Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1984 R515 / Master of Science

Healthcare providers encounter a wide range of hazards on the job, including exposure to infectious diseases. Protecting them from occupational infectious disease is very important. Healthcare workers use personal protective equipment (PPE) as a measure to decrease the risk of getting infected during patient care. For high-risk diseases like Ebola, Tyvek suits are coverall suits that protect the body and reduce the risk of body fluid exposure. However, a person removing a contaminated suit may also be exposed to virus. Previous studies have shown that enveloped viruses can survive on different types of surfaces, so the objective of this study is to determine the inactivation of bacteriophage Φ6, a surrogate for enveloped human virus, on the surface of Tyvek suits at two different relative humidity levels, 40% and 60% at 22°C. The results showed the inactivation rate of virus was higher at 60% RH than 40% RH. There was ~3log10 (99.9%) reduction of virus inactivation after 6 hours at 40% but ~3log10 (99.9%) inactivation took 9 hours at 60%. This suggests that enveloped viruses can survive on the surface of Tyvek suits for more than 6 hours, and should be considered a potential risk for contamination when they are taken off after use.

Although we are surrounded by hundreds of surfaces we can still distinguish them from each other simply by touch. The tactile information, interpreted by our brain and given by our fingers, is precise, but to put words to the sensation is very difficult — is it smooth, sticky or harsh? We do not only perceive surfaces differently, we also describe them in our own way. Luckily the forces and deformations that the skin are exposed to when sliding over a surface is ruled by laws of nature. This thesis investigates the contact between finger and surface and how it is affected by, for example, material properties, surface texturing or changes in climate. By measuring contact area, friction coefficient, and adhesion, using different materials and under different conditions, conclusions could be drawn. Also, a model for the contact between a finger and a sinus­oidal surface was developed, which could be used to estimate contact area, deformation and resulting friction coefficient. Results showed how differences in for example material, surface topography and environ­ment affect the interaction between finger and surface, and what consequences it has. If the objective is to change the feel of a surface or to alter the grip, this thesis could work as a support. Paper A investigates the area and friction between finger and glass surface under different conditions. Paper B presents a model for the contact area and deformation for a finger in contact with a sinusoidal surface. Paper C is a validation of the contact area model. Here it was used on new surfaces and compared with new finger friction measurements. Paper D mainly examines whether the adhesion or stickiness of different surfaces is distinguishable by a test panel and how this affects the perceived pleasantness of the surface. Paper E relates to the adhesion and friction for a bioskin probe and skin. Tests were made to evaluate how an artificial probe can be used to evaluate the tactile properties of a surface. / Även om vi omges av hundratals olika ytor kan vi fortfarande skilja dem åt med hjälp av känseln. Den taktila informationen från fingertopparna som tolkas av hjärnan är precis, men att sätta ord på hur ytan känns är väldigt svårt. Len, sträv eller grov? Vi upplever inte bara ytorna olika utan beskriver dem också på olika sätt. Krafterna och deformationerna som huden utsätts för när den glider över en yta styrs dock av naturlagar. Denna avhandling utreder kontakten mellan fingertopp och yta och hur den påverkas av exempelvis materialval, ytstruktur eller förändringar i klimat. Genom mäta kontaktarea, friktionskoefficient och adhesion för olika material i varierande omgivning kunde slutsatser dras. En modell för kontakten mellan fingertopp och sinusformad yta togs fram vilken kunde användas till att uppskatta kontaktarea, deformation och resulterande friktionskoefficient. Resultaten visade hur skillnader i exempelvis material, yttopografi och omgivning påverkar kontakten mellan finger och yta och vilka kon­sekvenser detta får. Om målet är att förändra känslan eller friktionen för en yta kan denna avhandling fungera som stöd. Artikel A undersöker kontakten och friktionen mellan fingertopp och glasyta för olika förhållanden. Artikel B presenterar en modell för arean och deformationen som sker för fingertopp och sinusformad yta i kontakt. Artikel C är en validering av modellen. Här användes den för nya ytor och jämfördes med nya mätningar av fingerfriktion. Artikel D undersöker i huvudsak huruvida en testpanel kan särskilja adhesionen för olika ytor och hur detta påverkar hur den känns. Artikel E arbetar vidare med adhesion och undersöker och hur en testkropp av artificiell hud kan användas för adhesionsmätningar av en yta. Detta för att med relativt enkla mätningar kunna uppskatta ytans taktila egenskaper. / <p>QC 20160504</p>

In this thesis, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is used to characterize Micro Fibrillated Cellulose (MFC) produced by two different methods according to their size and shape. For one of these MFC-types, their interaction with the humidity in the atmosphere is investigated and their swelling is calculated. MFC is a relatively new material based on cellulose fibres extracted from wood. This study is performed in co-operation with Stora Enso research centre. Stora Enso is a renewable material company which uses mostly wood based raw materials in their production. The measured swelling is ~ 5 % and depends on the number of elementary fibrils included in the fibre. / Atomkraftsmikroskopi (AFM) har använts för att karakterisera Mikro Fibrillerad Cellulosa (MFC), som är producerad med två olika produktionsmetoder, med avseende på deras storlek och form. För en av dessa MFC-typer så är deras påverkan av en varierande fuktig atmosfär undersökt och deras svällning är uträknad. MFC är ett relativt nytt material baserat på cellulosafibrer från trä. Detta examensarbete är utfört i samarbete med Stora Enso forskningscentrum. Stora Enso är ett företag fokuserat på förnyelsebara material som använder mestadels träbaserade råmaterial i deras prodiktion. Den uppmätta svällningen är ~ 5 % och beror av antalet elementära fibriller som ingår i fibern.

Ein Weg zur Abschätzung von Schwebstaubkonzentrationen aus Sichtweitenbeobachtungen in einer belasteten Atmosphäre auf der Basis der Sichtweitentheorie nach Koschmieder, 1925 unter Berücksichtigung der Feuchtigkeit wird beschrieben. / An approach for the estimation of concentrations of particulate matter in a polluted atmosphere has been described basing on the view range by the Koschmieder formula under consideration of the relative humidity.

Consideration is given to the conditions under which floating drops of water, here referred to as water boules, form, exist and coalesce. Particular emphasis is placed on the part played by electric charge and electric fields in these processes. The literature is reviewed in terms of both the phenomenon of floating drops and of the development of hydrostatics, hydrodynamics and electrohydrodynamics as applicable to the subject. . Experimental investigations to ascertain the boundary conditions to the influence of such electrical forces are described, together with observations of the connected electrical events. It is confirmed that boules will fail to form at all, i) under conditions of high humidity, and ii) in the presence of an electric field greater than a certain value. This is investigated experimentally, and shown to be approximately 34kV/m, this figure being about two-thirds that previously reported. Boules traversing a plane water surface are demonstrated to acquire additional charge in the process. In the case of drops dispensed from a grounded source, forming boules and crossing a bulk water surface some 15cm wide, the additional charge gathered is significant. Boules of 0.055g mass were found to have a mean charge of 1.6 x 10-12C on leaving a water surface, having arrived as drops with an average charge of 5.8 x 10-14C. Possible charging mechanisms are discussed. The origin of the initial drop charge is considered, and measurements of this are presented from (i), conventional Faraday cup determinations, and (ii), induction methods applied to free-falling drops. Experimental investigation of the time-dependent electrical records of the coalescence of a dispensed drop with a plane water surface shows the whole coalescence process to have a two-part form. This detail is commonly hidden within more conventional charge-transfer measurements. For the coalescences investigated experimentally an small initial event is shown to occur, involving a charge transfer in the range 1.2 – 4.8 x 10-12C. Oscillograms taken from a large number of coalescences show this preliminary event to be a general feature of the coalescence process, with a number of such traces being appended to the thesis. This initial event is followed by a larger one where the signs of the signals from the drop and the bulk surface are opposite to those of the initial event, and whose potential magnitude is broadly in agreement with that anticipated by double layer disruption. The interfacial potential difference necessary for the onset of instability and subsequent coalescence in the case of closely opposed drops is shown to be dependent on the relative humidity of the ambient air. Consideration is given to G I Taylor’s equation describing the critical potential for the onset of instability between closely spaced drops, and this is shown experimentally to require correction for different humidities. It is demonstrated that the critical potential, Vc, at a relative humidity of 100% is approximately 50% of that at 40% RH. Possible reasons for this are discussed, drawing attention to the problem of establishing an accurate DC relative permittivity value for vapour-laden air in small interfacial gaps. The rôle of evaporation in modifying the system geometry is considered experimentally and theoretically, and shown to be significant only for humidities < 50%. The complex nature of the interface in the case of very small air-gaps is discussed, together with the implications of these investigations for the interfacial stability of a floating drop or boule system. A theoretical model based on a consideration of the complex liquid-air-liquid interface as a capacitive system is developed, and shown to be in good agreement with practical observations. This model demonstrates that the parts played by electrical forces, together with environmental factors, are likely to be significant in terms of coalescence at stages prior to gap thinning to the point where London/van-der-Waals forces become dominant. Interfacial potentials are calculated in a boule system at a number of times between 0.1 and 10 seconds, and shown to be sufficient to promote instability and coalescence. Full data based on a number of values of instability potentials is appended to the thesis. Development of the model raises questions concerning the validity of currently accepted values both for interfacial stability in small gaps and for the relative permittivity of humid air in similar situations. Suggestions are made for future work in such areas, together with possible methodologies. The phenomenon of floating water drops is therefore shown to be compatible with the general coalescence process, the event time being modified by such diverse factors as the impact energy with the surface, the ambient humidity and the magnitude of the initial drop charge. The latter is shown to be the dominant factor in the case of drops arriving on a clean surface with low kinetic energies, with the small charge inherent on any water drop being sufficient to produce potentials adequate to promote eventual instability.

Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. Johannesburg, 2013. / The evolutionary genesis and the current adaptive significance of the use of the discontinuous gas exchange cycle (DGC) for respiration by insects is the subject of intense debate. Most current research centers on three adaptive hypotheses and one non-adaptive hypothesis; these are the hygric hypothesis, the chthonic hypothesis, the oxidative-damage hypothesis and the emergent-property hypothesis respectively. Workers of the harvester termite, Hodotermes mossambicus were selected as a model to test three of these hypotheses. The respiratory patterns of workers, investigated using flow-through respirometry, were obtained at 0 % relative humidity (RH), 100 % RH, at 100 % O2 and under varying temperature to evaluate the assumptions of the various hypotheses. A change in ambient humidity had no impact on metabolic rate (VCO2), coefficient of variation (CV) or the pattern of gas exchange but only influenced the amount of water loss experienced by workers. Major workers exposed to hyperoxia (100 % O2) responded by increasing spiracular control and constriction through the use of cyclic gas exchange thereby protecting their interior against the toxic effects of O2. As VCO2 increased in response to increasing temperature, the gas exchange pattern displayed by workers transitioned from a modified DGC through cyclic to continuous gas exchange. A true DGC, defined as showing all three phases and a CV value close to 2, was not expressed under any of the experimental conditions. The results of this study support the oxidative-damage and emergent-property hypotheses but not the hygric hypothesis. The workers of H. mossambicus spend only brief periods above ground before returning to the refuge of their underground nests and as such there is probably little selective advantage to the DGC for limiting respiratory water loss. The conclusion drawn from the study of termite workers is that changes in respiratory patterns are most likely an emergent property of the insects’ nervous and respiratory systems and spiracular control also serves to limit oxidative damage.

As propriedades de superfícies de pós cerâmicos desempenham um papel importante na produção de dispositivos de alta qualidade, elevado desempenho e confiabilidade. Muitas dessas propriedades estão relacionadas a interações com o meio em que o material esta presente. Um exemplo, são materiais cerâmicos utilizados em sensores de gases. A perovisquita BaSnO3 (estanato de bário) é um de material cerâmico promissor a sensor de gás. Neste sentido, a proposta do presente trabalho consistiu em realizar a síntese do composto BaSnO3 por reação no estado sólido e preparar cerâmicas com o objetivo de estudar suas propriedades estruturais, microestruturais e seu comportamento elétrico em função da atmosfera. As amostras foram caracterizadas utilizando-se as técnicas de termogravimetria, calorimetria exploratória diferencial, difratometria de raios x, microscopia eletrônica de varredura, dilatometria e espectroscopia de impedância. Para a produção do BaSnO3 foram utilizadas duas metodologias de síntese. A primeira, chamada de rota 1, a preparação foi realizada a partir da mistura direta dos pós precursores, sem aquecimento prévio. A segunda metodologia, denominada rota 2, os pós precursores foram submetidos a um aquecimento separadamente antes da mistura e síntese. Os resultados obtidos utilizando a rota 1 mostraram a presença de fases secundárias (SnO2 e BaCO3) ao material pretendido, além da formação de fase líquida durante o processo de sinterização das cerâmicas. Contudo, os resultados obtidos com o procedimento adotado na rota 2 mostraram apenas a presença da fase desejada e ausência de fase líquida durante a sinterização. Com o objetivo de assegurar que a presença de fases secundárias na rota 1 e a fase líquida observadas nas microestruturas foram devido a presença de água adsorvida nos pós precursores, corpos cerâmicos `a verde produzidos pela rota 2 foram submetidos a imersão em água por aproximadamente 10 horas antes da sinterização. Este procedimento não resultou no aparecimento de fases secundárias, como era esperado, porém verificou-se a formação de fase líquida durante o processo de sinterização. As cerâmicas assim processadas apresentaram menor densidade relativa e maior tamanho médio de grão. Para a caracterização elétrica das cerâmicas foram utilizados as seguintes atmosferas: ar, em condição de pressão distinta, argônio contendo 5% de hidrogênio e argônio contendo 15% de hidrogênio. Os resultados mostraram que o estanato de bário apresenta significativa sensibilidade relativa da condutividade elétrica para as atmosferas estudadas a temperaturas acima de 100oC. / The surface properties of ceramic powders play an important role in the production of devices of high quality, high performance and reliability. Many of these properties are related to interactions with the environment. One example, ceramics are used in gas sensor devices. A ceramic material that has been reported as promising gas sensor is perovskite BaSnO3 (barium stannate). In this work we performed the synthesis of the BaSnO3 compound by solid state reaction to study its structural properties, microstructure and electrical behavior in function of atmosphere. The samples were characterized by thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, dilatometry and impedance spectroscopy. For the production of BaSnO3 used two methods of synthesis. the first method, called route 1, the preparation was performed directly from the mixing of powder precursors. The second, named as route 2, the precursor powders were subjected to heating separately before mixing. The results obtained using the route 1 showed the presence of secondary phases (SnO2 and BaCO3) and the formation of liquid phase during sintering of the ceramics. The results obtained with the procedure adopted in the route 2 showed only the presence of the desired (BaSnO3) phase and no liquid phase during sintering. In order to investigate what the effects caused by the water adsorption by perovskite BaSnO3, the green-ceramic bodies produced by route 2 were submitted to immersion in water prior to sintering. This procedure did not result in the appearance of secondary phases, but was verified the presence of the liquid phase, and the ceramics showed lower density and larger average grain size. For the electrical characterization we used the following atmospheres: vacuum, air, argon containing 5% hydrogen and argon containing 15% hydrogen. The results showed that the barium stannate shows a significant sensitivity to the conductivity in the studied atmospheres at temperatures above 100oC.

Metal-oxide thin films are used in a wide variety of electronic devices. Although many techniques have been developed to deposit thin films of metal oxides, there is still a need for alternative cost- and energy-effective deposition methods. Deposition of metal oxide thin films from aqueous solutions of all-inorganic metal salts is a viable method that meets these needs. Although many aqueous-deposited metal-oxide thin films have been successfully incorporated into functioning devices, many of the mechanisms that occur as precursors transition to metal oxides are not well understood. The work presented in this dissertation is primarily concerned with examining the processes that occur as metal oxide thin films form from spin-deposited aqueous precursor solutions with a particular focus on the role of H2O in these processes. Chapter I summarizes methods for thin film deposition, and describes the use of aqueous metal salt solutions as viable precursors for the deposition of metal oxide thin films. Chapter II investigates the precursor chemistry, film-formation processes and properties of LaAlO3 thin films deposited from aqueous precursors. This chapter also serves as general guide to the processes that occur as metal-oxide thin films form from spin-deposited aqueous precursors. Chapters III and IV focus on the effects of H2O(g) during spin-deposition of precursor thin films and during the annealing process in which precursors are converted to metal oxides, respectively. The presence of H2O(g) during spin-deposition has a striking effect on the thickness of the resulting thin films and also affects the elemental gradient and density profiles. During annealing, H2O(g) reduces the temperatures at which counterions are expelled and influences the metal-hydroxide framework formation and its condensation to a metal oxide. The data also indicate that H2O(g) enhances diffusion of gaseous byproducts from within the films. Chapter V focuses on precursor concentration and its impact on the thermal evolution of thin films. The processes involved in the conversion of precursors to metal oxide thin films occur at lower temperatures as precursor concentration decreases. Although this is likely in part due to thickness effects, concentration-dependent precursor speciation may also be involved in lowering the temperatures at which films densify. / 2019-02-17