The primary aim of this study was to investigate the sedimentation processes within Buffalo Bay, particularly within and adjacent to the Whitianga tidal inlet, in order to ascertain reasons for the shoaling at both the inlet, and the identified shallow zone around Pandora Rock. Comparison of historic bathymetries suggests the ebb delta and ebb discharge channel of the Whitianga tidal inlet are rapidly accreting and the ebb tidal discharge channel is gradually migrating northeast towards Whakapenui Point. Accretion rates of up to 25 cm y-1 were calculated in the ebb delta and inlet discharge channel area between 1979 and 1995 and aerial photo comparisons suggest the ebb delta area had increased by 400 % between 1990 and 2002. Results of the hydrodynamic and sediment transport modelling suggest the rapid accretion in the ebb delta vicinity is likely to be caused by a combination of catchment estuary inputs, which are deposited on the ebb tide as the ebb flow decelerates over the ebb delta, and inputs that have been moved south along Buffalo Beach by flood currents and an eddy that forms landward of the ebb tidal discharge. Residual tidal velocities further suggest a deposition zone in the ebb delta vicinity resulting from opposing currents and the deceleration of currents. Hydrodynamic modelling results indicate the isolated shallow zone around Pandora rock appears to be caused by a transient eddy in the southern section of Buffalo Bay. The eddy is formed by the ebb tidal discharge from the inlet. Accretion probably occurs in the centre of the eddy which moves north as the ebb tide progresses. Results obtained from a current meter and sediment trap deployed in northern Buffalo Bay suggest suspended sediment transport is minimal in northern Buffalo Bay, only occurring with large wave activity. Results of the hydrodynamic and sediment transport modelling further demonstrate that this area experiences low flow velocities, and has little interaction with the rest of Buffalo Bay. The minimal sediment input to this area, combined with the occasional erosion of the seafloor, primarily by wave activity, is thought to have resulted in long term erosion of northwestern Buffalo Bay between 1938 and 1979. Although the beach and nearshore is eroding, it is likely the addition of sediment would act to stabilise this section of eroding beach. Renourishment material could be provided by the ebb delta, the southern tip of Buffalo Bay or the isolated sandbar northeast of the inlet entrance.

To better study frequency related effects such as attenuation and tuning, we developed a frequency dependent seismic reflection analysis. Comprehensive tests on full waveform synthetics and observations from the Teal South ocean bottom seismic (OBS) data set confirmed that normal moveout (NMO) stretch could distort both frequency and amplitude information severely in shallow events and far offset traces. In synthetic tests, our algorithm recovered amplitude and frequency information ac-curately. This simple but robust target oriented NMO stretch correction scheme can be used on top of an existing seismic processing flow for further analyses. By combining the NMO stretch correction, spectral decomposition, and crossplots of am-plitude versus offset (AVO) attributes, we tested the frequency dependent workflow over Teal south and Ursa field data sets for improved reservoir characterization. As expected from NMO stretch characteristics, low frequencies have been less affected while mid and high frequency ranges were affected considerably. In seismic attribute analysis, the AVO crossplots from spectrally decomposed prestack data confirmed the improved accuracy and effectiveness of our workflow in mid and high frequency regions. To overcome poor spectral decomposition results due to low signal to noise ratio (S/N) in the Teal South application, we also implemented a substack scheme that stacks adjacent traces to increase S/N ratio while reducing the amount of data to process and increasing the accuracy of the spectral decomposition step. Synthetic tests verified the effectiveness of this additional step. An application to the Ursa, Gulf of Mexico, deep water data set showed significant improvement in high frequency data while correcting biased low frequency information.

To better study frequency related effects such as attenuation and tuning, we developed a frequency dependent seismic reflection analysis. Comprehensive tests on full waveform synthetics and observations from the Teal South ocean bottom seismic (OBS) data set confirmed that normal moveout (NMO) stretch could distort both frequency and amplitude information severely in shallow events and far offset traces. In synthetic tests, our algorithm recovered amplitude and frequency information ac-curately. This simple but robust target oriented NMO stretch correction scheme can be used on top of an existing seismic processing flow for further analyses. By combining the NMO stretch correction, spectral decomposition, and crossplots of am-plitude versus offset (AVO) attributes, we tested the frequency dependent workflow over Teal south and Ursa field data sets for improved reservoir characterization. As expected from NMO stretch characteristics, low frequencies have been less affected while mid and high frequency ranges were affected considerably. In seismic attribute analysis, the AVO crossplots from spectrally decomposed prestack data confirmed the improved accuracy and effectiveness of our workflow in mid and high frequency regions. To overcome poor spectral decomposition results due to low signal to noise ratio (S/N) in the Teal South application, we also implemented a substack scheme that stacks adjacent traces to increase S/N ratio while reducing the amount of data to process and increasing the accuracy of the spectral decomposition step. Synthetic tests verified the effectiveness of this additional step. An application to the Ursa, Gulf of Mexico, deep water data set showed significant improvement in high frequency data while correcting biased low frequency information.

VI Jornadas Nacionales de Bibliotecas Universitarias: “Redescubriendo la educación superior en la era del conocimiento" (Mesa 2: “Las bibliotecas y el desarrollo de metacompetencias para la era del conocimiento”) Organizadas por el Grupo de Bibliotecas Académicas ALTAMIRA, Lima, 29-30 de mayo del 2014. / El presente es un estudio de caso que describe y analiza la experiencia docente en el curso Tesis 1, de la Maestría en Gestión y Docencia en Alimentación y Nutrición de la Escuela de Postgrado de la Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (UPC). El planteamiento consistió en desarrollar un curso para el Desarrollo de Habilidades Informativas (DHI), orientado al campo de la salud que se complemente con recursos de información multidisciplinarios vinculados con el área de gestión empresarial y de negocios, permitiendo así al profesional del área de nutrición obtener un enfoque global del valor de la información para la investigación, docencia, gestión y práctica clínica. El curso forma parte del módulo de Investigación de la malla curricular de esta maestría. En este estudio de caso se desarrolla el proceso evolutivo del curso desde: a) la concepción, el cual involucró la investigación de experiencias internacionales de universidades que han aplicado el DHI en el área de Salud; b) el diseño del sílabo, en función de los objetivos planteados en el programa de la maestría de acuerdo a los estándares del Área de Gestión de la Calidad Académica de la Escuela de Postgrado; c) la metodología y aplicación del curso, en el cual se presenta el modelo propuesto del proceso de estrategia de investigación, la articulación del aprendizaje con su experiencia profesional y académica, y las expectativas halladas en los alumnos. Se concluye con los resultados de evaluación docente y del curso, los cuales evidencian la valoración de los alumnos. Finalmente, se brindan recomendaciones para docentes bibliotecólogos inmersos en cursos similares.

Hydrological models are powerful tools used to predict water systems behavior such as flow and water level characteristics for rivers and streams. In this research, a fully dynamic 1-D model was developed using the MIKE 11 model for a specific stream called A-014, this stream is in the Savannah River Site (SRS), SC. A field study was conducted in order to collect data needed as inputs for the model development. Data like water velocity and cross-section measurement played a major role in understanding the behavior of the A-014 and the validation of our model. Results showed a correlation capable to predict the water flow of the A-014 stream and how it can be affected by atmospheric events and hydrologic infrastructure. Rain fall events had a big effect in the stream flow by increasing it along many cross-sections. In addition, hydrological infrastructures effected the stream flow by slowing it down and by forming ponds around the culvert and weir which are located in the A-014 stream.

This thesis details the hydrodynamic research conducted at Delta Marsh as part of the Restoring the Tradition marsh rehabilitation project. Research has indicated that the hydraulic and hydrologic controls on the marsh can have considerable impacts on its ecological function, but the impacts of these controls had not previously been studied. Field hydrography and two-dimensional numerical modelling (using MIKE 21) provided insight into many aspects of the physical behaviour of Delta Marsh. Eighty five percent of the inflow to Delta Marsh from Lake Manitoba passes through Clandeboye Channel, and these discharge signals propagate as far west as Cadham Bay. Inflow to the marsh disperses quickly, and accounts for a small fraction of the water that exits the marsh during subsequent outflow. Thus, Portage Diversion water that enters the marsh through the lake can remain there even if there is a net loss in marsh volume over the season. Wind friction across Lake Manitoba has the greatest impact on short-term fluctuations in marsh volume and on the composition of marsh water, followed by the Portage Diversion and the natural inflows to Lake Manitoba. Expansions to flood diversion infrastructure will considerably impact the composition of Delta Marsh waters. Three methods of wetland discharge estimation were developed and tested. The most promising method was the regressed slope Manning method (RSMM), which estimates two-directional channel discharge as a function of the water surface elevations at both ends of a channel. When used in conjunction with the velocity index method, the RSMM can multiply the amount of reliable discharge data collected per research dollar. Thanks to its simple formulation, the RSMM is likely applicable outside of wetland settings, as well. / February 2016

The transformation of solar energy into electricity is starting to impact to overall worldwide energy production mix. Photovoltaic-generated electricity can play a significant role in minimizing the use of non-renewable energy sources. Sunlight consists of three main components: global horizontal irradiance (GHI), direct normal irradiance (DNI) and diffuse horizontal irradiance (DHI). Typically, these components are measured using specialized instruments in order to study solar radiation at any location. However, these measurements are not always available, especially in the case of the DNI and DHI components of sunlight. Consequently, many models have been developed to estimate these components from available GHI data. These models have their own merits. For this thesis, solar radiation data collected at four locations have been analyzed. The data come from Al-Hanakiyah (Saudi Arabia), Boulder (U.S.), Ma’an (Jordan), and Ottawa (Canada). The BRL, Reindl*, DISC, and Perez models have been used to estimate DNI and DHI data from the experimentally measured GHI data. The findings show that the Reindl* and Perez model outcomes offered similar accuracy of computing DNI and DHI values when comparing with detailed experimental data for Al-Hanakiyah and Ma’an. For Boulder, the Perez and BRL models have similar estimation abilities of DHI values and the DISC and Perez models are better estimators of DNI. The Reindl* model performs better when modeling DHI and DNI for Ottawa data. The BRL and DISC models show similar metrics error analyses, except in the case of the Ma’an location where the BRL model shows high error metrics values in terms of MAE, RMSE, and standard deviation (σ). The Boulder and Ottawa locations datasets were not complete and affected the outcomes with regards to the model performance metrics. Moreover, the metrics show very high, unreasonable values in terms of RMSE and σ. It is advised that a global model be developed by collecting data from many locations as a way to help minimize the error between the actual and modeled values since the current models have their own limitations. Availability of multi-year data, parameters such as albedo and aerosols, and one minute to hourly time steps data could help minimize the error between measured and modeled data. In addition to having accurate data, analysis of spectral data is important to evaluate their impact on solar technologies.

This study assesses the phenomenon of additional water intruding into sewage sys-tems in different areas of Sweden. Additional water means in this case the non-foul water that can originate from storm water runoff, which is either supposed to be con-veyed into the pipe system or intrudes it by wrongly connected drains. It can also re-sult from in-seepage of groundwater due to imperfections of the pipe system itself. It is intended to analyze how different features of the areas have an impact on the extent of this phenomenon. Further, an estimation of the conditions in future scenarios will be obtained. This includes an indication about the potential risk of a sewage system overflow, the expected volume of inflow at treatment plants and thus about the sys-tem´s suitability for the future. Numerical, hydrological compartment models for 19 cities in Sweden were set-up. The used parameters were obtained from previous studies by the Swedish Environ-mental Protection Agency. In these models present and future climate data were ap-plied. For future scenarios three different climate change projections were used which contain bias corrected climate data timeseries for each study area. The climate change scenarios were supposed to represent an "optimistic", "average" and "pessimistic" outlook. By assessing the outputs of the climate models, it was concluded that signifi-cant differences can occur, depending on exact geographical location and chosen cli-mate models. A sensitivity analysis was conducted of how geology, climate and status of the pipe system have an impact on the extent of additional water flows. It revealed that the status of the sewage system has by far the biggest impact. Finally a discharge analysis showed a potential outlook of future development of additional water flows for the chosen study sites, yielding highest increase for the sewage systems of Kiruna, Karlskoga and Sundsvall.

Il tribalismo costituisce una caratteristica intrinseca delle società mediorientali, concorrendo insieme a cultura araba e religione islamica a comporne l’identità. In Iraq, da sempre, il tribalismo ha costituito sia una struttura organizzativa ed una modalità di relazione sociale, che una dinamica di potere. Durante il Mandato britannico e la monarchia, la manipolazione politica di cultura e strutture tribali ha rafforzato la legittimazione del governo; nella fase repubblicana, con l’emergere delle forze armate quale principale attore politico e l’impatto con la modernità, il tribalismo si è trasformato pur rimanendo radicato nella società. Nella fase iniziale del regime ba’thista, la cultura tribale è stata combattuta essendo considerata un retaggio arcaico. Senonchè, con le difficoltà legate alla guerra con l’Iran, l’invasione del Kuwait e il successivo embargo, il regime di Saddam Hussein sfruttò proprio il tribalismo sia come dinamica di presa e controllo del potere che come collante propagandistico e sociale. Nel vuoto politico seguito al crollo del regime, le tribù riemersero come “campo di battaglia” tra insurgency e forze della Coalizione. Con il Surge americano e la nascita della Sahwa quale reazione allo stragismo jihadista, le tribù hanno impresso una svolta che ha salvato il paese dalla guerra settaria. Anche al Maliki ha saputo abilmente avvantaggiarsi del fenomeno tribale. Oggi le tribù continuano a rappresentare sia una constituency imprescindibile per ogni partito politico, che una diversificata e trasversale forza politica attiva. / Tribalism is an intrinsic character of Middle Eastern’s societies, as it contributes, together with Arab culture and Islamic religion, to shape their identity. In Iraq, since ever, tribalism constituted an organizational structure and a pattern of social relations, as well as dynamic of power’s exercise. Under the British Mandate and the Monarchy, politic manipulation of tribal’s culture and structures strengthened government’s legitimation; during the Republican period, as the Army emerged as main political driver and the influence of Modernity, tribalism transformed itself even if its presence into the society was still very strong. In the initial phase of Ba’thist’s regime, tribal culture was opposed, since it was considered as an obsolete heritage. But, facing the difficulties stemming from the war with Iran, the invasion of Kuwait and the embargo, the regime of Saddam Hussein exploited tribalism as a dynamic of power’s control, as well as propaganda and social bond. In the political void ensuing to the collapse of the regime, the tribes surfaced as “battlefield” between insurgency and Coalition’s Forces. American Surge and the tribes’ intervention in the Sahwa, as a reaction to jihadist’s bloodbath, avoided a sectarian civil war. Also al Maliki was able to exploit the tribal system. Nowadays, tribes are still an invaluable constituency for every political party, as well as diversified and a cross-parties political force.