<p>Pollution problems have drawn worldwide awareness and become significantly important now. Particulate matter (PM) emission is one of the key pollution issues. Particulate matter has a significant impact on the environment and human health, especially particle sizes that range below 10μm. Researches continuously work an improvement of fine particulate matter collections emitted from all kinds of sources, such as automobiles, industrial combustion, etc. Governments in many countries are planning to regulate the PM emission from the existing PM_10 (particle diameter<10μm) to new limits PM_2.5 (particle diameter<2.5μm) within the next few years. For this reason, present PM control system needs to be improved.</p><p>The objective of this work is to develop a dust flow separator type electrostatic precipitator (DFS-ESP) for the effective control of fine particulate matter emission from natural gas combustions. The characteristic of PM emitted from natural gas combustion is studied, and the performance of a DFS-ESP is evaluated by experiments and numerical predictions.</p><p>An experiment was conducted for natural gas combustion exhaust flow rates from 2.5 to 9 Nm^3/h, ESP applied voltages from 0 to 30kV, and gas temperature from 80 to 160°C. A series of particle measurements were conducted at upstream, downstream and middle of the DFS-ESP system by an optical particle counter for particle mass density, and by condensation nucleate particle counter for particle size distributions and particle number density. Particle sampled from the natural gas combustion system was also analyzed by an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) technique. Flow velocity profile and pressure drop of the DFS-ESP were measured by a Pitot tube and diaphragm type pressure transducer, respectively.</p><p>The experimental results show that the particle size emitted from natural gas combustion ranges from 17 to 300nm in diameter, and the volume density is approximately from 5 x 10^8 #pt/m^3 to 5 x 10^9 #pt/m^3 depending on the combustion conditions. The dust flow separator can concentrate 90% of fine particles in 1 to 3% of the gas flow and divert it from the main flow to the ESP section where the particles can be removed. In terms of overall particle collection efficiency, the DFS-ESP system can remove up to 90% of the particles based on the number density. The pressure drop across the DFS-ESP is observed to be lower than lPa for the present range of flow rate, which is within acceptable limits for industrial applications.</p> / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

Electron Ptychography is a technique to retrieve the phase information of the medium through which the electron wave travels in a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). Phase calculation is carried out by acquiring an oversampled dataset of diffraction patterns from the sample and execution of a Fourier-based mathematical solution or algorithm using the collected dataset of intensity patterns. The phase of the electron wave contains valuable information about the structure of the material under study. In this contribution, we provide a scientific background necessary for understanding the phase calculation method, examine the capabilities and limitations of the Electron Ptychography in experimental setup and introduce two novel methods to increase the signal to noise ratio by using the same dose budget used in a classic Ptychography experiment. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

The topic of this master’s thesis is the design of a sample manipulator for TEM. Regarding which the segment of the sample manipulator used to move the sample in the direction of the x-axis (so-called x-stage) was designed. The introductory theoretical part is concerned with a brief description of transmission electron microscopy focused on the imaging methods used in TEM and the procedures of preparing and loading TEM samples. The theoretical part follows with the design of precise mechanisms, especially with respect to the inaccuracies of their operation and the technological aspect of the design. In the practical part, a detailed analysis of the design of the x-stage is presented. Kinematics and dynamics of the mechanism is analyzed in depth, following with the description of the overall design of the mechanism and some of its parts in detail.

This graduation theises deal with influence of an additional grating possitioned berween the sample and the ionisation detektor of the environmental scannin elektron microscope on signal detection. Signal level is measured for changing pressure, at different voltages on the aditional grating, at different sample - additional electrode distance and at different sample - detektor distance. Influence of the additional grating is simulated for real working conditions on PC.

Regenerative medicine holds promises for many neurodegenerative diseases such as Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), a disorder that occurs when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain, leading to apoptosis or necrosis of brain neurons. More than 5 million Americans suffer from TBI as a result of inability to regenerate damaged neurons. The aim of this project was to develop a biocompatible and electrically conductive substrate to promote growth and regeneration of neurons and for our long-term goal as a probe to record intracellular and multisite signals from brain. The substrate was fabricated by pyrolyzing a polymeric precursor -SPR 220.7 at temperatures higher than 700 ºC. Human Neuroblastoma cells - SK-N-MC, SY5Y and mouse teratocarcinoma cells P-19 were found to attach and proliferate on photoresist derived carbon film. Growth and differentiation of rat pheochromocytoma cell-PC12 that serves as a model for primary neurons was demonstrated. Initial examination of cell growth and differentiation was done by observing cell shape and size, and measuring the length of neurites after the cells were differentiated by NGF. Further characterization of cells cultured on photoresist derived carbon substrate was achieved by testing mRNA genes- GADPH and Tau. Findings from this investigative work would possibly help to study new approaches to promote neuronal growth and differentiation in damaged brain regions of people with TBI or in patients with other neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease in regaining memories.

A recuperação de nitrogênio e fósforo presente no esgoto tem se tornado uma alternativa bastante promissora para fornecer uma fonte renovável e ecologicamente sustentável de nutrientes para a agricultura e, consequentemente, melhorar a qualidade do efluente final do sistema de tratamento. Os compostos de fósforo, durante o tratamento de esgoto, numa primeira etapa são removidos por processos biológicos, sendo incorporados no lodo pelos organismos heterotróficos ordinários e organismos acumuladores de fósforo (PAOs). Seguidamente, em condições anaeróbias, o fósforo armazenado no lodo pode ser liberado para a fase líquida e em seguida recuperado como estruvita (MgNH4PO4 .6H2O) num processo de cristalização sob condições controladas. No Brasil, ainda não existem documentados estudos em escala piloto, que simulem condições reais, utilizando sistemas EBPR e reatores de precipitação. Por tal motivo, esta pesquisa foi desenvolvida com o intuito de contribuir com uma melhor compreensão do fenômeno de recuperação de fósforo como cristais de estruvita. A pesquisa foi dividia em três etapas: 1) Operação da configuração UCT modificado e digestor anaeróbio de lodo misto e testes preliminares no reator de precipitação de estruvita; 2) Delineamento e realização de experimentos de precipitação e 3) caracterização dos sólidos obtidos nos experimentos de precipitação. A primeira etapa consistiu em dar partida ao sistema biológico de remoção de fósforo (UCT modificado) e digestor anaeróbio de lodo, e consequentemente a produção do sobrenadante. Paralelamente, foram realizados testes no reator de precipitação. A partir do filtrado e o planejamento fatorial 33, foram definidos o pH, dosagem de magnésio e tempo de detenção hidráulico como fatores que exercem influência na precipitação de estruvita. Definiram-se as remoções de nitrogênio e fósforo como as variáveis respostas ao delineamento experimental. Os resultados mostraram remoções de nitrogênio entre 30 e 40% para pH 8,50 e 9,50, enquanto que remoções de fósforo acima de 80% foram obtidas para uma dosagem de magnésio de 80 mg Mg2+/L e pH 8,50 e 9,50. A influência do tempo de detenção hidráulico não foi significativa tanto na remoção de nitrogênio quanto de fósforo. As imagens obtidas pelas análises de MEV constataram a presença de um sistema ortorrômbico, típica dos cristais de estruvita. No entanto, observou-se que os tamanhos dos cristais mudaram consideravelmente em função dos tempos A caracterização dos sólidos por difração de raios X mostrou que na maioria dos experimentos foi obtida estruvita (23 das 27 condições experimentais), seguida de bobbierrita e newberita, em alguns casos, phosphamita, biphosphamita e brucita. Para as condições de pH 8,50 e 9,50 foi obtida pureza da estruvita entre 80 e 97%. / The recovery of nitrogen and phosphorus present in sewage has become a very promising alternative to provide a renewable and ecologically sustainable source of nutrients for agriculture and a consequently improve of the final effluent quality of the treatment system. The phosphorus compounds are initially removed by biological processes, being incorporated in the sludge through phosphorus-accumulating organisms (PAOs). Later, the phosphorus stored under anaerobic conditions in the sludge, is released to the liquid phase and finally recovered as struvite (MgNH4PO4 .6H2O) following its crystallization process under a controlled setting. No pilot-scale studies, which simulate the real conditions using EBPR and precipitation reactors, have been documented in Brazil so far. Therefore, this research aimed to contribute to improve the understanding of the phosphorus recovering phenomenon as struvite crystals. This project was divided in three main stages: 1) Operation of the UCT-modified setting and the anaerobic digester of mixed sludge; 2) Design and performance of precipitation experiments and. 3) Characterization of the obtained solids during the precipitation experiments. At the first stage, the biological system for phosphorus removal (UCT-modified), and the anaerobic sludge digester were initiated, followed by the production of supernatant. Simultaneously, precipitation tests were carried out at the reactor. Following the factorial design, and using the recovered supernatant, the pH, addition of magnesium and hydraulic retention time, were identified as factors influencing the struvite precipitation. The phosphorus and nitrogen removal were defined as the dependent variables for the experimental design. The results showed a nitrogen removal between 30% and 40% for pH values of 8.50 and 9.50, independently of the used magnesium dose. On the otherhand, over 80% of phosphorus removal was attained with addition of magnesium of 80 mg Mg2+/L and pH values of 8.50 and 9.50. The hydraulic retention time have not influenced the total nitrogen and phosphorus removal, but the grain-size of the struvite crystals precipitated. The characterization of the recovered solids by X-ray diffraction showed that struvite was precipitated in most of the performed experiments (23 of 27 settings), although bobierrite, newberyite, phosphamite, biphosphamite and brucite, were formed as well. The maximum values for struvite pureness, between 80% and 97%, were obtained with pH values of 8.50 and 9.50. The MEV analyses supported the presence of a orthorhombic crystallographic system, which is a typical feature of struvite.

A padronização para a fabricação de instrumentos endodônticos em aço inoxidável contribuiu para o desenvolvimento de novos aspectos geométricos. Surgiram propostas de alterações no desenho da haste helicoidal, da seção reta transversal, da ponta, da conicidade e do diâmetro na extremidade (D0). Concomitantemente, o emprego de ligas em Níquel-Titânio possibilitou a produção de instrumentos acionados a motor, largamente empregados hoje. A cada ano a indústria lança instrumentos com diversas modificações, sem, contudo, disponibilizar informações suficientes quanto às implicações clínicas destas modificações. Existe um crescente interesse no estudo dos diferentes aspectos geométricos e sua precisa metrologia. Tradicionalmente, a aferição de aspectos geométricos de instrumentos endodônticos é realizada visualmente através de microscopia ótica. Entretanto, esse procedimento visual é lento e subjetivo. Este trabalho propõe um novo método para a metrologia de instrumentos endodônticos baseado no microscópio eletrônico de varredura e na análise digital das imagens. A profundidade de campo do MEV permite obter a imagem de todo o relevo do instrumento endodôntico a uma distância de trabalho constante. Além disso, as imagens obtidas pelo detector de elétrons retro-espalhados possuem menos artefatos e sombras, tornando a obtenção e análise das imagens mais fáceis. Adicionalmente a análise das imagens permite formas de mensuração mais eficientes, com maior velocidade e qualidade. Um porta-amostras específico foi adaptado para obtenção das imagens dos instrumentos endodônticos. Ele é composto de um conector elétrico múltiplo com terminais parafusados de 12 pólos com 4 mm de diâmetro, numa base de alumínio coberta por discos de ouro. Os nichos do conector (terminais fêmeas) têm diâmetro apropriado (2,5 mm) para o encaixe dos instrumentos endodônticos. Outrossim, o posicionamento ordenado dos referidos instrumentos no conector elétrico permite a aquisição automatizada das imagens no MEV. Os alvos de ouro produzem, nas imagens de elétrons retro-espalhados, melhor contraste de número atômico entre o fundo em ouro e os instrumentos. No porta-amostras desenvolvido, os discos que compõem o fundo em ouro são na verdade, alvos do aparelho metalizador, comumente encontrados em laboratórios de MEV. Para cada instrumento, imagens de quatro a seis campos adjacentes de 100X de aumento são automaticamente obtidas para cobrir todo o comprimento do instrumento com a magnificação e resolução requeridas (3,12 m/pixel). As imagens obtidas são processadas e analisadas pelos programas Axiovision e KS400. Primeiro elas são dispostas num campo único estendido de cada instrumento por um procedimento de alinhamento semi-automático baseado na inter-relação com o Axiovision. Então a imagem de cada instrumento passa por uma rotina automatizada de análise de imagens no KS400. A rotina segue uma sequência padrão: pré-processamento, segmentação, pós-processamento e mensuração dos aspectos geométricos. / The standardization of stainless steel endodontic instruments has contributed to the development of new geometric features. Many design changes in tip shape, cross section, tapering and diameters have come out. At the same time, the use of Ni-Ti alloys enabled the production of rotary instruments, which are widely employed nowadays. In fact, the industry continuously releases novel instruments with different designs. Nevertheless, not enough information is provided about these modifications and their clinical impacts. Thus, there is a growing interest in the study of these different geometric features and their accurate metrology. Traditionally, the measurement of geometric aspects in endodontic instruments is made visually under an optical microscope. However, this visual procedure is subjective and slow. This work proposes a new method for the metrology of endodontic instruments based on scanning electron microscope (SEM) and digital image analysis. The superior depth of field of the SEM allows the whole relief of an endodontic instrument to be imaged at a constant working distance. Moreover, the images from the back-scattered electrons (BSE) detector have less artifacts and shadows, making the image analysis task easier. In addition, image analysis provides efficient ways of measuring with greater speed and statistical quality. A specific sample holder was adapted for the task of imaging endodontic files. It is composed of a multiple electrical connector, a 12 pole screw terminal strip (4 mm), on an aluminum base covered by gold plates. The holes (female terminals) in the electrical connector have an appropriate diameter (2.5 mm) to fix the endodontic instruments. Besides, the ordered placement of endodontic instruments on the electrical connector allows automating image acquisition in the SEM. The gold plates produce, in BSE images, greater atomic number contrast between the gold background and the instruments. In the built sample holder, the gold plates are in fact gold targets of a sputter coater, because it is a material commonly present in SEM labs. For each file, 4 to 6 adjacent fields at 100X are automatically imaged, to cover its entire length with the required magnification and resolution (3.12 m/pixel). These acquired images are processed and analyzed by AxioVision and KS400 softwares. First, they are assembled in a single extended field image of each instrument by a semi-automated alignment procedure based on cross-correlation in AxioVision. Then, the image of each entire instrument passes through a fully automated image analysis routine in KS400. This routine follows the image analysis standard sequence: pre-processing, segmentation, post-processing and measurement of geometric aspects. The obtained results are consistent with manual measurements but the proposed method is faster. Since assembling 4 to 6 BSE images in an extended field image is the only step that is not fully automated, the proposed method depends much less on the subjectivity of the human operator.

Die Anatomie des Holzes stellt eine entscheidende Einflussgröße bei einer Vielzahl holztechnologischer Prozesse dar. Der Beitrag soll mit Hilfe rasterelektronenmikroskopischer Bildtafeln den anatomischen Bau des Holzes der Weiß-Eichen anschaulich vermitteln.

Sigtuna’s trade and production has been the subject of an increasing amount of archaeological investigations during the last 30 years. However, most of the research has been conductedregarding the buildings, coin mints and precious metal objects. This thesis will instead research one of the basics of the production, namely the iron. By reviewing the iron objectsand currency bars from house X in the city block Humlegården 3. Through high precision studies with conservation and scanning electron microscope I will be able to come one step closer to identifying what sort of items were produced on the site and discerning what status and function the smithy had. I will also investigate the possibility to track the origin of the iron. / Sigtunas handel och produktion har varit föremål för ett ökande antal arkeologiska undersökningar de senaste 30 åren. De flesta av dessa undersökningar har handlat ombyggnader, mynthus och föremålsstudier. Den här uppsatsen kommer istället att undersöka ett av hantverken som krävs för att kunna utföra många andra hantverk, nämligen järnhantverk. Genom att undersöka järnfynden och ämnesjärnen från hus X i kvarteret Humlegården 3, via detaljerade studier som inkluderar konservering och Svepelektronmikroskop, kommer jag att komma ett steg närmare vilka föremål som producerats på platsen samt utröna vad för status och funktion smedjan hade. Jag kommer även undersöka om det är möjligt att säga någonting om järnets ursprung.

Die Anatomie des Holzes stellt eine entscheidende Einflussgröße bei einer Vielzahl holztechnologischer Prozesse dar. Der Beitrag soll mit Hilfe rasterelektronenmikroskopischer Bildtafeln den anatomischen Bau des Holzes der Rot-Buche vermitteln.