>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Pletmos Basin is a Mesozoic half graben located in the southern part of South Africa and has undergone numerous tectonic changes which involve alteration of structure and reworking of sediments. Clay diagenesis has become a more prominent factor affecting the quality of the tight shaly sandstone reservoirs in the southern Pletmos Basin. The present study focused on Block 11a as a primary area of interest .The tight sandstone reservoirs encountered in the four wells, viz. Ga-Q1, Ga- Q2, Ga-Z1 and Ga- E2 were studied using four different methods to incorporate and infer the overall diagenetic effect on the reservoirs, caused by materials of argillaceous origin. The methods adopted in the present research are formation evaluation using wireline logs and calibration of core data using Interactive Petrophysics software, thin section petrography, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) along with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS). The availability of core samples were limited to wells Ga- Q1 and well Ga- Z1. Four reservoirs within the Cretaceous age were identified in each well and the best reservoirs were associated with facies B and D. / 2022-04-30

Objective: This study was conducted to compare the shear bond strengths, patterns of bond failure and enamel surfaces after debonding two ceramic brackets (ClearVu and Radiance Plus) and one standard metal bracket (Mini Uni-Twin). Background: Ceramic brackets are an esthetic alternative to metal brackets. The mean shear bond strength of ceramic brackets is significantly greater than for metal brackets. Excessive bond strength can result in pain upon debonding, damage to the bracket or permanent damage to the enamel including flaking, cracks or tooth fracture. Numerous studies have evaluated techniques to reduce the risk of enamel damage when debonding ceramic brackets, including the use of debonding pliers. Debonding pliers produce a concentrated stress within the adhesive, resulting in cohesive failures within the resin or adhesive failures outside the resin. Methods: A total of 75 caries-free extracted human premolar teeth were randomly divided into 3 groups: ClearVu ceramic bracket (TP Orthodontics, LaPorte, IN), Radiance Plus ceramic bracket (American Orthodontics, Sheboygan, WI) and Mini Uni-Twin metal bracket (3M Unitek, Monrovia, CA). The Instron Universal Testing Machine Model 8841 with a customized jig with a bracket removing plier was used to debond the brackets. The teeth were microscopically evaluated to determine the location of bond failure. Selected teeth were evaluated with the scanning electron microscope to evaluate for enamel cracks and tear-outs. Results: A one-way ANOVA was created and no significant differences in shear bond strength were discovered between the three groups. Using a chi-square test of independence it was determined that the brackets all possessed a different ARI score. After examining the standardized residuals, we found that Radiance Plus Ceramic bracket and ClearVu Ceramic bracket were both likely to have favorable bond failure patterns, compared to the Mini Uni-Twin Metal bracket. Radiance Plus was most likely to debond at the bracket-adhesive surface, with a majority or all of the adhesive on the tooth after debond. Teeth with unfavorable bond failure patterns (ARI score of 0 or 1) were evaluated with the scanning electron microscope. 11% of the total teeth in the study had enamel damage, including cracks and tear-outs. 62.5% of these teeth were from the ClearVu ceramic bracket group. Conclusions: Our results show that both Radiance Plus ceramic bracket and ClearVu ceramic brackets are comparable to the gold standard metal bracket used in this study, the Mini Uni-Twin, in terms of shear bond strength. Radiance Plus ceramic bracket had the most favorable bond failure pattern, but shattered more during debonding. ClearVu ceramic bracket had the most enamel damage when evaluated with the scanning electron microscope. American Orthodontics’ Radiance Plus Ceramic bracket is the recommended bracket of those studied.

Diesel particulate matter (DPM) is the solid portion of diesel exhaust, which occurs primarily in the submicron range. It is complex in nature, occuring in clusters and agglomerated chains, and with variable composition depending on engine operating conditions, fuel type, equipment maintenance, etc. DPM is an occupational health hazard that has been associated with lung cancer risks and other respiratory issues. Underground miners have some of the highest exposures to DPM, due to work in confined spaces with diesel powered equipment. Large-opening mines present particular concerns because sufficient ventilation is very challenging. In such environments, reliable DPM sampling and monitoring is critical to protecting miner health. Though complex, DPM is made up primarily of elemental (EC) and organic carbon (OC), which can be summed to obtain total carbon (TC). The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) currently limits personal DPM exposures in metal/non-metal mines to 160 µg/m3 TC on an 8-hour time weighted average. To demonstrate compliance, exposures are monitored by collecting filter samples, which are sent to an outside lab and analyzed using the NIOSH 5040 Standard Method. To support real-time results, and thus more timely decision making, the Airtec handheld DPM monitor was developed. It measures EC, which is generally well correlated with TC, using a laser absorption technique as DPM accumulates on a filter sample. Though intended as a personal monitor, the Airtec has application as an engineering tool. A field study is reported here which demonstrated the usefulness of the Airtec in tracking temporal and spatial trends in DPM. An approach to sensitizing the monitor to allow "spot checking" was also demonstrated. Since DPM in mine environments generally occurs with other airborne particulates, namely dust generated during the mining process, DPM sampling must be done with consideration for analytical interferences. A common approach to dealing with mineral dust interferences is to use size selectors in the sampling train to separate DPM from dust; these devices are generally effective because DPM and dust largely occur in different size ranges. An impactor-type device (DPMI) is currently the industry standard for DPM sampling, but it is designed as a consumable device. Particularly for continuous monitoring applications, the sharp cut cyclone (SCC) has been suggested as a favorable alternative. In another field study reported here, the effect of aging (i.e., loading as an artifact of sampling) on the DPMI and SCC was investigated. Results suggest the effective cut size of the DPMI will be reduced much more rapidly than that of the SCC with aging — though even in a relatively high dust, high DPM environment, the DPMI performs adequately. In a third field study, the possibility of attachment between DPM and respirable dust particles was investigated. Such a phenomenon may have implications for both reliable sampling and health outcomes. Data collected by transmission electron microscope (TEM) on samples collected in the study mine showed that DPM-dust attachment does indeed occur. Moreover, the study results suggest that respirable particulate sampling — as opposed to submicron sampling, which is currently used — may be favorable for ensuring that oversized DPM is not excluded from samples. This strategy may require additional sample preparation to minimize dust interferences, but methods have been previously developed and were demonstrated here. / Master of Science

<p>Gold nanoparticles exhibit remarkable optical properties and could prove useful in sensitive biosensing applications. Upon illumination gold nanoparticles produce localized surface plasmons, which influence nearby fluorophores and an enhancement in their fluorescence intensity can be observed. This property makes gold nanoparticles attractive for enhancing optical signals.</p><p>In this project gold nanoparticles were functionalized with an antibody and immobilized to the surface of an existing biochip platform based on fluorescence. The aim was to investigate the possibility of obtaining an increased fluorescence signal from the gold nanoparticles. Two different conjugation procedures were investigated, direct physisorption and covalent attachment of the antibodies to the particles. Activity of bound antibodies was confirmed in both cases.</p><p>The on-chip fluorescence intensity produced by the different conjugates was monitored by use a specialized fluorescence reader designed for point-of-care use. AFM and SEM were used to determine the surface concentration of particles. A correlation between the produced fluorescence intensity and the surface concentration could be seen.</p>

Gold nanoparticles exhibit remarkable optical properties and could prove useful in sensitive biosensing applications. Upon illumination gold nanoparticles produce localized surface plasmons, which influence nearby fluorophores and an enhancement in their fluorescence intensity can be observed. This property makes gold nanoparticles attractive for enhancing optical signals. In this project gold nanoparticles were functionalized with an antibody and immobilized to the surface of an existing biochip platform based on fluorescence. The aim was to investigate the possibility of obtaining an increased fluorescence signal from the gold nanoparticles. Two different conjugation procedures were investigated, direct physisorption and covalent attachment of the antibodies to the particles. Activity of bound antibodies was confirmed in both cases. The on-chip fluorescence intensity produced by the different conjugates was monitored by use a specialized fluorescence reader designed for point-of-care use. AFM and SEM were used to determine the surface concentration of particles. A correlation between the produced fluorescence intensity and the surface concentration could be seen.

Dynamical effects are known to reduce the signal to noise ratio in EMCD measurements making them highly dependent on sample thickness. Precession of the electron beam has been shown to reduce these effects in ordinary crystallography. This work investigates precession of the electron beam as a method of reducing the dynamical effects in EMCD using simulations. Simulations are run on BCC Fe in two and three beam conditions. The results show significant effects on the EMCD signal. However, whether these improve the signal quality seems dependent on sample orientation and thickness range. The initial findings reported here are promising and motivate further research.

No description available.

Algumas indicações morfológicas sugerem que as superfícies de paisagem tropicais onde encontram-se os duricrusts ferruginosos, podem apresentar idades que variam desde o Quaternário até o Cretáceo, e que a laterização sobre estas superfícies pode ter sido iniciada simultaneamente ou não, estabelecendo-se uma sequência cronológica de formação escalonada de acordo com a elevação, em função da evolução geomorfológica das superfícies. Sabendo-se que no Planalto de Diamantina na Serra do Espinhaço Meridional (SdEM) são reconhecidos três níveis geomorfológicos correlatos aos ciclos de aplainamento da plataforma Sul-americana, o objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar as variações mineralógicas, geoquímicas e morfológicas de duricrusts ferruginosos da Serra do Espinhaço Meridional buscando entender os processos genéticos envolvidos e as implicações disto sobre a distribuição e evolução da paisagem regional e suas relações com os ciclos de aplainamento do continente Sul-americano. Para atingir estes objetivos, foram realizadas análises de difratometria de raios X, suscetibilidade magnética, microscopia eletrônica de varredura com sistema de energia dispersiva acoplado e análise elementar a partir da dissolução total dos minerais constituintes. Os resultados mostraram que no Planalto de Diamantina na SdEM coexistem níveis de ferricretes e lateritas na superfície correspondente ao ciclo erosivo Pós-Gondwanico. As superfícies lateríticas são provavelmente as formações supérgenas mais antigas da paisagem regional, originadas durante os processos denudacionais que ocorreram ao longo do ciclo erosivo Pós-Gondwanico. A erosão parcial de seu perfil laterítico constituíram o material fonte de Fe e Al para a gênese dos ferricretes distribuídos em superfícies elevadas (> 1200 m), especialmente aqueles em superfícies em torno de 1400 m de altitude. As variações paleoclimáticas do ciclo Pós-Gondwanico também proporcionaram ciclos erosivos alternados que resultaram no subescalonamento desta superfície, criando condições geomorfológicas favoráveis à gênese de ferricretes mais recentes (1200 - 1400 m). Além disso, os duricrusts ferruginosos do Planalto Diamantina (SdEM) sob influência do maciço quartzítico do Supergrupo Espinhaço e situados superfícies erosivas elevadas (> 1200 m), além de policíclicos, também podem apresentar características poligenéticas. / Some morphological indications suggest that the tropical landscape surfaces where the iron-rich duricrust are present may have ages varying from the Quaternary to the Cretaceous, and that the laterization on these surfaces may have been initiated simultaneously or not, establishing a sequence chronological formation according to the elevation, according to the geomorphological evolution of the surfaces. Three geomorphological levels correlated to the South American platform planing cycles are known on the Diamantina Plateau, for this the objective of this work was to study the mineralogical, geochemical and morphological variations of the iron-rich duricrust of the SdEM, trying to understand the genetic processes involved and the implications of this on the distribution and evolution of the regional landscape and its relations with the planning cycles of the South American continent. In order to reach these objectives, X-ray diffraction, magnetic susceptibility, scanning electron microscopy with dispersive energy system coupled and elemental analysis carried out from the total dissolution of the constituent minerals. The results showed that in the Diamantina Plateau at the SdEM, coexist levels of ferricretes and laterites on the surface corresponding to the Post-Gondwanic erosive cycle. The laterite surfaces are probably the oldest surviving formations of the regional landscape, originated during the denudation processes that occurred along the Post-Gondwanic erosive cycle. Partial erosion of its lateritic profile was source material of Fe and Al for the genesis of ferricretes distributed on high surfaces (> 1200 m), especially those on surfaces at 1400 m of altitude. The paleoclimatic variations of the Post-Gondwanic cycle also provided alternating erosive cycles that resulted in sub-scaling of this surface, creating geomorphological conditions favorable for genesis of earlier ferricretes (1200 - 1400 m). In addition, the ferricretes of the Diamantina Plateau (SdEM) under influence of the Quartzite massif of the Espinhaço Supergroup and located in elevated erosive surfaces (> 1200 m), besides polycyclics, may also present polygenetic characteristics.

Algumas indicações morfológicas sugerem que as superfícies de paisagem tropicais onde encontram-se os duricrusts ferruginosos, podem apresentar idades que variam desde o Quaternário até o Cretáceo, e que a laterização sobre estas superfícies pode ter sido iniciada simultaneamente ou não, estabelecendo-se uma sequência cronológica de formação escalonada de acordo com a elevação, em função da evolução geomorfológica das superfícies. Sabendo-se que no Planalto de Diamantina na Serra do Espinhaço Meridional (SdEM) são reconhecidos três níveis geomorfológicos correlatos aos ciclos de aplainamento da plataforma Sul-americana, o objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar as variações mineralógicas, geoquímicas e morfológicas de duricrusts ferruginosos da Serra do Espinhaço Meridional buscando entender os processos genéticos envolvidos e as implicações disto sobre a distribuição e evolução da paisagem regional e suas relações com os ciclos de aplainamento do continente Sul-americano. Para atingir estes objetivos, foram realizadas análises de difratometria de raios X, suscetibilidade magnética, microscopia eletrônica de varredura com sistema de energia dispersiva acoplado e análise elementar a partir da dissolução total dos minerais constituintes. Os resultados mostraram que no Planalto de Diamantina na SdEM coexistem níveis de ferricretes e lateritas na superfície correspondente ao ciclo erosivo Pós-Gondwanico. As superfícies lateríticas são provavelmente as formações supérgenas mais antigas da paisagem regional, originadas durante os processos denudacionais que ocorreram ao longo do ciclo erosivo Pós-Gondwanico. A erosão parcial de seu perfil laterítico constituíram o material fonte de Fe e Al para a gênese dos ferricretes distribuídos em superfícies elevadas (> 1200 m), especialmente aqueles em superfícies em torno de 1400 m de altitude. As variações paleoclimáticas do ciclo Pós-Gondwanico também proporcionaram ciclos erosivos alternados que resultaram no subescalonamento desta superfície, criando condições geomorfológicas favoráveis à gênese de ferricretes mais recentes (1200 - 1400 m). Além disso, os duricrusts ferruginosos do Planalto Diamantina (SdEM) sob influência do maciço quartzítico do Supergrupo Espinhaço e situados superfícies erosivas elevadas (> 1200 m), além de policíclicos, também podem apresentar características poligenéticas. / Some morphological indications suggest that the tropical landscape surfaces where the iron-rich duricrust are present may have ages varying from the Quaternary to the Cretaceous, and that the laterization on these surfaces may have been initiated simultaneously or not, establishing a sequence chronological formation according to the elevation, according to the geomorphological evolution of the surfaces. Three geomorphological levels correlated to the South American platform planing cycles are known on the Diamantina Plateau, for this the objective of this work was to study the mineralogical, geochemical and morphological variations of the iron-rich duricrust of the SdEM, trying to understand the genetic processes involved and the implications of this on the distribution and evolution of the regional landscape and its relations with the planning cycles of the South American continent. In order to reach these objectives, X-ray diffraction, magnetic susceptibility, scanning electron microscopy with dispersive energy system coupled and elemental analysis carried out from the total dissolution of the constituent minerals. The results showed that in the Diamantina Plateau at the SdEM, coexist levels of ferricretes and laterites on the surface corresponding to the Post-Gondwanic erosive cycle. The laterite surfaces are probably the oldest surviving formations of the regional landscape, originated during the denudation processes that occurred along the Post-Gondwanic erosive cycle. Partial erosion of its lateritic profile was source material of Fe and Al for the genesis of ferricretes distributed on high surfaces (> 1200 m), especially those on surfaces at 1400 m of altitude. The paleoclimatic variations of the Post-Gondwanic cycle also provided alternating erosive cycles that resulted in sub-scaling of this surface, creating geomorphological conditions favorable for genesis of earlier ferricretes (1200 - 1400 m). In addition, the ferricretes of the Diamantina Plateau (SdEM) under influence of the Quartzite massif of the Espinhaço Supergroup and located in elevated erosive surfaces (> 1200 m), besides polycyclics, may also present polygenetic characteristics.

<p><font face="Times-Roman"> <p align="left">The growth of the Internet has led to many interesting developments for both educational and commercial purposes. In this project an attempt was made to use the Internet for a research purpose to facilitate the determination of the thermal stability of diffusion barriers. Another purpose of this thesis is to investigate the teaching and training use of the Internet through the development of online interactive tools and activities as well as materials. The training aspects are mentioned as it is hoped that this thesis can serve as a form of documentation of the use of the Internet, while the central part was the determination of thermal stability of TiN, TaN and TiW diffusion <font face="Times-Roman">barriers on Ag.</font></p> </font></p>