Resonators are one of the most important parts of electronic products. They provide a stable reference frequency to ensure the operation of these products. Recently, the electronic products have the trend of miniaturization, which rendered the size reduction of the resonators as well [1]. Better design of the resonators relies on a better understanding of the crystals' nonlinear behavior [2]. The nonlinearities affect the quality factor and acoustic behavior of MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical-System) and nano-structured resonators and filters [3]. Among these nonlinear effects, Drivel Level Dependence (DLD), which describes the instability of the resonator frequency due to voltage level and/or power density, is an urgent problem for miniaturized resonators [2]. Langasite and GaPO4 are new promising piezoelectric material. Resonators made from these new materials have superior performance such as good frequency-temperature characteristics, and low acoustic loss [2]. In this thesis, experimental measurements of drive level dependence of langasite resonators with different configurations (plano-plano, single bevel, and double bevel) are reported. The drive level dependence of GaPO4 resonators are reported as well for the purpose of comparison. The results show that the resonator configuration affects the DLD of the langasite resonator. Experiments for DLD at elevated temperature are also performed, and it was found that the temperature also affects the DLD of the langasite resonator.

Selfish genetic elements break the rules of Mendelian inheritance to bias their transmission to following generations, often with negative fitness consequences. A striking example involves selfish X chromosomes that operate in males and interfere with the production of sperm that carry a Y chromosome. Only X chromosome-bearing sperm are produced, and this can result in extraordinary female-biased sex-ratio distortions. Most studies have focused on how selfish X chromosomes operate in and affect males, and there has been relatively little work on their consequences in females. In this thesis, I characterize fitness effects and transmission in females, in a recently discovered selfish X chromosome system in Drosophila testacea, a common woodland fly. I show that females with two copies of the selfish X chromosome have reduced fitness compared to females carrying zero, or one copy. Specifically, these females have a lower hatch rate and lifetime fecundity. Additionally, I show that heterozygous females are more likely to transmit the selfish X chromosome than the wildtype copy to their offspring. I observe this transmission bias in eggs, larvae, and adults, which suggests that the selfish X chromosome is preferentially segregating into the egg, rather than the polar bodies, during oogenesis. We believe this is the first documented case of a selfish X chromosome acting through both sexes. The negative fitness effects and the biased transmission in males and females will have important consequences on the evolutionary dynamics of the selfish X chromosome. In addition, the phenomenon of biased transmission in both sexes has the potential to yield interesting insights in the mechanism of meiotic drive. / Graduate / 2022-05-12

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International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 17-20, 1994 / Town & Country Hotel and Conference Center, San Diego, California / Veda Incorporated has developed an airborne instrumentation recorder for a major commercial aircraft manufacturer. The recorder was developed for use in the aircraft company's Portable Airborne Digital Data System (PADDS), a small scale data acquisition and monitor system used for flight testing. The recorder is designed around an off-the-shelf 8mm tape drive, the Exabyte 8505. It records asynchronous, variable-rate data in a proprietary 24-bit recording format, and allows the data to be played back in real time. Its RS-422 control interface is designed to imitate the recorder used in the company's large scale data acquisition system, the Ampex DCRSi-II. Special provisions allow it to withstand the environment of an airplane's EE bay.

Due to the fast-rising voltage pulses of pulse width modulated drives, the generated shaft voltage of electrical motors causes electrical discharge currents in bearings. These discharges can cause bearing failure leading to costly maintenance and unexpected production stops. To eliminate the raised shaft voltage, several techniques are used such as shaft grounding brushes, insulated bearings and conductive grease. The possibility to measure discharge activity on a PWM driven induction motor offers a tool for researchers to test different bearings in electric motors. In order to measure the shaft voltages and bearing currents, modifications of an induction motor are made firstly using 3D software and then on the physical motor. By insulating the bearing from the frame and attaching a copper ring to the bearings outer race bearing currents can be measured. The combined measurements of shaft voltage, bearing currents and frame currents shows the bearings conductive states at low speed, and insulated state at higher speed. Electrical discharge activity (DA) is observed as shaft voltage raises, resulting in a bearing current spike and shaft voltage drops rapidly while stator current is unaffected. Experimental tests were performed with a sample bearing at different operating conditions, such as operating speed, temperature, motor load, etc., to determine the effect of the common mode voltages on bearing currents and shaft voltages. At low temperatures between 23-26 ˚C and motor speeds above 1000 rpm EDM currents were observed. On temperatures above 40 ˚C no major EDM currents were observed regardless of rpm due to the bearing remaining in an ohmic conductive state. The modifications of the motor have shown to give reliable bearing current and shaft voltage measurements that can help in future research in this area.

Orientador: Fábio Porto-Foresti / Resumo: A ictiofauna neotropical é uma das mais ricas do mundo, sendo estimada a ocorrência de 9100 espécies de peixes. Dentre estes, o gênero Astyanax (Characiformes, Characidae) se destaca como um dos mais abundantes em espécies, sendo marcante a presença de cromossomos B neste grupo. Cromossomos B, ou supranumerários, são cromossomos adicionais aos cromossomos padrões do organismo e considerados dispensáveis. A origem destes cromossomos ainda é incerta, sendo os modelos mais aceitos a origem intraespecífica, em que os cromossomos B se originam dos próprios cromossomos da espécie e a origem interespecífica, em que os supranumerários se originariam dos cromossomos de outra espécie próxima através da hibridação. Uma das características que definem os cromossomos B é a sua transmissão que foge dos padrões mendelianos, levando a acumulação ou extinção destes elementos. Em peixes, cromossomos B estão presentes em 113 espécies, sendo a variante presente em Astyanax paranae um dos modelos de estudo para o grupo. Esta variante foi diagnosticada como um isocromossomo de origem intraespecífica, e sequencias presentes neste cromossomo também estão presentes nos cromossomos B de outras espécies do grupo, sugerindo uma origem comum. Entretanto, dados em relação à transmissão deste supranumerário ainda não são conhecidos. Diante disto, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi descrever o padrão de transmissão do cromossomo B presente em A. paranae através de cruzamentos dirigidos. A transmissão de cr... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The neotropical ichthyofauna is one of the richest in the world, estimated in 9100 fish species. In this group, the genus Astyanax (Characiformes, Characidae) is considered one of the most abundant in species, being remarkable the presence of supernumerary or B chromosomes in the group. B chromosomes are additional chromosomes to the standard chromosomes and are considered dispensable. These elements are present in plants, animals and fungi and are generally formed by repetitive DNA sequences and fragments of ribosomal and histone genes. The origin of these chromosomes is still uncertain, and the most accepted model intraspecificrelated, where the B chromosomes arise from the same chromosomes of the species and the intraspecific origin, although the supernumerary ones would originate from the chromosomes of another related species by hybridization. One of the important characteristics of B chromosomes is related with their transmission, which does not follow Mendelian patterns, leading to the accumulation or extinction of these elements. In fish, B chromosomes are present in 113 species, and the variant present in Astyanax paranae is one of the studing models for the group. This variant was diagnosed as an isochromosome of intraspecific origin, and sequences present on this chromosome are also present on the B chromosomes of other related species, suggesting a common origin. However, data regarding the transmission of this supernumerary are still unknown. Therefore, the objec... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

This research studied the tractive performance of integrated steering-drive systems by investigating a two-wheel-drive vehicle having two independent rear drive wheels and non-driven steerable front wheels. The feasibility of integrating the steering and drive systems and the performance advantages that may be obtained was investigated. In order to demonstrate the feasibility of the concept, the steering system and the drive system of a test vehicle were integrated using a computer with a specially-developed program. The software algorithm developed for the program used the mathematical relationship between the rear drive wheel speeds and the steer angles of the non-driven front wheels to set the steer angles. A test-bed vehicle was fitted with instrumentation to implement the computer-integrated system. The circuitry of the hydraulic lines of the hydraulically-driven test vehicle was modified to allow changes in drive configuration. These changes are not possible with conventional vehicles. The test vehicle could be configured for the following steering-drive configurations: open differential rear drive with steerable front wheels, independent rear drive wheels with front castors, locked differential rear drive with steerable front wheels and the computer-integrated steering-drive system developed. The sensors on the vehicle allowed data collection for characterising the vehicle and wheels. omputer models were developed for the various steering-drive configurations from the force relationships, longitudinal slip relationships, vehicle geometry and turning geometry. Characteristics of the test vehicle's wheels for use in the models were measured experimentally. he models were used to simulate the behaviour, and calculate the tractive performance, of the four steering-drive configurations in various situations but actual tests were not able to be conducted with the available resources. Unlike previous models, the models of this research used force and longitudinal slip information rather than power input and power output to produce values for drawbar efficiency. theoretical analysis was conducted into the optimal slip conditions for maximum tractive efficiency. The analysis was conducted using a more rigorous mathematical analysis than previous researchers and used a thorough graphical analysis to substantiate the mathematical analysis. Previous studies concluded that under all traction conditions the efficiency of slip will be a maximum when the slip of each wheel is equal. This research revealed that, contrary to the previous literature, efficiency of slip will not be a maximum when the slip of each wheel is equal under non-uniform traction conditions. The simulations were focussed on turning situations, non-uniform traction conditions and traversing slopes. The optimal slip conditions and steer angles for turning situations were also investigated and analysed. The computer-integrated steering-drive system achieved a drawbar pull 50% higher than that for a conventional open differential when undertaking a 10 m radius turn with non-uniform traction conditions. Under these conditions, the drawbar efficiency of the computer-integrated steering-drive system was 5% greater than that for the open differential at the lower drawbar pull. It was concluded that it is feasible and beneficial to use a computer-integrated steering system. Vehicles using such a system would operate more effectively and efficiently when turning under load, moving across slopes and in non-uniform traction conditions. More effectiveness was provided through greater drawbar pull and higher drawbar efficiency. / thesis (PhD)--University of South Australia, 2005.