Demand for high-resolution imaging capabilities for both space-based and ground-based imaging systems has created significant interest in improving the design of multi-aperture interferometry imaging systems. Interferometers are a desirable alternative to single aperture imaging systems due to the fact that the angular resolution of a single aperture system is dependent on the diameter of the aperture and the resolution of the image recording device (CCD or otherwise) which quickly results in increased size, weight, and cost. Interferometers can achieve higher angular resolutions with lower resolution recording mediums and smaller apertures by increasing the distance between the apertures. While these systems grow in both size, mechanical, and computational complexity, methods of testing large scale designs with small scale demonstration systems currently do not exist. This paper documents the performance of a small scale multi-aperture intensity correlation interferometer which is used to view a double slit image. The interferometer consists of 2 avalanche photo-diodes connected to a data acquisition computer. The image is produced by shining light through the double slit image an image containment system. The sensors are placed at the far end of the image containment system, and their voltages are recorded and digitally filtered. This study presents the formulation of the design parameters for the interferometer, the assembly and design of the interferometer, and then analyzes the results of the imaging experiment and the methods used to attempt to prevent unwanted noise from corrupting the expected interference pattern. Codes in C and C++ are used to collect and analyze the data, respectively, while Matlab® was used to produce plots of binary data. The results of the analysis are then used to show that a small scale intensity correlation interferometer is indeed feasible and has promising performance.

The hydraulic-mechanical behaviour of swelling clay is examined in this thesis. The study includes laboratory testing and numerical modeling which considers the influence of boundary conditions on the hydraulic-mechanical behaviour of a compacted unsaturated swelling clay soil. The laboratory testing component of this research consists of three (3) series of tests using a newly modified triaxial apparatus on which mechanical and hydraulic boundary conditions are altered during liquid infiltration. Mechanical boundary conditions range from constant volume to constant mean stress and also include constant stiffness which is a spring type boundary consisting of both volume expansion and mean stress increase. Hydraulic boundary conditions include drained and undrained flow into triaxial specimens. The numerical modeling component of this research includes the creation of a new capillary tube model for swelling clay materials and incorporates dynamic changes to the cross-sectional area for flow. Laboratory results are modeled using the capillary tube model, an empirical hydraulic model, D’Arcy’s Law, and in an elastic-plastic context for unsaturated soil. Results of the laboratory and numerical modeling components show that boundary conditions dominate the hydraulic-mechanical behaviour of unsaturated swelling clay soil during liquid infiltration. In particular, a mechanism is shown to explain how hydraulic conductivity of a swelling soil can decrease with increasing water content at constant void ratio. Finally hydraulic and mechanical behaviour cannot be considered separately in swelling materials due to the intimate relationship in their response.

<p>Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) is a hypothalmic decapeptide, which regulates mammalian gonadotropin secretions by binding to specific, high affinity receptors in the pituitary. Two forms of GnRH (GnRH I and GnRH II) are expressed in the brain of human and some primates. Even though primates have been used extensively in a variety of investigations in relation to the role of GnRH in reproduction, there is no evidence of any research to investigate the direct effect of GnRH on primate sperm.</p>

Heart failure has a significant impact on mortality and morbidity. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the third most common cause of heart failure and the most common reason for heart transplantation. Familial DCM is known to be caused by mutations in the LMNA gene encoding lamins A and C. New methods to enhance cardiac contractility would be beneficial in the treatment or prevention of heart failure. The focus of this thesis was to evaluate the mechanisms of altered contractility in two mouse models: the LMNA knockout model (homozygous, Lmna-/-; heterozygous, Lmna+/-) generated by targeted deletion of the lmna gene, and the model of enhanced contractility due to cardiac alpha1A-adrenergic receptor (???1A-AR) overexpression (A1A1). Previous studies have found altered nuclear-desmin connections in lamin A/C deficient mice. It was proposed that these alterations result in ???defective force transmission???, which leads to DCM. Studies in this thesis have supported this hypothesis. Studies of isolated single cardiomyocytes from mice aged 4-6 weeks demonstrated abnormal cell morphology and contractile dysfunction in Lmna-/- cardiomyocytes, while Lmna+/- cells showed no overt phenotype. Excitation-contraction coupling experiments and forcecalcium studies in skinned fibers excluded altered calcium kinetics as a primary cause of DCM in this model, but there was evidence of reduced sarcomere numbers and reduced sarcomere lengths as a contributor to reduce force generation in Lmna-/- and Lmna+/- mice. Previous in vivo studies showed that A1A1 mice had enhanced contractility with the absence of hypertrophy. Studies on isolated single cardiomyocytes from A1A1 mice aged 8-12 weeks showed reduced contractility in the absence of ???1A-AR stimulation, but an exaggerated response to ???1A-AR stimulation. In contrast isolated isovolumic Langendorff perfused A1A1 hearts without ???1A-AR stimulation replicated the enhanced contractility observed in vivo. These studies are consistent with down-regulation of contractility due to the hyperactivity of the overexpressed ???1A-AR in vivo, which only becomes evident in isolated cells without ???1A-AR stimulation due to the loss of functional receptor numbers during isolation. Sufficient spontaneously active ???1A-ARs are preserved in the isolated Langendorff heart preparation to ensure maximum contractility driven by increase calcium release.

Contact Lens Acute Red Eye (CLARE) and Infiltrative Keratitis (IK) are inflammatory responses of the eye associated with extended wear of soft contact lenses. Bacterial colonization of contact lenses with Gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important risk factor for the development of these adverse responses. Strategies that control the bacterial colonization of contact lenses may help prevent the occurrence of adverse responses. This thesis aimed to develop an animal model of CLARE/IK to test this hypothesis and to test the effectiveness of contact lenses containing antimicrobial compounds, namely silver and furanone compounds, in controlling corneal inflammation caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A guinea pig model of contact lens wear was developed for the study and it was observed that the ocular responses to contact lens wear in the guinea pig were similar to those seen in human eyes wearing contact lenses. Also, three different models for CLARE/IK were developed and tested in the guinea pig eye. The pathological features of CLARE/IK in the guinea pig were virtually identical to those observed in human eyes. Bacterial contamination of contact lenses was confirmed to be a major risk factor for the development of CLARE/IK. Contact lenses containing nano-particles of silver demonstrated very good antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in-vitro. The silver lenses were able to control the development of CLARE/IK responses in one of the models for CLARE/IK. Silver lenses might be most effective if used to prevent the establishment of a biofilm of bacteria on a lens such as might occur during storage in a contact lens case. Contact lenses were coated with different concentrations of the furanone compounds by physical adsorption and demonstrated good antibacterial activity at higher concentrations. However these concentrations were cytotoxic in-vitro and lower concentrations of furanones did not possess adequate antibacterial activity to control CLARE/IK responses in-vivo. This thesis has successfully demonstrated that guinea pigs can be used to test the effects of extended wear of contact lenses and developed models to test the pathogenesis of adverse responses such as CLARE/IK. The CLARE/IK models developed could be used to further our understanding of the pathogenesis of these inflammatory conditions and explore the activity of other antimicrobials.

No description available.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Washington State University, August 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 64). Also available online.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Carolina Wilmington, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (Leaves: 37-44)

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Also available in print.