Thesis (Ph.D.) -- McMaster University, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 191-210). Also available via World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2009. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 47-49). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2005. / Dickinson, Robert, Committee Chair ; Jenkins, Gregory, Committee Member ; Vidakovic, Brani, Committee Member ; Fu, Rong, Committee Member ; Cunnold, Derek, Committee Member. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis--Tekniska högskolan, Stockholm. / Bibliography: p. 139-143.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 75-80).

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität Hannover, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 129-137). Also available in color version in PDF format.

Ralph L. Knowles. / Includes bibliographical references and index.

Orientador: Silvia Maria Giuliatti Winter / Coorientadora: Pryscilla Maria Pires dos Santos / Banca: Rafael Sfair de Oliveira / Banca: Maria Helena Moreira Morais / Resumo: Os novos dados obtidos do sistema de Plutão, durante sua passagem pelo sistema em julho de 2015, estão sendo enviados pela sonda New Horizons. Plutão possui um conjunto de cinco satélites, Caronte (forma um sistema bin'ario com Plutão), Estige, Nix, Cérberos e Hidra. A recente descoberta desses dois pequenos satélites, Estige e C'erberos, faz com que seja necessário reestudar essa região externa, além da órbita de Caronte. Neste trabalho analisaremos a estabilidade da região externa do sistema Plutão-Caronte para um conjunto de partículas-teste da ordem de centímetros e micrometros sob a influência gravitacional de todos os corpos do sistema de Plutão e da pressão de radiação solar (para partículas de micrometros). Essas partículas estarão inicialmente em órbitas excêntricas e inclinadas; serão assumidos diferentes valores de excentricidade e inclinação. Resultados mostraram que para um conjunto de partículas, originalmente localizadas no plano orbital do sistema de Plutão, 10% colidiram com os corpos maiores e 25% foram ejetadas. Já para o sistema de partículas com órbitas inclinadas (I = 96.2 ◦ ), a maioria dessas partículas são estáveis. Apresentaremos os resultados obtidos para outros valores de inclinação e faremos a comparação com os resultados obtidos para um conjunto de partículas micrométricas da ordem de 1, 5 e 10µm / Abstract: The new data from the Pluto system during its passage through the system in July 2015, are being sent by the spacecraft NewHorizons. Pluto has a set of five satellites, Charon (forms a binary system with Pluto), Styx, Nix, Kerberos, Hydra. The recent discovery of these two small satellites, Styx and Kerberos, makes it necessary to restudy this outer region beyond the orbit of Charon. In this work we analyze the stability of the outer region Pluto-Charon system for a set of particle-test centimeters order and micron under gravitational influence of all bodies Pluto system and solar radiation pressure (for particle microns). These particles are initially eccentric and inclined orbits; They are assumed different eccentricity values and inclination. Results showed that for a set of particles originally located in orbital plane of Pluto system collided with 10% larger bodies and 25% were ejected. As for the particle system with inclined orbits (I = 96.2◦ ), most of these particles are stable. We present the results obtained for other of inclination values and make a comparison with the results obtained for a set of micrometric particles of the order of 1, 5 and 10µm / Mestre

Orientador: João Francisco Escobedo / Banca: Alexandre Dal Pai / Banca: Eduardo Nardini Gomes / Resumo: É descrito no trabalho um estudo sobre as irradiações e frações solares global, difusa e direta diárias dos espectros total e infravermelho. A base de dados foi medida no período de 2003 a 2006 em Botucatu/SP/Brasil. Por meio de uma análise estatística, determinou-se os valores médios totais e sazonais das três irradiações em ambos os espectros, enquanto que, em uma análise climática avaliou-se os efeitos da nebulosidade, vapor de água e aerossóis na sazonalidade das irradiações. Foram propostas equações de regressão linear (tipo Y= a×X),obtidas para estimativas das irradiações global (HGNIR), difusa (HdNIR) e direta(HDNIR) do espectro infravermelho em função das irradiações global (HG), difusa (Hd) e direta (HD) do espectro total, sob todas as condições de céu. Os coeficientes de determinação (R2) próximos de 1 mostram que as irradiações dos espectros total e NIR estão bem correlacionadas estatisticamente. Os coeficientes angulares quantificam os valores das frações infravermelhas incidentes como sendo: KGNIR= (HGNIR / HG) = 46,1%; KdNIR = (HdNIR / Hd) = 38,2% e KDNIR = (HDNIR / HD) = 51,1%. Os indicativos estatísticos na validação: MBE inferior a 5%; RMSE iguais a 5,6%, 20,4% e 9,2% e valores d de Willmott superiores 0,98 respectivamente, indicam exatidão, precisão e elevada concordância no ajuste entre a estimativa e a medida, para as três equações. Em relação aos valores das frações anuais, a análise sazonal das equações de estimativas mostra que o valor de KGNIR é menor ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This study describes global, diffuse and direct solar irradiation and fractions of the total and infrared spectra (NIR). The database was obtained in the period from 2003 to 2006 in Botucatu / SP / Brazil. Through statistical analyses, values of the three total and seasonal average irradiations in both spectra were determined, while a climate analysis evaluated the effects of cloudiness, water vapor and aerosols on the seasonality of the irradiations. Linear regression equations (y = a × X) were proposed to estimate global (HGNIR), diffuse (HdNIR) and direct (HDNIR) irradiations of the infrared spectrum as a function of the global (HG), diffuse (Hd) and direct (HD) irradiations of the total spectrum in all sky cover conditions. Determination coefficients (R2) close to 1 show that the irradiations of the global and NIR spectra are statistically well correlated. The angular coefficients quantify the values of incident infrared fractions as: KGNIR = (HGNIR / HG) = 46.1%; KdNIR = (HdNIR / Hd) = 38.2% and K DNIR = (HDNIR / HD) = 51.1%. Statistical indicators in the validation: MBE less than 4.6%; RMSE equal to 4.3%, 17.8% and 7.3% and Willmott's d values higher than 0.978, respectively, indicate precision, accuracy and high agreement on the adjustment between estimated and measured values for the three equations. In relation to values of the annual fractions, the seasonal analysis of the estimate equations shows that the KGNIR value is lower in the summer (44.8%) and spring (45.1%) and higher in the autumn (47.6%) and winter (48.0%); KdNIR value is the same in the summer (38.2%) and higher in the spring (40.1%) and lower in the autumn (34.9%) and winter (33.9%); KDNIR value is lower in the summer (49.0%) and spring (49.3%) and higher in the autumn (52.7%) and winter (53.9%). The analysis of the estimate equations considering sky covers shows that KGNIR value is lower in cloudy sky (I), partially ... / Mestre

Primarily synthesised via cutaneous exposure to solar ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation, serum vitamin D concentrations, measured as 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), fluctuate according to solar availability. Seasonal variations in vitamin D are common in areas of high or low latitude determined by the distance from the sun. Seasonal variations in blood pressure, immune markers and some diseases including influenza, have also been reported. However, the contributions of UVB light or vitamin D on the immune markers have not been fully determined. Against this background, the purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of UVB light therapy and dietary vitamin D supplementation on markers of immune function. The D SIRe1 study aimed to assess whether dietary-derived 25(OH)D could have similar effects on immune function as light-derived 25(OH)D. The study was an 8-week comparative intervention trial in healthy adults randomised to receive either 3 times weekly UVB radiation (equivalent to doses received during a Grampian-summer) for 4 weeks; or oral vitamin D3 (1000 IU a day for 8 weeks). Total 25(OH)D was measured by dual tandem mass spectrometry of serum samples following removal of protein and de-lipidation, whilst regulatory T cells (Tregs), known for maintaining immune system homeostasis, by flow cytometry. The study showed similar short-term effects between oral vitamin D and UVB exposure on measured outcomes. However, study interpretation was limited by the lack of a placebo group, yet, to our knowledge, this was the first study to directly compare dose-matched UVB therapy and vitamin D supplementation in healthy participants. Using similar laboratory techniques, the D-SIRe2 study, a placebo-controlled trial, assessed short-term (12 weeks) and long-term (43 weeks) effects of vitamin D supplementation on immune markers. Commencing in spring (March) and finishing in winter (January) 2015/2016, the study showed seasonal fluctuations in most immune markers. The fluctuations did not change according to variations in 25(OH)D concentrations nor were they correlated with solar UVB doses, with the exception of T cell proliferative responses, which were positively correlated with daily solar UVB doses. An interesting finding from this study was the prevention of increases in pro-inflammatory IFN-γ cytokine concentrations in the spring and summer time in the vitamin D3 supplemental group versus placebo. IFN-γ concentrations were raised from 7940 pg/mL at baseline in March, to roughly 12400 pg/mL at week 4 and to 13909 pg/mL at week 12 in the placebo group. The concentrations were roughly 1.3 times the mean concentrations measured in the vitamin D group at the timepoints following baseline concentrations of 10678 pg/mL, and 10013 pg/mL and 10233 pg/mL at weeks 4 and 12, respectively. The interactions between solar light or seasonal effects and oral vitamin D supplementation, as well as their individual and combined effects on immune function, are yet to be fully determined. Moreover, the metabolic and physiological implications of seasonal variation in serum 25(OH)D concentration and markers of immune function are currently unknown, requiring further investigation.