The hybrid Zero Valent Iron (hZVI) process is a novel chemical treatment platform that has shown great potential in our previous bench-scale tests for removing selenium, mercury and other pollutants from Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) wastewater. This integrated treatment system employs new iron chemistry to create highly reactive mixture of Fe^0, iron oxides (FeOx) and various forms of Fe (II) for the chemical transformation and mineralization of various heavy metals in water. To further evaluate and develop the hZVI technology, a pilot-scale demonstration had been conducted to continuously treat 1-2 gpm of the FGD wastewater for five months at Plant Wansley, a coal-fired power plant of Georgia Power. This demonstrated that the scaled-up system was capable of reducing the total selenium (of which most was selenate) in the FGD wastewater from over 2500 ppb to below 10 ppb and total mercury from over 100 ppb to below 0.01 ppb. This hZVI system reduced other toxic metals like Arsenic (III and V), Chromium (VI), Cadmium (II), Lead (II) and Copper (II) from ppm level to ppb level in a very short reaction time. The chemical consumption was estimated to be approximately 0.2-0.4 kg of ZVI per 1 m^3 of FGD water treated, which suggested the process economics could be very competitive. The success of the pilot test shows that the system is scalable for commercial application. The operational experience and knowledge gained from this field test could provide guidance to further improvement of technology for full scale applications. The hZVI technology can be commercialized to provide a cost-effective and reliable solution to the FGD wastewater and other metal-contaminated waste streams in various industries. This technology has the potential to help industries meet the most stringent environmental regulations for heavy metals and nutrients in wastewater treatment.

Syftet med denna studie är att granska hur lärarna för åk 1-7 i en skola utanför Sverige arbetar förebyggande och åtgärdande mot mobbning inom ramen för Zero-programmet. Genom att ta reda på hur lärarna uppfattar mobbning och Zero-programmet vill jag bidra till forskningen som rör skolors aktiva insatser mot mobbning. Studien bygger på kvalitativa intervjuer där informanterna fick beskriva sitt aktiva förebyggande och åtgärdande arbete mot mobbning samt beskriva sin uppfattning om mobbning och Zero-programmet. Ur mitt material kom jag att utläsa tre olika diskurser vad gäller synen på mobbning. Vad gäller utsagorna om det förebyggande och åtgärdande arbetet utkristalliserades diskurserna: noll-tolerans och återkoppling, uttalade förväntningar, omvårdnad och delaktighet. Informanternas utsagor om Zero-programmet mynnade ut i diskurserna: värdet av en gemensam helhetssyn och vikten av implementering och aktualisering av programidé. Jag drar slutsatsen att uppfattningen om att det existerar en helhetssyn kring mobbningsfrågor på skolan kan ifrågasättas då det också uttrycks en efterfrågan på mer kompetensutbildning/diskussioner i ämnet för att förhindra ”programtrötthet” och då det finns upplevda brister vad gäller kunskap om programmet (Skolverket b, 2009). Jag drar också slutsatsen att det är lättare att ta till sig konkreta verktyg i ett program än att relatera till den egna lärarrollen i det förebyggande arbetet mot mobbning. I ett större perspektiv kom jag fram till att det inte finns så mycket forskning om Zero-programmet, vilket gör min undersökning relevant vad gäller forskning om antimobbningsprogram. Jag har också kunnat klarlägga att lärarna utgår från tre olika synsätt på mobbning trots att de arbetar med ett och samma program.

Abstract Den här uppsatsen beskriver examensarbetet Ljus och aktivitet. Syftet med projektet har varit att ifrågasätta invanda tankemönster och förhållningssätt och på så sätt hitta nya och relevanta lösningar för en traditionell armatur. Uppsatsen beskriver ljuset kopplat till aktivitet ur användarnas perspektiv, hur de upplever ljuset kopplat till deras hem och hur de använder sina rum. Ljuset beskrivs även utifrån ett historiskt, socialt, emotionellt och biologiskt perspektiv men också hur ljuset skapar rumslighet genom kontraster. Upplevelsen av det naturliga ljusets variationer finns som en underliggande ton i arbetet. Utvecklingen av LED - tekniken skapar nya möjligheter och det här arbetet är ett försök att genom LED – tekniken hitta nya lösningar till en traditionell produkt. Uppsatsen är också ett försök att beskriva designprocessen, de verktyg jag använt t ex ITK och introspektion mm. Vad jag kommit fram till och resultatet, men också hur jag ser på min roll som designer. Resultatet är en flytt- och bärbar armatur där ljuset regleras vid närvaro i rummet, men också manuellt efter aktivitet och situation.

As the increasing demand for high data-rate multimedia servicesin wireless broadband access, the advance wireless communication technologies have been developed rapidly. The Long-Term Evolution (LTE) is the new standard for wireless broadband access recently specified by the 3GPP(3rd Generation Partnership Project) on the way towards the fourth-generation mobile. In this thesis, we are interested in the 3GPP-LTE technology and focus on the turbo coding technique used therein. By employing MATLAB/Simulink, we build up the turbo codec simulation platform for 3GPP-LTE system. Two convolutional encoders that realize the concept of parallel concatenated convolutional codes (PCCCs) and a quadratic permutation polynomial (QPP) interleaver are used to implement the turbo encoder. The a posteriori probability (APP) decoder built-in Simulink is utilized to design the decoder that performs the soft-input and soft-output Viterbi Algorithm (SOVA). The zero-order hold block is used to control the number of decoding iteration for the iterative decoding process. We carry out the 3GPP-LTE turbo codec performance in the AWGN channel on the developed platform. Various cases that consider different data length, the number of decoding iteration, interleaver and decoding algorithm are simulated. The simulation results are compared to those of the Xilinx 3GPP-LTE turbo codec. The comparisons show that our turbo codec works properly and meets the LTE standard.

We study thoroughly Casimir energy and Casimir force in a rectangular cavity and piston with various boundary conditions, for both scalar field and electromagnetic (EM) field. Using the cylinder kernel approach, we find the Casimir energy exactly and analyze the Casimir energy and Casimir force from the point of view of closed classical paths (or optical paths). For the scalar field, we study the rectangular cavity and rectangular piston with all Dirichlet conditions and all Neumann boundary conditions and then generalize to more general cases with any combination of Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions. For the EM field, we first represent the EM field by 2 scalar fields (Hertz potentials), then relate the EM problem to corresponding scalar problems. We study the case with all conducting boundary conditions and then replace some conducting boundary conditions by permeable boundary conditions. By classifying the closed classical paths into 4 kinds: Periodic, Side, Edge and Corner paths, we can see the role played by each kind of path. A general treatment of any combination of boundary conditions is provided. Comparing the differences between different kinds of boundary conditions and exploring the relation between corresponding EM and scalar problems, we can understand the effect of each kind of boundary condition and contribution of each kind of classical path more clearly.

In this research, nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) was synthesized using the chemical reduction method. Experimental results have revealed that nanoiron synthesized by the reagent-grade chemicals had a size range of 50-80 nm, as determined by FE SEM. BET specific surface area of thus synthesized nanoparticles was 66.34 m2/g. NZVI prepared by the industrial-grade chemicals had a broader particle size distribution (30-80 nm) and its BET specific surface area was 61.50 m2/g. Results of XRD showed that both types of NZVI were composed of iron with a poor crystallinity. Additional test results further showed that both types of NZVI had similar characteristics. NZVI prepared by the chemical reduction method tends to aggregate resulting in a significant loss in reactivity. To overcome this disadvantage, four water-soluble dispersants were used in different stages of the NZVI preparation process. Of these, Dispersant A (an anionic surfactant) has shown its superior stabilizing capability to others. An addition of 0.5 vol % Dispersant A during the nanoiron preparation process would result in a good stability of NZVI slurry (NZVIS). Degradation of trichloroethylene (TCE) by NZVIS under different atmospheres was carried out in batch experiments. Experimental results have shown that the TCE dechlorination rate increased markedly when the reaction proceeded under hydrogen gas atmosphere as compared with that of air. Methane was the primary end product with a trace amount of ethane and ethylene when the reaction was conducted under the atmosphere of H2. It was suggested that an addition of H2 to the reaction system could promote the hydrogenolysis reaction for better degradation. On the other hand, ethane was the main product when the reaction system consisted of nanoscale palladized iron and H2 atmosphere. It demonstrated that Pd-catalyzed TCE dechlorination has resulted in a direct conversion of TCE to ethane in the study. The greatest dechlorination rate was obtained when 2 g/L nanoscale palladized iron and 50 mL H2 was employed in the reaction system. Under the circumstances, the TCE (10 mg/L) removal efficiency was up to 99 % in 3 minutes. Experimental results have demonstrated that the reaction system with both nanoscale palladized iron and H2 atmosphere would promote TCE degradation rate. The culture of microorganism in soil showed minor changes to microbial community structures between the pre- and post-injection conditions. The number of microorganism colony was found to be increased after adding 1 mL NZVIS to 1 g soil. Experimental results revealed that NZVIS would not cause the inhibition or reduction of microorganism activity. Surface modification of NZVI slurry by Dispersant A could enhance its transport in saturated porous media. Sticking coefficients were determined to be 0.56 and 0.11, respectively, for bare and Dispersant A-modified NZVIS transporting in quartz sand columns. The sticking coefficient for modified NZVIS transport in soil (loamy sand) column was determined to be 0.0061. Apparently, NZVIS modified by Dispersant A would enhance the transport of NZVI in saturated porous media. The results of combining electrokinetic technology and NZVIS injection tests in horizontal soil column illustrated that the sticking coefficient was 0.00034 and the total content of iron reduced 10 wt. %. Experimental results revealed that the transport distance of NZVIS in saturated horizontal soil column would be greatly increased under electronkinetic conditions.

Let P and Q be two idempotents, we review the results about the equivalence between the invertibility of a linear combination aP +bQ and that of P +Q, where a and b are any nonzero complex numbers with a + b eq 0. It is possible to extend the results to the case P and Q are square-zero elements. However, we will show that these extensions are impossible in general for P and Q being partial isometries or n-potents with n geq 3. We will show in case P and Q are square-zero elements, the invertibility of P +Q is equivalent to that of aP +bQ for nonzero a, b.

This thesis proposes an analytical method to synthesize bandpass filter with multiple transmission zeros. By using the six pre-determined parameters including two reflection zeros, two matching quality factors, and two transmission zeros, the method can exactly synthesize the corresponding prototype of second-order coupled-resonator bandpass filter. The synthesized filters not only can provide two pre-determined transmission zeros in the lower and upper side of the passband, but also can generate an extra transmission zero in the stopband. This thesis presents the prototypes of the bandpass filter and the methods of synthesis in detail. Finally this thesis implements compact LTCC bandpass filters by using the proposed synthesis method for 3.5 GHz WiMAX applications.

Mainland China and Taiwan successfully joined WTO to be active members in December 2001 and January 2002. They relax economic and trade restrictions from both sides and make the relevant regulations and mechanisms more transparent year by year. Since May 2005, Mainland China implemented preferential policies, such as zero tariff, clearing customs and opening ' the fast roadway ' to many kinds of Taiwan¡¦s fruits, etc.That makes the proportion of Taiwan¡¦s fruits sold in Mainland China improve year by year, and the marketing stronghold expand constantly, too. According to the past documents and experiences, Taiwan fruit is relatively suitable for taking the gift box and up-market route, and aims at the demand of the high consumption group. Because most people in Mainland China consume the goods for freshness or the demands of giving a present, they would not purchase it in usual time. Therefore, we should avoid depending too much on some agricultural products and overly concentrate on the specific country. What we need to do is carrying on the global market survey, opening up the new service stronghold actively in order to improve the competitiveness of agricultural products in our country. In addition, the consumption habits between the South and North of Mainland China are different. We should make variable marketing strategies for different consumption ethnicities and match their demands and preferences. We set up an empirical model by using Time Series Analysis and actual data. The research includes the weight and amount sold to Mainland China, policy of zero tariff, old farmers¡¦ subsidies, areas of fruit trees, transportation and storage, Taiwan¡¦s inflation rate and processed goods of farm production. The main conclusion shows that the effect of zero tariff policy is not good enough to Taiwan¡¦s export sales. The possible reason may be that the cross-strait system is not sound. Finally, we compare the changes in production of Taiwan fruits between Years 2004-2008, and choose three levels of Taiwan fruits. The First one is new stars, like betel nuts, mango, orange, grapefruits and shakya. The second one is keeping it¡¦s level, like jujube, pineapple, guava, papaya, starfruit and wax apple. The third one is lack of competition, like coconut, peach, banana, orange, lemon, plum, persimmon, loquat, etc. The possible reason may be come from outside pressure or not suitable to plant in Taiwan.

As demand for energy is skyrocketing around the globe, environmental challenges are becoming more severe than ever before. Carbon dioxide, methane gas and other greenhouse gases are rapidly contributing to global warming and ozone depletion phenomenon. Buildings are among major contributors of greenhouse gases. They are consuming more than 40% of total energy and three quarter of the total electricity in the United States. It is to some distance the responsibility of building design professionals to address the impacts of their practice on the environment by reducing the energy consumption and carbon emission of their projects. This thesis aims to create a practical design guideline to help architects design energy-neutral homes in North America. The study's primary emphasis is on reducing building energy demand by implementing core principles of building physics into the design process throughout a case study project. What makes this process unique compared to other existing green design programs is its focus on architect's knowledge to implement core energy saving design strategies into design and evaluate their performance with a normative simulation tool. Selection and analysis of building systems, financial evaluation of cost effective systems and materials, uncertainty analysis of building systems, construction cost estimating and marketing analysis of the case study project, demonstrate simple strategies for designers to use in projects with higher sensitivity. In conclusion, the idea behind this methodology is building marketable energy-neutral homes in the current market with existing materials and none-complex technologies. The success of this design method is depends on the knowledge and skills of architects in building science, architectural design, and building construction. Despite barriers and many uncertainties embedded in this process, moving toward energy-neutral homes will have positive impacts on environment even if it could not reach the Net-Zero balance.