>Magister Scientiae - MSc / An accurate prediction of pore pressure is an essential in reducing the risk involved in a well or field life cycle. This has formed an integral part of routine work for exploration, development and exploitation team in the oil and gas industries. Several factors such as sediment compaction, overburden, lithology characteristic, hydrocarbon pressure and capillary entry pressure contribute significantly to the cause of overpressure. Hence, understanding the dynamics associated with the above factors will certainly reduce the risk involved in drilling and production. This study examined three deep water drilled wells GA-W1, GA-N1, and GA-AA1 of lower cretaceous Hauterivian to early Aptian age between 112 to 117.5 (MA) Southern Pletmos sub-basin, Bredasdorp basin offshore South Africa. The study aimed to determine the pore pressure prediction of the reservoir formation of the wells. Eaton’s resistivity and Sonic method are adopted using depth dependent normal compaction trendline (NCT) has been carried out for this study. The variation of the overburden gradient (OBG), the Effective stress, Fracture gradient (FG), Fracture pressure (FP), Pore pressure gradient (PPG) and the predicted pore pressure (PPP) have been studied for the selected wells. The overburden changes slightly as follow: 2.09g/cm3, 2.23g/cm3 and 2.24g/cm3 across the selected intervals depth of wells. The predicted pore pressure calculated for the intervals depth of selected wells GA-W1, GA-N1 and GA-AA1 also varies slightly down the depths as follow: 3,405 psi, 4,110 psi, 5,062 psi respectively. The overpressure zone and normal pressure zone were encountered in well GA-W1, while a normal pressure zone was experienced in both well GA-N1 and GA-AA1. In addition, the direct hydrocarbon indicator (DHI) was carried out by method of post-stack amplitude analysis seismic reflectors surface which was used to determine the hydrocarbon prospect zone of the wells from the seismic section. It majorly indicate the zones of thick hydrocarbon sand from the amplitude extraction grid map horizon reflectors at 13AT1 & 8AT1 and 8AT1 & 1AT1 of the well GA-W1, GA-N1 and GA-AA1 respectively. These are suggested to be the hydrocarbon prospect locations (wet-gas to Oil prone source) on the seismic section with fault trending along the horizons. No bright spot, flat spot and dim spot was observed except for some related pitfalls anomalies

The demountable splicing of optical fibres uses different types of connectors which ensures accurate position of connected fibres. If the optical fibres are aligned in free space, a view from two perpendicular viewing directions is necessary for a maximum aligning accuracy. The method of direct monitoring of optical fibres provides this possibility however, it is necessary to use two imaging systems. This problem can be solved by a special microscope, which is designed in this thesis. The microscope can visualize the alignment of optical fibres from two mutually perpendicular directions by moving the objective lens and inclined mirror. The diploma thesis also describes the procedure of designing an optical simulation of the connection of optical fibres. Based on it, the microscope is designed, adjusted and tested with various optical fibres.

This master’s thesis deals with establishment of parameters of the PPI filter material using methods of image analysis. The first part is aimed at general methods used in practice, an overview of splitting into filter clasification and characterization of the PPI filter material. The second part represents an introduction to problems of machine vision. There are outlined basic methods of image processing. Last parts of the thesis study the method using detection of bright light levels. The measurement and interpretation of results is performed with the PPI material - types 10/6 and 10/12. For image processing is used the MATLAB program, version 7.0.1.

The short dark days of winter, related lack of energy, and low mood have always been part of life for those living in northern latitudes. For many, the gradual changes of the seasons are accompanied by the gradual degradation of their mental health. This disruptive effect is called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). It is defined as major depressive episodes characterized by their seasonal recurrence for at least 2 consecutive years. Symptoms generally involve fatigue and a severe lack of energy leading to difficulty in performing daily activities as well as increased worry, anxiety, and irritability. Product Design in the field of SAD is positioned primarily in the treatment phase. Bright Light Therapy (BLT) products are used to attempt to alleviate the symptoms of the disorder. Efforts should focus on the prevention of mental illness to have a holistic impact on sustainable development. This project aims to identify an innovation opportunity where Product Design can be leveraged to prevent SAD. By leveraging semiotics, the study of signs and how meanings are created, in the field of lighting and design, a concept was developed that aims at complementing existing regulations in providing users with the conditions for improved well-being in the home. SAD is strongly linked to natural light and its cycles. Windows, the main provider of this kind of light in the home, have practical, comfort- and information-related roles. The developed concept aims at enhancing the meaning of windows to highlight our dependency on natural light cycles and prevent SAD. To effectively evaluate the concept and its effectiveness in creating meaning, it must be further developed and exposed to potential users.

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No description available.

Tesis por compendio / [ES] En los últimos años España ha experimentado una sobreproducción de caqui, provocando una importante caída del precio y el aumento del desperdicio de fruta. Además, diferentes factores pre y postcosecha, pueden dar lugar a importantes pérdidas tras la cosecha. En este contexto, esta Tesis aborda diferentes estrategias para aumentar la rentabilidad del cultivo del caqui mediante la reducción de pérdidas postcosecha y la revalorización de la fruta descartada y de los excedentes de producción. Para ello, se estudian aspectos pre y postcosecha implicados en la calidad del fruto y se propone el secado de la fruta entera como una nueva estrategia de valorización de los frutos que no se destinan para fresco. Entre los aspectos precosecha, el estado nutricional de la planta es un factor clave que afecta a la composición del material vegetal y a las características del fruto. Los Capítulos I y II abordan el estudio de las concentraciones de macro y micronutrientes en hojas y frutos procedentes de parcelas cultivada bajo condiciones de manejo ecológico y convencional, y su relación con los principales parámetros de calidad del caqui 'Rojo Brillante'. Los resultados obtenidos aportan nueva información sobre la composición nutricional del caqui y refuerzan la necesidad de una fertilización equilibrada para conseguir una buena calidad del fruto. Otro aspecto precosecha a tener en cuenta en el manejo del caqui es la aplicación de fitorreguladores. En 'Rojo Brillante', es habitual el uso de etefón para adelantar la cosecha, y del ácido giberélico (AG3) para retrasar su maduración. Además, el tratamiento postcosecha con 1-MCP se aplica habitualmente para garantizar la calidad de la fruta tras la cosecha. Sin embargo, la aplicación precosecha de 1-MCP es un novedoso tratamiento eficaz para otras frutas. En el Capítulo III, en el que se evaluó este tratamiento en diferentes escenarios, se comprobó que, en fruta tratada con etefón, amplió la ventana de cosecha y prolongó el periodo de comercialización. En la fruta tratada con GA3, el 1-MCP precosecha puede sustituir a la aplicación de 1-MCP postcosecha, lo que lo convierte en una herramienta útil para optimizar las operaciones en las centrales de manejo. En el caso del 'Rojo Brillante', se ha observado un efecto del momento de cosecha sobre el comportamiento del fruto durante la frigoconservación. Para explicar estas diferencias, en el Capítulo IV se llevó a cabo la caracterización fisicoquímica y microestructural de frutos recolectados en cinco momentos y se evaluaron los cambios de firmeza durante el almacenamiento frigorífico. Pequeñas diferencias en la firmeza del fruto en cosecha afectaron de manera importante al mantenimiento de la calidad en conservación, lo que se relacionó con la estructura del parénquima en el momento de recolección. Por otro lado, hay que tener en cuenta que el tratamiento postcosecha de desastringencia se asocia a importantes pérdidas de calidad. En el Capítulo V se estudió el efecto del tratamiento de desastringencia con CO2 y etanol en la calidad postcosecha del cv. Giombo. Los resultados sugieren que, aunque el etanol es el tratamiento habitual de desastringencia para esta variedad, se recomiendan las altas concentraciones de CO2 para conseguir una insolubilización más rápida de los taninos y el mantenimiento de la firmeza de la pulpa durante la frigoconservación. En esta Tesis también se propone el secado de fruto entero como una nueva estrategia para valorizar los frutos descartados y los excedentes de producción del 'Rojo Brillante'. En el Capítulo VI se estudiaron los cambios fisicoquímicos y microestructurales que se producen en el fruto durante el secado natural, revelando que esta variedad es apta para ser sometida al proceso de secado. Para mejorar el proceso, también se evaluó el secado por aire caliente a tres temperaturas (Capítulo VII). Las características finales dependieron de la temperatura de secado, especialmente en términos de textura. / [CA] En els últims anys Espanya ha experimentat una sobreproducció de caqui, provocant una important caiguda del preu i l'augment del desaprofitament de fruita. A més, diferents factors pre i postcollita, poden donar lloc a importants pèrdues després de la collita. En este context, esta Tesi aborda diferents estratègies per a augmentar la rendibilitat del cultiu del caqui mitjançant la reducció de pèrdues postcollita i la revalorització de la fruita descartada i dels excedents de producció. Per a això, s'estudien aspectes pre i postcollita implicats en la qualitat del fruit i es proposa l'assecat de la fruita sencera com una nova estratègia de valorització dels fruits que no es destinen per a fresc. Entre els aspectes precollita, l'estat nutricional de la planta és un factor clau que afecta a la composició del material vegetal i a les característiques del fruit. Els Capítols I i II aborden l'estudi de les concentracions de macro i micronutrients en fulles i fruits procedents de parcel·les cultivades sota condicions de maneig ecològic i convencional, i la seua relació amb els principals paràmetres de qualitat del caqui 'Rojo Brillante'. Els resultats obtinguts aporten nova informació sobre la composició nutricional del caqui i reforcen la necessitat d'una fertilització equilibrada per a aconseguir una bona qualitat del fruit. Un altre aspecte precollita a tindre en compte en el maneig del caqui és l'aplicació de fitorreguladors. En 'Rojo Brillante', és habitual l'ús de etefon per a avançar la collita, i de l'àcid gibberèl·lic (AG3) per a retardar la seua maduració. A més, el tractament postcollita amb 1-MCP s'aplica habitualment per a garantir la qualitat de la fruita després de la collita. No obstant això, l'aplicació precollita de 1-MCP és un nou tractament eficaç per a altres fruites. En el Capítol III, en el qual es va avaluar este tractament en diferents escenaris, es va comprovar que, en fruita tractada amb etefon, va ampliar la finestra de collita i va prolongar el període de comercialització. En la fruita tractada amb GA3, el 1-MCP aplicat en precollita pot substituir a l'aplicació de 1-MCP postcollita, la qual cosa ho converteix en una eina útil per a optimitzar les operacions en les centrals de maneig. En el cas del 'Rojo Brillante', s'ha observat un efecte del moment de collita sobre el comportament del fruit durant la frigoconservació. Per a explicar estes diferències, en el Capítol IV es va dur a terme la caracterització fisicoquímica i microestructural de fruits recol·lectats en cinc moments i es van avaluar els canvis de fermesa durant l'emmagatzematge frigorífic. Xicotetes diferències en la fermesa del fruit en collita van afectar de manera important al manteniment de la qualitat en conservació, la qual cosa es va relacionar amb l'estructura del parènquima en el moment de recol·lecció. D'altra banda, cal tindre en compte que el tractament postcollita de desastringència s'associa a importants pèrdues de qualitat. En el Capítol V es va estudiar l'efecte del tractament de desastringència amb CO¿ i etanol en la qualitat postcollita del cv. Giombo. Els resultats suggereixen que, encara que l'etanol és el tractament habitual de desastringència per a esta varietat, es recomanen les altes concentracions de CO¿ per a aconseguir una insolubilització més ràpida dels tanins i el manteniment de la fermesa de la polpa durant la frigoconservació. En esta Tesi també es proposa l'assecat de fruit sencer com una nova estratègia per a valorar els fruits descartats i els excedents de producció del 'Rojo Brillante'. En el Capítol VI es van estudiar els canvis fisicoquímics i microestructurals que es produeixen en el fruit durant l'assecat natural, revelant que esta varietat és apta per a ser sotmesa al procés d'assecat. Per a millorar el procés, també es va avaluar l'assecat per aire calent a tres temperatures (Capítol VII). Les característiques finals van dependre de la temperatura d'assecat, especialment en termes de textuta. / [EN] In recent years Spain has experienced overproduction, which has led to important economic losses and increased fruit waste. Moreover, different preharvest factors, which affect fruit quality, and an inadequate postharvest management, can lead to important postharvest losses. In this context, the objective of the present Thesis is to study strategies to increase persimmon crop profitability by reducing postharvest losses and revalorizing discarded fruit and surplus production. Thus, the pre- and postharvest aspects involved in persimmon fruit quality are discussed and the whole fruit drying is proposed as a new valorization strategy. Of the preharvest aspects related to fruit quality parameters, the plant nutritional status is a major factor that can affect plant material composition and fruit characteristics. Thus, Chapters I and II addressed the study of macro- and micronutrients concentrations in the leaves and fruit from organic and conventional management systems, and their relation to the main fruit quality parameters in 'Rojo Brillante' persimmon. The results obtained in this study provide new information about the nutritional composition of persimmon and reinforce the need for balanced fertilization to achieve good fruit quality. Another important preharvest aspect is the application of phytoregulators to prolong the harvesting season. For 'Rojo Brillante', ethephon use is normal to advance harvest, as is gibberellic acid (GA3) to delay maturation. These treatments can affect fruit quality at both harvest and postharvest. Therefore, the postharvest 1-methylciclopropene (1-MCP) treatment is commonly applied to guarantee fruit quality. However, the preharvest 1-MCP application has been shown to be a novel effective treatment for other fruit. In Chapter III, in which this treatment was evaluated in different scenarios for persimmon, it was proved that it extended the harvest window and prolonged the commercialization period when applied to the ethephon-treated fruit. In the GA3-treated fruit, the preharvest 1-MCP can replace the 1-MCP postharvest application, which could be a useful tool for optimizing handling operations in packinghouses. For 'Rojo Brillante', an effect of harvest moment on fruit behavior during cold storage has been commercially documented. To explain these differences, in Chapter IV an in-depth physico-chemical and microstructural characterization of fruit during five commercial harvests is carried out and the changes in fruit firmness changes during cold storage was evaluated. The minor differences revealed in persimmon firmness at harvest strongly influenced fruit postharvest behavior, which was associated with structural parenchyma of flesh fruit at harvest. On the other hand, it is noteworthy that deastringency treatment is a critical step of postharvest handling because it directly influences fruit quality. This thesis (Chapter V) addressed the study of the effect of deastringency treatment with CO2 and ethanol on postharvest quality of cv. Giombo. The results suggested that, although ethanol is the usual deastringency treatment for this variety, high concentrations of CO2 are recommended to achieve faster insolubilization of tannins and to maintain higher fruit quality during cold storage. To valorize discarded persimmon fruit and surplus production, whole fruit drying is proposed as a new strategy for 'Rojo Brillante'. A first study (Chapter VI), which deals with the physicochemical and microstructural changes that occur during natural air drying, shows that this variety is suitable for drying as whole fruit. To improve the process, convective hot-air drying is also evaluated at three temperatures (Chapter VII). The results showed that the higher the drying temperature, the faster the drying process was, and the final product characteristics depended on the drying temperature, especially in texture terms. / This research was funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación of Spain, through project RTA2017-00045-C02, the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) through Project IVIA-51910 and by the company Agrofresh Spain / Quaresma Vilhena, N. (2023). Reducing Postharvest Losses in Persimmon. Pre and Postharvest Aspects Involved in Fruit Quality and New Strategies for Valorization [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/203088 / Compendio

Recent analyses by polarization resolved second-harmonic (SH) microscopy have demonstrated that ferroelectric (FE) domain walls (DWs) can possess non-Ising wall characteristics and topological nature. These analyses rely on locally analyzing the properties, directionality, and magnitude of the second-order nonlinear tensor. However, when inspecting FE DWs with SH microscopy, a manifold of different effects may contribute to the observed signal difference between domains and DWs, i.e., far-field interference, Čerenkov-type phase-matching (CSHG), and changes in the aforementioned local nonlinear optical properties. They all might be present at the same time and, therefore, require careful interpretation and separation. In this work, we demonstrate how the particularly strong Čerenkov-type contrast can selectively be blocked using dark- and bright-field SH microscopy. Based on this approach, we show that other contrast mechanisms emerge that were previously overlayed by CSHG but can now be readily selected through the appropriate experimental geometry. Using the methods presented, we show that the strength of the CSHG contrast compared to the other mechanisms is approximately 22 times higher. This work lays the foundation for the in-depth analysis of FE DW topologies by SH microscopy.

Modernists have expressed their views on literature in various ways. Ford Madox Ford’s Ladies Whose Bright Eyes seemingly participates in a discussion regarding the value of imagination in contrast to reason. This thesis argues that Ford Madox Ford’s Ladies Whose Bright Eyes (1911, revised 1935) represents the imagination in ways that suggest that the value of the imagination is greater than the value of reason in order to show the transformative power of literature. The novel’s treatment of the imagination has didactic implications for teaching literary interpretation and for fostering a joy of reading. The present thesis aims to explore how the novel treats the imagination by connecting the novel to modernist discussions of the imagination in Wallace Stevens’ “Imagination as Value” (1951) and Stevens’ “The Irrational Element in Poetry” (1936) as well as to Ford’s essay on literary impressionism “On Impressionism” (1914). The thesis expands upon Max Saunders’ argument that the protagonist, Sorrell, is transformed into a man of imagination. The literary analysis is structured around Sorrell’s transformation, from a rational man living in blissful ignorance of the world of imagination to a man of imagination instructed by Dionissia on living with the imagination in the rational world, through faith. A joy of reading and autonomous reading motivation can be fostered by providing students with choice, cognitively challenging tasks related to commenting on and analysing the novel, and by training students to use quotes via the use of reading logs. The novel’s indirect treatment of the imagination suggests the transformative power of literature, which makes fostering a joy of reading seem all the more important as it may provide students with a gift that will last long after their school years are over.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-26T12:51:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 joserobertolopesferrazfilho_tese.pdf: 1409103 bytes, checksum: de6715f2f3059b0c5617f571b89bfdbd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-10-21 / Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) in children and adolescents is frequently associated with the appearance of focal lesion hyperintensities on T2-weighted images seen in the brain which are called Unidentified Bright Objects (UBOs). These lesions are not an accepted criterion in the diagnosis of NF1 and the exact nature of UBOs remains unclear. Objectives: article 1: This study employed diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to evaluate the relation among fractional anisotropy (FA) patterns with the findings of T2 sequences in individuals with NF1; article 2: To evaluate the evolution of UBOs in individuals with NF1 by serial MRI, and to relate this to regional fractional anisotropy (FA); article 3: To evaluate the metabolic patterns by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of the brain, in the presence of UBOS in patients with NF1. Methods: article 1: Forty-four individuals with NF1 and 20 control subjects were evaluated. The comparative analysis of FA between NF1 and control groups was based on four pre-determined anatomic regions of the brain and related to the presence or absence of UBOs; article 2: The signal pattern of the T2-weighted sequences in the basal ganglia, thalamus, brain stem, and cerebellum for 27 NF1 individuals and a control group were analyzed by DTI. The presence or absence of UBOs in 2 consecutive MRI examinations were related to FA. article 3: Forty-two individuals with NF1 and 25 control subjects were evaluated by examination of ERM univoxel placed in the region of the globus pallidus. Automated quantitative analysis was made of the relationship of the metabolites choline/creatine (Co / Cr), N-acetyl aspartate/creatine (NAA / Cr) and myoinositol/creatine (MI / Cr) and related to the occurrence of UBOS in region of the globus pallidus. Results: article 1: The FA values between the groups demonstrated statistically significant differences (p &#8804; 0.05) for the cerebellum and thalamus in NF1 patients, independent of the occurrence of UBOs; article 2: We demonstrated statistically significant differences in FA for the basal ganglia, cerebellum, and thalamus between NF1 patients and controls (P &#8804; 0.05), even with a reduction or disappearance of UBOs; article 3: We demonstrated statistically significant differences between of patients with NF1 and control groups as the average values Mi/Cr and Co/Cr (P<0.05) in the region of the globus pallidus. Conclusions: article 1: MR imaging using DTI technique suggests that UBOs are due to microstructural defect of the brain tissue in NF1 patients. article 2: MRI allows for adequate monitoring of the temporal and spatial distribution of UBOs in patients with NF1. DTI confirmed changes in FA despite the disappearance or reduction of UBOs. article 3: MR spectroscopy allows the characterization of the tissue abnormalities not demonstrable in the conventional MR sequences of patients with NF1 by analysis of metabolites Co and Mi. / A neurofibromatose tipo 1 (NF1) em crianças e adolescentes está frequentemente associada com o aparecimento ou desaparecimento de lesões focais de hipersinal no encéfalo na ponderação T2 (FHE-T2). Estas lesões não são aceitas como critério diagnóstico para NF1 e sua natureza exata ainda não está clara. Objetivos: artigo 1: Avaliar a relação entre a presença dos FHE-T2 e padrões de anisotropia fracionada (FA) em uma série de pacientes com NF1; artigo 2: Demonstrar o padrão de evolução dos FHE-T2 por exame de Ressonância Magnética (RM) em indivíduos com NF1 e relacionar com o valor regional de FA; artigo 3: Avaliar os padrões metabólicos por meio da espectroscopia por ressonância magnética (ERM) do encéfalo na presença dos FHE-T2 em pacientes com NF1. Métodos: artigo 1: Analisou-se uma série de 44 indivíduos com NF1, e 20 controles. A análise quantitativa do FA foi definida em quatro regiões anatômicas pré-determinadas e relacionada à presença de FHE-T2; artigo 2: Analisou-se com imagem de tensor de difusão (DTI) a evolução dos FHE-T2 nas regiões de núcleos da base, tálamos, cerebelo e tronco encefalico de um grupo de 27 pacientes com NF1 e 20 controles. A presença de FHE-T2 em dois exames de RM encefálica consecutivos foram relacionados com o valor de FA; artigo 3: Analisou-se 42 indivíduos com NF1, e 25 controles saudáveis por exame de ERM univoxel na região do globo pálido. Foi feita análise automatizada quantitativa da relação dos metabólitos colina/creatina (Co/Cr), N-acetil aspartato/creatina (Naa/Cr) e Mioinositol/creatina (Mi/Cr) e relacionada à ocorrência de FHE-T2 na região do globo pálido. Resultados: artigo 1: Os FHE-T2 foram diagnosticados em 50% dos pacientes com NF1. Observou-se redução do valor de FA nas regiões do cerebelo e tálamo de aparência normal ou com FHE-T2 de pacientes com NF1 em relação ao controle (P &#8804;.05); artigo 2: Houve redução significativa no valor de FA nas regiões de núcleos da base, cerebelo e tálamos em pacientes com NF1 em relação ao grupo controle (P &#8804;.05) mesmo com redução ou desaparecimento dos FHE-T2; artigo 3: Houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre os grupos de pacientes com NF1 e o controle quanto aos valores médios ( ) de Mi/Cr e Co/Cr (P<0,05) na região do globo pálido. Conclusões: artigo 1: A técnica de DTI confirma que os FHE-T2 estejam relacionados às alterações da microestrutura do tecido cerebral em pacientes NF1. artigo 2: A RM possibilita o adequado monitoramento da distribuição no tempo e espaço dos FHE-T2 em pacientes com NF1. DTI evidencia alterações no valor de FA mesmo com o desaparecimento ou redução dos FHE-T2; artigo 3: A ERM permite a caracterização de anormalidades teciduais não demonstráveis nas sequências convencionais de RM de pacientes com NF1 por meio da análise dos metabólitos Co e Mi.