Thesis (M.S.)--Naval Postgraduate School, 2002. / Thesis advisor(s): Isaac I. Kaminer, Oleg A. Yakimenko. Includes bibliographical references (p. 103). Also available online.

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 235-236).

With its burgeoning energy consumption and emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs), China is central to addressing the problem of climate change. As the world leader in GHG emissions for years, China is under tremendous international pressure in the fight against climate change. Focusing on China's coal-to-chemicals industriesa major user of coal and significant contributor to GHG and other emissions in Chinathis thesis seeks to explain how national policies have affected the deployment of coal gasification in China. The data and information for this thesis were mainly collected from interviews with experts from Chinese and U.S. companies, relevant government reports, and other Internet sources. First, I present the current state of energy consumption and the development status of related industries that are applying gasification technologies in China. I then present related policies and pilot projects for the development of gasification technology and analyze how these affect the Chinese gasification market. I analyze factors that have promoted a change in the mode of partnership between foreign firms and Chinese firms (from licensing contracts to joint ventures), and how joint ventures are enabling gasification technology transfer currently. Finally, I argue how the underlying conditions create drivers that promote gasification technology transfer despite China’s weak IP regime. / text

No description available.

This study was a pilot investigation of the initial validity of a newly developed behaviour-screening instrument for early intervention service providers. Group Special Education, Early Intervention (GSE/EI) (2005) adapted the Canterbury Behaviour Screening Protocol (CBSP) from a widely used behaviour-screening instrument the Early Screening Project. The CBSP consisted of 49 items in 2 checklists. GSE/EI identified 10 early childhood centres with a total roll of 712 to participate in the study. Staff were asked to categorise children's problem behaviours as either withdrawn/isolated or aggressive/oppositional, using profiles provided. Next, they were asked to nominate 2 children in each category, and an additional 2 children in either category, and to rank them from most concerning to least concerning. Centres identified 25 children in the withdrawn/isolated category, and 28 children in the aggressive/oppositional category. Staff completed checklists for children with parent/carer consent, which were scored according to preset protocols. Scores on the CBSP were assigned risk values ranging from "extreme" to "no risk". The estimated prevalence of "high" to "extreme" behaviour problems was 7.2% based on CBSP protocols and teacher nominations. The level of agreement between teacher rank and CBSP score was 79%, and this determined the initial specificity. Next, independent observations of the behaviour of the nominated children were conducted during free play periods at the centres by an observer blind to the children's nominated category, teacher ranking or checklist score. Risk levels were assigned based on the observation scores, using a cut-off value of 37% time spent in problem behaviour for girls and 40% for boys. There was agreement in terms of teacher rank and observation scores, (categorised into either "no risk" and "at/high/extreme risk) for 65% for children in the withdrawn/isolated category, and 75% for children in the aggressive/oppositional category. The level of agreement between the CBSP score and the observations (categorised into either "no risk" or "at/high/extreme" risk) was 40% for children in the withdrawn/isolated category, and 46% for children in the aggressive/oppositional category. Using the cut-off values, a prevalence estimate for high risk or extreme risk for behaviour disorders, based on independent observation of children, was 3.2%. Centre staff completing a feedback form determined the social validity of the CBSP. Although responses were generally favourable, a number of suggestions were also made to improve the procedure. Despite limitations in the design of the draft, the CBSP shows promise for a first step in a screening procedure designed to screen New Zealand early childhood centres for children who may be at risk for developing behaviour and/or social emotional problems. The independent observation may also be useful as a second step, prior to extensive eligibility assessment. A number of suggestions were made for future drafts such as addressing the limitations specified, conducting the CBSP with a greater number of children, and determining the concurrent validity, and test-retest reliability.

Project report (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1990. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaf 59). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1994. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 60-61). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (MScIng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

Made available in DSpace on 2012-05-07T14:40:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) 000009.pdf: 10930205 bytes, checksum: 4adfda0171bec85ac94d9251a429a8eb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / A exacerbação da atividade pestosa no início dos anos 1960 e o desconhecimento de aspectos da epidemiologia levaram o Governo Brasileiro, através do Departamento Nacional de Endemias Rurais (DNERu), a convidar Marcel Baltazard, do Instituto Pasteur de Paris, para elaborar um projeto de pesquisa visando a elucidação da conservação, focalização, epizootização e epidemização da peste no Brasil, com vistas à implementação de atividades eficazes de controle. O projeto, denominado Plano Piloto de Peste em Exu, foi executado na Chapada do Araripe-PE de 1966 a 1974. Apesar de toda a sorte de óbices, dificultando o desempenho da equipe, composta basicamente por dois técnicos brasileiros, auxiliares semi-analfabetos e consultores dos Institutos Pasteur de Teerã e de Paris, foi desenvolvido um amplo programa de pesquisas elucidando a maioria das questões propostas. A compilação das atividades jamais foi publicada, mas registros isolados permitem listar os principais resultados obtidos: a) a comprovação da infecção natural de roedores silvestres e de outros pequenos mamíferos e suas pulgas; b) o papel do Bolomys lasiurus (Zygodontomys lasiurus pixuna) na epizootização; c) a capacidade vetora da Polygenis bolhsi jordani e o seu papel na transmissão da infecção ao homem, com um desempenho superior aos de Xenopsylla cheopis e Pulex irritans; d) a participação da P. irritans na epidemização; e) a sensibilidade dos sigmodontinos e equimídeos e a relativa resistência do Ratus rattus; f) a resistência dos cavídeos, decorrente da sua asparaginasemia; g) a resistência da X. cheopis e P. irritans aos inseticidas organoclorados; h) o descarte das pestes endógena e crônica como mecanismos responsáveis pela conservação; i) a redução dos prazos para confirmação diagnóstica; j) o isolamento de 719 cepas, que deram origem à maior coleção brasileira de culturas de Yersinia pestis; k) a definição de um programa de controle baseado na vigilância contínua e sistemática, privilegiando a participação comunitária e contemplando a pesquisa da Y. pestis nos roedores e suas pulgas e pesquisa de anticorpos contra o antígeno F1 em animais-sentinela, o que ensejou a estruturação de uma rede nacional de laboratórios, bem como a intervenção imediata nas ocorrências, com diagnóstico precoce, pronto tratamento, quimioprofilaxia e despulização

<p> This study is concerned with the multivariable stochastic regulatory control of a pilot plant fixed bed reactor which is interfaced to a minicomputer. The reactor is non-adiabatic with a highly exothermic, gaseous catalytic reaction, involving several independent species. A low order state space model for the reactor is developed starting from the partial differential equations describing the system. A parameter estimation method is developed to fit the model to experimental data. Noise disturbances present in the system are identified using two methods, and two alternative dynamic-stochastic state space models are obtained. Multivariable stochastic feedback control algorithms are derived from these models and are implemented on the reactor in a series of DDC control studies. The control algorithms are compared with each other and with a single loop controller. The best of the multivariable control algorithms is used to regulate the exit concentrations of the various species from the reactor and the results are compared to data.</p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)