The increasing shift towards more electric or all electric aircraft urgently necessitates dc/ac converter systems with high power density. Silicon Carbide (SiC) devices, known for their superior performance over traditional silicon-based devices, facilitate this increase in power density. Nonetheless, achieving optimal power density faces challenges due to the unique requirements and conditions of aircraft applications. A primary obstacle is optimizing the topology and parameters of the dc/ac converter system to achieve high power density while adhering to the stringent aerospace EMI standard DO-160 and bearing current limitations. Electric aircraft demand unmatched reliability, necessitating strict control over EMI noise and bearing currents. These considerations significantly impact the selection of topology and parameters to maximize power density. This dissertation assesses how dc voltage, topology, and switching frequency affect component weight, seeking an optimal mix to enhance power density. The methodology and conclusions are validated through a 200-kW motor drive system designed for electric aircraft. Moreover, traditional dc/ac systems are burdened by the weight and space occupied by separate current sensors and short-circuit protection circuits. This work introduces two innovative current sensors that integrate device current sampling with the functionality of traditional shunt resistors, AC hall sensors, and short-circuit protection circuits, thus improving system density and bandwidth. The first sensor, a PCB-based Rogowski coil, integrates with the gate driver and commutation loops, enhancing power density despite challenges in managing CM noise. The second sensor utilizes parasitic inductance in the power loop, with an integrator circuit and an adaptive compensation algorithm correcting errors from parasitic resistance, ensuring high bandwidth accuracy without needing parasitic resistance information. Variable operation conditions from motors pose another challenge, potentially leading to oversized inverters due to uneven loss distribution among switching devices, exacerbated at extreme operating points like motor start-up. This dissertation investigates the loss distribution in multi-level T-Type neutral point clamped (NPC) topology and proposes a novel loss-balance modulation scheme. This scheme ensures even loss distribution across switches, independent of power factor and modulation index, and is applicable to T-type inverters of any level count. Finally, thermal management and insulation at high altitudes present significant challenges. While power devices may be cooled using conventional liquid cooling solutions, components like AC and EMI filters struggle with complex geometries that can create hot spots or high E-field points, complicating filter design for high current applications. A comprehensive design and optimization methodology based on planar heavy-copper PCB design is proposed. By utilizing flexible 2D or 3D E-field shaping and maximizing thermal transfer from copper to ambient, this methodology significantly improves power density and ensures effective heat dissipation and insulation at altitudes up to 50,000 feet. / Doctor of Philosophy / The increasing shift towards more electric or all electric aircraft urgently necessitates dc/ac converter systems with high power density. Silicon Carbide (SiC) devices, known for their superior performance over traditional silicon-based devices, facilitate this increase in power density. Nonetheless, achieving optimal power density faces challenges due to the unique requirements and conditions of aircraft applications. A primary obstacle is optimizing the topology and parameters of the dc/ac converter system to achieve high power density while adhering to the stringent aerospace EMI standard DO-160 and bearing current limitations. Electric aircraft demand unmatched reliability, necessitating strict control over EMI noise and bearing currents. These considerations significantly impact the selection of topology and parameters to maximize power density. This dissertation assesses how dc voltage, topology, and switching frequency affect component weight, seeking an optimal mix to enhance power density. The methodology and conclusions are validated through a 200-kW motor drive system designed for electric aircraft. Moreover, traditional dc/ac systems are burdened by the weight and space occupied by separate current sensors and short-circuit protection circuits. This work introduces two innovative current sensors that integrate device current sampling with the functionality of traditional shunt resistors, AC hall sensors, and short-circuit protection circuits, thus improving system density and bandwidth. The first sensor, a PCB-based Rogowski coil, integrates with the gate driver and commutation loops, enhancing power density despite challenges in managing CM noise. The second sensor utilizes parasitic inductance in the power loop, with an integrator circuit and an adaptive compensation algorithm correcting errors from parasitic resistance, ensuring high bandwidth accuracy without needing parasitic resistance information. Variable operation conditions from motors pose another challenge, potentially leading to oversized inverters due to uneven loss distribution among switching devices, exacerbated at extreme operating points like motor start-up. This dissertation investigates the loss distribution in multi-level T-Type neutral point clamped (NPC) topology and proposes a novel loss-balance modulation scheme. This scheme ensures even loss distribution across switches, independent of power factor and modulation index, and is applicable to T-type inverters of any level count. Finally, thermal management and insulation at high altitudes present significant challenges. While power devices may be cooled using conventional liquid cooling solutions, components like AC and EMI filters struggle with complex geometries that can create hot spots or high E-field points, complicating filter design for high current applications. A comprehensive design and optimization methodology based on planar heavy-copper PCB design is proposed. By utilizing flexible 2D or 3D E-field shaping and maximizing thermal transfer from copper to ambient, this methodology significantly improves power density and ensures effective heat dissipation and insulation at altitudes up to 50,000 feet.

During the last three decades, the hub height of wind turbines has increased from 24 to 162 meters and with an increasing demand for break-through innovations in green energy production it seems likely that this trend will continue. The meteorological preconditions for extreme-scale wind turbines are investigated for Scandinavia using 33 years of reanalysis data from MERRA (Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications). Second degree polynomials are fitted to the wind and temperature profiles and evaluated at 100, 200 and 300 m above ground level (AGL). The spatial and temporal variation of average wind speed and median wind power density is studied. Simple metrics such as the wind shear and risk of icing, measured as occasions with temperature below freezing, are used to give an idea of the loads on the wind turbines. Winter is the windiest season, and generally the wind speed is highest over sea and in the Scandinavian mountain range. Going from 100 to 300 m AGL the average wind speed increases with 1 m/s over sea and 2 m/s over land. During night the wind speed increases over land but decreases over sea compared to daytime values. On average the wind shear is about 3.6 times larger in the 50-100 m layer than in the 100-300 m layer. The calculated wind field at 100 m AGL has been compared with results from the MIUU-model, developed at the Department of Meteorology, Uppsala University. The general features are captured but there are important discrepancies between the coast and the mountains in the northern part of Sweden. MERRA data has been validated in different ways, for example by comparing with measured wind speed and temperature profiles. The temperature profiles are in good agreement while the wind profiles differ significantly. It is also shown that MERRA data is not internally consistent in the mountain range, causing a large uncertainty. In future studies, the risk of icing could be explored further. Also, the distribution of sound from extreme-scale wind turbines could be investigated. / Under de senaste tre decennierna har navhöjden för vindkraftverk ökat från 24 till 162 meter och med en ökande efterfrågan på banbrytande innovationer inom produktion av grön energi är det troligt att denna trend kommer att fortsätta. De meteorologiska förutsättningarna för extremskaliga vindkraftverk i Skandinavien undersöks baserat på 33 års återanalysdata från MERRA (Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications). Andragradspolynom anpassas till vind- och temperaturprofilerna och evalueras på höjderna 100, 200 och 300 meter över markytan. Variationen i rummet och med tiden av medelvindhastigheten och medianen av vindenergiintensiteten studeras. Enkla mått som vindskjuvningen och risken för nedisning, mätt som antalet tillfällen då temperaturen understiger fryspunkten, används för att ge en uppfattning om risken för belastningarna på vindkraftverken. Vintern är den årstid då det blåser mest och i allmänhet är vindstyrkan högst över hav och i fjälltrakterna. Förflyttar man sig från 100 till 300 m över markytan ökar medelvindhastigheten med 1 m/s över hav och med 2 m/s över land. Under natten ökar vinden över land men minskar över hav i jämförelse med värdena under dagen. I medeltal är vindskjuvningen 3.6 gånger större i 50-100 m skiktet jämfört med 100-300 m skiktet. Det beräknade vindfältet på 100 m över markytan har jämförts med resultat från MIUU-modellen, utvecklad vid institutionen för meteorologi, Uppsala universitet. De allmänna dragen är samma men det finns viktiga avvikelser mellan kusten och fjälltrakterna i norra Sverige. MERRA-data har validerats på olika sätt, till exempel genom att jämföra med uppmätta vind- och temperaturprofiler. Temperaturprofilerna visar god överensstämmelse men det är signifikanta skillnader mellan vindprofilerna. Det visas också att MERRA-data inte är konsistent i fjälltrakten, vilket medför en stor osäkerhet. I framtida studier kan risken för nedisning studeras utförligare liksom ljudutbredningen från extremskaliga vindkraftverk.

A Post-Occupancy Energy Analysis of the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center conducted with the view of recommending optimizations that result in energy savings.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Throughout the twentieth century, the supply of electricity, mainly obtained from fossil fuels like oil and coal, it has supported the growth and transformation of the world economy. In the early years of this century, the scenario has changed to a new reality, the need for sustainable development. In other words, the challenge is to gradually replace the traditional sources of electricity from renewable energy sources, in which the solar photovoltaic energy has highlighted. Photovoltaic inverters may be constituted in different ways, presenting in recent decades a high research progress. The main study efforts focus on getting high efficiency, high power density and high reliability, to increase the overall performance of the photovoltaic installation. In this direction, this Master Thesis aims to propose, analyze, design and implement a single-phase grid-tied photovoltaic inverter, which provides high efficiency and high power density. This circuit is called Transformerless Photovoltaic Interleaved Multilevel NPC Inverter , that use uncoupled inductors, Gallium Nitride power transistors and employs interleaving strategy beside the LCL filter, synthesizing 9 levels. Are introduced studies on the operation, modulation and design methodology of power stages, considering the static performance. Results are presented for the 1 kW, in order to support the validity of the proposed topology in conjunction with the standard aspects, especially in relation to THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) of grid current, leakage current, efficiency and power density. / Durante todo o século XX, a oferta de energia elétrica, obtida principalmente a partir dos combustíveis fósseis como petróleo e o carvão mineral, deu suporte ao crescimento e as transformações da economia mundial. Já nos primeiros anos do século atual, o cenário mudou para uma nova realidade, a necessidade do desenvolvimento sustentável. Em outras palavras, o desafio é substituir gradativamente as fontes tradicionais de energia elétrica por fontes de energia renovável, onde a energia solar fotovoltaica tem destaque. Os conversores eletrônicos para sistemas fotovoltaicos, também chamados de inversores, podem ser constituídos de diversas maneiras, apresentando nas últimas décadas um acentuado progresso de pesquisa. Os principais esforços de estudo tem se concentrado em obter alto rendimento, alta densidade de potência e alta confiabilidade, de modo a aumentar o desempenho global da instalação fotovoltaica. Neste horizonte, esta dissertação tem por objetivo propor, analisar, projetar e implementar um inversor fotovoltaico monofásico, para aplicação conectada à rede, de alto rendimento e alta densidade de potência. Esta estrutura é denominada de Inversor Fotovoltaico NPC Multinível Intercalado sem Transformador , que utiliza indutores não acoplados, interruptores de Nitreto de Gálio e emprega a técnica interleaving junto ao filtro LCL, sintetizando 9 níveis. No decorrer do trabalho são introduzidos estudos relativos à operação, modulação, metodologia de projeto e estágios de potência, estabelecendo critérios, enquanto considera a performance estática. São apresentados resultados, observando a potência de 1 kW, com a finalidade de corroborar a validade da topologia proposta juntamente as normativas e aspectos que norteiam a aplicação, especialmente com respeito à THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) da corrente da rede, corrente de fuga, rendimento e densidade de potência.

[pt] Com a implantação e disseminação de novos sistemas celulares,principalmente a partir dos anos 80, novas tecnologias foram desenvolvidas, o número de celulares cresceu de forma surpreendente, como conseqüência, o aumento de Estações Radio Base. É fato, também, que as pessoas, de modo geral, estão expostas às radiações emitidas pelas ERBs através de suas antenas. Como a população, a mais interessada na busca de respostas adequadas e convincentes, não tem qualquer controle sobre tais níveis, cabe as autoridades a preocupação maior em garantir que os níveis de exposição não sejam excedidos. A partir deste quadro preocupante a OMS estabeleceu em 1996 o International EMF Project para avaliar as evidências cientificas existentes sobre possíveis efeitos de campos eletromagnéticos à saúde,incluindo nestes os efeitos emitidos pelos próprios aparelhos celulares e por suas estações rádio-base. Este trabalho pretende contribuir no equacionamento desta questão, tão polemica e controversa. Iniciando com a evolução do número de celulares no Brasil, mostrando as funções básicas dos componentes de uma estrutura celular. No momento seguinte são mostrados alguns efeitos biológicos relacionados à radiação não-ionizante pesquisados na literatura. Tais efeitos, polêmicos e controversos, são amplamente discutidos por especialistas de diferentes linhas de pesquisa. O trabalho mostra, também, os resultados de uma campanha de medidas com as densidades de potência obtidas através de duas metodologias. Inclui, também, conceitos e características de percepção de risco e alguns resultados da pesquisa qualitativa de campo. Ao final são apresentadas as conclusões e sugestões para trabalhos futuros relacionados ao tema. / [en] With the implantation and spread of new cellular systems, mainly starting from the eighties, new technologies were developed, the number of cellular grew in a surprising way, as consequence, the Base Stations increased, too. The people, in general, are exposed to the radiations emitted by ERBs antennae. As the population doesn't have any control on such levels, people are always looking for appropriate and convincing answers. So, the authorities are concerned in guaranteeing that the exposition levels are not exceeded. Based on preoccupying issue, the World Health Organization (WHO) established in 1996 International EMF Project to verify the scientific evidence of possible health effects of Electromagnetic Field. This work intends to contribute in the set out of this controversial subject. At first, the cellular number evolution in Brazil is presented. In addition, the basic cellular structure components functions are described. The following topic presents some biological effects related to the non-ionizing radiation are presented according to the literature. Such controversial effects are discussed thoroughly by specialists of different research lines. This work also shows the power densities results obtained through two methodologies. Afterwards, concepts, risk perception characteristics and some results from a qualitative research are presented. At the end, the conclusions and suggestions for future works related to the same theme are shown.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:42:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:02:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Tese (Doutorado em Tecnologia Nuclear) / IPEN/T / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP / FAPESP:09/54838-0

Cette étude porte sur l'amélioration de la qualité de la tomate séchée par microondes assistés par air chaud (MOAC). Le principal but recherché est la préservation de la qualité de la tomate séchée en évitant notamment l'apparition de tâches noires qui souvent surviennent lors d'un chauffage microondes suite à une surchauffe locale du produit quand il devient sec. Pour ce faire, un système de séchage microondes assistés par air chaud avec la capacité de contrôler automatiquement la puissance spécifique a été développé sous labView®. Après une première étude où la puissance microondes appliquée est maintenue constante, une seconde stratégie de séchage MOAC, avec deux modes différents de régulation de la puissance spécifique, a été mise en oeuvre. Ces modes consistent à ajuster la puissance microondes appliquée à la masse du produit, représentative de la quantité d'eau restante. Dans le premier mode, l'adaptation est faite toutes les secondes (ajustement "continu") alors que dans le second mode, la puissance a été ajustée seulement chaque cinq minute (ajustement intermittent). L'ajustement permet de travailler avec un rapport puissance appliquée sur masse résiduelle du produit (puissance spécifique) constant. Tous les paramètres du procédé incluant la puissance appliquée on été enregistrés chaque seconde. De même, la température et la masse du produit sont mesurées chaque seconde. Le produit final a été caractérisé en réalisant des mesures de couleur, de texture, de structure ainsi que de taux résiduel de lycopène. La première étude sur le séchage MOAC réalisée à puissance constante (puissance spécifique variable), a produit des tomates avec des points chauds par endroit et plus de la moitié de la teneur en lycopène de la tomate est dégradée. En revanche, les tomates séchées par MOAC utilisant les deux modes de régulation du séchage, présentent une meilleure qualité en termes de couleur et de structures comparées à deux tomates séchées commerciales de référence (d'origine italienne et ivoirienne). Par ailleurs, l'observation de la structure des tomates par Microscopie Electronique à Balayage (MEB), a permis d'expliquer les changements observés au niveau de la texture de la tomate séchée. D'un point de vue chimique, le taux résiduel de lycopène de la tomate séchée par les modes de régulation (1 et 2) est situé respectivement entre 64,78 et 55,63% pour les puissances et températures d'air basses (3W/g-30°C) et entre 30,91 et 28,75% pour les puissances et températures d'air élevées (7W/g-50°C), contre 30,56 et 22,30% pour les tomates commerciales d'origine italienne et ivoirienne. / The aim of this study was to improve the quality of dried tomato by the use of microwaves combined to hot air (MOAC). The main point was to preserve the quality of dried tomato avoiding the appearance of black spots which often occur during microwaves heating which result from local overheating of the product when it becomes dry. Therefore, an MOAC drying system with ability of automatic control of the power density was developed under LabView®. After an initial study where the applied microwave power remained constant during the drying, a second MOAC drying strategy, with two different control modes, was implemented. This modes consisted to adjust the microwave power density to the remaining amount of water (actually the weight of the product). In the fist one, it is adjusted every second, while in the second, the power was adjusted only every 5 min. Therefore the ratio between the power applied and the weight of the product (i.e. the specific power) remained constant. All the process parameters, including the power applied and the product temperature and weight were recorded every second. The final product was characterized by performing measurements on color, texture, structure and residual lycopene content. In our initial study on MOAC drying performed at constant power (i.e. variable specific power), we have obtained dried tomatoes with hot spots and with a residual lycopene content lower than 50%. The tomatoes dried at constant specific power showed a better physical aspect and a higher nutritional quality, even compared to two commercial products from Italy and Ivory Coast. In addition, the structure of dried tomatoes observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) allowed to explain changes in dried tomatoes texture. Chemically, the residual rate of lycopene in tomatoes dried at constant specific power ranged respectively between 64.78 and 55.63% for low power and air temperatures (3W/g-30 °C) and between 31.91 and 28.75% for high power and air temperatures (7W/g-50° C), while only 30.56 and 22.30% for commercial tomatoes from Italy and Ivory Coast.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:42:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:02:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Este trabalho apresenta uma nova abordagem experimental para determinar a reatividade de sistemas subcríticos. O método a ser apresentado utiliza o modelo da cinética subcrítica desenvolvido por Gandini e Salvatores e baseia-se apenas em grandezas medidas, tais como a taxa de contagem no detector, e nos parâmetros que surgem do ajuste dos mínimos quadrados APSD (Auto Power Spectral Density) e CPSD (Cross Power Spectral Density), não sendo necessário lidar com as quantidades de maior complexidade como a eficiência de detector. A única hipótese feita neste método foi que a fração efetiva de nêutrons atrasados e o tempo de geração de nêutrons prontos fossem independentes do nível de subcriticalidade do sistema. O método proposto foi aplicado nas medidas de reatividade de várias configurações subcríticas do reator IPEN/MB-01. Foram realizadas medidas da APSD e CPSD em diversos graus de subcriticalidade (até em torno de -7000 pcm). Nos dados das densidades espectrais foram feitos ajustes por meio do método de mínimos quadrados para obter a constante de decaimento pronto (α) e outras grandezas. Com a finalide de melhorar as estatísticas de contagem de nêutrons, fonte externa de nêutrons de Am-Be foi instalada próximo ao núcleo, além da fonte de partida. O método experimental proposto mostra claramente que, a teoria da cinética pontual clássica não descreve a reatividade medida. Em vez disso, a reatividade inferida a partir do modelo da cinética pontual clássica é próxima, em seus valores absolutos, ao índice de subcriticalidade (ζ) para um determinado arranjo das fontes do experimeno. A concordância dos resultados obtidos por MCNP5 e GPT-TORT, ambos utilizando os dados nucleares da biblioteca ENDF/B-VII.0, com os resultados experimentais correspondentes são de boa qualidade. / Tese (Doutorado em Tecnologia Nuclear) / IPEN/T / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP / FAPESP:09/54838-0

In the thesis, the user body effect on antennas in a mobile terminal is discussed. In order to overcome the degradation of Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) performance due to the user body effect, a quad-elements MIMO antenna array which can mitigate the body effect through an adaptive antenna switching method is introduced for 4G mobile terminals. In addition, various bezel MIMO antennas that are robust to the impedance mismatching caused by the user effect have also been presented. The study of user body effect is later extended to frequency bands at 15 GHz and 28 GHz for future 5G communication systems. The results reveal that a human body will cause a significant shadowing loss, which will be a critical loss in 5G cellular networks. The electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure of a mobile terminal is also studied in this thesis. Below 6 GHz, the simultaneous transmission specific absorption rate (SAR) for MIMO antennas is the primary concern due to its complicated assessment procedures. Above 6 GHz, the free space power density is adopted as the basic parameter of exposure limits globally, and preliminary studies have been presented to address major challenges in EMF exposure assessment for 5G mobile terminals. / <p>QC 20171005</p>

The trend of electrification in transportation applications has led to the fast development of high-power-density power electronics converters. High-switching-frequency and high-temperature operations are the two key factors towards this target. Both requirements, however, are challenging the fundamental limit of silicon (Si) based devices. The emerging wide-bandgap, silicon carbide (SiC) power devices have become the promising solution to meet these requirements. With these advanced devices, the technology barrier has now moved to the compatible integration technology that can make the best of device capabilities in high-power-density converters. Many challenges are present, and some of the most important issues are explored in this dissertation. First of all, the high-temperature performances of the commercial SiC MOSFET are evaluated extensively up to 200 degree C. The static and switching characterizations show that the device has superior electrical performances under elevated temperatures. Meanwhile, the gate oxide stability of the device - a known issue to SiC MOSFETs in general - is also evaluated through both high-temperature gate biasing and gate switching tests. Device degradations are observed from these tests, and a design trade-off between the performance and reliability of the SiC MOSFET is concluded. To understand the interactions between devices and circuit parasitics, an experimental parametric study is performed to investigate the influences of stray inductances on the MOSFETs switching waveforms. A small-signal model is then developed to explain the parasitic ringing in the frequency domain. From this angle, the ringing mechanism can be understood more easily and deeply. With the use of this model, the effects of DC decoupling capacitors in suppressing the ringing can be further explained in a more straightforward way than the traditional time-domain analysis. A rule of thumb regarding the capacitance selection is also derived. A Power Electronics Building Block (PEBB) module is then developed with discrete SiC MOSFETs. Integrating the power stage together with the peripheral functions such as gate drive and protection, the PEBB concept allows the converter to be built quickly and reliably by simply connecting several PEBB modules. The high-speed gate drive and power stage layout designs are presented to enable fast and safe switching of the SiC MOSFET. Based on the PEBB platform, the state-of-the-art Si and SiC power MOSFETs are also compared in the device characteristics, temperature influences, and loss distributions in a high-frequency converter, so that special design considerations can be concluded for the SiC MOSFET. Towards high-temperature, high-frequency and high-power operations, integrated wire-bond phase-leg modules are also developed with SiC MOSFET bare dice. High-temperature packaging materials are carefully selected based on an extensive literature survey. The design considerations of improved substrate layout, laminated bus bars, and embedded decoupling capacitors are all discussed in detail, and are verified through a modeling and simulation approach in the design stage. The 200 degree C, 100 kHz continuous operation is demonstrated on the fabricated module. Through the comparison with a commercial SiC phase-leg module designed in the traditional way, it is also shown that the design considerations proposed in this work allow the SiC devices in the wire-bond structure to be switched twice as fast with only one-third of the parasitic ringing. To further push the performance of SiC power modules, a novel hybrid packaging technology is developed which combines the small parasitics and footprint of a planar module with the easy fabrication of a wire-bond module. The original concept is demonstrated on a high-temperature rectifier module with SiC JFET. A modified structure is then proposed to further improve design flexibility and simplify module fabrication. The SiC MOSFET phase-leg module built in this structure successfully reaches the switching speed limit of the device almost without any parasitic ringing. Finally, a new switching loop snubber circuit is proposed to damp the parasitic ringing through magnetic coupling without affecting either conduction or switching losses of the device. The concept is analyzed theoretically and verified experimentally. The initial integration of such a circuit into the power module is presented, and possible improvements are proposed. / Ph. D.