Yes / Titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V is known for both its excellent mechanical properties and its low surface hardness. This study explores a two-step process for depositing a hard nanocrystalline coating onto the surface of the Ti-alloy, followed by surface melting, which embeds hard nanoparticles into a thin surface layer of the alloy. The treated surface layer was studied using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Vicker's micro-hardness testing. The results of the study show that the surface of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy can be successfully hardened by embedding nanosized Al2O3 particles into the surface using gas tungsten arc welding to melt the surface of the material. Surface melting the Ti-6Al-4V alloy with a 50A welding current produced the maximum microhardness of 701 HV0.2kg. The micro-hardness of the treated surface layer decreased with the increasing size of the nanoparticles, while the roughness of the surface increased with the increasing welding current. The heat input into the surface during the surface melting process resulted in the formation of various intermetallic compounds capable of further increasing the hardness of the Ti-6Al-4V surface.

Yes / The activity-regulated cytoskeleton associated protein (Arc/Arg3.1) plays a key role in determining synaptic strength through facilitation of AMPA receptor (AMPAR) endocytosis. Although there is considerable data on the mechanism by which Arc induction controls synaptic plasticity and learning behaviours, several key mechanistic questions remain. Here we review data on the link between Arc expression and the clathrin-mediated endocytic pathway which internalises AMPARs and discuss the significance of Arc binding to the clathrin adaptor protein 2 (AP-2) and to endophilin/dynamin. We consider which AMPAR subunits are selected for Arc-mediated internalisation, implications for synaptic function and consider Arc as a therapeutic target. / The work in S.A.L.C. laboratory is supported by the BBSRC (BB/H018344/1 and BB/J02127X/1) and Wellcome Trust 200646/Z/16/Z. The work in M.J.W. Laboratory is supported by ERUK.

Arc Flash events occur due to faults in electrical equipment combined with a significant release of energy across an electrical arc. Due to the large energy release, plasma is generated, pressures increase, and the plasma expands. Under these conditions the plasma becomes excited enough to liquefy metal causing physical damage to equipment and any humans in the vicinity. This thesis investigates the state of art for detection of arc flash events and investigates a method of improving detection reliability, and speed by monitoring the high frequency voltage / current patterns utilizing methods similar to arc flash circuit interrupters (AFCI). A second alternative detection approach is determined through analysis of the physics of plasma development. The current state of art is based upon light detection. However this thesis experimentally investigates what happens before the arc event emits visible light. The results show that current flows to ground during an arc event slightly prior to the production of light. Further it shows through analysis of the physics of plasma that a high speed plasma detector has the potential to identify an arc event before the presence of visible light. Through the design and construction of experimental test setups, and physics analysis, this thesis provides new paths for detecting arc events that present opportunities to improve detection time.

This thesis investigates single pole reclosing in series capacitor compensated line. An algorithm is developed to determine the optimal dead time required for single pole reclose of circuit breakers and to reduce the randomness of reclosing time. The algorithm considers conditions of system, fault, voltage zero crossing, arc, and IEEE C37.104-2012 standard de-ionization time. This study also addresses difficulties of single pole reclose operation such as over-voltages at the line, secondary arc extinguishing time, dead time, over-voltages across the series capacitor, and negative sequence current. The system performance is evaluated using a set of metrics based on those operation difficulties. Methods used in the industry such as shunt reactor with the neutral reactor, surge arrester, and MOV are modelled and simulated to capture their effect on the operation difficulties. Comparative analysis is made to rank the effectiveness of each element against difficulties in operating single pole reclosing of circuit breakers.

A perda de neurônios dopaminérgicos na substância negra é típica na doença de Parkinson (DP) e resulta em hiperexcitabilidade dos neurônios espinais médios advinda de uma neurotransmissão glutamatérgica corticoestriatal anormal, que pode provocar dentre outros danos, déficits motores característicos da doença. Considerando os efeitos neuroprotetores promovidos pelo exercício físico, o objetivo deste estudo foi observar o impacto do exercício realizado a curto e a longo prazo durante a evolução da lesão por 6-OHDA em ratos. As modificações encontradas nesse estudo podem ser relevantes para o circuito corticoestriatal, uma vez que a plasticidade dependente do exercício é capaz de modular a excitabilidade neuronal, reduzindo a hiperexcitabilidade glutamatérgica encontrada na DP. De forma geral, estes resultados suportam os potenciais efeitos do exercício físico em alterar a conectividade sináptica dos circuitos corticoestriatal e nigroestriatal em uma situação de depleção dopaminérgica, e assim, possivelmente modificar a progressão da doença em indivíduos com DP. / The loss of nigral dopaminergic neurons characteristic of Parkinson\'s disease (PD) is responsible for hyperexcitability of medium spinal neurons resulting in abnormal corticostriatal glutamatergic neurotransmission, which can cause, among other alterations, motor deficits typical of that disease. Considering the neuroprotective effects of exercise, the aim of this study was to observe the impact of short and long-term exercise during evolution of the 6-hydroxy-dopamine (6-OHDA) animal model of PD. The modifications found in this study may be relevant for corticostriatal circuits, since the exercise-dependent plasticity can modulate neuronal excitability by reducing glutamatergic hyperexcitability found in PD. Overall, these results reinforce the potential effects of exercise to change synaptic connectivity of corticostriatal and nigrostriatal circuits in a dopaminergic depletion state, and to possibly modify the progression of the disease in patients with PD.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Ocean Engineering; and, (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 1979. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / Bibliography: leaves 70-73. / by William Vincent Moody. / M.S.

En Méditerranée orientale, l’arc de Chypre est une frontière géologique majeure où interagissent les plaques Arabie, Afrique, Eurasie et la microplaque anatolienne. Il constitue la limite Nord du bassin du Levant (croûte continentale amincie étirée) et du bassin d’Hérodote (croûte océanique). L’arc de Chypre est directement lié à la convergence vers le Nord de la plaque Africaine sur la plaque Eurasienne depuis la fin du Crétacé. Dans la région Egéenne, l’indentation de la plaque Arabique sur la partie orientale de la plaque Anatolienne d’une part, et l’effet « roll back » du plan de subduction africain dans la partie occidentale de la plaque Anatolienne d’autre part, ont pour conséquence l’expulsion de l’Anatolie depuis la fin du Miocène à aujourd’hui, ce qui se traduit par un décrochement le long de l’arc de Chypre, se prolongeant sur l’île de Chypre. Plusieurs questions scientifiques concernant le cadre géologique de la région ont été étudiées au cours de ce projet. Comment la déformation est-elle intégrée dans le système de l'Arc de Chypre ? La variation crustale de chaque domaine affecte-t-elle le style de déformation ? Comment cette déformation est-elle enregistrée dans les sédiments de l’île de Chypre ? Comment ces déformations (Onshore / Offshore) peuvent être connectées au contexte géodynamique régional ? Afin de répondre à ces questions scientifiques, des données sismiques de réflexion 2D ont été utilisées, et ont permis d’imager les structures principales et leur évolution spatiale dans les parties Sud et Orientale de Chypre. L'interprétation de ces données conduit à l'identification de neuf unités tectono-sédimentaires dans trois différents domaines de la croûte crustale au sud du système de l'Arc chypriote: (1) le bassin du Levant (croûte continentale amincie), (2) le micro-continent d'Eratosthène (croûte continentale) et (3) le bassin d'Hérodote (croûte océanique). Dans ces domaines, de nombreuses structures tectoniques ont été documentées et analysées afin de comprendre le mécanisme et le timing de la déformation. À la limite nord du domaine du bassin du Levant, des accidents majeures chevauchants vers le Sud ont été documentés dans le bassin de Chypre, commençant au début du Miocène et enregistrés par les failles de Larnaca et de Margat. La faille Latakia n’a quant à elle enregistré aucune activité pendant cette période. L'apogée de la déformation s'est produite du Miocène moyen jusqu’à la fin du Miocene, l'activité de la faille de Latakia indiquant la propagation vers le Sud du front de déformation. Cette migration vers le sud a été documentée à partir du développement de bassins flexuraux et des chevauchements stratigraphiques dans le bassin de Chypre. Les pulses tectoniques successifs depuis la fin du Miocène jusqu’à aujourd’hui, sont indiquées par les discordances angulaires et les bassins piggy back. Pendant la période Plio-Pléistocène, l’expulsion vers l'ouest de la microplaque anatolienne a entraîné la réactivation des structures existantes. L'évolution de la déformation le long de la limite de la plaque est identifiée à partir de la création de structures en fleur positives révélant des mouvements transpressifs le long des failles Larnaca et Latakia (domaines orientaux). Le domaine central comprend le mont sous-marin d'Eratosthène qui se caractérise comme une plate-forme carbonatée mésozoïque recouverte d'une mince séquence sédimentaire allant des dépôts Messinien aux dépôts Pléistocène. / The Cyprus Arc system is major plate boundary of the Eastern Mediterranean where different plates interact, namely Arabia, Africa, Eurasia, as well as the Anatolian micro-plate. It constitutes the northern boundary of the Levant Basin (of thin stretched continental crust) and the Herodotus Basin (of oceanic crust). The Cyprus Arc is directly linked with the northward convergence of the African continental plate with respect to the Eurasian continental plate since Late Cretaceous time. The indentation of the Arabian plate and the slab pull effect of the African plate roll back in the Aegean region on the eastern and western part of the Anatolian plate respectively, leads to the westward escape of Anatolia from Late Miocene to Recent, which results in a strike-slip component along the Cyprus Arc system and onshore Cyprus. Several scientific questions with regard to the geological setting of the region were investigated during this project. How is the deformation accommodated at the Cyprus Arc system? Is this deformation style affected by the variation of the crustal nature at each domain? How is this deformation recorded on the sedimentary pile onshore Cyprus? How does the onshore and offshore deformation connect within the geodynamic context of the region? In order to answer these scientific questions, 2D reflection seismic data were utilized, that image the main plate structures and their lateral evolution south and east of Cyprus. Interpretation of these data lead to the identification of nine tectono-sedimentary packages in three different crustal domains south of the Cyprus Arc system: (1) The Levant Basin (attenuated continental crust), (2) The Eratosthenes micro-continent (continental crust) and (3) The Herodotus Basin (oceanic crust). Within these domains, numerous tectonic structures were documented and analysed in order to understand the mechanism and timing of deformation. At the northern boundary of the Levant Basin domain, thrust faults verging towards the south were documented in the Cyprus Basin with the thrust movement commencing in Early Miocene time as indicated by on the Larnaca and Margat Ridges. On the Latakia Ridge no activity was identified during this time interval. The acme of deformation occurred in Middle to Late Miocene time, with the activity of the Latakia Ridge indicating the forward propagation of the deformation front towards the south. This southward migration was documented from the development of flexural basins and from stratigraphic onlaps in the Cyprus Basin. Successive tectonic pulses through the Late Miocene until Recent times, are indicated from the angular unconformities and the piggy back basins. In Plio-Pleistocene time, the westward escape of the Anatolian micro-plate resulted in the reactivation of existing structures. The evolution of deformation along the plate boundary is identified from the creation of positive flower structures revealing transpressive movements along the Larnaca and Latakia Ridges (eastern domains). The central domain includes the Eratosthenes Seamount which is characterized as a Mesozoic carbonate platform covered by a thin sequence of sediments ranging from Miocene-Messinian to Pliocene-Pleistocene depositions.

A vacuum interrupter is a switching device used in vacuum circuit breakers, which are widely employed in medium voltage circuits for interrupting the short-circuit fault currents. The vacuum interrupter is the chamber in which the arc extinction and hence the current interruption takes place. On the occurrence of a fault, the breaker mechanism separates the contacts of the vacuum interrupter. As the contacts separate, an arc is established between the contacts. The arc evolves in the contact space and extinguishes at or near the current zero, thus interrupting the current. The processes of arc ignition, evolution and extinction are very complex. These processes are fundamental to the design and the performance of the vacuum interrupter and hence the circuit breaker. The evolution of the arc predominantly depends on the short-circuit current, the design and metallurgy of the contacts. The evolution of the vacuum arc has been the focal point of considerable research activity. Significant effort has been concentrated to understand the various modes of the arc, the transition between the modes, the arc movement and the dependency on the contact design and finally the effect of the arc evolution on the current interruption performance of the vacuum interrupter. The voltage across the contacts during the arcing, termed as the arc voltage, has been a focal point of several research projects. Research has shown that the arc voltage depends strongly on the mode and the evolution process of the arc. The dependency is observed with respect to the magnitude and the nature of the arc voltage. This dependency has been established through the comparison of the arc voltage trace and the actual arc photographs. The arc voltage is thus an important parameter in understanding the arcing process in the interrupter. Arc voltage could also be utilised to compare the arcing behaviour in vacuum interrupters with different contact geometries and metallurgies. Having understood how the arc voltage depends on the arc modes and how it can be used to analyse the arcing performance of the interrupter, this work aims to establish experimentally the dependency of the arc voltage on fundamental parameters of the short-circuit current and the contact design. The variation of the arc voltage is studied with respect to the magnitude of the short-circuit current. It is seen that the magnitude of the arc voltage is higher, for a higher short-circuit current. This dependency is also reflected in the nature of the arc voltage waveform. The effect of cumulative short- circuit operations has been understood through the study of arc voltage variation with respect to the accumulated arcing time. It has been found that the arc voltage consistently decreases as the accumulated arcing time increases. The effect of the contact diameter on the arc evolution has been studied by comparing the arc voltage variations for contacts of different diameters for the same short-circuit current. It is observed that the variation of arc voltage with respect to the contact diameter depends on the type of contact. In the case of radial magnetic field contacts, it has been observed that the arc voltage is lower for a contact with lower diameter. Whereas in the case of axial magnetic field contacts there is an inverse relation between the contact diameter and the arc voltage. Finally, the effect of the type and distribution of the magnetic field on the arc voltage variation as well as the contact erosion has been studied. In general, the observations show that the arc voltage magnitude for the radial magnetic field geometry is higher than the axial magnetic field geometry. Also, there is a significant difference in the appearance of the arc voltage waveforms for the arcs under the two types of magnetic fields. Finite element simulations and short-circuit evaluations have shown that the axial magnetic field contact system with 90 deg coil orientations yield a more uniform distribution of the flux density and hence lower erosion of the contacts. These results show a clear dependence of the arc voltage on the various above mentioned parameters. Thus the arc voltage could be utilised as a diagnostic parameter during the evaluation of the vacuum interrupter. In the present scenario, significant research is being done to increase the breaking capacity of the interrupters. This calls for optimization of design of the existing contacts and the design of novel contact geometries. The arc voltage would be used as an important diagnostic tool in this process. Also, the utilization of vacuum interrupter in high voltage and extra high voltage circuits is being explored. This application requires increase in the contact gap or series connection of gaps. The arc behaviour in longer gaps and gaps connected in series would be an important research area. Again the arc voltage could be used to study the arc evolution in these specialised conditions. The experiments in this research work have been performed on commercial vacuum interrupters. For a dedicated research on vacuum arcs and vacuum interrupter contacts, development of a vacuum arc research facility has also been attempted as a part of this research work.

Memoire (M. Sc. A.)-- Universite du Quebec a Chicoutimi, 1984. / Bibliographie: f. 109-114. Document électronique également accessible en format PDF. CaQCU

Thèse (D.Eng.) -- Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, 2004. / Bibliogr.: f. [183]-197. Document électronique également accessible en format PDF. CaQCU