GnRH neurons represent the final common pathway for the regulation of the reproductive axis and they are modulated by multiple signals. It has recently been shown that a potent effector of GnRH neuron function is an afferent network of kisspeptin-producing neurons. Kisspeptin released from these neurons acts upon a specific receptor (gpr-54) expressed on GnRH neurons, and increases the secretion of GnRH from the hypothalamus. The kisspeptin system has since been implicated as a downstream mediator for regulation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) axis by steroid hormones, metabolic signals and photoperiod, potentially placing it at the centre of reproductive physiology. However, the supporting evidence to date has been indirect, relying on interpretation of changes in mRNA levels and immuno-histochemical staining to infer the actions of kisspeptin upon the central control of reproduction. The detailed mechanisms of kisspeptin action are yet to be fully elucidated. The research within this thesis elucidates the effect of kisspeptin on the HPG axis via the development of kisspeptin-10 (kp-10) analogues with antagonistic properties. Functionally important residues within the peptide were delineated. Structure-activity studies of kp-10 analogues indicated that residues Asn2, Trp3, Phe6, Arg9 and Phe10 interact with gpr-54 to facilitate receptor binding. Two other residues, Tyr1 and Leu8 were shown to be critical for receptor activation by kisspeptin. Four synthetic peptide antagonists were selected according to a consensus sequence for good antagonism: X1-N-W-N-X5-F-G-X8-R-F-NH2 where X1 = D-Ala or D-Tyr, X5 = Gly or D-Ser and X8 = D-Trp or D-Leu. One of the antagonists, peptide 234, was used in in vivo studies, where it inhibited the amplitude of GnRH and LH pulses without affecting basal secretion of GnRH or LH. These results indicate for the first time that basal and pulsatile secretion of these factors is regulated by separate pathways. Use of the antagonist also demonstrated the direct involvement of endogenous kisspeptin in steroid hormone negative feedback, positive regulation of the pre-ovulatory LH surge and in regulating the onset of puberty in rodents, as had been suggested via indirect methods. Although a major role of the kisspeptin system is in the regulation of the HPG axis, the system may also be important in the inhibition of cancer cell metastasis and in placental development (trophoblast cell invasion) but little is known about the mechanisms involving kisspeptin in these processes. This thesis describes novel signalling mechanisms for the regulation cell migration by kisspeptin, involving the MAPK and GSK3β signalling pathways. Using a stably transfected CHO cell line, kisspeptin-gpr-54 signalling can activate all members of the MAPK pathway, the β- catenin/GSK3β pathway, NFκB and FAK. These factors are involved in inhibiting the migration of these cells via an ERK1/2-p90rsk-GSK3β-β catenin pathway to potentially up- regulate formation of adherens junctions at the plasma membrane. This pathway was also shown to be involved in the inhibition of migration within an immortalised human first trimester placental trophoblast cell line and in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Some of these pathways were also active within a mouse GnRH neuronal cell line, where ERK1/2, NFκB and GSK3β were activated by kisspeptin with no effect on migration. However, the role of these pathways in the GnRH neuronal cells requires further investigation. In summary, the research presented within this thesis defines receptor-binding and activating residues within kisspeptin-10, which should enable more details of ligand-receptor binding interactions to be fully elucidated. Novel gpr-54 antagonists have been identified and used in in vivo studies. The thesis demonstrates the direct involvement of endogenous kisspeptin in the regulation of GnRH/LH secretion at the onset of puberty and throughout the reproductive cycle in mature animals. The antagonists developed within this thesis represent useful tools to further delineate mechanisms of kisspeptin action within the HPG axis and peripheral tissues. Other findings describe kisspeptin signalling mechanisms for the inhibition of cell migration, potentially important in a variety of normal and pathological processes, including for the first time a description of the regulation of GSK3β and β-catenin signalling factors by kisspeptin and gpr-54.

Thesis advisor: Noah P. Snyder / Thesis advisor: Gail Kineke / Fluvial terraces form in both erosional and depositional landscapes and are important recorders of land-use, climate, and tectonic history. Terrace morphology consists of a flat surface bounded by valley walls and a steep-sloping scarp adjacent to the river channel. Combining these defining characteristics with high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) derived from airborne light detection and ranging (lidar) surveys, several methods have been developed to identify and map terraces. This research introduces a newly developed objective terrace mapping method and compares it with three existing DEM-based techniques to determine which is most applicable over entire watersheds. This work also tests multiple methods that use lidar DEMs to quantify the thickness and volume of fill terrace deposits identified upstream of dam sites. The preliminary application is to the Sheepscot River watershed, Maine, where strath and fill terraces are present and record Pleistocene deglaciation, Holocene eustatic forcing, and Anthropocene land-use change. Terraces were mapped at four former dam sites along the river using four separate methodologies and compared to manually delineated area. The methods tested were: (1) edge detection using MATLAB, (2) feature classification algorithms developed by Wood (1996), (3) spatial relationships between interpreted terraces and surrounding natural topography (Walter et al., 2007), and (4) the TerEx terrace mapping toolbox developed by Stout and Belmont (2013). Thickness and volume estimates of fill sediment were calculated at two of the study sites using three DEM-based models and compared to in situ data collected from soil pits, cut bank exposures, and ground penetrating radar surveys. The results from these comparisons served as the basis for selecting methods to map terraces throughout the watershed and quantify fill sediment upstream of current and historic dam sites. Along the main stem and West Branch of the Sheepscot River, terraces were identified along the longitudinal profile of the river using an algorithm developed by Finnegan and Balco (2013), which computes the elevation frequency distribution at regularly spaced cross-sections normal to the channel, and then mapped using the feature classification (Wood, 1996) method. For terraces upstream of current or historic dam sites, thickness and volume estimates were calculated using the two best performing datum surfaces. If all analyzed terraces are composed of impounded sediment, these DEM-based results suggest that terraces along the main stem and West Branch of the Sheepscot River potentially contain up to 1.5 x 106 m3 of fill. These findings suggest powerful new ways to quickly analyze landscape history over large regions using high-resolution, LiDAR DEMs while relying less heavily on the need for detailed and costly field data collection. / Thesis (MS) — Boston College, 2014. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Geology and Geophysics.

Nesta pesquisa, o método geofísico GPR Ground Penetrating Radar foi utilizado para caracterizar tambores metálicos e plásticos enterrados numa área de testes controlados, denominada de Sítio Controlado de Geofísica Rasa SCGR do IAG instalado no campus da Universidade de São Paulo, em São Paulo. Os alvos foram escolhidos visando simular estudos de contaminação ambiental e obras de engenharia dentro do contexto urbano. Os tambores metálicos (vazios) foram dispostos na vertical e horizontal e os tambores plásticos (vazios, preenchidos com água salgada e com água doce) foram dispostos na vertical. Foram realizadas simulações numéricas GPR 2D para auxiliar na escolha dos parâmetros ótimos referentes à aquisição dos dados e verificar se os contrastes existentes entre os alvos (tambores metálicos e plásticos) e o background poderiam produzir reflexões significativas. As aquisições foram realizadas antes e depois da instalação dos alvos no SCGR-IAG utilizando as antenas de 100 MHz, 200 MHz e 500 MHz. Após as aquisições, os dados GPR foram processados e em seguida analisados visando estabelecer respostas típicas para cada alvo, considerando o tipo de material, a sua composição e/ou preenchimento. Os resultados foram comparados com as informações das profundidades reais dos alvos enterrados e as simulações numéricas, os quais apresentaram uma excelente concordância. Além disso, permitiram identificar com clareza todos os alvos e diferenciá-los quanto ao padrão de reflexão. Nos tambores plásticos foi possível distinguir os que estavam vazios e os preenchidos com água doce ou com água salgada. Essas respostas obtidas em uma área de testes controlados podem ser consideradas como típicas para os alvos, podendo ser extrapoladas para áreas onde não se tem nenhuma informação da subsuperfície. / In this research, geophysical method GPR - Ground Penetrating Radar was used to characterize metallic and plastic drums buried in an area of controlled tests, called \"Controlled Site of Shallow Geophysics (SCGR-IAG Sítio Controlado de Geofísica Rasa) installed in the campus of the University of São Paulo, in São Paulo. The targets were chosen aiming to simulate studies of environmental contamination and works of engineering inside the urban context. The metallic drums (empty) were disposed in the vertical and the horizontal position, and the plastic tubes (empty, filled with salty water and cool water) were disposed in the vertical position. 2D GPR numerical simulations were carried through to assist in the choice of the excellent parameters referring to the acquisition of the data, and to verify if the contrasts between the targets (metallic and plastic tubes) and the background could produce significant reflections. The acquisitions were carried through \"before\" and \"after\" the installation of the targets at the SCGR-IAG using 100 MHz, 200 MHz and 500 MHz antennas. After the acquisitions, GPR data were processed and then analyzed to establish typical answers to each target, considering the type of material, its composition and/or fulfilling. The results were compared with the information of the real depths of the buried targets and the numerical simulations, which matched in an excellent agreement. Moreover, the results allowed to identify with clarity all the targets and differentiate them according to the reflection standard. In the plastic drums it was possible to distinguish the ones that were empty and the filled ones with cool water or salty water. These answers gotten in an area of controlled tests can be considered as typical for the targets, being able to be surpassed for areas where no information of the subsurface is had.

Nesta pesquisa, o método geofísico GPR Ground Penetrating Radar foi utilizado para caracterizar tambores metálicos e plásticos enterrados numa área de testes controlados, denominada de Sítio Controlado de Geofísica Rasa SCGR do IAG instalado no campus da Universidade de São Paulo, em São Paulo. Os alvos foram escolhidos visando simular estudos de contaminação ambiental e obras de engenharia dentro do contexto urbano. Os tambores metálicos (vazios) foram dispostos na vertical e horizontal e os tambores plásticos (vazios, preenchidos com água salgada e com água doce) foram dispostos na vertical. Foram realizadas simulações numéricas GPR 2D para auxiliar na escolha dos parâmetros ótimos referentes à aquisição dos dados e verificar se os contrastes existentes entre os alvos (tambores metálicos e plásticos) e o background poderiam produzir reflexões significativas. As aquisições foram realizadas antes e depois da instalação dos alvos no SCGR-IAG utilizando as antenas de 100 MHz, 200 MHz e 500 MHz. Após as aquisições, os dados GPR foram processados e em seguida analisados visando estabelecer respostas típicas para cada alvo, considerando o tipo de material, a sua composição e/ou preenchimento. Os resultados foram comparados com as informações das profundidades reais dos alvos enterrados e as simulações numéricas, os quais apresentaram uma excelente concordância. Além disso, permitiram identificar com clareza todos os alvos e diferenciá-los quanto ao padrão de reflexão. Nos tambores plásticos foi possível distinguir os que estavam vazios e os preenchidos com água doce ou com água salgada. Essas respostas obtidas em uma área de testes controlados podem ser consideradas como típicas para os alvos, podendo ser extrapoladas para áreas onde não se tem nenhuma informação da subsuperfície. / In this research, geophysical method GPR - Ground Penetrating Radar was used to characterize metallic and plastic drums buried in an area of controlled tests, called \"Controlled Site of Shallow Geophysics (SCGR-IAG Sítio Controlado de Geofísica Rasa) installed in the campus of the University of São Paulo, in São Paulo. The targets were chosen aiming to simulate studies of environmental contamination and works of engineering inside the urban context. The metallic drums (empty) were disposed in the vertical and the horizontal position, and the plastic tubes (empty, filled with salty water and cool water) were disposed in the vertical position. 2D GPR numerical simulations were carried through to assist in the choice of the excellent parameters referring to the acquisition of the data, and to verify if the contrasts between the targets (metallic and plastic tubes) and the background could produce significant reflections. The acquisitions were carried through \"before\" and \"after\" the installation of the targets at the SCGR-IAG using 100 MHz, 200 MHz and 500 MHz antennas. After the acquisitions, GPR data were processed and then analyzed to establish typical answers to each target, considering the type of material, its composition and/or fulfilling. The results were compared with the information of the real depths of the buried targets and the numerical simulations, which matched in an excellent agreement. Moreover, the results allowed to identify with clarity all the targets and differentiate them according to the reflection standard. In the plastic drums it was possible to distinguish the ones that were empty and the filled ones with cool water or salty water. These answers gotten in an area of controlled tests can be considered as typical for the targets, being able to be surpassed for areas where no information of the subsurface is had.

Interpretation of ground penetrating radar (GPR) signals can be a key point in the overall operability of a GPR system. In stepped-frequency and Frequency-Modulated Continuous-Wave (FMCW)GPR systems in particular, the target or object of interest is often located by analysis of Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) derived data. Increasing the GPR system bandwidth can improve resolution, but at the cost of reduced penetrating depth. The challenge is to develop high-resolution signal processing strategies for GPR.A number of Fourier based methods are investigated. However, the main response over a target's position can make it difficult to recognise closely spaced targets. The Least-Suare method is found to be the best autoregression-based estimator. However the method requires high Signal-to-Noise ratio to achieve high- resolution. Furthermore a number of subspace-based methods are investigated. Although the MUItiple Signal Classification (MUSIC) method can theoretically offer infinite resolution, they must be seeded with the number of targets actually present. A superimposed MUSIC technique is proposed to suppress false targets. A novel windowed MUSIC (W-MUSIC) algorithm is developed, and it offers high resolution while still able to minimise spurious responses. Since the performance of any FMCW GPR is critically linked to the linearity of the sweep frequency, the non-linearity in the target range estimation is studied. A Novel Short-Time MUSIC method is proposed and higher time and frequency resolution is achieved than the conventional Short-Time Fourier Transform method. In addition a modified Adaptive Sampling method is proposed to solve the non-linear problem by utilising a reference channel in a GPR system.

Part I: Various image reconstruction algorithms used for subsurface targets are reviewed. It is shown how some approximate wavefield inversion techniques: Stripmap Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Kirchhoff Migration (KM) and Frequency-Wavenumber (FK) migration are developed from various models for wavefield scattering. The similarities of these techniques are delineated both from a theoretical and practical perspective and it is shown that Stripmap SAR is, computationally, almost identical to FK migration. A plane wave interpretation of both Stripmap SAR and FK migration is used to show why they are so similar. The electromagnetic assumptions made in the image reconstruction algorithms are highlighted. In addition, it is shown that, theoretically, FK and KM are identical. Image reconstruction results for KM, Stripmap SAR and FK are shown for both synthetic and experimental Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) data. Subjectively the reconstructed images show little difference, but computationally, Stripmap SAR (and therefore, FK migration) are much more efficient. Part II: A preliminary investigation into the use of the Singularity Expansion Method (SEM) for use in identifying landmines is completed using a Finite-Difference Time-Domain code to simulate a simplified GPR system. The Total Least Squares Matrix Pencil Method (TLS-MPM) is used to determine the complex poles from an arbitrary late-time signal. Both dielectric and metallic targets buried in lossless and lossy half-spaces are considered. Complex poles (resonances) of targets change significantly when the objects are buried in an external medium, and perturbation formulae for Perfect Electric Conductor (PEC) and dielectric targets are highlighted and used. These perturbation formulae are developed for homogenous surrounding media, and their utilization for the half-space (layered medium) GPR problem causes inaccuracies in their predictions. The results show that the decay rate (real part) of the complex poles is not suitable for identification in this problem, but that with further research, the resonant frequency (imaginary part) of the complex poles shows promise as an identification feature. / February 2005

This study aims to evaluate the ability of high-frequency (450 and 900 MHz) ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to monitor the effects of an ethanol release over an existing gasoline-contaminated zone. In September 2009, 184L of denatured ethanol mixture (E95) was released into an unconfined sand aquifer directly over gasoline residuals (E10) released the previous year. GPR profiling prior to the ethanol release indicated that the residual gasoline-contaminated zone was largely confined to its initial release point. The GPR profiling performed post ethanol release observed strong shallow reflection events which propagated laterally away from the trench over a one-month period, at which point the maximum extent was established. The effects of the ethanol were also observed with the 450MHz frequency, in the form of an apparent “velocity pull-up” of a stratigraphic reflector. After the initial expansion, reduction in reflection amplitude and increasing traveltimes within the trench, were observed until the onset of winter conditions and the development of frozen soil. Over the winter the presence of ethanol inhibited the freezing process of the pore water in the contaminated zone, thus resulting in a difference in the dielectric properties of the unfrozen verse frozen zone. The unfrozen zone was significantly greater than the spatial extent of the strong reflection events that were monitored through GPR prior to winter. The spatial extent and depth of the unfrozen zone imaged by the GPR profiling was confirmed by a physical impedance depth survey. After thaw, evidence of the ethanol or gasoline was absent until mid-summer, when the water table dropped to approximately 80cm. At this point strong reflection events were again observed throughout the contaminated zone.

Landslides are one of the most dangerous geological hazards. In the United States, landslides cause a damage of $ 3.5 billion and kill 25 to 50 people annually. Shallow landslides occurring near any transportation facilities (railways and highways) can cause economic loss and disturbance of services which lead to indirect economic loss. It also increases the maintenance cost of those facilities. Hence, facilities located near a shallow landslide prone area should be monitored so as to avoid any catastrophic damages. Soil moisture and movement of the soil mass are prime indicators of potential shallow slide movements. This assessment of wireless instruments considers a variety of devices ranging from devices for monitoring tilt and moisture at specific points in the soil mass to ground penetrating radar (GPR), which can give indications of moisture accumulation in soils over a wide spatial extent. For this assessment study, a low cost MEMS accelerometer was selected for measuring tilts and motions. And EC type soil moisture sensor was selected to measure soil moisture content of embankments. The instrumentation of railway embankments works effectively and cheaply when a suspected problem area has already been identified and monitoring is needed over a limited spatial extent. This makes the monitoring system highly localized which often fails to cover potentially new failure prone areas. It is not feasible to use this approach to monitor soil conditions along the entire alignment of the railway. Therefore, another approach, GPR, is defined and explained in this study. GPR measures the dielectric constant value for any given material including soils. In soils, the dielectric constant value depends on the volumetric amount of water content present in a soil. Due to moisture infiltration, there is a reduction in suction value on embankment which indicates a decrease in shear strength of slope. Therefore, a correlation between suction and dielectric constant value is formulated in this study using Complex Refractive index model/Time propagation (CRIM/TP) model for soils. To validate this theoretical correlation, a laboratory study was conducted on pure kaolinite and on normal soil. For pure kaolinite this correlation proves beneficial while, for other type of soil, the correlation was off due to the limitations in filter paper test to measure suction below 2.5pF.

The goal of this research project is to identify the efficacy of the ground penetrating radar (GPR) technique in locating underground coal mine related subsidence features at Malakoff and Bastrop, Texas. The work at Malakoff has been done in collaboration with the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC). RRC has been carrying out reclamation of abandoned underground coal mines at Malakoff since the early 1990’s. The history of the specific mining operations (at Malakoff and Bastrop) that took place in the early 1900’s has been difficult to ascertain; therefore, the use of a geophysical techniques like ground penetrating radar to identify hidden voids and potential subsidence features is vital for future reclamation process. Some of the underground mine workings at the field site have collapsed over time affecting the topography by creating sinkholes. GPR data, employing 25 MHz, 50 MHz and 100 MHz frequency antennae, have been collected in common offset patterns and azimuthal pattern. GPR data indicate the mine tunnels possibly connecting existing sinkholes by radargram hyperbolae that correspond with mine openings observed visually or during reclamation. This study also denotes the importance of understanding the variable physical properties of the stratigraphy, which could lead to false alarms by misinterpretation of the radar signals. Natural and man-made above-ground structures cause obstructions in data collection, and hence an optimal design is required for each survey. RRC successfully ground-truthed the data during its reclamation process. In turn, the acquired geophysical data helped to guide the reclamation. At Bastrop, GPR data along with historical documentation led to the conclusion that coal mining did exist in this region but is not a major concern to the immediate stability and safety of the field site. It can be concluded from both the studies that the GPR technique identifies anomalous shafts/tunnels possibly connecting potential failure.

Part I: Various image reconstruction algorithms used for subsurface targets are reviewed. It is shown how some approximate wavefield inversion techniques: Stripmap Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Kirchhoff Migration (KM) and Frequency-Wavenumber (FK) migration are developed from various models for wavefield scattering. The similarities of these techniques are delineated both from a theoretical and practical perspective and it is shown that Stripmap SAR is, computationally, almost identical to FK migration. A plane wave interpretation of both Stripmap SAR and FK migration is used to show why they are so similar. The electromagnetic assumptions made in the image reconstruction algorithms are highlighted. In addition, it is shown that, theoretically, FK and KM are identical. Image reconstruction results for KM, Stripmap SAR and FK are shown for both synthetic and experimental Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) data. Subjectively the reconstructed images show little difference, but computationally, Stripmap SAR (and therefore, FK migration) are much more efficient. Part II: A preliminary investigation into the use of the Singularity Expansion Method (SEM) for use in identifying landmines is completed using a Finite-Difference Time-Domain code to simulate a simplified GPR system. The Total Least Squares Matrix Pencil Method (TLS-MPM) is used to determine the complex poles from an arbitrary late-time signal. Both dielectric and metallic targets buried in lossless and lossy half-spaces are considered. Complex poles (resonances) of targets change significantly when the objects are buried in an external medium, and perturbation formulae for Perfect Electric Conductor (PEC) and dielectric targets are highlighted and used. These perturbation formulae are developed for homogenous surrounding media, and their utilization for the half-space (layered medium) GPR problem causes inaccuracies in their predictions. The results show that the decay rate (real part) of the complex poles is not suitable for identification in this problem, but that with further research, the resonant frequency (imaginary part) of the complex poles shows promise as an identification feature.