Understanding magnetization reversal is very important in designing high density and high data transfer rate recording media. This research has been motivated by interest in developing new nonvolatile data storage solutions as magnetic random access memories - MRAMs. This dissertation is intended to provide a theoretical analysis of static and dynamic magnetization switching of magnetic systems within the framework of critical curve (CC). Based on the time scale involved, a quasi-static or dynamic CC approach is used. The static magnetization switching can be elegantly described using the concept of critical curves. The critical curves of simple uncoupled films used in MRAM are discussed. We propose a new sensitive method for CC determination of 2D magnetic systems. This method is validated experimentally by measuring experimental critical curves of a series of Co/SiO2 multilayers systems. The dynamics switching is studied using the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert (LLG) equation of motion. The switching diagram so-called dynamic critical curve of Stonerlike particles subject to short magnetic field pulses is presented, giving useful information for optimizing field pulse parameters in order to make ultrafast and stable switching possible. For the first time, the dynamic critical curves (dCCs) for synthetic antiferromagnet (SAF) structures are introduced in this work. Comparing with CC, which are currently used for studying the switching in toggle MRAM, dCCs show the consistent switching and bring more useful information on the speed of magnetization reversal. Based on dCCs, better understanding of the switching diagram of toggle MRAM following toggle writing scheme can be achieved. The dynamic switching triggered by spin torque transfer in spin-torque MRAM cell has been also derived in this dissertation. We have studied the magnetization's dynamics properties as a function of applied current pulse amplitude, shape, and also as a function of the Gilbert damping constant. The great important result has been obtained is that, the boundary between switching/non-switching regions is not smooth but having a seashell spiral fringes. The influence of thermal fluctuation on the switching behavior is also discussed in this work.

The deterioration in power quality due to the increase in non linear loads has sparked a new interest in the filtering techniques used in transmission and distribution systems. Unlike passive filters, active filters are adaptable to rapidly changing source impedance and provide the necessary harmonic compensation for varying non-linear loads. This thesis models a Voltage Source Converter (VSC) based shunt active filter (SAF) to filter harmonics due to large non linear loads. SAF compensates the harmonics by injecting a compensating current which is equal in magnitude but opposite in phase to the disturbance in the system. The power circuit of this SAF consists of a three-phase VSC and the switching signals for this converter is generated by hysteresis based current modulation method. The controller uses the sinusoidal current control strategy of the generalized instantaneous p-q control theory to calculate the reference compensating current. Proposed SAF is simulated using EMTP-RV simulation package under steady state and dynamic conditions and its effectiveness in mitigating harmonics is tested. The stability and response of the SAF is also tested satisfactorily under transient load and severe AC / DC fault conditions. / UOIT

No description available.

No description available.

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium genome encodes 13 fimbrial operons. Most of the fimbriae encoded by these operons are not produced under laboratory conditions but are likely to be synthesized in vivo. We used an in vivo expression technology (IVET) strategy to identify four fimbrial operons, agf, saf, sti, and stc that are expressed in the spleen. When any three of these operons were deleted, the strain retained wild-type virulence. However, when all four operons were deleted, the resulting strain was completely attenuated, indicating that these four fimbriae play functionally redundant roles critical for virulence. In mice, oral doses of as low as 1 x 10(5) CFU of the strain with four fimbrial operons deleted provided 100% protection against challenge with 1 x 10(9) CFU of wild-type S. Typhimurium. We also examined the possible effect of these fimbriae on the ability of a Salmonella vaccine strain to deliver a guest antigen. We modified one of our established attenuated vaccine strains, chi 9088, to delete three fimbrial operons while the fourth operon was constitutively expressed. Each derivative was modified to express the Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen PspA. Strains that constitutively expressed saf or stc elicited a strong Th1 response with significantly greater levels of anti-PspA serum IgG and greater protective efficacy than strains carrying saf or stc deletions. The isogenic strain in which all four operons were deleted generated the lowest anti-PspA levels and did not protect against challenge with virulent S. pneumoniae. Our results indicate that these fimbriae play important roles, as yet not understood, in Salmonella virulence and immunogenicity. IMPORTANCE Salmonella enterica is the leading cause of bacterial food-borne infection in the United States. S. Typhimurium is capable of producing up to 13 distinct surface structures called fimbriae that presumably mediate its adherence to surfaces. The roles of most of these fimbriae in disease are unknown. Identifying fimbriae produced during infection will provide important insights into how these bacterial structures contribute to disease and potentially induce protective immunity to Salmonella infection. We identified four fimbriae that are produced during infection. Deletion of all four of these fimbriae results in a significant reduction in virulence. We explored ways in which the expression of these fimbriae may be exploited for use in recombinant Salmonella vaccine strains and found that production of Saf and Stc fimbriae are important for generating a strong immune response against a vectored antigen. This work provides new insight into the role of fimbriae in disease and their potential for improving the efficacy of Salmonella-based vaccines.

No abstract available. / Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / gm2014 / Centre for Human Rights / unrestricted

The thesis is focused on analysis and possible modifications of methods and procedures allowing the determination of various cloud types using the satellite data. Today, the main methods are concentrated around two the most applied international projects, one being developed for the instrument MODIS on board American Terra and Aqua polar satellites, and the other one being developed for the instrument SEVIRI on the European geostationary satellite Meteosat. The algorithms used for automatic discrimination of several cloud types operationally are created on these models. The American program MODIS Atmosphere have been created by NASA and the European program NWC SAF have been developed by organization EUMETSAT. Content of the thesis is to specify how input parameters influence final result of cloud determination in both models, and how results are depending on the external meteorological and geographical conditions during data acquisition. The effort will be given to identification of main drawbacks at two models and to identify conditions when their respective application is limited, their results different and to make steps towards possible modifications to mitigate the drawbacks. The analysis will use ground data and optimal developed procedure for validation of satellite data processing. The...

We reported earlier in a guinea pig model that exposure of 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES), a mustard gas analog, causes lung injury associated with the activation of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling, and activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcription factor. Our earlier studies also revealed that antioxidant liposomes can be used as antidotes. Proinflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α, either alone or in combination, can induce the activation of another group of transcription factors, namely SAF-1 (serum accelerator factor-1)/MAZ (Myc-associated zinc finger protein). Phosphorylation of SAF-1 via MAPK markedly increases its DNA-binding and transactivational potential. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether CEES exposure causes activation of IL-1β, IL-6, and SAF-1/MAZ and whether these effects can be prevented by antioxidant liposomes. A single dose (200 μL) of the antioxidant liposome mixture was administered intratracheally after 5 min of exposure of CEES (0.5 mg/kg). The animals were sacrificed either 1 h or 30 days after CEES exposure. CEES exposure caused an upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-1β in the lung along with an increase in the activation of transcription factor SAF-1/MAZ. The antioxidant liposomes treatment significantly blocked the CEES-induced activation of IL-6, IL-1β, and SAF-1/MAZ. This might suggest that antioxidant liposomes might offer a potential therapeutic strategy against inflammatory diseases associated with activation of these bioactive molecules.

Ziel der Studie: Vergleich zweier Methoden zur Entfernung der medikamentösen Einlage Kalziumhydroxid aus runden und ovalen Wurzelkanälen mithilfe eines Micro-CTs. Material und Methode: Es wurden 80 extrahierte menschliche Prämolaren und Inzisivi verwendet. Die Wurzelkanäle wurden von koronal auf eine einheitliche Länge von 18 mm gekürzt und mit dem FlexMaster-System (VDW, München) bis zu Größe 40/.04 präpariert. Nach jeder Instrumentengröße wurden die Kanäle mit 2 ml 3%igem Natriumhypochlorit gespült. Die Spülung erfolgte mit einer 2 ml Spritze und einer Nadel der Größe 30 (NaviTip 30 Gauge, Ultradent, München). Die Applikation des Kalziumhydroxidpräparates (UltraCal XS. Ultradent Products Inc., Utah, USA) wurde mit einer Injektionsnadel der Größe 30 durchgeführt. Eine anschließende röntgenologische Kontrolle sicherte die vollständige und homogene Verteilung des Präparates im Wurzelkanal. Alle Probenzähne wurden für sieben Tage bei 37°C Lufttemperatur und 100% Luftfeuchtigkeit gelagert. Nach Anfertigung präoperativer Micro-CT-Scans von jedem Wurzelkanal erfolgte eine Volumenbestimmung der applizierten Kalziumhydroxideinlage. Außerdem konnten die Proben anhand der Bilddaten einer runden oder ovalen Querschnittsform zugeteilt werden. Anschließend erfolgte die Einteilung der Probenzähne in vier Gruppen; Gruppe 1 (n = 10, ovale Querschnittsform), Gruppe 2 (n = 10, ovale Querschnittsform), Gruppe 3 (n = 30, runde Querschnittsform), Gruppe 4 (n = 30, runde Querschnittsform). Die Gruppen 1 und 3 wurden dem Spülprotokoll der Self-Adjusting File (SAF) zugeteilt, die Gruppen 2 und 4 dem der passiven Ultraschallspülung (PUI). Das Spülprotokoll beider Entfernungsmethoden sah eine 4-minütige Anwendung, aufgeteilt in 8 jeweils 30 Sekunden lange Zyklen und eine Gesamtspülmenge von 20 ml 3%igem Natriumhypochlorit vor. Die Auswertung erfolgte durch Anfertigung postoperativer Micro-CT-Scans und erneute Bestimmung des verbliebenen Volumens an medikamentöser Einlage. Zur statistischen Auswertung wurde der Quotient aus Volumen nach der Entfernung zu dem Volumen vor der Entfernung berechnet und eine zweifaktorielle Varianzanalyse (ANOVA) durchgeführt.   Ergebnisse: Keine der verwendeten Methoden konnte eine vollständige Entfernung der medikamentösen Einlage Kalziumhydroxid erreichen. Die SAF-Spülung erreichte signifikant bessere Ergebnisse als die PUI. Es konnte kein signifikanter Einfluss der Kanalform (rund/oval) auf die Reinigungswirkung beider Systeme festgestellt werden. Schlussfolgerung: Das SAF-System entfernt Kalziumhydroxid effektiver aus runden und ovalen Wurzelkanälen als die passive Ultraschallspülung. Mit beiden Systemen konnten relativ saubere, aber keine vollständig von Kalziumhydroxid gereinigten Kanalwände erzielt werden.

O presente trabalho avaliou, por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), a limpeza das paredes dos canais radiculares instrumentados pelas técnicas rotatória e Self-adjusting file (SAF®) com uso do NaOCl a 1% como solução irrigadora e o uso do EDTA a 15% e da Quitosana 0,20% como soluções quelantes, e quantificou os íons cálcio removidos pelas diferentes soluções irrigadoras por meio de espectrometria de absorção atômica. Trinta dentes caninos inferiores humanos foram divididos em dois grupos (n=15), de acordo com a técnica de instrumentação utilizada: A - instrumentos FlexMaster® usados na técnica Free Tip Preparation, assegurado alargamento mínimo de 200, até o instrumento # 60.02, irrigados com 1 mL de NaOCl 1% em cada troca de instrumento e B - sistema SAF®, com prévio alargamento manual até o instrumento K #20, aplicação da SAF® por 4 minutos, com fluxo de irrigação pelo sistema VATEA de 5mL/min. Os dentes foram divididos em três subgrupos conforme a irrigação final: G1-NaOCl 1%, G2- EDTA 15% e G3 Quitosana 0,20%. Utilizou-se 5mL de cada solução à 1mL/min. A solução extravasada pelo forame foi coletada e submetida à análise espectrométrica. O EDTA 15% apresentou maior capacidade de remoção de íons cálcio do que a Quitosana a 0,20% (p<0,05) e o NaOCl 1% não removeu íons. Os espécimes foram analisados em MEV. As fotomicrografias obtidas foram avaliadas qualitativamente em relação à remoção da camada de smear observada. Não houve diferença entre as instrumentações rotatória e SAF® nos terços dos canais avaliados. Analisadas as interações entre as técnicas utilizadas e aos terços do canal, o EDTA 15% apresentou melhores resultados que a Quitosana 0,20% (p<0,05), sendo ambas as soluções melhores que o NaOCl 1%. Conclui-se que as soluções quelantes testadas foram capazes de remover íons cálcio das paredes dos canais radiculares - com superioridade do EDTA 15% sobre a Quitosana 0,20%, e o NaOCl a 1% não apresentou essa capacidade - e removeram a camada de smear das paredes dos canais radiculares com superioridade do EDTA 15%, sem interferência das técnicas de instrumentação avaliadas rotatória e SAF®. / The present study evaluated, by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the cleanness of the root canal walls instrumented by rotary and the self-adjusting file (SAF®) techniques using 1% NaOCl as an irrigating solution and 15% EDTA, 0.20% Chitosan as chelator solutions, and quantified the calcium ions removed by the different irrigants with atomic absorption spectrometry. Thirty human mandibular canine teeth were divided into 2 groups (n=15) according to the instrumentation technique used: A- FlexMaster® instruments used with the Free tip Preparation, assuring a minimal enlargement of 200m, up to a #60 .02 instrument, irrigated with 1mL of 1% NaOCl between each instrument; and B- SAF® system, with previous enlargement to a type K #20 manual instrument, application of SAF during 4 minutes, with VATEA irrigation system at a flow of 5mL/min. The teeth were divided into three subgroups according to the final irrigation protocol: G1- 1% NaOCl, G2- 15% EDTA and G3- 0.20 % Chitosan. Five mL of solution were used at 1mL/min. The solution extruded thru the foramen was collected and submitted to spectrometric analysis. 15% EDTA showed higher calcium ion removal capacity then 0.20% Chitosan (p<0.05) and the 1% NaOCl did not remove ions. The specimens were evaluated by means of SEM. The photomicrographs obtained were qualitatively evaluated in terms of smear layer removal. There was no significant difference between the rotary and SAF® instrumentation systems in the evaluated canal thirds. The interaction techniques used and canals thirds showed that the 15% EDTA revealed better results than the 0.02% Chitosan (p<0.05), and both were better than 1% NaOCl. It can be concluded that the tested chelating solutions removed calcium ions from the root canals walls with better results for 15% EDTA than 0.20% Chitosan; 1% NaOCl did not present this capacity - and removed the smear layer form the root canal walls with better results for 15% EDTA, with no difference between the evaluated techniques rotary and SAF®.