Thesis--Copenhagen. / Summary in Danish. Includes bibliographical references (p. 117-133) and index.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Dept. of Economics. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1996. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [143]-147).

Thesis--Copenhagen. / Summary in Danish. Includes index. Bibliography: p. 117-133.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1959. / Typescript. Abstracted in Dissertation abstracts, v. 20 (1959) no. 2, p. 614-615. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 166-171).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Brown University, 2005. / Vita. Thesis advisor: Chi-Wang Shu. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 83-87). Also available online.

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Polymer thin films with the film thickness (h0) below ~ 100 nm often exhibit physical properties different from the bulk counterparts. In order to make the best use of polymer thin films in applications, it is important to understand the physical origins of these deviations. In this dissertation, I will investigate how different factors influence dynamic properties of polymer thin films upon nano-confinement, including glass transition temperature (Tg), effective viscosity (ηeff) and self-diffusion coefficient (D). The first part of this dissertation concerns the impacts of the molecular weight (MW) and tacticity on the Tg’s of nano-confined polymer films. Previous experiments showed that the Tg of polymer films could be depressed or increased as h0 decreases. While these observations are usually attributed to the effects of the interfaces, some experiments suggested that MW’s and tacticities might also play a role. To understand the effects of these factors, the Tg’s of silica-based poly(α-methyl styrene) (PαMS/SiOx) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA/SiOx) thin films were studied, and the results suggested that MW’s and tacticities influence Tg in nontrivial ways. The second part concerns an effort to resolve the long-standing controversy about the correlation between different dynamics of polymer thin films upon nano-confinement. Firstly, I discuss the experimental results of Tg, D and ηeff of poly(isobutyl methacrylate) films supported by silica (PiBMA/SiOx). Both Tg and D were found to be independent of h0, but ηeff decreased with decreasing h0. Since both D and ηeff describe transport phenomena known to depend on the local friction coefficient or equivalently the local viscosity, it is questionable why D and ηeff displayed seemingly inconsistent h0 dependencies. We envisage the different h0 dependencies to be caused by Tg, D and ηeff being different functions of the local Tg’s (Tg,i) or viscosities (ηi). By assuming a three-layer model, we were able to account for the experimental data and resolve the inconsistency. By extending the same ideas to the analogous data of silica-based polystyrene films (PS/SiOx), we found a resolution to the inconsistency regarding the effects of nano-confinement on the dynamics of polymer thin films.

Convection in the Earth's mantle is a complicated phenomenon that causes various tectonic activities and affects mantle evolution on geologic time scales (billions of years). It is a subject as yet not fully understood. The early success of the high Rayleigh number constant viscosity theory was later tempered by the absence of plate motion when the viscosity is more realistically strongly temperature dependent. A similar problem arises if the equally strong pressure dependence of viscosity is considered, since the classical isothermal core convection theory would then imply a strongly variable mantle viscosity, which is inconsistent with results from postglacial rebound studies. We consider a mathematical model for Rayleigh-Bénard convection in a basally heated layer of a fluid whose viscosity depends strongly on both temperature and pressure, defined in an Arrhenius form. The model is solved numerically for extremely large viscosity variations across a unit aspect ratio cell, and steady solutions are obtained. To improve the efficiency of numerical computation, we introduce a modified viscosity law with a low temperature cut-off. We demonstrate that this simplification results in markedly improved numerical convergence without compromising accuracy. Continued numerical experiments suggest that narrow cells are preferred at extreme viscosity contrasts. We are then able to determine the asymptotic structure of the solution, and it agrees well with the numerical results. Beneath a stagnant lid, there is a vigorous convection in the upper part of the cell, and a more sluggish, higher viscosity flow in the lower part of the cell. We then offer some comments on the meaning and interpretation of these results for planetary mantle convection.

Introdução: Doze a 29 % dos ejaculados tem viscosidade seminal aumentada. Uma das técnicas recomendadas para diminuir a viscosidade do sêmen consiste num processo físico em que se passa o sêmen, 4 vezes, por uma seringa de 10 mL com agulha 18G. Ao fim desse processo, ter-se-ia modificado o comportamento molecular das fibrilas protéicas do esperma, tornando-o mais liquefeito, sem dano aparente a morfologia ou motilidade dos espermatozoides. Atualmente, discute-se sobre a total inocuidade desta técnica, uma vez que ela poderia provocar aumento da fragmentação do DNA dos espermatozoides. A hiperviscosidade seminal, além de reduzir a concentração e a motilidade dos espermatozoides, pode afetar a capacitação e a reação acrossômica, podendo ter implicações na integridade do DNA e no desenvolvimento embrionário normal. Objetivo: Comparar a fragmentação do DNA de espermatozoides humanos em amostras com viscosidade diminuída, fisiológica e aumentada, e avaliar se o processo de expulsão do sêmen através da agulha e seringa altera significativamente as taxas de fragmentação do DNA dos espermatozoides. Método: Após a coleta e avaliação dos parâmetros seminais das amostras de sêmen, aquelas que estiverem com viscosidade aumentada passarão pelo processo de expulsão através da seringa de 10 mL com agulha 18G por 4 vezes, para diminuir a viscosidade seminal. Posteriormente, serão feitas análises da fragmentação do DNA dos espermatozoides através da técnica de TUNEL em todas as amostras. Resultados: A fragmentação do DNA entre amostras com viscosidade fisiológica, diminuída e aumentada não apresentou diferença estatisticamente significativa (P=0,857). A fragmentação do DNA aumentou significativamente (P=0,035) nas amostras com viscosidade aumentada após passar na seringa e agulha quando comparadas com as mesmas amostras antes de passar pela mesma. Conclusão: O processo de expulsão do sêmen através de seringa e agulha visando redução da viscosidade seminal aumenta a fragmentação do DNA no espermatozoide, devendo este processo ser substituído por um processo inócuo. / Background: Twelve to 29 % of the ejaculated have the semen viscosity increased. One of the techniques recommended to decrease the viscosity of semen is a physical process in which the semen passes four times through a 10mL syringe with a 18G needle. At the end of this process would have modified the molecular behavior of the protein fibrils of the sperm making it more liquefied, without apparent damage to the morphology or motility of spermatozoa. Currently, the debate is about the complete safety of this technique since it could result in increased DNA fragmentation of spermatozoa. The seminal viscosity moreover reduces the concentration and motility of sperm, can affect the capacitation and acrosome reaction which may have implications for DNA integrity and normal embryonic development. Objective: To compare the DNA fragmentation in human semen samples with reduced, physiological and increased viscosity and evaluate if the process of expulsion of semen through the needle and syringe significantly alter rates of sperm DNA fragmentation. Methods: After collecting and evaluating semen parameters of semen samples, those that are with increased viscosity will pass through the process of expulsion through the 10 mL syringe with a 18G needle four times to reduce the viscosity of semen. After that, analysis of spermatozoa DNA fragmentation through the TUNEL technique will be made in all samples. Results: The fragmentation of DNA between samples with physiological, reduced and increased viscosity is not statistically significant (P=0.857). The DNA fragmentation increased significantly (P=0.035) in samples with increased viscosity after passing the syringe and needle when compared with the same samples before going through the same. Conclusion: The process of expulsion of semen through a syringe and needle in order to reduce the semen viscosity increases the DNA fragmentation in sperm, and this shall be replaced by a harmless process.