Das Prostatakarzinom ist der häufigste bösartige Tumor des Mannes in den westlichen Industrieländern und die zweithäufigste tumorassoziierte Todesursache bei Männern weltweit. Für seine Diagnostik ist die Positronenemissionstomographie (PET) klinisch ein zunehmend wichtiges nicht-invasives bildgebendes Verfahren. Dennoch gibt es gegenwärtig noch kein geeignetes Radiopharmakon für die klinische Routineuntersuchung und die Charakterisierung des Prostatakarzinoms mit der PET. In dieser Arbeit wurden die Fettsäuren [18F]Fluorthiapalmitat (FTP) und 13-(4-[124/131I]Iodphenyl)-3-(p-phenylen)tridekansäure (PHIPA) hinsichtlich ihrer Eignung als Radiotracer für die PET zum Nachweis des Prostatakarzinoms in vitro und [18F]Fluorthiapalmitat auch in vivo untersucht. Methode: Für die Zellversuche wurden zwei hormonabhängige Zelllinien, LNCap und 22Rv1, und zwei hormonunabhängige Zelllinien DU145 und PC-3 verwendet. Nach Inkubation mit dem radioaktiven Tracer wurde die Höhe der Aufnahme im zeitlichen Verlauf mit Hilfe einer gamma-Kamera gemessen, sowie Untersuchungen zum Mechanismus der Aufnahme in die Zellen durchgeführt. In einem zweiten Schritt wurde die Aufnahme von [18F]FTP in ein heterotop implantiertes Prostatakarzinom in CD1-nu/nu-Nacktmäusen in vivo am Kleintier-PET bestimmt. Ergebnisse: Es zeigt sich sowohl für [18F]FTP als auch für [124/131I]PHIPA eine zeitabhängige Aufnahme in die Prostatakarzinomzellen mit Erreichen eines Plateaus. Dieses wird von der fluorierten Fettsäure [18F]FTP schneller erreicht als von der jodierten Fettsäure [124/131I]PHIPA. Das Plateau der Aufnahme liegt für [18F]FTP signifikant höher als für [124/131I]PHIPA. Desgleichen ist die maximal erreichte Aufnahme in die beiden hormonabhängigen Zelllinien LNCaP und 22Rv1 höher liegt, als in die hormonunabhängigen Zelllinien DU125 und PC-3. Im Rahmen von kompetitiven Inhibitorexperimenten mit Etomoxir konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Carnitin-Palmitoyltransferase einen wichtigen Aufnahmemechanismus für den Transport von [18F]FTP in die Zellen darstellt. Die Aufnahme von [124/131I]PHIPA in die Prostatakarzinomzellen wird durch Etomoxir nicht beeinflusst. Desgleichen lässt sich die Aufnahme sowohl von [18F]FTP als auch von [124/131I]PHIPA weder durch Koinkubation mit Angiotensin noch mit AICAR hemmen. Die Kleintier-PET-Untersuchungen zeigten eine relativ geringe Aufnahme von [18F]FTP in die Tumoren in vivo im Vergleich zur Akkumulation in Tumorzellen in vitro in der Zellkultur. Die Abgrenzung des Tumors mittels [18F]FTP-PET war zwar möglich, jedoch insgesamt noch nicht zufriedenstellend. Die Diskrepanz zwischen Daten aus Zellexperimenten in vitro und Ergebnissen aus tierexperimentellen Untersuchungen in vivo am Kleintier-PET kann noch nicht erklärt werden. Schlussfolgerung: Insgesamt legen die positiven Ergebnisse der in vitro Experimente mit [18F]FTP und [124/131I]PHIPA einen Grundstein für fortführende in vivo Bewertungen dieser Radiopharmaka mit dem Ziel, das Potential als mögliches Radiopharmakon zur Darstellung des Prostatakarzinoms abschließend klären zu können. / Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in man in the western civilisation and the second leading cause of cancer death in man all over the world. For its diagnosis positron emission tomography (PET) is an increasing important tool as a noninvasive procedure. Very few tracers are currently available to detect and stage prostate cancer with PET. This study is an analysis of the uptake and the metabolism of [18F]Fluorthiapalmitat (FTP) und 13-(4-[124/131I]Iodphenyl)-3-(p-phenylen)tridekansäure (PHIPA) in prostate cancer cells and for [18F]FTP in an experimental model of human prostate cancer to evaluate the potential as an imaging agent for prostate cancer. Methods: In vitro experiments were performed with LNCap and 22Rv1 (androgen-dependent) and DU145 and PC-3 (non androgen-dependent) human prostate cancer cell lines. The uptake of the radio-labeled fatty acids was evaluated, followed by analysis of the underlying mechanisms of the accumulation in tumor cells. Furthermore [18F]Fluorthiapalmitat was examined with small-animal PET in CD-1 nu/nu mice engrafted with human PC-3 prostate cancer heterotopically in the flank. Results: [18F]FTP and [124/131I]PHIPA accumulated intensively in primary human prostate cancer cells. The Uptake of [18F]FTP and [124/131I]PHIPA is a time dependent process which reaches saturation. The saturation of [18F]FTP in all cell lines is significantly higher than of [124/131I]PHIPA. Likewise, the saturation of the androgen-dependent cell lines is higher than of the non androgen-dependent cell lines. Inhibition experiments revealed that the carnitin-palmitoyltranferase is an important mechanism of [18F]FTP accumulation in prostate cancer cells, whereas Angiotensin and AICAR take no influence on the uptake of [18F]FTP and [124/131I]PHIPA. In vivo [18F]FTP accumulated less in the heterotopically prostate cancer of the CD-1 nu/nu mice than the in vitro results suggested, reaching 7.7 ± 3.9% injected dose per gram (ID/g). With [18F]FTP the visualisation of the tumor was possible, but the tumor-to-background contrast not satisfying. The gap between the positive in vitro results and the outcome of the small-animal PET could not be explained in the study. Conclusion: To evaluate the potential of [18F]FTP as a PET tracer, further experiments in vivo are necessary. Despite the in vivo results, the positive in vitro results suggest that [18F]FTP and [124/131I]PHIPA are promising candidates as radiotracer for detecting prostate cancer and warrant further studies in vivo.

No description available.

Terminating transmission lines at either the source or the load end with a damping resistor is frequently used to improve the signal integrity of clock or control lines on printed circuit boards. While a number of termination variants may produce similar results in regards to signal integrity, the electromagnetic compatibility performance can vary due to different current and voltage distributions along the line. This thesis investigates the impact of transmission line terminations on radiated emissions.

<p>This thesis considers the effect of a large scale wind power introduction into an electricity system and the focus has been on the carbon dioxide emissions. Two different systems were studied, the Swedish and the Danish electricity system. When studying the Swedish electricity system different scenarios were created to see what might happen with the CO₂ emissions with an introduction of a large amount of wind power. The model that was used is based on parameters such as regulating power, transmission capacity, export possibility, and the electricity generation mixes in the Nordic countries. Given that the transmission capacity is good enough, the conclusion is that the carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced with a large scale introduction of wind power. In the Danish electricity system wind power is already introduced to a large extent. The main purpose here was to investigate the development of the CO₂ emissions and if it is possible to decide the actual change in carbon dioxide emissions due to the large scale introduction of wind power. The conclusions to this part are that the CO₂ emissions per kWh produced electricity have decreased since the electricity generation mix has changed but the total amount of CO₂ emissions fluctuates depending on weather, in a dry year less hydro power from Norway and Sweden can be used and more electricity from the fossil fuelled CHPs are generated. It has not been possible to determine the influence of the wind power on the CO₂ emissions.</p>

This study outlines the development of an emissions modeling process in which tractive power based emissions functions are applied to microscopic traffic simulation data. The model enables transportation planners to evaluate the effects of transportation infrastructure projects on emissions and fuel consumption to aid in selecting the projects providing the greatest environmental return on investment. Using the developed model, the performance of a set of simplified macroscopic velocity profiles used in an existing emissions model has been evaluated. The profiles were found to under predict the vehicle emissions due to the low acceleration rates used. To illustrate the use of the model in evaluating transportation infrastructure projects, the benefits of two potential development scenarios in a major transportation corridor were evaluated. Weighing the benefits provided by each scenario against their associated costs revealed that greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced at a cost an order of magnitude greater than the value of a carbon credit suggesting that neither option is economical solely as a greenhouse gas emissions reduction tool.

Oxides of nitrogen from coal-fired power stations are considered to be major pollutants, and there is increasing concern for regulating air quality and offsetting the emissions generated from the use of energy. Reburning is an in-furnace, combustion control technology for NOx reduction. Another environmental issue that needs to be addressed is the rapidly growing feedlot industry in the United States. The production of biomass from one or more animal species is in excess of what can safely be applied to farmland in accordance with nutrient management plans and stockpiled waste poses economic and environmental liabilities. In the present study, the feasibility of using biomass as a reburn fuel in existing coal-fired power plants is considered. It is expected to utilize biomass as a low-cost, substitute fuel and an agent to control emission. The successful development of this technology will create environment-friendly, low cost fuel source for the power industry, provide means for an alternate method of disposal of biomass, and generate a possible revenue source for feedlot operators. In the present study, the effect of coal, cattle manure or feedlot biomass, and blends of biomass with coal on the ability to reduce NOx were investigated in the Texas A&M University 29.31 kW (100,000 Btu/h) reburning facility. The facility used a mixture of propane and ammonia to generate the 600 ppm NOx in the primary zone. The reburn fuel was injected using air. The stoichiometry tested were 1.00 to 1.20 in the reburn zone. Two types of injectors, circular jet and fan spray injectors, which produce different types of mixing within the reburn zone, were studied to find their effect on NOx emissions reduction. The flat spray injector performed better in all cases. With the injection of biomass as reburn fuel with circular jet injector the maximum NOx reduction was 29.9 % and with flat spray injector was 62.2 %. The mixing time was estimated in model set up as 936 and 407 ms. The maximum NOx reduction observed with coal was 14.4 % and with biomass it was 62.2 % and the reduction with blends lay between that of coal and biomass.

This thesis considers the effect of a large scale wind power introduction into an electricity system and the focus has been on the carbon dioxide emissions. Two different systems were studied, the Swedish and the Danish electricity system. When studying the Swedish electricity system different scenarios were created to see what might happen with the CO2 emissions with an introduction of a large amount of wind power. The model that was used is based on parameters such as regulating power, transmission capacity, export possibility, and the electricity generation mixes in the Nordic countries. Given that the transmission capacity is good enough, the conclusion is that the carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced with a large scale introduction of wind power. In the Danish electricity system wind power is already introduced to a large extent. The main purpose here was to investigate the development of the CO2 emissions and if it is possible to decide the actual change in carbon dioxide emissions due to the large scale introduction of wind power. The conclusions to this part are that the CO2 emissions per kWh produced electricity have decreased since the electricity generation mix has changed but the total amount of CO2 emissions fluctuates depending on weather, in a dry year less hydro power from Norway and Sweden can be used and more electricity from the fossil fuelled CHPs are generated. It has not been possible to determine the influence of the wind power on the CO2 emissions.

Premixed and partially-premixed combustion and ollutant emissions in full-scale gas turbines has been numerically investigated using a massively-parallel Large-Eddy Simulation Combustion Dynamics Model. Through the use of a flamelet library approach, it was observed that CO (Carbon Oxide) and NO (Nitric Oxide) emission can be predicted and match experimental results. The prediction of the CO emission trend is shown to be possible if the influence of the formation of UHC (Unburnt HydroCarbons) via flame extinction is taken into account. Simulations were repeated with two different combustion approach: the G-equation model and the Linear-Eddy Mixing (LEM) Model. Results are similar for these two sets of numerical simulations. The LEM model was used to simulate flame extinction and flame lift-off in a dump combustion chamber. The LEM model is compared to the G-equation model and it was found that the LEM model is more versatile than the G-equation model with regard to accurate simulation of flame propagation in all turbulent premixed combustion regimes. With the addition of heat losses, flame extinction was observed for low equivalence ratio. Numerical simulation of flame propagation with transient inflow conditions were also carried out and demonstrated the ability of the LEM model to accurately simulate flame propagation in the case of a partially-premixed system. In all simulations where flame extinction and flame lift-off was simulated, release of unburnt fuel in the post-flame region through flame extinction was not observed.

Oxides of nitrogen from coal-fired power stations are considered to be major pollutants, and there is increasing concern for regulating air quality and offsetting the emissions generated from the use of energy. Reburning is an in-furnace, combustion control technology for NOx reduction. Another environmental issue that needs to be addressed is the rapidly growing feedlot industry in the United States. The production of biomass from one or more animal species is in excess of what can safely be applied to farmland in accordance with nutrient management plans and stockpiled waste poses economic and environmental liabilities. In the present study, the feasibility of using biomass as a reburn fuel in existing coal-fired power plants is considered. It is expected to utilize biomass as a low-cost, substitute fuel and an agent to control emission. The successful development of this technology will create environment-friendly, low cost fuel source for the power industry, provide means for an alternate method of disposal of biomass, and generate a possible revenue source for feedlot operators. In the present study, the effect of coal, cattle manure or feedlot biomass, and blends of biomass with coal on the ability to reduce NOx were investigated in the Texas A&M University 29.31 kW (100,000 Btu/h) reburning facility. The facility used a mixture of propane and ammonia to generate the 600 ppm NOx in the primary zone. The reburn fuel was injected using air. The stoichiometry tested were 1.00 to 1.20 in the reburn zone. Two types of injectors, circular jet and fan spray injectors, which produce different types of mixing within the reburn zone, were studied to find their effect on NOx emissions reduction. The flat spray injector performed better in all cases. With the injection of biomass as reburn fuel with circular jet injector the maximum NOx reduction was 29.9 % and with flat spray injector was 62.2 %. The mixing time was estimated in model set up as 936 and 407 ms. The maximum NOx reduction observed with coal was 14.4 % and with biomass it was 62.2 % and the reduction with blends lay between that of coal and biomass.

Ambient concentration measurements of total suspended particulate (TSP) were made at a commercial dairy in central Texas during the summers of 2002 and 2003. The facility consisted of both open pen housing and free-stall structures to accommodate approximately 1840 head of milking cattle. The field sampling results were used in the EPA approved dispersion model Industrial Source Complex Short Term version 3 (ISCST-v3) to estimate emission fluxes and ultimately a seasonally corrected emission factor for a free-stall dairy. Ambient measurements of TSP concentrations for sampling periods ranging from 2 to 6 hours were recorded during the summer of 2002. The mean upwind concentration was 115µg/m3 with a maximum of 231µg/m3 and a minimum of 41.4µg/m3. The mean net downwind TSP concentration was 134µg/m3 with a maximum of 491µg/m3 and a minimum of 14µg/m3. Field sampling at this same dairy in the summer of 2003 yielded significantly more 2 to 6 hour TSP concentration measurements. The mean upwind TSP concentration was 76µg/m3 with a maximum concentration of 154µg/m3. The mean net downwind TSP concentration was 118µg/m3 with a maximum of 392µg/m3 and a minimum of 30µg/m3. The particle size distributions (PSD) of the PM on the downwind TSP filters was determined using the Coulter Counter Multisizer. The results of this process was a representative dairy PM PSD with 28% of TSP emissions being PM10. The reported PM10 24-hour emission factors were 4.7 kg/1000hd/day for the free-stall areas of the facility and 11.7 kg/1000hd/day for the open pen areas of the dairy. These emission factors were uncorrected for rainfall events. Corrections for seasonal dust suppression events were made for the San Joaquin Valley of California and the panhandle region of Texas. Using historical rainfall and ET data for central California, the seasonally corrected PM10 emission factor is 3.6kg/1000hd/day for the free-stalls, and 8.7kg/1000hd/day for the open pens. For Texas, the seasonally corrected emission factor is 3.7kg/1000hd/day for the free-stall areas and 9.2kg/1000hd/day for the open lot areas.