Design of the circularly polarized ceramic antenna, suitable for GPS system, on an asymmetric ground plane is presented in this thesis. Firstly, to obtain two isolated ground planes, we insert an L slit on an asymmetric ground plane, making the antenna with a symmetric ground plane. Then, we isolate the excited surface current between the two ground planes by using a quarter-wavelength mini-coaxial cable. The surface current can distribute uniformly on the ground plane when the proposed antenna is in operation, which makes possible a good circularly polarized radiation pattern in the operation band.

Many studies in animals and humans have demonstrated that exposure topolychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can interfere with the normal function of the thyroid system. In this study, Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) were exposed to a PCB mixture (Aroclor 1254) or one of three individual congeners (ortho-PCB 153, ortho-PCB 47 or planar PCB 77) in the diet for 30 days to investigate the effects of PCBs on thyroidal status. Thyroid hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) were extracted from plasma samples and measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Both male and female croaker exposed to the PCB mixture Aroclor 1254 (0.2 and 1.0 mg/kg body wt/day) had decreased plasma levels of total T3 when compared to the parallel control groups, but the effects on total T4 levels were inconsistent. Exposure to PCB 153 (0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg body wt /day) significantly lowered both T4 and T3, while PCB 47 at the same doses had no effect on thyroid hormone levels. Fish exposed to PCB 77 had no effect on T4 or T3 levels except an increase in T4 levels at the highest dose employed (0.1 mg/kg body weight/day). However, this dose of PCB 77 caused partial loss of appetite and may be too high to be relevant for the effects observed after exposure to Aroclor 1254 considering the fact that it constitutes only 0.31% of the PCB mixture. The results of the present study demonstrate that exposure to synthetic endocrine disrupting chemicals, such as PCBs at the higher end of environmentally realistic concentrations can have profound effects on the thyroidal status of Atlantic croaker. The ability of Aroclor 1254, as well as ortho-PCB 153, to consistently disrupt the natural homeostasis of the thyroid system in croaker is an important finding that contributes to a better understanding of PCB endocrine toxicity in teleosts.

Dissolving multicomponent NAPL as a source of contamination in subsurface water is considered. In particular, two processes are analyzed with regard to how they alter inter-species concentration ratios at remote monitoring locations relative to inter-species molar ratios in the NAPL: nonlinear dissolution governed by Raoult’s Law and differential sorption during subsurface transport. An analytic solution for Raoult’s Law-governed dissolution is presented. Separately, it is shown how a variety of 1D analytic transport models for simple boundary conditions may be adapted to use arbitrary time-varying concentrations by use of some properties of Laguerre series. This is combined with the analytic solution so that Raoult’s Law-governed multicomponent NAPL dissolution may be employed as the boundary condition for analytic transport models. A new computer model implementing this technique in an environment of discrete, parallel fractures is presented, and its accuracy verified for specific conditions against an existing code. The new code is applied to a parametric study on the plume separation of PAH and phenolic compounds from the dissolution of creosote. Narrow fracture spacing as well as significant values of matrix organic carbon are seen as particularly conducive to separation of these types of plumes, which in some circumstances may be entirely disjoint. Concentration ratios downgradient are shown largely unrelated to concentration ratios at the source. Finally, a study of PCB speciation is undertaken in fractured rock with known parameters, for which a rigorous, least squares speciation approach is developed. Even at distances of 5 m from the source, given perfect information about the subsurface, it is found not possible to chemically fingerprint a source PCB mixture from a list of three absent a model of the weathering of the NAPL. Both the PCB and creosote studies demonstrate that forensic inference of source compositions from field data is unreliable and the need for coupled dissolution and transport models like the one developed here. / Thesis (Ph.D, Civil Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2012-09-25 21:43:29.04

Tübingen, Univ., Diss., 2006.

Submitted by Cristiane de Melo Shirayama (cristiane.shirayama@unifesp.br) on 2018-05-08T23:03:42Z No. of bitstreams: 3 Mihele_Dissert___CAPAS_Versão Final.pdf: 168148 bytes, checksum: ef7ccdc7a8fa63abab3348f4d63ff2bc (MD5) Michele_Dissert__ROMANOS_______P.Iniciais.pdf: 499848 bytes, checksum: 4793ace4bb89c2bcc84e9c76bab9a1c7 (MD5) Michele_Dissert__TEXTO ÍNTEGRA_Versão Final 2.pdf: 1362746 bytes, checksum: c48cb82f7486b45c17e74a71319b540e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Diogo Misoguti (diogo.misoguti@gmail.com) on 2018-05-14T14:10:16Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 3 Mihele_Dissert___CAPAS_Versão Final.pdf: 168148 bytes, checksum: ef7ccdc7a8fa63abab3348f4d63ff2bc (MD5) Michele_Dissert__ROMANOS_______P.Iniciais.pdf: 499848 bytes, checksum: 4793ace4bb89c2bcc84e9c76bab9a1c7 (MD5) Michele_Dissert__TEXTO ÍNTEGRA_Versão Final 2.pdf: 1362746 bytes, checksum: c48cb82f7486b45c17e74a71319b540e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-05-14T14:10:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 3 Mihele_Dissert___CAPAS_Versão Final.pdf: 168148 bytes, checksum: ef7ccdc7a8fa63abab3348f4d63ff2bc (MD5) Michele_Dissert__ROMANOS_______P.Iniciais.pdf: 499848 bytes, checksum: 4793ace4bb89c2bcc84e9c76bab9a1c7 (MD5) Michele_Dissert__TEXTO ÍNTEGRA_Versão Final 2.pdf: 1362746 bytes, checksum: c48cb82f7486b45c17e74a71319b540e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-28 / A incorporação de Gramsci no Brasil compreendeu três períodos. Primeiro, um período dos anos 1920 a meados dos anos 1960 (SECCO, 2002), o segundo aborda timidamente e com muitos obstáculos à esquerda do Partido Comunista Brasileiro (PCB), a tradução feita pelo grupo capitaneado por Carlos Nelson Coutinho dos Cadernos do Cárcere, organizados por Togliatti (SIMIONATTO, 2004), sobretudo nos anos 1960, e, por fim, um terceiro momento em meados dos anos 1970, no contexto de abertura política e de maior efervescência acadêmica, quando Gramsci passa a ser referência em diversas áreas do conhecimento. Priorizamos, em certa medida, o terceiro período como recorte temporal, não nos detendo na recepção, mas nos usos e no diálogo de três autores brasileiros com o marxista sardo, na batalha das ideias no interior do partido e na formação da revista Presença. Os autores analisados se aglutinaram na chamada corrente renovadora democrática do PCB, na vertente que caracterizamos como renovadores “gramscianos” Carlos Nelson Coutinho, Luiz Werneck Vianna e Marco Aurélio Nogueira, também classificados como eurocomunistas. Assim, priorizamos as aproximações desses autores, quanto à análise da realidade brasileira, principalmente, a partir dos anos 1970, durante o chamado processo de transição democrática, em suas principais obras, nas produções no interior do jornal Voz da Unidade e em seus escritos na revista Presença (1983-1992). / The incorporation of Gramsci in Brazil comprised three periods. First, a period from the 1920s to the mid 1960s (SECCO, 2002), the second deals with many obstacles and sheepishly left the Brazilian Communist Party (PCB), a translation by the group headed by Carlos Nelson Coutinho from the Cadernos do Cárcere organized by Togliatti (SIMIONATTO, 2004), especially in the 1960s, and finally a third time in the mid-1970s, in the context of political opening and greater academic effervescence when Gramsci becomes a reference in several areas of knowledge. Prioritize, to some extent, the third period as time frame, not stopping us at the reception, but the uses and dialogue three Brazilian authors with Sardinian Marxist, in the battle of ideas within the party and in the formation of the journal Presence. The authors analyzed the current call coalesced democratic renewal of the PCB in shed characterize as renovators "Gramscian" Carlos Nelson Coutinho, Luiz Werneck Vianna and Marco Aurélio Nogueira, also classified as eurocommunists. Thus, we prioritize the approaches of these authors, as analysis of the Brazilian reality, mainly from the 1970s, during the so-called democratic transition in his major works, the productions within the newspaper Voz da Unidade and in his writings on Presença magazine (1983-1992).

Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-01T23:44:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 tese_7892_Dissertação - Leonardo Baptista - 10-06.pdf: 2000928 bytes, checksum: e2e12cf35cbc33e898f14c9b69805359 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-07-13 / A pesquisa analisa a atuação do Partido Comunista Brasileiro (PCB) no Espírito Santo no contexto da chamada abertura política da ditadura militar, especificamente entre os anos de 1978 e 1985. Nesse período, verificou-se a manutenção de um processo de liberalização controlada do regime. Apesar das alterações jurídico-legais que sinalizavam à redemocratização do país, o arcabouço político-institucional ainda era dotado de restrições e coerções autoritárias que garantiam o controle do processo político por um Executivo Federal tutelado pelas Forças Militares, e impunham limites à atuação dos setores oposicionistas. Ao mesmo tempo, mantinham-se espaços de atividade político-partidária pelos quais diversos atores e organizações desenvolveram carreiras políticas. E o PCB seguiu por esse caminho. Apesar de mantida a sua condição ilegal pelo Estado autoritário, o partido defendia os princípios e as táticas de uma luta democrática, assumindo uma postura de oposição pacífica, moderada, legal e institucional. Assim, concentrou-se na formação de uma ampla frente democrática para derrubar o regime ditatorial, prioritariamente, pela via eleitoral. Observando essa posição, o estudo pressupõe que essa organização mantinha traços de uma linha política que norteou suas ações, principalmente a partir dos anos 1940 e 1950. Partindo desses pressupostos e considerando os aspectos da realidade política capixaba, o trabalho buscou apresentar de que maneira o PCB, na experiência da ilegalidade, utilizou os espaços institucionais e, portanto, formais, para alcançar seus objetivos no E.S. Mais precisamente, almejou-se identificar os fatores que possibilitaram seus militantes se inserirem nas disputas políticas regionais a partir da aproximação do partido com alguns movimentos sociais e suas entidades específicas, e principalmente, em sua relação com o Movimento Democrático Brasileiro (MDB) e com o Partido do Movimento Democrático Brasileiro (PMDB). Para tanto, foram analisados os documentos oficiais partidários da época e procedimentos metodológicos da História Oral, por meio de entrevistas, explorando-se a memória de ex-militantes do PCB. Assim, verificou-se a influência de múltiplos vetores oriundos da relação que o partido estabeleceu com a própria institucionalidade e com outros agentes políticos os quais permitiram, a partir de 1978, seus membros se aproximarem dos espaços de poder da vida política espiritossantense.

This thesis deal with the audio preamplifier with input selector. It describes all designed parts of this device. It selects and describes all suitable components. Describes the whole process of electronics design in this device. Then describes the design, manufacture, assembling and testing of the PCB. In conclusion it shows the achieved results and electrical parameters of the device.

Remediation of weathered petroleum hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), dioxins, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) through monitored natural attenuation, in-situ biostimulation, and/or bioaugmentation was assessed using laboratory-scale microcosms. These contaminants of interest (COIs) have persisted in Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) soils for over 40 years in some cases. The objective of this United States Department of Energy (DOE)-funded study was to determine the potential of the aforementioned remediation methods to reduce COI concentrations in soil and estimate potential biodegradation rates of COIs in SSFL soils. Several types of soil microcosms were established: one set of microcosms was run without amendments to estimate natural attenuation rates at the site; biostimulation was tested by addition of nitrogen and phosphorus, rice hulls, and biosurfactant (soya lecithin), another set was augmented with the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium, and gamma-irradiated microcosms served as sterilized controls. Soil samples were collected and analyzed for dioxins, PCBs, PAHs, and extractable fuel hydrocarbons (EFH) after 0, 4, and 8 months of incubation. Soil contamination in the microcosms initially consisted of primarily heavily chlorinated dioxins and PCBs, longer petroleum hydrocarbons (21-40 equivalent carbon chain length), and PAHs with 4-6 aromatic rings. Small decreases in PAH, PCB, and dioxin soil concentrations were observed, but these decreases were not statistically significant. EFH concentrations were inflated at the final sampling event, but they appeared to reduce for two of three soils (Soils A and C) tested at the second sampling event. No COI concentration reductions were statistically significantly during 8 months of incubation. Because petroleum hydrocarbons were primarily longer-chain hydrocarbons in the C21 to C40 EFH range, it is likely that lighter hydrocarbons had been preferentially degraded, leaving the more recalcitrant longer-chain hydrocarbons in the soil. Dioxin concentrations appeared to decrease in some cases, but these reductions were not statistically significant at the 95% confidence level. Larger PAHs (4-6 rings) comprise the majority of residual PAH soil contamination. Given that concentrations of these PAHs have not decreased significantly during this 8-month long study, it is likely that these larger PAH contaminants are somewhat recalcitrant and will take a long time to biodegrade. Similarly, little or no PCB biodegradation was observed which is not surprising because the PCBs are heavily chlorinated, and bacterial biodegradation of these highly chlorinated compounds is reported to occur only under anaerobic conditions. The primary dioxin congener present in soils was octachlorodibenzodioxin (OCDD), which is the heaviest-chlorinated dioxin congener. Like PCBs, this compound requires anaerobic conditions for reductive dechlorination, and these are not present at the site. Total dioxin concentrations decreased in the microcosms amended with Phanerochaete chrysosporium, although this decrease was not statistically significant due to variability of dioxin concentrations measured in the soil. No decrease in tetrachlorodibenzodioxin toxicity equivalence was observed with P. chrysosporium bioaugmentation, and this parameter is important in terms of dioxin toxicity. Soil vapor analyses performed at the site indicate highly aerobic soil conditions. To mimic site conditions as closely as possible, experimental microcosms were maintained incubated in aerobic conditions. Although fungi have been reported to degrade PCBs and dioxins under aerobic conditions, the microcosms augmented with Phanerochaete chrysosporium did not show statistically significant biodegradation of PCBs. Contaminant sequestration in the soil may also have contributed to the lack of observed biodegradation because the COIs at this site are highly weathered. However, even microcosms augmented with a surfactant (soya lecithin), which would be expected to solubilize sequestered COIs, did not show significant biodegradation.

No description available.

A discrete, compact, low-power sensor readout circuit that can simultaneously handle two current measurements, and one voltage measurement. This work provides a compact, low-power sensor architecture, with the intent for the serial readout to be replaced with a low-power radio frequency transmitter for continuous monitoring. The proposed circuit is highly precise with an average current draw of 21 micro amps for a sampling frequency of once per minute. The target application is livestock health monitoring, which would be done by placing the sensor and circuit inside of a cow's rumen to monitor changes in pH, lactate, and VFA levels to catch metabolic disease early. / Master of Science / A circuit for reading a sensor with a long battery life. It is small so that it can fit in a cow's stomach to determine if it has a disease in its stomach. This diagnosis can be used to adjust its diet.