Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2017-02-16T15:44:53Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Tese Ricardo Cesar de Andrade para Biblioteca Central.pdf: 5398475 bytes, checksum: 9946e56835bd8c5b975cbba26079b709 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-16T15:44:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Tese Ricardo Cesar de Andrade para Biblioteca Central.pdf: 5398475 bytes, checksum: 9946e56835bd8c5b975cbba26079b709 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-07-20 / A radiação extraterrestre é atenuada pela atmosfera em diferentes proporções, dependendo, principalmente do ângulo zenital solar e da altitude no ponto de medição. Neste trabalho, são apresentados valores da radiação solar total acima da condição de céu claro, que, em alguns dias, superou a constante solar corrigida pela distância Sol-Terra (CSC). Assim, esta pesquisa relata uma análise detalhada do efeito lente produzido por nuvens na irradiação solar global medido no Nordeste do Brasil, nas cidades de Água Branca, Santana do Ipanema, Palmeira dos Índios, Laje, Pão de Açúcar, Arapiraca, Coruripe e Maceió, no período de janeiro a dezembro de 2008, e, para a cidade de Recife, nos meses de outubro e novembro de 2015. Foram feitas medições com 1 minuto de intervalo, usando o piranômetro B&W da Eppley com incerteza estimada de 5%. Verificou-se que: a) o fenômeno não é incomum; b) a duração do efeito pode atingir 34 minutos; c) a existência de um efeito sazonal, com maior probabilidade de ocorrência nos meses de abril e outubro; d) valores medidos da radiação solar superiores à radiação solar extraterrestre na ordem de 300 W/m2; e e) uma forte assimetria foi detectada no perfil de ocorrência do fenômeno entre o período da manhã e à tarde. Os dados aferidos demonstraram que a radiação extrema, acima do valor extraterrestre, com duração de até 30 minutos, pode significar índices UV (IUV) muito elevados e potencialmente perigosos. / The extraterrestrial radiation is attenuated by the earth atmosphere in different proportions depending mainly on the solar zenith angle and the altitude of the measurement point. This work presents the total solar radiation values above clear-sky conditions that in some days surpassed the Solar constant corrected by the Sun-Earth distance (CSC). Thus, this research reports a detailed analysis of lens effect produced by clouds in the global solar radiation measured in the Northeast of Brazil. Therefore in the cities of Água Branca, Santana de Ipanema, Palmeiras dos Índios, Laje, Pão de Açúcar, Arapiraca, Coruripe and Maceió, was measured between January and December of 2008, and in Recife from October and November of 2015. Measurements have been taken with one-minute intervals using Eppley and B&W pyrometers with an uncertainty estimated of 5%. It has been found that a) the phenomenon is not unusual; b) the duration of the effect can reach 34 minutes; c) the existence of a seasonal effect with greater probality of occurrence in April and October; d) the measurement values of extraterrestrial solar radiation in the order of 300 W/m² above normal condition; and e) a strong asymmetry was detected in the occurrence phenomenon profile between the span of the morning and in the afternoon. Accessed data indicates that the extreme solar radiation, above the extraterrestrial solar radiation, lasting up to 30 minutes, might indicates a very high and potentially dangerous UV index.

As técnicas de lente térmica (LT) e \"Z-scan\" foram usadas para estudar as propriedades termo-óticas (difusividade térmica, condutividade térmica, taxa de variação do caminho ótico em função da temperatura e eficiência quântica de fluorescência) e não-lineares (partes real e imaginária do índice de refração não-linear, diferença de polarizabilidade e da seção de choque de absorção entre os estados excitado e fundamental, respectivamente) de sólidos dopados com Neodímio e Cromo. Uma nova extensão da técnica de LT foi proposta para determinar a eficiência quântica de fluorescência sem necessitar de amostra referência, como é feito na maioria dos métodos fototérmicos. Além disso, ambas técnicas foram usadas como espectroscopia, ou seja, a LT foi usada para estudar a forma de linha do calor gerado no material quando a excitação é feita próximo da banda de absorção do material, possibilitando assim a determinação da eficiência de transferência entre a matriz e o íon dopante, e a técnica \"Z-scan\" foi adaptada para medir a forma de linha do índice de refração não-linear próximo das linhas de emissão laser nos cristais dopados com Cromo. / The Thermal Lens (TL) and Z-scan technique were used to study the thermo-optical (thermal diffusivity, thermal conductivity, temperature coefficient of the optical path length change and fluorescence quantum efficiency) and nonlinear optical (parts real and imaginary of the refractive index, polarizability difference and absorption cross section between the excited and ground states, respectively) properties of Neodymium and Chromium doped solids. A new extension of the TL technique was proposed to determine the fluorescence quantum efficiency without measuring a reference sample, as done by any photothermal method Moreover, both techniques were used as an spectroscopy one, i. e., the TL was used to study the line shape of the heat created in material when the excitation is done near at the host absorption band, allowing the determination of the energy transfer efficiency between the host and the dopant ion, and the 2-scan technique was adapted to measure the line shape of the nonlinear refractive index near the laser lines in Chromium doped crystals.

Este trabalho apresenta o desenvolvimento de novas instrumentações baseadas em efeitos fototérmicos para o estudo de interfaces sólido-líquido e líquido-gás, incluindo no último caso o efeito de surfactantes. O trabalho está dividido em capítulos, cada um enfocando o desenvolvimento e/ou aplicação de uma nova técnica. O Capítulo I apresenta uma introdução aos fenômenos fototérmicos e desecreve a construção de instrumentos clássicos de Lente Térmica (LT) nas configurações de simples e duplo feixe. Interfaces sólido-líquido foram estudadas nos capítulos II-IV usando variações da instrumentação clássica de LT. Um novo sinal fototérmico foi caracterizado, indicando a formação de uma lente térmica invertida na interface. Experimentos de varredura-z na configuração por reflexão foram usados para determinar a mudança no índice de refração da interface próximo ao ângulo crítico, e uma metodologia similar foi utilizada para a medida da difusividade térmica de amostras opacas. Nos capítulos V-VII, a deformação de superfícies líquidas foi estudada pelo efeito Marangoni induzido por laser e pela geração de ondas capilares. A transferência de calor pela interface líquido-gás foi monitorada por Deflexão Fototérmica Transversal. Em todos os casos, a influência de surfactantes foi estudada pela formação de uma monocamada na superfície dos líquidos. Observou-se que uma pequena quantidade de surfactante é capaz de cessar a movimentação de líquidos induzida por gradientes de tensão superficial e aumentar significativamente a transferência de calor pela interface. Os resultados indicam uma correlação entre as transições de fase das monocamadas e a atenuação da deformação superficial bem como o aumento na transferência de calor. Finalmente, o capítulo VIII apresenta uma coleção de trabalhos que derivaram dos estudos relacionados com as instrumentações desenvolvidas. / This work presents the development of new instrumentations based on photothermal phenomena to study solid-liquid and liquid-gas interfaces, including in the latter the effect of surfactants. The work is divided into chapters, each one focusing on the development and/or application of a new technique. Chapter I presents an introduction to photothermal phenomena and describes the construction of classical Thermal Lens (TL) instruments in the single and double-beam configurations. Solid-liquid interfaces were studied in chapters II-IV using variations of the classical TL instrumentation. A new photothermal signal was characterized, indicating the formation of an inverted thermal lens at the interface. Z-scan experiments in the reflection configuration were used to determine the change in the refractive index of an interface close to the critical angle, and a similar methodolody was used to measure the thermal diffusivity of opaque samples. In Chapters V-VII, the deformation of liquid surfaces was studied by laser-induced Marangoni effect and the generation of capillary waves. Heat transfer through the liquid-gas interface was monitored by Transverse Photothermal Deflection. In all cases, the influence of surfactants was studied by forming a monolayer on the surface of the liquids. It was observed that a tiny amount of surfactants was able to cease the motion of liquid induced by surface tension gradients and to increase significantly the heat transfer through the interface. The results indicate a correlation between phase transitions of the monolayers and the attenuation of the surface deformation as well as the increase in the heat transfer. Finally, chapter VIII is a collection of other works that derived from the studies related to the instrumentations developed.

A glacier contains of many different layers of different properties. Each layer is formed during a calendar year similar to tree rings and their layers. A glacier has two different zones, the first one referred to as accumulation zone, where the addition of snow exceeds the loss of snow. The second, the ablation zone, is the zone where the loss of snow exceeds the addition of snow. These two zones are divided by the equilibrium line, where the addition of snow equals the loss of snow. Lenses of ice, caused by the summer melt, usually divide the horizontal layers within the glacier from one another. During the winter, snow will accumulate on top of the glacier and during the upcoming summer, the same snow will partly melt due to solar radiation. Some of this meltwater will penetrate the ice lenses and the layers of snow beneath, while some of it will refreeze as the winter once again returns. As the seasons change, freshly fallen snow will be compacted and somewhat water saturated. Compaction will lead to air passages being sealed off into separate air bubbles, which also leads to a change in density; a fixed volume gets heavier due to ongoing compaction. Snow that gets compacted turns into firn which has a larger mass per volume than snow does. Further compaction leads to glacier ice. The purpose of this study is to determine what effect the ice lenses has on the permeating meltwater and whether differences in snow density have similar effects. To achieve this purpose, a glacier was simulated inside a freezing room, with the help of a box that was packed with a few layers of snow. The amount of layers represented the same amount of years for a natural glacier. The experiment was performed twice, once without ice lenses but with varying densities and once with ice lenses but with similar densities. The very top layer was dyed red to track the descending meltwater accurately. To cause the melting, five infrared lamps were used to simulate solar radiation on the very top. / En glaciär består av många olika lager med olika egenskaper. Var lager uppstår under ett kalenderår likt trädringar och de lager de består av. En glaciär har två olika zoner. Den första benämns som ackumulationszonen, där tillförseln av snö överskrider förlusten av snö. Den andra, ablationszonen, är den zon där förlusten av snö överstiger tillförseln av snö. Dessa två zoner skiljs åt av jämviktslinjen, där tillförseln av snö är lika med förlusten av snö. Islinser, som skapas av sommarens smältvatten, skiljer oftast de horisontella lagrena inom glaciären åt. Under vinterhalvåret ansamlas snö på glaciärytan och smälter delvis under sommaren av värme från solen. En del av detta smältvatten penetrerar islinserna och den underliggande snön, medan en del av det åter smälter under vintern. När säsongerna ändras kompakteras snön och blir delvis vattenmättad. Kompaktion leder till att passager inom isen separeras till enskilda luftbubblor, vilket också ökar densiteten; en specifik volym får högre massa på grund av ett ökat tryck. Snö som kompakteras övergår till firn, vilket har högre massa i förhållande till volymen än vad snö har. Fortsatt kompaktion leder till att firnen övergår till en glaciäris. Syftet med denna studie är att bestämma vilken effekt islinser har på perkolerande smältvatten och om skillnader i densitet hos snö har liknande påverkan. För att uppnå detta syfte simulerades en glaciär i ett frysrum, med hjälp av en låda som packades med några lager snö. Mängden lager representerade samma antal år i en naturlig glaciär. Experimentet utfördes två gånger, en gång utan islinser men med varierande densitet och en gång med islinser men med liknande densitet. Det översta lagret färgades rött för att kunna undersöka det sjunkande smältvattnet exakt. För att ge upphov till smältan användes fem infraröda lampor för att representera solens strålar längs ytan.

A laser-triangulating range camera uses a laser plane to light an object. If the position of the laser relative to the camera as well as certrain properties of the camera is known, it is possible to calculate the coordinates for all points along the profile of the object. If either the object or the camera and laser has a known motion, it is possible to combine several measurements to get a three-dimensional view of the object. Camera calibration is the process of finding the properties of the camera and enough information about the setup so that the desired coordinates can be calculated. Several methods for camera calibration exist, but this thesis proposes a new method that has the advantages that the objects needed are relatively inexpensive and that only objects in the laser plane need to be observed. Each part of the method is given a thorough description. Several mathematical derivations have also been added as appendices for completeness. The proposed method is tested using both synthetic and real data. The results show that the method is suitable even when high accuracy is needed. A few suggestions are also made about how the method can be improved further.

Eye tracking technology has made it possible to accurately and consistently track a users gaze position on a screen. The human eyes center of focus, where it can see the most detailed information, is quite small at a given moment. The peripheral vision of humans have a much lower level of details than the center of gaze. Knowing this, it is possible to display a view that increases the level of resolution at the position of the users gaze point on the screen, while the rest of the screen keeps a lower resolution. An implementation of such a system can generate a representation of data with both detail and overview. The results indicate that even with simple gaze data processing it is possible to use gaze control to help explore details of a high resolution image. Gaze data processing often involve a compromise between stability, responsiveness and latency. A low latency, highly responsive gaze data filter would increase the risk for lens oscillation, and demand a higher concentration level from the viewer then a slower filter would. Applying a gaze data filter that allowed for smooth and stable lens movement for small saccades and responsive movements for large saccades proved successfully. With the uses of gaze control the user might be able to use a gaze aware application more efficient since gaze precedes actions. Gaze control would also reduce the need for hand motions which could provide a improved work environment for people interacting with computer.

Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of blindness amongst the elderly. Macular pigment (MP) in the retina has been established to protect individuals against AMD. Improving levels of MP by diet or supplements is the constant quest of clinical practitioners and researchers, thus necessitating development of instruments capable of repeatable and reliable MP measurement. Cataract, a consequence of the rising opacity levels of the lens with age is one of the other major causes of blindness in the world. Mapcatsf, a LED-based microprocessor-controlled heterochromatic flicker photometer (HFP) using photopic vision is capable of measuring the levels of MP and the opacity of the lens in terms of optical density. Test-retest measurements conducted on 83 subjects were analyzed for repeatability in macular pigment optical density (MPOD) measurements. Reliability of the lens optical density (LOD) measurements were tested and compared with those obtained at absolute scotopic thresholds for 25 individuals. A supplement study with 32 individuals both in the young (50) age groups for 6 months further established Mapcatsf’s capacity to monitor changing levels of MP in individuals. As an overall outcome, high levels of repeatability and reliability were obtained in MPOD and LOD measurements establishing Mapcatsf as an instrument for use in clinical settings in the future.

Eddy-covariance (EC) CO₂ flux data were analysed and annual carbon (C) balances estimated for a four-year period (2004-2007) following clearcut harvesting of a boreal jack pine stand in northern Saskatchewan. The site was a source of C to the atmosphere for all years, with annual net ecosystem productivity (NEP) increasing from -153 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹ in 2004 to -63 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹ in 2007. This increase was mainly due to gross primary productivity (GPP) increasing significantly from 78 to 200 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹ , while ecosystem respiration (R) increased only slightly from 231 to 263 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹ over the same period. In the 2006 growing season (GS), a field campaign was conducted to investigate the relationships between monthly destructive measurements of leaf area index (LAI) and daily measurements of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and photosynthetic capacity (Amax). The latter was derived from 5-day, 16-day, 30-day and annual Michaelis-Menten light response analyses using daytime measurements of NEP and incident photosynthetically active radiation. Digital-camera data were used to evaluate the potential of using the rectilinear-lens vegetation index (RLVI) as a surrogate for NDVI of a young forest stand. Results showed that LAI was linearly related to NDVI and RLVI, which was largely the result of changes in the deciduous vegetation component across the GS. These results indicate that RLVI could be used as a surrogate for NDVI up to a GS maximum LAI of 0.91 m2 m⁻² observed in 2006. Measured mean (± 1 S.D.) GS LAI was 0.67 (± 0.24) m² m⁻² in 2006. LAI accounted for the majority of the variability in Amax at the 30-day time scale, while at shorter time scales air temperature was the dominant control. For 2004 to 2007, mean spring estimates of LAI were 0.25, 0.29, 0.38 (compared to 0.40 m² m⁻² from measurements) and 0.41 m² m⁻², respectively. Results suggest that a steady increase in the jack pine LAI component accounted for the annual increases in GPP and hence NEP over the four years. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate

No description available.

Clinical decision rules improve health care fidelity, benefit patients, physicians and healthcare systems, without reducing patient safety or satisfaction, while promoting cost-effective practice standards. It is critical to appropriately and consistently apply clinical decision rules to realize these benefits. The objective of this thesis was to understand how physicians use the Ottawa Ankle Rules to guide radiography decision-making. The study employed a clinical judgment survey targeting members of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians. Statistical analyses were informed by the Brunswik Lens Model and Social Judgment Analysis. Physicians’ overall agreement with the ankle rule was high, but can be improved. Physicians placed greatest value on rule-based cues, while considering non-rule-based cues as moderately important. There is room to improve physician agreement with the ankle rule and use of rule-based cues through knowledge translation interventions. Further development of this Lens Modeling technique could lend itself to a valuable cognitive behavioral intervention.