazzi e i programmi divulgativi culturali. Successivamente si è resa necessaria una definizione degli elementi per l’analisi dei programmi presi in esame, operazione resa possibile grazie alla consultazione del Catalogo multimediale della Rai. In questa seconda parte della ricerca si è voluto puntare i riflettori su ‹‹L’Approdo››, la storia, le peculiarità e gli obiettivi di quella che a ragione potrebbe essere definita una vera e propria impresa culturale, declinata in tutte le sue forme: radiofonica, di rivista cartacea e televisiva. In ultimo, sulla base dell’analisi dei materiali d’archivio, sono state realizzate interviste e ricerche all’interno dei palazzi della Rai per constatare la fondatezza e l’attendibilità dell’ipotesi relativa agli obiettivi educativi sottesi ai format televisivi presi in esame. Le conclusioni di questa ricerca hanno portato a sostenere che la tv delle origini, con tutti i suoi limiti, era uno strumento pedagogico e di coesione sociale. E se ciò appare come un aspetto ampiamente verificabile, oltreché evidente, qualora si voglia prendere in esame la televisione scolastica ed educativa di quegli anni, meno scontato risulta invece dimostrarlo se si decide – come si è fatto – di prendere in esame un programma divulgativo culturale come ‹‹L’Approdo››, che rientra nell’esperienza televisiva definita di ‹‹educazione permanente››. Ripercorrere la storia della trasmissione culturale più longeva della tv italiana degli esordi, per avvalorarne la funzione educativa, si è rivelata una strada interessante da battere, per quanto innegabilmente controversa, proprio per il principale intento insito nella trasmissione: diffondere la cultura ‹‹alta›› a milioni di telespettatori che erano praticamente digiuni della materia. Un obiettivo che alla fine della disamina si è rivelato centrato, grazie alla qualità della trasmissione, al suo autorevole e prestigioso groupe d'intellectuels, agli ascolti registrati dal ‹‹Servizio Opinioni›› e alla potenzialità divulgativa e penetrante della tv, nel suo saper trasmettere qualunque tematica, anche quelle artistiche e letterarie. Dunque se la prima conclusione di questo studio induce a considerare che la tv del primo ventennio era pedagogica, la seconda è che ‹‹L’Approdo›› tv di questa televisione fu un’espressione felice. ‹‹L’Approdo›› conserva ancora oggi un fascino innegabile, non foss’altro per la tenacia con la quale i letterati difesero l’idea stessa della cultura classica dal trionfo lento e inesorabile della società mediatica. Come pure appare ammirevole e lungimirante il tentativo, mai azzardato prima, di far incontrare la cultura con i nuovi media. Si potrebbe dire che ‹‹L’Approdo›› oggi rappresenti una rubrica del passato di inimmaginata modernità e, nel contempo, una memoria storica, lunga più di trent’anni, che proietta nel futuro la ricerca storica grazie al suo repertorio eccezionale di immagini e fatti che parlano di arte, di letteratura, di cultura, di editoria e di società e che raccontano il nostro Paese e la sua identità culturale, la stessa che la televisione da sempre contribuisce a riflettere e a delineare. Lo studio è partito da un’accurata analisi delle fonti, focalizzando l’attenzione, in primo luogo, sugli ‹‹Annuari della Rai›› (che contengono le Relazioni del Cda Rai, le Relazioni del Collegio Sindacale, i Bilanci dell’Esercizio e gli Estratti del Verbale dell’Assemblea Ordinaria). Altre fonti prese in esame sono gli stati gli opuscoli di ‹‹Servizio Opinioni››, le pubblicazioni relative a studi e ricerche in materia di televisione e pedagogia e le riviste edite dalla Rai Eri: ‹‹Radiocorriere tv››, ‹‹L’Approdo Letterario››, ‹‹Notizie Rai››, ‹‹La nostra RAI››, ‹‹Video››. Negli ultimi anni la Rai ha messo a disposizione del pubblico una cospicua varietà di video trasmessi dalle origini a oggi (www.techeaperte.it): si tratta del Catalogo Multimediale della Rai, che si è rivelato fondamentale al fine della realizzazione della presente ricerca. Altre sedi indispensabili per la realizzazione di questa ricerca si sono rivelate le due Biblioteche romane della Rai di Viale Mazzini e di via Teulada.