After oral exposure of cattle with classical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (C-BSE), the infectious agent ascends from the gut to the central nervous system (CNS) primarily via the autonomic nervous system. However, the timeline of this progression has thus far remained widely undetermined. Previous studies were focused on later time points after oral exposure of animals that were already 4 to 6 months old when challenged. In contrast, in this present study, we have orally inoculated 4 to 6 weeks old unweaned calves with high doses of BSE to identify any possible BSE infectivity and/or PrPBSE in peripheral nervous tissues during the first eight months postinoculation (mpi). For the detection of BSE infectivity, we used a bovine PrP transgenic mouse bioassay, while PrPBSE depositions were analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and by protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA). We were able to show that as early as 8 mpi the thoracic spinal cord as well as the parasympathetic nodal ganglion of these animals contained PrPBSE and BSE infectivity. This shows that the centripetal prion spread starts early after challenge at least in this age group, which represents an essential piece of information for the risk assessments for food, feed, and pharmaceutical products produced from young calves.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) due to overexertion and consequently the low back pain (LBP) are one of the most prevalent sources of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses in all over the world. In the past several years, the industrial exoskeletons especially the passive ones have been proposed as alternative intervention and assistive devices, which are capable of reducing the risk of WMSDs and LBP. However, more research is warranted to validate the applicability of these exoskeletons. In addition, because the majority of previous studies have been limited to specific lifting tasks using only one type of lift assistive exoskeleton, more research is needed to examine the effect of alteration of different lift-assistive exoskeletons on reducing the activity of back muscles and metabolic reduction. The main objective of this dissertation is to render an overview of three studies that attempt to improve the literature by providing comprehensive biomechanical evaluations and metabolic assessments of three passive lift-assistive exoskeletons (VT-Lowe's Exoskeleton (developed in ARLab at VT), Laevo and SuitX). This dissertation has been composed of three related studies. The first study aimed to investigate and examine the capability of a novel lift assistive exoskeleton, VT-Lowe's exoskeleton, in reducing the peak and mean activity of back and leg muscles. Findings revealed that the exoskeleton significantly decreased the peak and mean activity of back muscles (IL(iliocostalis lumborum) and LT(longissimus thoracis)) by 31.5% and 29.3% respectively for symmetric lifts, and by 28.2% and 29.5% respectively for asymmetric lifts. Furthermore, the peak and mean EMG of leg muscles were significantly reduced by 19.1% and 14.1% during symmetric lifts, and 17.4% and 14.6% during asymmetric lifts. Interestingly, the VT-Lowe's exoskeleton showed higher reduction in activity of back and leg muscles compared to other passive lift-assistive exoskeletons available in the literatures. In the second study, the metabolic cost reduction associated with the use of VT-Lowe's exoskeleton during freestyle lifting was theoretically modelled, validated and corresponding metabolic savings were reported. The metabolic cost and the oxygen consumption results supported the hypothesis that the VT-Lowe's exoskeleton could significantly reduce the metabolic demands (~7.9% on average) and oxygen uptake (~8.7% on average) during freestyle lifting. Additionally, we presented a prediction model for the metabolic cost of exoskeleton during repetitive freestyle lifting tasks. The prediction models were very accurate as the absolute prediction errors were small for both 0% (< 1.4%) and 20% (< 0.7%) of body weight. In the third study, the biomechanical evaluation, energy expenditure and subjective assessments of two passive back-support exoskeletons (Laevo and SuitX) were examined in the context of repetitive lifting tasks. The experimental lifting tasks in this study were simulated in a laboratory environment for two different levels of lifting symmetry (symmetric vs. asymmetric) and lifting posture (standing vs. kneeling). Results of this study demonstrated that using both exoskeletons during dynamic lifting tasks could significantly lower the peak activity of trunk extensor muscles by ~10-28%. In addition, using both exoskeletons could save the energy expenditure by ~4-13% in all conditions tested by partially offsetting the weight of the torso. Such reductions were, though, task-dependent and differed between the two tested exoskeletons. Overall, the results of all three studies in this dissertation showed the capability of passive lift-assistive exoskeletons in reducing the activity of back and leg muscles and providing metabolic savings during repetitive lifting tasks. / Doctor of Philosophy / Low back pain (LBP) due to overexertion is known as one of the most important sources of nonfatal occupational injuries especially for the workers or manual material handlers who are involved in frequent or repetitive lifting tasks. Every year, many workers are temporarily or permanently disabled due to overuse injuries at workplace. In the past several years, industrial exoskeletons have gained growing interest among biomechanist, roboticist, and other human factor researchers as potential assistive devices to reduce the risk of LBP. In general, the industrial exoskeletons are either “passive or “active”; Active exoskeletons are powered by mechanical/electrical motors and actuators, however, the passive exoskeletons often work using cheaper devices such as gas or metal springs, elastic elements, etc. The exoskeletons discussed in this dissertation are categorized as passive rigid lower-back exoskeletons and they function by storing energy in a spring when the wearer bends and returning the stored energy when the wearer lifts. This dissertation consists of three studies that attempt to provide comprehensive biomechanical evaluations and metabolic assessments of three passive lift-assistive exoskeletons (i.e., VT-Lowe’s Exoskeleton, Laevo and SuitX). The first study examined the efficacy of a novel lift-assistive exoskeleton, VT-Lowe’s exoskeleton, in reducing the peak and mean activity of back and leg muscles. The results of this study demonstrated that the exoskeleton reduced the peak and mean activity of back and leg muscles for symmetric and asymmetric lifting tasks. VT-Lowe’s exoskeleton also showed higher reduction in activity of back muscles compared to other passive lift-assistive exoskeletons available in the literature. In the second study, the metabolic cost reduction with VT-Lowe’s exoskeleton was theoretically modeled and the modeling outcomes were compared to metabolic costs measurements when the exoskeleton was worn. The experimental findings of this study supported the applicability of the exoskeleton by significantly reducing the metabolic cost and oxygen uptake during the freestyle repetitive lifting tasks. Moreover, the prediction metabolic cost model of the exoskeleton showed high accuracy as the absolute prediction errors were within 1.5%. In the third study, the biomechanical evaluation, energy expenditure and subjective assessments of two passive back-support exoskeletons (Laevo and SuitX) were examined in repetitive lifting tasks. The lifting tasks of this study were simulated in a laboratory environment for two different levels of lifting symmetry (symmetric vs. asymmetric) and lifting posture (standing vs. kneeling). Findings of this study showed that both exoskeleton significantly lowered the peak activity of back muscles during the dynamic lifting tasks. Moreover, using both exoskeletons provided metabolic cost savings in all of the studies conditions. Overall, results obtained from the three studies in this dissertation verified the capability of these passive lift- vi assistive exoskeleton in reducing the activity of back and leg muscles and providing the metabolic savings during repetitive lifting tasks.

No description available.

En el gen de la proteïna priònica, o PRNP, hem observat que el particular patró de variació que hem trobat basant-nos en dades de seqüenciació en humans es deu a selecció positiva, i que el mètode utilitzat per detectar selecció és crític. Utilitzant dades basades en SNPs es pot introduir un biaix al aplicar tests de neutralitat basats en diversitat de seqüències, i això pot portar a conclusions errònies. A més, hem vist que els polimorfismes en els codons 129 i 219 presenten gran diferències de freqüència en diferents poblacions humanes i també hem vist que aquestes posicions estan fixades en ximpanzés. La variació trobada en controls ha estat comparada amb el patró de variació existent en pacients per la mateixa regió. La reseqüenciació del gen PRNP en un gran nombre de mostres humanes i de ximpanzés ens ha permès obtenir un gran nombre d´informació d´aquest gen. / In the prion gene or PRNP, we have observed that the particular pattern of variation that we have found in this gene based on sequencing data in humans is due to positive selection, and that the method and the approach used to detect this selection critical. Ascertainment bias can be introduced by using SNP data and applying neutrality tests based on sequence diversity, therefore leading to anomalous conclusions being drawn. Moreover, we have seen that polymorphisms in codon 129 and 219 have big differences in frequency in different human populations and we have also seen that these positions are fixed in chimpanzees. The normal variation that we found in controls have been then compared with patients for the same region. The resequencing of PRNP in a very large sample of humans and chimpanzees has provided a great deal of information on this gene.

This work deals with the evaluating of the signal level value from the sample in the environmental SEM. In work there were processed the comparison of the osciloscopic method for the evaluating of the signal level value in the environmental SEM, the method for the evaluating of the signal level from the grey level of the sample images and the method for the evaluating of the signal level from the osciloscop. There are described the advantages and disadvantages of the methods and procedures for processing the methods.

This thesis work deals with the volume changes during the solidification of cast irons and peritectic steels. The volume changes in casting metals are related to the expansion and/or contraction of the molten metal during solidification. Often, different types of shrinkage, namely macro- and micro-shrinkage, affect the casting quality. In addition to that, exposure of the metal casting to higher contraction or expansion during the solidification might also be related to internal strain development in samples, which eventually leads to surface crack propagation in some types of steel alloys during continuous casting. In consequence, a deep understanding of the mechanisms and control of the solidification will improve casting quality and production. All of the experiments during the entire work were carried out on laboratory scale samples. Displacement changes during solidification were measured with the help of a Linear Variable Displacement Transformer (LVDT). All of the LVDT experiments were performed on samples inside a sand mould. Simultaneously, the cooling curves of the respective samples during solidification were recorded with a thermocouple. By combining the displacement and cooling curves, the volume changes was evaluated and later used to explain the influence of inoculants, carbon and cooling rates on volume shrinkages of the casting. Hypoeutectic grey cast iron (GCI) and nodular cast iron (NCI) with hypo-, hyper- and eutectic carbon compositions were considered in the experiments from cast iron group. High nickel alloy steel (Sandvik Sanbar 64) was also used from peritectic steel type. These materials were melted inside an induction furnace and treated with different types of inoculants before and during pouring in order to modify the composition. Samples that were taken from the LVDT experiments were investigated using a number of different  methods in order to support the observations from the displacement measurements:  Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), to evaluate the different phase present; Dilatometry, to see the effect of cooling rates on contraction for the various types of alloys; metallographic studies with optical microscopy; Backscattered electrons (BSE) analysis on SEM S-3700N, to investigate the different types of oxide and sulphide nuclei; and bulk density measurements  by applying Archimedes' principle. Furthermore, the experimental volume expansion during solidification was compared with the theoretically calculated values for GCI and NCI. It was found that the casting shows hardly any shrinkage during early solidification in GCI, but in the eutectic region the casting expands until the end of solidification. The measured and the calculated volume changes are close to one another, but the former shows more expansion. The addition of MBZCAS (Si, Ca, Zr, Ba, Mn and Al) promotes more flake graphite, and ASSC (Si, Ca, Sr and Al) does not increase the number of eutectic cells by much. In addition to that, it lowers the primary austenite fraction, promotes more eutectic growth and decreases undercooled graphite and secondary dendritic arm spacing (SDAS). As a result, the volume expansion changes in the eutectic region. The expansion during the eutectic growth increase with an increase in the inoculant weight percentage. At the same time, the eutectic cells become smaller and increase in number. The effect of the inoculant and the superheat temperature shows a variation in the degree of expansion/contraction and the cooling rates for the experiments. Effective inoculation tends to homogenize the eutectic structure, reducing the undercooled and interdendritic graphite throughout the structure. In NCI experiments, it was found that the samples showed no expansion in the transversal direction due to higher micro-shrinkages in the centre, whereas in the longitudinal direction the samples shows expansion until solidification was complete.   The theoretical and measured volume changes agreed with each other. The austenite fraction and number of micro-shrinkage pores decreased with increase in carbon content. The nodule count and distribution changes with carbon content. The thermal contraction of NCI is not influenced by the variation in carbon content at lower cooling rates. The structural analysis and solidification simulation results for NCI show that the nodule size and count distribution along the cross-sections at various locations are different due to the variation in cooling rates and carbon concentration. Finer nodule graphite appears in the thinner sections and close to the mold walls. A coarser structure is distributed mostly in the last solidified location. The simulation result indicates that finer nodules are associated with higher cooling rate and a lower degree of microsegregation, whereas the coarser nodules are related to lower cooling rate and a higher degree of microsegregation. As a result, this structural variation influences the micro-shrinkage in different parts. The displacement change measurements show that the peritectic steel expands and/or contracts during the solidification. The primary austenite precipitation during the solidification in the metastable region is accompanied by gradual expansion on the casting sides. Primary δ-ferrite precipitation under stable phase diagram is complemented by a severe contraction during solidification. The microstructural analysis reveals that the only difference between the samples is grain refinement with Ti addition. Moreover, the severe contraction in solidification region might be the source for the crack formation due to strain development, and further theoretical analysis is required in the future to verify this observation. / <p>QC 20170228</p>

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T16:44:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Alexandre Kuronuma 27_01_06.pdf: 443263 bytes, checksum: 92e0f41a6d016f127624da3eb45dd052 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-03-27 / nenhum / The purpose of this report is to analyze the use of the real option theory in the valuation of companies compared to the actual values of deals in the telecommunications sector in Brazil. This study focused on the case of two mobile phone companies formed by the sale of the license concessions of the B band in 1997: BCP Telecomunicações and BSE Telecomunicações. These companies had been evaluated using eighteen different scenarios created by the combination of three variables (volatility, free tax of risk and the cost of the debt), using the call option model of Black and Scholes. The results shown that although both companies present negative values for its real equity in December, 31 - 2002, the companies had presented a positive value for the real option model, showing the effectiveness of this methodology in companies valuation. As a result of our analysis, we concluded that the use of real options valuation is a viable alternative if compared with the traditional valuation methodologies / O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar a utilização da teoria das opções reais na avaliação de empresas comparativamente a valores de negociação em empresas do setor de telecomunicações. As empresas avaliadas por esse modelo foram companhias formadas a partir da venda das licenças de concessão de telefonia móvel banda B e que foram adquiridas integralmente após a sua formação. O desenvolvimento foi através de um estudo de caso com duas empresas de telefonia móvel, formadas a partir da venda da concessão das licenças de banda B em 1997, a BCP Telecomunicações e a BSE Telecomunicações. Essas empresas foram avaliadas, dentro de dezoito cenários, definidos a partir de três variáveis (volatilidade, taxa livre de risco e custo da dívida), através do modelo de precificação de opções de compra de Black e Scholes. Os resultados mostraram que, apesar de as empresas apresentarem valores negativos para o seu patrimônio líquido real em 31 de dezembro de 2002, ambas revelaram um valor positivo pelo modelo de precificação por opções reais, o que mostra a eficácia no uso dessa metodologia na avaliação de empresas. Como resultado deste trabalho, através dos números encontrados e analisados, conclui-se que o uso da avaliação por opções reais é uma alternativa viável se comparada às metodologias tradicionais de avaliação

Résumé: Lauthentification est un concept large dans lequel il sagit de pouvoir contrôler ladéquation entre le produit et les informations indiquées sur létiquette. Les techniques utilisant la spectrométrie dans le proche infrarouge dune part, et celles basées sur la PCR dautre part, permettent daborder lauthentification des produits alimentaires sous des angles totalement différents. Loriginalité de ce travail était de les associer pour résoudre deux problèmes précis : 1. lauthentification des poulets de chair à croissance lente utilisés dans des productions de qualité différenciée soumises à des cahiers des charges contraignants ; 2. la détection des farines animales dans lalimentation pour le bétail. Nos travaux sur les poulets de chair nous ont permis de développer des modèles de discrimination reposant sur les spectres dans le proche infrarouge de la viande de poulet. Ils distinguent, pour plus de 80 % des individus, les poulets issus de souches à croissance lente de ceux issus de souches à croissance rapide. Les résultats dune expérimentation animale ont également démontré que la spectrométrie dans le proche infrarouge était capable de mettre évidence des fraudes au niveau de lalimentation des animaux. Deux marqueurs moléculaires spécifiques du type de souche de poulets ont été mis en évidence et caractérisés. Pour le marqueur moléculaire caractéristique des poulets à croissance rapide, un test rapide utilisable en routine a été développé. Dans le cas de la détection des farines animales dans lalimentation du bétail, une méthode de PCR en temps réel sensible et spécifique a été mise au point participant avec succès à des études inter-laboratoires internationales. Associée dans une stratégie originale à la MPIR (microscopie dans le proche infrarouge), elle permet la détection spécifique de particules de farines de viande et dos. Summary: Authentication is a large concept focussing on the control of the correspondance between the product and the information provided on the label. Techniques based on near infrared spectroscopy on the one hand, and those based on PCR on the other hand, allow to tackle the authentication of food and feed products by different sides. The originality of this work was to associate both techniques to solve two specific problems : 1. authentication of slow growing chickens bred in high quality productions according to restricting specifications ; 2. the detection of meat and bone meals in feedingstuffs. The work on the chicken allowed us to develop discriminant models using the near infrared spectra of chicken meat. These models discriminate the chicken from slow- vs. fast-growing chicken for more than 80 % of the animals. The results of an animal experimentation also showed that near infrared spectroscopy was able to detect feeding frauds. Two molecular markers specific of the type of chicken strains were found and characterised. For the one related to the fast-growing chicken strains, a rapid assay applicable in routine testing was conceived. In the case of the meat and bone meal detection in feedingstuffs, a specific and sensitive real time PCR method was developed. It participated succesfully to international inter-laboratory studies. Its combination with NIRM (near infrared microscopy) through an original strategy allows the specific detection of meat and bone meal particles.

2009年10月22日，美國在臺協會與駐美國臺北經濟文化代表處簽訂臺美牛肉議定書。對於政府開放美國具牛海綿狀腦病風險之牛肉及牛肉製品進口，當時輿論一片譁然。為因應國內輿論壓力，立法院於2010年1月27日修正食品衛生管理法第十一條，禁止美國牛絞肉及內臟進口。同時政府亦實施三管五卡措施對美國牛肉進行進口檢疫，造成國內法與議定書國際義務不符之現象。 臺美牛肉議定書爭議，牽涉到許多面向，包括：臺美牛肉議定書在我國國內法之地位；我國因應臺美牛肉議定書簽訂所為之食品衛生管理法修法及三管五卡措施在WTO法律架構下之評價；我國與美國之貿易關係等。本文從WTO架構出發，以食品安全檢驗暨動植物防疫檢疫措施協定（SPS協定）之規範探討臺美牛肉議定書爭議在WTO法律架構下應如何評價。並以國際法與國內法間關係之角度探討臺美牛肉議定書在我國國內法之地位，同時討論臺美牛肉議定書爭議對臺美貿易關係之影響。第一章為導論；第二章討論WTO架構中關於具牛海綿狀腦病風險牛肉之規範；第三章討論我國牛肉進口之防檢疫措施及臺美牛肉議定書之規範；第四章討論臺美牛肉議定書之相關爭議；最後，第五章針對臺美牛肉議定書爭議提出政策建議並作結。 / On October 22, 2009, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) and the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) signed the US-Taiwan Beef Protocol for the arrangement with regard to the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)-related measures on importing beef and beef products. Due to lack of confidence in the government, the public opinion of Taiwan was strongly against such importation of beef. In order to deal with the roaring public opinion, the Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China (ROC) amended the Act Governing Food Sanitation Article XI on January 27, 2010. According to this amendment, the beef viscera and ground beef produced in the United States are banned from importing into Taiwan. Furthermore, the ROC government then adopted the Regulation Governing the Sanitation of Importing Beef and several sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS measures) to implement the amendment. These measures result in a discrepancy between the obligations regulated by domestic law and those by the Beef Protocol. The issue of the Beef Protocol may be discussed from many aspects, including the legal status of the Protocol in domestic law, the evaluation of the SPS measures under the WTO regime, the US-Taiwan relations, etc. This study will start from the introduction of the SPS Agreement, the international food standard of the BSE-risked beef set by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), and the Beef Protocol. Then, the author will discuss the evaluation of the Protocol and other SPS measures of the ROC under the WTO regime and try to figure out the possibility of the use of the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) in order to solve the Protocol issue. This study will also examine the legal status of the Protocol in the ROC domestic law and discuss the impact on the US-Taiwan commercial relations. In the final part of this study, the author will provide several policy recommendations to settle this Protocol issue.

First part of this thesis is a theoretical essay which deals with the basics of the variable pressure scanning electron microscope, includes detection of secondary electrons with a view to a scintillation detector. The first applied part of the thesis is focused on prediction, measuring and setting-up optional working parley in vacuum electrodes scintillation detector system, with a stress small diameter hole in screenings C1 and C2. Second applied part was verify a change of working distance between sample and detector in consequence to optional solution for another work.