This thesis will focus on spherical near-field antenna measurements and the methods developed or modified for the work of this thesis to estimate the uncertainty in a particular far-field radiation pattern. We will discuss the need for error assessment in spherical near-field antenna measurements. A procedure will be proposed that, in an automated fashion, can be used to determine the overall uncertainty in the measured far-field radiation pattern of a particular antenna. This overall uncertainty will be the result of a combination of several known sources of error common to SNF measurements. This procedure will consist of several standard SNF measurements, some newly developed tests, and several stages of post-processing of the measured data. The automated procedure will be tested on four antennas of various operating frequencies and directivities to verify its functionality. Finally, total uncertainty data will be presented to the reader in several formats.

Fundamental to the understanding of how rivers transform and shape our environment is the role of turbulence and complex, three-dimensional flow, such as vorticity, in sediment transport and erosion. However, classical sediment transport models (or formulae) are based, for the most part, on boundary shear stress and do not incorporate these natural phenomena. This is understandable given that the relationship between turbulence generation, intensity and form; the influence of turbulence on mobile sediment; and the magnitude and patterns of deposition and erosion are complex and difficult to quantify. Nevertheless, the failure to incorporate turbulence and complex, three-dimensional flow into existing models means that our understanding of sediment transport remains incomplete. The central hypothesis of this thesis is that vortical motion is the main factor in the development of local scour. To examine this, a comprehensive experimental approach was taken. This approach involved detailed measurements of the unique three-dimensional patterns of velocity, turbulence and bed morphology associated with flow in an open channel with and without the presence of submerged groyne-like structures (stream barbs and wing dikes) at both the laboratory and field scales. Using densely spaced velocity data and new techniques for processing and analyzing these data, it was possible to identify complex features of the flow field at both scales, such as the presence of vortex cores, and correlate these with changes in bed levels. These data provide a unique perspective of the spatial variability of velocity, turbulence and bed morphology in open channels (and in particular in channel bends, where flow is highly three-dimensional). In particular, it was found that, of the flow parameters analyzed, turbulent stresses were most correlated to scour in channel bends without the presence of structures. In contrast, vorticity was found to be the dominant factor in local scour hole development in the vicinity of submerged structures at both the laboratory and field scale. Such data are rare (if non-existent) in existing experimental research, particularly at the scale of a large natural river. This research also examines stream barb design and performance. Stream barbs (also known as submerged groynes or spur dikes) are a relatively novel approach to stream bank protection and are not common in Canada. The design and installation of stream barbs in a creek in Ottawa (Sawmill Creek) was undertaken to serve as a demonstration project for the use of these structures in a semi-alluvial channel, for which no such case studies exist. Three years of monitoring the site and the performance of these structures to reduce bank erosion and improve aquatic habitat have been carried out. Laboratory testing of stream barb performance was also undertaken and showed that with improper design, the outer bank in a channel bend may be more susceptible to erosion due to excessive local scour downstream of the barb. In particular, to avoid bank erosion downstream of the barb, barbs should be small, such that they create minimum flow obstruction, and include a bank key that is wider than the barb itself and extends in the downstream direction.

<p> The focus of this study was to determine whether a relationship existed between the creativity potential exhibited through creativity index scores of the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking and the enrollment of secondary students in the specific coursework of fine arts classes and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. The framework of the hierarchy for the study of creativity designed by Runco (2007) was used as the underpinning for the literature review and subsequent data collection and analysis. Furthermore, the creativity index scores and the ACT and GPA of subjects were analyzed to determine if a relationship existed. The study was governed by two research questions: (1) Is there a statistically significant difference between the creativity index scores from the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking for students enrolled in fine arts courses and students who are not enrolled in fine arts courses? and (2) What is the relationship between achievement data (ACT and GPA) and the creativity index scores from the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking? Little positive or negative relationship between the variables existed, and often, the results were not statistically significant. In general, a relationship between the coursework and creativity index scores or ACT and GPA and creativity index scores was not evident as a result of the analysis of data. A need for teachers, administrators, and students to receive continued education about the value of creativity was present in the review of literature and was addressed as a topic for further study.</p>

No description available.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-100). / Also available by subscription via World Wide Web / x, 106 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm

Thesis (PhDElectronicEngineering)--University of South Australia, 2003.

The overall performance of a scramjet-powered vehicle not only depends on the performance of individual components but also on how the components interact with one another. Because scramjet engines must be integrated into the vehicle design, the optimization of the design of one component may detrimentally offset the performance of other components. This thesis addresses the optimization of the thrust nozzle of a scramjet-powered vehicle and shows how the optimization must include the integration of the nozzle into the overall vehicle design. The basic scramjet vehicle configuration chosen for the study is the somewhat conventional design of a vehicle with an axisymmetric centrebody, where fuel and payload may be stored, and a quasi-axisymmetric cowl. Six internal intake-combustor-nozzle modules are arranged around the centrebody. Paull et al. (1995) tested a configuration of this type (referred to as model 0) and demonstrated that, at some conditions, a net positive thrust could be produced. They suggest that the thrust nozzle of the vehicle has potential for design change that could lead to significantly improved performance. The main aim of the present study is to test this hypothesis. An important decision that was made early in the present project was that the research would focus on unfuelled operation of the vehicle design. This still allowed the influence of integration of the optimized nozzle to be studied but removed the complications introduced by combustion processes. In order to integrate optimization of design of the thrust nozzle, it was necessary to analyze the performance of the complete scramjet vehicle design. A simple analysis methodology that captures the important physical processes occurring in the flow through and around the vehicle is necessary so that rapid calculations can be made in an iterative optimization program. Therefore, the force prediction methodology that was developed used a combination of simple hypersonics theories and inviscid 3-D CFD modelling instead of using a full 3-D Navier-Stokes equation solver to minimize the calculation time. The pressure forces and viscous forces on the model were calculated separately for each component of the scramjet vehicle designs. The theory of van Driest (1956) for skin friction drag in turbulent boundary layers was found to produce best agreement with measurements. Therefore, it was employed to estimate the turbulent skin friction drag in the present research. To validate the current force prediction methodology, the net axial drag force on an unfuelled quasi-axisymmetric scramjet model derived from the design of Paull et al. (1995) and designed for operation at Mach 6 (model 1) was measured in the T4 Stalker tube at The University of Queensland using a single component Stress Wave Force Balance. (The design of Paull et al. (1995) is referred to here as model 0.) Tests were performed with Mach 6, Mach 8, and Mach 10 nozzles attached to the end of the shock tube. In order to get a wide range of flow conditions the nozzle-supply enthalpy was varied from 3 to 10 MJ/kg and the nozzle-supply pressure from 35 to 45 MPa. A reduction of the drag coefficient of model 1 was observed with decreasing nozzle-supply enthalpy for each of the tunnel nozzles tested. The performance of model 1 was analyzed using the force prediction methodology. Generally, the force prediction results were in good agreement with experimental results. The results indicate that the internal intakes provide 50% of the total drag. The skin friction drag in the combustion chambers and the nozzles account for 30% of the total drag. In order to investigate the influence on the overall performance of the vehicle obtained by improving the nozzle performance, optimization and parametric studies of quasi-axisymmetric scramjet nozzle designs were conducted. The vehicle which was optimized in this study is of a similar configuration to the model used in Paull et al. (1995). The vehicles are optimized for minimum fuel-off net axial drag for a design flight Mach number of 8 using the force prediction methodology and the Nelder and Mead (1965) optimization algorithm. The optimization studies focused on the combustion chamber and the nozzle. Therefore, the shape of the conical forebody and the intake were not changed. The external flow over the cowl was taken into account during the optimization studies. The results showed that a long nozzle with a large external cowl deflection angle, which allowed the nozzle area ratio to be increased, did not give better performance than a short nozzle with a smaller area ratio. This was due to the competing effects of increased external drag on the cowl and increased nozzle thrust as the nozzle area ratio increased. The optimum shape gave limited improvement compared with that of Paull et al. (1995). While fuelled performance of the vehicle was not the focus of the present investigation, a preliminary theoretical study of fuelled operation was performed. A parametric study to vary the nozzle length and external cowl deflection angle was performed for different flight Mach numbers. The results indicate a larger nozzle and higher external cowl deflection angle are appropriate for fuelled cases compared with unfuelled cases. The net axial force on a model with a geometry close to the optimum design (model 2) was measured in the T4 shock tunnel in order to check that the optimization procedure was valid. Model 2 showed generally better performance than other models experimentally. For the Mach 6 nozzle tests, although model 2 has some performance losses due to the spillage of flow around the intakes, model 2 shows approximately a 20% lower drag coefficient than model 1 and shows slightly better performance than model 0. For all test conditions, a break-down of the components of the drag coefficient indicates that the nozzle of model 2 produces approximately three times more thrust than the nozzle of model 0 and approximately twice more than that of model 1. For the Mach 8 nozzle tests, model 2 has approximately a 20% lower drag coefficient than model 1. However, for the Mach 10 nozzle tests, no significant differences between the models were observed in the measurements. Finally, the measurements and optimization study indicate that when model 2 is fuelled, it could be expected to be capable of cruise up to Mach 8 because of its very effective nozzle.

Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine) / This work investigates a number of issues. Firstly it examines ultrasonic fetal biometry, the parameters and techniques for accurate measuring and reviews the procedure adopted for graph formation and application of regression analysis for a mathematical model to describe the relationship between fetal size and weeks of gestation. Next it establishes new Australian fetal measurement charts for the crown rump length, head circumference and abdominal circumference, based on an Australian population, to replace the charts currently in use that are over 20 years old and relate to middle class white American and British women. The new graphs, along with previous work completed by the author in 1999 on the BPD, OFD femur and humerus length, were subsequently accepted by the Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine (ASUM) in 2001 as the new Australian standard for ultrasonic fetal measurements. The accuracy of first trimester ultrasound dating is also investigated, displaying the variations seen in the crown-rump length due to fetal flexion and the implications of inaccurate measuring. The third study examines inter- and intra-sonographer ultrasonic fetal measurement reproducibility in the final 6 weeks of pregnancy. The study highlights the importance of sonographer competence, standardised measuring protocols, image planes and reference charts, particularly for patients undergoing ultrasound examinations for fetal growth assessment at different practices. The fourth study looks at the incidence of fetal macrosomia and birth complications in Chinese women and Caucasian women in two time periods, 1992 and 1999/2000. The results showed a rise in macrosomic babies born to Chinese immigrants from 4% of total Chinese births in 1992 to 9.8% in 1999/2000. There was also a rise in the rate of macrosomia among Caucasian women with respective rates of 11 and 14% for the same periods. The incidence of post partum haemorrhage increased significantly over this time in both Chinese immigrant and Caucasian women. Interventions declined in all Caucasian birth-weight ranges whilst interventions for Chinese births remained stable except between 3500grams and 4000grams, where interventions rose from 35.7% to 60.5%. Fetal macrosomia is a complication of pregnancy that is increasing in incidence. One of the causes of fetal overgrowth is uncontrolled gestational diabetes mellitus and so if women thus diagnosed are closely monitored, the risks of a macrosomic baby and associated birth complications may be reduced. The final study examines the effect of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on fetal growth. GDM is a complication of mid to late pregnancy caused by glucose intolerance. In the Australian population up to 8% of all pregnancies can be affected. In the Australian Chinese community the GDM rate is as high as 15% compared with 4% in Caucasian women. The risks to the fetus as a result of GDM include increased perinatal mortality, large for gestational dates, macrosomia and prematurity. The aim of this study was to determine whether the fetuses of women diagnosed with GDM were significantly larger for dates for any of the commonly ultrasonically measured fetal parameters, than in the general pregnant population. The results show that if the glycaemic levels are properly controlled, fetal size should not be compromised. The abdominal circumference measurement appears to be the important marker for fetal macrosomia, particularly in the Chinese population. The study also assessed fetal weight gain from 36 weeks gestation to term in Caucasian women with GDM and Chinese pregnancies both with and without GDM. No statistically significant difference was seen in daily weight gain between the groups investigated.

Thesis (M.S.)--Tennessee Temple University, 1988. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaf 51).