Resorcinarenes can be functionalized at their upper and lower rims. In this work, the upper rim of a resorcinarene was functionalized with glutamic acids and the lower rim was functionalized with either methyl or undecyl alkyl groups. The cavitands were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), mass spectrometry (MS), UV-vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and electron microscopy. The binding of resorcinarene with amine guests was studied in DMSO by UV-vis titration. The obtained binding constants (K values) were in the range of 12,000-136000 M-1. The resorcinarenes were shown to form aggregates in a variety of solvents. The aggregates were spherical as confirmed by DLS, SEM and TEM experiments. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) experiments revealed the size of the aggregates could be controlled by cavitand concentration, pH, and temperature. The resorcinarene with undecyl alkyl group were adsorbed onto 55% cross-linked styrene-divinylbenzene resin to prepare a new stationary phases for ion chromatography (IC) columns. The new column packing material was applied in determination of uremic toxins and water contaminants. The new IC column afforded separation of the five uremic toxins : guanidinoacetic acid, guanidine, methylguanidine, creatinine, and guanidinobenzoic acid in 30 minutes. Detection and quantification of uremic toxins helps diagnose kidney problems and start patient care. Gradient elutions at ambient temperature with methanesulfonic acid (MSA) as eluent resulted in detection levels in water from 10 to 47 ppb and in synthetic urine from 28 to 180 ppb. Trace levels of creatinine (1 ppt) were detected in the urine of a healthy individual using the columns. The new IC stationary phase separated cationic pharmaceuticals including a group of guanidine compounds in surface water. Detection limits in the range of 5 - 32 µg L-1 were achieved using integrated pulsed amperometric detection (IPAD) for guanidine (G), methylguanidine (MG), 1,1-dimethylbiguanidine (DMG), agmatine (AGM), guanidinobenzoic acid (GBA) and cimetidine (CIM). Suppressed conductivity (CD) and UV-vis detection resulted in limits of detection similar to IPAD, in the range of 1.7 - 66 µg L-1, but were not able to detect all of the analytes. Three water sources, river, lake, and marsh, were analyzed and despite matrix effects, sensitivity for guanidine compounds was in the 100 µg L-1 range and apparent recoveries were 80-96 %. The peak area precision was 0.01 - 2.89% for IPAD, CD and UV-vis detection.

A novel method is shown for fitting and/or validating electro-thermal models using pulsed I(V) measurements and pulsed I(V) simulations demonstrated using modifications of an available non-linear model for an LDMOS (Laterally Diffused Metal Oxide Semiconductor) device. After extracting the thermal time constant, good agreement is achieved between measured and simulated pulsed I(V) results under a wide range of different pulse conditions including DC, very short (<0.1%) duty cycles, and varied pulse widths between these extremes. A pulsed RF load-pull test bench was also assembled and demonstrated for a VDMOS (Vertically Diffused Metal Oxide Semiconductor) and an LDMOS power transistor. The basic technique should also be useful for GaAs and GaN transistors with suitable consideration for the complexity added by trapping mechanisms present in those types of transistors.

Abstract not available

Abstract not available

Interest in the variation of fundamental constants has recently been stimulated by claims that the fine structure constant, α, was smaller in the past. Physicists are investigating whether α is currently varying using a number of methods including atomic clock experiments and quasar absorption spectra. To date atomic clock experiments have not reached the same level of precision as the quasar results but the precision to which transition frequencies are being measured is increasing dramatically and very soon atomic clock experiments based on Earth will be able to rival or surpass the quasar results. In order to relate the change in transition frequencies to a variation of α accurate calculations of relativistic effects in atoms and their dependence upon α are needed. Other effects, such as the small shift of transition frequencies due to blackbody radiation also need to be accounted for. In this thesis we perform accurate calculations of the dependence of transition frequencies in two-valence-electron atoms and ions on a variation of α. The relativistic Hartree-Fock method is used with many-body perturbation theory and configuration interaction methods to calculate transition frequencies. We also consider transitions with an enhanced sensitivity to α variation. In particular, narrow lines that correspond to atomic transitions between close lying, long-lived atomic states of different configurations. The small transition frequency, coupled with differences in the electron structure ensures a strong enhancement of the relative frequency change compared to a possible change in α . We also show that using the modified form of the Dirac Hamiltonian, as suggested by Bekenstein, does not affect the analysis of the quasar data pertaining to a measurement of α variation, nor does it affect atomic clock experiments. Finally we have performed calculations of the size of the frequency shift induced by a static electric field on the clock transition frequencies of the hyperfine splitting in Y b+, Rb, Cs, Ba+, and Hg+. The calculations are used to find the frequency shifts due to blackbody radiation which are needed for accurate frequency measurements and improvements of the limits on variation of α. Our result for Cs [??v/=E2 = -2:26(2) x 10-10Hz/(V/m)2] is in good agreement with early measurements and ab initio calculations. We present arguments against recent claims that the actual value might be smaller. The difference (~ 10%) is due to the continuum spectrum in the sum over intermediate states.

Let M Φ and Mψ be elements of PSL(2,C) representing orientation preserving isometries on the upper half-space model of hyperbolic 3-space Φ and ψ respectively. The parameters β = tr2(M Φ) - 4, β1 = tr2(Mψ) - 4, γ = tr[M Φ,Mψ] - 2, determine the discrete group (Φ ,ψ) uniquely up to conjugacy whenever γ ≠ 0. This thesis is concerned with explicitly lifting this parameterisation of (Φ , ψ) to PSO(1, 3) realised as a discrete 2 generator subgroup of orientation preserving isometries on the hyperboloid model of hyperbolic 3-space. We particularly focus on the case where both Φ and ψ are elliptic.

La diffusion inélastique de rayons X (IXS) est un outil pour la détermination de la dispersion des phonons dans les systèmes mono-cristallines. Cependant, les nouveaux matériaux ou les cristaux dans des conditions extrême ne sont souvent disponible que sous forme polycristalline. Il n'est ainsi possible d'en extraire que des propriétés moyennées. Pour surmonter ces limitations, nous avons développé une méthode qui permet d'extraire la dispersion du système mono-cristallin à partir de données obtenues sur un échantillon polycristallin. Dans cette nouvelle approche, nous enregistrons des spectres IXS pour une large gamme de moments transférés que nous confrontons à un calcul modèle (Born – von Kármán). Un ajustement de ce calcul par la méthode des moindre carrés nous permet alors de remonter à la dispersion du mono-cristal. Des expériences sur des systèmes de plus en plus complexes ont été realisées afin de développer la méthode et d'éprouver les limites de la méthode.

<p>Today’s diesel engines are complex with systems like VGT and EGR to be able to fulfil the stricter emission legislations and the demands on the fuel consumption. Controlling a system like this demands a sophisticated control system. Furthermore, the authorities demand on self diagnosis requires an equal sophisticated diagnosis system. These systems require good knowledge about the signals present in the system and how they affect each other.</p><p>One way to achieve this is to have a good model of the system and based on this calculate an observer. The observer is then used to estimate signals used for control and diagnosis. Advantages with an observer instead of using just sensors are that the sensor signals often are noisy and need to be filtered before they can be used. This causes time delay which further complicates the control and diagnosis systems. Other advantages are that sensors are expensive and that some engine quantities are hard to measure.</p><p>In this Master’s thesis a model of a Scania diesel engine is developed and an observer is calculated. Due to the non-linearities in the model the observer is based on a constant gain extended Kalman filter.</p>

<p>IDCT (Inverse Discrete Cosine Transform) is a common algorithm being used with image and sound decompression. The algorithm is a Fourier related transform which can occur in many different types like, one-dimensional, two-dimensional, three-dimensional and many more.</p><p>The goal with this thesis is to create a fast and low effect version of two-dimensional IDCT algorithm, where techniques as multiple-constant multiplication and subexpression sharing plus bit-serial and bit-parallel arithmetic are used.</p><p>The result is a hardware implementation with power consumption at 19,56 mW.</p>

<p>Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is an analytical technique that is very useful for investigating processes that modify the charge and mass of proteins and polypeptide pharmaceuticals. This report explores the ability of CE to determine the aggregation constant between insulin molecules. Bovine insulin is a polypeptide (Mw=5733, pI = 5.3) that has two α-amino groups (Gly and Phe) and one ε–amino group (Lys). Analysis of concentration dependence of electrophoretic mobility of insulin at different conditions yields the association constant for dimerization of insulin. The association constant estimates how tight the peptide molecules are associated. The association constant is a useful factor to evaluate the purity of a peptide or protein sample.</p><p>The association reaction of bovine insulin molecules was found to be favoured by temperature. The association constants were 7200 M -1, 8000 M -1, and 36000 M -1 at 15 oC, 25 oC and 35 oC, respectively. The interactions between the peptide molecules increase at higher temperature, resulting in stronger association. The association constant was estimated to be 3000 M -1in the presence of dioxane (5%, w/v %) at 25 oC. However, the interaction sites remain to be explored.</p>