Diarrhoeal disease is a major cause of infant mortality in this and other developing countries. The assessment of the degree of dehydration in these children is often based on subjective findings alone. These have been shown to be inaccurate as an assessment of the degree of dehydration. Whole-body impedance (WBI) is a method of measuring total body water which is used to assess body composition. This WBI technology, which operates at a single frequency, has been applied to the assessment of dehydration in children with diarrhoeal disease. The normal range of WBI was determined on a group of normally hydrated children and was found to have a mean of 746 Ω, a standard deviation of 85 Ω and 95 % confidence interval for the mean from 720 Ω to 772 Ω. WBI did not depend on age, mass, height or sex. The WBI of a group of children dehydrated from infantile gastroenteritis was measured both before and after rehydration. The dehydrated group had a mean WBI on admission of 1089 Ω and a standard deviation of 149 Ω with a 95 % confidence interval for the mean from 950 Ω to 1109 Ω. This value was significantly greater than that of the normal group. The WBI of the dehydrated group after rehydration was not significantly different from the normal group. In addition a variable frequency bioimpedance analyser was designed and tested. It was found to have an error of less than 1 % over the frequency range 1 to 100 kHz. The device was evaluated on 11 normal and dehydrated children. Four dehydrated children were tested before and after rehydration and this data was compared to a standard electrical model for WBI. It was found that the model could represent the measured data over this frequency range. The extracellular resistive element of the model was mainly responsible for the changes seen during rehydration, suggesting that dehydration in gastroenteritis is mainly due to fluid loss from the ECF compartment.

This master's thesis informs its reader about actual energetical situation of Poland and its probable future. The thesis focus on shale gas resesources in the world and Poland and methods of its mining and procesing. Main problematics of determining, designing and technology of TEG dehydration unit were described in this thesis.

<p>Zeolites contain distinct Brønsted acid site (H⁺) ensembles that arise from differences in the arrangement of framework Al atoms (Al−O(−Si−O)x−Al) between isolated (x ≥3) and paired (x=1,2) configurations, the latter defined by their ability to exchange certain divalent cations (e.g., Cu²⁺, Co²⁺). Manipulation of the synthesis conditions used to prepare MFI zeolites has been proposed to influence the proximity of framework Al atoms, but in a manner that is neither determined randomly nor by any simple predictive rules. Moreover, the effects of proton proximity have been studied for hydrocarbon catalysis in MFI zeolites, but interpretations of catalytic phenomena are convoluted by effects of the distribution of framework Al atoms among different crystallographic tetrahedral sites (T-sites) and diverse pore environments (i.e., confining environments) present in MFI. This work instead focuses on the chabazite (CHA) framework, which contains a single crystallographically-distinct lattice tetrahedral site (T-site) that allows clarifying how synthesis conditions influence Al proximity, and in turn, how H⁺ site proximity influences catalysis independent of T-site location. </p> <p> Selective quantification of the number and type of H⁺ site ensembles present in a given zeolite allows for more rigorous normalization of reaction rates by the number of active sites, but also for probing the number and identity of active sites on bifunctional catalysts that contain mixtures of Brønsted and Lewis acid sites. Gaseous NH₃ titrations can be used to count the total number of protons on small-pore CHA zeolites, which are inaccessible to larger amine titrants (e.g., pyridine, alkylamines), and can be used to quantify the exchange stoichiometry of extraframework metal cations (e.g., Cu²⁺, [CuOH]⁺) that are stabilized at different framework Al arrangements. Additionally, paired Al sites in CHA zeolites can be titrated selectively by divalent Co²⁺ cations, whose sole presence is validated by measuring UV-Visible spectra, counting residual protons after Co²⁺ exchange, and titration of paired Al with other divalent cations (e.g., Cu²⁺). These different titration procedures enabled reliable and reproducible quantification of different Al arrangements, and recognition of the effects of different synthetic methods on the resulting arrangement of framework Al atoms in CHA zeolites. </p> <p>Upon the advent of this suite of characterization and titration tools, different synthetic methods were developed to crystallize CHA zeolites at constant composition (e.g., Si/Al = 15) but with systematic variation in their paired Al content. The substitution of N,N,N-trimethyl-1-adamantylammonium (TMAda⁺) cations for Na⁺ in the synthesis media (Na⁺/TMAda⁺<2), while holding all other synthetic variables constant, resulted in CHA zeolites of similar composition (Si/Al = 15) and organic content (ca. 1 TMAda⁺ per cage), but with percentages of paired Al (0-44%) that increased with the total amount of sodium retained on the zeolite product. This result suggests that sodium atoms are occluded near the ammonium group of TMAda⁺ leading to the formation of a paired Al site. Replacement of Na⁺ by other alkali cations in the synthesis media allowed for the crystallization of CHA (Si/Al = 15) at higher ratios of alkali to TMAda⁺than accessible by Na⁺, likely due to the ability of different alkali cations to favor (or inhibit) crystallization of other zeolite phases. Incorporation of different alkali cations during CHA crystallization influences the formation of paired Al sites in different ways, likely reflecting the nature of different alkali to preferentially occupy different positions within the CHA framework. <i>Ab initio</i> molecular dynamics simulations were used to assess the stability of various Al-Al arrangements in the presence of combinations of alkali and TMAda⁺ cations, and provide thermodynamic insight into electrostatic interactions between cationic structure-directing agents that stabilize paired Al sites in CHA. </p> <p> Using these synthetic procedures to prepare CHA zeolites of similar composition, but with varied arrangements of framework Al, the catalytic consequences of framework Al arrangement were investigated using acid and redox catalysis. The low-temperature (473 K) selective catalytic reduction of NOx with NH₃ (NH₃-SCR) was investigated over Cu-exchanged CHA zeolites containing various Al arrangements. Cu cations exchange as both divalent Cu²⁺ and monovalent [CuOH]⁺ complexes, which exchange at paired and isolated Al sites, respectively, and turnover with similar SCR rates (473 K). <i>In situ</i> and <i>operando</i> X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) were used to monitor the oxidation state and coordination environment of Cu as a function of time and environmental conditions. Rationalization of these experimental observations by first-principles thermodynamics and <i>ab initio</i> molecular dynamics simulations revealed that both Cu²⁺ and [CuOH]⁺ complexes are solvated by NH₃ and undergo reduction to Cu⁺ upon oxidation of NO with NH₃. Cu⁺ cations become mobilized by coordination with NH₃ under reaction conditions (473 K, equimolar NO and NH₃ feed), and activate O₂ through a dicopper complex formed dynamically during reaction. These results implicate the spatial density of nominally site-isolated Cu cations and, in turn, the arrangement of anionic framework Al atoms that anchor such cationic Cu complexes, influence the kinetics of O₂ activation in selective oxidation reactions, manifested as SCR rates (per 1000 A³) that depend quadratically on Cu density (per 1000 A³) and become rate-limiting processes in practice at low temperatures.</p> <p>Furthermore, first-order and zero-order rate constants (415 K, per H⁺) of methanol dehydration, a probe reaction of acid strength and confinement effects in solid Brønsted acids, are nearly one order of magnitude larger on paired than on isolated protons in CHA zeolites, reflecting differences in prevalent mechanisms and apparent enthalpic and entropic barriers at these different active site ensembles. Yet, these differences in rate constants and activation parameters at isolated and paired protons do not persist within larger pore zeolites (e.g., MFI). <i>In situ </i>IR spectra measured during steady-state methanol dehydration catalysis (415 K, 0.05-22 kPa CH₃OH) reveal that surface methoxy species are present in CHA zeolites containing paired protons, but not in CHA zeolites containing only isolated protons or MFI zeolites, providing evidence that sequential dehydration pathways via methoxy intermediates become accessible on paired protons in CHA. Density functional theory is used to provide atomistic detail of confined intermediates and transition states at isolated and paired protons in CHA and MFI zeolites, indicating that paired protons in CHA preferentially stabilize dehydration transition states that are partially-confined within the 8-membered ring (8-MR) of CHA. These findings provide evidence that catalytic diversity for the same stoichiometric reaction among zeolites of fixed structure and composition, even for frameworks containing a single T-site, can be introduced deliberately through synthetic control of the atomic arrangement of matter. </p>

Xylen är ett starkt toxiskt ämne, som trots att dess hälsofarliga egenskaper länge varit kända, fortsatt har använts som klarningsmedel i den histologiska processen. Syftet med den här studien var att undersöka om det betydligt mindre hälsofarliga lösningsmedlet, Histolab Clear, kunde substituera xylen som klarningsmedel, utan att kompromissa med kvalitén på de histologiska glas som laboratoriet lämnar ut för granskning. Två serier med samma uppsättning vävnadsbitar preparerades och dehydrerades med var sitt klarningsmedel. Klossarna granskades och bedömdes utifrån snittbarhet, färgkvalité och snittkvalité. Vid jämförelse av de två serierna visades inga betydande skillnader inom något av bedömningsområdena. Att resultatet är likvärdigt inom alla tre bedömningsområden stärker slutsatsen att Histolab Clear är ett bra alternativ som xylensubstitut. Däremot visar studien även att klossarnas snittbarhet tydligt påverkas av tjockleken på den utskurna vävnadsbiten. Tjocka vävnadsskivor ger en sämre snittbarhet vilket kan påverka snittets kvalité. För att säkra snitt av hög kvalité med välbevarad morfologi, bör det vid utskärningen inte tas vävnadsskivor som är tjockare än fyra millimeter. / Xylene is a highly toxic substance that, despite its long-known hazardous characteristics, still has been used as a clearing agent in the histological process. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the significantly less toxic solvent, Histolab Clear, could substitute xylene as a clearing agent, without compromising the quality of the histological slides released by the laboratory for examination. Two series with the same set of tissue pieces were prepared and dehydrated with a clarifying agent each. The blocks were examined and assessed based on sectionability, quality of color and quality of section. When comparing the two series, no significant differences were shown in any of the assessment areas. The fact that the result is equivalent in all three assessment areas reinforces the conclusion that Histolab Clear is a good alternative to substitute xylene. However, the study also shows that the sectionability of the blocks is clearly affected by the thickness of the tissue. Thick tissue slices result in poorer sectionability, which can affect the quality of the slide. To ensure high quality sections, with well-preserved morphology, tissue slices that are thicker than four millimeters should not be cut during grossing.

No description available.

Municipal wastewater treatment has a long history of local handling with recovery of toilet wastes for use in agriculture and to some extent energy recovery from biogas by use of local handling. This may be seen as ―the first way‖ further developed by septic tanks and infiltration and recovery as in Ecological Sanitation and use of urine separation toilets. However, problems related to water borne diseases and odor problems successively gave rise to ―the second way‖ with central wastewater systems with large investments in water and sewer nets and increasingly better technologies for water treatment and wastewater treatment. This technology may treat municipal wastewater to a drinking water quality and recover part of energy and nutrients contents for eco-cycling. The problems noted and which are quite obvious are affordability in poor countries and the need for much energy supply and with negative effects of emission of greenhouse gases. Ways should be better evaluated to obtain both an effluent wastewater of drinking water quality and at the same time be self-sufficient with energy, obtain products with a commercial value and comply with methods to reduce the amounts of released greenhouse gases. It is suggested that an intermediate dehydration step should be used by dividing the main stream into two streams, one to which water has been transferred by methods as forward osmosis or freezing and one remaining concentrated stream that could be treated more efficiently. New technologies should be considered for electricity production as use of fuel cell technology and forward osmosis. Methods to diminish greenhouse gas emissions include avoidance of such redox potentials and process conditions that lead to greenhouse gas emissions and binding of carbon dioxide in algae and plants and in clatharates.

Bakgrunden till det här examensarbetet var en artikel i byggvärlden som tog upp hur en nybyggd fastighet i Skövde hade drabbats av fuktproblem. Med anledning av detta startades en utredning av SBUF som visade på att fuktproblemen berodde på att en ny sorts betong som innehåll mineraltillsatser användes. Man kom också fram till att problemen som uppstod berodde på att den nya, moderna betongen får förändrade fuktegenskaper när man tillsätter mineraltillsatser.Syftet med detta examensarbete var att genom en litteraturstudie avgöra hur den traditionella betongens uttorkningsegenskaper påverkas av de tillsatser som idag används för att göra den moderna betongen mer klimatsmart. Syftet var också att ta reda på om den nya betongens uttorkningsegenskaper har några fördelar som kan användas i verkligheten vid en nybyggnation.Det visar sig att den moderna betongen med mineraltillsats har en tätare porstruktur som gör att uttorkningen för den moderna betongen fördröjs. Diffusionsuttorkning sker i så liten utsträckning att den i princip inte existerar. Detta sågs först som negativa egenskaper, vilket det är när man pratar om uttorkning. Men det som byggföretagens koncept nu har visat är att det finns stora potential till att vända dessa fuktegenskaper till något positivt. Konceptet bygger på att man uppnår en tillräcklig täthet i betongen som tillsammans med ett lager avjämning räcker för att få en fuktsäker konstruktion.Konceptet har även visat sig ha potential till att spara in på kostnader i och med att byggtider kan förkortas. Den moderna betongen är även ett miljövänligare alternativ. Lösningen med att använda ett lager avjämning är endast ett koncept som byggföretagen har testat, som nu har visat sig fungera, men som också förutsätter att man gör på ett visst sätt.Man bör ha i åtanke att för att detta koncept ska bli till ett standardförfarande i framtiden återstår mycket att göra så som mer testning. En pålitlig mätmetod behöver också tas fram för att mäta täthet i betong. Under testningen av konceptet mättes aldrig tätheten i betongen utan man provade sig fram och antog att 3 månader skulle ge den önskade tätheten. Vilket det också gjorde.Byggföretagens utredning visade också att alla betongrecept inte fungerar för att uppnå tillräcklig täthet i betong. Detta beror på vattencementtalet och att en tillräcklig täthet uppnås. Detta koncept fungerar inte heller på en traditionell betong med ordinarie portlandcement då den sortens betong inte innehåller mineraltillsatser som gör att betongen utvecklar tätheten som behövs. / The background to this thesis was an article in the construction world that addressed how a newly built property in Skövde had been affected by moisture problems. Due to this, an investigation was started by SBUF which showed that the moisture problems were due to the use of a new type of concrete containing mineral additives. It was also concluded that the problems that arose were due to the new, modern concrete having changed moisture properties when adding mineral additives.The purpose of this thesis was to determine through a literature study how the drying properties of traditional concrete are affected by the additives used today to make modern concrete more climate smart. The purpose was also to find out whether the drying properties of the new concrete have any advantages that can be used in reality in a new construction.It turns out that the modern concrete with mineral additive has a denser pore structure which means that the dehydration of the modern concrete is delayed. Diffusion drying takes place to such a small extent that it in principle does not exist. This was first seen as a negative trait, which is when talking about dehydration. But what the construction companies' concept has now shown is that there is great potential for turning these moisture properties into something positive. The concept is based on achieving a sufficient density in the concrete which, together with a layer of leveling, is sufficient to obtain a moisture-proof construction.The concept has also been shown to have the potential to save on costs as construction times can be shortened. Modern concrete is also a more environmentally friendly alternative. The solution of using a layer of leveling is only a concept that the construction companies have tested, which has now been shown to work, but which also presupposes that you do it in a certain way.It should be borne in mind that in order for this concept to become a standard procedure in the future, much remains to be done, such as more testing. A reliable measurement method also needs to be developed to measure density in concrete. During the testing of the concept, the density of the concrete was never measured, but it was tested and it was assumed that 3 months would give the desired density. Which it did.The construction companies' investigation also showed that not all concrete recipes work to achieve sufficient density in concrete. This is due to the water cement number and that a sufficient density is achieved. This concept also does not work on a traditional concrete with ordinary Portland cement as the type of concrete does not contain mineral additives which means that the concrete develops the density needed.

El Proyecto tiene como objetivo plasmar propuestas desarrolladas y orientadas en mejoras efectivas en toda la cadena de suministro en una empresa que se dedica a la venta y distribución al por mayor de frutas y verduras frescas. Con la finalidad de encontrar oportunidades de mejora en cada proceso, se realizaron diversos análisis de costo-beneficio para sustentar la inversión en las propuestas. Por ello, se proporciona en primera instancia reducir mermas y mantener la cadena de frío. Para obtener resultados enfocado en el logro de objetivos era necesario realizar mejoras tales como: Implementar buenas prácticas de manipuleo de material, instruidos bajo “Manuales de Manipulación”, con el cual se ha trabajado y capacitado al equipo, Óptima y eficiente distribución de Carga en camiones frigoríficos de acuerdo a capacidad de pallets por camión y criterios de apilamiento por producto, Implementación de equipos de refrigeración en almacén (diseño de secos y refrigerados), con aporte de codificación de productos para definir las ubicaciones, Implementar mejoras en el empaque al vacío con la finalidad de extender la vida perecible del producto, Cumplimiento y monitoreo de salidas de camiones hacia puntos de minas y por último la creación de una línea de producción a partir de los productos “no aptos por calidad” para reutilizarlos y convertirlos en fruta deshidratada para la comercialización. Obteniendo un resultado cuantitativo de reducción de 15% a 3% en términos de mermas y reprocesos. / The project aims to translate proposals developed and oriented towards effective improvements throughout the supply chain in a company that is dedicated to the wholesale sale and distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables. In order to find improvement opportunities in each process, several cost-benefit analyses were carried out to support the investment in the proposals. Therefore, the first step is to reduce losses and maintain the cold chain. To obtain results focused on the achievement of objectives it was necessary to make improvements such as Implementing good practices for handling materials, instructed under "Handling Manuals", with which the team has worked and been trained, Optimal and efficient distribution of cargo in refrigerated trucks according to the capacity of pallets per truck and stacking criteria for each product, Implementation of refrigeration equipment in the warehouse (design of dry and refrigerated), with product coding to define locations, implement improvements in vacuum packaging to extend the shelf life of the product, compliance and monitoring of truck departures to mining sites and finally the creation of a production line from the products "not suitable for quality" to reuse them and turn them into dried fruit for marketing. The result is a quantitative reduction of 15% to 3% in terms of losses and reprocessing. / Trabajo de Suficiencia Profesional

Two aspects of possible adaptation In cardiovascular performance caused by Increased plasma electrolytes were examined. Cells In anisotonic plasma may either act as osmometers or volume regulate. Blood flow rate Is dependent upon cell viscosity, which in turn is a consequence of cell volume and membrane deform-ability. Cell volume changes which Increase membrane deform-ability will thus potentially extend the limits of dehydration tolerance. It was found in R. catesbeiana and B. marinus that red blood cell Is maintain constant volume during dehydration. Cells in vitro Initially lose water, but then sodium, potassium and water move Into the cell. Cell viscosity within the physiologic range of hematocrits was higher In salt loaded non-regulating cell Is of B. marinus than In regulating isotonic cells.

The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a relationship between rapid weight loss and physical performance in combat sports athletes. The inclusion criteria were rapid weight loss and physical performance effects among combat sports researched in the last 20 years. Phrases, as well as keywords, were searched using multiple databases. The keywords included mixed martial arts (MMA), judo, wrestling, taekwondo, boxing, studies that looked at multiple disciplines at once, and unspecified disciplines. Results of the literature review indicate that there are negative effects on performance due to rapid weight loss and dehydration in combat sports. Appendix I summarizes the data found. However, other literature has suggested no physical performance effects following a period of rapid weight loss. Determination at what percentage of body mass loss unequivocally affects physical performance measures and the threshold in which a certain athlete is likely to experience these effects is key. Factors that seem to influence the magnitude of measured performance effects include the length of recovery time following the period of rapid weight loss, the magnitude of body mass lost, as well as methods used to achieve weight loss. The results of this study may help provide insight into areas of research that are lacking data on this subject and may also provide helpful guidelines for combat sports athletes and trainers alike.