published_or_final_version / Mechanical Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

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No description available.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Delaware, 2006. / Principal faculty advisor: Stephen C. Cary, College of Marine and Earth Studies. Includes bibliographical references.

This research is focus on the analysis of microbial diversity and existance of methanotrophic microbial strains in Wu-Shan-Ding mud volcano areas. The microbial distribution and diversity in soil surrounding the mud volcano were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The 16S rDNA sequences from PCR-DGGE bands were used to identify the bacterial strains with NCBI gene bank data. The results showed that the microbial diversity in the fresh erupted mud sample varied with other soil samples. The degrees of diversity were propotion to the distance away from the mud volcano. The main bacterial species found in the mud sample are Brevundimonas terrae, Ralstonia solanacearum, Ralstonia taiwanensis, Pseudonocardiaceae bacterium, Ochrobactrum anthropi, Burkholderia phytofirmans, Stenotrophmonas sp., Methylobacterium sp., Cryseobacterium sp., Sphingobacterium sp., Stenotrophomonas sp. MG-3, and Stenotrophomonas sp. EP01. According to documents, all of the above strains are tolerant to high salt and alkaline. The Ochrobactrum anthropi and Burkholderia phytofirmans were found only in the fresh erupted mud sample and the 5-meter soil sample, while Ralstonia mannitolilytica, Ralstonia pickettii, Amycolatopsis rugosa, and Maricaulis sp. were found only in 10-meter soil sample. In other word, all of the soil samples we examed in this study have their own specified bacterial strains. Two methanotrophic microganisms, Methylobacterium organophilum and Ochrobactrum anthropi were also successfully isolated in pure cultures. The biochemical characteristics of these two strains had been studied. These two strains show a potential might be able to use in the bioremediation of petroleum pollution.

No description available.

Little has been published concerning the thermal properties of existing unbaked earth walls. In order to model the thermal behaviour of a building constructed using traditional cob walls, the thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity need to be established. The Centre for Earthen Architecture (CEA), based at the University of Plymouth's School of Architecture has carried out research into various aspects of cob architecture typical to the Devon area. This study supplements other work concerning the moisture content, structure and pathology of cob as a building material. This research concentrates upon the development of a time dependent probe technique for the measurement of the thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of cob. The literature concerning the technique is reviewed. Methods of obtaining thermal data from the results are discussed. Particular emphasis is placed upon the measurement of the probe's thermal contact conductance with the test material. A series of laboratory tests and results from specific test materials are described. From this work, a link between the improvement of the thermal contact between the probe and the specimen and the accuracy of the thermal diffusivity values is established. The development of field test apparatus is described and the results from three field tests are examined. Values for thermal conductivity, diffusivity and the probe thermal contact conductance are established. These results are used in a thermal simulation of a cob dwelling. The output from the simulation is compared with results from a modern timberframe house of identical dimensions and use. The thermal response of the modern timber-frame house was found to be similar to that of the cob dwelling. However, generally, the range of internal air temperature was found to be higher in the interior spaces of the timber framed dwelling than the cob dwelling.

Diss. Linköping : Univ.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1990. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 75-77). Also available via the Internet.