Includes bibliography.

Includes bibliography / vi, 153 [i.e. ca. 300] leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Entomology, 1985

Devido a forte concorrência dentro do mercado automobilístico, aspectos como qualidade e custo tornam-se prioritários na busca de competitividade. Diversas empresas trabalham em propostas visando a redução de custo sem perda de qualidade. Diversos veículos dentro do mercado brasileiro usam o coxim hidráulico no sistema de apoio do motor. A proposta inicial visa substituição deste coxim por um coxim elastomérico. Seguindo esta proposta, tem-se esta pesquisa que visa apresentar comparativamente o comportamento entre o coxim hidráulico e o coxim elastomérico. Além da revisão bibliográfica, realizamos o estudo comparativo experimental com peças físicas avaliadas conforme especificações utilizadas pela indústria automobilística. Observamos que o coxim elastomérico apresentou substancial melhoria desde os anos 70, oferecendo bom compromisso entre rigidez estática e isolação de vibração. O coxim hidráulico, por sua vez, apresenta alto amortecimento na faixa de baixa freqüência e sua rigidez dinâmica ainda é maior na faixa de alta freqüência, porém seu desempenho quanto a isolação de vibração irá depender da rigidez dinâmica, da constante de amortecimento e da faixa de freqüência em estará submetido. Devido ao custo do coxim elastomérico ser cerca de três vezes menor que o custo do coxim hidráulico, o mesmo torna-se grande atrativo para compor o sistema de apoio do motor. Ainda acrescentamos que se deve avaliar o veículo como um todo em laboratórios especializados para avaliação do desempenho quanto ao conforto do usuário. / Due to strong competition inside of the automotive market, aspects as quality and cost become priority in the search of competitiveness. Several companies work in proposals seeking the cost reduction without quality loss. Several vehicles inside of Brazilian market use the hydraulic mount at their engine mount system. The initial proposal seeks the substitution of this type of mount by an elastomeric mount. Based on this proposal, we have this research that intends to present comparatively the behavior between the hydraulic mount and the elastomeric mount. Besides the researched bibliography, we accomplished the practical comparative study with physical parts evaluating as specifications used by automotive industries. We observed that the elastomeric mount presented substantial improvements since the seventies, offering good compromising between static stiffness and isolation vibration performance. The hydraulic mount presents high damping at low frequency range but its dynamic stiffness at high frequency is larger than elastomeric mount, but its performance at vibration isolation will depend of dynamic stiffness, damping coefficient and of the frequency range that it will be submitted. Due to the cost of the elastomeric mount to be about three times smaller than hydraulic mount cost, the elastomeric mount becomes great attraction to compose the engine mount system. Besides the cost, is evident that should be also evaluate the performance for the users comfort and new studies in specialized laboratories shall be accomplished.

Diploma thesis deals with the developement of hovercraft prototype. Hovercraft is generally included into the category of light appliances. It is considered as a appliance for vacation or experimental utilisation. Interior is customised for 5 member crew or else up to 600 kg of loading. Diploma thesis is focused on the exterior of the hovercraf, hence there are mentioned solutions of selected node points in interior with a view to the ergonomic features. There is an outcome of original design combined with modern technological solutions and materials in this diploma thesis project.

Thesis (PhD (Conservation Ecology and Entomology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Min aandag is al gegee aan biogeomorfologiese interaksies in glasiale en periglasiale omgewings. Nietemin is hierdie interaksies, wat op die skeidingsvlak tussen ekologie en geomorfologie fokus, baie belangrik in hierdie omgewings, waar organismes in noue verband met die abiotiese omgewing saamleef. In hierdie tesis bestudeer ek die interaksies tussen die vaskulêre plantspesies met die hoogste voorkoms op sub-Antarktiese Marion Eiland, Azorella selago Hook. (Apiaceae), en die omringende geomorfologiese landskapsvorme, -prosesse en meettegnieke. Verder verskaf die tesis voorstelle om toekomstige geïntegreerde biogeomorfologiese navorsing te vergemaklik. Om die gevolge van A. selago-plante vir sedimentbeweging en -verspreiding te verstaan, het ek die verspreiding van sedimentgroottes om hierdie plante gemeet deur middel van 'n kombinasie van fotografiese analise-metodes. Deur as sedimentbewegingsobstruksies te dien, het plante 'n waarneembare effek op die omringende sedimentverdeling. Dit is veral belangrik om hierdie interaksies tussen A. selago en sy omgewing te verstaan in die lig van onlangse klimaatsverandering op die eiland, omdat sedimentgrootte belangrike grondeienskappe soos waterretensiekapasiteit en vriesgevoeligheid beïnvloed. Om die effek wat A. selago plante op die omringende mikroklimaat het beter te verstaan, is die kleinskaalse variabiliteit in grondtemperature om A. selago plante bestudeer. Grootskaalse grondligting as gevolg van fors is gemeet, ten spyte van relatief ligte forseienskappe. Dit dui daarop dat naaldys ook by temperature bo -2°C kan vorm. Wintergrondtemperature aan die oostekant van plante was effens laer en minder veranderlik as aan die westekant van plante, waarskynlik as gevolg van laer windsnelhede en/of sneeu wat ophoop aan die oostelike, lykant van plante. Die resultate benadruk dat A. selago plante 'n belangrike rol speel in die verandering van mikroklimate en dat dit belangrik is om die gevolge van sulke veranderings, soos die skep van mikrohabitatte vir grondorganismes, te verstaan. Daar word vermoed dat positiewe plantinteraksies negatiewe interaksies oorheers in omgewings met hoe abiotiese druk. Gevolglik wys ek dat daar 'n positiewe verband bestaan tussen A. selago plante en saailinge van beide A. selago self, asook van die meerjarige gras Agrostis magellanica Lam. (Poaceae). Ek stel voor dat beide plante en klippe sade, wat deur wind, reenval en/of afdraande sedimenttransportering as gevolg van vriesprosesse vervoer word, opvang. Verder dui verhoogde A. selago saailinggetalle om plante, maar nie om klippe nie, daarop dat plante een of ander biologiese voordeel aan A. selago saailinge bied. Dit is bekend dat die verspreidingspatrone van plantspesies as gevolg van abiotiese stresgradiente varieër. Met hierdie bevinding in gedagte, is moontlike faktore verantwoordelik vir A. selago saailinggetalle en -verspreidingspatrone, soos hoogte bo seespieël en substraatbedekking, bestudeer. Alhoewel dit wil voorkom asof daar 'n verband tussen saailinggetalle en hoogte bo seespieël is, is saailinggetalle en verpreidings meestal afhanklik van ongemeette perseel-spesifieke eienskappe. Plante kan die omringende geomorfologie beïnvloed, maar ook geomorfologiese meettegnieke. Om die potensiaal van kosmogeniese dateringsmetodes as geomorfologiese hulpmiddels in fellfield habitatte te verken, is die akkumulasietempo van die kosmogeniese isotoop ¹ºBe onder en langs 'n A. selago plant bepaal. Die resultate dui daarop dat ¹ºBe nie ten volle in die grondprofiel behoue bly nie en verskeie potensiële redes word bespreek. Verder dui die resultate daarop dat ¹ºBe konsentrasies in fellfield habitatte versigtig geïnterpreteer moet word, aangesien A. selago plante effektief ¹ºBe opvang in hulle grondryke kern. Om vordering in biogeomorfologie te vergemaklik, is dit belangrik om bewus te wees van die verskillende metodes wat geomorfoloë en ekoloë volg. Ekologiese benaderings is dikwels op strenger statistiese tegnieke gebaseer, terwyl geomorfoloë eerder fokus op 'n meer beskrywende benadering en teoretiese beredenering. Ek verduidelik hoekom die twee velde sulke uiteenlopende benaderings volg, benadruk moontlike struikelblokke en verskaf voorstelle om samewerking te vergemaklik. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There are few scientific publications that relate to biogeomorphological interactions in glacial and periglacial environments. Interactions that focus on the interface between ecology and geomorphology are very important in these environments, as a tight coupling often exists between organisms and their abiotic surroundings. In this thesis the interactions between the dominant vascular cushion plant species on sub-Antarctic Marion Island, Azorella selago Hook. (Apiaceae), and the surrounding geomorphological landforms, processes and measuring techniques were studied. In addition, the thesis provides suggestions to facilitate future integrated biogeomorphological research. To understand the consequences of A. selago cushions for substrate movement and sorting, the grain size distribution of sediment surrounding these cushions was quantified using a combination of image analysis approaches. Through obstructing frost-related sediment transport, A. selago cushions are shown to affect the grain size sorting of the surrounding sediment. Particle size affects soil properties such as water-holding capacity and frost susceptibility. It is therefore important to understand the interactions between A. selago cushions and sediment distributions, especially in the light of recent warming and drying on the island. Fine scale variability in soil temperature parameters was studied around cushions to improve understanding on how A. selago affects the surrounding soil microclimate. Despite the mild frost climate, extensive frost heave occurred in the study area, indicating that needle ice forms above the previously suggested required temperature of -2°C. Lower and less variable winter temperatures were found on eastern than on western cushion sides, probably as a result of lower wind speeds or leeside snow accumulation on eastern cushion sides. These research findings highlight the importance of A. selago cushions in modifying site microclimates. Such modifications could have important potential consequences, such as providing microhabitats for soil microorganisms and seedlings. Positive plant interactions have been suggested to dominate over negative interactions in environments with high abiotic stress. Positive associations were found between A. selago and both its own seedlings and those of the perennial grass, Agrostis magellanica Lam. (Poaceae) on Marion Island. It is suggested that both cushions and rocks trap seeds dispersed by wind, runoff and/or downslope sediment transport through frost creep. In addition, increased A. selago seedling numbers around cushions, but not around rocks, suggest that cushions provide a biological nurse effect to seedlings of their own kind. Plant species' distributions have been known to vary in response to abiotic stress gradients. In light of this, determinants of A. selago seedling distributions and abundance, such as altitude and substrate cover, were explored. Although there appears to be some altitudinal trend, seedling distributions and abundance patterns were largely attributed to unaccounted variation between sites. Plants can affect the surrounding geomorphology, but also geomorphological measuring techniques. To explore the potential of cosmogenic dating techniques as geomorphological tools in fellfield habitats, accumulation rates of the cosmogenic isotope ­¹ºBe were assessed underneath and adjacent to an A. selago cushion. The results show that ¹ºBe is not fully retained in the soil profile and various reasons are discussed. Furthermore, the results suggest that ¹ºBe concentrations should be interpreted cautiously in fellfield habitats, as A. selago cushions effectively intercept the isotope in their soil-rich core. To facilitate the integration of geomorphological and ecological principles, as was attempted in this thesis, it is important to understand the philosophies behind the different research approaches that ecologists and geomorphologists employ. Ecologists often employ a more statistics-based approach, whereas geomorphologists focus on a more descriptive approach and reasoning based on established theories. I attempt to explain why the two fields follow such different approaches, highlight some potential challenges and provide suggestions to facilitate progress in the interdisciplinary field of biogeomorphology.

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) occur in 5% of births. While gene mutations have been identified in CHD patients, not much is known about coordinated signaling mechanisms during heart morphogenesis. Endocardial cushions of the atrioventricular canal and outflow tract contribute to the formation of valves and septa in the heart. Epithelial cell to mesenchymal cell transition (EMT) is a key process in cardiac cushions before this tissue undergoes remodeling into valves and septa. Defining complex signaling networks directing cardiac cushion epithelial to mesenchymal transition is essential for understanding the etiology of CHDs. We identified the MAP3Kinases, MEKK3 and MEKK4, as signaling components present during cardiovascular development. MEKK3 is detected in myocardium and endocardium surrounding the cardiac cushions of the atrioventricular canal during heart morphogenesis, while MEKK4 is found in the myocardium, endocardium, and cushion mesenchyme. Functional assays were employed to examine how MEKK3 and MEKK4 kinase activity contributes to endocardial EMT. Addition of dominant negative (dn)-MEKK3 or dn-MEKK4 to endocardial cushion explants, cultures that recapitulate in vivo EMT, causes a significant decrease in mesenchyme formation as compared to controls. Ventricular explant cultures, where the endocardial cells do not normally undergo EMT, provided with constitutively active (ca) MEKK3 activates mesenchyme production. ca-MEKK4 is not sufficient to cause EMT in ventricular endocardium. Furthermore, ca-MEKK3 expression in ventricular explants leads to increased secreted TGFβ2, which mediates mesenchyme formation. Blockade of TGFβ2 in ventricular explant cultures provided with ca-MEKK3 ablates the activation of EMT. In addition to in vitro studies, we show that mice expressing kinase inactive MEKK4 have myxomatous valves characterized by increased proliferation and changes in extracellular matrix molecules such as hyaluronan. We next investigated whether signal transduction is affected in cushions and valves of the MEKK4 kinase inactive mice. Abnormal TGFβ signaling is observed in MEKK4 mutant hearts, which is also seen with Marfan's sydrome. Remarkably, activated MEKK3 is maintained in cardiac cushions of these mice after EMT indicating compensation by MEKK3 for loss of MEKK4 catalytic activity. Our observations define MEKK3 and MEKK4 expression during cardiovascular development and suggest that MEKK3 and MEKK4 have diverse functions during development of heart valves.

Membranes are essential components of all living organisms forming the borders of cells and their organelles. Planar lipid membranes deposited on solid substrates (solid supported membranes) provide models to study the functions of membrane proteins and are used as biosensing platforms. However, despite remarkable progress, solid supported membranes are not stable to harsh conditions such as dehydration, high temperature and pressure, and mechanical stress. In addition, the direct deposition of membranes onto a solid substrate often causes restricted mobility and denaturation of reconstituted membrane proteins. Membrane stability can be addressed by altering the structure of the component lipids. Bolalipids are an interesting class of bipolar lipids that have been proposed for biosensing applications. Membranes formed from mixtures of a bolalipid, C20BAS, and dioleoylphosphaphatidylcholine, POPC, were characterized by atomic force spectroscopy (AFM). The lipid mixtures produced a phase separated membrane consisting of thinner bolalipid-rich and thicker monopolar-rich POPC regions, with a height difference of approximately 1-2 nm. This confirmed an earlier prediction that some bolalipid/PC membranes would phase separate due to the hydrophobic mismatch between the two lipids. Interestingly, the surface coverage of the two phases was inconsistent with what one would expect from the initial starting lipid ratios. The complex membrane morphologies observed were accredited to the interplay of several factors, including a compositionally heterogeneous vesicle population, exchange of lipid between the vesicle solution and solid substrate during formation of the supported membrane, and slow equilibration of domains due to pinning of the lipids to the solid support. Decoupling the membrane from its underlying surface is one strategy to maintain the structure and mobility of membrane proteins. This decoupling can be achieved by depositing the membrane on a soft cushion composed of a water swelling hydrophilic polymer. A polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) and a tethered poly(ethylene) glycol (PEG) polymer are the two types of polymer cushions used in this study. The PEMs consist of the charged polysaccharides, chitosan (CHI) and hyaluronic acid (HA) which offer the advantage of biocompatibility over synthetic PEMs. DOPC lipid bilayers were formed at pH 4 and 6.5 on (CHI/HA)5 films. At higher pH adsorbed lipids had low mobility and large immobile lipid fractions; fluorescence and AFM showed that this was accredited to the formation of poor quality membranes with defects and pinned lipids rather than to a layer of surface-adsorbed vesicles. However, more uniform bilayers with mobile lipids were produced at pH 4. Measured diffusion coefficients were similar to those for bilayers on PEG cushions and considerably higher than those measured on other polyelectrolyte films. The results suggest that the polymer surface charge is more important than the surface roughness in controlling formation of mobile supported bilayers. The suitability of polymer supported membranes for the incorporation of integral membrane proteins was also assessed. The integral membrane protein Ste14p, a 26 kDa methyltransferase enzyme, was reconstituted into POPC membranes on PEM and PEG supports. A combination of fluorescence microscopy, FRAP, AFM and an in situ methyltransferase activity assay were utilized to characterize the protein incorporated polymer supported membranes. Fluorescence measurements showed that more protein was incorporated in model membranes formed on the PEG support, compared to either glass or PEM cushions. However, the protein activity on a PEG support was comparable to that of the protein in a membrane on glass. FRAP measurements showed that the lipid mobilities of the POPC:Ste14p bilayers on the various supports were also comparable. Lastly, as a new platform for manipulating and handling membrane proteins, nanodiscs containing reconstituted Ste14p were studied. Nanodiscs are small, soluble and stable bilayer discs that permit the study of membrane proteins in a uniform phospholipid bilayer environment. Empty and protein containing nanodiscs were deposited on a mica surface and imaged by AFM. AFM showed that protein containing samples possessed two subpopulations of nanodiscs with a height difference of ~1 nm. The taller discs, ~20% of the population, contained protein. Other experiments showed that the packing of the nanodisc samples was influenced by their initial stock concentration and that both imaging force and the addition of Mg2+ caused formation of larger bilayer patches.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1966. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Bibliography: l. 126-128.

Thesis (M.A.) -- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 2006. / Not embargoed. Vita. Bibliography: 101-102.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2007. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 59 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 51-52).