Within this dissertation, I document how—and hypothesize why—the quirks and qualities of the Cambrian Period demarcate this interval as fundamentally different from the preceding Proterozoic Eon and succeeding periods of the Phanerozoic Eon. To begin, I focus on the anomalous marine deposition of the mineral apatite. Sedimentary sequestration of phosphorus modulates the capacity for marine primary productivity and, thus, the redox state of the Earth system. Moreover, sedimentary apatite minerals may entomb and replicate skeletal and soft-tissue organisms, creating key aspects of the fossil record from which paleontologists deduce the trajectory of animal evolution. I ask what geochemical redox regime promoted the delivery of phosphorus to Cambrian seafloors and conclude that, for the case of the Thorntonia Limestone, apatite nucleation occurred under anoxic, ferruginous subsurface water masses. Moreover, I infer that phosphorus bound to iron minerals precipitated from the water column and organic-bound phosphorus were both important sources of phosphorus to the seafloor. Petrographic observations allow me to reconstruct the early diagenetic pathways that decoupled phosphorus from these delivery shuttles and promoted the precipitation of apatite within the skeletons of small animals. Together, mechanistic understandings of phosphorus delivery to, and retention within, seafloor sediment allow us to constrain hypotheses for the fleeting occurrence of widespread apatite deposition and exquisite fossil preservation within Cambrian sedimentary successions. Next, I describe and quantify the nature of carbonate production on a marine platform deposited at the hypothesized peak of Cambrian skeletal carbonate production. I find that fossils represent conspicuous, but volumetrically subordinate components of early Cambrian carbonate reef ecosystems and that despite the evolution of mineralized skeletons, Cambrian carbonate platforms appear similar to their Neoproterozoic counterparts, primarily reflecting abiotic and microbial deposition. Finally, I investigate the geodynamic mechanism responsible for rapid, oscillatory true polar wander (TPW) events proposed for the Neoproterozoic and Phanerozoic Earth on the basis of paleomagnetic data. Using geodynamic models, I demonstrate that elastic strength in the lithosphere and stable excess ellipticity of Earth’s figure provided sufficient stabilization to return the pole to its original state subsequent to convectively-driven TPW. / Earth and Planetary Sciences

An anorogenic magmatism covered a large part (1.500.000 km2) of the Amazonian craton at ca. 1880 Ma and defined a Silicic Large Igneous Province (SLIP) called the Uatumã event. The aim of this work is to study the paleomagnetism and petrology of these rocks to define the space-time framework of the Uatumã event and to try to elucidate the Amazonian craton evolution during the Columbia supercontinent amalgamation. Two regions were selected in the southwestern Amazonian craton (Pará) for sampling: (1) The Tucumã area where 16 felsic dikes, 7 mafic dikes, a gabbroic dike and 3 sites of the Archean basement were collected, and (2) the São Felix do Xingu area where, 7 sites of rhyolitic lava flows, 2 sites of ignimbrites, a felsic dike and a volcanic breccia belonging to the Santa Rosa Formation were sampled, and also 6 sites of the Sobreiro Formation (volcanoclastic rocks, andesitic) and one felsic dike of the Velho Guilherme Suite were collected. Petrology of the felsic dikes of Tucumã (1880.9 ± 6.7 Ma U-Pb zrn) showed that they represent the dike swarm associated with the Santa Rosa volcanic Formation. The remanent magnetization of the felsic dikes is carried by PSD magnetite and hematite. This hematite is syn- to post magmatic derived from hydrothermal fluids. Magnetic mineralogy can be used as a proxy to quantify the hydrothermal alteration. AF, thermal, LTD + AF and LTD + thermal demagnetizations show a northwest direction with a positive inclination (component A), whose site mean directions gives a paleomagnetic pole located at 52.9°S, 76.4°E, A95= 10.4 °, K= 13.52). However, this component seems to represent a remagnetization, probabily occurred at Neoproterozoic times. Another magnetic component (named component B) was also isolated for these rocks, and it was associated to a Mesozoic regional remagnetization related to the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP). Yet, a third southwestern direction with low positive inclination (component C) was also isolated for some sites. This component was interpreted to be related with the ca. 1760 Ma Velho Guilherme magmatic intrusion. The best paleomagnetic results were obtained in the São Felix do Xingu area. Two new primary paleomagnetic poles have been determined: (i) SF1 pole (319.7°E, 24.7°S, N= 10; A95= 16.9 °) was obtained for andesites and rhyolites dated to 1877.4 ± 4.3 Ma (U-Pb zrn, LA-ICPMS), and its primary origin is confirmed by an inverse baked contact test (> 1853 Ma). Petrography shows that the magnetic mineralogy of this component is hematite formed by hydrothermal fluids syn- to post magmatic. (Ii) SF2 pole (220.1°E, 31.1°N, N= 15 ° A95= 9.7 °) was determined by the remanent magnetization of the felsic dike of the Velho Guilherme Suite but also as secondary magnetizations in samples of the Santa Rosa and Sobreiro Formations. An age of 1853.7 ± 6.2 Ma (U-Pb zrn, LA-ICPMS) is calculated for the felsic dike carrying SF2, whose primary origin is confirmed by a positive baked contact test. The SF1 and SF2 poles have a significant difference in angular distance, for a time interval of only ~25 Ma. Similar coeval paleomagnetic discrepancies were observed for other cratons (India, Superior (Laurentia), Slave (Laurentia), Kalahari, Baltica and Siberia), which can be explained by a True Polar Wander (TPW) event at ca. 1880 1860 Ma. This period is marked by a high mantle activity, which results in the amalgamation of the Columbia supercontinent, formed at ca. 1850 1800 Ma. Amalgamation of supercontinent may cause the formation of superplume and thermal insulation which can disturb mass distribution in mantle and alter the inertial gravity tensor of the Earth. A True Polar Wander (TPW) event may thus have taken place, which will move the cratons and the superplumes towards the equator. These conditions may be related to a reorganization of the whole mantle following a global magmatic quiescence between 2400 and 2200 Ma. / Um grande magmatismo intraplaca cobriu várias áreas (1.500.000 km2) do Cráton Amazônico há 1880 Ma, o qual define uma grande província ígnea (SLIP) chamada coletivamente de \"evento Uatumã\". O objetivo deste trabalho é estudar o paleomagnetismo e a petrologia dessas rochas para definir o contexto espaço-temporal do evento Uatumã e a posição do cráton Amazônico dentro do Supercontinente Columbia. Duas áreas de estudo foram escolhidas para a amostragem, localizadas no sudoeste do cráton Amazônico (Pará): (1) A região de Tucumã, onde 16 diques félsicos, 7 diques máficos, um dique de gabro e 3 sítios da granodioritos do embasamento Arqueano foram coletadas. (2) A região de São Felix do Xingu, onde 7 sitios de lavas riolíticas, 2 sitios de ignimbritos, um dique felsico e um de brechas vulcânicas da Formação Santa Rosa foram amostrados. Seis sitios da Formação Sobreiro (rochas vulcanoclásticas andesíticas) e um dique felsico da Suite Velho Guilherme foram também coletados. O estudo petrológico em amostras dos diques felsicos de Tucumã (1880.9 ± 6.7 Ma U-Pb zrn) mostra que eles representam um sistema de siques associado à Formação vulcânica Santa Rosa. A magnetização remanente dos diques felsicos é portada por magnetita PSD e hematita. A hematita é sin- a pós-magmática e a mineralogia magnética pode ser usada para quantificar esta alteração hidrothermal. Desmagnetizações AF, térmica, LTD + AF e LTD + térmica mostram uma componente característica com direção noroeste e inclinação positiva (Componente A) para amostras de 16 sítios, cuja direção média é Dm= 330.5, Im= 27.9 (N= 16, 95= 11.4, R= 14.7, k= 11.47). O pólo paleomagnético calculado com a média dos PGVs está localizado em 52.9°S, 76.4°E (A95= 10.4°, K= 13.52). Entretanto, esta componente parece ser decorrente de uma remagnetização, provavelmente ocorrida durante o final do Neoproterozoico. Outra componente (chamada de Componente B) foi também isolada para estas rochas, a qual foi associada a uma remagnetização regional ocorrida durante a formação da Província Magmática do Atlântico Central (PMAC). Ainda, uma Terceira componente (C), representada por direções sudoeste e inclinações positivas baixas foi isolada para amostras de alguns sítios. Esta componente foi interpretada como sendo relacionada ao evento magmático da Suíte Intrusiva Velho Guilherme com idade de ~1860 Ma. Os melhores resultados, entretanto, foram obtidos para a região de São Felix do Xingu. Dois novos polos paleomagnéticos, considerados de origem primária, foram encontrados para o Craton Amazônico: O polo SF1 (319.7°E; 24.7°S; N= 10; A95= 16.9°) foi obtido para rochas félsicas e andesíticas, as quais foram datadas em 1877.4 ± 4.3 Ma (U-Pb zrn, LA-ICP-MS), sendo que sua origem primária é embasada em um teste de contato cozido inverso. A investigação petrográfica mostra que o portador magnético desta componente é atribuído à hematita, formada por processos hidrotermais tardi- a pós-magmáticos. O polo SF2 (220.1°E; 31.1°S; N= 15; A95= 9.7°) foi determinado para a componente de magnetização revelada para o dique da Suíte Velho Guilherme, Esta componente é também encontrada como componente secundária em amostras das formações Santa Rosa e Sobreiro, além de algumas amostras de sítios coletados na região de Tucumã (Componente C). Uma idade de 1853.7 ± 6.2 Ma (U-Pb zrn, LA-ICP-MS) foi atribuída à componente SF2 e sua origem primária é confirmada pelo teste de contato cozido positivo realizado para este dique. Os polos SF1 e SF2 são bem discrepantes, embora a diferença de idade destes polos seja de apenas 25 Ma. Resultados similares têm sido obtidos para polos de mesma idade de outros blocos cratônicos (India, Superior (Laurentia), Slave (Laurentia), Kalahari, Baltica e Sibéria), os quais podem ser explicados por um evento de deriva polar verdadeira (DPV) ocorrido nesta época, em decorrência de uma reorganização do Manto. Esta época (1880 Ma) é marcada por uma alta atividade do Manto, a qual culminou com a formação do Supercontinente Columbia, por volta de 1850 1800 Ma. A formação de superplumas e o isolamento térmico causado pela consequente formação do Columbia podem ter sido causas de perturbações de densidades que alteraram o tensor inercial da Terra e, consequentemente, um evento de DPV pode ter deslocado os continente e as superplumas para a região do equador. Estas condições podem estar ligadas a uma inteira reorganização mantélica que seguiu um período de pouca atividade magmática, ocorrido entre 2400 e 2200 Ma.

This thesis focuses on the long-term rotational stability of the Earth and terrestrial planets. One important class of perturbation is a reorientation of the solid planet with respect to a rotation pole that remains fixed in an inertial frame. These motions are driven by mass redistribution within or on the surface of the planet (e.g. glaciation, mantle convective flow). Long-term changes in the orientation of the rotation pole are called True Polar Wander (TPW). / Earth and Planetary Sciences

This thesis is an investigation into the impact of design elements on human behavior as explored through the design of a library. A library was chosen for its role in the community and because of the diverse group of users a library affects. A library, defined as a collection of things, is also a metaphor for the role memory plays in determining the emotive response a person has to their surroundings. Memory acts as collection of internal associations and, when engaged through sensory experience, memory dictates an emotional reaction to a space based on previous experiences. This project is a discovery of how to engage the senses and the memory in order to evoke an emotive response. / Master of Architecture

The aim of this thesis is to introduce with principle of Empirical Mode Decomposition method and possibility use for correction of baseline wander in ECG signals. The thesis describes the main components of the ECG signal, a selection of possible types of signal noise, its property and principles of chosen methods for filtration of ECG signals. In conclusion the evaluation of the effectiveness of the EMD method for filtering a baseline wander and it comparing with effectiveness of the linear filtration. Functionality of used algorithms has been tested on signals of CSE standard library.

No description available.

The short-term jitter and longer-term wander of the frequency sweep profile of a Vernier-Tuned Distributed Bragg Reflector (VT-DBR) laser at 1550 nm used in optical coherence tomography (OCT) and other sensing applications is characterized in this work. The VT-DBR has demonstrated success in source-swept OCT (SSOCT), performing both intensity and phase-sensitive OCT. The purpose of this paper is to investigate one of the unique aspects of the VT-DBR laser that makes it successful in OCT: the stability of the linear optical frequency sweep. A highly stable linear optical frequency sweep implies benefits for further fiber sensing applications including fiber Bragg grating and spectroscopy sensors. Short-term jitter measurements of the optical frequency sweep are taken using a 3-cavity 100 GHz free spectral range solid etalon, an athermal fiber Bragg grating, a molecular-based gas absorption reference cell, and a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. These four optical filters are used to convert time fluctuations into intensity fluctuations that can be measured by high speed optical receivers. Short term jitter values on the order of 0.5 – 0.6 pm RMS (63 – 82 MHz RMS) are typical values in the VT-DBR lasers systems characterized in this work. This level of jitter is compelling for OCT and fiber-sensing applications. Longer-term wander is characterized using a multiple-gas absorption reference cell. The long term stability and temperature insensitivity of the absorption cell is ideal for long-term wander characterization of the laser frequency sweeps. Wander values on the order of 2.6 pm of wavelength shift over an 8 hour time frame are reported in this work. The slope of the frequency versus time function of the laser sweep, on the order of 100 MHz/sample, is found to deviate by no more than 0.03% over the same 8 hour time frame. Both the long term wavelength shift and consistency of the slope indicate that these sources will perform well in OCT and fiber sensing applications. Mechanisms responsible for short-term jitter and longer- term wavelength wander likely include contributions from the laser source itself and from the high speed electronic drive circuitry that creates the wavelength ramp. Investigation of ambient temperature’s influence on the wavelength wander is also highlighted in the work.

L'évolution de certains corps planétaires fait intervenir de manière couplée la dynamique interne et la dynamique de rotation. La convection solide, qui façonne le champ de température et donc la rhéologie visqueuse, contrôle la dissipation visqueuse du forçage de marée qui intervient sur l'évolution de l'orbite et la période de rotation. En retour, la dissipation de marée induit une composante de chauffage pour l'évolution thermique. A travers l'étude de trois corps, Mercure, Mars et Japet, je montre l'intérêt de cette formulation couplée de l'évolution. La dissipation de marée a joué un rôle important dans les premiers temps de l'évolution de Mercure (contribution au budget de chaleur, ralentissement de la rotation). L'étude couplée indique que l'orientation des escarpements lobés observés à la surface de Mercure peut être héritée de cette interaction. L'évolution du noyau issue de cette étude préserve une partie liquide à l'heure actuelle qui autorise une origine comparable à la dynamo terrestre pour le champ magnétique de Mercure. La différence importante entre les rayons équatorial et polaire de Japet peut être comprise comme une forme fossile héritée d'une époque où la période de rotation fut plus rapide et l'intérieur plus chaud. Ce scénario n'est possible que si les éléments radioactifs abondent dans les premiers instants de l'évolution de Japet. Mars ne présente en revanche aucune interaction de marée notable mais l'influence de la dynamique interne sur l'orientation de la rotation est invoquée pour expliquer les positions relatives du dôme de Tharsis et de la dichotomie hémisphérique. J'introduis un formalisme qui permet de mieux tester cette hypothèse.

This master´s thesis provides basic properties and measurement of optical beams. In the first chapter is shown division of light on ray, wave and beam optics. Atmospheric optics and properties associated with propagation of light through the earth's atmosphere is presented in the second chapter. In the third part are shown basic techniques for Gaussian beam shaping. The last chapter deals with measurement of optical beam after propagating through a turbulent medium. In this section is shown distribution of relative variance of optical intensity in Gaussian and Top-Hat beam. There is also measured spatial coherence of laser beam in the turbulent atmospheric transmission media. Finally effect of the beam wander is investigated.

In this semestral thesis, realizations of chosen linear filters for baseline wander are described. These filters are then used on artificial ECG signals from CSE database with added baseline wander. These methods are compared and results are evaluated. After that, literature search of Empirical mode decomposition method is utilized. Realization of designed filters in MATLAB programming language are described, then results are evaluated with respect to filtration success.