In aeronautical telemetry, the multipath interference usually causes significant performance degradation. As the bit rate of telemetry systems increases, the impairments of multipath interference are more serious. The constant modulus algorithm (CMA) blind equalizer is effective to mitigate the impairments of multipath interference. The CMA adapts the equalizer coefficients to minimize the deviation of the signal envelope from a constant level. This paper presents the performances of the CMA blind equalizer applied for PCM-FM, PCM-BPSK, SOQPSK-TG and ARTM CPM in aeronautical telemetry.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第21096号 / 工博第4460号 / 新制||工||1693(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院工学研究科都市環境工学専攻 / (主査)教授 高岡 昌輝, 教授 田中 宏明, 准教授 大下 和徹 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DFAM

The use of improved seeded bermudagrasses (SB) has increased. All new cultivars are marketed as coated seed. As germination of many of these new cultivars is less than ideal, questions arise as to the effect coatings have on germination. Five SB cultivars were selected for a series of germination studies. The first study compared coated and uncoated samples of the five cultivars for germination response to six temperature regimes. Overall, commercial seed coating did not affect SB germination. However, both temperature regime and cultivar were significant factors. In a second study, three seed treatments were investigated across three temperature regimes and five SB cultivars to evaluate enhancement of germination. Two of the three treatments improved germination at day 7 indicating increased germination rate. No treatment produced significant results in germination at day 21. Cultivar specific differences regarding treatments were present at all count intervals.

In this thesis, frame synchronization for iNET formatted SOQPSK-TG communications is considered. Frame synchronization for M-ary linear modulations (MQAM, MPSK, etc.) are known in the literature using pilot detection methods, but are based on a signal model that does not apply to SOQPSK-TG. Maximum likelihood frame synchronizers are derived for an SOQPSK-TG system following assumptions found in the literature. The analysis shows that a reinterpretation of known detectors operating on the samples of the received waveform and locally stored samples of the pilot is the optimum approach for this case. Simulation results for an AWGN channel and several multipath channels verify the performance of the synchronizers.

In the first part of this thesis, we utilize the mouse model to evaluate the environmental chemical Butyl Benzyl Phthalate. Due to lack of research on female exposure to BBP, this thesis focuses on quantifying the effects of gestational exposure on the female mammary gland Here male and female parental mice were exposed before mating and through pregnancy and lactation to one of three doses of BBP or the control via oral ingestion. After weaning, offspring were sacrificed at puberty or early adulthood and evaluated for altered mammary gland morphology or hormonal receptor expression. Results indicate a persistent statistically significant increase in weight among the highest BBP dose group. Additionally, the high-dose adult treatment group demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in terminal ends. Finally, the mid-dose adult group demonstrated significantly higher expression of the progesterone receptor compared to the low and high-dose BBP groups. There were no significant findings in pubertal female outcomes. In the second part of this thesis, we evaluate the existing OECD Extended One-Generation Reproductive Toxicity Guidelines (TG 443). First by summarizing the endpoints and outcomes evaluated in studies that implement these guidelines, and additionally discussing the current OECD recommendations for mammary gland evaluation. We conclude with outlining the remaining questions to be evaluated and further research necessary to establish that the mammary gland should be added to TG 443.

Aging is the major risk factor for chronic age-related diseases characterized by loss of homeostasis, organ dysfunction, and inflammation. Calorie restriction (CR) has been shown to slow aging and delay the onset of chronic age-related diseases. Even though CR has many positive health effects, the degree and duration of the restriction needed would reduce the intervention's usefulness and make it challenging to start and maintain in humans. The difficulties brought on by CR have led to the development of CR mimetics that can mimic the effects of CR without reducing food intake (in an ad libitum state). We hypothesize that in PEPCK bovine Growth Hormone (bGH) overexpressing transgenic mice with accelerated metabolic and cognitive aging, the health span and phenotypes of aging can be improved by adding CR mimetics, a combination of lipoic acid, nicotinamide, thiamine, pyridoxine, and piperine to the diet. From 10 to 40 weeks of age, bGH-tg mice and their normal (N) littermates were fed CRM diet ad libitum. Normal littermates and bGH-tg mice fed a standard chow diet served as controls. Evaluation of the effects of CRM included insulin and glucose tolerance tests (ITT and GTT), indirect calorimetry as well as rotarod, working memory, grip strength testing. Body weight and percent fat mass were significantly lower, but percent lean mass was significantly higher in mice on a CRM diet at 40 weeks. At 19 weeks, insulin sensitivity was improved considerably in treated N and bGH-tg males. At 20 weeks of age, all mice on a CRM diet had significantly improved glucose tolerance and lower fasting glucose. At week 32, treated N female mice had significantly higher energy expenditure during the day and night per gram of body weight. In treated N males, this was true only during the day. Male bGH-tg mice on CRM diet had decreased energy expenditure during the night. Insulin sensitivity was significantly improved in treated male N and bGH-tg mice at week 37. Week 38 GTT showed enhanced glucose tolerance and lower fasting glucose in all mice on a CRM diet except Tg females. Week 39-40 Y-maze, rotarod and grip strength testing showed improved motor coordination and grip strength in all mice on CRM diet with no difference in working memory. Also, there was a significant improvement in metabolic and aging phenotype with lowered pro-inflammatory cytokines at the gene and protein levels in various tissues. Our study indicates the employed CRM produce the beneficial health effects in short-lived, insulin resistant bGH Tg mice but the effects are time-, sex-, genotype-, and diet-dependent. Most of the effects of this intervention resemble the effects of CR suggesting that employed compounds may act via similar mechanisms. This work was funded by the SIU-SOM Geriatrics Research Initiative (AB), NIA R01AG068288, and the Hillblom Foundation (PK).

No description available.

In 2012, a new type of lignin, catechyl (C)-lignin was found in the seed coat of vanilla orchid (Vanilla planifolia) and Melocactus cacti, and later in the nutshell of Aleurites moluccana (candlenut). This caffeyl alcohol homopolymer is the exclusive lignin in vanilla seed coat but separated in time and/or location with guaiacyl (G)-lignin in candlenut. Unlike conventional guaiacyl/syringyl (G/S-lignins) with alkyl-aryl ether linkages, intermonomer linkages in C-lignin are connected by benzodioxane linkages which are stiffer than alkyl-aryl ether linkages. C-lignin is unusually stable against acid-catalyzed cleavage. Tissues with C-lignin are expected to exhibit high glass transition temperature (Tg) compared to tissues with G/S/H-lignin. C-lignin also probably shows high crystallinity due to its highly linear-homopolymer structure. The ability of some seed coats/nutshells in angiosperms to synthesize a new type of lignin is another level of lignin evolution. However, the role of C-lignin related to the function of the seed coat is unclear while it exhibits different behaviors to the regular G/S/H-lignin. These points motivated us to conduct cell-wall structure/property studies in the context of plant evolution, using microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Light and electron microscopes were used to identify cell's size and type of intact and macerated vanilla seed coat and candlenut shell. Vanilla seeds are tiny, sized approximately 300μm and the surface is covered with dark-colored seed coat. Candlenut is slightly smaller than walnut, with uneven, hard, dark brown shell covering the nut. Microscopy observations indicated that both seed coat and nutshell are dominated by highly lignified cells, known as sclereids. The types of sclereids in vanilla seed coat and candlenut shell are different; vanilla seed coat has ostoesclereid-type cells, while candlenut shell has macrosclereid-type cells. XRD was used to study tissue with C-lignin crystallinity by comparing diffractograms of vanilla seed coat and candlenut shell to Southern Yellow Pine wood diffractograms. The Southern Yellow Pine wood diffractogram corresponds to a typical native cellulose in higher plants, that is cellulose I allomorph. Diffractogram XRD analysis on vanilla seed coat and candlenut shell shows similarities to Southern Yellow Pine native cellulose, suggesting that cellulose is the contributor for crystallinity in seed coat and nutshell, and this also indicated that tissues with C-lignin is not crystalline. Crystallinities of vanilla seed coat and candlenut shell determined using peak deconvolution methods were about half of Southern Yellow Pine crystallinity. DMA was used to measure Tg in vanilla seed coat and candlenut shell. Measurements were conducted in solvent-submersion mode using organic plasticizers to reduce the Tg to non-damaging temperatures. DMA measurement of vanilla seed coat and candlenut shell is challenging due to specimen size and shape. Specimen preparation for DMA measurement included seed coat purification for vanilla and cutting/milling for candlenut shell followed by specimen saturation in plasticizers. Compressive-torsion DMA was used to allow tiny specimens gripping. Vanilla seed coats exhibited higher glass transition temperature compared to wood, while candlenut shells exhibited various Tgs depending on specimen type/size. / Doctor of Philosophy / Lignin is a complex organic material that constructs higher plant cell walls. Lignin provides stiffness and strength and is the landmark of plant evolution to terrestrial life. Typically, lignin in hardwood/softwood has guaicayl and/syringyl (G/S) units derived from coniferyl/sinapyl alcohols. ln 2012, a new type of lignin, catechyl (C)-lignin, was found in the seed coat of vanilla orchid (Vanilla planifolia) and Melocactus cacti, and later in the nutshell of Aleurites moluccana (candlenut). C-lignin is a caffeyl alcohol homopolymer and is exclusive in vanilla seed coat but coexists with guaiacyl (G)-lignin in candlenut shells. This new type of lignin exhibits different behavior than G/S-lignin. C-lignin is unusually stable against acid-catalyzed hydrolysis. Intermonomer linkage in C-lignin is stiffer than G/S lignin(s); it is likely to have higher glass transition temperature (Tg) than normal lignin. Due to its linearity, tissue with C-lignin is also expected to be highly crystalline. C-lignin's roles are not well known and therefore, these are merit for structure/property studies in the context of plant evolution as bio-inspired new materials. Microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) were used to study vanilla seed coat and candlenut shell morphology, crystallinity, and glass transition temperatures (Tg), respectively. It was observed that the two tissues have different types of sclereids, but this is not associated with why vanilla seed coats exhibit only C-lignin while candlenut shells have both C /G-lignins. XRD scans revealed that C-lignin is not crystalline due to similarity of their diffractograms to those of wood. DMA measurements revealed that vanilla seed coat tissues exhibit higher Tg than tissue with G/S lignin as expected, while the Tg candlenut shells varied among specimen type and particle sizes.

No / To analyze the fatty acid contents of Buddleja asiatica Lour, both the non-volatile oil and fat obtained from the n-hexane soluble sub-fraction were subjected to GC/MS using BSTFA (N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl) trifloroacetamide) derivatization. The oil showed the presence of six fatty acids including palmitic acid (46.75 %), linoleic acid (37.80 %), stearic acid (10.98 %), arachidic acid, margaric acid and lignoceric acid (< 3 %). Analysis of the fat revealed nine fatty acids including lignoceric acid (43.12 %), behenic acid (26.39 %), arachidic acid (9.29 %) and stearic acid (5.3 %). Cerotic acid, montanic acid, melissic acid and palmitic acid were found in low amounts (< 5 %) while trycosylic acid (4.83 %) was the only fatty acid with odd number of carbon atoms. The oil showed a low thermal stability. / Higher Education Commission Pakistan

Atualmente, a participação da energia elétrica na matriz energética mundial é um assunto em evidência. O estudo do compósito isolante da barra estatórica, um dos componentes principais da máquina hidrogeradora, permite a obtenção de informações físico-químicas relevantes ao aperfeiçoamento do sistema, e também de estudos de comportamento térmico quando este é exposto à alta temperatura, por diferentes intervalos de tempo submetidos a estresses mecânicos, elétricos e/ou químicos. O sistema em estudo é o MICALASTIC®, desenvolvido pela empresa Siemens em 1960. Neste trabalho, as propriedades térmicas do compósito isolante, formado por uma fita de mica, resina epóxi (DGEBA), endurecedor (MHHPA) e acelerador naftenato de zinco (N-Zn) foram estudadas. Utilizando-se as técnicas termoanalíticas Calorimetria Exploratória Diferencial (DSC) e Termogravimetria e Termogravimetria Derivada (TG/DTG), o comportamento térmico de cada um dos materiais foi avaliado. As curvas DSC e TG/DTG também evidenciaram as possíveis interações químicas entre os componentes. Os estudos referentes à cura do material e da degradação térmica do compósito curado foram realizados. Observou-se claramente a influência da quantidade de acelerador na polimerização do sistema. A partir das curvas DSC, observou-se dois mecanismos de cura diferentes coexistentes, um com menor quantidade de N-Zn e outro com concentração maior, resultando em eventos de cura com início em temperaturas diferentes. Esse fato ainda não havia sido estudado desde a origem do sistema. Além disso, a perda de massa referente à evaporação do endurecedor no início do processo de cura foi confirmada a partir da caracterização do compósito por espectroscopia de absorção na região do infravermelho, comparando-se os espectros antes e após o fenômeno. Na prática, dois perfis de impregnação, o Homogêneo e o Heterogêneo, de barras condutoras são utilizados, e uma diferença significativa entre eles foi observada. Os estudos desenvolvidos devem ser associados a testes elétricos específicos para o melhor entendimento da relação entre a aplicação do material e suas propriedades teóricas termoanalíticas. Além disso, foi realizado o estudo cinético da decomposição térmica do compósito curado por métodos termogravimétricos, isotérmico e dinâmico. / Currently, the electric energy participation in the world energy matrix is a significant issue. The insulating composite in stator bars, which are one of the most important components in hydrogenerator machines, allows the attainment of relevant physical and chemical information to system optimization, in addition to study thermal behavior when the material is exposed to high temperatures, for different time intervals and mechanical, chemical and/or electrical stress. The studied system is MICALASTIC®, developed by Siemens Company in 1960. In this work, thermal properties of this insulating composite, composed by mica tape, epoxy resin (DGEBA), hardener (MHHPA) and zinc naphtenate (N-Zn) as accelerator, were studied. Using thermoananalytical techniques as Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetry and Derivative Thermogravimetry (TG/DTG), thermal behavior of each material was evaluated. DSC and TG/DTG curves evidenced chemical interactions between components. The study relative to material curing and cured composite thermal degradation were described. It was clearly observed the N-Zn amount influence in the cure of system, and through DSC curves, it was possible to observe two distinct polymerization coexisting mechanisms, one with lower quantity of N-Zn and another one with bigger concentration, resulting in cure events starting in different temperatures. This fact has not been studied yet since the system has been originated. Besides that, the weight loss related to hardener evaporation starting with curing process was confirmed by composite characterization by FTIR spectra, before and after phenomenon. In practice, two impregnation patterns (Homogeneous and Heterogeneous) of conductive bars are used and a significant difference between them was observed. The developed studies have to be associated to electrical tests to a best understanding about material application and theoretical thermoanalytical properties. In addition, it was performed thermal decomposition of cured composite kinetic study by isothermic and dynamic thermogravimetric methods