The development of ultrasound contrast agents, or microbubbles, over the past 40 years has increased the possibilities for diagnostic imaging, although, more recently they have been proposed as a new vehicle for delivery of drugs and genes. However, there yet remains a considerable lack of fundamental understanding of microbubble behaviour under ultrasound excitation which has restricted their translation to therapeutic use. This project focussed on three key areas relating to the generation, observation, and bioeffects of microbubbles and the ultrasound used in their excitation. The experimental endeavour involved first, a full characterisation of the performance of a rotating mirror high-speed camera (Cordin 550-62) that was previously used by our group [and others] to investigate microbubble dynamics. Specifically, the investigation begins with an assessment of the frame-rate reporting accuracy of the system, a key aspect to the robustness of quantitative measurements extracted from recorded image sequences. This is then followed by the demonstration of a novel method of analysis for examining the image formation process in this type of camera, which facilitates a sensor-by-sensor assessment of performance that was not previously realised. Consolidating with previous work from within the group, this new analysis method was used to clarify previous data, and in the process suggested the presence of a temporal anomaly embedded within recorded images. In addition, the analysis also revealed empirical evidence for the mechanisms leading to this anomaly. Following on, a holographic optical tweezer system was developed for the purpose of exercising precise spatial control over microbubbles within their experimental environment. By positioning microbubbles in specific arrangements, interesting behaviours that were not previously achieved experimentally in the context of shelled microbubbles, were observed. Furthermore, by careful positioning of microbubbles within the imaging plane, it was possible to exploit the temporal anomaly present in the camera to greatly improve the integrity of data recorded, and to also operate in an enhanced imaging mode. Group aspirations to accelerate the development of therapeutic microbubbles had previously generated some early work on the in-house generation of bespoke bubble populations using microfluidic lab-on-a-chip techniques. In order to facilitate further development in this area, a finite-element computational model was herein developed to aid next generation chip design. Finally, in a slightly different context, considering not only the mechanical effect a microbubble may effect in a therapeutic treatment, a single biological cell assay was developed in order to probe any mechanical effects that were induced by the excitation ultrasound itself. Capitalising on the precise force control possible with atomic force spectroscopy, the elastic moduli of cells pre- and post-ultrasound insonation (sans microbubbles) were recorded. These new developments have extended the group capability and expertise in the areas of high-speed imaging, experimental observations of microbubble dynamics and with microfluidic generation of microbubbles. Additionally, the insights garnered have both served to consolidate the group's previous and as yet unpublished data, opening the way for circulation with absolute confidence in the integrity of that data.

Ultrasound, applied in combination with microbubbles, has potential as a means to enhance the uptake of therapeutic agents, which could include drugs and nucleic acids, into biological cells. This process is commonly referred to as 'sonoporation', and the enhanced uptake can be caused through the incident ultrasonic pressure fi eld causing radial oscillations (cavitation) in the microbubbles, amongst other possibilities. However, the mechanisms responsible for any resultant increase in cell membrane permeability are not yet fully understood. This project focussed on achieving a more fundamental understanding of these salient processes by building on a platform of previous work within the group. One strand of the project involved a complete characterisation of the performance of a rotating mirror high speed camera (Cordin 550-62) that was previously used by our group [and others] to investigate microbubble cavitation phenomena and interactions with proximal cell membranes. Speci cally, I present herein an investigation into the image formation process with this type of camera, the essence of which stymied previous data interpretations. I demonstrate that an inherent asynchrony in the exposure of pixels within individual image frames leads to a temporal anomaly. This was achieved using low cost, flashing LED lights and resulted in the extraction of an algorithm to correct for the temporal anomaly. In a slightly diff erent context, the delivery of suitable ultrasonic fields is necessary to achieve a uniform treatment across a therapeutic target. This thesis also reports on a study on the design of ultrasonic lenses to alter the focal region of a focussed ultrasound transducer with the aim of producing focal regions that can enable sonoporation of tumours of varying sizes. We show that the use of lenses can be an inexpensive alternative to more complex systems such as phased array transducers. Design modelling and experimental testing of lens prototypes are presented along with preliminary results with tissue mimicking polyacrylamide gel phantoms. The target environment in which the process of sonoporation will be clinically useful (i.e. in the physiological circulation) can be simpli ed as a microfluidic system. One strategy for bubble mediated therapy involves the use of a pro-drug approach, that is, when two otherwise benign ingredients are loaded onto separate microbubble populations, but can become mixed at the anatomical target site by the action of focussed ultrasound whereupon a potent drug is produced. The required mixing can be achieved by the violent coalescence of nearby cavitating bubbles, their reaction product then being released and di ffused into the interiour of nearby cells through sonoporation. A study related to this field is presented here where laser induced thermocapillary flows are shown to cause mixing of the content of a drop in a microfluidic channel in a bid to understand the mixing process at a level that may assist future microbubble engineering strategy. To summarise then, the work presented in this thesis has consolidated earlier unpublished data sets achieved by the group, providing new and exacting experimental evidence and an accurate algorithm that will facilitate post-processing of that earlier data (Chapters 2-3). Moreover, group aspirations to translate earlier in-vitro work on sonoporation towards next phase medical-phantom exposures have been boosted through the provision of a new direction involving acoustic lensing, the experimental data from which was used to completely validate existing models for our own design scenarios (Chapter 4). Finally, previous unpublished observations on microbubble coalescence undertaken by the group suggested a means to implement pro-drug delivery with direct in-situ mixing. Such suggestions were explored within microfluidic contexts using lasers to control and visualise the mixing processes that might arise in such situations (Chapter 5). All of these new insights have served to consolidate the group's previous and as yet unpublished data, opening the way for dissemination with confidence in the integrity of that data, and have also extended group capability and expertise in the areas of MHz-rate high speed framing cameras, the fabrication of acoustic lenses, and with microfluidic mixing.

Invasive species, such as the red lionfish, Pterois volitans, are damaging many ecosystems around the world by out-competing native species. However, little work has been done to determine if P. volitans have a direct influence on the feeding performance of native species with which they compete. This study examines the feeding performance in terms of suction pressure, kinematic timing, and excursion distances of spotted scorpionfish, Scorpaena plumieri. Through multiple trials it was examined how S. plumieri modulate their kinematic behavior in response to P. volitans and a conspecific. The creation of a smaller buccal cavity and a decrease in time of buccal expansion may allow individuals to create greater sub-ambient pressures to increase their prey-capture success. High-speed cinematography and pressure transducers were used to determine if S. plumieri modulate feeding performance in the presence of either P. volitans or a conspecific. The results of the study suggest that S. plumieri do not create larger subambient pressures or modulate their feeding kinematics in the presence of P. volitans or a conspecific.

This thesis is an attempt to create a computer based tool that can be used academically and later industrially by naval architects in analysis and development of efficient planing hull forms. The work contained here is based on the theory created by Vorus (1996) which falls between empirical asymptotic solutions and intractable non-linear boundary value problem in the time-domain. The computer code developed predicts pressures on the bottom of high-speed planing craft during slamming events. The code is validated with available numerical data as a benchmark case. An aluminum wedge is dropped from various heights resulting in unsteady pressure distributions with high peak over the bottom plate. These pressure distributions are compared to the numerically predicted pressures by the code and presented in this thesis. The predicted flow velocities are within 8% difference of experimental data. The graphs depicts similar trends in experimental and numerical data. The predicted peak pressures deviate within 4% to 20% from experimental data. The analysis and comparison illustrate efficacy of the code.

A comprehensive understanding of high-speed liquid jets is required for their introduction into engine and combustion applications. Their transient nature, short lifetime, unique characteristics and the inability to take many experimental readings, has inhibited this need. This study investigates the outflow of a high-speed liquid jet into quiescent atmospheric air. The key characteristics present are, a bow shock wave preceding the jet head, an enhanced mixing layer and the transient deformation of the liquid jet core. The outflow regime is studied in an experimental and numerical manner. In the experimental investigation, a high-speed liquid water jet is generated using the momentum exchange by impact method. The jet velocity is supersonic with respect to the impinged gaseous medium. The resulting jet speed is Mach 1.8. The jet is visualised with the use of shadowgraph apparatus. Visualisation takes place over a variety of time steps in the liquid jet???s life span and illustrates the four major development stages. The stages progress from initial rapid core jet expansion to jet stabilisation and characteristic uniform gradient formation. The visualisation shows that at all stages of the jet???s life it is axi-symmetric. One dimensional nozzle analysis and a clean bow shock wave indicate that the pulsing jet phenomenon can be ignored. In the numerical investigation, a time marching finite volume scheme is employed. The bow shock wave characteristics are studied with the use of a blunt body analogy. The jet at a specific time frame is considered a solid body. The jet shape is found to have an important influence on the shock position and shape. Analysis of the results indicates a shock stand-off similar to that seen in experimental observations and the prediction of shock data. The jet life span is modelled using a species dependent density model. The transient calculations reproduce the key jet shape characteristics shown in experimental visualisation. The mushrooming effect and large mixing layer are shown to develop. These effects are strongest when the shock wave transience has yet to stabilise. Quantitative analysis of the mixing layer at varying time steps is presented.

<p>Utvecklingen inom järnvägssektorn går mot snabbare och mer effektiva transporter, dock begränsas utvecklingen av att det krävs nya och mer utvecklade spår och tåg för att uppnå det. Med dagens infrastruktur och tågmodeller är hastigheter på 200 km/h det maximala. Behovet att öka kapaciteten och införa höghastighetstrafik i Sverige utreds i nuläget. Med höghastighetstrafik avses hastigheter på minst 250 km/h. Banverket har som förvaltare av järnvägen ett sektorsansvar för miljön och således även buller. I och med ökade hastigheter ökar även bullret från tågen. Dessutom uppkommer nya former av buller vid hastigheter över 300 km/h. Det buller som uppstår vid dessa höga hastigheter är så kallat aerodynamiskt buller som kommer av turbulenta luftflöden runt tåget.</p><p>Syftet med examensarbetet har varit att samla in kunskap som finns internationellt angående bulleremissioner och åtgärder mot dessa. Information har samlats in genom en litteraturstudie samt genom personlig kontakt med personer inom den internationella järnvägssektorn. Utifrån kunskapsläget internationellt har en modell skapats med de åtgärder som bedömts viktigast. Tanken med modellen är att ge en bild av de åtgärder mot och källor till bullret som främst kommer av höghastighetstrafik. Men även för att ge Banverket en kompetensgrund att stå på inför en framtida implementering av höghastighetstrafik.</p><p>Bullerskyddsåtgärder som prioriteras internationellt är planeringen om var banan ska dras. Denna åtgärd utreds under planerandefasen vid nybyggnation av bana. I denna fas kan problem likväl skapas som elimineras och det är här som grunden läggs för framtiden. Utvecklingen av tågen och tekniska lösningar som räldämpare, bullerskärmar och optimal design av banunderbyggnaden är även det prioriterade områden inom höghastighetstrafiken internationellt. Då är det främst utveckling av tekniska lösningar för att minimera det aerodynamiska buller som uppkommer samt buller från kontakten mellan hjul och räl.</p><p>Den generella arbetsgången är att fokus ligger på åtgärder mot källbullret. Därefter prioriteras åtgärder som ligger längs ljudutbredningsvägen och sist kommer de åtgärder som tillämpas vid mottagaren av bullret.</p> / <p>The development within the railway sector is heading towards faster and more effective transports. The limitations are that new developments must be applied on the trains as well as the tracks. With the infrastructure and train models that we have today, speeds up to 200 km/h is the maximum speed. The needs to raise the capacity and implement high-speed trains in Sweden are under investigation. The speed of the trains must exceed 250 km/h to be labeled as high-speed trains. Banverket as the infrastructure manager has a responsibility for the environment and the noise pollution created by train traffic. As the speed increases so does the noise as well, but it is also new forms of noise that appear with speeds over 300 km/h. The noise that appears around these velocities is called aerodynamic noise and it is coming from the turbulence in the air around the train.</p><p>The aim of the thesis has been to gather knowledge internationally on the issues concerning noise emissions and measures to prevent them. The information has been gathered thorough a literature survey and by interviews with people within the international railway sector. By the inventory of the knowledge a model has been developed with the issues that are judged to be the most important. The idea with the model is to give a picture of the measures to prevent the noise and sources of the noise that are coming from high-speed traffic. It is also made for Banverket to get the competence to deal with a future implementation of high-speed traffic.</p><p>A noise preventive measures that is prioritized internationally is planning the localization of the track. This measure is treated during the land use planning when a new line should be built. In this phase problems can either be created or eliminated and it is here the foundation is built for the future. The development of the trains and technical solutions such as rail dampers, noise screens and optimal track design are also measures that have high priority internationally. It is mainly the development and the technical solutions to minimize the aerodynamic noise that occurs and also the noise that are emitted from the contact between the wheels and the rail.</p><p>The general working process is that the focus is on reducing the noise from the source. After that the priority is to minimize the noise along the propagation path and at last measures at the recipient.</p>

This study defines the information gathering and communication and response needed for safety at highway-rail crossings. It examines technologies for low-cost, high-safety treatments for low volume highway crossings of higher speed (130-200 kph) rail. Crossing closure and consolidation is a necessary first step. Existing train control and crossing safety systems are examined. Intelligent Transportation System technologies are examined for applicability to the information gathering, communicating, and control functions of grade crossing safety. Guidelines are offered for low volume crossings of the high speed rail line in Oregon. A preliminary cost benefit analysis is presented. Above 200kph, crossing closure or grade separation is required. In the range of 130-200 kph, ITS technologies have the potential to enhance crossing safety at much lower cost than grade separation. A global positioning system based positive train control system provides the train location and speed information needed for advanced crossing control. A traffic management center can receive train and crossing information, operate crossing systems, and grant clearance for train or highway users through the crossing. Remote lock gates provide safety at private crossings. Increased traveler information and four quadrant warning gates increase motorist compliance at public crossings. At train speeds above 175 kph, barrier gates protect rail movements. Video monitoring and detection systems provide reliable, redundant information should a vehicle become trapped in a crossing. / Graduation date: 1996

The Svealand line opened in 1997 and the services areoperated with regional high speed trains. While the Svealandline was being built, the slow trains that had been inoperation on the old railway between Eskilstuna and Stockholm(a distance of 115 km) were replaced by buses with a highfrequency of service. In a case study of the effects of regional high speed trainservices, field surveys were made of residents and publictransport passengers along the line, and in a reference centreof population, before and after the Svealand line opened.Changes in knowledge, valuations and travel behaviour have beenanalysed, as have changes in accessibility. The supply and thedemand for regional journeys by car, bus and train have alsobeen examined. The results show that the Svealand line has meant anincrease of up to seven times in regional travel by railcompared to the old railway between Eskilstuna and Stockholm,and the market share has risen from 6% to 30%. Those who travelmost are people who have access to a car at times. Habitualmotorists, on the other hand, account for the largest increasein travel by public transport. In areas close to the railwaystations in Strängnäs and Eskilstuna new patterns ofcar ownership, travel behaviour, choice of transport mode andchoice of destination have been found since the regional highspeed trains began operating on the Svealand line. Commuting towork has also shown a marked increase. Travelling times arevalued highly and especially motorists value the high speedtrain mode of transport highly. Poorer train services and busservices are not attractive to motorists other than as areserve alternative to their own cars. A general conclusion is that the regional high speed trainservices have had a major impact on the travel market, travelbehaviour and accessibility. The improved accessibility toStockholm in particular is especially noticeable amongresidents close to the railway stations. Keywords:The Svealand line, high speed trains, regionaltravel, travel behaviour, choice of transport mode,accessibility / QC 20100608

It is estimated that, between the year 2000 and 2003, thenumber of online Internet users will grow from 250 millions to500 millions. This growth results in rapidly increasing demandfor fibre-optic communication bandwidth, occurring at alllevels: from access and local area networks (LANs) tometro-area networks (MANs). A now established solution for manyapplications such as interconnects and Gigabit Ethernet is thevertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL). The advantagesof VCSELs are numerous: low fabrication and coupling costs,large modulation bandwidth, array integration and tunability.VCSEL-based modules, with speed up to 2.5 Gbit/s are nowcommercially available for multimode fibre (MMF) basedapplications. However, devices operating at long wavelength andhigher transmission rates (10Gbit/s and more) will be needed inthe near future. The purpose of the work presented in this thesis was toobtain an understanding of the high-speed properties of VCSELs,in order to extend the modulation frequency at which they canbe used in fibre optical communication systems. An approach forsystematic high-speed characterisation of VCSELs is presentedand both its potential benefits and problems are discussed. Itis shown that the VCSEL dynamics, under certain conditions, canbe well described by a small number of parameters that can beextracted from small signal measurements and used forfurtheroptimisation. The calibrated small-signal modulation responsesof VCSELs have been measured and fitted to an analyticaltransfer function allowing the estimation of the resonancefrequency, damping factor and parasitic cut-off at differentbias points. This data can be used to determine the relativeimportance of different bandwidth limiting effects due todamping, thermal heating and parasitics. Small signal analysis and transmission experiments wereperformed with a large sample of VCSELs covering the variousranges of applications. Visible VCSELs and resonant cavitylight emitting diodes (RCLEDs) for very short reach plasticoptical fibre (POF) applications, 850nm datacom VCSELs forshort distance multimode fibre networks, and long wavelengthVCSELs for long haul single mode fibre transmission. <b>Keywords:</b>Semiconductor lasers, VCSEL, high-speedmodulation, fibre optic networks, datacom, RCLED, plasticoptical fibre

Digital computers have changed human society in a profound way over the last 50 years. Key properties that contribute to the success of the computer are flexible programmability and fast access to large amounts of data and instructions. Effective access to algorithms and data is a fundamental property that limits the capabilities of computer systems. For PC computers, the main memory consists of dynamic random access memory (DRAM). Communication between memory and processor has traditionally been performed over a multi-drop bus. Signal frequencies on these buses have gradually increased in order to keep up with the progress in integrated circuit data processing capabilities. Increased signal frequencies have exposed the inherent signal degradation effects of a multidrop bus structure. As of today, the main approach to tackle these effects has been to reduce the number of endpoints of the bus structure. Though improvements in DRAM memory technology have increased the available memory size at each endpoint, the increase has not been able to fully fulfill the demand for larger system memory capacity. Different bus structural changes have been used to overcome this problem. All are different compromises between access latency, data transmission capacity, memory capacity, and implementation costs. In this thesis we focus on using the signal processing capabilities of a modern integrated circuit technology as an alternative to bus structural changes. This has the potential to give low latency, high memory capacity, and relatively high data transmission capacity at an additional cost limited to integrated circuit blocks. We first use information theory to estimate the unexplored potential of existing multi-drop bus structures. Hereby showing that reduction of the number of endpoints for multi-drop buses, is by no means based on the fundamental limit of the data transmission capacity of the bus structure. Two test-chips have been designed and fabricated to experimentally demonstrate the feasibility of several Gb/s data-rates over multidrop buses, with limited cost overhead and no latency penalty. The test-chips implement decision feedback equalization, adopted for high speed multi-drop use. The equalizers feature digital filter implementations which, in combination with high speed DACs, enable the use of long digital filters for high speed decision feedback equalization. Blind adaptation has also been implemented to demonstrate extraction of channel characteristics during data transmission. The use of single sided equalization has been proposed in order to limit the need for equalization implementation to the host side of a DRAM memory bus. Furthermore, we propose to utilize the reciprocal properties of the communication channel to ensure that single sided equalization can be performed without any channel characterization hardware on the memory chips. Finally, issues related to evaluation of high-speed channels are addressed and the on-chip structures used for channel evaluation in this project are presented.