Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 125-135). / vii, 135 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm

Appendix 7, (3 leaves) in pocket / Includes bibliography / 1 v. (various foliations) : ill ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology, 1984

This thesis is aimed at forecasting of experimental results in a lab environment, investigating often discussed external validity of laboratory experiments. We run a novel laboratory experiment in which the subject pool is asked to make predictions on results of a certain field experiment. The collected data is ana­ lyzed using different accuracy measures, arriving at several interesting results. First, the forecast among the 94 subjects is quite informative about the actual treatment effects although its accuracy substantially varies based on a type of accuracy measure and a particular treatment. Second, the average forecast is either more accurate or at least comparable to the mean individual forecast, proving the presence of "wisdom-of-crowds" effect.

While wind energy has emerged as a popular source of renewable energy, the traditional wind turbine has an inherent limitation, namely that it only generates power in the presence of sufficiently high and consistent wind speeds. As a result, wind farms are typically built in areas with a high probability of the required wind speeds, which are geographically sparse. One way of overcoming this drawback is to tap into the energy available in winds at high altitudes which are not only consistent and of high magnitude, but also globally pervasive. An airborne wind energy device based upon the phenomenon of autorotation could potentially be used to exploit the abundance of wind of energy present at high altitudes. The work in this thesis first presents our study of a tethered-airfoil system as a candidate airborne wind energy (AWE) system. A mathematical model was used to show the feasibility of energy capture and the stability of the device in a wind field. Subsequently, the research identified the principle of autorotation to be better suited for high altitude energy harvesting. To this end, the thesis first presents a theoretical basis of the principle of autorotation, which is developed from existing models in literature. The model was adapted to predict aerodynamic conditions when used for harvesting energy. Encouraging simulation results prompted the main emphasis of this thesis, namely design of an experimental framework to corroborate the theory. Several experiments were devised to determine basic performance characteristics of an autogyro rotor and the data from each experiment is presented. A lab-scale experimental setup was developed as part of this thesis. The setup, consisting of a flapping-blade autogyro rotor and sensors, was used to acquire preliminary aerodynamic performance data. It is envisioned that refinements to this setup will ultimately provide a means of directly comparing analytical and experimental data. In this regard, we provide conclusions and make comments on improvements for future experiments.

No description available.

Choice-based conjoint experiments are used when choice alternatives can be described in terms of attributes. The objective is to infer the value that respondents attach to attribute levels. This method involves the design of profiles on the basis of attributes specified at certain levels. Respondents are presented sets of profiles and asked to select the one they consider best. Choice sets with no dominating or dominated profiles are called Pareto optimal, and these Pareto optimal choice sets are provided to respondents. However, if choice sets have too many profiles, they may be difficult to implement. Therefore, we provide strategies for reducing the number of profiles in choice sets. We consider situations where only a subset of interactions is of interest, and obtain connected main effects plans with smaller choice sets for 2^n and 3^n designs that are capable of estimating subsets of interactions inclusive of one specific factor. We also provide plans for estimating all main effects and one two-way interaction for mixed level designs. Next, we examine the relationship between certain Pareto Optimal choice sets and g-designs. Finally, we obtain connected main effects plans with smaller choice sets for estimating different subsets of interactions, not inclusive of one specific factor. / Statistics

The oxidation of arsenic(III) by chromium(VI) requires the postulation of uncommon oxidation states as reactive intermediates. The possible intermediates of chromium are the divalent, tetravalent, and pentavalent states. Recently arsenic(IV) has been postulated as a reactive intermediate in certain oxidations of As(III). A detailed study of the reaction rate law in various solutions has been carried out in order to determine the nature of the intermediates found in the Cr(VI)-As(III) reaction. The effects of hydrogen ion and buffer concentrations have been determined. The mechanism postulated depends upon the solution in which the reaction occurs. The kinetics of the chromium(VI)-arsenic(III) reaction have been measured in perchloric acid solutions, acetic acid solutions, acetic acid-acetate buffers, ammonium nitrate solutions, and dihydrogen phosphatemonohydrogen phosphate buffers. The rate laws are: Perchloric Acid - -d[Cr(VI)]/ dt = [k₀ + k_H[H⁺] + k_H² [H⁺]²] (K’ [As (III)][Cr(VI)])/(l+K’[As(III)]) Acetic Acid-Acetate Buffers - -d[Cr(VI)]/ dt = [k₀ + k_HOAc[HOAc]} (K’ [As (III)][Cr(VI)])/(l+K’[As(III)]) Acetic Acid - -d[Cr(VI)]/ dt = [k₀ + k’_HOAc[HOAc]] (K’ [As (III)][Cr(VI)])/(l+K’[As(III)]) H₂PO₄⁻- HPO₄⁻² Buffers - -d[Cr(VI)]/ dt = (kK”[As(III)][Cr(VI)][H₂PO₄⁻])/(1+k”[H₂PO₄⁻]) Ammonium Nitrate Solutions - -d[Cr(VI)]/ dt = k₂ [As(III)][Cr(VI)] The reaction studied was the oxidation of As(III) by Cr(VI} according to the stoichiometry 3 As(III) + 2 Cr(VI) = 3 As(V) + 2 Cr (III) Rate data were obtained spectrophotometrically and by iodometric titration depending upon the region being investigated. At high As(III)-low Cr(VI), the Cr(VI) concentration was followed as a function of time at 350 mu using a Beckman DU spectrophotometer. The validity of Beer's law with respect to Cr(VI) was checked. At low As(III)-high Cr(VI), the unreacted As(III) concentration was determined by iodometric titration. In phosphate buffers, the HCrPO₇⁻² complex is indicated as an oxidizing agent. In the other systems, the following mechanism is consistent with the experimental facts. As(III) + HCrO₄⁻ [stacked right and left arrows with K above] As(III) · HCrO₄ As (III), As(III) · HCrO₄⁻ [right arrow with kₒ above] products, rate determining As(III) · HCrO₄⁻ + HOAc [right arrow with K_HOAc above] products, rate determining As(III) · HCrO₄⁻ + H⁺ [right arrow with k_H] products, rate determining In perchloric acid, H₂CrO₄is indicated as participating in the oxidation by the following steps: HCrO₄⁻ + H⁺ [stacked right and left arrows with Kₐ above] H₂CrO₄, ₂CrO₄ + As(III) [stacked right and left arrows with K above] As(III) · H₂CrO₄ The decomposition of As(III}•H₂CrO₄ is also acid catalyzed. In the mechanism described above, the products of the rate determining steps are arsenic(V) and chromium(IV). The existence of chromium(IV) is supported by the induced oxidation of ferrocyanide by the As(III)-Cr(VI) reaction. The chromium(IV) reacts immediately with chromium(VI) to form chromium(V) which can oxidize As(III) to As(V) directly. This is in agreement with the experimentally observed stoichiometry and accounts for the use of K' in the rate laws where K’ is actually 2K. The value of K is obtained from plots of 1/k_m versus 1/As(III). The value of K which describes all data reported is 17.2 1.mole⁻¹. In all three systems, perchloric acid, acetic acid, and acetic acid-acetate, the same kₒ is obtained. The specific rate constant for the acetic acid catalysis is 1.99 x 10⁻³ 1.⁻² mole² sec.⁻¹. Comparison of k"_HOAc terms for acetic acid and acetic acid-acetate solutions shows that k”_HOAc for the acid solution is larger than that for the buffers. This difference is explained on the basis of a medium effect. / Doctor of Philosophy

The investigation of structure-property behavior of extruded cast films prepared from blends of thermotropic liquid crystalline copolyesters with polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Data were obtained which showed not only the temperature dependence of the moduli and stress-strain behavior but also the orientation effects that must be prevalent in order to explain the differences between the moduli measured parallel and perpendicular to the extrusion direction. Only at high liquid crystal polymer (LCP) compositions is the modulus particularly increased. The modulus enhancement with lower LCP content and utilization of process variables are discussed. Specifically, the extruder gear pump speed did not enhance Young's modulus at the same LCP content as extensively as did the effect of extruder screw speed. Also a study to synthesize and characterize new segmented copolymers that could produce unusual film properties are discussed. The approach involved the synthesis of high Tg (220 C) isotropic poly (aryl ether sulfone) oligomers of varying segment molecular weights. The thermal and mechanical studies of the copolymers have been carried out to probe the potential of these copolymers for signs of liquid crystalline character and to note their ability to thermally crystallize as well as to crystallize by solvent or strain inducement. Along these lines, thermal analysis, polarizing hot-stage microscopy, wide angle x-ray scattering and mechanical testing were utilized in this investigation / Master of Science

The reaction of sodium azide with 2-p-chloro- and 2-p–methoxyphenyl–3,4,5-triphenyl–2,4-cyclopentadien– Iâ one was studied to determine if the substituent would have any appreciable effect on the product distribution of the corresponding l,5,7,8–tetraphenyl-2,3,4–triazabicyclo[3.3.0]octa-2,7-dien-6-ones and the 3,4,5,6–tetraphenyl–2(lH)â pyridinones that were formed by an acid catalyzed rearrangement. It was found that the chloro substituent had no effect on the reaction. The methoxy substituent had a moderate effect in that the product arising from the stabilized intermediate cation was favored by a ratio of approximately 3 to l. The two simple linear analogs studied were l,2,3,3–tetraphenyl-2-propen-l-one and 3,4,4-triphenyl-3–buten–2â one. These compounds did not react with azide, presumably due to charge delocalization. Also studied as a cyclic analog was 2,7-diphenyltropone which did not react due to the aromatic character of the tropone ring system. A reaction did occur with diphenylcyclopropenone to give an unidentified product. However, the reaction did not take place in the same fashion as for the tetracyclones. / Master of Science

An experimental investigation was done on oxygen transfer into a laminar flow of whole blood and saline solutions downstream of an abrupt pipe expansion. This was used as the experimental model for regions of separated flow in the arterial system. The flow was fully-developed prior to the expansion with Reynolds numbers between 160 to 850. The results showed high transfer rates over most of the region downstream of the step, with maximum transfer occurring near the reattachment point. In addition, oscillations of the transfer rate were measured at the larger Reynolds numbers of 450 and 850. / Master of Science