This master thesis deals with characterization of two black and white products based on ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM) used for skating rink. Products marked with A and are different in their diameter of circular tubes trough which cooling medium passes and also in the distance of these tubes. Both of materials were characterized in order to determine whether it is the EPDM and how are they different. The characterization methods were used: differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, tensile test, swelling test, thermooxidative test. The composition of both materials, including fillers and others additives is almost the same but difference is in structure of EPDM and probably also in interaction with fillers, what exhibits different mechanical properties, thermooxidative stability and thermal capacity. These differences which have been found are essential for long-term use properties of both materials.

Diploma thesis studies the effect of temperature (75 and 105 °C) and the effect of 3 kinds of liquids (silicone and hydraulic oil and coolant) at room temperature and at 105 °C on change of the structure of 3 species butadiene-acrylonitrile (NBR) seals (o-ring and two types of bolts). The seals are inspected by the thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and infrared spectroscopy, the influence of 105 °C on the o-rings is also evaluated in terms of changes in tensile properties. The greatest changes in the composition and structure are observed on o-rings particularly due to temperature of 105 °C, there was a significant reduction in dilatability and an increase in stiffness and glass transition temperature. The root cause is the surface and centre additive decomposition and oxidation. The bolts have suffered from decomposition of the protective surface layer and the additives in the centre, structural change was minor. Exposure to 75 °C has resulted in a gradual loss of low molecular weight substances. Liquids at room temperature didn‘t affect the structure of the seals, at 105 °C it caused a loss of weight due to decomposition of the protective surface layer and release of additives and the products of their decomposition. Results showed that the common use of the NBR seals at 105 °C is unsuitable, at 75 °C it leads to gradual changes, loss in mechanical and sealing properties.

House mouse hybrid zone is a complex of subspecies Mus musculus musculus, Mus musculus domesticus and their hybrids. This hybrid zone is considered as a tension zone, maintained by balance between dispersion of individuals towards the zone center and negative selection against the hybrids. Decreased anti-parasite resistance could be one of selective factors which maintain the hybrid zone. In this thesis, I use hematological methods and skin-swelling test to compare variability in mouse health state within the house mouse hybrid zone. The skin-swelling test is a method measuring pro-inflammatory immune responsiveness. Since the commonly adopted method to perform this test does not allow clear interpretation of the test results, in this thesis I also aim to optimise the test protoco . I found that utilization of concanavalin A (ConA) is more suitable in mice than application of the commonly used phytohemaglutinin (PHA). Assessment of health state of mice by both hematological methods and skin-swelling test consistently indicates increased ability of anti-parasitic resistance in the subspecies M. m. musculus compared to subspecies M. m. domesticus. Hematological examination further shows better health state of hybrid individuals compared to parental subspecies. Our results support hybrid resistance hypothesis....

A pré-seleção do sexo tem grande impacto na produtividade da bovinocultura de corte e leite. A única técnica comercialmente viável para a pré-seleção do sexo, até agora, é a sexagem espermática utilizando citometria de fluxo. Atualmente palhetas de sêmen com espermatozóides sexados vêm sendo utilizadas regularmente em programas de inseminação artificial. Entretanto, ainda existem limitações referentes à taxa de gestação em condições de campo, explicadas em parte pela perda da integridade celular dos espermatozóides. O intuito deste experimento foi avaliar os efeitos da sexagem e o tempo de espera do ejaculado para a sexagem as 0, 3 e 6 hs sobre os parâmetros de motilidade pelo sistema computadorizado da motilidade espermática (CASA), funcionalidade da membrana plasmática pelo teste de resistência osmótica (HOST), morfologia dos espermatozóides pela técnica de contraste de interferência diferencial (DIC) e entre as subespécies taurinas (Bos taurus taurus) e zebuínas (Bos taurus indicus). Espermatozóides sexados apresentaram a maioria dos parâmetros de motilidade superiores aos submetidos à técnica convencional, indicando que existe uma seleção por parte do citômetro de fluxo. O tempo em que o espermatozóide bovino espera (até seis horas) para ser submetido ao processo de sexagem pela técnica de citometria de fluxo alterou a linearidade (LIN). A funcionalidade da membrana plasmática foi afetada quando o espermatozóide bovino passa pelo processo de sexagem.. A sexagem induz o aumento de defeitos menores, provavelmente por alterações da membrana plasmática da cauda dos espermatozóides. Os zebuínos são mais sensíveis às alterações da membrana plasmática da cauda em relação aos taurinos. Finalmente existem fortes indícios que espermatozóides bovinos que passam pela técnica de citometria de fluxo entrem em estado de hiperativação. / Sex selecting has a huge impact in dairy and beef production. The only way commercially viable to obtain sex selecting nowadays, is a flow citometry sex sorted sperm technique. Currently sex sorted sperm have been used regularly in Artificial Insemination programs. Meanwhile, there are limitations about non return rate in farm conditions, superficially explained as cellular loss integrity. The objective of this experiment was assessing sex sorted sperm effects and time to wait 0, 3 and 6 hours before sorting in motility parameters by computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA), plasmatic membrane functionality by hiposmotic swelling test (HOST), sperm morphology by differential interference contrast microcopy (DIC) and between taurine subspecies (Bos taurus taurus) zebuine subspecies (Bos taurus indicus). Sex sorted sperm showed best results in the most motility parameters compared with conventional sperm, suggesting a flow citometer selection. The time to wait of the sperm (untis 6 hours) to keep sorting, altered a linearity (LIN). Plasmatic membrane functionality was affected when sperm runs through flow citometer.. Sex sorted induces increase of minor defects in sperm, probably by tail membrane plasmatic alterations. Zebuin sperm are more sensitive for tail plasmatic membrane alterations compared with taurine sperm. Finally, there is strong indication that bovine sperm that runs through flow citometer sign in hiperactivation state.

A pré-seleção do sexo tem grande impacto na produtividade da bovinocultura de corte e leite. A única técnica comercialmente viável para a pré-seleção do sexo, até agora, é a sexagem espermática utilizando citometria de fluxo. Atualmente palhetas de sêmen com espermatozóides sexados vêm sendo utilizadas regularmente em programas de inseminação artificial. Entretanto, ainda existem limitações referentes à taxa de gestação em condições de campo, explicadas em parte pela perda da integridade celular dos espermatozóides. O intuito deste experimento foi avaliar os efeitos da sexagem e o tempo de espera do ejaculado para a sexagem as 0, 3 e 6 hs sobre os parâmetros de motilidade pelo sistema computadorizado da motilidade espermática (CASA), funcionalidade da membrana plasmática pelo teste de resistência osmótica (HOST), morfologia dos espermatozóides pela técnica de contraste de interferência diferencial (DIC) e entre as subespécies taurinas (Bos taurus taurus) e zebuínas (Bos taurus indicus). Espermatozóides sexados apresentaram a maioria dos parâmetros de motilidade superiores aos submetidos à técnica convencional, indicando que existe uma seleção por parte do citômetro de fluxo. O tempo em que o espermatozóide bovino espera (até seis horas) para ser submetido ao processo de sexagem pela técnica de citometria de fluxo alterou a linearidade (LIN). A funcionalidade da membrana plasmática foi afetada quando o espermatozóide bovino passa pelo processo de sexagem.. A sexagem induz o aumento de defeitos menores, provavelmente por alterações da membrana plasmática da cauda dos espermatozóides. Os zebuínos são mais sensíveis às alterações da membrana plasmática da cauda em relação aos taurinos. Finalmente existem fortes indícios que espermatozóides bovinos que passam pela técnica de citometria de fluxo entrem em estado de hiperativação. / Sex selecting has a huge impact in dairy and beef production. The only way commercially viable to obtain sex selecting nowadays, is a flow citometry sex sorted sperm technique. Currently sex sorted sperm have been used regularly in Artificial Insemination programs. Meanwhile, there are limitations about non return rate in farm conditions, superficially explained as cellular loss integrity. The objective of this experiment was assessing sex sorted sperm effects and time to wait 0, 3 and 6 hours before sorting in motility parameters by computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA), plasmatic membrane functionality by hiposmotic swelling test (HOST), sperm morphology by differential interference contrast microcopy (DIC) and between taurine subspecies (Bos taurus taurus) zebuine subspecies (Bos taurus indicus). Sex sorted sperm showed best results in the most motility parameters compared with conventional sperm, suggesting a flow citometer selection. The time to wait of the sperm (untis 6 hours) to keep sorting, altered a linearity (LIN). Plasmatic membrane functionality was affected when sperm runs through flow citometer.. Sex sorted induces increase of minor defects in sperm, probably by tail membrane plasmatic alterations. Zebuin sperm are more sensitive for tail plasmatic membrane alterations compared with taurine sperm. Finally, there is strong indication that bovine sperm that runs through flow citometer sign in hiperactivation state.

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The launch environment experiences many vibration, shock, and acoustic loads. A great concern is the high random vibration levels that can damage components and spacecraft structures, which can cause a mission failure. An effective method of reducing high frequency energy is using isolators. Overall, the need for vibration isolation has been increasing because there has been an increase in the use of mechanisms in which vibrations are prevalent. In addition, there has not been extensive research on the effects of isolators that are outgassed and cured. Therefore, it is important to investigate and understand the vibrational effects on isolators. It is convenient to outgas and cure isolators for the benefit of some components because that eliminates contamination, but outgassing and bake-out could potentially affect the frequency response of the isolator system in a negative way. It is valuable to investigate how much outgassing and bake-out might affect the performance, if any, of the vibration isolator in order to benefit companies who may need that kind of information. The vibration isolators used for the purpose of this research were twenty E22-02-40 isolators provided by Barry Controls, a Hutchinson Group Company. The E22-02-40 isolators were outgassed and cured (heated at high temperatures) in order to be turned from grade C into grade A level for outgassing. Then the vibrational performance of those isolators were tested and compared to the isolators that were not outgassed and not cured. Vibration tests were run in the flat frequency spectrum and high frequency spectrum. The maximum percent difference occurred in the grade A level isolators, in which the first frequency mode increased by 33.3 % in the z direction from the grade C isolators. A numerical finite element analysis was performed on Abaqus/CAE in order to verify the experimental results. In addition, a swelling test was conducted on the isolators to test their physical characteristics change after they were outgassed and cured.