Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to quantify if using an average intensity projection (AIP) scan or a 30% phase (mid-ventilation surrogate, MidV) scan as the reference image for patient position verification affects reproducibility of lung cancer patient alignment under free-breathing cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) image guidance and to analyze the effects of common clinical issues on registration variability. Methods: AIPs were retrospectively created for 16 lung patients (14 SBRT, 2 conventional treatments) originally planned/treated using the 30% phase MidV surrogate scan as reference. The study included 3-5 CBCTs from each patient. Registrations were performed between the AIP-CBCT and between the MidV-CBCT by 5 individuals (student, medical physics resident, medical resident, medical physicist, and attending physician) using MIM 6.2 image registration platform (Beachwood, OH). The images were rigidly registered, internal tumor volume (ITV) contours were displayed, and no rotational adjustments were allowed to reflect real treatment conditions. Additionally, the registrations for AIP-CBCT and MidV-CBCT were repeated 3 times by one individual for intra-observer variability assessment. Patient setup rotations, tumor volume, tumor motion, and breathing variability were estimated for correlation with registration variability. Results: The magnitude of the average intra-observer standard deviations from the lateral (LAT), anterior-posterior (AP), and superior-inferior (SI) directions for the AIP/CBCT and MidV/CBCT registrations were 0.9 mm and 1.2 mm, respectively. The magnitude of the average inter-observer standard deviations for the AIP/CBCT and MidV/CBCT were 1.7 mm and 1.8 mm, respectively. Average discrepancies over the whole population were found to be small; however, some individual patients presented high variability. Patient-specific cases with high variability were analyzed and observations on its potential causes are discussed. Conclusion: The differences in alignment using AIP versus MidV as the reference images are, when averaged over the population studied, very small and clinically irrelevant for PTV margins > 5mm; however, individual patients may be impacted in a clinically relevant manner if smaller margins, 3 mm and below, are used instead.

Orientador: Ciro Cesar Zanini Branco / Banca: Orlando Necchi Junior / Banca: Carla Ferragut / Resumo: Os efeitos provocados pela variação quantitativa e qualitativa da luz incidente sobre a estrutura das comunidades de macroalgas lóticas em riachos da região Centro-Sul do estado do Paraná foram investigados a partir de experimentos utilizando-se amostradores com substratos artificiais que modulam a quantidade e qualidade da luz incidente. Os resultados reveleram que as respostas das divisões algais isoladamente foram mais claras do que àquelas observadas para as comunidades de macroalgas como um todo. As algas verdes mostraram-se melhores adaptadas as condições com maiores energias luminosas. A espécie de cianobactéria registrou clara preferência por comprimentos de onda mais longos (faixa do vermelho). As algas vermelhas apesar de apresentarem baixos valores de abundância, aparentemente, preferiram condições levemente sombreadas e, como as cianobactérias, apresentaram maiores valores de abundância quando submetidas a luz vermelha. Neste contexto, o aparato fotossintético característico de cada divisão algal parece ser determinante para os seus comportamentos ecológicos, uma vez que desempenham funções adaptativas diante das diferentes condições de luminosidade / Abstract: The effects of light intensity and quality on the structure of lotic macroalgal communities in streams from the mid-southern region of Paraná State were investigated using artificial substrata that simulate different levels of light and specific wavelengths. The results showed that the abundance values of each algal divisions were clearer to that observed to global macroalgae communities. The green algae were better adaptated on higher light energies conditions. The cianobacteria species reported a clear preference to longer wavelengths (red light). Red algae, on the other hand, despite of the low abundance values, apparently prefer lightly shaded conditions and like blue-green algae, they showed better colonization on the red light. In this context, the characteristic photosynthetic apparatus of each division seems to be determinant to the ecological behavior of these communities once they play an important adaptative role face to the different light conditions / Mestre

Intensity-modulated brachytherapy techniques, compensator-based intensity modulated brachytherapy (CBT) and interstitial rotating shield brachytherapy (I-RSBT), are two novel conceptual radiation therapies for treating cervical and prostate cancer, respectively. Compared to conventional brachytherapy techniques for treating cervical cancer, CBT can potentially improve the dose conformity to the high-risk clinical target volume (CTV) of the cervix in a less invasive approach. I-RSBT can reduce the dose delivered to the prostate organ at risks (OARs) with the same radiation dose delivered to the prostate CTV. In this work, concepts and prototypes for CBT and I-RSBT were introduced and developed. Preliminary dosimetric measurements were performed for CBT and I-RSBT, respectively. A CBT prototype system was constructed and experimentally validated. A prototype cylindrical compensator with eight octants, each with different thicknesses, was designed. Direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) was used to construct CoCr and Ti compensator prototypes, and a 4-D milling technique was used to construct a Ti compensator prototype. Gafchromic EBT2 films, held by an acrylic quality assurance (QA) phantom, were irradiated to approximately 125 cGy with an electronic brachytherapy (eBT) source for both shielded and unshielded cases. The dose at each point on the films were calculated using a TG-43 calculation model that was modified to account for the presence of a compensator prototype by ray-tracing. With I-RSBT, a multi-pass dose delivery mechanism with prototypes was developed. Dosimetric measurements for a Gd-153 radioisotope was performed to demonstrate that using multiple partially shielded Gd-153 sources for I-RSBT is feasible. A treatment planning model was developed for applying I-RSBT clinically. A custom-built, stainless steel encapsulated 150 mCi Gd-153 capsule with an outer length of 12.8 mm, outer diameter of 2.10 mm, active length of 9.98 mm, and active diameter of 1.53 mm was used. A partially shielded catheter was constructed with a 500 micron platinum shield and a 500 micron aluminum emission window, both with 180° azimuthal coverage. An acrylic phantom was constructed to measure the dose distributions from the shielded catheter in the transverse plane using Gafchromic EBT3 films. Film calibration curves were generated from 50, 70, and 100 kVp x-ray beams with NIST-traceable air kerma values to account for energy variation. In conclusion, CBT, which is a non-invasive alternative to supplementary interstitial brachytherapy, is expected to improve dose conformity to bulky cervical tumors relative to conventional intracavitary brachytherapy. However, at the current stage, it would be time-consuming to construct a patient-specific compensator using DMLS, and the quality assurance of the compensator would be difficult. I-RSBT is a promising approach to reducing radiation dose delivered to prostate OARs. The next step in making Gd-153 based I-RSBT feasible in clinic is developing a Gd-153 source that is small enough such that the source, shield, and catheter all fit within a 16 guage needle, which has a 1.65 mm diameter.

This thesis is compromised of three studies in which basic principles of operant conditioning were applied to horses. Autoshaping was examined as a method for horse training. Observational learning was investigated to confirm that naive horses can, in fact, acquire novel behavior by observing experienced horses, and the rate of acquisition with observation is more rapid than spontaneous responding without observation. A third study examined the effect of discriminative stimulus intensity on the acquisition rate of novel behavior. All subjects learned to use an operant conditioning device. Subjects in the first study autoshaped. Observational learning was also demonstrated to be a means by which horses can learn. The rate of learning was significantly improved through observation. Intensity of the discriminative stimulus affects the acquisition of novel behavior. The subject exposed to the higher intensity stimulus acquired sustained manipulandum pressing significantly faster than other subjects. It was concluded that horses acquire behavior in much the same manner as other species.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between several school psychologist variables and overall engagement in parent training/education activities with the parents of children with ADHD. Specifically, school psychologists were surveyed regarding their general attitude toward parent-focused activities, role profiles, intensity of training, perception of barriers/facilitators, and frequency of engagement in parent training/education activities. Participants included 163 school-based school psychologists in Florida who were members of FASP. Data were collected through the use of an Internet survey. Hypotheses were analyzed using correlations and a backward multiple regression analysis. Results indicated that school psychologists in Florida were engaging in parent training/education activities on average approximately 1-2 times per semester. The data suggested that a school psychologist’s intensity of training in formal parent training, parent involvement, and behavior theory/management was most significantly related to his or her engagement in parent training/education activities. Demographic variables including degree level, experience level, recency of training, number of schools served, primary employment setting, and caseload were not significantly related to engagement. Additionally, a school psychologist’s role profile was not significantly related to engagement in parent training/education activities. Data analysis revealed a moderate, positive, statistically significant correlation between general attitude and extent of engagement in parent training/education activities. Thus, the more positive a school psychologist’s general attitude was regarding parent-focused activities, the more likely he or she was to engage in parent training/education activities with the parents of children with ADHD. Perceived expertise in parent training/education activities was the only potential barrier that resulted in a statistically significant difference between those participants who perceived it as a barrier and those who did not. This indicates that those who perceived their level of training/expertise in parent training/education activities as a barrier to engagement were in fact less likely to engage in parent training/education activities.

Much of the aerosol research completed at the University of South Florida has revolved around evaluating industrial hygiene equipment and instrumentation in environmental chambers. Data collected during these studies has provided valuable baseline data on equipment and instrument performance under calm air conditions. A newly constructed wind tunnel now allows researchers to evaluate industrial hygiene instruments under moving air conditions. Because the wind tunnel is capable of producing wind velocities that a worker could encounter in the occupational setting, researchers may gain insight into instrument performance under simulated field conditions. Because aerosols can be introduced into the new wind tunnel testing section, researchers can also challenge industrial hygiene equipment and instrumentation with aerosols in sizes ranges that are of interest in public health. The purpose of this dissertation research was to develop a new wind tunnel to be used for aerosol research at the University of South Florida. Three specific aims had to be met for this study to be successful. They included: (1) designing a wind tunnel based on best practice information outlined in scientific literature, (2) constructing an operable wind tunnel to be used for aerosol research, and (3) characterizing wind tunnel performance by examining the wind tunnel velocity profile, turbulence intensity, and aerosol introduction/collection. The actual wind tunnel was constructed to a length of approximately 20 feet, a height of approximately 2 feet at its tallest point, and includes an entrance filter housing, a settling chamber, a contraction, a testing section, a diffuser, an exit filter housing, a fan, and exhaust duct. All components were designed and constructed using guidelines and best practices reported in the scientific literature. Velocity profile measurements were the first way that this wind tunnel was characterized. In order to successfully obtain measurements, the wind tunnel cross section was divided into 16 equal quadrants. Five measurements were taken for each quadrant at each wind velocity. Target wind velocities for this research were 0.5 m/s, 1.0 m/s, and 2.0 m/s. Actual average wind velocities of 0.48 m/s, 1.00 m/s, and 2.04 m/s. All were within established limits reported in the scientific literature. Turbulence intensity measurements were the second way that this wind tunnel was characterized. In order to successfully obtain measurements, the wind tunnel cross section was divided into 16 equal quadrants. Five measurements were taken for each quadrant at each wind velocity. Wind tunnels are typically designed to have the lowest turbulence intensity possible, generally below 10%. The overall average turbulence intensities for this wind tunnel at wind velocities of 0.5 m/s, 1.0 m/s, and 2.0 m/s were 9%, 10%, and 8% respectively. Overall turbulence intensity measurements were at or below 10%. Isokinetic sampling was the final method used to characterize this wind tunnel by collecting and detecting aerosols traveling through the wind tunnel testing section. The wind tunnel was operated at wind velocities of 0.5 m/s, 1.0 m/s, and 2.0 m/s with isokinetic sampling flow rates of 15.4 L/min, 30.9 L/min, and 61.7 L/min respectively. Monodisperse fluorescent polystyrene latex spheres were used as the test aerosol because they are uniform in size and shape and can be detected by fluorometry. The Blaustein Multi-Jet Atomizer (BLAM) was used to generate monodisperse fluorescent polystyrene latex aerosol 0.5 µm and 2.0 µm particles from liquid suspensions. The Vilnius Aerosol Generator (VAG) was used to generate monodisperse fluorescent polystyrene latex aerosol of 6.0 µm and 12.0 µm particles from dry powders. Nitrogen gas was used for delivering test aerosols into the wind tunnel. Five experimental runs were completed for each particle size and wind velocity for a total of 60 experimental runs. Fluorescence was detected in all 60 samples with average mass concentrations ranging from 0.000050 ng/ml to 0.002703 ng/ml. Based on velocity profile measurements, turbulence intensity measurements, and isokinetic sampling, the performance of University of South Florida wind tunnel was found to be excellent, indicating that it was designed and constructed appropriately. The wind tunnel can now successfully be used by researchers interested in evaluating industrial hygiene sampling equipment with aerosols ranging from 0.5 µm to 12.0 µm in moving air with velocities ranging from 0.5 m/s to 2.0 m/s.

Resilience has been measured using qualitative and quantitative metrics in engineering,economics, psychology, business, ecology, among others. This dissertation proposes a resilience metric that explicitly incorporates the intensity of the disruptive event to provide a more accurate estimation of system resilience. A comparative analysis between the proposed metric and average performance resilience metrics for linear and nonlinear loss and recovery functions suggests that the new metric enables a more objective assessment of resilience for disruptions with different intensities. Moreover, the proposed metric is independent of a control time parameter. This provides a more consistent resilience estimation for a given system and when comparing different systems. The metric is evaluated in the study of community resilience during a pandemic influenza outbreak and the analysis of supply chain resilience. As a result, the model quantifies constant, increasing and decreasing resilience, enables a better understanding of system response capabilities in contrast with traditional average performance resilience metrics that always capture decreasing resilience levels when the disruptive events magnitude increases. In addition, resilience drivers are identified to enhance resilience against disruptive events. Once resilience drivers have been found, then a multi-objective resource allocation model is proposed to improve resilience levels. Previous resilience optimization models have been developed mainly based on a single resilience metric. The existing bi-objective models typically maximize resilience while the recovery cost is minimized. Although the single metric approach improves system resilience some of their limitations are that the solution is highly dependent on the selected resilience index and generally few optimal points are found. To overcome the rigidity of a unique metric a bi-objective model is proposed to maximize two key resilience dimensions, the absorptive and restorative capacities. This approach has the potential to offer multiple non-dominated solutions increasing decision makers alternatives where the single metric solutions are included.

Bakgrund: Kvinnor tränar mer nu än tidigare och många av dessa blir även gravida. Träning under graviditet har många hälsofördelar. De flesta råd angående träning under graviditet handlar om träning på måttlig intensitet samt motverkande av graviditetskomplikationer. En del kvinnor tränar mer än dessa rekommendationer. Därav finns råd och rekommendationer för elitatleter samt forskning på högintensiv träning under graviditet. Det är dock oklart ifall dessa råd når ut till gravida kvinnor som tränar på högintensiv nivå. Syfte: Att undersöka om träningsmängd förändrats under graviditet hos friska kvinnor som tränat på högintensiv nivå innan graviditeten, samt hur kvinnorna upplevt den information om träning de fått under graviditet och var de fått informationen. Deltagare: Arton kvinnor (23–37 år) deltog i studien. Inklusionskriterier var förstföderska, gravid i tredje trimestern fram till fyra veckor postpartum, komplikationsfri graviditet och högintensiv träning minst tre gånger per vecka under minst ett år innan och fram till graviditeten, antingen kondition, styrka eller både och.    Metod: Deltagarna besvarade en webbenkät med 23 frågor. Frågorna handlade om träningsmängd under graviditet samt den information om träning deltagarna fått under graviditet. Resultat: De flesta kvinnorna minskade sin träningsmängd under graviditeten och många av kvinnorna saknade tillräcklig information för att kunna träna på önskad nivå. Information om träning kom främst från barnmorska. Konklusion: Träningsmängd hos friska motionsvana gravida kvinnor har minskat under graviditeten samtidigt som kvinnorna saknade tillräcklig träningsinformation. Kvinnorna fick information om träning under graviditet främst från barnmorska. Det går inte att säga om avsaknaden av information har påverkat träningsmängden men det kan vara intressant att undersöka i framtida studier. Fortsatt forskning på högintensiv träning under graviditet behövs för att kunna ge tillräcklig information till högintensivt tränande gravida kvinnor. / Background: Women exercises more now than before, and many of them become pregnant. Exercise during pregnancy has many health benefits. Most advice about exercise during pregnancy is about exercise at a moderate intensity and prevention of pregnancy complications. Some women exercise more than these recommendations. There are advice and recommendations for elite athletes and research on high intensity exercise during pregnancy. Although it is unclear if these advice reaches pregnant women who exercises at a high intensity level. Objective: To examine if the amount of exercise changed during pregnancy for healthy women who exercised at a high intensity level, how they had perceived the information about exercise during pregnancy they had received and where they got the information from. Participants: Eighteen women (23–37 years) participated in the study. Criteria for inclusion were first time pregnancy, pregnant in the third trimester up until four weeks postpartum, pregnancy without complications and exercise at a high intensity at least three times a week during at least one year before and up until the pregnancy, either cardio, strength or both. Method: The participants answered an online survey with 23 questions. The questions were about amount of exercise during pregnancy and the information about exercise the women had received during pregnancy. Results: Most of the women decreased their amount of exercise during pregnancy and many of the women lacked adequate information to be able to exercise at desired level. Information about exercise came mainly from midwifes. Conclusion: The amount of exercise in healthy exercising pregnant women have decreased during pregnancy at the same time as the women lacked adequate information about exercise. The women received information about exercise mainly from midwifes. It cannot be said if the lack of information has affected the amount of exercise but that would be interesting to investigate further in future studies. Continued research about high intensity exercise during pregnancy is needed to be able to give adequate information to pregnant women who exercises at a high intensity.

In this report, an optical wireless multiple-input multiple-output communication system employing intensity-modulation direct-detection is considered. The performance of direct current offset space-time block codes (DC-STBC) is studied in terms of pairwise error probability (PEP). It is shown that among the class of DC-STBCs, the worst case PEP corresponding to the minimum distance between two codewords is minimized by repetition coding (RC), under both electrical and optical individual power constraints. It follows that among all DC-STBCs, RC is optimal in terms of worst-case PEP for static channels and also for varying channels under any turbulence statistics. This result agrees with previously published numerical results showing the superiority of RC in such systems. It also agrees with previously published analytic results on this topic under log-normal turbulence and further extends it to arbitrary turbulence statistics. This shows the redundancy of the time-dimension of the DCSTBC in this system. This result is further extended to sum power constraints with static and turbulent channels, where it is also shown that the time dimension is redundant, and the optimal DC-STBC has a spatial beamforming structure. Numerical results are provided to demonstrate the difference in performance for systems with different numbers of receiving apertures and different throughput.

Aquaculture had already been distinguished as an important component of global food security and economics. However, aquaculture has expanded at the cost of natural resources and the environment. The vulnerability of the aquaculture industry due to the consequences of global environmental changes and energy price fluctuations has been addressed in various studies. The identification, planning, and implementation of sustainable energy systems are important to ensure the long term economic and environmental sustainability of aquaculture. This research investigated sustainable energy systems for aquaculture using a life cycle approach, allowing for the identification of the most sustainable energy options under different geographical and economic contexts. This also provides useful insights for the sustainable development of aquaculture with energy systems. The main objectives were to develop a statistical model for energy intensity of aquaculture (Chapter 2) and a user-friendly tool that can assist in the decision making of choosing the sustainable energy systems in aquaculture (Chapter 3), and to investigate the applicability of solar hot water systems for aquaculture (Chapter 4) and the potential improvement of the sustainability performance of aquaculture with energy systems (Chapter 5). In the first task, the main influencing factors on the energy use of aquaculture were investigated via a statistical analysis method. Results showed that natural trophic level of species, culture technology, culture system intensity, and local climatic conditions are important factors. With the key variables, an energy intensity prediction model was developed and applied to explore an energy efficient growth strategy for global aquaculture. Energy use in future global aquaculture would be significantly reduced with a selective extensification of global aquaculture. Also, climate change with consideration of temperature and precipitation would help reduce the energy use of global aquaculture as warm climate zones are more dominant in major aquaculture producing countries. In the second task, an MS-Excel based decision support tool was developed to assist the selection of environmentally and economically sustainable energy systems (single source or hybrid sources) in aquaculture. Through a case study, the most sustainable energy options for U.S. aquaponics systems were investigated, considering different geographical and economic contexts in five U.S. states (FL, HI, WA, LA, and ME). Results showed that solar systems (solar photo-voltaic and solar hot water heater) could be the most sustainable energy options for U.S. aquaponics due to their low environmental impacts and economic benefits. In the third task, results showed that heating strategies, setting (indoor or outdoor), and local climatic conditions played a pivotal role in determining the environmental and economic impacts of solar hot water systems in aquaculture. The lowest environmental impact was found with a 20% heating strategy for outdoor aquaculture systems under hot climate conditions, while the most economical case was found with an 80% heating strategy for indoor aquaculture systems under moderate climate conditions. Further improvements of environmental and economic performances could be achieved with consideration of water source (groundwater and surface) and design (horizontally fixed or optimally tilted solar thermal collector). In the fourth task, environmental and economic impacts of alternative energy systems were obtained using the tool which was developed in the second task. Results showed that local geographical and weather characteristics, local energy prices, and incentive availability were important parameters to determine the sustainability performance of alternative energy systems in aquaculture. The use of renewable energy was more sustainable than conventional energy systems in the regions where there are favorable geographical conditions, high electricity and fuel prices, and incentives. The use of solar photovoltaic with a thin-film technology was the most sustainable electricity generation options in most states of the U.S., while the use of natural gas boilers was the most sustainable heating options in most states of the U.S. The sustainability performance of the solar photovoltaic systems can be further improved through either a technological advancement or an incentive, while financial support is more effective for solar hot water systems. The application of anaerobic digestion as a backup system in general will reduce the sustainability of hybrid heating system; however, the hybrid biogas-diesel heating system has better sustainability performance compared with a diesel heating system if it is used for medium to large scale fish farms. This research provides an understanding of energy use characteristics of current aquaculture systems, and insights for the planning of sustainable energy supply systems in aquaculture, considering different growth strategies, effects of climate change, and alternative energy systems with various operational strategies and design factors. Furthermore, the decision-making tool was made to be accessible to fish farmers, state-wide planners, and regulators.