The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects and importance of different cross–section representations and energy group structures for steady state and transient analysis. More energy groups may be more accurate, but the calculation becomes much more expensive, hence a balance between accuracy and calculation effort must be find. This study is aimed at comparing a multi–group energy dynamics code, MGT (Multi–group TINTE) with TINTE (TIme Dependent Neutronics and TEmperatures). TINTE’s original version (version 204d) only distinguishes between two energy group structures, namely thermal and fast region with a polynomial reconstruction of cross–sections pre–calculated as a function of different conditions and temperatures. MGT is a TINTE derivative that has been developed, allowing a variable number of broad energy groups. The MGT code will be benchmarked against the OECD PBMR coupled neutronics/thermal hydraulics transient benchmark: the PBMR–400 core design. This comparative study reveals the variations in the results when using two different methods for cross–section generation and multi–group energy structure. Inputs and results received from PBMR (Pty) Ltd. were used to do the comparison. A comparison was done between two–group TINTE and the equivalent two energy groups in MGT as well as between 4, 6 and 8 energy groups in MGT with the different cross–section generation methods, namely inline spectrum– and tabulated cross–section method. The characteristics that are compared are reactor power, moderation– and maximum fuel temperatures and k–effective (only steady state case). This study revealed that a balance between accuracy and calculation effort can be met by using a 4–group energy group structure. A larger part of the available increase in accuracy can be obtained with 4–groups, at the cost of only a small increase in CPU time. The changing of the group structures in the steady state case from 2 to 8 groups has a greater influence on the variation in the results than the cross–section generation method that was used to obtain the results. In the case of a transient calculation, the cross–section generation method has a greater influence on the variation in the results than on the steady state case and has a similar effect to the number of energy groups. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Nuclear Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

In this thesis, we have analyzed the accuracy and stability aspects of weak boundary and interface conditions (WBCs) for high order finite difference methods on Summations-By-Parts (SBP) form. The numerical technique has been applied to wave propagation and flow problems. The advantage of WBCs over strong boundary conditions is that stability of the numerical scheme can be proven. The boundary procedures in the advection-diffusion equation for a boundary layer problem is analyzed. By performing Navier-Stokes calculations, it is shown that most of the conclusions from the model problem carries over to the fully nonlinear case. The work was complemented to include the new idea of using WBCs on multiple grid points in a region, where the data is known, instead of at a single point. It was shown that we can achieve high accuracy, an increased rate of convergence to steady-state and non-reflecting boundary conditions by using this approach. Using the SBP technique and WBCs, we have worked out how to construct conservative and energy stable hybrid schemes for shocks using two different approaches. In the first method, we combine a high order finite difference scheme with a second order MUSCL scheme. In the second method, a procedure to locally change the order of accuracy of the finite difference schemes is developed. The main purpose is to obtain a higher order accurate scheme in smooth regions and a low order non-oscillatory scheme in the vicinity of shocks. Furthermore, we have analyzed the energy stability of the MUSCL scheme, by reformulating the scheme in the framework of SBP and artificial dissipation operators. It was found that many of the standard slope limiters in the MUSCL scheme do not lead to a negative semi-definite dissipation matrix, as required to get pointwise stability. Finally, high order simulations of shock diffracting over a convex wall with two facets were performed. The numerical study is done for a range of Reynolds numbers. By monitoring the velocities at the solid wall, it was shown that the computations were resolved in the boundary layer. Schlieren images from the computational results were obtained which displayed new interesting flow features.

It has been observed that in certain cases the exposure of dyed fibres to aging techniques results in the strengthening of fibres. This thesis explores the hypothesis that the strengthening is due to radical cross-coupling reactions that could be initiated through metal ion mediated photodecarboxylation. The approaches taken in this research include kinetic experiments (using flash photolysis), examination of possible cross-coupling experiments (using species of opposite charge), and the design and examination of small molecule model systems. A flash photolysis system was developed and used in attempts to determine the rates of photochemical product formation for cobalt(III) amino acid complexes. Lower limits have been established for the rate of product formation in these systems. The lower limits are: 2 x 10⁷ s⁻¹ for [Co(bpy)2(gly)]²⁺; 2 x 10⁷ s⁻¹ for [Co(tpa)(gly)]²⁺; and 5 x 10⁶ s⁻¹ for [Co(tpa)(aib)]²⁺, where bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine; gly is glycinate; tpa is tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine; and aib is aminoisobutyrate. In past studies, the rates of a series of cobalt(III) amino acid complexes were reported as being the same, and much slower. It is thought that in these cases it may not be the rate of the formation of product that was being measured, but rather the response time of the electronics that was being observed. In this thesis the results obtained for the rate for the aib complex were somewhat lower than those of the gly complexes. This may imply, for the aib complex at least, the rate of the formation of the metallocycle is being observed (and not the response times of the electronics or other limitations of the instrumentation), but the data is poor and there is considerable doubt about this. The steady state photolysis of opposite charged species [Co(bpy)2(gly)]²⁺ and [Co(EDTA)]⁻ is reported. The reactions were carried out on a small scale in deuterated solvent for NMR spectrometry analysis and also on a large scale for the possible isolation and characterisation of the products. Evidence was found for a different reaction occurring when both complexes were present. The exact nature of the product remains elusive. A model system was designed in which a dinuclear ligand would bind to two metal centres and a fibre mimic would be later added. Eight ligands are discussed that could potentially bind two octahedral metal centres. They all had a xylene spacing group linking the two polydentate sites together. Five of the ligands have two bidentate binding sites. The other three had two tridentate sites. The binding sites in three of the bis(bidentate) ligands were based on ethane-1,2- diamine (en). Two of these ligands produced hypodentate monocobalt and sundentate dicobalt complexes. The other two bidentate ligands were based on 2- aminomethylpyridine (ampy). Both of these ligands degraded in the complexation reaction conditions. The binding sites in the tridentate ligands were all based on tacn. Once again, the principal products isolated were hypodentate systems in which only one metal ion was coordinated by the ligands. There is a distinct pattern observed in the xylene spaced ligands to form hypodentate complexes with cobalt(III) metal centred complexes. There is evidence of the di-nuclear species from a reaction with a charcoal catalyst in the bis(bidentate) system. ¹H NMR spectrometry, ¹³C NMR spectrometry, elemental analysis, X-ray crystallography and UV-vis spectroscopy were used to study and characterise the complexes and ligands that were prepared in this project.

Monash Univ., Diss. u.d.T.: Schmidt, Gordon W.: Dynamics of endogenous economic growth theory and related issues--Melbourne, 2001. / Bibliography. Includes indexes.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2006-02-07Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:08:06Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 pereira_ms_me_sjrp.pdf: 2071399 bytes, checksum: 9f8844443f17c4fa7a041cc8bc621d54 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Neste trabalho classificamos problemas de bifurcação Z2-equivariantes de corank 2 até co- dimensão 3 via técnicas da Teoria de Singularidades. A abordagem para classificar tais problemas é baseada no processo de redução à forma normal de Birkhoff para estudar a interação de modos Hopf-Pontos de Equilíbrio. O comportamento geométrico das soluções dos desdobramentos das formas normais obtidas é descrito pelos diagramas de bifurcação e estudamos a estabilidade assintótica desses ramos. / In this work we classify the Z2-equivariant corank 2 bifurcation problems up to codimension 3 via Singularity Theory techniques. The approach to classify such problems is based on the Birkhoff normal form to study Hopf-Steady- State mode interaction. The geometrical behavior of the solutions of the unfolding of the normal forms is described by the bifurcation diagrams and we study the asymptotic stability of such branches.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:28:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-12-18Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:34:56Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 queiroz_jl_me_bauru.pdf: 1056571 bytes, checksum: 740ab85f7a95dbf39493eb3d2218a8b5 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O objetivo desta pesquisa foi determinar os níveis de atenuação de Dispositivos de Proteção Auditivos (DPAs), usando um teste chamado Resposta Auditiva de Estado Estável (RAEE). O teste RAEE é um exame eletrofisiológico que usa elétrodos para captar a atividade elétrica do tronco encefálico, sem depender da resposta do indivíduo, eliminando a subjetividade, assim como aspectos ligados à atenção, tempo de resposta, níveis de audição, etc. Neste método foram avaliados dez indivíduos, por meio da RAEE, estimulando-se o sistema de audição, primeiro sem protetor e, subsequentemente, com dois tipos de protetores auditivos, a saber um de inserção intra-auricular outro circunauricular de uso comum no mercado. Os resultados evidenciaram valores inferiores àqueles expressos no Certificado de Aprovação: para o plug, uma diferença de 10,3 dB, e para a concha, 4,3 dB. Na repetição dos testes, encontrou-se uma boa repetitividade, com diferença entre zero e 5 dB para 75% das frequências testadas. / The purpose of this research was to determine the levels of attenuation of Hearing Protection Devices (HPDs) using a test called Auditory Steady-State Response (ASSR). The ASSR test is an electrophysiological examination that uses electrodes to capture the electrical activity of the auditory nerve and the brainstem without depending on the individual's response, thus eliminating the subjectivity of personal factors such as attention, response time, hearing ability, etc. This paper presents the results of a ten test which evaluated the hearing threshold of individuals, by first stimulating the hearing system without a protector and subsequently with a hearing protector. The results of this study were lower than those expressed in the Certificate of Approval: to plug a gap of 10.3 dB and dB the ear mufflers. The repetition of tests found a good repeatability with a difference between zero and 5 dB for 75% of the frequencies tested.

Magister Scientiae - MSc / The main objective of this work was to develop simple and sensitive electrochemical sensors for the detection of bisphenol A. To investigate the electrochemical behavior of BPA on a bare glassy carbon electrode. To apply the developed biosensor for the determination BPA by differential pulse voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectrometry, square wave voltammetry and steady-state amperometry. To characterize the synthesized PDMA-PSS by cyclic voltammetry (CV), UV-Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM). / South Africa

Submitted by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio (fiscina@bahia.fiocruz.br) on 2013-11-07T17:19:42Z No. of bitstreams: 1 JoaoHenrique Oliveira Reis Avaliação de Biomarcadores de risco em pacientes con anemia falciforme....pdf: 1377034 bytes, checksum: 7f73cec9e7b7d96382bf9705d9a5ad51 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-11-07T17:19:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JoaoHenrique Oliveira Reis Avaliação de Biomarcadores de risco em pacientes con anemia falciforme....pdf: 1377034 bytes, checksum: 7f73cec9e7b7d96382bf9705d9a5ad51 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Universidade Federal da Bahia. Faculdade de Medicina da Bahia. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, Brasil. / Os indivíduos com anemia falciforme (HbSS) possuem quadro clínico heterogêneo, com alterações múltiplas em órgãos ou tecidos, que são secundárias a hemólise contínua e aos fenômenos de vaso-oclusão, sendo estes últimos decorrentes da falcização dos eritrócitos e da ativação de moléculas na superfície de leucócitos, plaquetas e células endoteliais, além do aumento de proteínas plasmáticas inflamatórias. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar biomarcadores relacionados ao prognóstico em pacientes HbSS hospitalizados em crise e no estado estável, de maneira a identificar marcadores de risco para cada uma dessas fases da doença. A casuística foi composta por 31 pacientes HbSS em crise e 45 em estado estável provenientes do hospital pediátrico das Obras Sociais irmã Dulce (HPOSID) e da Fundação de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do estado da Bahia (HEMOBA), respectivamente. O estudo foi aprovado pelo CEP do CPqGM da FIOCRUZ e os dados clínicos foram obtidos a partir da consulta aos prontuários médicos. A dosagem sorológica de citocinas, quimiocinas e moléculas de adesão (ICAM-1s e VCAM-1s) solúveis foram realizadas pela reação de ELISA. A análise de moléculas na superfície dos leucócitos foi investigada por citometria de fluxo. A citocina IL-1β teve correlação negativa significativa com a fração de LDL-c (r=0,450, p=0,011) nos pacientes HbSS em crise. Correlações positivas significativas foram observadas para a análise entre VCAM-1s e ácido úrico (r=0,547, p=0,002), triglicérides e IL6 (r=0,547, p=0,00). Em relação ao parâmetro HDL-c foi verificado que os pacientes que apresentaram níveis menores do que a média (percentil <50) tiveram risco de 11,6 vezes maior de desenvolver vaso-oclusão. Os pacientes HbSS que apresentaram níveis ≥ a média (percentil ≥50) das citocinas IL-12 e IL-8 tiveram risco maior para o desenvolvimento de crise álgica. Os pacientes HbSS em crise apresentaram níveis mais elevados para a AST e LDH quando comparados aos pacientes HbSS no estado estável; e os níveis de colesterol total, HDL-c e LDL-c foram menores nos pacientes HbSS em crise que nos pacientes no estado estável. Os níveis da citocina TNF-α estiveram associados aos níveis elevados de VCAM-1s, IL-1 e IL-10 nos pacientes em crise, quando comparados aos pacientes no estado estável. Com base nos resultados, pode-se concluir que a citocina TNF-α está associada a elevação sérica de VCAM-1s nos pacientes HbSS em crise; o nível de triglicerídeos foi considerado fator protetor para o desenvolvimento de infecção nos pacientes HbSS em crise. Os pacientes que apresentaram níveis menores do que a média de HDL-c tiveram risco maior para o desenvolvimento de vaso-oclusão. Os pacientes HbSS que apresentaram níveis superiores a média de VCAM-1s apresentaram risco elevado para vaso-oclusão, tanto no estado estável quanto em crise. Verificou-se que existe correlação positiva significativa entre ácido úrico e VCAM-1s. Em conjunto, os nossos resultados indicam que moléculas distintas estão associadas ao período estável e de crise nas duas fases da HbSS investigadas, de forma a constituirem elementos importantes para estratégias voltadas ao desenho de fármacos e ao monitoramento clínico destes pacientes / Sickle cell anemia (HbSS) individuals have heterogeneous clinical picture, with multiple changes in organs or tissues, which are secondary to ongoing hemolysis and vaso-occlusive phenomena, the latter are due to sickling of erythrocytes and molecules activation on the leukocytes, platelets and endothelial cells surface, as well as an increase of inflammatory plasma proteins. The aim of this study was evaluate biomarkers related to prognosis in HbSS patients hospitalized in crisis and in steady-state in order to identify markers of risk for each of these disease stages. A total of 31 HbSS patients in crisis and 45 in steady-state from the pediatric hospital of Obras Sociais irmã Dulce (HPOSID) and the Fundação de Hematologia e Hemoterapia Bahia state (HEMOBA) were studied respectively. The study was approved by the Research Board of CPqGM/FIOCRUZ and clinical data were obtained from medical records. Serum levels of cytokines, chemokines and solubles adhesion molecules (ICAM-1s and VCAM-1s) were investigated by ELISA. The analysis of leukocyte surface molecules was investigated by flow cytometry. The cytokine IL-1β had a significant negative correlation with the fraction of LDL-C (r = 0.450, p = 0.011) in HbSS patients in crisis-state. Significant positive correlations were observed for the analysis of VCAM-1s and uric acid (r = 0.547, p = 0.002), triglycerides and IL6 (r = 0.547, p = 0.00). Regarding the parameter HDL-C was found that patients who had lower than average (percentile <50) had 11.6 fold greater risk of developing vascular occlusion. HbSS patients who had levels ≥ average (percentile ≥ 50) cytokine IL8 and IL12 had a greater risk for the development of painful crises. Patients HbSS in crisis-state had higher levels for AST and LDH compared to HbSS steady-state patients and the levels of total cholesterol, HDL-c and LDL-c were lower in HbSS patients in crisis-state than in patients in steady-state. Levels of the cytokine TNF-α were associated with elevated levels of VCAM-1s, IL-1  and IL-10 in patients in crisis-state when compared with patients in steady-state. Based on the results, we can conclude that the cytokine TNF-α is associated with an increase of serum VCAM-1s in HbSS patients in crisis-state, the triglyceride level was considered a protective factor against the development of infection in patients in crisis-state. HbSS patients with HDL-C levels lower than average had an increased risk for the vaso-occlusion development. HbSS patients who had higher than average levels of VCAM-1s showed elevated risk for vaso-occlusion in both steady-state and in crisis-state. It has been found that there is positive correlation between uric acid and VCAM-1s. Based on the results, it is concluded that different molecules are associated with the steady and crisis-state, the two stages studied in HbSS, which can constitute an important element in the design of drugs strategies of and clinical monitoring of these patients

Submitted by Johnny Rodrigues (johnnyrodrigues@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-07-26T14:11:07Z No. of bitstreams: 1 BRUNO FONTES DE SOUSA - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGMAT 2011..pdf: 535617 bytes, checksum: 46dc8ee9ec90b36db973cafcc1d3a33e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-26T14:11:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 BRUNO FONTES DE SOUSA - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGMAT 2011..pdf: 535617 bytes, checksum: 46dc8ee9ec90b36db973cafcc1d3a33e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-07-21 / Capes / Neste trabalho estudamos hipersuperfícies tipo-espaço completas com curvatura média constante em uma região aberta do espaço de Sitter, chamada Steady State Space. Primeiro estabelecemos fórmulas adequadas para o Laplaciano de uma função altura e de uma função suporte naturalmente relacionadas com estas hipersuperfícies. Em seguida, considerando hipóteses apropriadas sobre a curvatura média e o crescimento da função altura, obtemos condições necessárias para a existência de tais hipersuperfícies. No caso bidimensional, estabelecemos e mostramos resultados tipoBernstein. Além disso, mostramos que se a hipersuperfície está entre dois slices então a sua curvatura média é igual a um. Obtemos também outras consequências para hipersuperfícies que estão abaixo de um slice. Por fim, estendemos um de nossos resultados para um certo espaço Robertson-Walker generalizado. / In this work we study complete space-like hypersurfaces with constant mean curvature in the open region of de Sitter space, called the Steady State Space. First established suitable formulas for the Laplacian of a height function and of a suport function related to these hypersurfaces. Then, considering hypotheses appropriate on the mean curvature and growth of height functions we obtain necessary conditions for the existence of such hypersurfaces. In two-dimensional case, we set and show results-Bernstein type. Furthermore, we show that if the hypersurface is between two slices then its mean curvature is equal to one. We also obtain other consequences for hypersurfaces are below a slice. Finally, we extend one of our results to a certain space generalized Robertson-Walker.

La région de l'Hindu-Kush Karakoram Himalaya (HKH) est la plus grande région englacée de la planète, hormis les calottes polaires. Dans cette région, les mesures météorologiques et de bilans de masse sont sporadiques et les observations glaciologiques concernent essentiellement les mesures de fluctuations des fronts des glaciers. Ainsi, la réponse de ces glaciers aux changements climatiques est très mal connue. Le but de ce travail de thèse est d'améliorer la connaissance des relations entre les variables météorologiques et les bilans de masse glaciaires à partir de l'étude du glacier du Chhota Shigri situé dans l'Ouest de l'Himalaya. De nombreuses mesures in-situ de bilans de masse, de vitesses d'écoulement, d'épaisseurs et de météorologie ont été réalisées depuis 2002 et au cours de ce PhD. Ces observations permettent d'analyser le comportement du glacier au regard des fluctuations climatiques. Entre 2002 et 2013, nos observations indiquent une perte de masse cumulée équivalente à une lame d'eau de -6.45 m. Par ailleurs, l'analyse des observations des flux de glace suggèrent que le glacier a connu un état proche d'un état d'équilibre avec des bilans nuls ou légèrement positifs au cours des années 1990. Nous avons dans un premier temps reconstitué les bilans de masse annuels et saisonniers depuis 1969 en utilisant un modèle degré-jour et des variables météorologiques simples, précipitations et températures. Depuis 1969, les bilans de masse sont faiblement négatifs, équivalents à -0.30 m d'eau par an. Cette reconstitution montre que le glacier était proche de l'état d'équilibre entre 1986 et 2000, ce qui confirme les résultats obtenus à partir de l'analyse des flux de glace et des mesures géodésiques. Cette étude montre également que la perte de masse glaciaire est récente et révèle des fluctuations de bilans de masse avant l'année 2000 très différentes de ce que l'on trouve dans la littérature. L'analyse des bilans de masse à l'échelle décennale révèle que les précipitations hivernales et les températures estivales jouent un rôle sensiblement équivalent. Afin de comprendre plus en détail les variables climatiques qui contrôlent le bilan de masse, nous avons, dans un second temps, analysé les flux d'énergie en surface à l'aide de stations météorologiques situées sur le glacier et à proximité du glacier. Le rayonnement de courtes longueurs d'onde contrôlent 80 % des flux d'énergie entrant en surface alors que les flux de chaleur latente, sensible et de conduction contribuent pour 13, 5 et 2 % respectivement du flux entrant total. Par ailleurs, notre étude montre que les événements de fortes précipitations au cours de la période de mousson jouent un rôle essentiel sur l'évolution des bilans de masse. Néanmoins, à cause du manque de données de précipitation dans cette région et le fort gradient régional, la distribution des précipitations sur le glacier reste mal connue. / The Hindu-Kush Karakoram Himalayan (HKH) region is the largest snow and ice reservoir on the planet outside the Polar Regions. In the HKH region the mass balance and meteorological observations are sparse and the historical knowledge is mainly concentrated on snout fluctuation records. Hitherto, the understanding of glacier-climate relationship is poor in the HKH region. Therefore, the goal of the present work is to improve the understanding of glacier-climate relationship on a representative glacier ‘Chhota Shigri' in the western Himalaya. A number of in-situ measurements concerning mass balances, surface velocity, ice thickness and meteorology have been collected during and before the present PhD work since 2002. These data sets were first analyzed to understand the glacier behaviour and then used in the models to understand the glacier relationship with climatic variables. Between 2002 and 2013, glacier showed a mass wastage/unsteady-state conditions with a cumulative mass loss of –6.45 m w.e. Further, the ice flux analysis over 2002-2010 suggested that the glacier has experienced a period of steady-state or slightly positive mass balance during the 1990s. We first reconstructed the annual and seasonal mass balances using a degree day model from simple meteorological variables, precipitation and temperature. This reconstruction allowed us to examine the mass balances between 1969 and 2012. Since 1969, Chhota Shigri showed a moderate mean mass wastage at a rate of −0.30 m w.e. a-1. A period of steady-state between 1986 and 2000, already suggested by ice flux analysis and geodetic measurements, was confirmed. The mass balance evolution of this glacier revealed that the mass wastage is recent and provide a very different pattern than that of usually found in the literature on western Himalayan glaciers. The analysis of decadal time scale mass balances with meteorological variables suggested that winter precipitation and summer temperature are almost equally important drivers controlling the mass balance pattern of this glacier. Second, in order to understand the detailed physical basis of climatic drivers, a surface energy balance study was also performed using the in-situ meteorological data from the ablation area of Chhota Shigri Glacier. Net all-wave radiation was the main heat flux towards surface with 80% contribution while sensible, latent heat and conductive heat fluxes shared 13%, 5% and 2% of total heat flux, respectively. Our study showed that the intensity of snowfall events during the summer-monsoon is among the most important drivers responsible for glacier-wide mass balance evolution of Chhota Shigri Glacier. However, due to the lack of precipitation measurements and the strong precipitation gradient in this region, the distribution of precipitation on the glacier remains unknown and needs further detailed investigations.