Thesis (Ph.D.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1999. / Bibliography: leaves 277-286.

Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Queensland, 2005. / Includes bibliography.

Thesis (M. En.)--Miami University, Institute of Environmental Sciences, 2006. / Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 32-35).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2007. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on September 25, 2007) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.) University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on August 24, 2007) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

As is the case with many ocular neuropathies, primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) leads to an irreversible damage to the visual field. Loss of visual field first occurs in the peripheral vision and slowly propagates towards the middle. Although there are differences in its rate of incidence, glaucoma is projected to be the leading cause of blindness, second only to cataract, affecting significant percentage of populations across different age, race/ethnic groups. A hallmark of POAG is the dysfunction of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) which connect to the axons which, in turn, relay the visual information from the eye to the brain. Previous research has shown that axonal density in the optic nerve head (ONH) is greatly reduced due to chronically elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). IOP-lowering treatment has been shown to reduce the visual field loss, and continues to be the dominant treatment methodology for glaucoma. Previous research has shown that the biomechanics of the lamina cribrosa (LC) - a highly porous tissue through which the axons carrying the visual information exit the eye, is important in influencing the viability of the RGCs. In a normal eye, the LC is primarily made up of collagen of types I, III, and IV which encompass (specifically, arranged circularly) the axon shafts and the blood vessels (1). In addition to elevated IOP, changes in the material properties of ocular tissues in and around the ONH region, which include peripapillary sclera and LC, could affect its biomechanics, which could be a result of changing microstructure and morphology of these tissues, and may contribute to POAG. The current work is aimed at creating computational models to incorporate the complex nature of ocular tissues, and develop computational techniques to characterize the variation in the material properties of ocular tissues (which include the tissue moduli, fiber orientation, permeability etc.), and study the effects they have on the biomechanical response of the LC region.

Tailings are a rest product from the extraction of metals and minerals, and is therefore produced in large volumes by all mining companies. One common way to store tailings material is to deposit it as a hydraulic slurry on a tailings impoundment, where the tailings are held in place by tailings dams. Deposit and discharge of tailings, often conducted along the dams, causes a particle segregation which creates different fines contents (percentage of particles smaller than 0,063 mm in the tailings) in the impoundment at various distances from the discharge. Another effect from the discharge is that different densities are created in the deposited layers. Since some tailings dams are constructed on top of old deposited tailings, and if possible with tailings as a construction material, the fines content and density effects on the tailings behaviour are important factors for dam stability. In this thesis, tailings material with different fines contents and different densities have been studied with the purpose to see how the behaviour in strength, compressibility and permeability varies. After an initial case study of sampled tailings from a specific impoundment, the fines content for the three tested materials were determined to be 10, 50 respectively 90%. The behaviour in strength was tested in both triaxial and simple shear tests. Only drained strength was studied for three consolidation stresses in both apparatuses. The result from both tests showed that the strength is increasing with decreasing fines content, and thus evaluated friction angles increases with decreasing fines content. Evaluated friction angles from the simple shear test are though significantly smaller than those from the triaxial tests. Friction angles from triaxial tests are seen as most reliable, since the principal stresses are controlled during the whole test. The difference in friction angles from simple shear and triaxial test is however not a new discovery, it has been found by others before. The results from the triaxial tests indicates that a transitional fines content must exist somewhere between 10 – 50 %, where the behaviour in strength switches from sand dominated to silt dominated. Oedometer tests were conducted to study the compressibility of the three materials. The results showed that the compressibility increased with increasing fines content and with decreased density. In agreement with that conclusion, evaluated oedometer modulus from the normal consolidation curve tended to increase with increasing density and to a smaller extent increase with decreasing fines content. Determination of characteristics in permeability were done by evaluating the hydraulic conductivity from constant head tests. Results from this showed that the hydraulic conductivity increases with decreasing fines content. Furthermore, with increasing density the hydraulic conductivity decreases. Results of both the compressibility and the hydraulic conductivity are of course expected. To develop the relations in compressibility and permeability is considered as hard, since the behaviours are both dependent of fines content and density. However, the results indicate that with different combinations of fines contents and densities similar behaviour in compressibility and permeability can be obtained for different materials. / Anrikningssand (eng. tailings) är en restprodukt från utvinningen av metaller och mineraler. Alla gruvföretag producerar varje år stora volymer anrikningssand som måste förvaras på något sätt. Detta görs ofta genom att anrikningssanden deponeras som en slurry med processvatten på magasin. Anrikningssanden hålls sedan på plats av dammar och ibland i kombination med naturlig topografi. Deponeringen sker ofta från utsläppspunkter längs dammen, vilket resulterar i en sortering av kornstorlekar i magasinet som i sin tur skapar olika finjordshalter (procent av partiklar mindre än 0,063mm) på olika avstånd från utsläppspunkten. Deponeringen skapar också olika lager, som också får olika densiteter. Eftersom en del typer av gruvdammar byggs inåt och grundläggs på tidigare deponerad anrikningssand, samt eftersom anrikningssand ibland används som byggmaterial vid höjningar, är finjordshalten och densitetens effekt på materialbeteendet intressant ur stabilitetssynpunkt för dammarna. I det här arbetet har anrikningssand med olika finjordshalter och densiteter undersökts i laboratorieförsök för att bestämma hållfasthets-, kompressions- och permeabilitetsegenskaper. Först gjordes en case study, med provtagning och klassificering av anrikningssand från en specifik anläggning. Därefter bestämdes att tre stycken material med finjordshalter på 10, 50 och 90 % skulle undersökas. Hållfasthetsegenskaper har undersökts i både triaxial och direkta skjuvförsök. Endast dränerad hållfasthet har studerats för tre stycken konsolideringsspänningar för varje material i både triaxial och direkta skjuvförsök. Resultaten från både triaxialförsök och direkta skjuvförsök visar att hållfastheten ökar med minskad finjordshalt och därför ökar även värdet på utvärderade friktionsvinklar med minskad finjordshalt. Utvärderade friktionsvinklar från direkta skjuvförsök är dock betydligt lägre än friktionsvinklar från triaxialförsök. Friktionsvinklarna från triaxialförsöken är mer trovärdiga eftersom man under hela testet har koll på huvudspänningsriktningarna. Skillnaden i resultatet mellan direkta skjuvförsök och triaxialförsök är inte en ny upptäckt, utan har hittats av andra tidigare. Från resultatet av triaxialförsöken i det här arbetet kan man antyda att det finns ett ”transitional fines content” (TFC) mellan 10 och 50 %, där materialet övergår från sand dominerat beteende till silt dominerat beteende under skjuvning. Ödometerförsök utfördes för att studera kompressionen hos de tre materialen. Resultaten visar att kompressibiliteten ökar med ökad finjordshalt och med lägre densitet. Utvärderade ödometer moduler från normalkonsolideringskurvorna visar att styvheten ökar med ökad densitet, samt en aning till tendens mellan ökad styvhet och minskad finjordshalt. Permeabilitetsegenskaper har studerats genom utvärdering av hydraulisk konduktivitet från constant head test. Det observerades att den hydrauliska konduktiviteten ökar med minskad finjordshalt. Gällande densitetens effekt visar resultaten att med ökad densitet så minskar den hydrauliska konduktiviteten. Både resultat i kompressionsegenskaper och hydraulisk konduktivitet är förstås väntade. Att utveckla sambanden kring kompressions- och permeabilitetsegenskaper anses svårt, eftersom det är beroende av både finjordshalt och densitet. Resultaten indikerar att det med olika kombinationer av finjordshalt och densitet går att uppnå liknande beteende för olika material i både kompression och permeabilitet.

Biocerâmicas porosas são utilizadas para que se forneça local para o tecido ósseo crescer e fixar o implante biologicamente. Foi utilizada hidroxiapatita (HA), que é uma cerâmica bioativa e permite o crescimento de tecido ósseo e revascularização da área de implante pela ligação química estabelecida entre a fase mineral dos ossos com a hidroxiapatita sintética. Este estudo teve como objetivo a obtenção de blocos porosos de hidroxiapatita através do método gelcasting de espumas, utilizando matérias-primas nacionais e sem o uso de atmosfera controlada. A hidroxiapatita utilizada nesse trabalho foi obtida com um método inovador com a utilização de defloculantes. O método gelcasting de espumas consiste na incorporação de uma fase gasosa dispersa dentro de uma suspensão cerâmica contendo o pó cerâmico, água, defloculantes, ligantes e agentes de gelificação. Após a formação de espuma o gel é formado pela polimerização in situ de monômeros orgânicos e o controle do tempo de indução é primordial para a obtenção de porosidade controlada. Foram estudados os efeitos da quantidade de surfactante, do teor de sólidos e do tempo de indução na microestrutura e nas propriedades físicas da hidroxiapatita. Avaliou-se o volume de espuma formado, a viscosidade das suspensões, a resistência mecânica à compressão, a superfície de fratura, a densidade e porosidade, fases cristalinas e grupos químicos, assim como a permeabilidade das peças porosas. Foram realizados ensaios in vitro e in vivo para verificar o comportamento do material quando implantado. Obteve-se porosidade máxima de cerca de 87,5% para o teor de 60% de sólidos. Foram obtidos blocos porosos de hidroxiapatita pelo método gelcasting com tamanho de poros controlado, potencialmente aptos para uso em medicina e odontologia como implantes ósseos reparadores de defeitos ósseos em locais onde a solicitação mecânica seja baixa. / Porous bioceramics are used as a place where bone tissue can grow and fix implants biologically. In this work, hydroxyapatite (HA) was used. It is a bioactive ceramic which allows the growth of bone tissue and revascularization of implant area by the formation of a chemical bond between bones mineral phase and synthetic hydroxyapatite. The aim of this work is to obtain hydroxyapatite porous blocks through the gelcasting foams method, using national’s raw materials and without the atmosphere control. The HA used in this work was obtained by a new method which consists in the addiction of a defloculant. The gelcasting foams method consists in the incorporation of gaseous phase in a ceramic suspension containing the ceramic material, water, defloculants, binders and gelling agents. After the foam formation, the material turns in to a gel by the in situ polymerization of the organic monomers. The control of the induction time is very important to control the porosity. The effect of surfactant amounts, of the solids content and of the induction time in the hydroxyapatite microstructure and physical properties was studied. Also there was evaluated the in vitro and in vivo comportment of the produced porous hydroxyapatite foams. The amount of foam produced, the viscosity of suspensions, compression mechanical strength, fracture surface, apparent density, porosity, permeability, crystalline phases and chemical groups were evaluated. A maximal porosity of about 87.5% was obtained for a solids content of 60%. Obtained materials have a potential use as bone implants in both medical and odontological applications as bone defects repairers in places where low mechanical strengths were required.

Este trabalho aborda a discussão sobre a diferenciação entre os termos "clown" e "palhaço". Inicialmente, contextualizamos e destacamos as seguintes desconfianças mútuas: o não reconhecimento sobre as competências e as metodologias de cada um; a negação inicial das referências circenses pelos freqüentadores dos cursos; a idéia de que o "palhaço" teria a sua origem legítima no picadeiro e os "clowns" estariam fazendo uma apropriação indevida desta arte para a dramaturgia teatral. Para superarmos tais visões, buscamos algumas aproximações e confluências importantes entre circo e teatro, que se acentuam com o surgimento do circo contemporâneo. Adotando uma visão que não separa "clowns" de "palhaços", nos servimos de conceitos das filosofias da diferença para criarmos algumas brechas por onde possam fluir idéias mais permeáveis, mais coerentes com a porosidade e abertura do corpo clownesco. Estão presentes nesta pesquisa estudiosos que valorizam a multiplicidade nesta arte, palhaços de diferentes períodos e tendências, além das minhas experiências pessoais como clown-palhaça e esportista. / This study approaches the discussion about the differentiation between the terms "clown" and "palhaço." Initially, the following reasons for mutual distrust are highlighted and contextualized: the lack of acknowledgement of their competences and methodologies, the initial denial of the circus references by those attending the courses, the idea that the "palhaço" would have his legitimate origin in the circus ring and the "clowns" would be inadequately taking this art to the theater. In order to go beyond such perspectives, the author looked for some important similarities and confluences between circus and theater that have become more evident after the emergence of the contemporary circus. Adopting a point of view that does not separate "clowns" and "palhaços," concepts of the philosophies of difference were used to create some breaches through which more permeable ideas can flow; such ideas are more coherent with the porosity and opening of the clown body. Researchers that value multiplicity in this art, clowns of different periods and tendencies, in addition to the author's personal experiences as a clown and sportswoman were included in the present study.

The variation in the cleat permeability of coalbed methane (CBM) reservoirs is attributed primarily to two cardinal processes, with opposing effects. Increase in effective stresses with reduction in pore pressure tends to decrease the cleat permeability, whereas the sorption-induced coal matrix shrinkage actuates reduction in the effective stresses which increases the reservoir permeability. The net effect of the two processes determines the pressure-dependent-permeability and, hence, the overall trend of CBM production with depletion. Several analytical models have been developed and used to predict the dynamic behavior of CBM reservoir permeability during production through pressure depletion, all based on combining the two effects. The purpose of this study was to introduce modifications to two most commonly used permeability models, namely the Palmer and Mansoori, and Shi and Durucan, for permeability variation and evaluate their performance when projecting gas production. The basis for the modification is the linear relationship between the volume of sorbed gas and the associated matrix shrinkage. Hence, the impact of matrix shrinkage is incorporated as a function of the amount of gas produced, or that remaining in coal, at any time during production. Since the exact production from a reservoir is known throughout its life, this significantly simplifies the process of permeability modeling. Furthermore, the modification is also expected to streamline the process of modeling by classifying the shrinkage parameters for coals of different regions, but with similar characteristics. A good analogy is the San Juan basin, where sorption characteristics of coal are so well understood and defined that operators no longer carry out laboratory sorption work. The goal is to achieve the same for incorporation of the matrix shrinkage behavior. Another modification is to incorporate the matrix, or grain, compressibility effect of coal as a correction factor in the Shi and Durucan model so as to assess the permeability variation based on the true shrinkage of coal matrix with reservoir drawdown. Finally, application of the modified models may be carried out for scenarios where the gas content of coal varies with time, either due to injection of a second gas to enhance the recovery of methane, or gas enhancing techniques, such as, bio-stimulation of coal. The original models are currently unable to handle this, particularly when the gas content of the reservoir increases. The research is aimed at simplifying and, in fact, improving the performance of the theoretical models in predicting the variation of coal reservoir permeability.