Perchlorate is known to adversely affect the thyroid gland functions including iodide take up, thus perchlorate should be removed from drinking water. Bituminous coal-based activated carbon (AC) has been used for perchlorate removal in past years. Virgin carbon and carbon modified by oxidation with HNO3, NaOH and H2O2 were examined in this study for their ability to remove perchlorate by reduction or adsorption mechanisms. Surface functional groups formed on the modified AC (MAC) were examined with diffuse reflectance infrared spectrometry. Inhibition of perchlorate removal onto MAC by various anions ( - Cl , - 3 NO , and - 2 4 SO ) and solution pH (4.5, 7.2 and 10.5) were examined to characterize the MACs before an electrochemical reaction was performed. Surface functional groups were increased by oxidation. Groups that were found on the carbon include, but are not limited to lactone, quinine, carboxylate, and nitrogenoxygen groups. The effect of pH on removal of perchlorate by MAC was greatly affected by the change in the zero point charge (ZPC) induced on the carbon by modification. Virgin carbon also experienced difficulty in removing perchlorate when solution pH was above the ZPC. Anion inhibition varied with the modification process. - 3 NO inhibited perchlorate removal only by the virgin carbon. The other anions showed no major effects on the removal efficiency of perchlorate by the carbons. Electrochemical processes did not show favorable results in removal of perchlorate. The dominant mechanism of perchlorate removal during desorption tests was adsorption onto the carbon surfaces via ion exchange.

This thesis evaluates the applicability of forecasting production from low permeability and layered tight gas wells using the Arps hyperbolic equation at earlier times and then switching to the exponential form of the equation at a predetermined minimum decline rate. This methodology is called the minimum terminal decline rate method. Two separate completion types have been analyzed. The first is horizontal completions with multi-stage hydraulic fractures while the second is vertical fractured wells in layered formations, completed with hydraulic fractures. For both completion types both simulated data and real world well performance histories have been evaluated using differing minimum terminal decline rates and the benefit of increasing portions of production history to make predictions. The application of the minimum terminal decline rate method to the simulated data in this study (3 percent minimum decline applied to multiple fractured horizontal wells MFHW- and 7 percent applied to vertical fractured layered wells) gave high errors for some simulations within the first two years. Once additional production data is considered in making predictions, the errors in estimated ultimate recovery and in remaining reserves is significantly reduced. This result provides a note of caution, when using the minimum decline rate method for forecasting using small quantities of production history. The evaluation of real world data using the minimum terminal decline rate method introduces other inaccuracies such as poor data quality, low data frequency, operational changes which affect the production profile and workovers / re-stimulations which require a restart of production forecasting process. Real well data for MFHW comes from the Barnett Shale completions of the type which have been widely utilized since 2004. There is insufficient production history from real wells to determine an appropriate minimum terminal decline rate. In the absence of suitable analogs for the determination of the minimum terminal decline rate it would be impossible to correctly apply this methodology. Real well data for vertical fractured layered wells from the Carthage Cotton Valley field indicate that for wells similar to Conoco operated Panola County wells a feasible decline rate is between 5 percent and 10 percent. Further if a consistent production trend and with more than 2 years of production history are used to forecast, the EUR can be predicted to within plus/minus 10 percent and remaining reserves to within plus/minus 15 percent.

The thesis consisted of three parts. The first part introduced designed trend of the embedded passive component and the process flow of organic substrate. A design flow of spiral inductor embedded in 4 layer organic substrate has been demonstrated. Part 2 focused on the extraction equations of conventional PI model and modified T model. These two models have been applied to develop the equivalent circuits of the organic spiral inductors . The comparison between modeling and measurement results shows their difference on modeling accuracy. Part 3 introduced the scalable equations in both modeling techniques to find the equivalent circuit parameters from inductor¡¦s geometrical parameters. A 2.4GHz band-pass filter was simulated to illustrate the application of wide band scalable modeling techniques.

This thesis mainly focuses on active power factor correction (PFC) circuit research. Based on DSP, a circuit with a digital controller is developed. Boost converter is used as the power stage. For power factor correction, the control law is realized with DSP and the control strategy of controller adopts the multi-loop method, i.e. voltage-loop and modified PI current-loop. Finally, compared with the circuit using the conventional PI control law, performances of the modified PI current-loop circuit are obviously optimized.

The rise of medical expenses is a common problem in the whole- wide world. All those countries implementing National Health Insurance have been anxiously looking for solutions, and clinical pathway has been found to be the most effective tool to control the growth of medical expense and maintain the quality of healthcare. This study focuses on the development and implementation of clinical pathway of breast cancer who underwent modified radical mastectomy, and investigate the impact of implementation of clinical pathway on the control of the length of stay, inpatient medical care expenditures, healthcare quality, and patient¡¦s medical satisfaction. The 90 patients of MRM before implementation ( July 1999 to Sep. 2000 ) and 80 patients after implementation ( Jan. 2001 to Feb. 2002 ) are taken as the targets of this study. The major findings of the study are listed as follows: 1. Clinical pathway can reasonably control the length of stay. 2. Clinical pathway can reduce inpatient medical care expenditures. 3. Clinical pathway can improve healthcare quality. 4. Clinical pathway can improve patient¡¦s medical satisfaction. 5. Clinical pathway can influence doctor¡¦s partial practice pattern. Finally this study concludes that clinical pathway is an instructive tool for hospital management. Based on the results and discussion from the study, we suggest the implementation of clinical pathway cones best in conjunction with the impact of case payment; besides, the quality of medical care should be assured under the controlled medical cost.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-99). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-99). Also available on the Internet.

Genetiškai modifikuoti augalai kuriami siekiant sukurti naujas veisles, t.y pagerinti augalų technologines ir maistines savybes. Genų inžinerijos metodais sukurta tūkstančiai naujų veislių. Tai augalai atsparūs herbicidams ir insekticidams. Nors pirmieji komerciniai GM pasėliai užauginti 1994 metais (pomidorai), 1996 metai laikomi metais, kuomet GM pasėliai pradėti auginti plačiu mastu (1,66 milijono hektarų). Nuo tada GM pasėlių auginimas augo labai staigiai ir 2005 metais tokie pasėliai užėmė 87,2 milijonus hektarų ploto. Didžiausią GM pasėlių plotą užima: soja, javai, medvilnė ir rapsai. Genetiškai modifikuoti augalai – produktas naujų technologijų. Tokie ugalai įgauna savybių kurios jiems iki tol nebuvo būdingos. GM maisto saugumas dar nėra įroditas. Tyrimai nebuvo ilgalaikiai ir pakankami. Šie augalai gali būti pavojingi tiek žmogaus sveikatai, tiek ir aplinkai. Siekiant užtikrinti, kad GM augalai ir GM produktai atitiktų nustatytas žmonių ir gyvūnų saugos bei aplinkos apsaugos reikalavimus, būtina atlikti rizikos aplinkai, žemės ūkiui, gyvūnų ir žmonių sveikatai įvertinimą ir vykdyti monitoringą. / Genetically modified plants (GM plants) are being engineered in order to develop different new species, i.e. enhancing technological and nutrient traits. There have been engineered thousands of new plants species, employed genetic engineering methods. The dominant plants are GM herbicide tolerant plants and GM insecticide tolerant plants. Although the first commercial GM crops were planted in 1994 (tomatoes), 1996 was the first year in which a significant area 1.66 mln.ha of crops were planted containing GM traits. Since then there has been a dramatic increase in plantings and by 2005, the glogal planted area reached almost 87,2 million hectares. Almost all of the global GM crop area derives from soybeans, corn, cotton and canola. Genetically modified plants are products of new technologies. Plants develop new characteristics which were not typical of them before. Safety of GM food has not been proved. The research wasn’t long-term and sufficient enough. This plants can be dangerous for human health and for environment. In order to ensure the requirement established for safe handling, use and control of the GM plants and GM products for human and animal health end environmental protection, it is necessary to perform risk assessment posed by GM plants and GM products to the environment, agriculture and human health and to organize constant monitoring.

Fresh produce is often touted for its many health benefits; however, various items have been linked to foodborne disease outbreaks. This is especially a concern for immune suppressed individuals who are classified as severely neutropenic (white blood cell count under 500 neutrophils/μL of blood). At this degree of suppression, many are urged to follow a restrictive diet that reduces the potential of exposure to microbial populations. Currently no processing technique is used to sanitize microorganisms from fresh produce. Electron beam (e-beam) irradiation is a non-thermal process that has been approved by the FDA to treat fresh foods and is able to eliminate bacteria. Another technology used to extend shelf life is modified atmosphere packaging (MAP). The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of e-beam irradiation at current FDA-approved doses (< 1 kGy) to determine whether bioburden on fresh fruits can be reduced while maintaining sensory quality. Aerobic plate count methods were employed to determine the bioburden of treatments over a 21 day storage period under both ambient and MAP conditions. A previously identified bacterial plate count benchmark of < 500 CFU/ gram will be used to determine the applicability of the e-beam treatment. A consumer study using a 9 point hedonic scale as well as instrumentation measuring color, texture, moisture content, total soluble solids and titratable acidity were used to compare the treated fruit to the control. E-beam consistently reduced the bioburden on strawberries, fresh-cut watermelon and significantly (p<0.05) for avocado samples. Avocado, grapes and watermelon showed potential to be labeled as clean foods (below 500 CFU/gram). Fruit firmness (as measured by deformation) was not negatively affected by e-beam treatment and was preserved over storage with MAP treatment. Color was not adversely affected by e-beam or MAP, except for avocados that were significantly more grey in the presence of O_(2). Most importantly, consumers rated e-beam and MAP treated samples as acceptable (score above 5) in qualities of color, odor, flavor and firmness. E-beam proved to be an effective tool in reducing bioburden at low doses while maintaining fruit quality.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Canterbury, 2008. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 202-219). Also available via the World Wide Web.