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Inledning   Att spela med ett bra sound, ha uttryck och känsla. Att försöka säga något, mena det man säger och samtidigt försöka vara unik i det man säger med sitt spel. Detta har för mig varit det som definierar en bra gitarrist och har varit det jag strävat efter i mitt gitarrspel sedan dag ett. Jag har funnit att finns säkerheten i det jag spelar finns nästan alltid känslan där och musiken får flöda fritt. Släppt allt jag vet och slutat tänka mig igenom mitt spel. Att låta känslan, gehöret och intuitionen styra skeppet i hamn har för mig alltid gett de bästa resultaten. Men detta kommer givetvis inte gratis. Som jazzlegenden Charlie Parker en gång sa; ”Master your instrument, master the music, and then forget all that bullshit and just play”. Jag tycker detta citat säger allt om att spela musik, särskilt improvisationsbaserad sådan. Lär dig tekniken och skalorna och glöm sedan det för att skapa bra musik med ett fritt sinne.   Detta har också varit min tanke till mitt examensarbete. Jag har valt att fokusera på mitt slidespel för att utveckla det. Finna en mera egen approach till det för att kunna ha det tillhands som ett verktyg oavsett vad för musikalisk situation jag befinner mig i. Jag ville komma närmare den säkerheten jag har när jag spelar gitarr utan slide. Det är en säkerhet jag givetvis inte räknar med att bygga upp till samma nivå under ett examensarbete som varar endast ett år men jag kan i alla fall komma några steg närmare mitt mål.   Mitt slidespel har varit som mitt vanliga gitarrspel; sprunget ur bluesorienterad musik. Jag har innan arbetet haft en hel del förkunskaper om slide men som jag upplevt varit otillräckliga i vissa musikaliska sammanhang. Vanligtvis då musiken inte kretsat kring en bluesform eller använt sig av mera än bara tonika, subdominant och dominantackordet i spelad tonart. I mitt arbete har jag haft som ambition att hitta vägar förbi detta för att bli mera mångsidig i mitt slidespel och känna en större säkerhet och kontroll över spelsättet.

It¡¦s easy to get the complication of shoulder by using the traditional type of driving a wheelchair, and the move speed of a wheelchair is upper with motor-driven, so makes shimmy or slide usually appearing on caster when the wheelchair is steering .On the other hand, the drive mechanism of wheelchair by single-wheel was developed by the members of MEVL at the same time that this paper was written. Because of these reasons above, this paper analyze the type of steering mechanism and the patents of wheelchair¡¦s steering mechanism first, secondly find the fittest steering mechanism type for a wheelchair. Furthermore, this paper also discusses some irregular conditions of a caster and theirs reasons and how to prove them when a wheelchair is steering or moving with high speed by using several simpler mode of mechanics, such as caster shimmy, the slip angle of a caster, and some irregular cases when wheelchair is driven by single wheel. Finally this paper will design a new type steering mechanism for wheelchair by applied the results of research that above-mentioned, this new steering mechanism not only improve the traditional steering mode of a wheelchair, also avoid several irregular condition above occurring in the caster, moreover, it can be enabled or disabled by user anytime. So this paper expects that the performance of a wheelchair will be raised after the new type steering mechanism is designed.

Current methods of identifying semen include preliminary methods such as an alternate light source (ALS) and color tests which test for the presence of acid phosphatase (AP). Confirmatory methods for identifying semen include the microscopic identification of spermatozoa which typically use staining methods such as the Christmas Tree Stain (KPIC) or hematoxylin and eosin stain (H&E). Other methods include immunoassay cards that test for the components of semen such as prostate specific antigen (PSA) and semenogelin (Sg). One common fluorescent staining method used to identify the presence of spermatozoa is SPERM HY-LITERTM which uses an anti-human sperm-specific mouse monoclonal antibody coupled to an AlexaFluor 488 dye. This causes the entire head of the sperm cell to fluoresce when a FITC filter is used. It also utilizes a 4,6-diamidino-2- phenylindole (DAPI) fluorescent dye that stains all cell nuclei non-specifically. This allows the analyst to easily identify whether sperm is present in the sample. A drawback of the antibody labeling procedure is that there are many washing and transfer steps that can lead to sample loss; thus a need for a new, optimized staining method exists. During spermiogenesis, protamines replace histones to further condense the DNA of the sperm nucleus. Humans express two proamines, protamine 1 (P1) and protamine 2 (P2). The protamines contain an arginine-rich core as well as cysteine residues. The high levels of arginine create a net positive charge that allows for stronger binding to DNA. The cysteine residues allow for the formation of inter and intra-protamine disulfide bonds which allow for the chromatin compaction. If the disulfide bonds found in protamines can be reduced to produce free thiols, a thiol-reactive probe can bind and label the protamines in the sperm nucleus. Reduction of the disulfide bonds can be performed by use of reagents such as dithiothreitol (DTT) or tris-(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP). From the literature on thiol-reactive probes, it is suggested that TCEP be used as a reducing agent due to its structure. DTT contains thiol groups and when removed from the sample, thiol groups may be oxidized back into disulfide bond. In addition, TCEP is more stable than DTT at a higher pH and higher temperatures. Once disulfide bonds have been reduced, a thiol-reactive probe may be introduced. There are many different types of probes that may be used. Maleimides are commonly used for thiol modification and quantitation. When the compound encounters a thiol group, the thiol group is added across the double bond, yielding a thioether. The reagent used is N-7-dimethylamino-4-methylcoumarin-3-yl)maleimide (DACM). It absorbs light at 376 nm and emits light at 476 nm, producing a blue fluorescence. The dye is nonfluorescent until it reacts with a thiol group. In this research, both sperm and epithelial cells were added to the slides in order to develop a novel staining procedure. The initial protocol used TCEP to break the disulfide bonds followed by DACM to bind free thiol groups. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was then added to the protocol to lyse cells. DTT was tested for use as a reducing agent as well. The purpose of establishing this protocol was to design a procedure for rapid labeling of sperm that does not require antibody labeling. In the antibody labeling procedure, there are many washing and transfer steps. The proposed method may limit the number of procedural steps resulting in less loss of biological material. It can also help to limit the time-consuming methods of the current staining techniques, such as KPIC and H&E.

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京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第23860号 / 工博第4947号 / 新制||工||1773(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院工学研究科都市社会工学専攻 / (主査)教授 岸田 潔, 教授 三村 衛, 教授 木村 亮 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DGAM

Optical microscopy is the simplest and the gold standard method adopted for the screening and subsequent diagnosis of various hematological and infectious diseases like malaria, sickle cell disease, tuberculosis etc. In addition to infectious disease diagnosis, its applications range from routine blood tests to the more sophisticated cancer biopsy sample analysis. Microscopy Tests (MTs) follow a common procedural workflow: (1) A technician prepares a smear of the given sample on a glass slide in a specific manner depending on the sample and the disease to be diagnosed; (2) The smeared slide is subsequently exposed to fixative agents and different histochemical stains specific to the diagnosis to be performed and (3) the prepared slide is then observed under a high quality bright- field bench-top microscope. An expert pathologist/cytologist is required to manually examine multiple fields-of-views of the prepared slide under appropriate magnification. Multiple re-adjustments in the focus and magnification makes the process of microscopic examination time consuming and tedious. Further, the manual intervention required in all the aforementioned steps involved in a typical MT, makes it inaccessible to rural/resource limited conditions and restricts the diagnostics to be performed by trained personnel in laboratory settings. To overcome these limitations, there has been considerable research interest in developing cost-effective systems that help in automating MTs. The work done in this thesis addresses these issues and proposes a two-step solution to the problem of affordable automation of MTs for cellular imaging and subsequent diagnostic assessment. The first step deals with the development of a low cost portable system that employs custom-built microscopy setup using o -the-shelf optical components, low cost motorized stage and camera modules to facilitate slide scanning and digital image acquisition. It incorporates a novel computational approach to generate good quality in-focus images, without the need for employing high-end precision translational stages, thereby reducing the overall system cost. The process of slide analysis for result generation is further automated by using image analysis and classification algorithms. The application of the developed platform in automating slide based quantitative detection of malaria is reported in this thesis. The second aspect of the thesis addresses the automation of slide preparation. A major factor that could influence the analysis results is the quality of the prepared smears. The feasibility of automating and standardizing the process of slide preparation using Microfluidics with appropriate surface fictionalization is explored and is demonstrated in the context of automated semen analysis. As an alternative to the mechanism of fixing the spermatozoa to the glass slide by smearing and chemical treatment with fixative, microfluidic chips pre-coated with adhesive protein are employed to capture and immobilize the cells. The subsequent histochemical staining is achieved by pumping the stains through the microfluidic device. The proof-of-principle experiments performed in this thesis demonstrate the feasibility of the developed system to provide an end-to-end cost-effective alternative solution to conventional MTs. This can further serve as an assistive tool for the pathologist or in some cases completely eliminate the manual intervention required in MTs enabling repeatability and reliability in diagnosis for clinical decision making

No início do século XVII, o escocês John Napier revolucionou os métodos de cálculo da época com a invenção dos logaritmos. O logaritmo de Napier não era exatamente o que usamos hoje. Naquela época, o trabalho de multiplicação, divisão, cálculo de potências e extração de raízes eram trabalhosos e feitos a partir de senos. Surgiram as primeiras tábuas de logaritmos, inventadas independentemente por John Napier (1550-1617) e Jost Bürgi (1552-1632). Pouco depois, Henry Briggs (1561-1631) aperfeiçoou essas tábuas, apresentando os logaritmos decimais. A contribuição fundamental dos logaritmos é a de facilitar os cálculos através da transformação de operações de multiplicação em adição e de operações de divisão em subtração. Essas transformações foram de grande importância nos cálculos trabalhosos que estavam envolvidos em Astronomia e Navegação. Em 1632, um matemático inglês chamado William Oughtred inventou a régua de cálculo, com base na \"Tábua de Napier\". Esse foi um grande passo em direção à calculadora e à construção dos computadores. Nesse trabalho propomos a utilização da régua de cálculo no ensino das propriedades dos logaritmos. Para tanto, foram estudados tópicos como a história dos logaritmos, a função logaritmo, a caracterização das funções logarítmicas, a associação de logaritmos a progressões aritméticas e geométricas e o uso de uma régua de cálculo / In the early seventeenth century, the Scotsman John Napier revolutionized the calculation methods of that time with the invention of logarithms. The Napier logarithm was not exactly the same as we use now. At that time, the multiplication, division, exponents calculation and extracting roots were demanded extensive labor. John Napier (1550-1617) and Jost Bürgi (1552-1632) invented independently the first logarithm tables. Shortly after, Henry Briggs (1561-1631) improved these boards, presenting the decimal logarithms. The main contribution of logarithms is to make calculations easier by transforming multiplication operations into addition ones and division operations into subtraction ones. These changes have been of great importance in laborious calculations that involved Astronomy and Navigation. In 1632, an English mathematician called William Oughtred invented the slide ruler, based on the \"Napier board\". This was a big step towards the invention of the calculator and the computer. In this work we propose the use of the slide ruler in teaching the properties of logarithms. Thus, topics such as the history of logarithms, the logarithm function, the characterization of logarithmic functions, the association of the logarithms with arithmetical and geometrical progressions, and the use of a slide ruler were studied

Complex deformation processes observed in massive slow-moving, active, landslides are contributed to by topography, non-uniform shear surfaces, heterogeneous rockmass and shear zone strength characteristics, composite failure mechanisms and hydrogeology. This thesis provides a systematic means to account for geology, geomorphology and geomechanics when interpreting slope deformation processes. Significant contributions to the field of landslide geomechanics have been made by analyzing how spatially discriminated slope deformations are influenced by spatial variation of geological and geotechnical factors and temporal changes in piezometric levels. The Downie and Beauregard landslides are massive instabilities that have extensive histories of slope monitoring and observational assessment, and where detailed site investigations have been completed. A methodology has been developed for the interpretation of 3-dimensional shear zone geometries using spatial prediction algorithms complemented by sound engineering judgment. The applicability of this process to other spatial data, such as displacement or piezometric records and measurements of material properties is demonstrated. Composite landslide deformations have been analyzed for both Downie and Beauregard to characterize global slope behaviour and identify localized events. Furthermore, a new interpretation of landslide morphological regions at Downie is provided. The research presented in this thesis demonstrates the importance and value of 3-dimensional numerical modelling. A rigorous procedure to numerically simulate large landslides has been developed. This sophisticated method accounts for complex geometries, heterogeneous shear zone strength parameters, internal shears, interaction between discrete landslide zones and piezometric fluctuations. This advance in state-of-the-art landslide modelling provides an important tool for investigating dynamic landslide systems. Based on Downie and Beauregard field data numerical models have been calibrated to reproduce observed slope behaviour. The calibration process has provided insight on key factors controlling massive slope mechanics. Calibrated models are used to investigate how trigger scenarios may accelerate deformations at Downie and the effectiveness of a proposed slope drainage system at Beauregard. The ability to reproduce observed behaviour and forward test hypothesized changes to boundary conditions has valuable application in landslide hazard management. The capacity of decision makers to interpret large amounts of data, respond to rapid changes in a system and understand complex slope dynamics has been enhanced. / Thesis (Ph.D, Geological Sciences & Geological Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-24 14:13:43.605

Multidirectional motion occurs in total knee replacements (TKR), is a major factor in ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) wear and is a requirement for wear tester and simulators. There are three ways the femoral component can move relative to the tibial component; sliding, rolling and gliding and these are defined by the slide to roll ratio. Previous wear tester research has investigated the effects of multidirectional motion and slide to roll ratio, individually but not combined. The project aim was to design a machine that combined multidirectional motion with variable slide to roll ratio. A three station wear testing machine was designed and built featuring flexion extension, variable anterior posterior translation, variable internal external rotation and a 2KN load per station. The TKR was simplified to a cylinder on flat. Lubrication was 25% bovine serum and each station had its own recirculation system. A million cycle validation test was successfully carried out on non-irradiated UHMWPE samples using a slide to roll ratio of 1 : 0.5 and the mean wear rate was 14.7mg/10^6 cycles. Polished areas and scratches from 3rd body abrasion were observed. Magnification revealed a fine ripple pattern with a 1-2 micron periodicity. Ripples were randomly oriented, perpendicular to the primary direction of motion and a small number were running parallel to the primary direction of motion, indicative of rolling motion. The results from the validation study show that the knee joint wear tester is capable of producing wear rates and wear mechanisms similar to those observed in other wear testers and knee joint simulators and has met the aim of the project.