There is strong evidence that the skeletal muscles of pinnipeds are adapted for an aerobic, lipid-based metabolism under the hypoxic conditions associated with breath-hold diving. However, regional variations in mitochondrial density are unknown, and the few fiber typing studies performed on pinniped skeletal muscles are not consistent with an aerobic physiological profile. Thus, the objectives of this study were to (1) reexamine the fiber type distribution throughout the primary locomotory muscles of the harbor seal, and (2) to better understand the density and distribution of mitochondria in the locomotory muscles. Multiple samples from transverse sections of the epaxial muscles and a single sample of the pectoralis muscle of wild harbor seals were analyzed using immunohistochemical fiber typing and electron microscopy. Fiber typing results indicated that harbor seal epaxial muscles are composed of 47.4% type I (slow twitch, oxidative) fibers and 52.8%, IIa (fast twitch, oxidative) fibers. No fast twitch, glycolytic (type IIb) fibers were detected in the epaxial muscles or the pectoralis muscle. Mean volume density of mitochondria [Vv(mt,f)] was 5.6%, which is elevated over what would be predicted for a terrestrial mammal of similar mass. The elevated Vv(mt,f) had a high proportion of intermyofibrillar mitochondria, a trait not normally found in the muscles of terrestrial mammals with elevated Vv(mt,f). These results provide further evidence that the elevated mitochondrial volume density in pinniped muscle decreases the oxygen diffusion distance between myoglobin and mitochondria to facilitate aerobic respiration in working muscles. In addition, analyses of heterogeneity revealed that the regions of the epaxial muscles that were located deep within the muscle showed a significantly higher Vv(mt,f) relative to those regions that were superficially-located. In contrast, there was no significant heterogeneity of fiber type detected in either plane of the epaxial muscles. Thus, there was a fine-scale pattern of spatial heterogeneity of Vv(mt,f) within the epaxial muscles that does not manifest in fiber type distribution, indicating that the fibers have similar oxidative capacities.

According to theory, trading volume decreases in information asymmetries, i.e. when there are differences in information. This is due to the fact that uninformed investors delay their trades when they are facing adverse selection. When the asymmetry is resolved there should be a corresponding increase in trading volume. Around earnings announcements (scheduled an-nouncements) this asymmetry is greater than normal, hence one can expect a decrease in trading volume. Around unexpected announcements such as acquisition announcement (unscheduled announcements) a total increase is instead expected because of an increase in trading by informed investors. All these effects are likely to be greater for smaller stocks. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the trading volume before- and after scheduled announcements and the trading volume before unscheduled announcements in order to investigate how informed- and uninformed investors behave in information asymmetries on Stockholmsbörsen. The method is quantitative with secondary data from the Stockholm Stock exchange from 1998-2004. The method is the same as Chae (2005) uses with paired-samples t-tests. It tests whether the change in trading volume is different from a benchmark consisting of an average of the trading volume 30 days before the announcement. We found a statistically significant decrease in trading volume in 6 of 10 days before a scheduled announcement and an increase also on 7 of 10 days after the announcement. For unscheduled announcements we found an increase before it was released but were not able to prove it statistically. We conclude that uninformed investors behave strategically before scheduled announcements in order to avoid adverse selection. We could not conclude that the effects are greater for smaller stocks.

This thesis reports the methods to simulate flows withcomplex boundary such as orifice flow. The method is forgeneral purposes so that it has been tested on different flowsincluding orifice flow. Also it contains a chapter about theexperiment of orifice flow. Higher-order precision interpolation schemes are used inumerical simulation to improve prediction at acceptable gridrefinement. Because higher-order schemes cause instability inconvection-diffusion problems or involve a large computationalkernel, they are implemented with deferred correction method. Alower-order scheme such as upwind numerical scheme is used tomake preliminary guess. A deferred (defect) correction term isadded to maintain precision. This avoids the conflict betweenprecision order and implementation difficulty. The authorproposes a shifting between upwind scheme and centraldifference scheme for the preliminary guess. This has beenproven to improve convergence while higher order schemes havewider range of stability. Non-orthogonal grid is a necessity for complex flow. Usuallyone can map coordinate of such a grid to a transformed domainwhere the grid is regular. The cost is that differentialequations get much more complex form. If calculated directly innon-orthogonal grid, the equations keep simple forms. However,it is difficult to make interpolation in a non-orthogonal grid.Three methods can be used: local correction, shape function andcurvilinear interpolation. The local correction method cannotinsure second-order precision. The shape function method uses alarge computational molecule. The curvilinear interpolationthis author proposes imports the advantage of coordinatetransformation method: easy to do interpolation. A coordinatesystem staggered half control volume used in the coordinatetransformation method is used as accessory to deriveinterpolation schemes. The calculation in physical domain withnon-orthogonal grid becomes as easy as that in a Cartesianorthogonal grid. The author applies this method to calculate turbulentorifice flow. The usual under-prediction of eddy length isimproved with the ULTRA-QUICK scheme to reflect the highgradients in orifice flow. In the last chapter, the author quantifies hydraulicabruptness to describe orifice geometry. The abruptness canhelp engineers to interpolate existing data to a new orifice,which saves detailed experiments

Transtibial stump volume can change dramatically postoperatively and jeopardise prosthetic fitting. Differences between individuals make it hard to give general recommendations of when to fit with a definitive prosthesis. Measuring the stump volume on every patient could solve this, but most methods for volume assessments are too complicated for clinical use. The aim of this study was to evaluate accuracy and intra- and interrater precision of a method to estimate stump volume from circumferential measurements. The method approximates the stump as a number of cut cones and the tip as a sphere segment. Accuracy was evaluated theoretically on six scanned stump models in CAPOD software and manually on six stump models. Precision was evaluated by comparing measurements made by four CPOs on eight stumps. Measuring devices were a wooden rule and a metal circumference rule. The errors were estimated with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), where 0,85 was considered acceptable, and a clinical criterion that a volume error of ±5% was acceptable (5% corresponds to one stocking). The method was accurate on all models in theory but accurate on only four models in reality. The ICC was 0,95-1,00 for intrarater precision but only 0,76 for interrater precision. Intra- and interrater precision was unsatisfying when using clinical criteria. Variations between estimated tip heights and circumferences were causing the errors. The method needs to be developed and is not suitable for stumps with narrow ends. Using a longer rule (about 30 cm) with a set square end to assess tip heights is recommended to improve precision. Using a flexible measuring-tape (possible to disinfect) with a spring-loaded handle could improve precision of the circumferential measurements.

Bubbles are often present in the natural ocean. Bubbly liquid will have the significant influence the sound propagation, and creates a significant disturbance to under water target's detection. Therefore, it is an important research subject of bubble influence to the sound wave propagation. This study used the sonar training system which developed by British's iTP corporation, through suitable additional design discuss the attenuation of sound propagating through a bubble screen. At first this study collects and infers the formula by the literature review. Secondly, the experimental design of measuring the attenuation of sound wave. The experiment process by using two parallel iron boards to carry on the measurement of gas-volume fraction. Then correlate with the sound pressure from the measurement of hydrophone. After curve fitting, we can clearly know the each other correlation. Finally taking the result compare with the attenuation coefficient formula. The experimental consists of two parts. The first part is to measure the gas-volume fraction of the bubbly liquid contained in the screen; while the second part is to measure the sound attenuation of the bubble screen. The result display that the bubble screen can attenuate about 8 dB per centimeter as the gas-volume fraction stay at 1 percent. At high gas-volume fraction the coefficient of attenuation has increased, and is different from theoretical value. This is because the bubble's correlation has not been considered. In addition, the low frequency sound wave is close to theoretical value, but the high frequency sound wave has big different to theoretical value. Because the high frequency sound wave's wavelength is too small to satisfy the condition. At experiment I suggest to use more appropriate transducers and precise bubble's tube. Thus the experimental result will be better.

The progressing cavity pump is a type of positive displacement pump that is capable of moving nearly any fluid. This type of pump transports fluids in a series of discrete cavities formed by the helical geometries of its rigid rotor and elastomeric stator. With appropriate materials for the rotor and stator, this pump can move combinations of liquids, suspended solids, and gasses equally well. Because of its versatility, the progressing cavity pump is widely used in the oil industry to transport mixtures of oil, water, and sediment; this investigation was prompted by a desire to extend the use of progressing cavity pumps to wet gas pumping applications. One of the progressing cavity pump's limitations is that the friction between the rotor and stator can generate enough heat to damage the rotor if the pump is not lubricated and cooled by the process fluid. Conventional wisdom dictates that this type of pump will overheat if it pumps only gas, with no liquid in the process fluid. If a progressing cavity pump is used to boost the output from a wet gas well, it could potentially be damaged if the well's output is too dry for an extended period of time. This project seeks to determine how a progressing cavity pump behaves when operating at gas volume fractions between 0.90 and 0.98. A progressing cavity pump manufactured by seepex, model no. BN 130-12, is tested at half and full speed using air-water mixtures with gas volume fractions of 0.90, 0.92, 0.94, 0.96, and 0.98. The pump's inlet and outlet conditions are controlled to produce suction pressures of 15, 30, and 45 psi and outlet pressures 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 psi higher than the inlet pressure. A series of thermocouples, pressure transducers, and turbine flow meters measures the pump's inlet and outlet conditions, the flow rates of water and air entering the pump, and pressures and temperatures at four positions within the pump's stator. Over all test conditions, the maximum recorded temperature of the pump stator did not exceed the maximum safe rubber temperature specified by the manufacturer. The pump’s flow rate is independent of both the fluid's gas volume fraction and the pressure difference across the pump, but it increases slightly with the pump's suction pressure. The pump's mechanical load, however, is dependent only on the pressure difference across the pump and increases linearly with that parameter. Pressure measurements within the stator demonstrated that the leakage between the pump's cavities increases with the fluids gas volume fraction, indicating that liquid inside the pump improves its sealing capability. However, those same measurements failed to detect any appreciable leakage between the two pressure taps nearest the pump's inlet. This last observation suggests that the pump could be shortened by as much as 25 percent without losing any performance in the range of tested conditions; shortening the pump should increase its efficiency by decreasing its frictional mechanical load.

Left ventricular pumping performance may be described by intraventricular pressure and volume variables, usually presented as a pressure-volume plot. However, on-line monitoring of left ventricular pressure and volume with high temporal resolution requires the use of an invasive catheter technique such as, for example, the conductance catheter method. On the other hand, the very invasiveness and complexity of this approach makes it less suitable for clinical use. It is then not surprising that there has been long-felt need to make the conductance method less invasive and attempts have been made to adjust the method to clinical demands and routine in order to extract more information from pressure-volume interplay and possibly translate relevant data to their non-invasive estimates. In the present studies, a standard five segmental conductance catheter was used in animal (pig) experiments. Segmental conductances were compared to global conductance. Since the mid-ventricular segment was shown to reflect global volume, which was also shown on theoretical basis, it was concluded that a single segmental catheter most probably could be used to estimate global left ventricular volume. Subsequently, a thin and flexible single segmental conductance catheter was constructed and applied to an animal (pig) experimental model. Results were reproducible and very few arrythmias were detected. At the next stage, left ventricular isovolumic phases were investigated using the standard conductance catheter method, as well as echocardiographically derived tissue velocity doppler. Conductance was shown to decrease during isovolumic contraction, and an adjustment method was proposed in order to account for the subsequent decrease in pressure-volume loop area. In separate experiments, the left ventricular pressure wave form during left ventricular systole was examined, and an algorithm was proposed to discriminate between the changes in afterload, preload and contractility. Results showed clearly discernible patterns of the respective load and contractility alternation. Finally, the left ventricular continuous area was monitored continuously during the entire cardiac cycle as a measure of left ventricular volume dynamics in normal subjects and three patients with left ventricular abnormalities using echocardiographic automatic boundary detection. The left ventricular area thus obtained was plotted against its first derivative, to form a flow-volume estimates loop, in accordance with the flow-volume examinations used in respiratory physiology. Data obtained from the abnormal ventricles were presented as flow-volume estimates loops, exemplifying the possible use of the method. / QC 20100922

Background: According to theory, trading volume decreases in information asymmetries, i.e. when there are differences in information. This is due to the fact that uninformed investors delay their trades when they are facing adverse selec-tion. When the asymmetry is resolved there should be a corresponding in-crease in trading volume. Around earnings announcements (scheduled an-nouncements) this asymmetry is greater than normal, hence one can expect a decrease in trading volume. Around unexpected announcements such as acquisition announcement (unscheduled announcements) a total increase is instead expected because of an increase in trading by informed investors. All these effects are likely to be greater for smaller stocks. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the trading volume before- and after scheduled announcements and the trading volume before unscheduled announcements in order to investigate how informed- and uninformed in-vestors behave in information asymmetries on Stockholmsbörsen. Method: The method is quantitative with secondary data from the Stockholm Stock exchange from 1998-2004. The method is the same as Chae (2005) uses with paired-samples t-tests. It tests whether the change in trading volume is different from a benchmark consisting of an average of the trading volume 30 days before the announcement. Conclusion: We found a statistically significant decrease in trading volume in 6 of 10 days before a scheduled announcement and an increase also on 7 of 10 days after the announcement. For unscheduled announcements we found an in-crease before it was released but were not able to prove it statistically. We conclude that uninformed investors behave strategically before scheduled announcements in order to avoid adverse selection. We could not conclude that the effects are greater for smaller stocks.

The effectiveness of direct volume rendered images depends on finding transfer functions which emphasize structures in the underlying data. In order to support this process, we present a spreadsheet-like constructive visual component-based interface, which also allows novice users to efficiently find meaningful transfer functions. The interface uses a programming-by-example style approach and exploits the domain knowledge of the user without requiring visualization knowledge. Therefore, our application automatically analysis histograms with the Douglas-Peucker algorithm in order to identify potential structures in the data set. Sample visualizations of the resulting structures are presented to the user who can refine and combine them to more complex visualizations. Preliminary tests confirm that the interface is easy to use, and enables non-expert users to identify structures which they could not reveal with traditional transfer function editors. / <p>Short paper</p>

There is a growing need for custom visualization applications to deal with the rising amounts of volume data to be analyzed in fields like medicine, seismology, and meteorology. Visual programming techniques have been used in visualization and other fields to analyze and visualize data in an intuitive manner. However, this additional step of abstraction often results in a performance penalty during the actual rendering. In order to prevent this impact, a careful modularization of the required processing steps is necessary, which provides flexibility and good performance at the same time. In this paper, we will describe the technical foundations as well as the possible applications of such a modularization for GPU-based volume raycasting, which can be considered the state-of-the-art technique for interactive volume rendering. Based on the proposed modularization on a functional level, we will show how to integrate GPU-based volume ray-casting in a visual programming environment in such a way that a high degree of flexibility is achieved without any performance impact.