A novel process for the fabrication of Long Range Surface Plasmon Polariton (LRSPP) waveguide based biosensors is presented herein. The structure of the biosensor is comprised of Au stripe waveguide devices embedded in thick CYTOP claddings with a SiO2 solvent diffusion barrier and etch-stop layer. The SiO2 layer is introduced to improve the end quality of Au waveguide structures, which previously deformed during the deposit of the upper cladding process and to limit the over-etching of CYTOP to create micro-fluidic channels. The E-beam evaporation method is adapted to deposit a thin SiO2 on the bottom cladding of CYTOP. A new micro-fluidic design pattern is introduced. Micro-fluidic channels were created on selective Au waveguides through O2 plasma etching. The presented data and figures are refractive index measurements of different materials, thickness measurements, microscope images, and AFM images. Optical power cutback measurements were performed on fully CYTOP-cladded symmetric LRSPP waveguides. The end-fire coupling method was used to excite LRSPP modes with cleaved polarization maintaining (PM) fibre. The measured mode power attenuation (MPA) was 6.7 dB/mm after using index-matched liquid at input and output fibre-waveguide interfaces. The results were compared with the theoretical calculations and simulations. Poor coupling efficiency and scattering due to the SiO2 are suspected for off-target measurements.

Three series of studies were conducted to quantify the effectiveness of dietary incorporation of b-1,3-glucan (BG) from Schizophyllum commune in enhancing the immunity and resistance of grass prawn Penaeus monodon to vibriosis and white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infections. In the first series of studies, three experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of dietary b-1,3-glucan on shrimp growth and resistance to vibriosis. Weight gain, survival and feed efficiency of juvenile shrimp (0.5 ¡Ó 0.1 g) were not significantly different (P>0.05) after being fed the diets containing BG 0, 0.2, 2, 10 g/kg diet for 18 weeks. Subadult shrimp (20.4 ¡Ó 2.1 g) fed the diet containing of BG 2 g/kg diet for 10 days showed a significantly (P<0.001) enhanced resistance against vibriosis. Postlarvae fed with the BG diet (2 g/kg diet) were more resistant (P<0.001) against starvation and V. harveyi challenges than the postlarvae fed non-BG diet. Additive disease resistance was observed when polyphosphorylated L-ascorbic acid (PAA) was used together with BG. In challenge tests with V. damsela, shrimp fed with PAA (0.2 g/kg diet) + BG (2 g/kg diet) diet for 20 days had a survival rate up to 60%. In the second series of studies, two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of dietary b-1,3-glucan on wound healing and immunity in spawners. Dietary supplement of BG reduced the chance of infections, but did not help wound healing as did the supplement of PAA. And regardless of indoor or outdoor rearing, the survival rate of brooder (135 ¡Ó 25 g) fed the BG (2 g/kg diet) diet was higher (P<0.001) than that of the non-BG group. Fed the BG brooders showed enhanced haemocyte phagocytic activity, cell adhesion and superoxide anion production then the control group. Third series of studies evaluated the effectiveness against white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). Six days after being challenged with WSSV, 12.2 % of the BG-treated (2 g/kg diet for 15 days) postlarvae (PL15) and 20 % BG-treated (2 g/kg diet for 20 days) juveniles (5.5 ¡Ó 0.5 g) were still alive; while all non-BG-treated shrimp died. In order to quantify the effectiveness of BG to WSSV, juveniles (6.5 ¡Ó 0.4 g) were fed diets containing graded levels of BG. The results showed that shrimp fed the diet containing BG 10 g/kg for 20 days had the highest (P<0.001) survival rate (42 %) among all groups. Shrimp that received diets supplemented with BG at a dosage >2 g/kg recuperated 9 ~ 12 days after WSSV challenge; while the group fed diets with no or 1 g/kg BG suffered from rapid decrease in total haemocyte count, phagocytic activity, phenoloxidase, O2-, superoxide dismutase (SOD) production and subsequent high mortality. The results in this study showed that b-1,3-glucan is effective in enhancing the phagocytic activity, phenoloxidase, O2- and SOD productions and consequently the resistance of postlarval, juvenile, subadult and brooder P. monodon against vibriosis and viral infections. Since prolonged use of BG, even at optimal dietary levels, decreased the immunity of the shrimp, care therefore must be taken to maximize its effectiveness. A cycle of dietary BG supplement of 2 ~ 10 g/kg diet for 20 days with an intermission of 10 days may serve the purposes.

A novel process for the fabrication of Long Range Surface Plasmon Polariton (LRSPP) waveguide based biosensors is presented herein. The structure of the biosensor is comprised of Au stripe waveguide devices embedded in thick CYTOP claddings with a SiO2 solvent diffusion barrier and etch-stop layer. The SiO2 layer is introduced to improve the end quality of Au waveguide structures, which previously deformed during the deposit of the upper cladding process and to limit the over-etching of CYTOP to create micro-fluidic channels. The E-beam evaporation method is adapted to deposit a thin SiO2 on the bottom cladding of CYTOP. A new micro-fluidic design pattern is introduced. Micro-fluidic channels were created on selective Au waveguides through O2 plasma etching. The presented data and figures are refractive index measurements of different materials, thickness measurements, microscope images, and AFM images. Optical power cutback measurements were performed on fully CYTOP-cladded symmetric LRSPP waveguides. The end-fire coupling method was used to excite LRSPP modes with cleaved polarization maintaining (PM) fibre. The measured mode power attenuation (MPA) was 6.7 dB/mm after using index-matched liquid at input and output fibre-waveguide interfaces. The results were compared with the theoretical calculations and simulations. Poor coupling efficiency and scattering due to the SiO2 are suspected for off-target measurements.

L’objectif de cette thèse est d’étudier l’initiation directe et la propagation d’une détonation dans un milieu cryogénique diphasique GH2-LOx dans le cadre général des moteurs à onde de détonation pour la propulsion spatiale. Un rappel des bases théoriques sur les processus d’atomisation d’un jet liquide, puis sur la détonation en phase gazeuse, et enfin sur la détonation dans un mélange diphasique, constituent le premier chapitre de la thèse. Le deuxième chapitre présente les dispositifs expérimentaux et les techniques utilisés pour mener à bien les expériences de caractérisation du jet diphasique et d’étude de la détonation. Le troisième chapitre est consacré à l’étude dans un tube en quartz de la granulométrie d’un jet diphasique GHe-LOx non réactif. Une cartographie est ainsi réalisée sur l’ensemble du tube, pour différents débits d’injection. Ces résultats sont corroborés par une étude théorique sur une goutte isolée et par une étude numérique sur le comportement du jet en champ proche de l’injecteur. Le quatrième chapitre présente les résultats de l’étude de la détonation dans un tube en acier d’un mélange réactif GH2-LOx. La détonation est étudiée en fonction de divers paramètres : énergie d’initiation stockée, emplacement du dispositif d’initiation par étincelle, richesse globale du mélange. La célérité et la pression de détonation, ainsi que la structure tridimensionnelle de la détonation, sont les principales informations recueillies pour l’étude du phénomène de détonation en mélange diphasique. Une étude théorique des caractéristiques de la détonation apporte des éclairages supplémentaires sur la détonation à très basse température (100 K). / Within the general framework of detonation engines for space propulsion purpose, this work aims to study direct initiation and propagation of detonation in a cryogenic twophase GH2-LO2 mixture. First chapter is constituted by theoretical basis and state of art on atomization processes in liquid jets, then on gas-phase detonation, and finally on two-phase detonation. Second chapter describes experimental set-up and associate techniques in order to carry out two-phase jet characterization and detonation study. Third chapter is dedicated to the study of droplet size distribution of non reactive two-phase GHe-LO2 jet in a quartz tube. Thus, a droplet size map is constituted through the whole tube, for different helium injection speeds. These results are compared with theoretical study dealing with vaporization and movement of a droplet and with numerical simulations on jet behavior close to the injector. Fourth chapter presents results of a detonation study of a reactive GH2-LO2 two-phase mixture in a semi-open tube. Detonation is studied as a function of following parameters: initiation energy, spark initiation device location along the tube, global equivalence ratio. Velocity, peak pressure and three-dimension structure detonation are the main data collected to study two-phase detonation phenomena. A theoretical study of detonation characteristics brings additional information on detonation at low temperature (100 K).

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:22:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 6335.pdf: 3771187 bytes, checksum: 3b53ad55024114e65e566f79ed09086b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-06-30 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / The African sharptooth catfish Clarias gariepinus is a facultative air-breather with the ABO present in the 2nd and 3rd gill arches. Like other bimodal respirators, the African catfish presents cardiorespiratory adjustments to survive low PwO2. These regulations are modulated by gill O2 chemoreceptors monitoring the PwO2 and/or the PaO2. The present study analyzed the distribution, location and orientation of the branchial O2 chemoreceptors of C. gariepinus, and the role of these receptors on the cardiorespiratory function and the modulation of the heart autonomic control. C. gariepinus were divided into two experimental groups (Control GC, intact fish, and Experimental GD, with the 1st gill arches excised) and their cardiorespiratory variables were analyzed during graded hypoxia with and without access to the atmospheric air, internal and external NaCN injections and autonomic nervous system antagonists. During hypoxia without access to air, both GC and GD showed increases in the respiratory variables (fR, VT and &#119881; &#119866; ). However, the GD displayed higher values, since normóxia until severe hypoxia, to compensate the decrease in the EO2 resulting from the ablation of the 1st gill arches. Furthermore, the decrease in EO2 was responsible for the decrease in &#119881; O2 and, consequently, for the increase of the PcO2 from 61 mmHg (GC) to 79 mmHg (GD). The GD featured bradycardia similar to GC, however, their values were higher in all PwO2. In hypoxia with access to air, both groups showed decrease in the fR and VAMP in the mores hypoxic tensions. This was attributed to the increases in the fRA in GC which compensate the O2 uptake. However, the GC increases in fRA were attenuated by the excision of the 1st gill arches. Moreover, both groups developed bradycardia pre-RA (typical of aquatic respirator) and tachycardia post-RA (typical of aerial respirator). Internal and external NaCN injections caused bradycardia in both groups, while the internal injections increased the ventilator variables only in GC. Thus, it is concluded that C. gariepinus possess branchial O2 chemoreceptors modulating the fH distributed by all gill arches, monitoring both PwO2 and PaO2. Conversely, fR and VAMP are modulated by receptors located in the 1st gill arches monitoring exclusively the PaO2. Furthermore, NaCN internal injections elevated more the fRA in GC than the external ones, but with low effect on the fRA of GD. Thus, the fRA is primarily modulated by O2 chemoreceptors located in the 1st gill arches monitoring, predominantly, the PaO2. Injections blocking the autonomic system to the heart showed that the modulation of pre-AR bradycardia and post-AR tachycardia occurs due to variations in the vagal cholinergic tonus, which is elevated during bradycardia and reduced during tachycardia. The adrenergic tonus, in spite of the decrease in the post-AR, is lower than the cholinergic, suggests a "reflex adrenergic" arising from the peripheral vasoconstriction, important to optimize the perfusion of the ABOs. / O bagre-africano é um teleósteo de respiração bimodal com ABOs presentes nos 2os e 4os arcos branquiais. Como outros respiradores bimodais, o bagre-africano realiza ajustes cardiorrespiratórios para sobreviver em baixas PwO2. Estes são modulados por quimiorreceptores de O2 branquiais que monitoram a PwO2 e/ou PaO2. O presente estudo analisou a distribuição, localização e orientação dos quimiorreceptores de O2 branquiais de Clarias gariepinus, seu controle sobre a função cardiorrespiratória e a modulação do controle autonômico do coração. Para isto, C. gariepinus foi dividido em dois grupos (controle GC; experimental GD, com ablação do 1o par de arcos branquiais) e seus parâmetros cardiorrespiratórios foram analisados durante hipóxia sem e com acesso ao ar atmosférico, injeções internas e externas de NaCN e injeções antagonistas do sistema autonômico. Durante hipóxia sem acesso ao ar os GC e GD elevaram os parâmetros respiratórios (fR, VT e &#119881; &#119866; ). Porém, o GD apresentou-os superestimados desde normóxia, a fim de compensar a queda na extração de O2 (EO2) resultante da ablação dos 1os arcos branquiais. Além disso, o decréscimo da EO2 foi responsável pela diminuição da &#119881; O2 , e, consequentemente, pelo aumento da PcO2 de 61 mmHg para 79 mmHg, nos GC e GD, respectivamente. Ainda, o GD apresentou bradicardia semelhante ao GC, porém seus valores foram superestimados em todas as PwO2. Em hipóxia com acesso ao ar ambos os grupos demonstraram diminuição da fR e da VAMP nas últimas PO2 devido principalmente a aumentos da fRA no GC que compensaram a absorção de O2. Todavia, no GD o aumento da fRA foi atenuado pela ablação dos 1os arcos branquiais. Além disso, ambos os grupos apresentaram bradicardia pré-RA (típica de respirador aquático) e taquicardia pós-RA (típica de respirador aéreo). Injeções externas e internas de NaCN causaram bradicardia nos GC e GD, enquanto as injeções internas aumentaram os parâmetros ventilatórios apenas no GC. Desta forma, conclui-se que C. gariepinus apresenta quimiorreceptores de O2 branquiais, que modulam a fH, distribuídos por todos arcos branquiais e que monitoram tanto a PwO2 quanto a PaO2. Ao contrário, a modulação da fR e VAMP ocorre apenas por quimiorreceptores de O2 do 1o par de arcos branquiais e que monitoram apenas a PaO2. Ainda, injeções internas de NaCN elevaram mais a fRA no GC que as externas, porém tiveram pouco efeito sobre a fRA do GD. Assim, a fRA é modulada principalmente por quimiorreceptores de O2 dos 1os arcos branquiais que, predominantemente, monitoram a PaO2. Injeções bloqueadoras do sistema autonômico do coração de C. gariepinus demonstraram que a modulação tanto da bradicardia pré-RA quanto da taquicardia pós-RA ocorre pela variação do tônus vagal colinérgico, sendo este tônus elevado na bradicardia, porém reduzido na taquicardia. O tônus adrenérgico, apesar de diminuir pós-RA, esta queda é menor que a do tônus colinérgico, o que sugere um reflexo adrenérgico advindo da vasoconstrição periférica importante para os respiradores bimodais perfundirem melhor seus ABOs.

Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal Fluminense, Instituto de Arte e Comunicação Social, Rio de Janeiro, 2007. / Inclui referências bibliográficas / Os principais organismos componentes do Programa Antártico Brasileiro (PROANTAR) em sua relação com o sistema internacional do Tratado da Antártica, visando destacar aspectos de gestão e representação da informação no contexto da sua produção científica. Estuda a influência das questões intrínsecas à condução do PROANTAR nos segmentos ensino e pesquisa, traçando um panorama das teses de Doutorado, das dissertações de Mestrado e dos Grupos de Pesquisa que atuaram e que se desenvolveram sob a égide do Programa, onde os elementos de análise selecionados foram, entre outros, as Grandes Áreas e as Áreas do Conhecimento, as Instituições de Ensino Superior e as Unidades da Federação, assim como as Linhas de Pesquisa das Teses, das Dissertações e dos Grupos de Pesquisa. Apresenta, no primeiro capítulo, uma revisão da literatura sobre o Continente Antártico, o Sistema do Tratado da Antártica e o próprio Programa Antártico Brasileiro, com o objetivo de contextualizar o ambiente de estudos. Enfoca, no segundo capítulo, o ?PROANTAR à luz da Ciência da Informação, trazendo os aportes teóricos da Ciência da Informação e de áreas afins, mais especificamente no tocante à Classificação, à Representação e à Gestão da Informação, além de abordar os aspectos de Gestão Organizacional do PROANTAR. Analisa, no terceiro capítulo, a produção científica do ROANTAR, que revela que a interdisciplinaridade da constituição deste Programa científico se expressa tanto na multiplicidade de grandes áreas do conhecimento que compõem o conjunto dos segmentos ensino e pesquisa do Programa, quanto na diversidade das suas Linhas de pesquisa. Aponta para uma possível ação a empreender em termos de futuras pesquisas, que é a constituição de um Grupo de Pesquisa interdisciplinar no escopo do PROANTAR que, seguindo as diretrizes apresentadas pelo IV Ano Polar Internacional, possa traçar um panorama global da região, estudando seu clima, fauna, flora, engendramentos geopolíticos, questões ambientais e logísticas e seus aspectos informacionais. Deixa à consideração dos Cientistas da Informação que assim o desejarem a possibilidade de estudar um local tão fascinante quanto pitoresco. Conclui que a produção científica do Programa apresenta peculiaridades advindas da sua configuração, que é uma junção de interesses de quatro segmentos distintos de atuação do Governo brasileiro.

Off-gassing of hazardous compounds is, together with self-heating and dust explosions, the main safety hazards within large-scale biomass storage and handling. Formation of CO, CO2, and VOCs with concurrent O2 depletion can occur to hazardous levels in enclosed stored forest products. Several incidents of CO poisoning and suffocation of oxygen depletion have resulted in fatalities and injuries during cargo vessel discharge of forest products and in conjunction with wood pellet storage rooms and silos. Technologies for torrefaction and steam explosion for thermal treatment of biomass are under development and approaching commercialization, but their off-gassing behavior is essentially unknown. The overall objective of this thesis was to provide answers to one main question: “What is the off-gassing behaviour of thermally treated lignocellulosic biomass during storage?”. This was achieved by experimental studies and detailed analysis of off-gassing compounds sampled under realistic conditions, with special emphasis on the VOCs. Presented results show that off-gassing behavior is influenced by numerous factors, in the following ways. CO, CO2 and CH4 off-gassing levels from torrefied and stream-exploded biomass and pellets, and accompanying O2 depletion, are comparable to or lower than corresponding from untreated biomass. The treatments also cause major compositional shifts in VOCs; emissions of terpenes and native aldehydes decline, but levels of volatile cell wall degradation products (notably furans and aromatics) increase. The severity of the thermal treatment is also important; increases in torrefaction severity increase CO off-gassing from torrefied pine to levels comparable to emissions from conventional pellets, and increase O2 depletion for both torrefied chips and pellets. Both treatment temperature and duration also influence degradation rates and VOC composition. The product cooling technique is influential too; water spraying in addition to heat exchange increased CO2 and VOCs off-gassing from torrefied pine chips, as well as O2 depletion. Moreover, the composition of emitted gases co-varied with pellets’ moisture content; pellets of more severely treated material retained less moisture, regardless of their pre-conditioning moisture content. However, no co-variance was found between off-gassing and pelletization settings, the resulting pellet quality, or storage time of torrefied chips before pelletization. Pelletization of steam-exploded bark increased subsequent VOC off-gassing, and induced compositional shifts relative to emissions from unpelletized steam-exploded material. In addition, CO, CO2 and CH4 off-gassing, and O2 depletion, were positively correlated with the storage temperature of torrefied softwood. Similarly, CO and CH4 emissions from steam-exploded softwood increased with increases in storage temperature, and VOC off-gassing from both torrefied and steam-exploded softwood was more affected by storage temperature than by treatment severity. Levels of CO, CO2 and CH4 increased, while levels of O2 and most VOCs decreased, during storage of both torrefied and steam-exploded softwood.CO, CO2 and O2 levels were more affected by storage time than by treatment severity. Levels of VOCs were not significantly decreased or altered by nitrogen purging of storage spaces of steam-exploded or torrefied softwood, or controlled headspace gas exchange (intermittent ventilation) during storage of steam-exploded bark. In conclusion, rates of off-gassing of CO and CO2 from thermally treated biomass, and associated O2 depletion, are comparable to or lower than corresponding rates for untreated biomass. Thermal treatment induces shifts in both concentrations and profiles of VOCs. It is believed that the knowledge and insights gained provide refined foundations for future research and safe implementation of thermally treated fuels as energy carriers in renewable energy process chains.

A novel process for the fabrication of Long Range Surface Plasmon Polariton (LRSPP) waveguide based biosensors is presented herein. The structure of the biosensor is comprised of Au stripe waveguide devices embedded in thick CYTOP claddings with a SiO2 solvent diffusion barrier and etch-stop layer. The SiO2 layer is introduced to improve the end quality of Au waveguide structures, which previously deformed during the deposit of the upper cladding process and to limit the over-etching of CYTOP to create micro-fluidic channels. The E-beam evaporation method is adapted to deposit a thin SiO2 on the bottom cladding of CYTOP. A new micro-fluidic design pattern is introduced. Micro-fluidic channels were created on selective Au waveguides through O2 plasma etching. The presented data and figures are refractive index measurements of different materials, thickness measurements, microscope images, and AFM images. Optical power cutback measurements were performed on fully CYTOP-cladded symmetric LRSPP waveguides. The end-fire coupling method was used to excite LRSPP modes with cleaved polarization maintaining (PM) fibre. The measured mode power attenuation (MPA) was 6.7 dB/mm after using index-matched liquid at input and output fibre-waveguide interfaces. The results were compared with the theoretical calculations and simulations. Poor coupling efficiency and scattering due to the SiO2 are suspected for off-target measurements.

Le développement de technologies de l’énergie alternatives à la combustion des ressources fossiles est un enjeu majeur pour réduire l’émission des gaz à effet de serre et développer une économie durable. Dans cette optique, les piles à combustible à membrane échangeuses de protons (PEMFC) utilisent le platine en tant que catalyseur pour transformer l’énergie chimique en énergie électrique, en réduisant l’oxygène de l’air en eau et en oxydant l’hydrogène en protons. Dans la nature, les enzymes à cuivre et les hydrogénases catalysent respectivement ces réactions. Ces dernières, ainsi que des complexes bio-inspirés de leur site actif, ont été envisagés en tant qu’alternatives au platine, métal noble et coûteux. Ainsi, un complexe mononucléaire bisdiphosphine de nickel renfermant des acides aminés arginines en troisième sphère de coordination a été immobilisé sur une matrice de nanotubes de carbone (NTCs). Cette anode a démontré d’excellentes performances pour oxyder l’hydrogène avec des densités de courant élevées et sur une large gamme de pH. Son utilisation dans une PEMFC a permis d’obtenir une densité de puissance de 15 mW.cm-2, seulement cinq fois inférieure à celle d’une pile classique à base de platine préparée dans les mêmes conditions. Concernant la catalyse de réduction de l’oxygène, des méthodes covalentes ont été développéespour réaliser la connexion électronique directe de laccase de Trametes sp C30, ainsi qu’un mutant de cetten enzymesur matrice de NTCs L’’association du catalyseur de nickel avec une cathode à base de bilirubine oxydase immobilisée sur NTCs a permis de proposer un nouveau concept de pile hybride enzymatique/bio-inspirée. Une densité de puissance de l’ordre de 1,8 mW.cm-2 et une force électromotrice proche de 1V ont ainsi été mesurées pour cette pile sans métaux nobles. Le greffage de complexes de cuivre mono- et dinucléaires, bio-inspirés du site actif d’enzymes à cuivre et actifs vis-à-vis de la réduction de l’oxygène a enfin permis d’élaborer la première pile H2/air ne renfermant que des catalyseurs moléculaires et sans métaux nobles. Cette dernière délivre une densité de puissance de 160 µW.cm-2. / New energy technologies alternative to fossil fuels utilization is a key issue to mitigate greenhouse gases emission and develop a sustainable economy. In this context, platinum-based proton exchange membrane fuel cells use oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) to convert chemical energy into electrical energy. In nature multicopper oxidases and hydrogenases catalyze these two reactions, respectively. These enzymes and corresponding bioinspired catalysts have been used as alternatives to the rare and expensive platinum metal. First, a mononuclear bis-diphosphine nickel complex surrounded by arginine residues was immobilized onto carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and demonstrated excellent performances for HOR developing high current densities over a wide range of pH. This anode was integrated in a PEMFC, which achieved high power densities (15 mW cm-2), only five times lower as compared to classical PEMFC prepared under similar conditions. Regarding ORR catalysis, we covalently grafted LLaccases from Trametes sp C30 multicopper oxidases onto NTCs electrodes and achieved direct electron transfer. Using, bilirubin oxidase deposited on CNTs at the cathode side, we proposed a new concept of hybrid enzymatic/bio-inspired H2/air fuel cell. This hydrogen fuel cell delivered 1.8 mW.cm-2 and a high open circuit voltage of 1V. Finally, various copper complexes inspired from the active sites of copper enzymes were assessed for ORR and the first H2/air fuel cell containing noble metal-free molecular catalysts at both electrodes is reported, achieving 160 µW.cm-2 power density.

The work deals with the developmental stages (Releases) of the third generation UMTS net-works. It explains a partial improvement from Release 99 to Release 5 and Release 6 to im-prove the quality parameters of a mobile data transmission. In the practical part, there are measured qualitative parameters of the third generation networks that are available in the Czech Republic: UMTS, HSDPA, CDMA 1xEV-DO Rev.0 and Rev.A and UMTS-TDD. The measurements give reasonably achievable data rates in both directions (downlink & uplunk), a response time, quality of VoIP calls, a dispersion, a data-loss and an ability to transmit video with different data flows. The other aspects especially an availability of coverage and end-user terminals have been assessed wihin the each network. The work is supplemeted with a laboratory, which is focused on a practical comparison of the basic parameters of data transmissions of 2G and 3G networks.