The objective of this thesis is to develop a sequential algorithm to determine accurately and quickly, at which point in time a product is well mixed or reaches a steady state plateau, in terms of the Refractive Index (RI). An algorithm using sequential non-linear model fitting and prediction is proposed. A simulation study representing typical scenarios in a liquid manufacturing process in pharmaceutical industries was performed to evaluate the proposed algorithm. The data simulated included autocorrelated normal errors and used the Gompertz model. A set of 27 different combinations of the parameters of the Gompertz function were considered. The results from the simulation study suggest that the algorithm is insensitive to the functional form and achieves the goal consistently with least number of time points.

The Ethiopian Plateau is one of the few tectonically-active regions on Earth that is situated in continental rift zones. About 1.6 km deep gorge of the Nile was carved by the Blue Nile River on the Ethiopian Plateau, as the plateau has been experiencing continuous uplift and exhumation in the Cenozoic. Here, we used quantitative analysis of longitudinal rive-profile forms and parameters (knickpoint and normalized steepness-index ksn) of the Blue Nile tributaries to tease out regional tectonic signals. 244 knickpoints were examined in the tributaries, majority (>80%) of which are unassociated with lithology or geological structures. Knickpoint distribution throughout the plateau reveals three incision phases. The novel approach of correlation of ksn with mantle tomography suggests that higher and lower ksn values occur above low-velocity and high-velocity zones, respectively, indicating that thermal upwelling beneath the plateau linked to Afar mantle plume largely controls the uplift thus incision of the plateau.

Facies and stratigraphic architecture right at the transition from marine to non-marine environments is poorly documented. In the Cretaceous outcrops of Utah, Star Point and Blackhawk Formations are well studied. The nature of spatio-temporal transition of these two Formations, in the deposition-strike orientation, remains undocumented. This study characterizes facies and stratigraphic complexity at the transition of the two Formations that crop out in depositional-strike orientation in the Wasatch Plateau. Data from outcrop including photomosiacs and measured sections demonstrate this complexity at a range of scales. The Star Point constitutes a shoreface environment. The Blackhawk constitutes a coastal-fluvial environment. In the northern part of study area, the transition from marine to continental strata is expressed by intertonguing succession. The dip-oriented outcrops show pinch-outs of two parasequences into coastal-plain deposits. This complexity decreases southward, the southern outcrops show a simple transition. At least two sequence boundaries are correlated across the outcrop belt.

The two end-member concept of mantle plume-driven versus far field stress-driven continental rifting anticipates high volumes of magma emplaced close to the rift-initiating plume, whereas relatively low magmatic volumes are predicted at large distances from the plume where the rifting is thought to be driven by far field stresses. We test this concept at the Guinea Plateau, which represents the last area of separation between Africa and South America, by investigating for rift-related volumes of magmatism using borehole, 3D seismic, and gravity data to run structural 3D inversions in two different data areas. Despite our interpretation of igneous rocks spanning large areas of continental shelf covered by the available seismic surveys, the calculated volumes in the Guinea Plateau barely match the magmatic volumes of other magma-poor margins and thus endorse the aforementioned concept. While the volcanic units on the shelf seem to be characterized more dominantly by horizontally deposited extrusive volcanic flows distributed over larger areas, numerous paleo-seamounts pierce complexly deformed pre and syn-rift sedimentary units on the slope. As non-uniqueness is an omnipresent issue when using potential field data to model geologic features, our method faced some challenges in the areas exhibiting complicated geology. In this situation less rigid constraints were applied in the modeling process. The misfit issues were successfully addressed by filtering the frequency content of the gravity data according to the depth of the investigated geology. In this work, we classify and compare our volume estimates for rift-related magmatism between the Guinea Fracture Zone (FZ) and the Saint Paul's FZ while presenting the refinements applied to our modeling technique.

Estudos para estabelecer níveis de nutrientes adequados em dietas de animais são bastante comuns no meio científico. Tais estudos são realizados utilizando a média da variável resposta nos diferentes níveis da variável independente e, geralmente, por meio de abordagem frequentista. Sendo assim, muita informação é perdida ou até mesmo as médias influenciadas por valores extremos nos resultados das repetições. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi realizar um estudo de simulação de modelos de regressão com platô de resposta, considerando diversos cenários de diferentes tamanhos amostrais, além da homogeneidade e heterogeneidade de variância entre níveis do fator dosagem levando em consideração as repetições em cada dosagem, por meio de abordagem bayesiana. Também foi realizado ajustes dos modelos de regressão quadrático com platô de resposta e do não linear com platô de resposta utilizando a metodologia bayesiana para estimar os parâmetros dos modelos. Os dados simulados representavam o teor de Zinco (Zn) depositado na tíbia de frangos, que receberam as dosagens 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105 e 120 ppm de Zn na ração. Nos cenários 1, 2 e 3 foi atribuído variância constante, com tamanhos amostrais de n=16, n=30 e n=100, respectivamente. Nos cenários 4, 5 e 6, foram considerados também os tamanhos amostrais n=16, n=30 e n=100, respectivamente, mas com diferentes variâncias ao longo do fator dose. Os dados utilizados para o estudo sobre os modelos de regressão com platô de resposta são referentes ao teor de Zinco (Zn), em ppm, na tíbia de frangos e frangas de corte como variável resposta. A análise de simulação mostrou que é adequada a utilização dos modelos com platô de resposta considerando a repetição das amostras em cada dose para estimar o nível adequado de um nutriente na ração animal. No ajuste dos modelos aos dados reais, o modelo de regressão quadrático com platô de resposta considerando a heterogeneidade de variâncias foi o que apresentou melhor ajuste, em que obteve-se uma estimativa de x̂0 = 73, 26 ppm para o nível de Zn aplicado na ração para uma deposição de Zn na tíbia dos frangos de P̂ = 290, 12 ppm. / Studies to establish adequate levels of nutrients in animal diets are quite common in the scientific world. Such studies are performed using the mean of the response variable in the different levels of the independent variable and, generally, through a frequentist approach. Thus, much information is lost or even the means influenced by extreme values in the results of the repetitions. The objective of the present work was to perform a simulation study of regression models with response plateau, where as different scenarios of different sample sizes, besides the homogeneity and heterogeneity of variance between levels of the dosage factor taking the repetitions in each dosage into account, through Bayesian approach. Fits were also made to the quadratic regression models with response plateau and nonlinear regression with response plateau using Bayesian methodology to estimate the parameters of the models. The simulated data represented the zinc content (Zn) deposited in the tibia of broilers, which received the dosages 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105 and 120 ppm of Zn in the feed. In the scenarios 1, 2 and 3 were attributed constant variance with sample sizes of n = 16, n = 30 and n = 100, respectively. In the scenarios 4, 5 and 6 the sample sizes were, respectively, n = 16, n = 30 and n = 100, but with different variances along the dose factor. The data used for the study on the regression models with response plateau refer to the Zn content, in ppm, in the tibia of male and female broilers as response variable. The simulation analysis showed that it is appropriate to use the models with response plateau considering the repetition of the samples at each dose to estimate the adequate level of a nutrient in the animal feed. In the fit of the models to the real data, the quadratic regression model with response plateau considering the heterogeneity of variances was the one that presented the best fit, which an estimate of x̂0 = 73.26 ppm for the level of Zn applied to the feed for a Zn deposition in the chicken tibia of P̂ = 290.12 ppm.

No description available.

La ceinture orogénique de Longmenshan (LMTB) constitue la frontière orientale du plateau tibétain, qui est reconnue par sa topographie escarpée, son activité tectonique intensive ainsi ses la complexité de ses structures. Comme une orogène typique, le LMTB a subi une forte déformation intracontinentale au cours du Mésozoïque. Ainsi, la connaissance sur l’évolution tectonique du Mésozoïque de la LMTB est cruciale pour comprendre l’orogenèse intracontinentale et la surrection du plateau tibétain. Une ceinture de clivage verticaux divise la LMTB en une zone occidentale et une orientale. La Zone orientale présente un top-to-SE cisaillement tandis que la zone occidentale présente un top-to-NW cisaillement. La zone orientale peut être subdivisée en quatre sous-unités avec de foliations orientées du SE au NW. Le granite syntectonique et les données géochronologiques contraignent cette déformation principale au Mésozoïque inférieur (environ 219 Ma). L’analyse structurale, l’AMS, l’étude microstructurale et la modélisation gravimétrique sur le complexe de Pengguan, l’un des complexes de l’orogène néoprotérozoïques au milieu de segment de la LMTB), révèlent une structure des slices du socle imbriquées de la LMTB et la zone adjacente. Les âges connus, l’exhumation rapide localisée et la subsidence du bassin flextual suggèrent que les slices du socle sont imbriquées au cours du Mésozoïque supérieur (166-120 Ma). La LMTB se trouve loin de la limite de la plaque contemporaine, et est absence de matériel ophiolitique, donc elle peut être considéré comme une orogène intracontinentale. Pendant le début du Mésozoïque, le Yangtze plate subductait vers l’ouest en fermant l’océan paléo-Téthys. Cette tectonique a exhumé des matériaux de différentes profondeurs en surface par des chevauchements vers le SE et chevauchements arrières vers le NW. Au cours de la fin du Mésozoïque, le socle a été soulevé davantage en raison de la collision entre les blocs de Lhasa et de l’Eurasie, qui a conduit à une imbrication des slices du socle et épaissi la croûte. / The Longmenshan Thrust Belt (LMTB), constituting the eastern boundary of the Tibetan Plateau, is well known by its steep topography, intensive tectonic activities and the complicated structures. As a typical composite orogen, the LMTB experienced extensive intracontinental deformation during the Mesozoic. The knowledge on the Mesozoic tectonic evolution of the LMTB therefore is crucial to understand the intracontinental orogeny and uplifting of the Plateau. The vertical cleavage belt divides the LMTB into a Western Zone and an Eastern Zone. The Eastern Zone displays a top-to-the-SE shearing while the western zone a top-to-the-NW shearing. The Eastern Zone can be further divided into four subunits with foliations deepening from SE to NW. The syntectonic granite and published geochronologic data constrain this main deformation to the Early Mesozoic around 219 Ma. Structural analysis, AMS and microstructural study and gravity modeling on the Pengguan complex, one of the orogen-parallel Neoproterozoic complexes located in the middle segment of the LMTB, reveal a basement-slice imbricated structure of the LMTB and adjacent areas. Published ages, localized fast exhumation rate and flexural subsidence of the foreland basin suggest that the basement-slices imbricated southeastwards during Late Mesozoic (166-120 Ma). The LMTB is far away from the contemporaneous plate boundary and devoid of ophiolite-related material, therefore, it is supposed to be an intracontinental orogen. During the Early Mesozoic, the Yangtze basement underthrusted westwards due to the far-field effect of the Paleo-Tethys’ obliteration, and the materials in different structural levels have been exhumated to the surface by southeastward thrusting and contemporaneous backward thrusting. During the Late Mesozoic, the basement is further underthrusted due to the collision between the Lhasa and Eurasia blocks, which led to SE-ward imbrication of the basementslices that may thicken the crust.

Os sedimentos são de fundamental importância para estudos geomagnéticos, pois fornecem registros contínuos do campo magnético da Terra no passado. Variações na escala de tempo de 102-103 anos são ainda mal compreendidas em função da escassez de dados em alguns setores do globo. Na América do Sul o registro da orientação e intensidade do campo magnético é particularmente escasso, limitando-se a alguns dados do sudoeste da Argentina, com cobertura temporal de no máximo 24.000 anos. Com o objetivo de aprimorar o registro geomagnético da América do Sul, foram realizados estudos de magnetismo ambiental, paleomagnetismo e paleointensidade relativa em um testemunho de sedimento lamoso coletado no Platô de São Paulo (25,50°S e 46,63°W), o qual cobre o período entre 6.000 e 915 anos B.P. (before present) e tem uma taxa de sedimentação de 35.8 cm/ka. Os seguintes parâmetros magnéticos foram monitorados no testemunho IO7610: susceptibilidade magnética (), magnetização remanente anisterética (ARM), magnetização remanente isotermal (IRM) a 1000 mT e -300 mT [IRM1000mT, IRM-300mT], HIRM [Hard IRM= IRM1000mT IRM-300mT)/2], Razão-S [IRM-300mT/ IRM1000mT], ARM/IRM e IRM1000mT/. O controle da mineralogia magnética ao longo da sucessão sedimentar foi feito através de curvas termomagnéticas de alta e baixa temperatura, curvas de histerese, diagramas FORC e curvas ZFC. A principal contribuição para a susceptibilidade ao longo do IO7610 é devida aos minerais de argila, paramagnéticos. A contribuição relativa dos grãos ferromagnéticos tende a aumentar em direção ao topo. Três portadores magnéticos foram identificados ao longo do testemunho através das curvas de aquisição de IRM. O mais importante é a magnetida SD, que contribui com aproximadamente 85% da fração ferromagnética. As outras duas componentes magnéticas têm menor importância e correspondem à magnetita MD e à hematita. Foram identificadas importantes transições no comportamento e concentração dos minerais magnéticos em 4.800, 2.000 e 1.700 anos B.P. Essas mudanças podem ser atribuídas a duas diferentes fontes de sedimento, com base em modelos oceanográficos prévios: a plataforma continental da Argentina e a pluma do Rio da Prata. Variações da remanência natural e dos parâmetros de concentração dos minerais magnéticos indicam que esses sedimentos podem registrar de forma confiável o campo magnético no passado. Dados de paleointensidade foram obtidos através dois protocolos: (i) normalização clássica, pelos parâmetros , ARM10mT e IRM1000mT; e (ii) método pseudo-Thellier. O registro de paleointensidade obtido a partir do IO7610 apesar de apresentar alguma dispersão, mostra uma tendência de aumento da intensidade do campo entre 5.800 e 3.500 anos B.P. e uma tendência de diminuição da intensidade entre 1.200 e 915 anos PB. Tais tendências foram observadas nos modelos geomagnéticos e nos dados dos lagos da Argentina. Os dados direcionais para o testemunho também mostram alguma correlação com os outros dados disponíveis. Nossos resultados sugerem que os sedimentos da plataforma continental brasileira guardam potencialmente um bom registro do campo magnético do passado, e podem ser usados para melhorar a base de dados paleomagnéticos para a região. Além disso, as técnicas de mineralogia magnética se mostraram sensíveis às principais mudanças no contexto oceanográfico do Platô de São Paulo. / Sediments are invaluable targets for a better understanding of geomagnetic field variations, since they represent a continuous record of the ancient field. The secular variation (102-103 years) of the magnetic field is still poorly constrained due to the heterogeneous data distribution of fields direction and intensity throughout the globe. In South America directional and intensity data are even more scarce, being limited to the southwestern Argentina covering the last 24.000 years. In this work we performed a study of environmental magnetism, paleomagnetism and relative paleointensity in a piston core of muddy sediments collected at the São Paulo Plateau (25,50°S e 46,63°W) which covers ages between 6.000 and 915 years B.P. (before present) with a sedimentation rate of 35.8 cm/ky. The following magnetic parameters were monitored in core IO7610: magnetic susceptibility (), anhysteretic remanent magnetization (ARM), isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM) at 1000 mT and -300 mT [IRM1000mT, IRM-300mT], HIRM [Hard IRM= IRM1000mT IRM-300mT)/2], S-Ratio [IRM-300mT/ IRM1000mT], ARM/IRM e IRM1000mT/. Magnetic mineralogy control throughout the core was also monitored using thermomagnetic susceptibility analyses at high and low temperature, hysteresis loops, FORC diagrams and ZFC curves. The main contribution to the magnetic susceptibility throughout the core IO7610 arises from paramagnetic clay minerals. The relative contribution of ferromagnetic grains tends to increase towards the top. Three ferromagnetic carriers were identified throughout the sedimentary pile using IRM acquisition curves. The most important is SD magnetite, which contributes with about 85% of the ferromagnetic fraction. The other two magnetic components have smaller significance and correspond to MD magnetite and hematite. We have found important transitions in the behavior and concentration of magnetic carriers at 4.800, 2.000 and 1.700 years B.P. These changes can be attributed to two different sources of sediments according to previous oceanographic models: the Argentinean continental shelf and the plume of the La Plata river. Variations of natural remanence and parameters of concentration of magnetic minerals indicate that these sediments can be reliable records of the ancient field. Relative paleointensities were thus estimated using two protocols: (i) classic normalization, using parameters , ARM10mT e IRM1000mT; and (ii) pseudo-Thellier method. The paleointensity record obtained from IO7610 core is somewhat scattered but still shows increasing trends between 5.800 and 3.500 years B.P. and a decrease in intensity from 1.200 and 915 years B.P. Such trends were noted in the current geomagnetic models and in the record from Argentinean lakes. Directional data for the core also show a fair agreement with the data available for the Argentinean cores. Our results suggest that the shelf sediments of the Brazilian coast can be used to improve the paleomagnetic database in the region. Moreover, the magnetic mineralogy techniques have shown to be sensitive to the major paleoceanographic changes in the São Paulo Plateau.

Fluvial terraces contain information about incision, deformation, and climate change. In this study, a chronostratigraphic record of Colorado River terraces is constructed from optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of Pleistocene alluvium and real-time kinematic (RTK) GPS surveys of terrace form. This record is analyzed to relate terrace formation to late Pleistocene climate fluctuations, and terrain analyses and longitudinal profile patterns reveal recent salt-related activity in the northern Paradox Basin as well as patterns in Colorado Plateau incision. A well-preserved, correlative suite of mainstem (M) fluvial deposits exists along the Colorado River upstream of Moab, Utah. Absolute dates indicate sedimentation >70 ka (M7, M6/M5), 70-50 ka (M4), 50-40 ka (M3), and 35-25 ka (M2). The M4 and M2 formed during the crescendo to glacial maxima, but the M7, M6/M5, and M3 were deposited during variable climate of marine isotope stages (MIS) 5 and 3. Deposits include thin (<7 m) strath terraces and thick (10-20 m) fill terraces. Our results suggest that terrace sedimentation is linked to enhanced sediment flux during glaciations in Rocky Mountain headwaters (M4 and M2), but major deposits also formed during dryland tributary sediment loading with markedly different timing (M6/M5 and M3). Conversely, incision may be driven by higher deglacial flows. Clast provenance data demonstrate greater percentages of locally-sourced sediment in M6/M5 and M3 deposits. Valley-bottom geometry and neotectonics control terrace form, with strath terraces found in bedrock-restricted reaches and fill terraces in wider valleys. Previously speculated salt deformation in this area is confirmed by localized collapse preserved in M4 stratigraphy in the Cache Valley graben and ~15 m of broader subsidence upstream. Concavity and knickzone distributions in tributary profiles are discordant and represent subtle expressions of salt-tectonic activity. Finally, a surprisingly rapid incision rate of ~900 m/Ma over the past ~70 ka suggests that the Colorado River may be responding to flexural rebound in the central plateau, but is faster than that predicted by the debated bull's-eye pattern of regional incision. This locally high rate may also reflect a transient wave of incision, as suggested by increased Pleistocene rates interpreted by studies in Glen and Grand canyons.

Agrochemical use has been increasing in both developing and the developed nations. The unsafe handling and use of agrochemicals can lead to accumulation of hazardous chemicals in the body, causing adverse effects on health. This quantitative cross sectional study sought to understand the level of awareness, practices, and perceptions of safe chemical handling by agrochemical using the Theory of Planned Behavior. This study was conducted among 260 farmers in Plateau State, Nigeria. Data on background knowledge and practices of safe agrochemical handling by farmers were collected using a structured paper based, interviewer-€administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics revealed that the most practiced precautions by participants were washing work clothes separately (56.9%) and taking a shower soon after application of agrochemicals (53.6%). Findings from this study suggest that farmers had good knowledge of safe use of agrochemicals and majority of them 91.9% were knowledgeable about the possible effects of these chemicals on health. A Chi square test showed a statistically significant association between marital status and engagement in safe agrochemical handling X2 (2, N = 260) = 7.34, p <. 05 and level of education X2 (4, N = 260) = 35.12, p <. 05. Results of Binary logistic regression indicated that the variable training on safe agrochemical handling with an odds ratio 8.31 was a good predictor for safe agrochemical handling An important finding in this study however was a low level of adoption for the use of Personal Protective Equipment. Priority should be given to developing safety educational and certification programs for farmers with emphasis on the safe handling practices.