A simple device for in-situ direct shear and sinkage tests

This work introduces a simple device designed to perform in-situ direct shear and sinkage tests on granular materials as sand, clays, or regolith. It consists of a box nested within a larger box. Both have open bottoms, allowing them to be lowered into the material. Afterwards, two rotating plates on opposite sides of the outer box will rotate outwards in order to clear regolith on either side, providing room for the inner box to move relative to the plates and perform a shear test without the resistance of the surrounding soil. From this test, Coulomb parameters, including cohesion and internal friction angle, as well as, Bekker parameters can be inferred. This device has been designed for a laboratory setting, but with few modifications, could be put on the underside of a rover for use in a remote location. The goal behind this work is to ultimately create a compact, but accurate measuring tool to put onto a rover or any kind of exploratory vehicle to test for regolith properties of celestial bodies

Syntomatic Tarlov Cyst. Case presentation

Tarlov or perineural cysts are pathologic deformations located in the space between the Perineurium and endoneurium of spinal roots close to the posterior root ganglion. It is an infrequent disease. Although its etiology is uncertain different theories have been postulated since its discovery. Regularly they are asymptomatic; they are discovered as incidental findings in imaging studies. A case is presented of a patient complaining of a lumbociatalgia of month evolution, without relation with previous efforts or traumas. Imaging studies allowed the diagnosis of Tarlov Cysts, which in this case presented atypically, so it could be confused with other affections of the lumbosacral level

Romantic views of adolescents from Cuenca (Ecuador), their association with machismo/marianismo and migration

Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 8 INTRODUCTION 13 Machismo and marianismo in Latin America 16 International migration in Ecuador 17 Aims and methods of the doctoral project 19 References 25 CHAPTER I 29 CHARACTERISTICS OF ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS DURING ADOLESCENCE: A REVIEW OF LITERATURE 29 Introduction 32 Methodology 33 Study characteristics 33 Findings 34 Main conclusions on the studied categories 43 Gaps and limitations 44 Conclusion 45 References 47 CHAPTER II 52 MACHISMO AND MARIANISMO: SOURCES OF VULNERABILITY AND TENSION IN ECUADORIAN ADOLESCENTS’ ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS 52 Introduction 55 Mixed-Methods Approach 57 Quantitative assessment of gender ideology endorsement 57 Qualitative exploration of gender ideologies in romantic relationships. 63 General Discussion 72 Limitations of this study 76 References 77 CHAPTER III 80 UNDERSTANDING PARENTAL VIEWS OF ADOLESCENT SEXUALITY AND SEX EDUCATION IN ECUADOR: A QUALITATIVE STUDY 80 Introduction 83 Methodology 85 Findings 86 Discussion 91 References 95 CHAPTER IV 98 ADOLESCENTS’ REPRESENTATIONS OF CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS IN THE CONTEXT OF PARENTAL MIGRATION: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY FROM ECUADOR 98 Introduction 101 Methodology 103 Results 105 Conclusions 111 References 113 CHAPTER V 118 ADOLESCENTS’ LIVED EXPERIENCES OF CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS IN THE CONTEXT OF TRANSNATIONAL FAMILIES: A QUALITATIVE STUDY FROM ECUADOR 118 Introduction 121 Methodology 124 Findings 127 Discussion 135 Conclusions 138 References 140 CHAPTER VI 143 EXPLORING AMBIGUOUS LOSS IN THE CONTEXT OF PARENTAL MIGRATION: EXPERIENCES OF ECUADORIAN ADOLESCENTS 143 Introduction 146 Methodology 147 Findings 149 Discussion 156 Limitations of this study 160 References 161 CHAPTER VII 163 DISCUSSION 163 The study of romantic relationships in adolescence: progress and gaps in the literature 165 Overview of the doctoral study 167 Main findings from the empirical studies 168 Integrative discussion on socio-cultural factors having an impact on romantic relationships of adolescents from Cuenca 172 Implications for educational & clinical practice 179 Strengths and Limitations 181 Self-reflection on scientific research on cultural phenomena 183 Suggestions for a way forward 185 References 187 Popular summary 195 Samenvatting 199 About the author 204 ANNEX 1 210 Masculinity Role Norms Inventory (MRNI-R) 210 ANNEX 2 212 Femininity Ideology Scale (FIS) 212 ANNEX 3 214 Behavioral Systems Questionnaire (BSQ) 214nrpages: 217status: publishe

A micro-mechanical study of peak strength and critical state

We present a micro-mechanical analysis of macroscopic peak strength, critical state, and residual strength in two-dimensional non-cohesive granular media. Typical continuum constitutive quantities such as frictional strength and dilation angle are explicitly related to their corresponding grain-scale counterparts (e.g., inter-particle contact forces, fabric, particle displacements, and velocities), providing an across-the-scale basis for a better understanding and modeling of granular materials. These multi-scale relations are derived in three steps. First, explicit relations between macroscopic stress and strain rate with the corresponding grain-scale mechanics are established. Second, these relations are used in conjunction with the non-associative Mohr–Coulomb criterion to explicitly connect internal friction and dilation angles to the micro-mechanics. Third, the mentioned explicit connections are applied to investigate, understand, and derive micro-mechanical conditions for peak strength, critical state, and residual strength

A micro-mechanical study of peak strength and critical state

We present a micro-mechanical analysis of macroscopic peak strength, critical state, and residual strength in two-dimensional non-cohesive granular media. Typical continuum constitutive quantities such as frictional strength and dilation angle are explicitly related to their corresponding grain-scale counterparts (e.g., inter-particle contact forces, fabric, particle displacements, and velocities), providing an across-the-scale basis for a better understanding and modeling of granular materials. These multi-scale relations are derived in three steps. First, explicit relations between macroscopic stress and strain rate with the corresponding grain-scale mechanics are established. Second, these relations are used in conjunction with the non-associative Mohr–Coulomb criterion to explicitly connect internal friction and dilation angles to the micro-mechanics. Third, the mentioned explicit connections are applied to investigate, understand, and derive micro-mechanical conditions for peak strength, critical state, and residual strength

Importancia del tratamiento fisioterapéutico y rehabilitación en pacientes con cirugía de cadera en el servicio de ortopedia y traumatología del Hospital del IESS. Cuenca octubre 1.995 a marzo 1.996

La presente investigación pretende demostrar la importancia del trabajo en equipo interdisciplinario en el proceso de rehabilitación y fisioterapia de las principales cirugías de cadera. Se realizó en el servicio de ortopedia y traumatología del hospital del IESS. de Cuenca durante seis meses [Octubre 1995-Marzo 1996]. En este período se realizaron 31 cirugías de cadera: que incluyen: artroplastía parcial y total [20], osteosíntesis de fémur próximal [9], artrodesis [1], osteotomía acetabular [1]. El manejo fisioterapeútico y rehabilitatorio ha sido implementado en el postoperatorio inmediato con un trabajo de equipo que incluye básicamente la comunicación directa con el cirujano. El tratamiento consistió en: terapia respiratoria, crioterapia, vendaje elástico, masaje, elevación de miembro, manejo de almohada de abducción y férula de no rotación, termoterapia [compresas], ejercicios: isométricos, pasivos, activos asistidos, activos libres, y activos resistidos. Reeducción de propioceptores, deambulación sin apoyo, con apoyo parcial y total, reducción de la marcha. La aplicación del presente plan de tratamiento demostró la importancia del mismo, debido a que se ha podido observar la inmediata recuperación en: fuerza muscular, arco de movimiento y la temprana deambulación como se comprueba en el análisis de los cuadros. Se ha conseguido implementar un esquema disciplinado de trabajo que permitió la colaboración del personal médico y paramédico al conocer el esquema propuesto.Tecnólogo Médico en Terapia FísicaCuenc

Effects of grain morphology on critical state: a computational analysis

We introduce a new DEM scheme (LS-DEM) that takes advantage of level sets to enable the inclusion of real grain shapes into a classical discrete element method. Then, LS-DEM is validated and calibrated with respect to real experimental results. Finally, we exploit part of LS-DEM potentiality by using it to study the dependency of critical state (CS) parameters such as critical state line (CSL) slope λ, CSL intercept Γ, and CS friction angle Φ_(CS) on the grain’s morphology, i.e., sphericity, roundness, and regularity. This study is carried out in three steps. First, LS-DEM is used to capture and simulate the shape of five different two-dimensional cross sections of real grains, which have been previously classified according to the aforementioned morphological features. Second, the same LS-DEM simulations are carried out for idealized/simplified grains, which are morphologically equivalent to their real counterparts. Third, the results of real and idealized grains are compared, so the effect of “imperfections” on real particles is isolated. Finally, trends for the CS parameters (CSP) dependency on sphericity, roundness, and regularity are obtained as well as analyzed. The main observations and remarks connecting particle’s morphology, particle’s idealization, and CSP are summarized in a table that is attempted to help in keeping a general picture of the analysis, results, and corresponding implications

Effects of grain morphology on critical state: a computational analysis

We introduce a new DEM scheme (LS-DEM) that takes advantage of level sets to enable the inclusion of real grain shapes into a classical discrete element method. Then, LS-DEM is validated and calibrated with respect to real experimental results. Finally, we exploit part of LS-DEM potentiality by using it to study the dependency of critical state (CS) parameters such as critical state line (CSL) slope λ, CSL intercept Γ, and CS friction angle Φ_(CS) on the grain’s morphology, i.e., sphericity, roundness, and regularity. This study is carried out in three steps. First, LS-DEM is used to capture and simulate the shape of five different two-dimensional cross sections of real grains, which have been previously classified according to the aforementioned morphological features. Second, the same LS-DEM simulations are carried out for idealized/simplified grains, which are morphologically equivalent to their real counterparts. Third, the results of real and idealized grains are compared, so the effect of “imperfections” on real particles is isolated. Finally, trends for the CS parameters (CSP) dependency on sphericity, roundness, and regularity are obtained as well as analyzed. The main observations and remarks connecting particle’s morphology, particle’s idealization, and CSP are summarized in a table that is attempted to help in keeping a general picture of the analysis, results, and corresponding implications