Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Technical and experimental laboratory'

One of the most promising directions in this direction is a panoramic view. The use of interactive control and high resolution allows you to realize the key advantage of such panoramic video - the effect of presence. Considering that medicine often uses expensive equipment, access to which is limited for development, as well as various new approaches and methods, for example, in surgical treatment, which must be demonstrated to acquire practical skills, it is advisable to use panoramic teaching video for these purposes.

The principles of quality assurance of higher education are considered in the work. The analysis of aspects of quality assurance of the educational process of higher technical education on the example of Kharkiv National University of Radio Electronics is given. Measures to develop a quality system of higher education at the university level are proposed as well.

Various techniques are used to transect the liver. With increase in laparoscopic liver resections (LLR), it is of even more interest to develop surgical techniques to minimize bleeding and the risk for gas embolism during transection. Instrument like argon enhanced coagulator provides good hemostasis but increases the danger of gas embolism. The CO2 pneumoperitoneum that is routinely used in most types of laparoscopic surgery can be modified by the use of different gas pressure. It can be assumed that different pressure influences bleeding but also the risk for gas embolism. In presented porcine studies, three instrumental combinations have been studied. In study I sixteen piglets were randomized to LLR with either the cavitron ultrasonic aspirator (CUSA™) in combination with vessels sealing system (Ligasure™) or with CUSA™ and ultrascision scissors (Autosonix™), with the endpoints of intra-operative bleeding and gas embolism.  In study IV sixteen piglets were randomized to LLR either with staple device (Endo-GIA™) or the Ligasure™ - CUSA™ combination with same primary endpoints and additionally secondary endpoints of effect on gas-exchange, systemic- and pulmonary hemodynamic. Focusing on intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) in study II, sixteen piglets were randomized to LLR with an IAP of either 8 or 16 mmHg.  Primary endpoints were bleeding and gas embolism and secondary endpoints, effect on gas-exchange, systemic- and pulmonary hemodynamic. In study III effect of argon gas was tested during LLR. Sixteen piglets were randomized to either argon pneumoperitoneum or CO2 pneumoperitoneum. Primary endpoints were effect on gas-exchange, systemic- and pulmonary hemodynamic. In presented studies, we tested efficacy and safety of different techniques for LLR. CUSA™ can be used in combination with either Ligasure™ or Autosonix™. However, Ligasure™ reduces the amount of bleeding. The recent introduction of staplers seems promising with a further reduction in bleeding, gas embolism, and operating time. The IAP influences both the amount of bleeding as well as gas embolism. It seems reasonable to use a higher IAP to decrease bleeding with caution and with close monitoring for gas embolism. Argon gas embolism gives more extensive effect on gas-exchange and hemodynamic and should probably be avoided in this type of surgery.

Pain sensitivity is importantly affected by a number of factors, and may best be evaluated using a biopsychosocial framework. Although such a framework has been applied to the study and treatment of pain in humans, the concept of pain as a multidimensional experience in rodent models has been given considerably less attention. There is evidence, however, that pain is significantly modulated by a variety of psychosocial factors; therefore, identifying such factors is important, especially considering the extensive use of rodent subjects in pain research.<br>A previous study performed in our laboratory described a within-cage order-of-testing effect that suggested the social communication of pain amongst mice, a finding that inspired the research described in this dissertation. Using novel experimental paradigms, the research presented describes the effects of the immediate social environment on pain sensitivity in the laboratory mouse, as well as the converse, the effect of pain on social interactions among mice. Social conditions in pain experiments vary with respect to familiarity (i.e., cagemate versus stranger), sex, and pain state of the conspecific and such factors appear to significantly modulate both pain sensitivity and social behaviour.<br>Here I present social modulation of pain as evidence for empathy in mice, such that mice observing a cagemate in pain exhibit significant hypersensitivity to a noxious stimulus; such modulation is dependent on visual cues. I also show that varying perceived social threat by permitting or limiting full physical contact in stranger male dyads significantly modulates pain behaviour resulting in testosterone-dependent stress-induced analgesia or hyperalgesia, respectively. Furthermore, I show that females display heightened social approach toward a cagemate displaying pain behaviour, that this social approach is also observed in mice lacking the oxytocin receptor gene, and that such behaviour may have analgesic properties. Finally, in light of our initial finding that pain is visually communicated, I present a novel coding system for facial expressions of pain in the mouse.<br>In summary, these findings suggest the importance of accounting for psychosocial factors affecting pain sensitivity in the laboratory mouse, and suggest potential animal models for such complex social processes as empathy and prosociality. Furthermore, facial expression is a novel dependent measure of pain that may provide a more complete description of an animal's pain experience.<br>La sensibilité à la douleur est grandement influencée par un certain nombre de facteurs et pourrait être évaluée plus adéquatement selon un cadre bio-psycho-social. Bien qu'un tel cadre ait été appliqué à l'étude et au traitement de la douleur chez l'humain, le concept de douleur en tant qu'expérience multidimensionnelle chez le rongeur a bénéficié de beaucoup moins d'attention. Pourtant, il est démontré que la douleur est significativement modulée par un ensemble de facteurs psychosociaux; l'identification de ces facteurs demeure donc importante, particulièrement lorsqu'on considère l'usage considérable des rongeurs dans le domaine de la recherche sur la douleur.<br>D'après une étude réalisée précédemment par notre équipe, les souris qui cohabitent et qui sont témoins de leur souffrance mutuelle sont plus sensibles à la douleur que les souris soumises au test à la douleur de manière individuelle. Ce constat de l'influence de la cohabitation et de l'ordre selon lequel les souris sont testées, évoquant l'existence d'une communication sociale, a inspiré les recherches décrites dans cette thèse. Utilisant de nouveaux paradigmes expérimentaux, nos travaux décrivent les effets de l'environnement social immédiat sur la sensibilité à la douleur chez la souris de laboratoire et, inversement, les effets de cette douleur sur ses interactions sociales. Les conditions sociales varient en fonction du degré de familiarité (c.-à-d. souris consoeurs contre souris étrangères), du sexe et du niveau de douleur de la congénère, tous des facteurs qui semblent moduler de manière significative la sensibilité à la douleur et le comportement social.<br>J'expose ici que la modulation sociale de la douleur constitue une preuve d'empathie chez la souris de sorte que des souris qui cohabitent et qui voient leurs consoeurs être en proie à la douleur affichent une hypersensibilité significative lors des tests de nociception; une telle modulation dépend de signaux visuels. Je démontre également que le changement de perception de menace sociale parmi une paire de souris mâles étrangères affecte leur sensibilité à la douleur, entraînant les réponses dépendantes à la testostérone et induites par le stress que sont l'analgésie, obtenue lorsqu'on permet un contact physique complet ou l'hyperalgésie, obtenue lorsqu'un tel contact est limité. Par ailleurs, je montre que les femelles manifestent une approche sociale plus marquée envers une consoeur en proie à la douleur, que cette approche se voit aussi chez des souris dépourvues du gène codant pour le récepteur oxytocine et qu'un tel comportement pourrait avoir des propriétés analgésiques. Enfin, à la lumière de notre découverte initiale révélant que la douleur est communiquée de façon visuelle, je présente un système de codage inédit des expressions faciales de douleur chez la souris.<br>En résumé, ces résultats suggèrent l'importance de tenir compte des facteurs psychosociaux dans l'analyse des facteurs pouvant influencer la sensibilité à la douleur chez la souris de laboratoire et proposent des modèles animaux potentiels pour l'étude de processus sociaux complexes comme l'empathie et la prosocialité. Par ailleurs, l'expression faciale constitue une mesure dépendante originale susceptible de décrire de manière plus complète l'expérience de douleur chez l'animal.

Theoretical studies of vehicle-bridge interactions have been conducted extensively, but a relatively much smaller amount of work concerns experimental studies of this problem. Full-scale tests of vehicle-bridge vibrations can be done to estimate the performance of the vehicle-bridge system or validate theoretical models, but are expensive compared with small-scale experiments in a lab. In addition, continuous bridges are paid relatively much less attention compared with simply supported bridges in the literature. This thesis is dedicated to the theoretical and the laboratory experimental studies of a four-span continuous plate structure subjected to moving cars. Firstly, the mode shapes of a multi-span continuous beam are approximated by using a number of sinusoidal functions which are the mode shapes of the beam with simply supported boundaries. The analytical solution of the continuous beam subjected to a moving force can be derived as one simple expression for the whole length of the beam based on the approximated modes, and the contributions of bridge frequencies to the modal responses of the beam would be clearly shown in the analytical solution, which can provide guidance for identifying the modal properties of the beam. This idea is illustrated by a two-span beam. The response of a simple beam subjected to a moving force is compared with that of a two-span continuous beam. The second part of this thesis is about the vehicle-bridge interaction and separation, which are investigated by using the moving sprung mass model. After that, a general approach of simulating vehicle-bridge interactions is applied to a four-span plate structure traversed by one or two moving cars at different speeds. There are two types of situations for two cars: the two cars are either separated or connected together with pitching rotation allowed for each car. The adjacent loads of two-connected-cars are almost equal distance away from each other, which is like a series of moving equidistant loads. A Laser Vibrometer is used to measure the car speeds, and four laser displacement transducers at each span are utilized to capture the structural responses. The theoretical model of the rig is updated and validated with experimental results. A frequency spectrum analysis of measured structural displacements and an in-depth parametric analysis based on the validated theoretical model are carried out.

This manual has been designed for a class of twenty- four students concurrently enrolled in the lecture course. The laboratory aids in the learning process and fosters an interest in the science of genetics. This manual and the experiments contained within are both informative and fun. The manual correlates with and expands upon the genetics course. Each investigation, with the exception of the Drosophila melanogaster project, can be completed in a 3-4 hour timeframe. This manual provides a “hands on” experience of theories simply discussed in the lecture course. This manual is intended to be a one-source manual where each investigation is designed to include an adequate introduction. Special attention has been given for each investigation with both the student and instructor in mind.

This study reports the results of experiments using laboratory markets designed to test several predictions of economic behavior generated by DeAngelo's (1980, 1981) characterization of the auditor-client contractual relationship. These predictions address (1) auditor pricing behavior in the face of start-up costs and transactions costs incurred by the client when switching auditors and (2) the effect of start-up costs and transactions costs on auditor independence. The research was motivated by the recent concern expressed by policy-makers regarding the link between auditor pricing behavior and independence and the unobservability of auditor prices and independence in the naturally-occurring market. It was reasoned that, given the difficulty of obtaining data in the real world, laboratory market research would be a good "first step" in evaluating theories linking auditor pricing behavior to independence. The laboratory markets used to test the predictions were run in two stages. In the first stage, which used a sealed offer auction, subjects offered to sell an imaginary service to a computerized buyer in a series of five-auction markets, with certain payoffs. The contract prices in the first phase of the experiment were used to measure equilibrium predictions in conditions of certain payoffs. The second stage of the experiment, which tested predictions concerning independence and equilibrium prices in a world of uncertain payoffs, was identical to the first stage, except that payments were conditional on outcomes which depended on a decision rule specified by the sellers after each auction. The results of the experiments show significant decreases in independence as theoretical quasi-rents available to the incumbent seller increased. Furthermore, evidence on the relationship between lowballing and independence was inconclusive, due to the inequality of quasi-rents observed in cells where lowballing was allowed or restricted. With respect to pricing behavior, lowballing was observed in all markets where it was permitted, and increased as the theoretical quasi-rent stream increased. In addition, theoretical equilibrium price predictions under conditions of certain payoffs are weakly predictive of winning offers made by sellers. However, in settings with conditional payoffs, equilibrium predictions were not achieved in the experiment, perhaps due to design artifacts, or to the existence of an unspecified, alternative equilibrium.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 1986.<br>MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING<br>Bibliography: leaves 125-130.<br>by Kevin Broderick Fitzgerald.<br>M.S.

Medical Laboratories Accreditation is covered by ISO 15189:2012 - Medical Laboratories — Requirements for Quality and Competence. In Portugal, accreditation processes are held under the auspices of the Portuguese Accreditation Institute (IPAC), which applies the Portuguese edition (NP EN ISO 15189:2014). Accordingly, Medical Laboratories accreditation processes now require the estimate of measurement uncertainty (MU) associated to the results. The Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM) describes the calculation of MU, not contemplating the specific aspects of medical laboratory testing. Several models have been advocated, yet without a final consensus. Given the lack of studies on MU in Portugal, especially on its application in the medical laboratory, it is the objective of this thesis to reach to a model that fulfils the IPAC’s accreditation regulations, in regards to this specific requirement. The study was based on the implementation of two formulae (MU-A and MU-B), using the Quality Management System (QMS) data of an ISO 15189 Accredited Laboratory. Including the laboratory’s two Cobas® 6000–c501 (Roche®) analysers (C1 and C2) the work focused three analytes: creatinine, glucose and total cholesterol. The MU-B model formula, combining the standard uncertainties of the method’s imprecision, of the calibrator’s assigned value and from the pre-analytical variation, was considered the one best fitting to the laboratory's objectives and to the study's purposes, representing well the dispersion of values reasonably attributable to the measurand final result. Expanded Uncertainties were: Creatinine - C1 = 9,60%; C2 = 5,80%; Glucose - C1 = 8,32%; C2 = 8,34%; Cholesterol - C1 = 4,00%; C2 = 3,54 %. ...[cont.].

Laboratory experimentation was once considered impossible or irrelevant in economics. Recently, however, economic science has gone through a real ‘laboratory revolution’, and experimental economics is now a most lively subfield of the discipline. The methodological advantages and disadvantages of controlled experimentation constitute the main subject of this thesis. After a survey of the literature on experiments in philosophy and economics (chapter one), the problem of testing normative theories of rationality is tackled (chapter two). This philosophical issue was at the centre of a famous controversy in decision theory (the ‘Allais controversy’), during which a methodology of normative falsification was first articulated and used to assess experimental results. In the third chapter, the methodological advantages of controlled experimentation are illustrated and discussed with examples taken from the experiments on the so-called ‘preference reversal’ phenomenon. Laboratory testing allows to establish with a high degree of certainty that certain phenomena lie behind the experimental data, by means of independent testing, elimination of alternative hypotheses, and the use of different instruments of observation. The fourth chapter is devoted to a conceptual analysis of the problem of ‘parallelism’. This is the problem of inferring from the occurrence of a phenomenon in the laboratory, to its (possible) instantiation also in non-laboratory environments. Experimental economists have discussed parallelism at length, and their views are presented and criticised. Eventually, it is argued that parallelism is a factual matter and as such can only be established on empirical grounds. The fifth chapter provides an example of how one can argue for parallelism, focusing on the case of experimentation on the ‘winner’s curse’ phenomenon. The role of experiments as ‘mediators’ between theoretical models and their target domain of application is illustrated, and the structure of parallelism arguments analysed in detail. Finally, in the last chapter, economic experiments are compared to simulations, in order to highlight their specific characteristics.

The work presented in this thesis focuses on acquisition of data such as environmental and experimental conditions and the control of experimental apparatus. A suite of software applications will be described which captures data from a standard data acquisition card, processes this and archives it in an appropriate repository. The software revolves around a central message broker, controlling the flow of messages between intercommunicating components. The automation section will focus on the control of many components of an experiment studying the air/liquid interface using the technique of second harmonic generation (SHG). Software will be described that can be used to controls actuators, laser sources and other hardware within the laboratory. This software will use the same message broker to send and receive messages relating to the devices they are controlling. These tools were used to run a number of SHG experiments studying the air/liquid interface of para-nitrophenol (PNP), benzo-15-crown-5 (B15C5) and 4'-nitrobenzo-15- crown-5 (NB15C5). The complete experimental process was automated and results made available through a web interface, allowing real-time monitoring and decision making of each experiment.

Masonry has been used for millennia to build all sort of constructions. As a result, a significant part of the building stock around the world is made of masonry. In the need of structural assessment, structural analysis tools, as well as strength criteria proposed in building codes, require the knowledge of the mechanical properties of the materials. However, the mechanical characterisation of masonry is still difficult and challenging, due to its composite nature and its complex mechanical behaviour. In fact, it is possible to find contradictions among standards, lack of definition for certain procedures, or even lack of standards for certain tests. This thesis aims to contribute with the critical analysis of some of these testing procedures and provide possible improvements for a specific type of masonry. Four lines of research have been identified, which cover tests in laboratory and in situ to characterise the behaviour in compression and in shear. The specific type of masonry on which the experimental campaigns are carried out is the traditional type of brickwork that was extensively used in Barcelona during the 19th and 20th c. In spite of its relevance, this type of masonry is in need of further characterisation. A preliminary research was necessary to find a historical-like mortar with a relatively fast hardening and low mechanical properties. The modification of hydraulic lime based commercial mortars with the addition of limestone filler is investigated. Small amounts of filler enhance the mechanical properties of the mortar. High amounts of filler reduce the mortars’ strengths and make it suitable to replicate historical-like masonry in laboratory. The first line of research on testing procedures covered the compressive characterisation of masonry on prismatic standard specimens. European and American standards differ in the type of specimen to consider, running bond walls and stack bond prisms, respectively. This work compares experimental results obtained from both types of specimen and also obtained from two types of loading, monotonic and cyclic. The second line of research involves an experimental campaign that investigates the possibility of using 90 mm cylinders extracted from existing walls to characterise the compressive behaviour of masonry. Four examples of masonry have been investigated, including cylinders extracted from three existing buildings of Barcelona. The results obtained with 90 mm cylinders compare well to those obtained with the well-known 150 mm cylinders. The third line of research deals with the characterisation of the shear response of masonry in laboratory. The standard triplet specimen consisting of three units and two mortar joints present some interpretation problems related to the non-simultaneous failure of the two joints. This experimental campaign studies the possibility of using couplet specimens of only one mortar joint to determine the shear parameters. For the two types of brickwork investigated, couplets provide higher estimations of the shear parameters with respect to triplets. The last line of research investigates the diagonal compression test, a testing procedure applicable both in situ and in laboratory for shear characterisation. First, an experimental campaign is presented. The experimental results are used to calibrate a numerical model, which is applied to investigate the actual states of stresses and to find correlating coefficients between the test results and the mechanical properties of masonry. The combination of all the former researches provides a set of reference values for the mechanical properties of the traditional brickwork of Barcelona. Nevertheless, the scientific findings, methods, and criteria presented in this thesis, even if derived for a specific type of brickwork, may be of application for the characterisation of other types of masonry around the world.<br>L’obra de fàbrica ha estat utilitzada durant mil·lennis per construir tota mena d’estructures. Davant la necessitat de verificacions estructurals, les eines d’anàlisi, així com els criteris de resistència dels codis de construcció, requereixen el coneixement de les propietats mecàniques dels materials. Malauradament, la caracterització mecànica de l’obra de fàbrica no es tasca fàcil i continua suposant un desafiament, per la seva natura composta i el seu complex comportament. De fet, és possible trobar contradiccions entre normes, manca de definició per alguns procediments i, inclús, inexistència de normes per alguns tipus de test. Aquesta tesi aspira a contribuir a l’anàlisi crítica d’algunes d’aquestes tècniques d’assaig i proveir-ne possibles millores per a un tipus d’obra de fàbrica específic. Quatre línies de recerca s’han identificat, que abasten tests en laboratori i in situ per caracteritzar el comportament a compressió i a tallant. El tipus específic de material sobre el qual es duran a terme les campanyes experimentals és la fàbrica de maó tradicional que va ser extensament utilitzada a Barcelona durant els segles XIX i XX. Tot i la seva rellevància, aquest tipus de material continua necessitant una caracterització més detallada. Una recerca preliminar fou necessària per trobar un morter pseudo-històric amb febles propietats mecàniques. La modificació de morters comercials de calç hidràulica amb l’addició de filler calís és investigada. Petites quantitats de filler milloren les propietats mecàniques del morter. Majors quantitats de filler redueixen les resistències del morter i el fan apropiat per replicar fàbriques de tipus històric al laboratori. La primera línia de recerca sobre tècniques d’assaig va estudiar la caracterització a compressió amb espècimens prismàtics estàndards. Les normes americanes i europees difereixen en el tipus d’espècimen considerat, prismes apilats i petits murets, respectivament. Aquest treball compara resultats experimentals obtinguts amb els dos tipus d’espècimen i també obtinguts amb dos tipus d’aplicació de càrrega, monòtona i cíclica. La segona línia de recerca desenvolupa una campanya experimental que investiga la possibilitat d’utilitzar cilindres de 90 mm de diàmetre extrets de murs existents per caracteritzar la resposta a compressió. Quatre exemples d’obra de fàbrica s’han investigat, incloent cilindres xvi extrets de tres edificis de Barcelona. Els resultats obtinguts amb els cilindres de 90 mm es comparen satisfactòriament amb els obtinguts amb els ja coneguts cilindres de 150 mm. La tercera línia de recerca tracta la caracterització en laboratori de la resposta a tallant de l’obra de fàbrica. La tripleta estàndard formada per tres maons i dos junts de morter presenta alguns problemes d’interpretació relacionats amb la fallada no simultània dels dos junts. La campanya estudia la possibilitat d’utilitzar bipletes composades de tan sols un junt de morter per determinar els paràmetres a tallant. Pels dos tipus de material estudiats, les bipletes proporcionen majors estimacions de les propietats a tallant que les tripletes. L’última línia de recerca estudia el test de compressió diagonal, una tècnica aplicable in situ i al laboratori per caracteritzar el comportament a tallant. Es presenta una campanya experimental, els resultats de la qual s’utilitzen per calibrar un model numèric. Aquest s’aplica per investigar els estats de tensions reals i trobar coeficients de correlació entre els resultats del test i les propietats mecàniques de l’obra de fàbrica. La combinació de les investigacions prèvies proporciona un conjunt de valors de referència per a les propietats mecàniques de la fàbrica de maó tradicional de Barcelona. Les conclusions científiques, mètodes i criteris presentats en aquesta tesi, tot i haver estat derivats per un tipus específic de fàbrica, poden ser d’aplicació per a la caracterització d’altres tipus de fàbrica arreu del món<br>La obra de fábrica ha sido utilizada durante milenios para construir toda clase de estructuras. Ante la necesidad de verificaciones estructurales, las herramientas de análisis, así como los criterios de resistencia de los códigos de construcción, requieren el conocimiento de las propiedades mecánicas de los materiales. Desafortunadamente, la caracterización mecánica de la obra de fábrica no es una tarea fácil y continúa suponiendo un desafío, por su naturaleza compuesta y su complejo comportamiento. De hecho, es posible encontrar contradicciones entre normas, falta de definición en algunos procedimientos o, incluso, inexistencia de normas para algunos tipos de test. Esta tesis aspira a contribuir en el análisis crítico de algunas de estas técnicas de ensayo y proveer posibles mejoras en ellas para un tipo de obra de fábrica específico. Se han definido cuatro líneas de investigación que abarcan ensayos en laboratorio e in situ para caracterizar el comportamiento a compresión y a cortante. El tipo específico de material sobre el que se llevan a cabo las campañas experimentales es la fábrica de ladrillo tradicional que se usó extensamente en Barcelona durante los siglos XIX y XX. A pesar de su relevancia, este tipo de material continúa necesitando una caracterización más detallada. Una investigación preliminar fue necesaria para encontrar un mortero pseudo-histórico con débiles propiedades mecánicas. La modificación de morteros comerciales de cal hidráulica con la adición de filler calizo es investigada. Cantidades pequeñas de filler mejoran las propiedades mecánicas del mortero. Mayores cantidades de filler reducen sus resistencias y lo hacen apropiado para replicar obras de fábrica de tipo histórico en el laboratorio. La primera línea de investigación sobre técnicas de ensayo estudió la caracterización a compresión con especímenes prismáticos estandarizados. Las normas americanas y europeas difieren en el tipo de espécimen considerado, prismas apilados y pequeños muretes, respectivamente. Este trabajo compara resultados experimentales obtenidos con los dos tipos de espécimen y también obtenidos con dos tipos de aplicación de carga, monótona y cíclica. La segunda línea de investigación gira sobre una campaña experimental que investiga la posibilidad de utilizar cilindros de 90 mm de diámetro extraídos de muros existentes para caracterizar la respuesta a compresión. Se han investigado 4 ejemplos de fábrica, incluyendo cilindros extraídos de 3 edificios de Barcelona. Los resultados obtenidos con los cilindros de 90 mm se comparan satisfactoriamente con los obtenidos en los ya aceptados cilindros de 150 mm. La tercera línea de investigación trata la caracterización en laboratorio de la respuesta a cortante de la obra de fábrica. La tripleta estándar formada por tres ladrillos y dos juntas de mortero presenta algunos problemas de interpretación relacionados con el fallo no simultáneo de las juntas. La campaña estudia la posibilidad de utilizar bipletas con una sola junta de mortero para determinar los parámetros a cortante. Para los dos tipos de material estudiados, las bipletas proporcionan mayores estimaciones de las propiedades a cortante que las tripletas. La última línea de investigación estudia el ensayo de compresión diagonal, una aplicable in situ y en laboratorio para caracterizar el comportamiento a cortante. Se presenta una campaña experimental cuyos resultados se utilizan para calibrar un modelo numérico. Este se aplica para investigar los estados reales de tensiones y encontrar coeficientes de correlación entre los resultados del ensayo y las propiedades mecánicas de la obra de fábrica. La combinación de las investigaciones previas proporciona un conjunto de valores de referencia para las propiedades mecánicas de la fábrica de ladrillo tradicional de Barcelona. Las conclusiones científicas, métodos y criterios presentados en esta tesis, aun habiendo sido derivados para un tipo específico de fábrica, pueden ser aplicados para la caracterización de otros tipos de fábrica en otras áreas geográficas.

CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO<br>INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH CENTER<br>Este trabalho consiste na determinação de parâmetros de deformabilidade e resistência do solo do retro-aterro do muro experimental de pneus, localizado em Jacarepaguá (Rio de Janeiro). O muro experimental de pneus possui quatro seções, das quais foram escolhidas duas para realização dos ensaios de campo e para extração dos blocos indeformados. Foram realizados ensaios dilatométricos e pressiométricos no campo, e ensaios de caracterização, adensamento e resistência ao cisalhamento no laboratório. O programa de ensaios de cisalhamento no laboratório consistiu de cisalhamento direto com corpo de prova na umidade natural e submersos, ensaios triaxiais convencionais e ensaios triaxiais com trajetória de tensão especiais. Uma descrição detalhada das metodologias de execução e interpretação dos ensaios está apresentada neste trabalho, juntamente com uma discussão dos resultados obtidos. Em particular, a discussão enfocou os valores de tensões in situ (coeficiente de empuxo k0) e dos módulos de deformabilidade (módulo de Young, coeficiente de Poisson, módulo cisalhante, dentre outros). As características de resistências também foram analisadas, considerando-se o solo com a umidade natural ou na condição de saturação total. Como principais conclusões, pode-se ressaltar que o material compactado apresenta-se como levemente pré- adensado, com valores de OCR menores que 2 e k0 da ordem de 0,68 a 0,70.<br>This thesis consists of a study of stress-strain-strength behavior of the compacted embankment constructed behind the experimental tire wall located in Jacarepagua (Rio de Janeiro). The experimental wall has four sections with differet characteristics. From these, two were chosen for the field tests and for extraction of undisturbed samples. Dilatometer and pressuremeter were accomplished in the field, together with characterization, consolidation and shear resistance tests in the laboratory. The experimental program in the laboratory consisted of direct shear on specimens with natural moisture content and submerged conditions. Conventional triaxial test and special stress path tests were also performed under drained conditions. Detailed description of the methodology and interpretation of all tests are presented in this work, together with a discussion of the results. In particular, the discussion focussed on the values of in situ stresses (coefficient of lateral stress at rest) and of the stress-strain modulus (Young's modulus, Poisson ratio, shear modulus). The shear strength characteristics were also analyzed, considering both natural humidity and totally saturated specimens. From the most significant conclusions, it can be pointed out that the compacted material was shown to be slightly overconsolidated, with values of OCR smaller than 2 and k0 in of the order of 0,68 to 0,70. The differences between field and laboratory values are also discussed in the thesis.<br>Este trabajo consiste en la determinación de los parámetros de deformabilidad y resistencia del suelo del terraplenado del muro experimental de neumáticos, localizado en Jacarepaguá (Rio de Janeiro). EL muro experimental de neumáticos posee cuatro secciones, de las cuales fueron seleccionadas dos para la realización de los ensayos de campo y para la extracción de los bloques no deformados. Fueron realizados ensayos dilatométricos y presiométricos en campo, y ensayos de caracterización, adensamiento y resistencia al cizallamiento en el laboratório. EL programa de ensayos de cizallamiento en el laboratorio consistió de cizallamiento directo con cuerpo de prueba en la humedad natural y sumergidos, ensayos triaxiales convencionales y ensayos triaxiales con trayectoria de tensión especial. Em este trabajo se presenta una descripción detallada de las metodologías de ejecución e interpretación de los ensayos, conjuntamente con una discusión de los resultados obtenidos. En particular, la discusión enfocó los valores de tensiones in situ (coeficiente de empuje k0) y de los módulos de deformabilidad (módulo de Yong, coeficiente de Poison, módulo cizallante, dentre otros). Las características de resistencia también fueron analizadas, considerando el suelo con la humedad natural o en la condición de saturación total. Como principales conclusiones se puede resaltar que el material compactado está levemente preadensado, con valores de OCR menores que 2 y k0 del órden de 0,68 la 0,70.

Automatic sensor-based sorting is a clean preconcentration technique that can be used to separate valuable ore rock from waste rock based on the difference of the detected physical properties. This research evaluated the amenabilities of a Mississippi Valley type lead-zinc ore sample from Pend Oreille Mine to X-ray Fluorescence Sorting, X-ray Transmission Sorting, Optical Sorting and Microwave-Infrared Sorting using laboratory-scale bench-top sensing systems. A methodology for laboratory-scale quick evaluation of the amenability of an ore sample to automatic sensor-based sorting using bench-top sensor systems was generated as reference for future study. The preliminary testwork results showed that the two X-ray methods exhibited the best sorting results. About 37.7%~52.8% of the feed mass could be rejected as waste while above 95% of the lead and zinc was recovered in the product. The sorting feed (-37.5+26.5 mm) could be upgraded by a factor of 1.5~2. The optical sorting method seemed not as effective as the X-ray methods. Only 18.8% of the sorting test feed (-37.5+26.5 mm) was rejected to maintain above 95% metal recovery in the product. The test feed was upgraded by a factor of 1.2. Microwave-Infrared sorting results demonstrated that carbonate gangue mineral does not heat when exposed to microwave heating, while lead-zinc bearing sulfide does. Factors such as particle size, heating time and quantity of particles being heated at a time would influence microwave heating of rocks. Sorting feed of -19+13.2 mm presented the best segregation results after 10s of microwave heating. Above 95% of lead and zinc was recovered in a mass yield of 70% to the product. The test feed was upgraded by a factor of 1.4. The preconcentrate of X-ray Fluorescence sorting had a bond work index 12% smaller than that of the feed ore. The overall metal (lead and zinc) recoveries and grades in the flotation products were also improved after XRF sorting. The costs of both the grinding and the flotation reagent could also be reduced due to the reduction of the feed mass by rejecting the dolomitic gangue minerals up to 50%.

Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, 2008.<br>Vita.<br>Includes bibliographical references (leaves 64-69).<br>Many potentially powerful therapeutic strategies for the treatment of disease require the delivery of drugs into the cytosolic or nuclear compartments of cells. Members of the Irvine laboratory have developed a novel pH-responsive core-shell nanoparticle system that can achieve efficient and non-cytotoxic drug delivery into the cytosol. Another advantage is that the shell can be easily modified to bind to different types of drug agents and incorporate ligands for specific cell targeting. Experimental analysis of the newly synthesized nanoparticles with various shell structures has demonstrated that modification of the shell does not compromise their cytosolic delivery. These nanoparticles, if successful, will improve the therapeutic potential of a wide range of drugs. However, critical issues on the research side need to be resolved, and an appropriate intellectual property strategy should be initiated in the near future. Applications to siRNA delivery and vaccines have been examined in depth, as cytosolic delivery is one of the main challenges in these fields. Partnerships with large pharmaceutical companies are critical in order to acquire key patents on siRNA/antigen. Even though the market is competitive, there is a strong demand for innovative delivery platforms; provided that the overall profile of the core-shell nanoparticles is comparable to that of emerging drug delivery systems, and a strong intellectual property portfolio is developed, the Irvine technology should be able to compete in the market. After analyzing risks on the business side, including the FDA approval process, a suggested business strategy is outlined, through which value can be successfully obtained throughout the existing pharmaceutical supply chain from the novel drug delivery system.<br>(cont.) The Irvine technology company will develop formulations, contract manufacturers will produce the nanoparticles, and pharmaceutical companies will concentrate on clinical trials, late-stage development and sales and marketing. A case study on the liver cancer market has demonstrated that commercial development of the Irvine nanoparticles can be a financially successful endeavor.<br>by Eun Chol Cho.<br>M.Eng.

This PhD thesis described the realization and development of a new experimental laboratory for cardiovascular studies. Three years later, the Healing Research Laboratory (HeR Lab) is an approved reality, located within the ICEA Dept. of the University of Padua. The present paper explores the different aspects that have been involved on its development, and the principal research fields that have been touched along the doctorate program. It is subdivided in four parts: a first overview of the aortic district linked to the insertion of prosthetic devices, from physiological and engineering points of views. After this, the experimental activities are widely discussed. The experimental research was focused on the design, realization, trial-tests and first optimization of a mechanical-hydraulic closed circuit (called pulse duplicator), for the study of fluid dynamics in the systemic circulation after the implantation of prosthetic devices. Innovative feature of the workbench is the presence of a compliant silicone phantom replica of a healthy aorta, that permits investigations of mechanics and flow dynamics characteristics of the district via an experimental approach. A third section is depicted to external experimental projects, developed within the division of Cardiac Surgery, dept. of cardiac, thoracic and vascular sciences, University of Padua Medical School, to investigate the haemodynamic performances of a total artificial heart (CardioWest TAH-t); and within the UCL Cardiovascular Engineering Laboratory (University College London, UK), to perform in vitro assessment of prosthetic cardiovascular devices performances (biological aortic valves). The last part focuses on a numerical study based on the design of a 2D mechanical model for a red blood cell, and the computation of deformation-damage effects on the shield, due to the shear stresses induced downstream of mechanical aortic valves. The possibility to made up an experimental laboratory, and the development of a new-born research group, give the chance to obtain strong expertise along these three years in the R&D field, giving the possibility to actually touch all the different faces of the research, from the funding recruitment to the physical workbench realization or prototype testing.<br>Nella presente tesi di Dottorato è descritta la realizzazione e lo sviluppo di un nuovo laboratorio sperimentale per studi di fluidodinamica cardiovascolare. Il laboratorio, denominato Healing Research Laboratory (HeR Lab), a tre anni dalla sua creazione, è una realtà di Dipartimento consolidata; presente nel dip. ICEA dell’Università degli Studi di Padova. Nel proseguo dell’elaborato vengono indagati gli aspetti che hanno partecipato allo sviluppo del laboratorio, ed i principali campi di ricerca che sono stati toccati lungo il percorso di dottorato. La tesi è strutturata in quattro parti principali: la prima fornisce una panoramica del distretto aortico, in relazione all’inserimento di device protesici, sia dal punto di vista fisiologico che ingegneristico. La seconda parte è incentrata nella descrizione approfondita della ricerca sperimentale. Si focalizza nella progettazione, realizzazione e messa punto di un circuito meccanico-idraulico (chiamato pulse duplicator), per lo studio della fluido dinamica nella circolazione sistemica, a seguito dell’impianto di dispositivi protesici. Parte innovativa è costituta dalla presenza di un prototipo siliconico compliante di radice aortica ottenuta da CT-scan di paziente, per lo studio delle caratteristiche meccaniche del vaso e dei campi fluidodinamici locali. La terza sezione è costituita da progetti sperimentali sviluppati in strutture esterne all’HeR Lab. Il primo presso la Cardiochirurgia, dipartimento di Scienze Cardiache, Toraciche e Vascolari della Università degli Studi di Padova, allo scopo di investigare le performance emodinamiche di un cuore artificiale totale (CardioWest TAH-t); la seconda come membro dell’UCL Cardiovascular Engineering Laboratory (University College London), con l’obiettivo di indagare le performance di valvole aortiche biologiche per via sperimentale. La quarta sezione descrive uno studio numerico basato sul design di un modello meccanico 2D del globulo rosso, e sul calcolo di deformazioni e danni subiti dalla membrana, dovuti agli sforzi tangenziali indotti dal flusso effluente da valvole aortiche meccaniche. Lo sviluppo del laboratorio e del nuovo gruppo di ricerca cardiovascolare ha permesso di incamerare ottime competenze nell’ambito della ricerca e progettazione, dando la possibilità di toccare diversi aspetti dello sviluppo, dalla ricerca fondi alla realizzazione fisica di prototipi o banchi sperimentali.

Orientadores: Nelson Adami Andreollo, Norair Salviano dos Reis<br>Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas<br>Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-11T12:24:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Malago_Rodolfo_M.pdf: 3465635 bytes, checksum: 3dc7b9920d1c43468cd3be71172c3771 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008<br>Resumo: O baço é um órgão linfóide que tem importante papel na defesa dos organismos, participando no processo de filtração, fagocitose e produção de imunoglobulinas. Histologicamente é formado pelo estroma e o parênquima, sendo seu arranjo celular diferenciado em polpas branca e vermelha. Os principais tipos celulares na estrutura esplênica são: linfócitos T e B, macrófagos, plasmócitos, fibrócitos, reticulócitos e células dendríticas. Os doentes vítimas de traumatismos esplênicos e esplenectomizados assumem um estado de asplenia e consequentemente adquirem grande susceptibilidade à sepse a qual pode ser rapidamente progressiva e fatal. Assim, têm surgido opções terapêuticas após as esplenectomias, utilizando técnicas cirúrgicas conservadoras (tratamento conservador, esplenectomia parcial e esplenorrafias com ou sem aplicação de agentes hemostáticos) e por fim as técnicas de autotransplante esplênico. Os objetivos desta pesquisa experimental foram analisar macro e microscopicamente a evolução tardia do autotransplante de fragmentos de baço na cavidade peritoneal, epíplon e mesentério, após 24 semanas de observação. Foram utilizados 52 ratos Wistar, machos e adultos, submetidos a esplenectomia total e divididos em quatro grupos. O grupo I (controle) foi formado por oito animais escolhidos aleatoriamente entre os três grupos estudados. O grupo II por dezessete animais com implante de fragmento de baço solto na cavidade peritoneal; grupo III por dezoito animais com implante no epíplon e o grupo IV por dezessete animais com implante fixado na raiz do mesentério. Na avaliação histológica foram adotados critérios qualitativos e quantitativos, com a contagem de elementos celulares e não celulares. Os resultados mostraram que se formaram aderências aos tecidos adjacentes e neovascularização em todos os fragmentos transplantados. O grupo II apresentou polpa branca e vascularização preservadas. No grupo III foram observados polpa branca com formações folicular e bainha linfóide, e a polpa vermelha em aspecto cordonal apesar de hemorrágica. No grupo IV foram observados alguns cortes histológicos com depleção de polpa branca e vermelha, enquanto outros evidenciavam melhor preservação das polpas. A contagem de linfócitos revelou diferença significativa entre os grupos I e II e o grupo I e IV (p<0,05). A contagem de macrófagos ativos revelou diferença significativa entre os grupos III e IV (p<0,05) e similaridade entre I e III (p>0,05). Os outros elementos: macrófagos ativos fagocitando hemossiderina, plasmócitos, fibroblastos, fibrócitos, células gigantes, monócitos, espaços intersticiais e fibras de colágeno, não apresentaram diferença significativa entre os grupos. O autotransplante esplênico é factível, sendo o grande epíplon o melhor local para a sua fixação. Esta pesquisa demonstrou por meio de análise histológica qualitativa e quantitativa que o tecido esplênico autotransplantado no epíplon preserva sua função de defesa dos organismos<br>Abstract: The spleen is a lymphoid organ that plays important part in the organism defense, participating in filtration processes, phagocytosis and immunoglobulin production. Histologically, is formed by a stroma and the parenquima being its cellular arrangement differentiated in white and red pulps. The main cellular types in the splenic structure are: T and B lymphocytes, macrophages, plasmocytes, fibrocytes, reticulocytes and dendritic cells. The patients victims of spleen traumatisms and splenectomized assume an asplenia state and consequently they acquire a larger susceptibility to the sepses, which can be quickly progressive and fatal. Thus, it has appeared therapeutic options after the splenectomies, using techniques of conservative surgery (conservative treatment, partial splenectomies and splenorrhaphies with or without application of haemostatics agents), as well as techniques of splenic autotransplantation. The objectives of the research were to evaluate macro and microscopically the late evolution of the fragments of spleen autotransplanted in the greater omentum, mesenterium and peritoneal cavity, after 24 weeks of observation. To perform the experimental study, were employed fifty two Wistar rats, males and adults, submitted to total splenectomy and divided in four groups. The group (control) I was formed by eight animals chosen aleatorily among the three groups studied. The group II - seventeen animals with implant of spleen fragment in the peritoneal cavity; group III - eighteen animals with implant in the omentum and group IV - seventeen animals with implant fixed in mesenterium root. In the histological analysis were adopted qualitative and quantitative criteria, with the counting of no cellular e cellular elements. The results showed adherences to the adjacent tissues and vascularization in all of the fragments transplanted. The group II presented white pulp and preserved vascularization. The group III showed white pulp with follicular formations and lymphoid tissue preserved, and the red pulp in cordon aspect and hemorrhagic. The group IV presented depletion of white and red pulp, while others evidenced better preservation of the pulps. The counting of lymphocytes revealed significant difference between the groups I and II and the group I and IV (p < 0.05). The counting of active macrophages revealed significant difference between the groups III and IV (p < 0.05) and similarity between I and III (p > 0.05). The other elements: active macrophages phagocyting hemosiderine, plasmocytes, fibroblasts, fibrocytes, giant cells, monocytes, interstitial spaces and fibers of collagen, did not show significant difference among the groups. The splenic autransplantation is feasible, being the better place the greater omentum. This research demonstrated through qualitative and quantitative histological analysis that the splenic tissue autotransplanted in the omentum of Wistar rats preserves its function of defense of the organisms<br>Mestrado<br>Pesquisa Experimental<br>Mestre em Cirurgia

The extent to which writing can be used to promote learning from laboratory activities has received limited attention in engineering contexts in South Africa. In this study the Science Writing Heuristic (SWH) approach and aspects of academic literacies approach were used to develop laboratory report writing among first year mechanical engineering students. The intervention utilised a modified report writing template for engineering practical sessions which focused on argumentation, conceptual understanding, critical thinking and language literacies. Quantitative and qualitative data were generated via pre-post-analysis of the modified practical report template, Cornell Critical Thinking Test, questionnaires, as well as focus group interviews with students; and individual interviews with staff, on their perceptions of the SWH. The sample (n=56 matched pairs) was divided into three groups through convenience sampling. Group 1 (n=15) utilised an online intervention, Group 2 (n=20) utilised a paper-based intervention and Group 3 (n=21) utilised a standard paper-based laboratory report template. Statistically significant differences with large effect sizes were obtained between group scores from pre- to post-tests in terms of argumentation and language. No differences between the pre-post-test changes in terms of group conceptual scores (n= 91) were found and there was a drop in scores from pre- to post-test in terms of critical thinking (n= 56). Overall, the data indicates that the SWH approach improved students‟ argumentation and language literacies with large effect sizes. Focus group interviews revealed that students believed that the SWH approach made them “think deeper” and that they preferred the intervention (SWH) over the traditional approach. The apparent unawareness of the academics concerned in terms of argument-based inquiry provides a possible answer for their use of assessment strategies focused only on concepts. Focus group interviews revealed that students believed that the SWH approach made them “think deeper” and that they preferred the intervention (SWH) over the traditional approach. The apparent unawareness of the academics concerned in terms of argument-based inquiry provides a possible answer for their use of assessment strategies focused only on concepts.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited<br>Industrial control systems (ICS) are a major part of the nation’s critical infrastructure. ICS are heavily relied upon within the Department of Defense, including the U.S. Navy. Securing these systems is vital to our national security. The lack of a centralized repository of tools to experiment with ICS from a cyber-security perspective makes this task difficult. This study examines publicly available defensive and adversarial ICS-related tools, to create a consolidated list based on relevance in the ICS domain. A small number of tools are selected for hands-on evaluation in an experimental Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition test environment to verify the tool’s availability, investigate if the tool works as described, and to confirm the existence of appropriate documentation sufficient to install and use the tool. As a result of our survey and tools evaluation, we developed and released the Moki Linux distribution, an ICS-centric version of Kali Linux tailored with defensive and adversarial tools for security practitioners and researchers in the ICS domain.

Nowadays studying and development of methods to treat skin defects have become quite relevant. According to WHO, more than 50 millions of people sustain injuries every year. 11 millions of those who were admitted to hospital got burns of different etiology. The number of deaths caused by burns comprised 195 thousands. More than 25 million of patients, who visited doctors, had scars and cicatricial deformity, 4 millions of those got burns. The number of fatal outcomes was almost 195 thousands per year. When you are citing the document, use the following link http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/35798

This research describes aquatic macroinvertebrate community responses to heavy metals (copper, zinc) in experimental streams and at metal-impacted sites in the field. Experiments employed substrate-filled trays which were colonized in the field and then transferred to laboratory or outdoor streams. Laboratory experiments conducted over three seasons showed that acute (96 h) exposure to copper (Cu) at 15-32 μg Cu/L significantly reduced macroinvertebrate abundance and number of taxa during each season. Owing to differences in sensitivity among taxa, the percent composition of dominant groups varied between control and dosed streams. Mayflies were quite sensitive to Cu, particularly during the summer when water temperatures were higher. Community responses to Cu and Zn in outdoor experimental streams were similar to those observed at metal-impacted sites in the field. Control streams and field reference Stations were dominated by mayflies and Tanytarsini chironomids. In contrast, treated Streams and impacted field sites were dominated by net-Spinning caddisflies (Hydropsychidae) and Orthocladiini chironomids. The similarity of these experimental results to those observed in the field suggest that macroinvertebrate community responses to heavy metals are highly predictable. Responses of these communities to Cu were greatly influenced by water quality. Effects were more severe in New River Streams, where water hardness and alkalinity were low, compared to Clinch River Streams, where hardness and alkalinity were higher. In soft water Streams, abundance was reduced by 84% after 10 d exposure to Cu (measured concentration = 13 μg/L). In contrast, abundance was reduced by only 45% in hard water Streams after 10 d at Similar Cu levels. These results demonstrate the importance of accounting for water quality characteristics of receiving systems when establishing site-specific criteria for metals. Chronic exposure (14 d) to sublethal levels of Cu (< 6 μg/L) increased Vulnerability of caddisflies (Hydropsyche morosa and Chimarra sp.) to predation by the Stonefly, Paragnetina fumosa. Caddisflies were also the major component of stonefly diets and were consumed Significantly more frequently in dosed Streams than controls. These results demonstrate that single Species bioassays were inadequate for predicting effects of toxicants on community level processes.<br>Ph. D.

This study provides the first critical history of British developments in phonetic science from 1890 to the beginning of the Second World War. It draws on both published and unpublished documentary evidence, and on original digital analyses of contemporary images, experimental data, and sound recordings. Experimental phonetics had diverse origins embracing medicine, physics and philology. A survey of the nineteenth century background shows that by 1890 significant British contributions in all three fields could have furnished the makings of a native approach to phonetics as an experimental science, but they failed to come together for a variety of bureaucratic, professional and personal reasons. Experimental phonetics-an academic fashion as much as a scientific specialism-was instead imported from Germany and France, and it had little continuity with British antecedents. The study details the earliest British phonetics laboratories, their personnel, equipment, and research programmes, providing the first extensive account of the UCL laboratory, and bringing to light a forgotten 1930s laboratory in Newcastle. The major methods of empirical investigation of the period are scrutinised, rehabilitating long-neglected British origins. The early work of Daniel Jones is extensively re-evaluated, establishing his scientific credentials, and the career of Stephen Jones, the first academic in Britain to earn a salary as an experimental phonetician, receives detailed treatment. New light is thrown on many neglected figures, including W. A. Aikin, E. R. Edwards, John G. McKendrick, and Wilfred Perrett, while a detailed investigation of the work of Sir Richard Paget reveals the astonishing accuracy of his auditory analyses. The study concludes with an account of the career of Robert Curry, the first recognisably modern and professional speech scientist to emerge in Britain.

Fundamental to the understanding of how rivers transform and shape our environment is the role of turbulence and complex, three-dimensional flow, such as vorticity, in sediment transport and erosion. However, classical sediment transport models (or formulae) are based, for the most part, on boundary shear stress and do not incorporate these natural phenomena. This is understandable given that the relationship between turbulence generation, intensity and form; the influence of turbulence on mobile sediment; and the magnitude and patterns of deposition and erosion are complex and difficult to quantify. Nevertheless, the failure to incorporate turbulence and complex, three-dimensional flow into existing models means that our understanding of sediment transport remains incomplete. The central hypothesis of this thesis is that vortical motion is the main factor in the development of local scour. To examine this, a comprehensive experimental approach was taken. This approach involved detailed measurements of the unique three-dimensional patterns of velocity, turbulence and bed morphology associated with flow in an open channel with and without the presence of submerged groyne-like structures (stream barbs and wing dikes) at both the laboratory and field scales. Using densely spaced velocity data and new techniques for processing and analyzing these data, it was possible to identify complex features of the flow field at both scales, such as the presence of vortex cores, and correlate these with changes in bed levels. These data provide a unique perspective of the spatial variability of velocity, turbulence and bed morphology in open channels (and in particular in channel bends, where flow is highly three-dimensional). In particular, it was found that, of the flow parameters analyzed, turbulent stresses were most correlated to scour in channel bends without the presence of structures. In contrast, vorticity was found to be the dominant factor in local scour hole development in the vicinity of submerged structures at both the laboratory and field scale. Such data are rare (if non-existent) in existing experimental research, particularly at the scale of a large natural river. This research also examines stream barb design and performance. Stream barbs (also known as submerged groynes or spur dikes) are a relatively novel approach to stream bank protection and are not common in Canada. The design and installation of stream barbs in a creek in Ottawa (Sawmill Creek) was undertaken to serve as a demonstration project for the use of these structures in a semi-alluvial channel, for which no such case studies exist. Three years of monitoring the site and the performance of these structures to reduce bank erosion and improve aquatic habitat have been carried out. Laboratory testing of stream barb performance was also undertaken and showed that with improper design, the outer bank in a channel bend may be more susceptible to erosion due to excessive local scour downstream of the barb. In particular, to avoid bank erosion downstream of the barb, barbs should be small, such that they create minimum flow obstruction, and include a bank key that is wider than the barb itself and extends in the downstream direction.

The development of hydrocarbon energy resources from shale, a fine-grained, low-permeability geological formation, has altered the global energy landscape. Constricting pressure exerted on a shale formation has a significant effect on the rock's apparent permeability. Gas flow in low-permeability shales is significantly different from liquid flow due to the Klinkenberg effect caused by gas molecule slip at the nanopore wall surfaces. This has the effect of increasing apparent permeability (i.e., the measured permeability). Optimizing the conductivity of the proppant assembly is another critical component of designing subsurface hydrocarbon production using hydraulic fracturing. Significant fracture conductivity can be achieved at a much lower cost than conventional material costs, according to the optimal partial-monolayer proppant concentration (OPPC) theory. However, hydraulic fracturing performance in unconventional reservoirs is problematic due of the complex geomechanical environment, and the experimental confirmation and investigation of the OPPC theory have been rare in previous studies. In this dissertation, a novel multiphysics shale transport (MPST) model was developed to account for the coupled multiphysics processes of geomechanics, fluid dynamics, and the Klinkenberg effect in shales. Furthermore, A novel multi-physics multi-scale multi-porosity shale gas transport (M3ST) model was developed based on the MPST model research to investigate shale gas transport in both transient and steady states, and a double-exponential empirical model was also developed as a powerful substitute for the M3ST model for fitting laboratory-measured apparent permeability. Additionally, throughout the laboratory experiment of fracture conductivity with proppant, the four visible stages documented the evolution of non-monotonic conductivity and proppant concentration. The laboratory methods and empirical model were then applied to the shale plugs from Central Appalachia to investigate the formation properties there. The benefits of developing these regions wisely include a smaller surface footprint, reduced infrastructure requirements, and lower development costs. The developed MPST, M3ST, double-exponential empirical models and research findings shed light on the role of multiphysics mechanisms, such as geomechanics, fluid dynamics and transport, and the Klinkenberg effect, in shale gas transport across multiple spatial scales in both steady and transient states. The fracture conductivity experiments successfully validate the theory of OPPC and illustrate that proppant embedment is the primary mechanism that causes the competing process between fracture width and fracture permeability and consequently the non-monotonic fracture conductivity evolution as a function of increasing proppant concentration. The laboratory experimental facts and the numerical fittings in this study provided critical insights into the reservoir characterization in Central Appalachia and will benefit the reservoir development using non-aqueous fracturing techniques such as CO2 and advanced proppant technologies in the future.<br>Doctor of Philosophy<br>Production of oil and gas from the extremely tight rock has changed the global energy industry, including job growth, energy security, and environment protection. However, the oil and gas production from the tight rock is difficult because of the complex rock properties. Hydraulic fracking can resolve the issue and contribute to the high production. The higher and safer production needs us to have a better understanding of oil and gas flow under the ground. A series of laboratory experiment were conducted, and a new shale gas transport model is introduced in this dissertation to explain the oil and gas flow under the complicated scenarios. The experimental results show that many factors can impact the oil and gas flow, and the model can match the experimental results very well. A few statistical methods are also used in the data analysis. The optimization of proppant pack is another important component of hydraulic fracking. Proppant particles are usually man-made ceramic tiny balls, which will be injected into the underground to keep the fractures from closing during the production. From the previous papers, it is possible to achieve high fracture conductivity at a much lower cost than traditional proppant costs. Many groups of laboratory experiment were conducted to demonstrate this guess. Many rock samples in the experiment are from Central Appalachian area, which can help the resource development in this area. The developed model and experimental research findings in this study provided critical insights into the role of the many physics mechanisms on shale gas transport, proppant optimization, and hydraulic fracking.

Parapsychological research, including the examination of the anomalous process termed ‘psi’, is highly controversial, with the existence of psi not accepted by mainstream science. The aim of this thesis was to study one aspect of psi, extrasensory perception (ESP), to examine whether evidence for ESP could be obtained or whether ostensibly extrasensory experiences can be attributed to purely psychological processes. Three studies are reported. The first obtained reports of spontaneous cases of ostensible ESP from 94 participants, using an online survey. Participants described their experience and responded to a series of questions regarding the aftermath of their experience and their reasoning for a paranormal interpretation. Results demonstrated several patterns that replicated earlier findings, including the predominance of female percipients, serious events, and close relationships between the percipient and target person. Negative emotions were common, including shock and confusion, particularly at the point of ostensible confirmation of the experience; the most common long-term response was an increase in paranormal belief, although some participants were relatively unaffected. Approximately two-thirds of participants had considered viable normal explanations for their experience, including coincidence and expectation of likely outcomes. Paranormal explanations were commonly attributed to the lack of a viable normal explanation, the striking coincidence between the experience and event, or the unusual nature of the experience. Many cases were weak evidentially; findings overall suggest that many ostensibly extrasensory experiences may have non-psi explanations. Two subsequent studies examined ESP in laboratory conditions, using the ganzfeld paradigm. Based on findings from spontaneous case research and previous laboratory studies, it was examined whether success was related to the emotional bond between pairs of participants, or to their sexes. The first study employed 30 pairs of participants, each taking part once as sender and once as receiver. Picture postcards were used as targets, and an emotional connectedness scale was used to assess pairing closeness. Direct hits and binary hits were above mean chance expectation (MCE); both were non-significant, although binary hitting was only marginally so. Results were suggestive of improved performance for closer pairings and mixed-sex pairings, but were non-significant. The second study was a partial replication, with 40 pairs of participants and using video clips as targets. EEG recordings were taken from the frontal midline (Fz) site of both participants. Approximately half of senders experienced stroboscopic stimulation at 6Hz throughout the trial in an attempt to drive theta rhythms associated with a hypnagogic state, mirroring the state expected in receivers due to ganzfeld stimulation. Direct hits were at MCE, while binary hits were non-significantly above MCE; binary hitting across the two studies was significant. There was no effect of pairing closeness or sexes on success, and hitting was not associated with any EEG features or with strobe usage. Overall, laboratory findings appeared promising in terms of significant binary hitting but continued a trend of inconsistency within and between ganzfeld ESP studies. This inconsistency, together with the many weakly evidential spontaneous cases collected, point more strongly to a psychological interpretation of ostensibly extrasensory experiences, rather than the elusive psi.

Questions of features of the distribution and the implementation of the educational component "Design of devices on microcontrollers and field programmed logical gate arrays" with the support of all stakeholders’ requirements to the latest technical knowledge are considered. Structural and technical description of the educational component is discussed.

Titan's VUV photochemistry is studied by laboratory simulation and numerical modeling.In the laboratory simulations, a gas flow of N2/CH4 (90/10) was irradiated by a continuousVUV (60-350 nm) synchrotron beam in a new reactor, named APSIS (Atmospheric Photochemistry SImulated by Synchrotron). The production of C2-C4 hydrocarbons as well as several nitriles is detected by in situ mass spectrometry and ex situ GC-MS of a cryogenic experiment.Our modeling strategy includes the treatment of uncertain parameters. We propose separaterepresentations of the uncertain photolysis cross-sections and branching ratios. This enables to develop a wavelength-dependent model for the branching ratios.Owing to this separation, in the modeling of Titan's atmosphere, we observe specific altitudes where the uncertainty on the photolysis rate constants vanishes. We show that the Ly-α methane photolysis branching ratios of Wang et al. (2000) and the commonly used 100% CH3 hypothesis for out-of-Ly-α ones should be avoided in Titan's photochemical models. A new ion-neutral coupled model was developed for the APSIS experiments. By this model, ion chemistry and in particular dissociative recombination are found to be very important. We identifed three growth families, of which the most unsaturated one, promoted by C2H2, is dominant. This agrees well with the unsaturated production in Titan's upper atmosphere observed by the Cassini INMS, but not with the in situ MS in the APSIS and Imanaka and Smith (2010)'s experiments, whose saturated productions are substantially higher and likely to originate from the catalysis by metallic walls of the reactors.

The research presented in this thesis studies the effects of foamed bitumen on the deformational behaviour and performance of pavement materials. The research was conducted in the laboratory and the field, using specific New Zealand materials. The aggregate used is a blend of a coarse aggregate imported from the Auckland region with a crushed dust from the Canterbury region. The bitumen selected for the study is an 80/100 bitumen grade, and the active filler was a Portland Cement, both commonly used for foamed bitumen stabilization in New Zealand. In the laboratory, samples of mixes with different foamed bitumen content were tested under various loading and stress conditions to investigate the effects of foamed bitumen on the deformational behaviour of the mix. The tests performed were: Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS), Indirect Tensile Resilient Modulus (ITM), Repeat Load Triaxial compression (RLT) and Monotonic Load Triaxial compression (MLT). Preliminary ITS and RLT tests conducted on mixes with 1% and 0% cement, at different foamed bitumen contents, indicated that mixes without cement performed poorly compared to the mixes with 1% cement. Therefore, the rest of the laboratory study was on mixes with 1% cement. ITS tests were conducted on 150 mm specimens prepared with 0% 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% bitumen content, with a common 1% cement. Results indicated that foamed bitumen increases the ITS values of the mix, up to an estimated optimum of 2.8% bitumen content. Similar trends were obtained with ITM tests, in which a diametrical load pulse was applied on 150 mm specimens, showing an estimated resilient modulus peak near to 2.8% bitumen content. RLT specimens were prepared at 0%, 2% and 4% bitumen content, at two compaction efforts, creating specimens at low and high bulk density. Permanent deformation RLT tests involved the application of seven stages of 50,000 load cycles each (4 Hz), with increasing deviator stress (from 75 kPa in the first stage, up to 525 kPa in the seventh stage) and at constant confining pressure of 50 kPa. Results of RLT permanent deformation tests indicated that the increase in the foamed bitumen content resulted in an increase in the permanent deformation of the material. MLT tests were conducted on specimens at 0%, 2% and 4% bitumen contents, at two compaction efforts, creating specimens of low and high bulk density, at confining pressures ranging from 50 kPa to 300 kPa, with a deformation rate of 2.1% per minute. Results indicated that the effect of foamed bitumen was a reduction of the peak vertical stress, or a reduction in the peak strength. The peak stresses obtained in MLT tests were plotted in stress diagrams, and the failure was approximated as linear function of the confining stress. The fundamental shear parameters (angle of internal friction and apparent cohesion) were estimated, and results indicated that foamed bitumen has no apparent effect in cohesion but does reduce the angle of internal friction. The reduction of the angle of internal friction explains the general trends observed in the laboratory, that on one hand the compressive strength decreases with increasing bitumen content, but on the other hand, the tensile strength increases up to an optimum. A full-scale experiment was carried out using an accelerated testing of foamed bitumen pavements at the Canterbury Accelerated Pavement Testing Indoor Facility (CAPTIF). In the full-scale experiments, the same materials that were tested in the laboratory (aggregates, bitumen, cement) were used to construct six different pavement sections, each with different contents of bitumen and cement. Three were constructed using foamed bitumen contents of 1.2%, 1.4% and 2.8% respectively, plus a common active filler content of 1.0% cement. Two more pavements were constructed adding cement only (1.0%), and foamed bitumen only (2.2%). In addition, one control section with the untreated unbound material was tested. Strains were collected using a 3D Emu soil strain system installed in each pavement section. The curing time between construction and pavement loading was approximately three months. The pavement response, such as surface deformation (rutting), surface deflections and strains were periodically recorded during the execution of the test. The strains were collected at different depths by using an array of Emu strain gauges. Deflections were recorded using both a Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) and CAPTIF Beam deflectometer, which is a modified Benkelmann beam. A total number of approximately 5.6 million equivalent standard axles were applied on the pavement sections. The rutting measured in the sections stabilised with foamed bitumen and cement was the lowest, showing that the addition of foamed bitumen significantly improved the performance of materials with 1% cement. The sections stabilised with cement only, foamed bitumen only, and the control untreated section showed large amounts of rutting and heaving by the end of the test. Deflection measurements showed that the effect of foamed bitumen content is a reduction of pavement deflections, with the lowest deflection measured in the section stabilised with 2.8% bitumen and 1% cement. The elastic pavement strains showed that foamed bitumen reduced the tensile strains in the basecourse but did not have a significant effect on vertical compressive strains. During the construction of pavements, material samples were taken for ITS and RLT testing. Results indicated that the highest ITS was measured in the section with 2.8% foamed bitumen content and 1% cement, and the ITS in the section without cement and foamed bitumen only was about 4-5 times lower than the ITS measured in specimens with cement. RLT specimens without cement performed poorly in comparison with the specimens with 1% cement. The specimens with 1% cement showed higher permanent deformation with increase in the foamed bitumen content, supporting the results from the previous laboratory study. To interpret and relate the results observed in the laboratory and the field, stress path analysis was used, in which the stress ratio of the foamed bitumen layers was calculated at different depths. The analysis showed that foamed bitumen content decreases the maximum stress ratio, hence reducing the proximity to failure and relative damage of the layer. Three-dimensional and two-dimensional finite element modelling of the CAPTIF pavements, were used to further investigate the stress and strain fields induced by the loading and to explain the pavement performance observed in the full-scale experiment.

We experimentally study the effects of allotment - the division of an item into homogeneous units - in independent private value auctions. We compare a single-item, first-price auction with two equivalent treatments with allotment: a two-unit discriminatory auction and two simultaneous single-unit first-price auctions. We find that allotment mitigates overbidding, with this effect being stronger in the discriminatory auction. In the allotment treatments, we observe large and persistent bid spreading. Across treatments, the discriminatory auction is the least efficient and generates the lowest revenue.

The importance of host heterogeneity in generating aggregation was investigated using Heligmosomoides polygyrus (Nematoda) in laboratory mice. The protocol compared parameters of infection between inbred and outbred mice, primary and challenge infections, and gavage and natural exposure, to investigate the relative effects of innate resistance, acquired resistance and behaviour, respectively. The results show that heterogeneity in acquired resistance is the most consistent factor contributing to the variability and aggregation of H. polygyrus. When groups of mice did not acquire resistance, either in certain inbred strains or when mice were immunosuppressed, variability after the challenge was comparable with that after a primary infection. Heterogeneity in host behaviour, particularly in behaviours enhancing skin contact with larvae, frequently increased aggregation above that detected in both primary and challenge infections. Surprisingly, inconsistent results were obtained when inbred and outbred groups of mice were compared. The results suggest that the relative contribution of these three factors is likely to vary spatially and temporally.

The fatigue performance of asphalt is addressed in the mechanistic-empirical pavement thickness design procedure used in Australia. The aim of this research program was to investigate the laboratory fatigue performance of a typical asphalt mix used in Western Australia as a structural layer, including the development of new testing protocols, a new fatigue life prediction model, an accelerated testing approach, and master curves that can be input into the M-E design procedures used in Australia.

Spectroscopic observations of cold and dense interstellar clouds show the presence of "dirty ice" mantles on dust grains, mainly composed by water molecules. These ices are enriched by the presence of other simple species that are either formed by surface reactions or accreted from the gas phase. While there is quite a general consensus that interstellar water ice is mainly amorphous, its morphology (porous or compact) still remains poorly known. Morphology is important due to its influence both on the catalytic efficiency of grain surfaces and on the release to the grain of the fraction of the formation energy of species, as shown by laboratory simulations of molecular hydrogen formation. Ice porosity may be identified through the weak infrared absorption features (~ 2.7 μm) showing the presence of dangling bonds on the pore surface. To our knowledge, there has been to date no detection of such absorptions in the infrared spectra of interstellar ices, perhaps suggesting that they may have a compact nature. It has been already investigated that interstellar porous ice may be compacted by the transient heating of stellar radiation and cosmic ray bombardment. In this thesis I report an experimental work, performed using FORMOLISM (the experimental apparatus at the University of Cergy-Pontoise - France), that shows relevant changes in the ice morphology following atomic hydrogen exposure. In particular, it is shown that a thin highly porous ice film is gradually changed into a more compact structure. This is probably due to the transient heating caused by the energy released to the ice during H2 formation. Such a process may also produce in the interstellar space compact amorphous ice mantles concurrently with the other envisaged processes. Moreover, I have experimentally analyzed the morphology of the just formed water ice. Analysing one of the possible mechanism of water formation (the pathway H + O2) under conditions mimicking those found in a molecular cloud, we have found that the water just synthesized has a non-porous structure. Indeed, the layers of water formed in this way show the kinetic characteristics typical of a compact (non-porous) ice, as for instance the D2 TPD peak position.