Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) are pluripotent cells that can differentiate into a variety of non-hematopoietic tissues. They also maintain healthy heamatopoiesis by providing supportive cellular microenvironment into BM. In this thesis, MSCs were characterized in terms of their morphological, immunophenotypical and differentiation properties. Then, they were examined by attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy together with hierarchical clustering, and FTIR microspectroscopy. In the first part of this study, global structural and compositional changes in BM-MSCs during beta thallasemia major (

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) are pluripotent cells that can differentiate into a variety of non-hematopoietic tissues. They also maintain healthy heamatopoiesis by providing supportive cellular microenvironment into BM. In this thesis, MSCs were characterized in terms of their morphological, immunophenotypical and differentiation properties. Then, they were examined by attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy together with hierarchical clustering, and FTIR microspectroscopy. In the first part of this study, global structural and compositional changes in BM-MSCs during beta thallasemia major (

We describe an implementation of a multi-threaded NFFT (nonequispaced fast Fourier transform) software library and present the used parallelization approaches. Besides the NFFT kernel, the NFFT on the two-sphere and the fast summation based on NFFT are also parallelized. Thereby, the parallelization is based on OpenMP and the multi-threaded FFTW library. Furthermore, benchmarks for various cases are performed. The results show that an efficiency higher than 0.50 and up to 0.79 can still be achieved at 12 threads.

This work concentrates on the application of diversity techniques and space time block coding for future high speed mobile wireless communications on multicarrier systems. At first, alternative multicarrier kernels robust for high speed doubly-selective fading channel are sought. They include the comparisons of discrete Fourier transform (DFT), fractional Fourier transform (FrFT) and wavelet transform (WT) multicarrier kernels. Different wavelet types, including the raised-cosine spectrum wavelets are implemented, evaluated and compared. From different wavelet families, orthogonal wavelets are isolated from detailed evaluations and comparisons as suitable for multicarrier applications. The three transforms are compared over a doubly-selective channel with the WT significantly outperforming all for high speed conditions up to 300 km/hr. Then, a new wavelet is constructed from an ideal filter approximation using established wavelet design algorithms to match any signal of interest; in this case under bandlimited criteria. The new wavelet showed better performance than other traditional orthogonal wavelets. To achieve MIMO communication, orthogonal space-time block coding, OSTBC, is evaluated next. First, the OSTBC is extended to assess the performance of the scheme over extended receiver diversity order. Again, with the extended diversity conditions, the OSTBC is implemented for a multicarrier system over a doubly-selective fading channel. The MIMO-OFDM systems (implemented using DFT and WT kernels) are evaluated for different operating frequencies, typical of LTE standard, with Doppler effects. It was found that, during high mobile speed, it is better to transmit OFDM signals using lower operating frequencies. The information theory for the 2-transmit antenna OSTBC does not support higher order implementation of multi-antenna systems, which is required for the future generation wireless communications systems. Instead of the OSTBC, the QO-STBC is usually deployed to support the design of higher order multi-antenna systems other than the 2-transmit antenna scheme. The performances of traditional QO-STBC methods are diminished by some off-diagonal (interference) terms such that the resulting system does not attain full diversity. Some methods for eliminating the interference terms have earlier been discussed. This work follows the construction of cyclic matrices with Hadamard matrix to derive QO-STBC codes construction which are N-times better than interference free QO-STBC, where N is the number of transmit antenna branches.

Formaldehyde-based adhesives have been reported to be detrimental to health. Petrochemical-based adhesives are non-renewable, limited and costly. Therefore, the improvement of environmental-friendly adhesive from natural agricultural products has awakened noteworthy attention. A novel adhesive for wood application was successfully prepared with enhanced shear strength and water resistance. The Fourier transmform infrared spectra showed the surface functionalities of the functionalized carbon nanotubes (FCNTs) and soy protein isolate nanocomposite adhesive. The attachment of carboxylic functional group on the surface of the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) after purification contributed to the effective dispersion of the CNTs in the nanocomposite adhesive. Hence, enhanced properties of FCNTs were successfully transferred into the SPI/CNTs nanocomposite adhesive. These unique functionalities on FCNTs however, improved the mechanical properties of the adhesive. The shear strength and water resistance of SPI/FCNTs was higher than that of the SPI/CNTs. SEM images showed the homogenous dispersion of CNTs in the SPI/CNTs nanocomposite adhesive. The carbon nanotubes were distributed uniformly in the soy protein adhesive with no noticeable clusters at relatively reduced fractions of CNTs as shown in the SEM images, which resulted into better adhesion on wood surface. Mechanical (shear) mixing and ultrasonication with 30 minutes of shear mixing both showed an improved dispersion of CNTs in the soy protein matrix. However, ultrasonication method of dispersion showed higher tensile shear strength and water resistance than in mechanical (shear) mixing method. Thermogravimetric analysis of the samples also showed that the CNTs incorporated increases the thermal stability of the nanocomposite adhesive at higher loading fraction. Incorporation of CNTs into soy protein isolate adhesive improved both the shear strength and water resistance of the adhesive prepared at a relatively reduced concentration of 0.3%.The result showed that tensile shear strength of SPI/FCNTs adhesive was 0.8 MPa and 7.25MPa at dry and wet state respectively, while SPI/CNTs adhesive had 6.91 MPa and 5.48MPa at dry and wet state respectively. There was over 100% increase in shear strength both at dry and wet state compared to the pure SPI adhesive. The 19% decrease in value of the new adhesive developed compared to the minimum value of ≥10MPa of European standard for interior wood application may be attributed to the presence of metallic particles remaining after purification of CNTs. The presence of metallic particles will prevent the proper penetration of the adhesive into the wood substrate. The type of wood used in this study as well as the processing parameters could also result into lower value compared to the value of European standard. Therefore, optimization of the processing parameter as well as the conversion of carboxylic acid group on the surface of the CNTs into acyl chloride group may be employed in future investigation. However, the preparation of new nanocomposite adhesive from soy protein isolate will replace the formaldehyde and petrochemical adhesive in the market and be of useful application in the wood industry. / Civil and Chemical Engineering / M. Tech. (Chemical Engineering)

Abstract Osteoarthritis is a common joint disease in the adult population characterized by degeneration and limited repair capability of articular cartilage. Cartilage degeneration is also associated with remodeling and sclerosis of the subchondral bone. The relative contributions of these processes are not fully understood partly because of a lack of proper biomarkers for the diagnosis and follow-up of the disease progress. Current diagnostic methods are too insensitive or subjective for reliable and early diagnosis of osteoarthritis. Novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques can be used for indirect assessment of cartilage constituents. In addition, the imaging of the subchondral bone and osteochondral junction has become feasible, which has been very difficult with conventional MRI methods due to the very fast signal (T2) decay in those tissues. Quantitative MRI of cartilage involves measurement of relaxation time parameters (T1, T2, T1ρ, T2ρ, TRAFF, T1sat) and investigation of how the parameters reflect the properties of the cartilage. SWIFT (Sweep imaging with Fourier transform) is an MRI technique capable of imaging short T2 structures, enabling assessment of the osteochondral junction as well as the subchondral bone. The aim of this work was to investigate osteoarthritic changes occurring in articular cartilage and subchondral bone in experimental animal models of osteoarthritis and degenerated human specimens with quantitative MRI measurements and SWIFT imaging at 9.4 T. Moreover, the feasibility of the different quantitative MRI techniques in the assessment of osteoarthritic changes was studied. For reference, biomechanical, quantitative and qualitative histology, biochemical and micro-computed tomography measurements were conducted. Novel adiabatic T1ρ and T2ρ relaxation time parameters were more sensitive than conventional methods (T1, T2) or continuous wave T1ρ to both early degenerative changes in a rabbit model of cartilage degeneration and to spontaneous degeneration of human cartilage. SWIFT enabled assessment of the structural properties of the subchondral bone. Moreover, signal changes related to the degree of osteoarthritis were detected at the cartilage–bone interface with SWIFT. These methods may provide new tools for improving the diagnosis of early osteoarthritis. Further studies are needed to investigate the clinical feasibility of these MRI techniques. / Tiivistelmä Nivelrikko on yleinen nivelsairaus, johon ei tällä hetkellä ole parannuskeinoa. Nivelrikossa nivelrusto rappeutuu asteittain aiheuttaen lopulta kudoksen tuhoutumisen; samanaikaisesti myös rustonalaisessa luussa sekä rusto–luurajapinnassa tapahtuu muutoksia. Nivelrustokudoksen uusiutumiskyky on erittäin heikko, joten vauriot olisi hyvä havaita varhaisessa vaiheessa. Nivelrikon syntymekanismeja ei kuitenkaan vielä täysin ymmärretä, koska nykyiset seurantamenetelmät eivät ole riittävän tarkkoja taudin etenemisen tarkkailemiseksi. Magneettikuvausteknologian kehitys mahdollistaa kuitenkin nivelruston koostumuksen tarkastelun nivelen ulkopuolelta. Kvantitatiivisen magneettikuvauksen avulla (T1, T2, T1ρ, T2ρ, TRAFF, T1sat relaksaatioaikaparametrit) voidaan mitata epäsuorasti nivelruston koostumusta ja rakennetta. SWIFT (Sweep Imaging with Fourier Transform) on uusi lyhyen kaikuajan magneettikuvausmenetelmä, joka mahdollistaa myös erittäin lyhyen T2-relaksaatioajan omaavien kudosten, kuten rusto–luurajapinnan sekä rustonalaisen luun kuvaamisen. Työssä tutkittiin nivelrikossa syntyviä muutoksia nivelrustossa, rusto–luurajapinnassa ja rustonalaisessa luussa erilaisissa eläinmalleissa sekä ihmiskudoksessa. Lisäksi työssä tarkasteltiin eri magneettikuvaustekniikoiden herkkyyttä havaita muutokset näissä kudoksissa. Nivelruston ja rustonalaisen luun ominaisuuksien määrittelemiseen käytettiin verrokkimenetelminä biomekaanisia, histologisia sekä biokemiallisia mittauksia ja tietokonetomografiakuvauksia. Kvantitatiivisista magneettikuvausparametreista adiabaattinen T1ρ sekä adiabaattinen T2ρ osoittautuivat herkimmiksi havaitsemaan muutoksia varhaisen nivelrikon eläinmallissa sekä ihmiskudosnäytteissä. SWIFT-magneettikuvaustekniikka puolestaan mahdollisti sekä rustonalaisen luukudoksen tilan arvioinnin että nivelrikossa tapahtuvien muutosten havainnoinnin rusto–luurajapinnassa. Nämä menetelmät voivat mahdollistaa nivelrikon diagnosoinnin taudin varhaisessa vaiheessa, mutta lisätutkimuksia vaaditaan menetelmien soveltuvuudesta kliiniseen käyttöön.

The rapid advancements in semiconductor technology have led to constant shrinking of transistor sizes as per Moore's Law. Wireless communications is one field which has seen explosive growth, thanks to the cramming of more transistors into a single chip. Design of these systems involve trade-offs between performance, area and power. Fast Fourier Transform is an important component in most of the wireless communication systems. FFTs are widely used in applications like OFDM transceivers, Spectrum sensing in Cognitive Radio, Image Processing, Radar Signal Processing etc. FFT is the most compute intensive and time consuming operation in most of the above applications. It is always a challenge to develop an architecture which gives high throughput while reducing the latency without much area overhead. Next generation wireless systems demand high transmission efficiency and hence FFT processor should be capable of doing computations much faster. Architectures based on smaller radices for computing longer FFTs are inefficient. In this thesis, a fully parallel unrolled FFT architecture based on novel radix-4 engine is proposed which is catered for wide range of applications. The radix-4 butterfly unit takes all four inputs in parallel and can selectively produce one out of the four outputs. The proposed architecture uses Radix-4^3 and Radix-4^4 algorithms for computation of various FFTs. The Radix-4^4 block can take all 256 inputs in parallel and can use the select control signals to generate one out of the 256 outputs. In existing Cooley-Tukey architectures, the output from each stage has to be reordered before the next stage can start computation. This needs intermediate storage after each stage. In our architecture, each stage can directly generate the reordered outputs and hence reduce these buffers. A solution for output reordering problem in Radix-4^3 and Radix-4^4 FFT architectures are also discussed in this work. Although the hardware complexity in terms of adders and multipliers are increased in our architecture, a significant reduction in intermediate memory requirement is achieved. FFTs of varying sizes starting from 64 point to 64K point have been implemented in ASIC using UMC 130nm CMOS technology. The data representation used in this work is fixed point format and selected word length is 16 bits to get maximum Signal to Quantization Noise Ratio (SQNR). The architecture has been found to be more suitable for computing FFT of large sizes. For 4096 point and 64K point FFTs, this design gives comparable throughput with considerable reduction in area and latency when compared to the state-of-art implementations. The 64K point FFT architecture resulted in a throughput of 1332 mega samples per second with an area of 171.78 mm^2 and total power of 10.7W at 333 MHz.

The aim of the master’s thesis is to acquaint the reader with Discrete Fourier Transform DFT and its introduction to spectral analysis descrete time signals. Furthermore it describes efficient computation of the DFT using the algorithm Fast Fourier Transform FFT and effects that appear in the DFT spectral analysis, the effect of the length of the DFT, the effect of the length of the segment of the analysed signal and the leakage. Next is explained the issue of the complex representation of real bandpass signals in the baseband, called the complex envelope of signals. This represenation uses the Hilbert Transform and the analytic signal. The thesis also describes the application library Real Time Toolbox of the software Matlab/Simulink, that uses the data acquition card AD622 allows to connect and process real signals in real time. In Matlab/Simulink with use this facilities is create the laboratory lesson, that simulating the complex represenation of real bandpass signals in real time.

The presented Diploma thesis deals with the computer-generated diffractive structures or rather called computer generated holograms (CGH). We follow basic principles of classical holography and in the context of which we define a synthetic holography. We then show various types of digital holograms and methods of measurement of their quality. We deal with several iterative algorithms useful for computation of the Fourier transform as well as with methods of phase quantization. In the second part of the work, we describe briefly our computer code for iterative Fourier transform computation. With respect to the mentioned techniques, we further present the usability of the method for design of computer generated holograms in reflection regime. After a short introduction to the electron beam lithography and its exploitation for the origination of computer generated diffractive optical elements. We analyze reconstructions of produced holograms and evaluate its quality.

Diplomová práce je zaměřena na problematiku analýzy signálů za účelem detekce poruchového oblouku, přičemž analýza signálů je prováděna v časové, frekvenční a smíšené časově-frekvenční oblasti. Práce stručně shrnuje existující normy pro zařízení pro detekci poruchového oblouku. Práce dokumentuje testy a měření, které byly realizovány v souladu s normami IEC 62606:2013 a UL 1699B. Z důvodu nedostatečnosti stávajících norem je v práci popsána nová metoda iniciace poruchového oblouku. naměřená data byla analyzována s využitím rychlé Fourierovy transformace, krátkodobé Fourierovy transformace a vlnkové transformace. Na základě provedeného literárního průzkumu a s využitím výsledků provedených analýz signálu je v práci proveden návrh nové detekční metody pro účely detekce poruchového oblouku v systémech napájených střídavým i stejnosměrným napětím.