Thesis (M.E.T.)--University of Canterbury, 2006. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references. Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at El Paso, 2008. / Title from title screen. Vita. CD-ROM. Includes bibliographical references. Also available online.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin, 1971. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 129-131).

The adult kidney consists of hundreds of thousands of fine epithelial tubules as functional units called nephrons. Nephrons have U-shaped tubules: loops of Henle that descend from the cortex to the medulla. This radial arrangement is critical to maintain water homeostasis in the kidney. Although Henle’s loops are crucial to renal physiology, the cue(s) they uses to navigate to the medulla are not understood. In this thesis, I investigate how the loop of Henle elongates during mouse renal development and show that it is probably guided to the medulla by diffusible, heparin-binding molecules. I used immumohistochemistry (IHC) on cryosections of embryonic kidneys to study the natural anatomy of the Henle’s loop. I used a low-volume culture system to allow embryonic kidneys (both natural and tissue-engineered) to form loops of Henle ex vivo and manipulated their direction of growth. Time-lapse imaging of Lgr-5 EGFP embryonic kidneys demonstrated the movement of the apex of the loop which suggested the idea of guidance cue(s) acting on the loop of Henle. Cut-and-paste experiments showed that loops appeared to be attracted to maturing collecting duct. Co-culture with an exogenous tubule inducer suggested the embryonic spinal cord as another source to attract the loops. Using raTAL (rat thick ascending loop of Henle) and 6TA2 (embryonic collecting duct cells) cell lines, I designed and performed a cell migration assay to test whether raTAL was attracted to 6TA2 cells. raTAL cells were notably attracted to 6TA2 cells compared to other cell lines. raTAL cells were also attracted to 6TA2-conditioned medium, which indicated that raTAL cells were attracted by secreted molecule(s). To begin to characterise those secreted molecule(s), heparin-binding protein-coated beads were used in the cell migration system and showed that at least one critical guidance factor is heparin-binding. From this study, I found that the apex of the Henle’s loop does move and loops are attracted by secreted molecule(s) possibly from the collecting duct. Although target molecule(s) were unidentified, this study provides the first mechanistic information about the guidance of the loop of Henle. Moreover, this was the first study of guidance of epithelial tubule shafts (rather than tips) adding to our understanding of general tubule morphogenesis.

To evaluate the impact of reduced truck tire pressure on strain response of low volume spring-restricted roads, research was conducted on two instrumented pavement sections in Manitoba, Canada. Tire pressure control systems tests were carried out at the sections in spring and fall 2009. Measured maximum tensile strain at the bottom of asphalt layer decreased by 15-20% when tire pressure was reduced by 50%. Measured strain at the bottom of asphalt layer in fall is about 50% less than in spring. The effects of gauge orientation, truck speed, and tire offset from the strain gauge were also analyzed. A finite element model with static load was developed and verified. The bearing capacity is lower in spring than in normal condition for flexible pavements subject to deep frost action. Reduced tire pressure is effective to reduce bottom up failure of the pavement, and is less effective to prevent rutting.

To evaluate the impact of reduced truck tire pressure on strain response of low volume spring-restricted roads, research was conducted on two instrumented pavement sections in Manitoba, Canada. Tire pressure control systems tests were carried out at the sections in spring and fall 2009. Measured maximum tensile strain at the bottom of asphalt layer decreased by 15-20% when tire pressure was reduced by 50%. Measured strain at the bottom of asphalt layer in fall is about 50% less than in spring. The effects of gauge orientation, truck speed, and tire offset from the strain gauge were also analyzed. A finite element model with static load was developed and verified. The bearing capacity is lower in spring than in normal condition for flexible pavements subject to deep frost action. Reduced tire pressure is effective to reduce bottom up failure of the pavement, and is less effective to prevent rutting.

Thesis (M.S.)--Auburn University, 2007. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references (ℓ. 121-124)

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Texas at El Paso, 2008. / Title from title screen. Vita. CD-ROM. Includes bibliographical references. Also available online.

Yes / Manufacturing is a global activity that started during the industrial revolution in the late 19th century to cater for the large-scale production of products. Since then, manufacturing has changed tremendously through the innovations of technology, processes, materials, communication and transportation. The major challenge facing manufacturing is to produce more products using less material, less energy and less involvement of labour. To face these challenges, manufacturing companies must have a strategy and competitive priority in order for them to compete in a dynamic market. A review of the literature on the decomposition of manufacturing processes outlines three main processes, namely: high volume, medium volume and low volume. The decomposition shows that each sub process has its own characteristics and depends on the nature of the firm’s business. Two extreme processes are continuous line production (fast extreme) and project shop (slow extreme). Other processes are in between these two extremes of the manufacturing spectrum. Process flow patterns become less complex with cellular, line and continuous flow compared with jobbing and project. The review also indicates that when the product is high variety and low volume, project or functional production is applied. / The financial support by the Malaysian Government, Universiti Malaysia Pahang and Bradford University for this research is gratefully acknowledged.

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