Radio signals from Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) satellites suffer delay as they propagate through the atmosphere (neutral and non-neutral) and this delay is partially driven by the water vapour content in the atmosphere. The delay component due to the non-neutral atmosphere (ionosphere) is removed through the use of dual frequency GNSS receivers. The main tropospheric parameter is the zenith tropospheric (or total) delay (ZTD), which is a widely accepted parameter with which to express the total delay in the signal from all satellites due to the neutral atmosphere. The ZTD is a measure of the integrated tropospheric condition over a GNSS receiver station. Accordingly, the integrated water vapour or precipitable water vapour (PWV) can be obtained from a portion of the ZTD, if the atmospheric pressure and temperature at the station are known through a concept often referred to as GNSS meteorology. A number of GNSS receivers have been deployed for mapping and geodetic services in Nigeria under the African reference frame initiative, but unfortunately most of these receivers do not have co-located meteorological sensors for pressure and temperature measurements. The prospect of incorporating GNSS meteorology into weather monitoring and climate analysis in Nigeria was investigated and is reported in this thesis. During the first task of this research, the technical basis for ground-based GNSS meteorology was reviewed and the potentials and challenges of the approach to meteorological activities in Africa (including Nigeria) were identified. Thereafter an in-depth analysis of the spatial and temporal variability of ZTD over Nigeria for the period of 2010-2014 was conducted; results revealed weak spatial dependence among the stations. Tidal oscillations (of the diurnal and semidiurnal components) were observed at the GNSS stations of which the diurnal ZTD cycles exhibited significant seasonal dependence, affirming the prospective relevance of ground-based GNSS data to atmospheric studies. Also in this research, the accuracy and suitability of using reanalysis datasets (ERA-Interim and NCEP/NCAR) and a GPT2 neutral model in retrieving PWV from GNSS observations over Nigeria were investigated; results showed that PWV can be retrieved to within a precision of about 1 mm, provided GNSS-derived ZTD is of high precision. A fundamental issue for GNSS meteorology in the West African region was yet again addressed in this research; this is the development of a weighted tropospheric mean temperature model for use in current and future GNSS meteorology activities in the region. A multitechnique comparison of PWV estimates showed good agreement between GNSS estimates and other techniques (i.e. the atmospheric infrared sounder, and ERAInterim reanalysis). This result is suggestive of the potential of assimilating GNSS atmospheric products into reanalysis and climate models. Diurnal and seasonal variability of GNSS PWV estimates exhibits strong correlation with weather events that influence the region (i.e. solar activity and rainfall events); this further demonstrated the immense contribution of the approach to efficient weather forecasting and climate monitoring for Nigeria. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology / PhD / Unrestricted

La finalidad de este proyecto es cooperar con el desarrollo de los niños con Trastorno Espectro Autista, en donde cada gesto arquitectónico responde a su hipersensibilidad, siendo la curva el elemento principal envolvente que encierra el espacio, el cual protege al usuario sin invadirlo y a su vez representa lo orgánico de la naturaleza a través de la integración de ambos. Además, se plantea una serie de terapias comunes y alternativas que ayuden a mejorar las condiciones de los niños, siendo la Equinoterapia el plus a favor de ello. Todos estos aspectos están marcados por la transición de interior-exterior y público-privado, la cual está dada por luz cenital que acompaña todo el recorrido del proyecto. / The purpose of this project is to cooperate with the development of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, where each architectural gesture responds to their hypersensitivity, the curve being the main enveloping element that encloses the space, which protects the user without invading it and in turn It represents the organic nature through the integration of both. In addition, a series of common and alternative therapies are proposed that help improve the conditions of children, with equinotherapy being the plus in favor of it. All these aspects are marked by the transition of interior-exterior and public-private, which is given by overhead light that accompanies the entire project path. / Tesis

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We present results on the ionospheric structure around Titan observed during numerous deep (<1000 km) flybys by the Cassini spacecraft. Our results are based on measurements by the radio and plasma wave science instrument, in particular the Langmuir probe. In addition, data from the magnetometer and electron spectrometer have contributed. The ionosphere of Titan is created when the atmosphere of the moon becomes ionised. There are several mechanisms that contribute to this, the most important of which are considered to be photoionisation by EUV from the Sun with associated photoelectron ionisation, and particle impact ionisation by electrons and ions from Saturn’s corotating magnetosphere. We investigate the influence of the solar zenith angle on the electron number density at the ionospheric peak. The results show on average four times more plasma on the dayside compared to the nightside, with typical densities of 2500 – 3500 cm-3 and 400 – 1000 cm-3, respectively. In a complementary study, we make a case study of a nightside flyby and show that the altitude structure of the deep ionosphere is reproducible by a simple electron impact ionisation model. Taken together, this leads to the conclusion that solar photons are the main ionisation source of the dayside ionosphere. However, magnetospheric particle precipitation also contributes and can explain the electron densities seen on the nightside. As Titan does not exhibit any large intrinsic magnetic field, the fact that it is embedded in the magnetosphere of Saturn means that the Kronian field drapes around the moon and gives rise to an induced magnetosphere. We show that there are currents of the order of 10 – 100 nA m-2 flowing in the ionosphere of the moon. Associated with the currents are perpendicular electric fields ranging from 0.5 to 3 µV m-1. Finally, we investigate measurements obtained during T70, the deepest Titan flyby performed to date. We show that there is a substantial amount of negative ions present below an altitude of 900 km. This confirms previous result by the electron spectrometer, showing negative ions at higher altitudes in Titan’s ionosphere.

AIM: The aim of this investigation is to determine the prevalence of maxillary altered passive eruption in a dental school population. METHODS: 100 subjects were examined clinically and had models fabricated of their maxilla. Demographic, periodontal, cast measurements were recorded for each subject. Demographic variables recorded included age, gender, and ethnicity, history of orthodontic treatment, presence of incisal /occlusal wear, appearance of gingival excess, and presence of gingival asymmetry. Measurements made on cast included clinical crown length, clinical crown width, papillary height, and distance from the lateral gingival zenith to the gingival aesthetic line. Clinical crown width-to-length ratio was calculated. These measurements were compared to previously published standards. RESULTS: 83% of the subjects had central incisors with a clinical W:L ratio greater than .80. Logistical regression analysis determined that subjects with central incisors with an appearance of gingival excess were more likely to have a clinical W:L ratio greater than .80 (P<.0007; OR=79). ANOVA demonstrated that clinical crown length had a statistically significant relationship with gender (P<.0001), tooth type (P<.0001) and biotype (P<0.0026). Clinical crown width and clinical crown W:L ratio had a statistically significant relationship with gender (P<0.0007, P<.0001) and tooth type (P<0.0026, P<.0001). The average clinical crown length was 0.5-1.5 mm shorter than established ideal measurements. CONCLUSION: 83% of the subject population had central incisors that displayed altered passive eruption. Subjects who exceeded the clinical W:L ratio of .80 were more likely to have been classified as having the appearance of gingival excess or “gummy smile”. Esthetic crown lengthening should be considered to achieve desired esthetics in these subjects.

In ground based high frequency (HF) radio pumping experiments, absorption of ordinary (O) mode pump waves energises the ionospheric plasma, producing optical emissions and other effects. Pump-induced or natural kilometre-scale field-aligned density depletions are believed to play a role in self-focussing phenomena such as the magnetic zenith (MZ) effect, i.e., the increased plasma response observed in the direction of Earth's magnetic field. Using ray tracing, we study the propagation of ordinary (O) mode HF radio waves in an ionosphere modified by density depletions, with special attention to transmission through the radio window (RW), where O mode waves convert into the extraordinary (X, or Z) mode. The depletions are shown to shift the position of the RW, or to introduce RWs at new locations. In a simplified model neglecting absorption, we estimate the wave electric field strength perpendicular to the magnetic field at altitudes normally inaccessible. This field could excite upper hybrid waves on small scale density perturbations. We also show how transmission and focussing combine to give stronger fields in some directions, notably at angles close to the MZ, with possible implications for the MZ effect. In a separate study, we consider electromagnetic (e-m) beams with helical wavefronts (i.e., twisted beams), which are associated with orbital angular momentum (OAM). By applying geometrical optics to each plane wave component of a twisted nonparaxial e-m Bessel beam, we calculate analytically the shift of the beam's centre of gravity during propagation perpendicularly and obliquely to a weak refractive index gradient in an isotropic medium. In addition to the so-called Hall shifts expected from paraxial theory, the nonparaxial treatment reveals new shifts in both the transverse and lateral directions. In some situations, the new shifts should be significant also for nearly paraxial beams.

Les systèmes de communication FSO sont des candidats potentiels pour de solutions de transmission spatiale à large bande. C’est pourquoi la présente thèse s’inscrit dans une contribution d’une nouvelle architecture de réseau FSO dans le cas d’une liaison de communication entre un satellite géostationnaire et une station terrienne. Elle traite aussi de l’influence de l’angle zénithal sur la qualité de la liaison optique en raison de la variation de la scintillation due à la complexité de l’atmosphère. Nous avons établi un nouveau canal de communication tenant compte de la subdivision de l’atmosphère en deux grandes zones de turbulence. Pour améliorer la performance de la liaison, nous avons d’abord placé un relais AF optiques ente le satellite et la station terrienne, ensuite nous avons introduit un paramètre construit `a partir de valeurs : p et 1-p. Le paramètre p correspond au ratio de la distance entre la station terrienne et le relais sur la distance de 36 000 Km correspondant a` l’orbite GEO. Dans notre cas, le relais est placé a 1000 Km a l’exosphère, le paramètre p = 1/36 et enfin la technique de diversité spatiale est appliquée en réception. Les résultats de simulation ont confirmé que les architectures des systèmes proposés sont meilleures que les performances de liaisons optiques directes. / Free space optical systems are potential candidates of large band spatial transmission solutions. In this thesis, FSO network architecture in the case of geo- stationary satellite to earth communication link is investigated and the influence of zenith angle on the quality of the link has been evaluated. Because of the variation of scintillation due to the complexity of the atmosphere, the optical space to earth communication link channel model has been developped. In order to overcome the main limitations of the prop- agation, optical relays with low earth orbit satellites and spatial diversity on earth could improve the link performance. To improve the link performance, an aggregated simulation model turbulence has been built based on parameters ”p” and ”1-p” introduced in the combined model a↵ecting the considered channels. The parameter ” p ” corresponds to the ratio of the distance from the earth to the relay over the total distance of 36 000Km. In the case of 1000 Km for a relay in the exosphere, p = 1/36. Simulation results show that the proposed network system architecture has outperformed the direct link performance

Abstract Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is a minimally invasive alternative to open surgery to exclude an abdominal aortic aneurysm from the circulation to avert a rupture. The aim of this thesis was to evaluate the early and mid-term results of EVAR using the Zenith® stent-graft (Cook Inc, Bloomington, IN, USA) in asymptomatic and symptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients in three Finnish university hospitals. Furthermore, the aim was to study whether preoperative embolization of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) before EVAR decreases the incidence of a type II endoleak or has an effect on the aneurysm sac shrinkage. Finally, the results after secondary interventions for a type II endoleak were evaluated. Two hundred six patients underwent elective endovascular repair of an intact AAA. The use of the Zenith® stent-graft was associated with good early and mid-term results. The thirty-day mortality rate (2.9%) was in accordance with other EVAR studies. Only one late aneurysm-related death occurred in this series, whilst no patients died of a late aneurysm rupture. No stent-graft migrations or fractures were observed. Endoleak, defined as persistent blood flow outside the graft and within the aneurysm sac, remains a long-term problem with EVAR. The overall endoleak incidence was 34.6%. A type II endoleak (retrograde perfusion via aortic side branches) occurred in 52 patients (25.4%). EVAR was performed for 14 patients with a symptomatic, unruptured AAA. The median delay from admission to intervention was 4 days. EVAR of a symptomatic, unruptured AAA was associated with a favourable outcome even in patients with a very high operative risk. There were no perioperative deaths. Altogether forty patients treated at Kuopio University Hospital had a patent IMA on preoperative computed tomography (CT) and were treated successfully with coil embolization before EVAR. Thirty-nine patients who underwent EVAR at Oulu University Hospital without preoperative embolization of a patent IMA served as a control group. Preoperative coil embolization of the IMA significantly reduced the incidence of type II endoleaks after EVAR, but the present study failed to show any influence on late postoperative aneurysm sac shrinkage. Overall, 14 patients underwent a secondary intervention to repair the type II endoleak. Ten patients had transarterial embolization and four patients had translumbar embolization. The results were unsatisfactory; clinical success after the first secondary intervention was achieved in only two patients in the transarterial embolization group and three patients in the translumbar embolization group. These results seem to favour direct translumbar embolization rather than transarterial embolization. In conclusion, EVAR with the Zenith® stent-graft is effective in excluding AAAs from the circulation and is associated with good mid-term results.

The subject of this diploma thesis is refining of astrogeodetic vertical deflections, on selected points of networks AGNES and Veveří, in Brno. Calculations of the vertical deflections components are based on geodetic and astronomical measurements. Astronomical measurements are carried out by using the MAAS – 1 system, whose description is also the subject of this thesis.

This dissertation examines localization of Open Educational Resources (OER) in Himalayan community technology centers of Nepal. Specifically, I examine strategies and practices that local knowledge-workers utilize in order to localize educational content for the disparate needs, interests, and ability-levels of learners in rural villages. This study draws on insights from non-formal education (NFE) stakeholders in Nepal, including government, UN, international and national NGOs, local knowledge-workers, and learners from different villages. I specifically focus on a sample of seven technology centers to better understand how localization is defined, designed, and executed at a ground level. I illuminate obstacles knowledge-workers face while localizing content and strategies to overcome such barriers. I conclude by offering key principles to support theory development related to OER localization. This study is anchored in hermeneutic inquiry and is augmented by interpretive phenomenological analysis and quasi-ethnographic research methods. This qualitative study employed interviews, focus group discussions, observations, and artifact reviews to identify patterns of localization practices and themes related to localization of critical content in Himalayan community technology centers of Nepal. This dissertation provides valuable evidence not only why localization matters (a statement that has been hypothesized for the past decade); but also provides proof of how localization is executed and concrete ways that localization could be improved in order for OER to reap efficacious learning gains for more rural people in developing countries and in other rural communities across the globe. The full text of this dissertation may be downloaded for free from http://etd.byu.edu/