The tectonically-confined Firenzuola turbidite system (Miocene, Marnoso-arenacea Formation, northern Apennines, Italy): an example of facies variations related to the basin morphology

The Firenzuola turbidite system formed during a paroxysmal phase of thrust propagation, involving the upper Serravallian deposits of the Marnoso-arenacea Formation (MAF). During this phase the coeval growth of two major tectonic structures, the M. Castellaccio thrust and the Verghereto high, played a key role, causing a closure of the inner basin and a coeval shift of the depocentre to the outer basin. This work focuses on this phase of fragmentation of the MAF basin; it is based on a new detailed high-resolution stratigraphic framework, which was used to determine the timing of growth of the involved structures and their direct influence on sediment dispersal and on the lateral and vertical turbidite facies distribution. The Firenzuola turbidite system stratigraphy is characterized by the occurrence of mass-transport complexes (MTCs) and thick sandstone accumulation in the depocentral area, which passes to finer drape over the structural highs; the differentiation between these two zones increases over time and ends with the deposition of marly units over the structural highs and the emplacement of the Visignano MTC. According to the stratigraphic pattern and turbidite facies characteristics, the Firenzuola System has been split into two phases, namely Firenzuola I and Firenzuola II: the former is quite similar to the underlying deposits, while the latter shows the main fragmentation phase, testifying the progressive isolation of the inner basin and a coeval shift of the depocentre to the outer basin. The final stratigraphic and sedimentological dataset has been used to create a quantitative high-resolution 3D facies distribution using the Petrel software platform. This model allows a detailed analysis of lateral and vertical facies variations that can be exported to several reservoirs settings in hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation areas, since facies distributions and geometries of the reservoir bodies of many sub-surface turbidite basins show a significant relationship to the syndepositional structural activity, but are beyond seismic resolution.

Multiple system atrophy: laminar distribution of the pathological changes in frontal and temporal neocortex--a study in ten patients

OBJECTIVE: To determine the distribution of the pathological changes in the neocortex in multiple-system atrophy (MSA). METHOD: The vertical distribution of the abnormal neurons (neurons with enlarged or atrophic perikarya), surviving neurons, glial cytoplasmic inclusions (GCI) and neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions (NI) were studied in alpha-synuclein-stained material of frontal and temporal cortex in ten cases of MSA. RESULTS: Abnormal neurons exhibited two common patterns of distribution, viz., density was either maximal in the upper cortex or a bimodal distribution was present with a density peak in the upper and lower cortex. The NI were either located in the lower cortex or were more uniformly distributed down the cortical profile. The distribution of the GCI varied considerably between gyri and cases. The density of the glial cell nuclei was maximal in the lower cortex in the majority of gyri. In a number of gyri, there was a positive correlation between the vertical densities of the abnormal neurons, the total number of surviving neurons, and the glial cell nuclei. The vertical densities of the GCI were not correlated with those of the surviving neurons or glial cells but the GCI and NI were positively correlated in a small number of gyri. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that there is significant degeneration of the frontal and temporal lobes in MSA, the lower laminae being affected more significantly than the upper laminae. Cortical degeneration in MSA is likely to be secondary to pathological changes occurring within subcortical areas.

A three dimensional surface measurement and reconstruction system for respiratory function analysis

Respiration is a complex activity. If the relationship between all neurological and skeletomuscular interactions was perfectly understood, an accurate dynamic model of the respiratory system could be developed and the interaction between different inputs and outputs could be investigated in a straightforward fashion. Unfortunately, this is not the case and does not appear to be viable at this time. In addition, the provision of appropriate sensor signals for such a model would be a considerable invasive task. Useful quantitative information with respect to respiratory performance can be gained from non-invasive monitoring of chest and abdomen motion. Currently available devices are not well suited in application for spirometric measurement for ambulatory monitoring. A sensor matrix measurement technique is investigated to identify suitable sensing elements with which to base an upper body surface measurement device that monitors respiration. This thesis is divided into two main areas of investigation; model based and geometrical based surface plethysmography. In the first instance, chapter 2 deals with an array of tactile sensors that are used as progression of existing and previously investigated volumetric measurement schemes based on models of respiration. Chapter 3 details a non-model based geometrical approach to surface (and hence volumetric) profile measurement. Later sections of the thesis concentrate upon the development of a functioning prototype sensor array. To broaden the application area the study has been conducted as it would be fore a generically configured sensor array. In experimental form the system performance on group estimation compares favourably with existing system on volumetric performance. In addition provides continuous transient measurement of respiratory motion within an acceptable accuracy using approximately 20 sensing elements. Because of the potential size and complexity of the system it is possible to deploy it as a fully mobile ambulatory monitoring device, which may be used outside of the laboratory. It provides a means by which to isolate coupled physiological functions and thus allows individual contributions to be analysed separately. Thus facilitating greater understanding of respiratory physiology and diagnostic capabilities. The outcome of the study is the basis for a three-dimensional surface contour sensing system that is suitable for respiratory function monitoring and has the prospect with future development to be incorporated into a garment based clinical tool.

Development of an on-demand beam pulsing system for Pixe-analysis of thick targets

This work concerns the developnent of a proton irduced X-ray emission (PIXE) analysis system and a multi-sample scattering chamber facility. The characteristics of the beam pulsing system and its counting rate capabilities were evaluated by observing the ion-induced X-ray emission from pure thick copper targets, with and without beam pulsing operation. The characteristic X-rays were detected with a high resolution Si(Li) detector coupled to a rrulti-channel analyser. The removal of the pile-up continuum by the use of the on-demand beam pulsing is clearly demonstrated in this work. This new on-demand pu1sirg system with its counting rate capability of 25, 18 and 10 kPPS corresponding to 2, 4 am 8 usec main amplifier time constant respectively enables thick targets to be analysed more readily. Reproducibility tests of the on-demard beam pulsing system operation were checked by repeated measurements of the system throughput curves, with and without beam pulsing. The reproducibility of the analysis performed using this system was also checked by repeated measurements of the intensity ratios from a number of standard binary alloys during the experimental work. A computer programme has been developed to evaluate the calculations of the X-ray yields from thick targets bornbarded by protons, taking into account the secondary X-ray yield production due to characteristic X-ray fluorescence from an element energetically higher than the absorption edge energy of the other element present in the target. This effect was studied on metallic binary alloys such as Fe/Ni and Cr/Fe. The quantitative analysis of Fe/Ni and Cr/Fe alloy samples to determine their elemental composition taking into account the enhancement has been demonstrated in this work. Furthermore, the usefulness of the Rutherford backscattering (R.B.S.) technique to obtain the depth profiles of the elements in the upper micron of the sample is discussed.

Development of a novel in vitro system for nasal drug delivery development

There is currently, no ideal system for studying nasal drug delivery in vitro. The existing techniques such as the Ussing chamber and cell culture all have major disadvantages. Most importantly, none of the existing techniques accurately represent the interior of the nasal cavity, with its airflow and humidity; neither do they allow the investigation of solid dosage forms.The work in this thesis represents the development of an in vitro model system in which the interior characteristics of the nasal cavity are closely represented, and solid or minimal volume dosage forms can be investigated. The complete nasal chamber consists of two sections: a lower tissue, viability chamber and an upper nasal chamber. The lower tissue viability chamber has been shown, using existing tissue viability monitoring techniques, to maintain the viability of a number of epithelial tissues, including porcine and rabbit nasal tissue, and rat ileal and Payers' patch tissue. The complete chamber including the upper nasal chamber has been shown to provide tissue viability for porcine and rabbit nasal tissue above that available using the existing Ussing chamber techniques. Adaptation of the complete system, and the development of the necessary experimental protocols that allow aerosol particle-sizing, together with videography, has shown that the new factors investigated, humidity and airflow, have a measurable effect on the delivered dose from a typical nasal pump. Similarly, adaptation of the chamber to fit under a confocal microscope, and the development of the necessary protocols has shown the effect of surface and size on the penetration of microparticulate materials into nasal epithelial tissues. The system developed in this thesis has been shown to be flexible, in allowing the development of the confocal and particle-sizing systems. For future nasal drug delivery studies, the ability to measure such factors as the size of the delivered system in the nasal cavity, the depth of penetration of the formulation into the tissue are essential. Additionally, to have access to other data such as that obtained from drug transport in the same system, and to have the tissue available for histological examination represents a significant advance in the usefulness of such an in vitro technique for nasal delivery.

Remarks on blow up time for solutions of a nonlinear diffusion system with time dependent coefficients

2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 35K55, 35K60.

Neural network based off-line handwritten text recognition system

This dissertation introduces a new system for handwritten text recognition based on an improved neural network design. Most of the existing neural networks treat mean square error function as the standard error function. The system as proposed in this dissertation utilizes the mean quartic error function, where the third and fourth derivatives are non-zero. Consequently, many improvements on the training methods were achieved. The training results are carefully assessed before and after the update. To evaluate the performance of a training system, there are three essential factors to be considered, and they are from high to low importance priority: (1) error rate on testing set, (2) processing time needed to recognize a segmented character and (3) the total training time and subsequently the total testing time. It is observed that bounded training methods accelerate the training process, while semi-third order training methods, next-minimal training methods, and preprocessing operations reduce the error rate on the testing set. Empirical observations suggest that two combinations of training methods are needed for different case character recognition. Since character segmentation is required for word and sentence recognition, this dissertation provides also an effective rule-based segmentation method, which is different from the conventional adaptive segmentation methods. Dictionary-based correction is utilized to correct mistakes resulting from the recognition and segmentation phases. The integration of the segmentation methods with the handwritten character recognition algorithm yielded an accuracy of 92% for lower case characters and 97% for upper case characters. In the testing phase, the database consists of 20,000 handwritten characters, with 10,000 for each case. The testing phase on the recognition 10,000 handwritten characters required 8.5 seconds in processing time.

Diel and seasonal variation in the use of a nearshore sandflat by a ray community in a near pristine system

Knowledge of movements and habitat use is necessary to assess a species’ ecological role and is especially important for mesopredators because they provide the link between upper and lower trophic levels. Using acoustic telemetry, we examined coarse-scale diel and seasonal movements of elasmobranch mesopredators on a shallow sandflat in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Giant shovelnose rays (Glaucostegus typus) and reticulate whiprays (Himantura uarnak) were most often detected in nearshore microhabitats and were regularly detected throughout the day and year, although reticulate whiprays tended to frequent the monitored array over longer periods. Pink whiprays (H. fai) and cowtail stingrays (Pastinachus atrus) were also detected throughout the day, but were far less frequently detected. Overall, there was no apparent spatial or temporal partitioning of the sandflats, but residency to the area varied between species. In addition, ray presence throughout the year suggests that previously observed differences in seasonal abundance are likely because of seasonal changes in habitat use rather than large-scale migrations. Continuous use of the sandflats and limited movements within this ray community suggests that rays have the potential to be a structuring force on this system and that focusing on nearshore habitats is important for managing subtropical ray populations.

Development of calix[4]arene-functionalized microcantilever array sensing system for the rapid, sensitive and simultaneous detection of metal ions in aqueous solutions

The work described in this thesis was conducted with the aim of: 1) investigating the binding capabilities of calix[4]arene-functionalized microcantilevers towards specific metal ions and 2) developing a new16-microcantilever array sensing system for the rapid, and simultaneous detection of metal ions in fresh water. Part I of this thesis reports on the use of three new bimodal calix[4]arenes (methoxy, ethoxy and crown) as potential host/guest sensing layers for detecting selected ions in dilute aqueous solutions using single microcantilever experimental system. In this work it was shown that modifying the upper rim of the calix[4]arenes with a thioacetate end group allow calix[4]arenes to self-assemble on Au(111) forming complete highly ordered monolayers. It was also found that incubating the microcantilevers coated with 5 nm of Inconel and 40 nm of Au for 1 h in a 1.0 M solution of calix[4]arene produced the highest sensitivity. Methoxy-functionalized microcantilevers showed a definite preference for Ca²⁺ ions over other cationic guests and were able to detect trace concentration as low as 10⁻¹² M in aqueous solutions. Microcantilevers modified with ethoxy calix[4]arene displayed their highest sensitivity towards Sr²⁺ and to a lesser extent Ca²⁺ ions. Crown calix[4]arene-modified microcantilevers were however found to bind selectively towards Cs⁺ ions. In addition, the counter anion was also found to contribute to the deflection. For example methoxy calix[4]arene-modified microcantilever was found to be more sensitive to CaCl₂ over other water-soluble calcium salts such as Ca(NO₃)₂ , CaBr₂ and CaI₂. These findings suggest that the response of calix[4]arene-modified microcantilevers should be attributed to the target ionic species as a whole instead of only considering the specific cation and/or anion. Part II presents the development of a 16-microcantilever sensor setup. The implementation of this system involved the creation of data analysis software that incorporates data from the motorized actuator and a two-axis photosensitive detector to obtain the deflection signal originating from each individual microcantilever in the array. The system was shown to be capable of simultaneous measurements of multiple microcantilevers with different coatings. A functionalization unit was also developed that allows four microcantilevers in the array to be coated with an individual sensing layer one at the time. Because of the variability of the spring constants of different cantilevers within the array, results presented were quoted in units of surface stress unit in order to compare values between the microcantilevers in the array.

30 years of upper air soundings on board of R/V POLARSTERN (1982-12-29 to 2012-11-25)

The research vessel and supply icebreaker POLARSTERN is the flagship of the Alfred-Wegener-Institut in Bremerhaven (Germany) and one of the infrastructural pillars of German Antarctic research. Since its commissioning in 1982, POLARSTERN has conducted 30 campaigns to Antarctica (157 legs, mostly austral summer), and 29 to the Arctic (94 legs, northern summer). Usually, POLARSTERN is more than 300 days per year in operation and crosses the Atlantic Ocean in a meridional section twice a year. The first radiosonde on POLARSTERN was released on the 29th of December 1982, two days after POLARSTERN started on its maiden voyage to the Antarctic. And these daily soundings have continued up to the present. Due to the fact that POLARSTERN has reliably and regularly been providing upper air observations from data sparse regions (oceans and polar regions), the radiosonde data are of special value for researchers and weather forecast services alike. In the course of 30 years (1982-12-29 to 2012-11-25) a total of 12378 radiosonde balloons were started on POLARSTERN. All radiosonde data can now be found here. Each dataset contains the directly measured parameters air temperature, relative humidity and air pressure, and the derived altitude, wind direction and wind speed. 432 datasets additionally contain ozone measurements.

(Table 2) Copepod carbon production in the upper 50 m in Godthabsfjord and Fyllas Banke, West Greenland

This study describes differences in plankton community structure and in chemical and physical gradients between the offshore West Greenland Current system and inland regions close to the Greenland Ice Sheet during the post-bloom in Godthabsfjorden (64° N, 51° W). The offshore region had pronounced vertical mixing, with centric diatoms and Phaeocystis spp. dominating the phytoplankton, chlorophyll (chl) a (0.3 to 3.9 µg/l) was evenly distributed and nutrients were depleted in the upper 50 m. Ciliates and heterotrophic dinoflagellates constituted equal parts of the protozooplankton biomass. Copepod biomass was dominated by Calanus spp. Primary production, copepod production and the vertical flux were high offshore. The water column was stratified in the fjord, causing chl a to be concentrated in a thin sub-surface layer. Nutrients were depleted above the pycnocline, and Thalassiosira spp. dominated the phytoplankton assemblage close to the ice sheet. Dinoflagellates dominated the protozooplankton biomass, whereas copepod biomass was low and was dominated by Pseudocalanus spp. and Metridia longa. Primary production was low in the outer part of the fjord but considerably higher in the inner parts of the fjord. Copepod production was exceeded by protozooplankton production in the fjord. The results of both physical/chemical factors and biological parameters suggest separation of offshore and fjord systems.

Vibrational Feedback Training System for Use with SEMG Controlled Powered Prostheses

Loss of limb results in loss of function and a partial loss of freedom. A powered prosthetic device can partially assist an individual with everyday tasks and therefore return some level of independence. Powered upper limb prostheses are often controlled by the user generating surface electromyographic (SEMG) signals. The goal of this thesis is to develop a virtual environment in which a user can control a virtual hand to safely grasp representations of everyday objects using EMG signals from his/her forearm muscles, and experience visual and vibrotactile feedback relevant to the grasping force in the process. This can then be used to train potential wearers of real EMG controlled prostheses, with or without vibrotactile feedback. To test this system an experiment was designed and executed involving ten subjects, twelve objects, and three feedback conditions. The tested feedback conditions were visual, vibrotactile, and both visual and vibrotactile. In each experimental exercise the subject attempted to grasp a virtual object on the screen using the virtual hand controlled by EMG electrodes placed on his/her forearm. Two metrics were used: score, and time to task completion, where score measured grasp dexterity. It was hypothesized that with the introduction of vibrotactile feedback, dexterity, and therefore score, would improve and time to task completion would decrease. Results showed that time to task completion increased, and score did not improve with vibrotactile feedback. Details on the developed system, the experiment, and the results are presented in this thesis.

Fossil associations from the middle and upper Eocene strata of the Pamplona Basin and surrounding areas (Navarre, western Pyrenees)

Fossil associations from the middle and upper Eocene (Bartonian and Priabonian) sedimentary succession of the Pamplona Basin are described. This succession was accumulated in the western part of the South Pyrenean peripheral foreland basin and extends from deep-marine turbiditic (Ezkaba Sandstone Formation) to deltaic (Pamplona Marl, Ardanatz Sandstone and Ilundain Marl formations) and marginal marine deposits (Gendulain Formation). The micropalaeontological content is high. It is dominated by foraminifera, and common ostracods and other microfossils are also present. The fossil ichnoasssemblages include at least 23 ichnogenera and 28 ichnospecies indicative of Nereites, Cruziana, Glossifungites and ?Scoyenia-Mermia ichnofacies. Body macrofossils of 78 taxa corresponding to macroforaminifera, sponges, corals, bryozoans, brachiopods, annelids, molluscs, arthropods, echinoderms and vertebrates have been identified. Both the number of ichnotaxa and of species (e. g. bryozoans, molluscs and condrichthyans) may be considerably higher. Body fossil assemblages are comparable to those from the Eocene of the Nord Pyrenean area (Basque Coast), and also to those from the Eocene of the west-central and eastern part of South Pyrenean area (Aragon and Catalonia). At the European scale, the molluscs assemblages seem endemic from the Pyrenean area, although several Tethyan (Italy and Alps) and Northern elements (Paris basin and Normandy) have been recorded. Palaeontological data of studied sedimentary units fit well with the shallowing process that throughout the middle and late Eocene occurs in the area, according to the sedimentological and stratigraphical data.

Strontium isotopes and sedimentology of a marine Triassic succession (upper Ladinian) of the westernmost Tethys, Spain

Chemical Stratigraphy, or the study of the variation of chemical elements within sedimentary sequences, has gradually become an experienced tool in the research and correlation of global geologic events. In this paper 87Sr/ 86Sr ratios of the Triassic marine carbonates (Muschelkalk facies) of southeast Iberian Ranges, Iberian Peninsula, are presented and the representative Sr-isotopic curve constructed for the upper Ladinian interval. The studied stratigraphic succession is 102 meters thick, continuous, and well preserved. Previous paleontological data from macro and micro, ammonites, bivalves, foraminifera, conodonts and palynological assemblages, suggest a Fassanian-Longobardian age (Late Ladinian). Although diagenetic minerals are present in small amounts, the elemental data content of bulk carbonate samples, especially Sr contents, show a major variation that probably reflects palaeoenvironmental changes. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios curve shows a rise from 0.707649 near the base of the section to 0.707741 and then declines rapidly to 0.707624, with a final values rise up to 0.70787 in the upper part. The data up to meter 80 in the studied succession is broadly concurrent with 87Sr/86Sr ratios of sequences of similar age and complements these data. Moreover, the sequence stratigraphic framework and its key surfaces, which are difficult to be recognised just based in the facies analysis, are characterised by combining variations of the Ca, Mg, Mn, Sr and CaCO3 contents