Clinical and forensic toxicology analysts rely heavily in their daily tests on the analysis of the conventional samples (blood and urine). However, these specimens are limited in the time scale they reflect with regard to drug intake history and also in terms of drug stability within the matrices. Alternative matrices such as hair, oral fluids and dried blood spots (DBS) provide new horizons and new opportunities. Drugs incorporated within hair are very stable. Hair also provides a very long detection window, for at least one year, if not a lot longer. Oral fluids on the other hand are non-intrusive, easy to collect and much cleaner sample matrix than blood or urine. DBS also offer great drug stability, are easy to collect, faster to analyse and suitable for automated analysis. However, a number of studies are needed to assess the limits of these alternative samples in terms of the correlation of their results with the results of conventional samples and with regard to drug stability. Such studies will enable a more reliable and confident interpretation of results obtained from these matrices especially for medico-legal purposes. The main aims of this research were: to develop and validate analytical methods for detection and quantitation of drugs of use and abuse in hair, oral fluids, blood and DBS samples, to investigate the correlation between dose and drug concentration in hair, blood and oral fluids after controlled chronic drug administration, to investigate the stability of anti-psychotic drugs in DBS (from patients) stored under different conditions and the effect of addition of preservative, and to investigate the alcohol intake prevalence among Kuwaiti drug addicts and correlate these results with selfreported intake. As the majority of drugs were basic, an extraction method based on methanolic incubation was developed for detection of basic/weak basic drugs in hair. It was compared to alkaline digestion (with NaOH) followed by liquid-liquid extraction (LLE). Detection was achieved by LC-MS/MS (Sciex2000) after separation on a C18 column. When applying both methods on positive authentic hair samples the results showed that the methanolic method was capable of extracting most basic drugs in hair but only partially, while the alkaline digestion method was found to degrade V some unstable drugs like sulpiride, but was capable of fully extracting the alkaline stable drugs such as quetiapine. After development and validation of the LLE-LC-MS(Exactive) method for the analysis of anti-psychotics in blood, oral fluids and hair, an investigation was carried out on the correlation pattern between trough concentrations in those three matrices. The most significant correlation coefficients (r) found were those between blood and hair concentrations, procyclidine r=0.83 (18 subjects p=<0.001), risperidone r=0.96 (14 subjects p=<0.001), haloperidol r=0.90 (10 subjects p=<0.001), OH-risperidone r=0.24 (13 subjects p=>0.44), quetiapine r=0.28 (14 subjects p=>0.33) and chlorprothixene r=0.32 (13 subjects p=>0.32). Among the interesting results was the strong correlation found between drugs half-lives and the mean ratio of hair concentration/dose (r=0.96, p=<0.003). The stability of anti-pyschotics in DBS from patients’ samples was assessed by storing them at four different temperatures (25, 4, -20 and -80°C) with and without prior impregnation of the DBS cards with sodium fluoride. After development and validation of the LLE-LC-MS method, samples were analysed at days 0, 45, 90 and 180. Results showed good stability of all the compounds (procyclidine, quetiapine, risperidone, OH-risperidone, chlorprothixene and haloperidol) in all the different storage conditions and no significant increase or decrease in drug concentrations with sodium fluoride impregnation. Finally, after trials with five different HPLC columns, two SPE cartridges, two LLE extraction procedures and two mass spectrometer instruments, a method was developed and validated for the detection and quantitation of alcohol’s minor and specific metabolite in hair, ethyl glucuronide (EtG). The method has a limit of detection (LOD) of 3pg/mg and lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) of 9pg/mg. This method was applied to 59 hair samples from patients at a general addiction centre and alcohol prevalence was investigated and its correlation with self-reported use was investigated.

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This thesis outlines research completed in partnership between Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and Liverpool John Moores University. The aim of the research was to investigate ways to develop and implement a bespoke Geographic Information System framework that could be used to identify risk of future anomalous accidental dwelling fires. This thesis outlines the techniques used to develop the framework and its application. In particular, the thesis presents an understanding of accidental dwelling fire causal factors and how data related to these can be incorporated into a model for identifying risk and targeting initiatives relative to the risk. The thesis also investigates two strands of customer insight developed for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service. These are community profiles, based on a cluster analysis approach, to understand risks present within communities and the vulnerable person index, which identifies individuals most at risk from fire using data shared through information sharing agreements. Nationally recognised risk modelling toolkits, such as the Fire Service Emergency Cover toolkit do not utilise local information or have the ability to identify risk to an individual level. There is a need for this intelligence to be able to proactively target services, such as the Home Fire Safety Check. This paper also discusses some of the key operational and strategic areas that benefit from this information and presents some case studies related to the application of the research.

Orientador: Philippe Remy Bernard Devloo / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Mecânica e Instituto de Geociências / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-26T09:51:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Costa_TiagoAlmeida_M.pdf: 7685578 bytes, checksum: 231fff08b0162a14bb521580369420f8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: A análise transiente da Equação da Difusividade Hidráulica (EDH) é de grande importância para a modelagem e interpretação de testes de formação, onde torna-se necessário captar efeitos da queda de pressão no reservatório devida a uma produção de curto tempo na vizinhança do poço. O Método dos Elementos Finitos (MEF) pode ser aplicado para essa finalidade com ganho significativo na precisão da resposta de pressão do modelo, observando que a capacidade de refinamento da malha ganha flexibilidade geométrica para a representação do problema, além da possibilidade de trabalhar com altas ordens polinomiais nas funções de aproximação. Neste trabalho, é apresentada a formulação variacional do problema a ser resolvido pelo MEF e o algoritmo implementado computacionalmente para se obter a solução da equação diferencial parabólica (problema em regime transiente), destacando as etapas adicionais em relação ao que se faz normalmente na solução da equação diferencial elíptica (problema em regime permanente). As diferenças principais são: i) a inclusão de uma matriz de massa e ii) a atualização do vetor de cargas a cada passo de tempo. Estão mostrados exemplos com a resolução do problema para diferentes condições de refinamento da malha e tamanho do passo de tempo. As respostas obtidas estão comparadas com as soluções analíticas existentes na literatura, agregando confiabilidade ao método de resolução do problema. Por fim, são feitos comentários sobre a potencialidade da ferramenta, explorando cenários mais amplos, tais como: poços construídos com geometria complexa, reservatórios com heterogeneidades significativas, inserção de fraturas, dentre outros que poderiam ser modelados utilizando a técnica / Abstract: The transient analysis of the hydraulic diffusion equation is the basis for modeling a well test. In order to understand it, it's necessary capture the pressure gradient effects in the well neighborhood that appear in the early times. The Finite Element Method (FEM) can be applied in order to reach this objective with significant precision gain in the pressure response of the well test model. The FEM has a notable refinement capability and in this implementation is possible to use different polynomial orders for the test and trial functions. It allows an excellent flexible geometric representation of the reservoir model and accurate numeric solution by using high polynomial orders. In this paper, the variational formulation and the computational implementation are presented to solve the parabolic diffusion equation under appropriate boundary conditions. In the transient solution process, two steps are emphasized; the inclusion of a mass matrix and the update of the load vector at each time-step. The numerical responses were compared to the available analytical solutions for vertical and horizontal wells in order to validate the program calculations. Finally the potential of the numerical tool is explored to analyze different problems, such as: significant heterogeneous reservoirs, wells with complex geometries and fracture analysis / Mestrado / Explotação / Mestre em Ciências e Engenharia de Petróleo

This study aims to optimize the logistics processes of container terminals. Potentially powerful pipe-flow models of container terminal logistics processes have been neglected to date and modelling of terminals is rare. Because research which adopts a pipe flow and dynamic operational perspective is rare, a case application in Alexandria, Egypt collated empirical container and information flows using interviews and company records to describe its logistics processes and model container and information flows. The methodology used includes qualitative and quantitative methods and a descriptive methodology proceeds sequentially. Primary and secondary data were presented as a pipe flow model to show interrelations between the company’s resources and to identify bottlenecks. Simulation modelling used Simul8 software. Operational level modelling of both import and export flows simulated the actual inbound and outbound flows of containers from entry to exit. The import logistics process includes activities such as unloading vessels by quay cranes, moving containers by tractors to yard cranes to go for storage where customs procedures take place before exiting the terminal by customer’s truck. The export logistics process includes the activities associated with customers’ trucks, lifters, storage yards, tractors and quay cranes. The model takes into account the uncertainties in each activity. This study focuses on operational aspects rather than cost issues, and considers container flows rather than vessel flows. Although the simulated model was not generalized, implementation elsewhere is possible. Following successful validation of a base simulation model which reproduces the case company’s historical scenario, scenario testing empowered the case company to pro-actively design and test the impact of operational changes on the entire logistics process. The study evaluates a typical container terminal logistics system including both import and export containers in the presence of multiple uncertainties in terminal operations (e.g. quay crane operations, tractor operations, yard crane operations). Sensitivity testing and scenario analysis can empower terminal managers to make decisions to improve performance, and to guide terminal planners, managers, and operators in testing future investment scenarios before implementation.

Moderní pokrok v oblasti technologií pro vývoj dnešních softwarových aplikací umožnil vývojářům více se soustředit na vývoj funkčnosti aplikace na úkor sledování jejího výkonu a správy zdrojů. V důsledku toho se zvýšily požadavky na nástroje pro výkonnostní testování, které by měly poskytovat vývojářům jasný a srozumitelný přehled o stavu systému z hlediska jeho výkonu a umožnit rychlou interpretaci naměřených výsledků. Tato práce zkoumá typické výkonnostní problémy dnešních aplikací a navrhuje přístupy, pomocí kterých je možné tyto anomálie automaticky rozpoznat. Pomocí statistických metod, jako je regresní a korelační analýza, je provedena analýza dat naměřených během výkonnostního testování s cílem rozpoznat ve výsledcích odchylky od normálního chování a z nich identifikovat výkonnostní problémy. Výsledkem je report o celkovém stavu systému z hlediska jeho výkonu. Implementací regresní analýzy je možné detekovat výkonnostní problémy jako je například zhoršující se reakční čas odpovědi, nízká propustnost systému či odhalit únik paměti. Navrhovaný přístup byl implementován v podobě nové komponenty v open-source nástroji pro výkonnostní testování PerfCake. Vyvinutá komponenta je schopna detekovat a reportovat potenciální výkonnostní problémy a jejich pravděpodobnost.

The high specific strength and stiffness of composite materials, as well as the possibility of creating a load-adapted property profile of them are ideally suited for the design of high-speed lightweight rotors. With respect to a load-adapted reinforcement structure of composite rotors, the rotor geometry has a significant influence on the optimum fibre orientation. In the case of conical rotors—the structural behaviour is strongly influenced by centrifugally induced bending effects in the rotor structure, which cause complex three-dimensional stress states in combination with the ordinary tangential and radial stresses. For analysis of the resulting complex stress states, an analytical method has been developed and verified numerically as well as experimentally. The novel method presented here is the basis for a realistic failure analysis and, in particular, serves as an efficient tool for extensive parameter studies and optimizations within the design process.

This study investigated the vibration serviceability of timber structures with dowel-type connections. It addressed the use of such connections in cutting-edge timber structures such as multi-storey buildings and long-span bridges, in which the light weight and flexibility of the structure make it possible that vibration induced by dynamic forces such as wind or footfall may cause discomfort to occupants or users of the structure, or otherwise impair its intended use. The nature of the oscillating force imposed on connections by this form of vibration was defined based on literature review and the use of established mathematical models. This allowed the appropriate cyclic load to be applied in experimental work on the most basic component of a dowel-type connection: a steel dowel embedding into a block of timber. A model for the stiffness of the timber in embedment under this cyclic load was developed based on an elastic stress function, which could then be used as the basis of a model for a complete connector. Nonlinear and time-dependent behaviour was also observed in embedment, and a simple rheological model incorporating elastic, viscoelastic and plastic elements was fitted to the measured response to cyclic load. Observations of the embedment response of the timber were then used to explain features of the behaviour of complete single- and multiple-dowel connections under cyclic load representative of in-service vibration. Complete portal frames and cantilever beams were tested under cyclic load, and a design method was derived for predicting the stiffness of such structures, using analytical equations based on the model for embedment behaviour. In each cyclic load test the energy dissipation in the specimen, which contributes to the damping in a complete structure, was measured. The analytical model was used to predict frictional energy dissipation in embedment, which was shown to make a significant contribution to damping in single-dowel connections. Based on the experimental results and analysis, several defining aspects of the dynamic response of the complete structures, such as a reduction of natural frequency with increased amplitude of applied load, were related to the observed and modelled embedment behaviour of the connections.

This thesis presents a detailed SIMULINK model for a conventional capacitive &amp / #931 / -&amp / #916 / accelerometer system consisting of a MEMS accelerometer, closed-loop readout electronics, and signal processing units (e.g. decimation filters). By using this model, it is possible to estimate the performance of the full accelerometer system including individual noise components, operation range, open loop sensitivity, scale factor, etc. The developed model has been verified through test results using a capacitive MEMS accelerometer, full-custom designed readout electronics, and signal processing unit implemented on a FPGA. Conventional accelerometer system with force-feedback is used in this thesis. The sensor is a typical capacitive lateral accelerometer. The readout electronics form a 2nd order electromechanical &amp / #931 / -&amp / #916 / modulator together with the accelerometer, and provide a single-bit PDM output, which is decimated and filtered with a signal processing unit, software implemented on a FPGA. The whole system is modeled in MATLAB-SIMULINK since it has both mechanical and electrical parts. To verify the model, two accelerometer systems are implemented. Each accelerometer system is composed of a MEMS accelerometer, readout circuit, and decimation filters. These two different designs are implemented and simulation and test results are compared in terms of output noise, operational range, open loop sensitivity, and scale factor. The first design operates at 500 kHz sampling rate and has 0.48 V/g open-loop sensitivity, 58.7 &micro / g/&amp / #8730 / Hz resolution, &plusmn / 12g operation range, and 0.97*10-6 g/(output units) scale factor, where these numbers are in close agreement with the estimated results found with simulations. Similarly, the second design operates at 500 kHz sampling rate and has 0.45 V/g open-loop sensitivity, 373.3 &micro / g/&amp / #8730 / Hz resolution, &plusmn / 31g operation range, and 2.933*10-6 g/(output units) scale factor, where these numbers are also close to the estimated results found with simulations. Within this thesis study, an accelerometer sensing element design algorithm is also proposed which is based on the theoretical background obtained in accelerometer system SIMULINK model. This algorithm takes the requirements of the desired accelerometer as input and outputs the dimensions of the minimum noise accelerometer satisfying these requirements. The algorithm is extended to design three different accelerometer structures. An accelerometer sensing element is designed using the proposed design algorithm and tested in order to see performance matching of the algorithm. The designed accelerometer has &plusmn / 33.02g operational range and 155&micro / g/&amp / #8730 / Hz noise where these numbers matches with the values found by the algorithm

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Melbourne, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2007. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 344-361).