Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Structural assessments in the field'

The University of Aberdeen has conducted research into ground anchorage systems since the early 1980's. During this time, the non-destructive GRANIT system (GRound ANchorage Integrity Testing) has been developed for anchorages in rock. The system is based on observing the dynamic response from anchorages to which an impulse of a known intensity has been applied. This technique has been proven to be a reliable system to assess the integrity of rock anchorages, which is then used as a base to study the integrity of soil anchorages. This research aims to implement a non-destructive testing system at small scale size and full scale stress levels by means of centrifuge modelling at the University of Dundee. Accordingly, centrifuge modelling was undertaken to monitor and assess the dynamic response of soil anchorages installed in dry sand reinforcing a retaining wall in 3x3 anchorage array sets, subject to different post tension levels within different bonding ratios and different inclinations. In order to perform non-destructive testing, an In-flight Robotic Manipulator, previously developed, was used to apply a post tension load followed by an impact load to the anchorage head to obtain the dynamic response of the system. Anchor frequency response signatures were then evaluated in order to validate the consistency of results obtained. The practical importance of this research is that non-destructive testing may be usable to assess the soil anchors integrity to define the relationship between both anchor load and geometrical characteristics with frequency response accomplished using centrifuge modelling. This research presents a further development of the physical model in which additional instrumentation is included in order to obtain load/deflection information of the anchor head, which has been proven crucial for monitoring load on rock anchorage. Additionally, load distributions along scaled model soil anchors are measured and found to reduce gradually within the fixed length, similarly as it was reported for the fixed length of rock anchorages. Furthermore, a lumped parameter model for a single soil anchorage was adapted to investigate the dynamic response under the same physical and geometrical characteristics studied during centrifuge modelling. Mode shapes helped to understand the origin of some of the frequency modes present in the frequency response of the centrifuge results. The results from the numerical and centrifuge models were compared and good agreement was observed. Soil anchorage does not show as much frequency shift as was observed for rock anchorages under different post tension load, suggesting that the bonding strength of the fixed length with the surrounding ground plays an important role on the dynamic response of the system. The accomplishment of the assessment of soil anchorage can not be exclusively judged on its ability to diagnose controlled changes under centrifuge and numerical modelling. Therefore a preliminary phase to assess a soil anchorage under field conditions was carried out deploying the GRANIT system. This research showed that the GRANIT non-destructive testing technique has potential for use in soils, but that the results are not as well defined as in rock, necessitating more careful characterization of each anchorage signature response.

Using cluster analysis, a total of 605 vents in San Francisco Volcanic Field are studied over an area of approximately 5000km2. Application of alignment analysis techniques, including the two-point azimuth analysis and Hough transform analysis, demonstrates that cinder cones are aligned along common orientations within larger clusters. These alignments consist of 9-10 cinder cones, are 20-38 km long, and are regional features. The vent alignments indicate the presence of geological features along which magma ascended more readily than elsewhere. The NE-trending Mesa Butte and Oak Creek Canyon-Doney fault systems seem to control the intermediate to silicic centers which are on the intersection of these fault systems with Cataract Creek fault system and affect the development of cinder cone alignments. Geological maps and geophysical surveys indicate that most vent alignments are parallel or subparallel to these large scale fault systems. This suggests that vent alignment patterns are controlled by regional structures.

Researchers use natural phenomena in a number of disciplines to help explain human behavioral outcomes. Research regarding the potential effects of magnetic fields on animal and human behavior indicates that fields could influence outcomes of interest to social scientists. Tests so far have been limited in scope. This work is a preliminary evaluation of whether the earth’s magnetic field influences human behavior it examines the baseline relationship exhibited between geomagnetic readings and a host of social and political outcomes. The emphasis on breadth of topical coverage in these statistical trials, rather than on depth of development for any one model, means that evidence is only suggestive – but geomagnetic readings frequently covary with social and political variables in a fashion that seems inexplicable in the absence of a causal relationship. The pattern often holds up in more-elaborate statistical models. Analysis provides compelling evidence that geomagnetic variables furnish valuable information to models. Many researchers are already aware of potential causal mechanisms that link human behavior to geomagnetic levels and this evidence provides a compelling case for continuing to develop the line of research with in-depth, focused analysis.

In situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) using permanganate is a technology for treatment of organic hazardous wastes. This research is a review of 30 permanganate (MnO4-) ISCO sites to determine whether there are long term impacts on groundwater quality due to the introduction of the oxidant into the subsurface. A second objective is to determine if manganese concentration can be predicted by trends in specific pre and postoxidation monitored parameters (i.e., pH and oxidation reduction potential (ORP)). The final objective is to identify the effects of site and design conditions on groundwater conditions postoxidation. Results indicate that (1) there are limited long term groundwater impacts due to oxidant introduction (i.e., water quality indicators begin to approach preoxidation levels by 2 years postoxidation), (2) manganese concentrations can be predicted and (3) site and design conditions have pronounced short term impacts on geochemical parameters (i.e., especially site media type, mass of oxidant injected, and initial ORP).

Swallowing is a complex sensorimotor behaviour that includes precisely-timed bilateral activation and relaxation of muscles of the face, lips, tongue, cheeks, palate, larynx, pharynx and oesophagus. These events of activation and inhibition are controlled by many structures of the brain and are executed by cranial nerves that carry motor and sensory information to and from the swallowing muscles. Swallowing disorders are common sequelae of many neurological and structural disorders, including stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and head and neck cancer. Changes to swallowing physiology are also prevalent in older individuals, but these changes do not necessarily translate to dysphagia. Decreased muscle strength, changes to motor unit properties, and hypotrophic changes in skeletal muscles can result in age-related changes in swallowing physiology. In addition to muscular changes, neural changes might also change swallowing function in older subjects. The motor-learning literature presents a clear distinction between the differential applications and effects of skill- and strength-training approaches for rehabilitation of limb movement. In contrast to limb-movement rehabilitation, swallowing rehabilitation approaches consist mainly of strength training, although the pathophysiological basis for dysphagia is not always weakness. Therefore, this Phase I clinical-trial critically evaluated a unique swallowing skill training protocol in which the goal of intervention is to increase precision of motor control during swallowing. A Phase I clinical-trial was necessary to identify the appropriate protocol for inducing neurophysiological, biomechanical, and structural adaptations, to estimate effect sizes, and to identify adverse effects. The first and primary question addressed in this thesis was whether swallowing skill training would produce greater physiological effects in healthy subjects than a traditional swallowing strength training approach. In order to answer this question, three levels of assessment were included. Neurophysiological assessment consisted of delivering single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the M1 area that sends efferent projections to the submental muscle group during a functional task of volitional saliva swallowing, and during a non-functional task of submental muscle group contraction. Biomechanical assessments consisted of pharyngeal and upper esophageal sphincter (UES) pressure measurements using pharyngeal manometry during effortful and non-effortful swallowing tasks, submental muscle activation measurements using surface electromyography (sEMG) during effortful and non-effortful swallowing tasks, and hyoid displacement using ultrasonography. Structural assessment consisted of measuring the cross sectional area of the submental muscle group. Finally, motor performance during training, and subjective ratings of the training protocols were assessed. Two skill training protocols were developed to assess the use of immediate versus delayed visual feedback in swallowing skill training. In addition, a pilot study aimed at examining the effects of increased dosage of training sessions was conducted. Forty healthy subjects (20 young, and 20 old; 20 females and 20 males) were allocated to skill and strength training groups in a counterbalanced manner. Strength training consisted of execution of the effortful swallowing technique targeting increased demand for strength. Skill training targeted precise timing and force execution during swallowing execution. Several motor-learning principles were considered in devising the training protocols, including the principles of task specificity and high intensity of training. Biofeedback was included to promote motor learning. Since the submental muscle group plays an important role in hyolaryngeal excursion, the current study utilized submental sEMG biofeedback using custom-made training software. The training protocols consisted of 1000 repetition of swallowing over a 2-week period. Subjects trained for an hour, five days a week, for 2 weeks (i.e., 10 training sessions). The extended dosage protocol included 10 subjects and comprised an additional eight sessions. The results indicated that there was a significant difference in submental activation following training, with strength training having an increase in sEMG peak amplitude in comparison to skill training. There were no other differences between groups at the 5% error level. Patterns of change were revealed when marginally significant results (0.05 < p ≤ 0.10) were investigated as well. Strength training resulted in a trend towards increased neural drive for volitional effortful-type tasks (i.e., effortful saliva swallowing, effortful water swallowing, and submental muscle contraction) as indicated by increased MEP magnitude (p = 0.07) which was consistent with significantly increased peak amplitude of submental activity measures (p < 0.001). This finding supports the task specificity principle of motor learning. Skill training resulted in no changes in MEP magnitude. There was a trend (p = 0.06) towards increased submental muscles activity during functional swallowing tasks (i.e., non-effortful swallowing) in young subjects,. Males in skill training had decreased duration of UES opening in 10 mL water effortful swallowing task (p = 0.02), a trend towards increased UES pressure in non-effortful saliva swallowing task (p = 0.07), and reduced hyoid displacement following training (p < 0.001). Changes in pharyngeal pressures were detected for skill training with delayed visual feedback that resulted in decreased pressure at mid-pharynx in effortful and non-effortful tasks (p < 0.05). No difference in submental CSA changes was detected in either training group. Both groups improved motor performance measured by data collected during the session (target hit-rate and muscle activity). The results of the pilot study that examined the effects of an extended dosage of training were difficult to interpret due to the small sample size. However, there were significant and marginally significant effects of skill training on mid-pharyngeal and UES pressure duration events. Dysphagia is common in patients with Parkinson’s disease, but no specific training programme exists for these patients, leading to the second question addressed through this research. Since movement planning is compromised due to dysfunction of the basal ganglia, providing external information for planning and executing swallowing was hypothesized to alleviate dysphagic symptoms. Ten subjects were recruited. Swallowing skill training with immediate feedback was administered for one hour every day, five days a week, for 2 weeks, similar to the training dosage and frequency in the healthy group. Biomechanical and structural changes were assessed. Swallowing skill training with immediate feedback led to an increase in submental activity in effortful swallowing tasks but not non-effortful tasks. In addition, it was found that individuals with dysphagia secondary to Parkinson’s disease have deceased submental muscle reserve relative to healthy subjects. Preliminary analysis of MEP data led to exploration of submental MEP measures between younger and older subjects. This ‘discovery’ research shed light on the third topic addressed in this thesis. There are contradicting results in the literature regarding age-related brain activity during swallowing. Since submental MEPs were included as an outcome measure in the main study, it was important to evaluate them at baseline in order to understand and interpret changes in this measure. Unlike other measures, such as pharyngeal pressure and hyoid displacement that have been documented in the literature to change with age, no similar study has been conducted to assess for differences in swallowing-related MEPs. Baseline data from the main study were analysed. Older subjects produced larger MEP magnitude in comparison to young in volitional saliva swallowing and volitional submental contraction. This finding raised some questions regarding the use of MEPs as an outcome measure, since it is not clear what constitutes a ‘positive’ change. This study documented, for the first time, the application of skill training in swallowing in a healthy and dysphagic population. Positive effects of treatment were found in the dysphagic group; an indication of negative effects was identified in the healthy group. In addition, this is the first study to compare skill to strength training in swallowing. The only significant difference between the two was significantly greater submental activation in effortful swallowing tasks following strength training in comparison to skill training; although there were some significant interactions between age and training type and gender and training type. This project represents the first Phase I clinical-trial of an innovative approach for addressing swallowing impairments. Achieving the ultimate aim of finding the most appropriate training protocol for treating individuals with a specific pathophysiological basis of dysphagia, requires the implementation of a long-term on-going research programme characterized by a staged process. This research programme sets an initial reference framework from which further projects can estimate the sample size required to answer specific questions, control for effects of age and gender and their interaction with training, increase precision in choosing assessment tools, and test new specific questions.

The work described in this thesis investigates the effects that scaling has on key structural integrity concepts, namely, stress fields, stress intensity factors, and the J-integral. Scaled models are an attractive concept in scenarios where full scale testing is not possible, and they are used extensively in other engineering fields. Little research into the practical applications of scaling in a structural integrity context exist however, which provided the motivation for the work. Scaling laws for these three structural integrity parameters are developed, such that the load can be scaled, along with the geometry, while maintaining the parameter of interest. Two sets of experiments and their results are described, which consist of simple aluminium beams in four point bend configurations, to verify the scaling laws for stress fields and stress intensity factors, and to highlight practical issues surrounding scaling in real life. The scaling laws themselves do not take into account the effect of scaling on the other parameters. As each parameter follows a different law, and as all the parameters are capable of contributing to failure, it is shown that the scaling laws are not capable of describing the behaviour of a component for a complete range of scale factors. By extrapolating results, and with the use of failure assessment diagrams to visualise this, it is possible to see that depending on the geometry, material properties, and loading regime, there will come a point with which the failure mechanisms will change. There are certain conditions however, in which scaling is an appropriate and useful tool. For specimens where fracture occurs, if the small scale yielding conditions at the crack tip are maintained across the sizes, then scaled models can be reliably used to produce a model that accurately replicates the fracture conditions, and from which results from the scaled model can be transferred across to the full size. For the small scale yielding conditions to be maintained, the limitation will be on how small the scaled model can be made. Similarly for models where failure is due to the global stress field, scaling can be used provided this remains the dominant contributor to failure. Where there are stress concentrating features, care must be taken if the scaled model is larger in sizes than the original specimen, as this can tend towards small scale yielding conditions, and consequently a change in failure mechanism. Where these conditions are met however, then scaled models may confidently be used to replicate and further investigate the failure conditions of the original specimens. The case studies considered throughout the development of the scaling laws, and in the experiments, are relatively straightforward, and while representative of test specimens used in materials testing, they are not accurate representations of real components. A complex case study is finally considered, which relates the results and findings from the work to a real component, and subject to realistic constraints and boundary conditions. The case study consists of a parametric finite element study, which aims to replicate failure criteria in a scaled down component. The resultant models obtained are able to meet this criteria, however in do- ing so the geometry is altered, and drifts from what might be considered true scaling. No “all encompassing” scaling law is derived to describe how to produce the scaled component, and prior knowledge of the stress state is required for the parametric study. The methodology is deemed useful, however, for scenarios where full scale modelling is not possible, yet physical validation of the modelling methods are required.

Coastal zones receive massive terrestrial inputs of nutrients and organic matter, and play an important role in biogeochemical cycles. The interactions of river inputs, ocean currents, atmospheric exchanges, anthropogenic influences, and biologically active ecosystems make CO2 system studies in coastal waters highly challenging. This work focuses on improving our understanding of the CO2 system in coastal waters through (1) development of a new methodology for measurements of CO2 system parameters in the field; (2) observations of large spatial and temporal CO2 system variations in coastal waters; and (3) characterization of the influence of organics on CO2 system behavior in coastal waters. A novel portable light-emitting-diode (LED) photometer was developed to provide low-cost seawater pH measurements in the field. With meta cresol purple (mCP) as the indicator, the photometer produces pHT measurements within ± 0.01 units of state-of-the-art spectrophotometric measurements (7.6 ≤ pH ≤ 8.2, 30 ≤ S ≤ 36.2, and 15 oC ≤ t ≤ 30 oC). With a simple “do-it-yourself” (DIY) construction design, a hundredfold reduction in cost relative to benchtop spectrophotometric systems, and routine calibration-free operation in the field, the DIY photometer is an ideal replacement for pH test strips or consumer-level potentiometric probes. Applications of special interest include education, citizen science, coastal zone monitoring, and aquaculture and aquarium management. Subannual variability of total alkalinity (TA) distributions in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) was examined through the use of TA data from ship-based water sampling, historical records of riverine TA, and contemporaneous model output of surface currents and salinity. Variability of TA observed in the upper 150 m of the GOM water column was primarily controlled by subannual variations in the extent of mixing between seawater and river water. A transition in TA distribution patterns between the river-dominated northern margin (near the Mississippi–Atchafalaya River System) and the ocean current-dominated eastern margin (West Florida Shelf) was observed. A riverine alkalinity input index was developed to highlight riverine TA contributions. Contributions of organic alkalinity (Org-Alk) to TA were investigated in coastal waters from three different environments (estuary, urban, mangrove) and offshore sites in the Gulf of Mexico. The difference in alkalinity (∆TA) between TA measured by direct titration (TAmeas) and calculated (TAcal) from observations of DIC and pH was used as an estimate of Org-Alk. Average values of ∆TA were 0.1 ± 5.0 µmol kg-1 at coastal sample sites outside the Mississippi-Atchafalaya River Estuary (n = 17), 1.9 ± 5.2 µmol kg-1 in offshore waters (n = 14) in the northern Gulf of Mexico, 33.6 ± 18.0 µmol kg-1 in the Suwannee River Estuary (n = 17), and 16.0 ± 25.4 µmol kg-1 in sites that included Tampa Bay, the Caloosahatchee River, and the Ten Thousand Islands area (n = 55). In addition to Org-Alk assessments based on measurements of ∆TA, a novel two-step spectophotometric titration method was developed for the characterization of Org-Alk. Direct titrations showed substantial Org-Alk in coastal samples (n = 5), and the Org-Alk values obtained from the two-step titrations showed good agreement with results from ∆TA calculations. The spectrophotometric titration data were used in model fits to evaluate the dissociation constants (pKi) of the natural organic acids. The pKi of the organic acids were within the previously reported range for riverine fulvic acids.

The communication modes are a mathematical technique for the description of structural information in optical fields. These modes are orthogonal, optimally  connected functions characteristic of the optical system. Mathematically they are obtained by the singular value decomposition (SVD) of the operator that represents the field propagation. In this dissertation, the foundations of the technique are described, and the theory is extended and applied to a variety of specific systems.   In the Fresnel regime, the communication modes are closely related to the prolate spheroidal wavefunctions (PSWF). Within this approximation, the numerical propagation of the field in a one-dimensional optical system in terms of the PSWFs is demonstrated and the problem of assessing the best achievable realization of a given target field is addressed. Simplified equations for field propagation are presented. Approximate modes in large-aperture systems are derived and shown to agree with Gabor's theory on optics and information. The longitudinal resolution of an axicon is analyzed in terms of the communication modes. It is shown that in a generalized axicon geometry the communication modes are expressible in terms of the PSWFs, and that in usual circumstances a version of the large aperture approximation applies, resulting in quadratic waves in the aperture domain and sinc functions in the image domain   Eigenequations for the communication modes in scalar near-field diffraction are derived and applied to a simplified scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM) geometry. It is suggested that the resolution of a SNOM system is essentially given by the width of the lowest-order communication modes. The best-connected mode is shown to effectively reduce to the Green function.   Within the context of random fluctuations the communication modes are defined for the cross-spectral density of partially coherent fields. These modes are compared to the well-known coherent modes. Expressions for the effective degree of coherence are derived, and it is demonstrated that optical fields of any state of coherence may readily be propagated through deterministic systems by means of the communication modes. Results are illustrated numerically in an optical near-field geometry.   The communication modes theory is further extended to vector diffraction on the basis of Maxwell's equations. The polarization properties of the electromagnetic communication modes as represented by the Stokes parameters are analyzed numerically for an example of a near-field geometry. The work presented in this dissertation shows that the communication modes are an advanced, versatile tool that can be applied to deterministic and random, scalar and electromagnetic optical systems in far-field and near-field arrangements. The method is likely to find further uses in applications such as polarization microscopy.<br>QC 20100802

There is notable heterogeneity in clinical presentation of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Classification of COPD is usually based on the severity of airflow limitation (pre- and post- bronchodilator FEV1), which may not sensitively differentiate subpopulations with distinct phenotypes. A recent advance of quantitative medical imaging and data analysis techniques allows for deriving quantitative computed tomography (QCT) imaging-based metrics. These imaging-based metrics can be used to link structural and functional alterations at multiscale levels of human lung. We acquired QCT images of 800 former and current smokers from Subpopulations and Intermediate Outcomes in COPD Study (SPIROMICS). A GPU-based symmetric non-rigid image registration method was applied at expiration and inspiration to derived QCT-based imaging metrics at multiscale levels. With these imaging-based variables, we employed a machine learning method (an unsupervised clustering technique (K-means)) to identify imaging-based clusters. Four clusters were identified for both current and former smokers. Four clusters were identified for both current and former smokers with meaningful associations with clinical and biomarker measures. Results demonstrated that QCT imaging-based variables in patients with COPD can derive statistically stable and clinically meaningful clusters. This sub-grouping can help better categorize the disease phenotypes, ultimately leading to a development of an efficient therapy.

The aim of this study is to investigate the functional and structural differences between normal subjects and asthmatics via image registration and computational fluid dynamics (CFD), together with pulmonary function test's (PFT) and one-image-based variables. We analyzed three populations of CT images: 50 normal, 42 non-severe asthmatic and 52 severe asthmatic subjects at total lung capacity (TLC) and functional residual capacity (FRC). A mass preserving image registration technique was employed to match CT images at TLC and FRC for assessments of regional volume change and anisotropic deformation. Instead of existing threshold-based air-trapping measure, a fraction-based air-trapping measure was proposed to account for inter-site and inter-subject variations of CT density. We also analyzed structural alterations of asthmatic airways, including bifurcation angle, hydraulic diameter, luminal area and wall area. CFD and particle tracking simulations are employed with physiologically-consistent boundary condition. As compared with normal subjects, severe asthmatics exhibit reduced air volume change (consistent with air-trapping) and more isotropic deformation in the basal lung regions, but increased air volume change associated with increased anisotropic deformation in the apical lung regions. In the multi-center study, the traditional air-trapping measure showed the significant site-variability due to the differences of scanners and coaching methods. The proposed fraction-based air-trapping measure is able to overcome the inter-site and inter-subject variations, allowing analysis of large data sets collected from multiple centers. We further demonstrate alterations of bifurcation angle, constriction, wall thickness and non-circularity at local branch level in severe asthmatics. The bifurcation angle, non-circularity and especially reduced hydraulic diameter significantly affect the increase of particle deposition in severe asthmatics. In summary, the two-image registration-based deformation provides a tool for distinguishing differences in lung mechanics among populations. The new fraction-based air-trapping measure significantly improves the association of air-trapping with the presence and severity of asthma and the correlation with forced expiratory volume in 1 second over forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) than existing approaches. The altered functions and structures such as air-volume change, branching angles, non-circular shapes, wall thickness and hydraulic diameters that found in asthmatics are strongly associated with the flow structures and particle depositions.

Recent empirical assessments revealed that footprint indicators calculated with various multi-regional input-output (MRIO) databases deliver deviating results. In this paper, we propose a new method, called structural production layer decomposition (SPLD), which complements existing structural decomposition approaches. SPLD enables differentiating between effects stemming from specific parts in the technology matrix, e.g. trade blocks vs. domestic blocks, while still allowing to link the various effects to the total region footprint. Using the carbon footprint of the EU-28 in 2011 as an example, we analyse the differences between EXIOBASE, Eora, GTAP and WIOD. Identical environmental data are used across all MRIO databases. In all model comparisons, variations in domestic blocks have a more significant impact on the carbon footprint than variations in trade blocks. The results provide a wealth of information for MRIO developers and are relevant for policy makers designing climate policy measures targeted to specific stages along product supply chain.

Fracture mapping of bedrock and knowledge about how fractures influence rock strength and stability is of great importance in a constructional context. These factors largely dictate where one can build and not build in rock, and to what extent reinforcements and safety measurements are needed. In a city like Stockholm where infrastructure has been forced to expand due to a rapidly growing population, this type of knowledge plays a central role to ensure continued development. Fracture mapping is traditionally executed by a geologist who manually measures fracture orientations with a compass. However, this method bears obvious risks as the geologist must physically approach a possibly unstable rock face to carry out manual measurements of fractures and structures. In some cases, the geologist is not even allowed to approach the rock face for safety reasons. The aspect of time should not be neglected either since the process of manual measurements is often time consuming. This has resulted in newer and safer technological methods being developed and tested. In 2015, The Geological Survey of Sweden (SGU) acquired photogrammetrical equipment and 3D-modelling software ShapeMetriX to ease the fracture mapping process, obtain data of higher quality and increase personnel safety in the field. In this report, the photogrammetrical system is quality tested by comparing its results with manual field measurements. The control was carried out on three different rock faces in two locations; Torsgatan, a central street in Stockholm, and Kungens kurva, a construction site southwest of central Stockholm. The study shows that the results of ShapeMetriX correspond well to the manual field measurements and that the method has several advantages as well as disadvantages compared to conventional mapping methods.<br>Sprickkartering av berggrund och kunskap om hur bergets hållfasthet och stabilitet påverkas av sprickor är viktigt i konstruktionssammanhang. Dessa faktorer dikterar till stor del var man kan och inte kan bygga i berg samt till vilken grad förstärkningar och säkerhetsåtgärder behövs. I en stad lik Stockholm vars infrastruktur tvingas anpassa sig efter en kraftigt växande befolkning sätts dessa kunskaper i en ännu mer central roll för att kunna säkerställa stadens fortsatta utveckling. Sprickkartering utförs traditionellt av en geolog som med hjälp av en kompass manuellt mäter sprickors orientering. Detta medför dock uppenbara risker då denna fysiskt måste befinna sig nära bergskärningen för att kunna utföra mätningar av sprickor och strukturer. I vissa fall kan geologen, av säkerhetsskäl, inte alls närma sig den berörda ytan vilket omöjliggör en detaljerad kartering. Tidsaspekten av det hela bör inte heller bortses då manuella fältmätningar ofta är tidskrävande. Detta har resulterat i att nyare och säkrare teknologiska metoder för kartering och klassificering av berg både utvecklas och prövas. Sveriges geologiska undersökning (SGU) förvärvade 2015 fotogrammetrisk karteringsutrustning och 3D-modelleringsprogrammet ShapeMetriX för att effektivisera sprickkarteringsarbetet, erhålla data med högre kvalitét och öka säkerheten för personal I fält. I denna rapport utvärderas nämnda stereofotogrammetriska karteringsmetod med tillhörande analysmjukvara genom en jämförelse av dess resultat med manuella fältmätningar. Kontrollen utfördes på tre berghällar; en belägen på Torsgatan, en central gågata strax nordväst om centrala Stockholm och de andra vid Kungens kurva, en byggarbetsplats i närheten av Skärholmen i södra Stockholm. Resultat av studien visar att ShapeMetriX mätningar väl stämmer överens med manuella fältmätningar och även att metoden har en

Monogenetic volcanism represents the most common volcano type on Earth. The distribution of it depends in each case on their regional and local tectonic controls. The great variety of eruptive styles, edifice morphologies, and deposits shown by monogenetic volcanoes is the result of a complex combination of internal (magma composition, gas content, magma rheology, magma volume, etc.) and external (regional and local stress fields. stratigraphic and rheological contrasts of substrate rock, hydrogeology, etc.) parameters during magma transport from the source region to the surface. The present PhD Thesis focuses on the geological and structural controls of monogenetic volcanism. It pays particular attention to the uppermost part of the lithosphere and its role to determine the distribution of eruptive vents and eruptive styles. We have selected La Garrotxa Volcanic Field (GVFj as a case study. This Quaternary volcanic field is located in the Northeast of the Iberian Peninsula and includes more than SO well-preserved volcanoes. It covers an area of 600 km2, between the cities of Olot and Girona and belongs to the Catalan Volcanic Zone, one of the alkaline volcanic provinces of the European Rift System. The GVF is still poorly known and has become an ideal place for the application of the multidisciplinary studies, including geophysical methods, geological fieldwork and geomorphological and structural analyses, which constitute this PhD Thesis. The first work was carried out at the Northern sector of the GVF. This study was mainly based on the application of gravimetry and self-potential techniques, in order to identify the main tectonic structures of the volcanic area at depth. A second work was performed in order to obtain a much better detail of the shallower structures and to relate the subsurface geology to the feeding system of these monogenetic volcanoes. In this case, we applied the electrical resistivity tomography method, comparing the new data with the self-potential results. A third work was carried out at the Southern sector of the GVF, at La Crosa de Sant Dalmai volcano (10 km SW of Girona), one of the biggest maar-diatreme edifices of the Iberian Peninsula. Here, several geophysical techniques were applied, including gravimetry, magnetometry, self-potential and electrical resistivity tomography. A model of the uppermost part of the diatreme was obtained, determining the internal structure and its origin. The results obtained with the application of these geophysical methods in this volcanic field suggest that electrical resistivity tomography is a useful tool for the study the internal structures of different types of monogenetic landforms. In this way we present a short work that illustrates different examples of internal structures of monogenetic volcanic cones from GVF. Furthermore, combining the results from these geophysical studies with the geological informations obtained by fieldwork, we performed the first volcanic stratigraphy map of the GVF. Finally, we also led a detailed volcano-structural analysis of the whole volcanic field, including geostatistical distribution of faults, fissures and vents, morpho structural lineaments identified by remote sensing, a morphometrical analysis of the volcanic cones and craters, location of regional seismic events recorded in the area (since 1978), and mantle derived gases in springs and water wells, as a guide to identify active faults and open fractures and to define the structural controls of this volcanism. The results obtained from all these studies have permitted understanding how magma was transported into the lithosphere and erupted at the surface, and represent an essential tool for a correct volcanic hazard assessment of the GVF. Furthermore, the methodologies described in this PhD Thesis establish general guidelines to study active monogenetic volcanic fields and we hope that it will contribute to improve their understanding.<br>La present Tesi Doctoral es centra en els controls geològics i estructurals del vulcanisme monogenètic. S'ha posat especial atenció a la part més superficial de la litosfera i en el paper que juga aquesta zona en determinar la distribució de punts emissors i estils eruptius. S'ha seleccionat com a cas estudi el Camp Volcànic de la Garrotxa (GVF) (NE d'lberia). Aquest és encara poc conegut i ha esdevingut un lloc ideal per l'aplicació d'estudis multidlsciplinaris com els treballs que constitueixen aquesta Tesi Doctoral, integrant mètodes geofísics. treballs de camp, ¡ anàlisis geomorfològics i estructurals. Els primers dos treballs s'han portat a terme al sector Nord del GVF. Aquests estudis s'han basat en l'aplicació de diverses tècniques geofísiques, identificant així les estructures tectòniques principals I obtenint una informació detallada del basament. El tercer treball també s'ha realitzat a partir d'un estudi multigeofísic. En aquest cas al sector Sud del GVF, concretament al volcà de la Crosa de Sant Dalmai. Els resultats han permès la realització d'un model de la part superior de la diatrema, determinant la seva estructura interna i origen. Els resultats obtingut suggereixen que la tomografia elèctrica resulta una eina eficaç per l'estudi dels diferents tipus d'edificis monogenètics. D'aquesta manera es presenta un treball breu amb diferents exemples de l'estructura dels cons volcànics de la zona. Combinant aquests resultats amb informació geològica de camp, s'ha realitzat la primera cartografia vulcanoestratigràfica del GVF. Finalment, s'ha fet un anàlisi volcanoestructural de tot el camp volcànic, el qual Inclou la distribució geoestadística de falles, fissures i punts emissors, identificació morfo-estructural de lineacions, anàlisi morfomètric dels cons i cràters, localització de la sismicitat registrada de la zona i gasos derivats del mantell en surgències i pous, com a guia per identificar falles actives o fractures obertes, amb l'objectiu de definir els controls estructurals d'aquest vulcanisme. Tot els resultats obtinguts han permès entendre el transport del magma des de la litosfera fins la superfície, i representen un eina essencial per una correcta avaluació de la perillositat volcànica al GVF. Tanmateix, les metodologies descrites estableixen una pauta general per l'estudi dels camps monogenètics actius.

The construction of fish passes has been a longstanding measure to improve river ecosystem status by ensuring the passability of weirs, dams and other in- channel structures for migratory fish. Many fish passes have a low biological effectiveness because of unsuitable hydrodynamic conditions hindering fish to rapidly detect the pass entrance. There has been a need for techniques to quantify the hydrodynamics surrounding fish pass entrances in order to identify those passes that require enhancement and to improve the design of new passes. This PhD thesis presents the development of a methodology for the rapid, spatially continuous quantification of near-pass hydrodynamics in the field. The methodology involves moving-vessel Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) measurements in order to quantify the 3-dimensional water velocity distribution around fish pass entrances. The approach presented in this thesis is novel because it integrates a set of techniques to make ADCP data robust against errors associated with the environmental conditions near engineered in-channel structures. These techniques provide solutions to (i) ADCP compass errors from magnetic interference, (ii) bias in water velocity data caused by spatial flow heterogeneity, (iii) the accurate ADCP positioning in locales with constrained line of sight to navigation satellites, and (iv) the accurate and cost-effective sensor deployment following pre-defined sampling strategies. The effectiveness and transferability of the methodology were evaluated at three fish pass sites covering conditions of low, medium and high discharge. The methodology outputs enabled a detailed quantitative characterisation of the fish pass attraction flow and its interaction with other hydrodynamic features. The outputs are suitable to formulate novel indicators of hydrodynamic fish pass attractiveness and they revealed the need to refine traditional fish pass design guidelines.

This thesis challenges the conventional theory of forced migration by expanding the narrow definition of violence that prevails, not only within international refugee legislation, but also within the academic field of migration. As such, this thesis argues that by limiting the scope of forced migration only to include victims of direct personal violence, manifested in physical harm, we are neglecting the victims of indirect structural violence, that is, the violence of oppression and inequality, where insights and resources are monopolized by a certain group within society, making access unattainable for others. By analyzing personal narratives of six economic migrants from sub-Saharan Africa that has fled their countries to escape structural violence, this thesis aims to shed light on the limitation within the conventional theory of forced migration.

The thesis investigated progression of the central 10° visual field with structural changes at the macula in a cross-section of patients with varying degrees of agerelated macular degeneration (AMD). The relationships between structure and function were investigated for both standard and short-wavelength automated perimetry (SWAP). Factors known to influence the measure of visual field progression were considered, including the accuracy of the refractive correction on SWAP thresholds and the learning effect. Techniques of assessing the structure to function relationships between fundus images and the visual field were developed with computer programming and evaluated for repeatability. Drusen quantification of fundus photographs and retro-mode scanning laser ophthalmoscopic images was performed. Visual field progression was related to structural changes derived from both manual and automated methods. Principal Findings: • Visual field sensitivity declined with advancing stage of AMD. SWAP showed greater sensitivity to progressive changes than standard perimetry. • Defects were confined to the central 5°. SWAP defects occurred at similar locations but were deeper and wider than corresponding standard perimetry defects. • The central field became less uniform as severity of AMD increased. SWAP visual field indices of focal loss were of more importance when detecting early change in AMD, than indices of diffuse loss. • The decline in visual field sensitivity over stage of severity of AMD was not uniform, whereas a linear relationship was found between the automated measure of drusen area and visual field parameters. • Perimetry exhibited a stronger relationship with drusen area than other measures of visual function. • Overcorrection of the refraction for the working distance in SWAP should be avoided in subjects with insufficient accommodative facility. • The perimetric learning effect in the 10° field did not differ significantly between normal subjects and AMD patients. • Subretinal deposits appeared more numerous in retro-mode imaging than in fundus photography.

The structural behaviour of pavements in cold regions can considerably be affected by seasonal variation in environmental factors such as temperature and moisture content. Along with the destructive effect of heavy traffic loads, climatic and environmental factors can considerably contribute to pavement deterioration. These factors can influence the structural and functional capacity of the pavement structures which, as a result, can trigger and accelerate pavement deterioration mechanisms. Studies on the influence of variation of the environmental factors on the response and behaviour of pavement materials have shown that proper consideration to these factors must be given in realistic pavement design and analysis. In flexible pavement structures, particularly with a thin hot mix asphalt (HMA) layer, unbound materials and subgrade soil largely contribute to the overall structural behaviour of the pavement system. In unbound materials, moisture content and its variation can significantly affect pavement layer stiffness and permanent deformation characteristics. Therefore, the moisture condition of pavements and its influence on the mechanical behaviour of pavement materials has been of interest among the pavement research community. A proper understanding of moisture transformation in pavement systems and its effects on pavement performance are important for mechanistic pavement design. The present summary of this doctoral thesis is based on four main parts. The first part of the thesis covers field measurements and findings from a test section along county road 126 in southern Sweden and consists of two journal papers (paper I and II) tackling different aspects of the research topic. This test section is located in a relatively wet ground condition and consists of a thin flexible pavement structure with a deep drainage system. It is instrumented with subsurface temperature, volumetric moisture content and groundwater probes. The mechanical response of the pavement structure was investigated using Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) measurements. The second part of the thesis (paper III and IV) are based on laboratory experiments and investigates different recent approaches that have been proposed to apply principles of unsaturated soil mechanics for incorporating seasonal variation of moisture content into the resilient modulus models using matric suction. The third part of the thesis (paper V) builds a bridge that spans between the laboratory and field investigations with an attempt to evaluate one of the predictive models presented in Paper III. The fourth part of the thesis (paper VI) mainly focuses on the laboratory-based investigation of the permanent deformation characteristic of subgrade soils. In this part, the permanent deformation characteristics of two different silty sand subgrade soils were investigated and modelled using the data obtained from repeated load traxial tests. Paper I mainly focuses on the spring-thaw weakening of the pavement structure. The environmental data collected using different sensors and the FWD tests were used to investigate variations in moisture content with thaw penetration and its influence on the stiffness of unbound layers and the pavement’s overall bearing capacity. Using the backcalculated layer stiffness and corresponding in situ moisture measurements in the unbound layers, a degree of saturation-based moisture-stiffness model was developed for the granular material and the subgrade. In Paper II, the drainage system of the structure was manually clogged during a three month period in summer to raise the groundwater level and increase the moisture content of the layers. Along with the subsurface groundwater level and moisture content monitoring, the structural response of the pavement was studied. In this research work, the FWD tests were conducted at three different load levels. The stress dependent behaviour of the unbound granular layer and the subgrade soil were further studied using the multilevel loads FWD test data. Additionally, parameters of a nonlinear stress-dependent stiffness model were backcalculated and their sensitivity to in situ moisture content was studied. In Paper III and IV, series of suction-controlled repeated load triaxial (RLT) tests were conducted on two silty sand (SM) subgrade materials. Several resilient modulus prediction models that account for seasonal moisture content variation through matric suction were summarized and after optimizing the model parameters, the capability of the prediction models in capturing the material response were evaluated. In Paper V, an attempt was made to evaluate the proficiency of one of the suction-resilient modulus models using the field moisture content and FWD measurements from the Torpsbruk test site. The backcalculated subgrade stiffness dataset at different moisture contents were compared with resilient modulus models obtained from the suction-resilient modulus predictive model. Paper VI presents an evaluation of several permanent deformation models for unbound pavement materials that incorporate the time-hardening concept using a series of multistage repeated load triaxial (RLT) tests conducted on silty sand subgrade materials. The permanent deformation tests were conducted at four different moisture contents with pore suctions measurement throughout the test. The effect of moisture content (matric suction) on the permanent deformation characteristics of the materials and the predictive model parameters were further investigated.<br><p>QC 20150324</p>

This dissertation develops a robust, data-driven localization methodology based on the integration of matched field processing with compressed sensing ℓ1 recovery techniques and scale transform signal processing. The localization methodology is applied to an ultrasonic guided wave structural health monitoring system for detecting, locating, and imaging damage in civil infrastructures. In these systems, the channels are characterized by complex, multi-modal, and frequency dispersive wave propagation, which severely distort propagating signals. Acquiring the characteristics of these propagation mediums from data represents a difficult inverse problem for which, in general, no readily available solution exists. In this dissertation, we build data-driven models of these complex mediums by integrating experimental guided wave measurements with theoretical wave propagation models and ℓ1 sparse recovery methods from compressed sensing. The data-driven models are combined with matched field processing, a localization framework extensively studied for underwater acoustics, to localize targets in complex, guided wave environments. The data-driven matched field processing methodology is then refined, through the use of the scale transform, to achieve robustness to environmental variations that distort guided waves. Data-driven matched field processing is experimentally applied to an ultrasound structural health monitoring system to detect and locate damage in aluminum plate structures.

Soil compaction due to wheeled tractors and trailed equipment has been a concern since the beginning of agricultural machanization. The interest in this subject has increased in recent years, as tractors and trailers have become heavier. Gantries pass over the field in fixed unplanted paths, between which lay the crop beds. Wheel traction increases due to soil compaction on the pathways, while the elimination of soil compaction in the growing area improves soil tilth, and provides the best soil condition for crops. To obtain optimum performance with a gantry, it must be properly designed to ensure that the structural components are strong, yet light. Since forces arising from various field operations which would act on the gantry were not directly available from the literature, they were estimated from various sources. Finite element analysis was then used to analyze the design and determine the most appropriate material sizes.

This research presents improvements to the velocity field reconstruction process achieved through computer vision. The first improvement of the velocity reconstruction process is the automation of the scanning laser Doppler vibrometer (SLDV) pose procedure. This automated process results in superior estimates of the position and orientation of the SLDV. The second improvement is the refinement of the formulation for reconstruction of the velocity field. The refined formulation permits faster computation, evaluation, and interpretation of the reconstructed structural velocity field. Taken together, these new procedures significantly improve the overall velocity reconstruction process which results in better, unbiased out-of-plane velocity estimates in the presence of noise. The automation of the SLDV pose procedure is achieved through a computer vision model of the SLDV. The SLDV is modeled as a projective camera, i.e. an imager which preserves projectivities. This projective camera model permits the precise association of object features with image features. Specifically, circular features in the object space are seen by the SLDV as ellipses in the image space. In order to extract object points, the bitangents among the circular features are constructed and the bitangent points selected. The accuracy and precision of the object points are improved through the use of a calibrated object whose circular features are measured with a coordinate measuring machine. The corresponding image points are determined by constructing the bitangents among the ellipses and selecting the tangent points. Taken together, these object/image bitangent point sets are a significantly improved data set for previously developed SLDV pose algorithms. Experimental verification of this automated pose procedure includes demonstrated repeatability, independent validation of the estimated pose parameters, and comparison of the estimated poses with previous methods. The refinement of the velocity reconstruction formulation is a direct result of the computer vision viewpoint adapted for this research. By viewing the velocity data as images of the harmonically excited structure's velocity field, analytical techniques developed for holographic interferometry are extended and applied to SLDV velocity images. Specifically, the "absolute" and "relative" fringe-order methods are used to reconstruct the velocity field with the "best" set of bases. Full and partial least squares solutions with experimental velocity data are calculated. Statistical confidence bounds of the regressed velocity coefficients are analyzed and interpreted to reveal accurate out-of-plane, but poor in-plane velocity estimates. Additionally, the reconstruction process is extended to recover the velocity field of a family of surfaces in the neighborhood of the "real" surface. This refinement relaxes the need for the exact experimental geometry. Finally, the velocity reconstruction procedure is reformulated so that independent least squares solutions are obtained for the two in-plane directions and the out-of plane direction. This formulation divides the original least squares problem into three smaller problems which can be analyzed and interpreted separately. These refinements to the velocity reconstruction process significantly improve the out-of-plane velocity solution and interpretation of the regressed velocity parameters.<br>Ph. D.

With the recent interest in single fraction Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy and the emerging prominence of the Rapid Arc radiotherapy technique capable of delivering a fast and accurate treatment, the in-field primary dose and out-of-field dose assessments are becoming increasingly important. Currently, full physics Monte Carlo calculations for dose calculations have been regarded as a ‘gold standard’ for dose assessments of the target and OAR (organ at risk). However, these Monte Carlo calculations require very long computation times. The current treatment planning methods provide shorter calculation times, but issues such as heterogeneities and model-based parameter calculations cause challenges and affect dose calculation accuracy. This thesis describes a new and fast dose estimation method leveraging parallel computing called EDK-SN, “Electron Dose Kernel-Discrete Ordinates”. This new method uses hybrid electron dose kernels driven by linear Boltzmann (discrete ordinates) photon transport method to carry out dose calculations. The method has proven effective for fast and accurate computations of out-of-field whole body dose calculations benchmarked to Monte Carlo with isotropic monoenergetic photon sources. This thesis accomplishes adaptation of clinical Varian phase space data for use with general Monte Carlo codes including MCNP, and mapping accurate phase space data into the application of optimized EDK-SN dose calculation method with a 15-year-old patient phantom. The EDK-SN method with improved source term modeling is demonstrated to fall within accuracy of the measured golden beam data for a clinical water phantom.

Light-dark cycles are considered the most important synchroniser of the human circadian pacemaker. To better understand the effect of light input and the lack thereof on the circadian timing system, 12 healthy blind subjects with no light perception (NLP) were studied for ~4 months during field and laboratory conditions. In three NLP subjects who all had at least one eye, light exposure induced melatonin suppression [NLP(+); E-POS group]. In seven NLP subjects, melatonin suppression did not occur [NLP(-)]; four of them had at least one eye (E-NEG group) and three were bilaterally enucleated (BE group). In two NLP subjects melatonin suppression was not assessed [NLP(< >)]. The findings reported in this thesis show that: (1) The observed period of the melatonin rhythm measured under field conditions was not significantly longer than the observed period measured under the forced desynchrony condition in the non-entrained totally blind subjects. This shows that, contrary to previous suggestions, that average period measured in NLP blind subjects during field studies is an accurate reflection of the endogenous period. (2) The phase and amplitude of the plasma melatonin rhythm exhibited a significantly greater modulation by the sleep-wake cycle and associated stimuli in the BE group compared to that observed in the E-POS and E-NEG NLP blind groups and sighted subjects studied under the same FD conditions. This indicates that the eyes may play an additional role in the human circadian system independent of its role as a light transducer. (3) Homeostatic and circadian processes are intact and regulate sleep and waking performance in NLP blind subjects, like that observed in sighted subjects. This demonstrates that these processes function independent of conscious image-forming and non-image-forming (circadian) photoreception.

In the last decade emerging contaminants research has intensified in a bid to answer questions about fate, transport, and effects as these chemicals as they get released into the environment. The chemicals of interest were the antimicrobials; triclocarban (TCC) and triclosan (TCS), and a metabolite of triclosan, methyl triclosan (MTCS). This research was designed to answer the question: what is the fate of these chemicals once they are released from the waste water treatment plant into receiving streams. Three different assessment methods; field monitoring, in-situ experiments, and laboratory studies were used to answer the overall question. TCS, TCC, and MTCS levels were measured in surface water, sediment and the Asiatic clam Corbicula fluminea. Field studies were conducted using four sites at Pecan Creek, Denton TX. Levels of all three chemicals in clams were up to fives orders of magnitude the water concentrations but an order of magnitude lower than in sediment. Highest sediment levels of chemicals were measured in samples from the mouth of Pecan Creek (highest organic matter). TCC was the most and TCS was the least accumulated chemicals. In-situ and lab studies both indicated that uptake of these chemicals into the clams was very rapid and measurable within 24hours of exposure. The after clams were transferred into clean water most of the compounds were depurated within 14 days.

During the past two decades interdisciplinary health care teams have come to be considered an integral component in the efficient delivery of health care. Interdisciplinary teams dealing with the increasingly complex problems of patients are now common in many health care settings. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the individual and collective impact of several group process inputs, common to interdisciplinary health care teams, on team members' appraisals of their own group process skills.

In reservoir settings with structural compartmentalization, fault properties can constrain the fluid flow and pressure development, thus affecting decisions associated with the selection of the drainage strategy within reservoir management activities. Historically, we have relied on geological analysis to evaluate the fault seal, however this can be restricted by available well coverage which can introduce considerable uncertainty. More recently, time-lapse seismic has become useful in the assessment of the dynamic connectivity. Indeed, seismic changes are in general a combination of pressure and saturation changes which, for compartmentalized reservoirs, seem to be associated with the sealing behaviour of faults. Based on this observation, this thesis presents a new effort in which the spatial coverage of the time-lapse seismic data is used as an advantage to more fully resolve properties of the fault seal, particularly in areas with poor data control. To achieve this task, statistics of amplitude contrast and the spatial variability of the 4D seismic signatures are considered. Tests performed on modelled data have revealed that the proposed 4D seismic measurements can be calibrated at the wells in a sector with known geological characteristics via a quadratic polynomial expression that allows fault permeability to be derived. Uncertainties in the 4D seismic estimation have also been considered in a Bayesian framework, leading to the identification of error bounds for the estimates. Results on synthetic data are encouraging enough to investigate its applicability on the Heidrun field. In this real example, the Jurassic reservoirs are compartmentalized due to the presence of a set of faults for which their flow capacity strongly affects field depletion. Here, previous studies have attempted to characterize the fault seals, yet the sparse nature of well data has limited their evaluation, leaving uncertainties when adjusting fault properties in the reservoir simulation model. In this case, application of our approach has proven useful, as it has allowed the detailed characterization of major faults in this field. Predictions obtained with the 4D seismic appear consistent when compared to previous core observations made from fault-rocks studies. Also, the results have been used to update ii the flow simulation model by adjusting transmissibility factors between compartments, leading to a decrease of the mismatch between the simulated forecast and historical production data. Furthermore, uncertainty in the 4D seismic prediction has been considered when implementing an automatic history match workflow allowing further improvements. New insights into the implications of the dynamic fault behaviour in the time-lapse seismic response are also provided in this thesis. We make use of synthetic models in which faults represent the main constraint for fluid flow, to show that an adjustment of the relation between the reservoir capillary pressure and the capillary threshold pressure of the fault-rock can alter the variance of the time-lapse seismic signature. However, a similar behaviour can be obtained when strong variations in the transmissibility of the fault are present. As a consequence, we propose that this statistic might help to identify fault seal dependent controls on individual fluid phases when the transmissibilities are fairly similar along the fault segment. This is particularly useful in the Heidrun field where we have found it difficult to explain the water encroachment by only using the single-phase approximation offered by the fault transmissibility multipliers. Here, the variance of the 4D seismic signature is employed together with the fault permeability values to suggest that in some compartments, waterflooding might be affected by the presence of a specific fault with sealing capacity strongly dependent on the individual fluid phases. This helps to explain the observed fluid uncertainties. It is also recognized that more data might be required to gain greater insight into this issue; hence alternative hypotheses are not discarded.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Nevada, Reno, 2005.<br>"August, 2005." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 76-78). Library also has microfilm. Ann Arbor, Mich. : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [2005]. 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm. Online version available on the World Wide Web.

Concrete-filled buckling restrained braces (BRBs) was first developed in 1988 in Tokyo, Japan, to prevent the steel plates in the core portion from buckling, leading the steel core to exhibiting a more stable and fully hysteretic loop than conventional steel braces. However, past studies have shown that buckling restrained braced frames (BRBFs) have a large residual deformation after a median or high seismic event due to steel’s residual strain. In order to address this issue, innovative self-centering SMA braces are proposed and installed in the originally unbraced bays in existing BRBFs to become a hybrid frame system where the existing steel BRBs dissipate energy induced by external forces and the newly added self-centering SMA braces restore the building configuration after the steel BRBs yield. A case study of conventional three-story BRBF retrofitted by the proposed self-centering SMA braces is carried out to develop systematic retrofit strategies, to investigate the structural behavior, and to probabilistically assess their seismic performance in terms of interstory drifts, residual drifts, and brace deformation, as compared to the original steel BRB frames. Finally, the developed brace component fragility curves and system fragility curves will be further used for the assessment of downtime and repair cost.

Les proteïnes son un dels grup biològics de macromolècules més abundants i estan involucrades en gairebé tots els processos que ocorren en un organisme. Poden ser classificades en moltes categories, però un dels criteris més importants és la funció que duu a terme en la cel·lula. Els enzims són proteïnes que incrementen la velocitat de reacció, disminuint l’energia d’activació d’aquesta. La presencia d’enzims permet que es duguin a termes reaccions bioquímiques, que no serien possibles a condicions fisiològiques i/o en el temps requerit. Els projectes desenvolupats en aquesta tesis, engloben principalment dos tipus d’enzims: oxidoreductases i proteases. Oxidoreductases son proteïnes que catalitzen la transferència d’electrons de una molecula reductora, a una d’oxidant. Aquest grup d’enzims sol utilitzar NADP+ i NAD+ com cofactors. Les oxidoreductases és una gran família que engloba diferents tipus d’enzims, que poden ser classificades pel tipus de mecanisme usat pel transport de electrons. Les aldehid deshidrogenases (ALDHs), son un dels tipus de oxidoreductases més importants, responsable de la eliminació d’aldehids tòxic per la cèl·lula. En els últims anys, la seva importància medica ha estat demostrada a causa que diverses patologies humanes són causades per mutacions als gens de les ALDH que causen mal funcionament, absència, inactivació o dèficit de proteina. Les patologies relacionades son varies: diferents tipus de càncers, anormalitats neurològiques i malalties metabòliques, entre altres. ALDH1A3 participa en la síntesi de acid retinoic a parti del retinaldheid, i això l’ha establert com un candidat per al tractament de diferent tipus de càncers. Amb l’objectiu d’obtenir informació útil sobre aquesta proteïna, s’ha dissenyat una variant mutant de la ALDH1A3 que es veu afectat el residu catalitic, El objectiu d’aquesta mutació era realitzar un estudi amb profunditat no solament a nivell cinètic sinó també a nivell estructura. El nostre objectiu era obtenir informació estructural del mutant sol, o bé interaccionant amb el substrat, el cofactor i alguns inhibidors. Aquesta informació pot ser una útil eina pel disseny de nous fàrmacs per mitigar els efectes de l’ALDH1A3 en les patologies en les quals esta involucrades. Les proteases són els enzims responsables de la escissió del enllaç peptídic i degradació proteica. Estan involucrades en diferents processos biològics exercint un rol crític per la supervivència dels organismes. Les proteases engloben una gran família de proteïnes amb la capacitat de hidrolitzar l’enllaç peptídic a diferents posicions. Aquesta tesis es centra en les metal·locarboxipeptidases (MCPs), una subfamília de proteases responsables de la hidròlisi del enllaç peptídic del residu localitzat en el C-terminal de la proteïna. Recentment, les MCPs han esdevingut més rellevants degut a la seva implicació en varies patologies com càncer i epilèpsia , entre altres. Degut a la seva importància tant a nivell biotecnològic com biomèdic, la necessitat de desenvolupar metodologies que ens permetin la seva obtenció de forma recombinant per al seu estudi ha augmentat. Per aquest motiu, en aquesta tesi suggerim un nou protocol millorat i econòmic, per la producció recombinant de MCPs que presentin afinitat per heparina. Una altra molècula important per l’estudi de les MCPs, són els inhibidors. Els inhibidors de MCPs, solen ser petites proteïnes que s’encarreguen de bloquejar l’activitat del enzim, i poden ser usats com a reguladors o fins i tot com a fàrmacs. Inhibidors d’alt pes molecular com la Latexina també han estat descrits, i en aquesta tesis es descriu un inhibidor homòleg a la latexina, extret de closca d’ou. Aquest inhibidor obtingut s’anomena Ovocalyxin-32 is mostra una forta interacció per alguns membres de la família de les MCPs<br>Las proteínas son uno de los grupos biológicos de macromoléculas más abundantes y están involucradas en casi todos los procesos que se llevan a cargo en el organismo. Pueden ser clasificadas en muchas categorías, pero el criterio más importante es la función que llevan a cabo en la celula. Las enzimas son proteínas que augmentan la velocidad de una reacción, disminuyendo su energía de activación. La presencia de enzimas permite que se lleven a cabo reacciones bioquímicas que no serían posibles en condiciones fisiológicas y/o con el tiempo demandado. Los proyectos desarrollados en esta tesis engloban principalmente dos tipos de enzimas: las oxidorreductasas y las proteasas. Las oxidorreductasas son proteínas que catalizan la transferencia de electrones de una molécula reductora, a una de oxidante. Este grupo de enzimas sule utilizar NADP+ y NAD+ como cofactores. Las oxidorreductasas es una gran familia de proteínas que engloba diferentes tipos de enzimas, que puede clasificarse por el tipo de mecanismo para llevar a cabo la transferencia de electrones. Las aldehído deshidrogenasas (ALDHs) son uno de los tipos de oxidorreductasas más importantes, responsables de la eliminación de aldehídos tóxicos para la célula. En los últimos años, su importancia medica ha sido demostrada dado que diversas patologías humanas son causadas por mutaciones en los genes de ALDH que causan mal funcionamiento, absencia inactivación o déficit de proteína. Las patologías relacionadas son varias: diferentes tipos de cáncer, anormalidades neurológicas y enfermedades metabólicas, entre otras. La ALDH1A3 participa en la síntesis del ácido retinoico a partir del retinaldehido, y eso la establece como diana terapéutica para el tratamiento de diversos tipos de cáncer. Con el objetivo de obtener mayor información útil sobre esta proteína se diseñó una variante mutante de la ALDH1A3 que tiene afectado el residuo catalítico. El objetivo de dicha mutación era realizar un estudio en profundidad no solo a nivel cinético, sino también a nivel estructural. Nuestro objetivo era obtener información estructural del mutante solo o interaccionando con sustratos, cofactor y algunos inhibidores. Esta información puede resultar una herramienta útil para el diseño de nuevos fármacos que mitiguen los efectos de la ALDH1A3, en las patologías donde se la ve involucrada. Las proteasas son las enzimas responsables de la hidrolisis del enlace peptídico i degradación proteica. Están involucradas en diferentes procesos biológicos ejerciendo un rol crucial para la supervivencia del organismo. Las proteasas engloban una gran familia de proteínas capaces de hidrolizar el enlace peptídico a diferentes posiciones. Esta tesis se centra en la metalocarboxipeptidasas (MCPs), las cuales son responsables de la hidrólisis del enlace peptídico del residuo localizado en el extremo C-terminal de la proteína. En los últimos años las MCPs han ganado relevancia debido su implicación en varias patologías como cáncer o epilepsia, entre otras. Debido a su importancia tanto a nivel biotecnológico como a nivel biomédico la necesidad de desarrollar metodologías que nos permitan su producción recombinante para su estudio ha augmentado. Por este motivo, en esta tesis sugerimos un protocolo mejorado y económico, para la reproducción recombinante de MCPs que presenten afinidad a heparina. Otro tipo de molécula importante para el estudio de las MCPs, son sus inhibidores. Los inhibidores de MCPs suelen ser proteínas pequeñas y su función es bloquear la actividad proteasa de las enzimas, actuando de esta forma como regulador e incluso como fármaco. También se han descrito inhibidores de alto peso molecular, como la latexina, y en esta tesi se describe el proceso de obtención de un inhibidor homologo a la latexina, extraído de cascara de huevo. El inhibidor obtenido, es conocido como Ovocalyxin-32, y muestra una fuerte interacción por algunos miembros de las MCPs.<br>Proteins are one of the most abundant biological groups of macromolecules and are involved in almost all the processes taking place in organisms. They can be classified into many categories, but one of the most important criteria is based on the function that they display in the cell. Enzymes are proteins that increase the reaction rate by lowering the activation energy of a reaction. The presence of enzymes allows biochemical reactions that could not be feasible under physiological conditions and/or in the time required. The projects developed in this thesis involves two types of enzymes: oxidoreductases and proteases. Oxidoreductases are proteins that catalyse the transfer of electrons from the reductant molecule to the oxidant molecule. This group of enzymes usually utilizes NADP+ or NAD+ as cofactors. Oxidoreductases is a very large family, which englobes different types of enzymes that can be classified according to their functional mechanism used to transport electrons. Aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) are one of the most important types of oxidoreductases, responsible for the elimination of toxic aldehydes by the cell. In recent years, its medical significance has been demonstrated by the determination that various human pathologies are caused by mutations in ALDH genes that cause malfunction, absence, inactivation, or protein deficiency. The pathologies related are various: many cancers, neurological abnormalities, and metabolic diseases, among others. ALDH1A3 participates in the synthesis of retinoic acid from retinaldehyde, and it has been established as an interesting target for the treatment of different types of cancers. With the aim to obtain useful information about this protein, a mutant variant involving the catalytic residue of ALDH1A3 has been designed. The objective of this mutation was to realize a deep study not only at the kinetical level but also at the structural level. Our objective was to try to obtain structural information on the ALDH1A3 variant alone or by interacting with the substrate, cofactor, and some inhibitors. This information could become a useful tool for the design of new drugs to mitigate the effects of ALDH1A3 in the pathologies in which it is involved. Proteases are the enzymes responsible for peptide bond cleavage and protein degradation. They are involved in different biological processes playing a crucial role in organism survival. Proteases encompass a large family of proteins with the ability to hydrolase peptide bounds at different position. This thesis focuses on metallocarboxypeptidases (MCPs), a subfamily of proteases responsible for the hydrolysis of the peptide bond of the residue located at the C-terminus of the protein. In recent years, MCPs have become more relevant due to their involvement in various pathologies such as cancer and epilepsy, among others. Because of their importance at both biotechnological and biomedical levels, the need for developing methodologies that allows us their recombinant obtention for their study has increased. For this reason, in this thesis we suggest a new improved and economical protocol, for the recombinant production of MCPs that have affinity for heparin. Other important molecules for the study of MCPs are the inhibitors. MCPs inhibitors are usually small proteins that are responsible for blocking the activity of the enzyme, and can be used as regulators or even as drugs. High molecular weight inhibitors such as Latexin have also been described, and in this thesis, we describe an inhibitor homologous to latexine, extracted from eggshell. This inhibitor is called Ovocalyxin-32 and shows a strong interaction with some members of the MCPs family.<br>Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Programa de Doctorat en Bioquímica, Biologia Molecular i Biomedicina

ABSTRACT The purpose of this thesis project work is to build reservoir models (structural, facies and Petrophysical property models) of the different reservoir surfaces using integrated data sets (seismic, wells, fault sticks, eclipse models, horizon surfaces) of the Norne field which is located in blocks 6608/10 and 6508/1 in the southern part of the Nordland II area. Different visualizations techniques, volume rendering and seismic attributes were applied to aid the seismic interpretation and to provide detailed evaluation/integration of the data. 3D seismic interpretation for the whole seismic volume within the reservoir section was done manually with controlled input surfaces/reflectors of the Top horizons of the Not and Åre Formations. Fault and surfaces interpretation of the reservoir were generated as key inputs in the modeling process The structural 3D grid skeleton and models were generated with critical inputs of the manually interpreted faults/horizons, using different qualitative/quantitative templates in Petrel. This was followed by well interpretation and upscaling to provide discrete facies which are needed in populating the structural models of each of the reservoir surfaces. A probabilistic facies model was done to capture the proportion of the spatial dimensions of each discrete facies in the model frame. The initiation of this study involves quantitative data quality controls and management of inputs files into the Petrel window, qualitative control involves transferring geologic licenses/understanding to the various interpretations in the visualization schemes, seismic interpretation and reservoir modeling templates. The combination of different data type and idea (volumes, wells, top surfaces, and fault sticks) types means that the user must have a multivariate understanding (Geologic, Geophysical, Petrophysical, Geostastistic, Geo-Modeling and Reservoir Engineering) in other to integrate the data sets and deliver the models. Eleven wells were used in reference to the Top surface of the Not, Åre Top surfaces and Statoil Reference report of the field, to deliver and control the seismic interpretation. A wedge shape structure was observed in the reservoir section. Typically, minor and major faults were interpreted as forming compartments in the reservoir, which were interpreted across the different lines. The structural framework in the field was largely defined by the Norne Horst and associated faults, with the erosional surface of the BCU with internal sub unconformities observed. The property facies model of the reservoir surfaces (Garn, Ile, Tofte, and TIlje) suggest that the Norne Horst and sub relief structures are mainly sand rich, which provides additional prospect indicators in exploring the field