The Gorda Basin is a young oceanic plate which comes in direct contact with the convergent margin of western North America. Two long sonobuoy refraction profiles crossing the basin provide nearly continuous data for computing the velocity structure of the crust and adjacent continental slope. Time-term analysis utilizing multiple receivers and overlapping profiles revealed a thick transition layer which averages 2.3 km but displays considerable lateral variation. The seismic compressional velocity of this layer is 5.3 km/sec. Th average thickness of Layer 3 is 3.4 km with a velocity of 6.9 km/sec. The base of the crust is marked by the seismic Moho, the velocity below which is 8.1 km/sec. Refraction and reflection studies of sediment cover indicate a thickening of turbidite deposits to the southeast from less than 100 meters to over 2.5 km along the continental margin. Ophiolite studies indicate that the top of Layer 3 marks the upper extent of amphibolite facies metamorphism of basaltic sheeted dikes. Lateral depth variations of this seismic boundary in the Gorda Basin may suggest the occurrence of isograd relief along the spreading center. The Moho marks the boundary between mafic and ultramafic rocks near the ridge but may represent the maximum depth of serpentinization in the crust after it moves away from the spreading axis. Thin crust (4-5 km) and deep bathymetry in the central portion of the basin have resulted from crustal formation processes occurring at ridge crest offsets and are coincident with recent seismicity in the area. The Gorda ridge offsets and asymmetrical fan spreading of magnetic anomalies are features observed in response to a regional change in spreading directions and encroachment of the Pacific and North American plates. The Gorda plate as a whole does not respond rigidly to the resulting north-south compression. Complex structures of the continental slope, revealed by seismic reflection, limited the reduction of refraction data using plane layer methods. A simplified seismic section was computed consisting of three probable sediment layers with velocities of 1.8, 2.5 and 4.0 km/sec overlying oceanic crust. The crust is observed to dip about two degrees towards the continent at the base of the slope. A model of subduction unique to the northern California margin is one whereby young crust is subducted slowly and quickly reheated so that no brittle portion remains at normal Benioff depths. Rapid sedimentation rates balance the subduction of the crust at the margin, preventing the formation of a deep trench. / Graduation date: 1981

Seismic properties (P, S velocities and Poisson's ratio) of young (0.75 m.y.) and mature (110 m.y.) oceanic crust are obtained by studying explosive refraction data collected in the Pacific Ocean using ocean bottom and downhole seismometers. A comparison of the results for the two regions indicates that the upper crustal velocities increase with age due to the cementation of cracks and fractures, the upper mantle velocities increase with age due to cooling, and the crust (mainly the lower crust) thickens with age. The Poisson's ratios obtained in this study are too small to be consistent with the presence of any serpentinization of the lower crust or upper mantle which therefore precludes upper mantle serpentinization as the cause for the thickening of the crust with age. When comparing seismic structures of young and mature oceanic crust with ophiolite models, we find close similarities between the Samail ophiolite and young oceanic crust, and between the Bay of Islands ophiolite and old oceanic crust. The 110 m.y. old crust of the northwest Pacific Basin is characterized by high velocity gradients in the upper crust, low velocity gradients in the lower crust, a smooth 1 km-thick crust-mantle transition zone and the presence of a minimum 14% anisotropy in the upper mantle compressional wave velocities. Velocities are highest in an east-west direction. The 0.75 m.y. old crust at the intersection of the East Pacific Rise and the Orozco fracture zone is characterized by a steady increase in velocity with depth. A delay time analysis shows a trend to large Layer 3 delay times in the Orozco fracture zone indicating a thicker Layer 2 and/or low Layer 2 velocities. An investigation of different model parameterizations for the tau-zeta travel time inversion using a synthetic data set indicates that the best velocity gradient solutions, based on the least deviation of the solution from the true model, are obtained from models in which the velocities of the layer bounds take on the values of the observed velocities of the refracted waves. A trade-off curve obtained from varying the number of layers in the model shows that a model with as many layers as observed data points represents a satisfactory compromise between model resolution and solution variance. / Graduation date: 1984

The application of steel joists to floor construction can be traced back more than 100 years to the use of a sheet steel joist in the State of New York Bank Building in 1855. Since that time various forms of joists have been developed and exploited. As a result, two general types of joists are now on the market: a) Solid web joists; b) Open web, or truss type, steel joists. In order to determine the strength, stiffness, and behavior of these structural sections under load, representative open web steel joists have been tested at the University of Miami, School of Nursing Building (building about to be demolished). Using two hydraulic jacks to apply the load at eight different locations along the strip, the assessment of the ultimate structural performance of the floor system to positive moments in correspondence of selected strips was possible. After analyzing the data collected from the sensors through the data acquisition system, it was concluded that the results obtained from the Finite Element model were consistent compared to the results obtained from the experimental approach, helping to understand better the behavior of this structural system. A recommendation for further study is enclosed.

Background: Radical prostatectomy is the gold-standard treatment for clinically organ-confined cancer of the prostate. However, urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction are major clinical problems, despite advances in surgical techniques. Pelvic floor muscle training is still the first-line treatment used to restore pelvic floor or bladder function after radical prostatectomy although its role is still inconclusive. Objectives: To determine the benefit of starting pelvic floor muscle training three weeks before radical prostatectomy in order to find by the end of three months after surgery: (1) any degree of continence regained in the intervention group, measured by 24-hour and one-hour pad tests; (2) any positive improvement in the quality of life in that group. Methods: Sixty-six eligible participants were randomised into either the intervention or the control group before radical prostatectomy. The former received three weeks’ pre-operative pelvic floor muscle training from an advanced practice nurse, while the latter received only standard care. Urine loss by 24-hour pad test was compared in the two groups as the primary outcome, and the questionnaires on incontinence impact, functional assessment on prostate cancer and potency satisfaction at one, two, three and six months after surgery were compared as secondary outcomes. Results: The intervention group regained continence significantly (p=0.002) earlier than the control group at the end of three months after surgery, as measured by the 24-hour pad test. The intervention group also reported a significantly better quality of life in the questionnaire on ‘incontinence impact’ than the control group. Interestingly, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate questionnaire showed no statistical significant difference between the groups, despite significantly less urine loss in the intervention group, which also had a higher potency satisfaction score on the International Index of Erectile Function (p=0.005) by the end of three months after surgery. Discussion: The present study found that three weeks’ pre-operative pelvic floor muscle training decreased the duration and severity of incontinence after radical prostatectomy, as measured by the 24-hour pad test of urine loss (in grams). Some other studies counted the number of pads used as the comparative data between the groups; however, there might be divergent findings in different studies. In one previous study of pelvic floor muscle training initiated two to four weeks before surgery but showing no benefit, it was found that patients received only one training session before surgery without further monitoring. A limitation of present study is that participants were followed-up for six months after surgery. It is possible that a longer period, perhaps one or two years, of post-prostatectomy follow-up might provide further important information. Conclusions: This is the first comprehensive study in Hong Kong to examine the efficacy of three weeks’ pre-operative pelvic floor muscle training in reducing post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence, and to evaluate the continence-related quality of life and potency satisfaction of intervention and control groups. The results demonstrated that such training not only significantly hastens the recovery of urinary continence after surgery but also leads to a better continence-related quality of life and potency satisfaction in the intervention group. / published_or_final_version / Nursing Studies / Doctoral / Doctor of Nursing

The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability of three different electromyography (EMG) detection systems commonly used to acquire EMG data from the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) at rest, during maximum voluntary contractions (MVCs) and during a coughing task. Twelve nulliparous women between the ages of 24 and 40 participated in the study. EMG data were recorded from each side of the pelvic floor using surface (Femiscan™ and Periform™ vaginal probes), and fine-wire electrodes while subjects performed three repetitions of each task in supine and in standing. RMS amplitudes of baseline and peak PFM activity were computed from the data acquired during the MVC and the coughing tasks. The peak RMS amplitudes from the cough data were also normalized to each subject’s MVC and report as a percent of their maximum voluntary electrical activation (% MVE). Signal to noise ratio (SNR) was calculated for each task. Comparisons were made between the RMS amplitudes and SNR recorded from each side of the PFM. Between-trial and between-day reliability was determined using a variety of measures including intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), coefficients of variation (CV) and mean absolute difference (MAD). The reliability of the different devices was compared using the MAD normalized to average signal amplitude (nMAD). The results indicated that the EMG data recorded from the right and left sides of the PFM were different, therefore the EMG data acquired from each side of the pelvic floor were analyzed separately. Between-trial reliability assessed by ICC was good for all the devices (left and right average ICC(3,1) = 0.80 – 0.96); the CVs supported these findings (average CV = 12.4 – 17.1%) Between-day reliability was poor and inconsistent across all devices as tasks. When the cough data were normalized however, the between-day RMS amplitudes were very consistent (79.5 – 90.2% MVE). Each device recorded consistent activation amplitudes within a given day. Between-day reliability results indicate that EMG data recorded on separate days with these instruments should not be compared unless data can be normalized. Clinicians and researchers are cautioned to normalize their data if day-to-day comparisons in EMG amplitude are to be made using data recorded with these devices. / Thesis (Master, Rehabilitation Science) -- Queen's University, 2007-12-14 17:31:34.552

Modern building design is complex and involves many different disciplines operating in a fragmented manner. Appropriate computer-based decision support (DS) tools are sought that can raise the level of integration of different activities at the conceptual stage, in order to help create better designs solutions. This project investigates opportunities that exist for using techniques based upon the Genetic Algorithm (GA) to support critical activities of conceptual building design (CBD). Collective independent studies have shown that the GA is a powerful optimisation and exploratory search technique with widespread application. The GA is essentially very simple yet it offers robustness and domain independence. The GA efficiently searches a domain to exploit highly suitable information. It maintains multiple solutions to problems simultaneously and is well suited to non-linear problems and those of a discontinuous nature found in engineering design. The literature search first examines traditional approaches to supporting conceptual design. Existing GA techniques and applications are discussed which include pioneering studies in the field of detailed structural design. Broader GA studies are also reported which have demonstrated possibilities for investigating geometrical, topological and member size variation. The tasks and goals of conceptual design are studied. A rationale is introduced, aimed at enabling the GA to be applied in a manner that provides the most effective support to the designer. Numerical experiments with floor planning are presented. These studies provide a basic foundation for a subsequent design support system (OSS) capable ofgenerating structural design concepts. A hierarchical Structured GA (SGA) created by Oasgupta et al [1] is investigated to support the generation of diverse structural design concepts. The SGA supports variation in the size, shape and structural configuration of a building and in the choice of structural frame type and floor system. The benefits and limitations of the SGA approach are discussed. The creation of a prototype DSS system, abritrarily called Designer-Pro (OPRO), is described. A detailed building design model is introduced which is required for design development and appraisal. Simplifications, design rationale and generic component modelling are mentioned. A cost-based single criteria optimisation problem (SCOP) is created in which other constraints are represented as design parameters. The thesis describes the importance of the object-oriented programming (OOP) paradigm for creating a versatile design model and the need for complementary graphical user interface (Gill) tools to provide human-computer interaction (HCI) capabilities for control and intelligent design manipulation. Techniques that increase flexibility in the generation and appraisal of concept are presented. Tools presented include a convergence plot of design solutions that supports cursor-interrogation to reveal the details of individual concepts. The graph permits study of design progression, or evolution of optimum design solutions. A visualisation tool is also presented. The DPRO system supports multiple operating modes, including single-design appraisal and enumerative search (ES). Case study examples are provided which demonstrate the applicability of the DPRO system to a range of different design scenarios. The DPRO system performs well in all tests. A parametric study demonstrates the potential of the system for DS. Limitations of the current approach and opportunities to broaden the study form part of the scope for further work. Some suggestions for further study are made, based upon newly-emerging techniques.

The vegetation history of the North Tyne basin, northern England, is presented for an extended Holocene period, dating back to ca. 8000 cal. BC. This study focuses upon vegetation histories from two types of site, which record changes at differing spatial scales. The regional vegetation of the area is recorded within three radiocarbon-dated pollen diagrams from upland sites at Drowning Flow, Bloody Moss and Sells Bum. These sites provide a different perspective of regional vegetation history in comparison to existing published accounts from the region. This work also fills a spatial gap in current knowledge, by providing records from the area between Hadrian's Wall in the south and the Cheviots to the north for which only one previous site exists (Steng Moss: Davies and Turner, 1979). These regional records are complemented by the reconstruction of local, valley floor vegetation derived from organic-rich palaeochannel fills at Brownchesters Farm, Redesdale and Snabdaugh Farm, North Tynedale. These sites demonstrate how patterns of vegetation at local scales can provide valuable additional insights into former landscapes, valley floor land-use and human activity. Perceived problems of the usage of alluvial sediments for palynological investigation are discussed, while methodologies to overcome these difficulties are developed and the potential benefits of these contexts for vegetation reconstruction outlined. The unusually long and readily dateable alluvial record has also facilitated a new perspective on the timing and controls of Holocene fluvial activity in the North Tyne basin. The close integration of archaeological evidence with the results from this study has contributed to a number of debates concerning former human activity in the area. Palynological results suggest that the impact of Mesolithic and Neolithic societies upon the landscape has been underestimated; that postulated alterations in upland / lowland settlement patterns during the Bronze Age are a consequence of a fragmentary archaeological record rather than a response to changing environmental conditions; that Iron Age (and earlier) agricultural activity has been underestimated and that forest clearance was a gradual phenomenon with its origins in the Late Mesolithic and not primarily a result of activity associated with invading Roman forces.

Many women with pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) suffer in silence; unaware there is a medical explanation for their symptoms. Limited research on their perspectives living with these conditions was the underlying reason for this phenomenological study. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with at least one vaginal delivery and a PFD diagnosis by a medical professional required for all participants. Subjects' ages ranged from 29 to 57, with the mean age of 41.3 years. The four major themes that emerged were (a) pregnancy-related issues, (b) interaction with family and friends, (c) relationships with significant others, and (d) interactions with healthcare professionals. All of the women visited multiple health care specialists, with the average period being 12 years from their first symptoms to diagnosis. Participants shared they did not discuss their symptoms with friends and/or partners hoping the problems would resolve on their own. Further studies on the personal experiences of women living with PFD are essential not only for the quality of prenatal care, but to encourage more women to seek help and improve their overall quality of life.

Feci quod potui: Fa ciant meliora potentes ( I did what I could, allow others to do better) Inscriptions on graduation dissertations in old Russia.This work began with a search for the pubo-recto-analis muscle at the instigation of Professor J.H. Louw. Requests followed from surgeons and urologists for information about, and demonstration of, structure related to the pelvic floor in infants and adults, these encouraged me to go more and more deeply into the anatomy of this region in Man. I found that welding of viscera to their fascial,muscular and bony environs is not described in current textbooks. The absence of clear-cut boundaries between some of the muscles, in areas where they are contiguous,is likewise never emphasised. The beautiful drawings in atlases and textbooks have a comforting way of reassuring us that all has been revealed about the pelvic floor and its viscera. However, when the time-consuming expedient of removing the superior fascia of the levator had already yielded dividends,in that failure to do this, had led generations of anatomists to misrepresent the commonest form of the origin of the pubo-coccygeus, it seemed worthwhile to pursue the fascia,muscles and terminal viscera and their nerves, in order to fully understand their complex interwoven relationships. The unusual electrical activity of the musculature was especially intriguing and demanded an explanation. My findings,many of which fully corroborate the findings of others, led me to a consideration of the factors which combine to produce the remarkably efficient functioning of intestinal and genito-urinary outlet mechanisms. It then appeared essential to adopt a correlative approach. Accordingly I have aimed to present a selective account of the soft tissues of the pelvis and perineum which is comprehensive and I hope useful. From it certain aspects,which appear of primary importance,should emerge clearly.

Orchard floor management is vital to tree health, yield, and fruit quality. Current standard management practices include maintaining a vegetation-free tree row and a grass-covered alleyway. This system is effective at limiting competition from undesirable vegetation and creating a favorable environment for the fruit trees. However, limitations to standard orchard floor practices are that the grass alleyway provides no nutrient benefit, and current practices do not readily lend themselves to organic management constraints. Alternative in-row and alleyway systems are requisite to creating improved orchard floor management systems. Three different approaches were used to investigate alternative orchard floor management strategies, including: alternative in-row weed control with combinations of mulch and organic herbicides, alternative alleyway management with legume cover crops, and combinations of in-row and alleyway alternative strategies. Although organic in-row weed control was best accomplished with combinations of straw and acetic acid, this management approach was not economically viable at current costs of labor and supplies, and current fruit prices. Alfalfa and alfalfa clover treatments contributed the most aboveground biomass and nitrogen among alternative alleyway covers, but consumed 45% more water than the conventional grass alleyway. In combinations of in-row and alleyway alternatives, birds-foot trefoil alleyway had a beneficial effect on tree growth compared to grass, while consuming the greatest amount of water. Peach yields were the highest for the integrated compost and NPK fertility treatments that used herbicides to minimize competition. Treatments that experienced the most competition from weeds, no herbicide and reduced herbicide treatments, resulted in lower yields. Weed fabric and tillage in-row weed control methods resulted in the highest tree growth as compared to the straw and alyssum treatments. Finally, results from the combined studies were integrated into a series of recommendations for commercial fruit growers. While alternatives to orchard floor management show a number of potential benefits for growers in the Intermountain West, additional work is needed to determine the long-term viability of these approaches.