Thesis (M.Sc.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2001. / Bibliography: leaves 109-115. Also available online.

Ph.D.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 1999. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-119). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oklahoma. / Bibliography: leaves 114-126.

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on Feb 19, 2010). The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Thesis advisor: Dr. John D. Robertson. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D)--Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009. / Committee Chair: Hasler, Paul; Committee Member: Anderson, David; Committee Member: Degertekin, F.; Committee Member: Ghovanloo, Maysam; Committee Member: Minch, Bradley. Part of the SMARTech Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Collection.

The effective output balancing capability of this balun is proven by the close agreement between the measured and simulated results. Diode detectors are nonlinear devices used for extraction of DC from free space transmission, achieving RF to DC conversion. Detectors are of popular use today in RF-ID tags, virtual batteries, power scavenging, and many other portable applications. The dominating factor on the performance for this device is responsivity (mV/mW), which depends on the input matching, and in the relation of power level to input impedance. Here, an accurate comparison between model measured detectors has been accomplished, and a sensitivity study has been applied to the input impedance to represent variations in responsivity due to input mismatch.At last an End-Loaded Planar Open-Sleeve Dipole (ELPOSD) is realized resulting on a printed dipole structure offering broadband response.

The focus of this dissertation is on the development and circuit modeling of planar series-fed, linear- and circular-polarized microstrip aperture-coupled antennas and N-element arrays operating in C-band. These arrays were designed to be used as part of airborne or land-based frequency-hopped communication systems. One of the main objectives of this work was to maintain a constant beam angle over the frequency band of operation. In order to achieve constant beam pointing versus frequency, an anti-symmetric series-fed approach using lumped-element circuit models was developed. This series feed architecture also balances the power radiated by each element in the N-element arrays. The proposed series-fed approach was used in the development of four-element series-fed aperture-coupled arrays with 15% 10 dB impedance bandwidth centered at 5 GHz and a gain of 11.5 dB, to construct an omni-directional radiator. Omni-directional radiators with pattern frequency stability are desired in a multitude of applications; from defense in tactical communications, information gathering, and detection of signal of interest to being part of sensors in medical applications. A hexagonal assembly of six series-fed microstrip aperture-coupled four-element arrays was used to achieve the omni-directional radiation with 0.6 dB peak to peak difference across 360˚ broadside pattern and 0.6 dB gain variation at the specific azimuth angle across 15% impedance bandwidth. Given that each of these six arrays can be individually controlled, this configuration allows for individual pattern control and reconfiguration of the omni-directional pattern with increased gain at specific azimuth angles and the ability to form a directional pattern by employing a fewer number of arrays. Incorporating a beam-forming network or power distribution network is also possible. Wide 3 dB circular polarization (CP) bandwidth was achieved without external couplers and via only a single feed with a unique Z-slot aperture-coupled microstrip antenna. A single RHCP Z-slot aperture-coupled antenna has ∼10% CP and 10 dB impedance bandwidth. The series-fed network consisting of lumped elements, open-circuited stubs and transmission lines was subsequently developed to maintain more than 5% CP and 10% 10 dB impedance bandwidth in the series-fed four-element Z-slot aperture-coupled CP array that could also be used for-omni-directional radiation.

The application of inductively coupled plasma time-of-flight mass spectrometers (ICP-TOFMS) coupled to electrothermal vaporization (ETV) presents several unique analytical opportunities for isotopic analysis. This dissertation explores several subjects that utilize these characteristics in specific analytical applications. The viability of using the thermal programming abilities of the ETV in order to separate Rb and Sr is explored. These elements are isobaric at m/z 87, and must normally be separated prior to analysis for isotopic studies. Their disparate thermal properties allow them to be separated in time by the ETV allowing for simpler, faster isotope ratio analysis with less opportunity for contamination. A test case using standard potassium feldspar is found to produce moderately accurate and precise results. TOF instruments are of interest for isotope ratio analysis due to inherent isotope ratio precision. However, it has been observed that when operated in the analog data collection mode the isotope ratios observed possess a previously uncharacterized inaccuracy. This bias is rooted in variable detection efficiency of arriving ions, which can be corrected for with an algorithm described within. A method of determining the effective detector efficiency as a function of signal is presented, as well as an evaluation of the effectiveness of ratio correction. The use of ETV with TOF for isotope dilution analysis is explored. Correction of transient signals for efficiency effects is discussed, as well as the viability of using the autosampler for mixing of the solution and spike. A final study presents explores the combination of the ETV and TOF for analysis of a large number of elements from a brief transient signal. A library of peptide covered beads is analyzed for binding capacity to a variety of metals. Solutions containing metals stripped from the beads are analyzed to determine the binding capacity and specificity of the peptide sequence. The beads themselves are also analyzed for metal content using the ETV as an indicator of the efficiency of metal stripping off of the beads. / text

Both electrothermal vaporization (ETV) and nebulizer introduction sources offer unique advantages for inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analyses. A device for coupling the ETV and nebulizer was developed so that a quick switch from the nebulizer to the ETV (termed 'inline-ETV') could help gain additional information. The inline-ETV produced similar limits of detection (LODs) for most elements in both HNO₃ and HCl matrices compared to a conventional nebulizer or ETV. However, in a problematic matrix, isobaric interferences could exist that may not be accounted for in a typical nebulizer analysis. In a 1% HCl matrix, the LODs for ⁵¹V and ⁵³Cr--which are interfered with by ⁵¹ClO⁺ and ⁵³ClO⁺, respectively--improved 65- and 22-fold using the inline-ETV source compared to a typical nebulizer. In recent applications, ICP-MS has gained attention as a way of determining metal-protein associations. A novel broad-based methodology was developed to characterize metal-protein associations. The method utilized native gel electrophoresis for separation followed by electroblotting onto chemically-modified quartz membranes. The membranes were analyzed for metals using laser ablation ICP-MS. Modified membranes were shown to improve sensitivity compared to ablating a dried gel directly or using a commercially-available membrane. The coupling of separation by preparative ultracentrifugation and metal detection by ICP-MS was explored for metal-protein equilibrium determinations. This study characterizes the stoichiometry as well as apparent (K[subscript app]) and intrinsic (K[subscript int]) binding affinities for Cu-BSA, which was used as a model protein. K[subscript app] and K[subscript int] were determined at two different conditions, pH 9.53 and pH 7.93 in 100mM Tris buffer. The pH-independent K[subscript int] value at pH 9.53 agreed closely with literature values, while the value at pH 7.93 was approximately 2.5x larger. BSA undergoes a structural rearrangement between pH 7-9, and the generally accepted pH-dependency of protein tertiary structure may be responsible for the variations in the "intrinsic" binding constant. Overall, this study validates and shows the efficacy of combining preparative ultracentrifugation with ICP-MS detection for interrogating metal-protein associations while causing minimal equilibrium perturbations as a result of the separation and measurement processes. / text