<p>Using a conditioning paradigm and an automated olfactometer, I investigated the olfactory sensitivity of five CD-1 mice for seven aromatic aldehydes. With two of the stimuli (3-phenylpropanal and canthoxal), the animals discriminated concentrations as low as 10 ppb (parts per billion) from the odorless solvent and with four of the stimuli (helional, cyclamal, lilial and lyral) they discriminated concentrations as low as 1 ppb, with single individuals even scoring better. All five animals yielded the by far lowest threshold value with bourgeonal and discriminated a concentration of 0.1 ppq (parts per quadrillion) from the odorless solvent. The detection threshold values for aromatic aldehydes were found to be affected by the type of functional groups and oxygen moiety attached to the benzene ring. A comparison of the present data with those obtained in other species found no clear correlation between olfactory sensitivity and the size of the olfactory receptor repertoire.</p>

In cooperative communications systems, multiple relays selection scheme and adaptive relay selection scheme are usually adopted. In both schemes, the system makes selections based on instantaneous channel status. However, such schemes have an extremely high computational complexity. In particular, when the channels experience fast fading, the systems do not have sufficient to make a correct decision. In this thesis, statistical channel properties are utilized in deciding whether cooperative transmission should be adopted or not. In our investigations, the cooperative mechanism includes direct transmission (DT), decode-and-forward (DF) relaying and amplify-and-forward (AF) relaying. The Ergodic capacity is adopted throughout the theoretical analyses. In addition, a number of approximated thresholds are derived to assist the decision process. Simulation experiments are conducted to verify the derived results. It is shown that the proposed transmission scheme using the cooperative thresholds is effective in deciding when the cooperative communication is necessary.

Expanding on the fields of bio-mimicry, morpho-ecologies, and dynamics and fluidity in architecture, this thesis proposes architecture as organism. It suggests that as organism, architecture is inherently responsive to the thresholds it exists on and within, thresholds which are composed not just of the physical but of the ephemeral; of time and of space. The existence, metabolism and morphology of an architectural organism becomes a function of the dynamic world into which it is born, inextricable from the ecology of the space it will inhabit. This thesis explores the architectural organism in the context of a visibly and significantly changing threshold, how connections are made between it and the world around it, and how it might engage those who are its inhabitants. The thesis is located in Nova Scotia’s Bay of Fundy, at the mouth of the Gaspereau River.

This paper mainly focuses on one of the new specifications of Phillips curve family, the threshold Phillips curve. By estimating the threshold model using G7 plus Australia countries quarterly data, the threshold effect is confirmed only by U.S. and Canadian Phillips curves. No strong evidence for the threshold effect was found among other countries. Moreover, the estimation results for both standard and threshold Phillips curve model indicate weak trade-o relations between inflation and unemployment. Policy makers should review Phillips curve as a forecasting tool with extra caution. Future studies can focus on specific country's threshold effect testing with detailed explanation.

Thesis (Ph.D.). / Written for the Dept. of Ophthalmology, Neurology and Neurosurgery. Title from title page of PDF (viewed 2008/03/12). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1965.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1965.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2009. / Open access. Includes bibliographical references (p. 210-229). Print copy also available.

How do we introduce new buildings in complex urban environments? Urbanist Jan Gehl (2010:97) argues that rapid developments in building technologies, social and economical sciences have resulted in an unprecedented amount of urban areas transforming into stand alone buildings. This phenomenon describes the shifting focus of architectural ideals from masterfully detailed buildings nested in an urban context to monstrous rapidly-erected ‘visionary’ districts. The voids of the city, generally disregarded and under appreciated in the greater context of Pretoria CBD, are taken as the containers of contextually relevant informants which can be extracted and utilised in a contextual response to site. Due to the vague nature of these empty spaces, they provide opportunities for new processes to unfold. By treating unprogrammed and ancillary space with the same importance as programmed space, the architecture does not stand alone, but exists in a symbiotic relationship with its surroundings, achieving a truly contextual response. The objective of the thesis is to identify the emergent processes which are occurring on the site on the corner of Paul Kruger and Struben Street - a void rooted in the gaps of existing institutions. Once identified, these processes are then extrapolated and transformed to be utilised as tools for catalytic changes, resisting a strategic approach to regeneration. The result of the contextual understanding is realised in the design of an urban place of education, borrowing from existing processes and providing an enriching layer to the urban environment. / Dissertation (MArch(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2014. / Architecture / Unrestricted

Since the introduction of fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) for the repair and retrofit of concrete structures in the 1980’s, considerable research has been devoted to the feasibility of their application and predictive modeling of their performance. However, the effects of flaws present in the constitutive components and the practices in substrate preparation and treatment have not yet been thoroughly studied. This research aims at investigating the effect of surface preparation and treatment for the pre-cured FRP systems and the groove size tolerance for near surface mounted (NSM) FRP systems; and to set thresholds for guaranteed system performance. The research included both analytical and experimental components. The experimental program for the pre-cured FRP systems consisted of a total of twenty-four (24) reinforced concrete (RC) T-beams with various surface preparation parameters and surface flaws, including roughness, flatness, voids and cracks (cuts). For the NSM FRP systems, a total of twelve (12) additional RC T-beams were tested with different grooves sizes for FRP bars and strips. The analytical program included developing an elaborate nonlinear finite element model using the general purpose software ANSYS. The model was subsequently used to extend the experimental range of parameters for surface flatness in pre-cured FRP systems, and for groove size study in the NSM FRP systems. Test results, confirmed by further analyses, indicated that contrary to the general belief in the industry, the impact of surface roughness on the global performance of pre-cured FRP systems was negligible. The study also verified that threshold limits set for wet lay-up FRP systems can be extended to pre-cured systems. The study showed that larger surface voids and cracks (cuts) can adversely impact both the strength and ductility of pre-cured FRP systems. On the other hand, frequency (or spacing) of surface cracks (cuts) may only affect system ductility rather than its strength. Finally, within the range studied, groove size tolerance of +1/8 in. does not appear to have an adverse effect on the performance of NSM FRP systems.