The applications of dense gas technology (DGT) in modern particle engineering have shown promising results in producing submicron particles with uniform particle morphology. In this study, two configurations of dense gas antisolvent processes were employed for the micronization, encapsulation and co-precipitation of pharmaceutical compounds. The encapsulation of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) by a pH-responsive polymer (Eudragit?? S100) was successfully performed using the supercritical antisolvent (SAS) process. Nanocomposites of less than 200nm in diameter with encapsulated SPIONs content as high as 16 wt% were achieved. Magnetic characterization of the product was also performed and the data were fitted by the Langevin equation. The superparamagnetic properties of the composites were preserved and the effective magnetic size was about 10 nm. The magnetically and pH-responsive nanocomposites can be potentially utilized as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents and drug carriers. Screening experiments of 8 active pharmaceutical ingredients and 5 pharmaceutical excipients were performed using the recently patented atomized rapid injection solvent extraction (ARISE) process. Candidates with promising product morphology and recovery were selected for co-precipitation studies. The co-precipitation of the anti-cancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and poly l-lactic acid (PLLA) was conducted to develop a controlled release system. Experiments were designed based on a two-level, three-factor factorial design, in order to investigate the effects of processing parameters on product characteristics. Submicron PLLA-5FU composites (diameter<0.8 ??m) with a drug loading of 7.4 wt% were produced.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 1998. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 418-432). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2004. / Supervisors: Daene C. McKinney and Gary A. Pope. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

The advances achieved using X-ray Free Electron Lasers such as the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), have revolutionised the routine production of uniform solid-density plasmas. Pulses of X-rays above 1 keV and with durations shorter than 100 fs attaining intensities on target of around 10¹⁷ Wcm^-2 are now routinely created. Through simple single-photon photoionization events with atoms in ambient solid conditions, it is possible to create uniform samples that are simultaneously hot, dense, and highly ionized which may be easily modelled. This thesis describes measurements of the spectrally-resolved X-rays emitted from solid-density magnesium targets of varying sub-&mu;m thicknesses isochorically heated by an X-ray laser. The data exhibit a thickness-independent source function, allowing the extraction of a measure of the opacity to K-shell X-rays within well-defined regimes of electron density and temperature, extremely close to Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium conditions by fitting to the simple 1D slab solution of the equation of radiative transfer. The deduced opacities at the peak of the K-&alpha; transitions of the ions are consistent with those predicted by detailed atomic-kinetics calculations. The extracted opacities transpire to be robust to a plethora of variations in X-ray drive conditions, including the shape, pulse-length, and energy content. Furthermore the approximations in using the 1D slab solution are examined in detail and found to be good. A full three-dimensional model of the plasma is advanced which includes attenuation, line-of-sight effects, full longitudinal and transverse gradients, and photon time-of-flight effects. The results from this model are found to also agree with the simpler 1D slab solution. This novel method of elucidating opacities may complement other methods based on absorption and could be important for further benchmarking of opacities in solar-interior relevant conditions.

La conversion thermochimique de la biomasse en lit fluidisé circulant permet la production d’un gaz à haute valeur ajoutée, utilisable dans de nombreuses applications. L’objectif de ces travaux est de mieux comprendre et modéliser les phénomènes couplés, hydrodynamiques et réactifs, se déroulant en lit fluidisé circulant. Dans un premier temps, un pilote de pyrogazéification de 20 kg/h de biomasse en lit fluidisé circulant a été conçu. L’étude hydrodynamique de ce pilote a ensuite été réalisée entre 20 et 950 °C. Les résultats ont permis d’établir des règles de design et de fonctionnement de réacteurs de gazéification en lit fluidisé circulant. Dans un second temps, une étude de la pyrogazéification de la biomasse a été réalisée en lit fluidisé dense ainsi qu’en lit fluidisé circulant, entre 750 et 850 °C. L’étude de l’influence de nombreux paramètres opératoires (températures, pression partielle de la vapeur d’eau, débit de biomasse, débit de circulation, inventaire et nature du média, forme de la biomasse) sur les performances de la gazéification a permis d’identifier les paramètres clés permettant de contrôler la composition ainsi que le volume de gaz de synthèse produit. Par ailleurs, à partir des résultats expérimentaux, un schéma réactionnel est proposé pour la pyrolyse de la biomasse étudiée. Enfin, un outil de modélisation du réacteur de gazéification de la biomasse en lit fluidisé dense et circulant, intégrant les réactions de pyrolyse, de gazéification, de water-gas shift et de reformage des goudrons a été développé et validé sur les résultats expérimentaux.

In this thesis, a novel and fast method to compute the dense disparity map of a stereo pair of images is presented. Most of the current stereo matching algorithms are ill suited for real-time matching owing to their time complexity. Methods that concentrate on providing a real-time performance, sacrifice much in accuracy. The presented method, Fast Estimation of Dense Disparity Map Using Pivot Points (FEDDUP), uses a hierarchical approach towards reduction of search space to find the correspondences. The hierarchy starts with a set of points and then it moves on to a mesh with which the edge pixels are matched. This results in a semi-global disparity map. The semi global disparity map is then used as a soft constraint to find the correspondences of the remaining points. This process delivers good real-time performance with promising accuracy.

O presente trabalho tem como tema eficiência de corte dos ciclones de meio denso da planta de beneficiamento da mina de carvão da Vale- Moatize, Moçambique. O foco deste trabalho centra-se na avaliação de eficiência de ciclone de meio denso. As amostras utilizadas nos estudos foram provenientes de ciclones de meio denso da usina da mineradora da Vale- Moatize, de onde foram coletadas amostras em dois ciclones (Dmc1 e Dmc2) sendo que o concentrado do primeiro Ciclone alimenta o segundo ciclone, de onde se obtém dois produtos finais (Carvão metalúrgico e térmico). Este roteiro compreendeu a caracterização, comparação das características de lavabilidade e curvas de Tromp. Estas amostras foram processadas de forma padronizada de modo que os resultados obtidos pudessem ser comparados. As amostras foram secadas a 60°C de modo a retirar o excesso de humidade. Em seguida foram quarteadas e emcaminhadas para o processo de densimétricos. Após o processo densimétrico nas densidades 1,3 á 2,2, seguiu se a análise imediata de cinzas. Com os resultados densimétricos e químicas foi plotado as curvas de separabilidade densimétrica. Quanto aos aspectos de lavabilidade do carvão, apesar da diferença na densidade de corte nos dois ciclones de meio denso, verifica-se uma alta liberação do material orgânico em relação ao material inorgânico nas densidades 1,3; 1,4; e 1,5g/cm3 devido ao processo de formação do carvão e o tempo de carbonificação com que esta matéria orgânica ficou submetida apresentando maiores dificuldades de separação na densidade 1,3 nos dois ciclones. Os parâmetros avaliados foram: densidade de corte (D50), Erro provável médio ( EPM) e Imperfeição (I). Os ciclones mostraram desempenhos satisfatórios. O Dmc1 e Dmc2 apresentaram uma boa eficiência de corte com índice de precisão de 0,02 e 0,05 respectivamente. Portanto mesmo com alimentação bastante variaveis os ciclones apresentaram um densepenho muito similar isto se deve a independéncia da distribuição densimentrica na alimentação. / The present work focuses on cutting efficiency of dense medium cyclones from the Vale- Moatize coal mine beneficiation plant, Mozambique. The focus of this work focuses on the evaluation of dense medium cyclone efficiency. The samples used in the studies were obtained from dense medium cyclones of the Vale-Moatize mining plant, from which samples were collected in two cyclones (Dmc1 and Dmc2) and the concentrate of the first Cyclone feeds the second cyclone, from which one obtains Two final products (metallurgical and thermal coal). This script comprised the characterization, comparison of the washability characteristics and Tromp curves. These samples were processed in a standardized way so that the results obtained could be compared. The samples were dried at 60 ° C to remove excess moisture. Then they were quarteted and headed for the densimetric process. After the densimetric process at densities 1.3 to 2.2, immediate ash analysis was followed. With the densimetric and chemical results the densimetric separability curves were plotted. Regarding the washability aspects of the coal, despite the difference in cut density in the two cyclones of dense medium, there is a high release of the organic material in relation to the inorganic material in the densities 1,3; 1.4; And 1.5g / cm3 due to the process of formation of the coal and the carbonization time with which this organic matter was submitted presenting greater difficulties of separation in the density 1,3 in the two cyclones. The evaluated parameters were: cut density (D50), Mean Probable Error (EPM) and Imperfection (I). Cyclones showed satisfactory performances. The Dmc1 and Dmc2 presented a good cutting efficiency with an accuracy index of 0.02 and 0.05 respectively. Therefore, even with very variable feeding, the cyclones showed a very similar performance, due to the independence of the density distribution in the feed.

Due to digitalization, marketing has shifted from traditional media into being common on the internet today. Dense content marketing is argued to be the strategy which is the most suitable for today’s online-society. Dense content focus on providing the customers with a lot of quality content in the smallest amount of space, weather it is through text, sound or picture. By using dense content, marketing communication is optimised to fit today’s customers who spend a lot of time on mobile devices. Instagram is a platform which provides an opportunity to both send out a company’s message by pictures through their own channel, but also through the usage of social media influencers and sponsored posts. Influencer marketing creates a shortcut to branding and dense content since some influencers has strong personal brands that transfers onto the brand. For companies, it is important to learn about dense content to be able to form a modern marketing strategy that differentiate them from their competitors. The purpose of this thesis was to research the effect of influencer marketing in dense content on brands on Instagram. Primary data has been collected through 15 qualitative interviews that was compared with the frame of references to create an analysis. The analysis is used to answer the research questions, identify branding strategies and increase knowledge about dense content. A part of the purpose was to identify strategies of branding through dense content on Instagram that can be useful for companies when developing their online marketing strategy. The study have provided information which makes it possible to identify strategies and make recommendations to companies that are interested in including this new marketing phonomenon into their branding strategies.

O presente trabalho tem como tema eficiência de corte dos ciclones de meio denso da planta de beneficiamento da mina de carvão da Vale- Moatize, Moçambique. O foco deste trabalho centra-se na avaliação de eficiência de ciclone de meio denso. As amostras utilizadas nos estudos foram provenientes de ciclones de meio denso da usina da mineradora da Vale- Moatize, de onde foram coletadas amostras em dois ciclones (Dmc1 e Dmc2) sendo que o concentrado do primeiro Ciclone alimenta o segundo ciclone, de onde se obtém dois produtos finais (Carvão metalúrgico e térmico). Este roteiro compreendeu a caracterização, comparação das características de lavabilidade e curvas de Tromp. Estas amostras foram processadas de forma padronizada de modo que os resultados obtidos pudessem ser comparados. As amostras foram secadas a 60°C de modo a retirar o excesso de humidade. Em seguida foram quarteadas e emcaminhadas para o processo de densimétricos. Após o processo densimétrico nas densidades 1,3 á 2,2, seguiu se a análise imediata de cinzas. Com os resultados densimétricos e químicas foi plotado as curvas de separabilidade densimétrica. Quanto aos aspectos de lavabilidade do carvão, apesar da diferença na densidade de corte nos dois ciclones de meio denso, verifica-se uma alta liberação do material orgânico em relação ao material inorgânico nas densidades 1,3; 1,4; e 1,5g/cm3 devido ao processo de formação do carvão e o tempo de carbonificação com que esta matéria orgânica ficou submetida apresentando maiores dificuldades de separação na densidade 1,3 nos dois ciclones. Os parâmetros avaliados foram: densidade de corte (D50), Erro provável médio ( EPM) e Imperfeição (I). Os ciclones mostraram desempenhos satisfatórios. O Dmc1 e Dmc2 apresentaram uma boa eficiência de corte com índice de precisão de 0,02 e 0,05 respectivamente. Portanto mesmo com alimentação bastante variaveis os ciclones apresentaram um densepenho muito similar isto se deve a independéncia da distribuição densimentrica na alimentação. / The present work focuses on cutting efficiency of dense medium cyclones from the Vale- Moatize coal mine beneficiation plant, Mozambique. The focus of this work focuses on the evaluation of dense medium cyclone efficiency. The samples used in the studies were obtained from dense medium cyclones of the Vale-Moatize mining plant, from which samples were collected in two cyclones (Dmc1 and Dmc2) and the concentrate of the first Cyclone feeds the second cyclone, from which one obtains Two final products (metallurgical and thermal coal). This script comprised the characterization, comparison of the washability characteristics and Tromp curves. These samples were processed in a standardized way so that the results obtained could be compared. The samples were dried at 60 ° C to remove excess moisture. Then they were quarteted and headed for the densimetric process. After the densimetric process at densities 1.3 to 2.2, immediate ash analysis was followed. With the densimetric and chemical results the densimetric separability curves were plotted. Regarding the washability aspects of the coal, despite the difference in cut density in the two cyclones of dense medium, there is a high release of the organic material in relation to the inorganic material in the densities 1,3; 1.4; And 1.5g / cm3 due to the process of formation of the coal and the carbonization time with which this organic matter was submitted presenting greater difficulties of separation in the density 1,3 in the two cyclones. The evaluated parameters were: cut density (D50), Mean Probable Error (EPM) and Imperfection (I). Cyclones showed satisfactory performances. The Dmc1 and Dmc2 presented a good cutting efficiency with an accuracy index of 0.02 and 0.05 respectively. Therefore, even with very variable feeding, the cyclones showed a very similar performance, due to the independence of the density distribution in the feed.

Esquemas de diagnóstico auxiliado por computador (CAD, do inglês \"computer aided diagnosis\") têm sido desenvolvidos com o objetivo de fornecer subsídios para a detecção precoce do câncer de mama. Nesses esquemas, técnicas de processamento de imagens são utilizadas para indicar a existência de estruturas suspeitas em imagens mamográficas. Entre essas estruturas estão os agrupamentos de microcalcificações (clusters), cuja existência é indicativo da necessidade de uma inspeção mais minuciosa no local. As imagens de mamas densas, características principalmente de mulheres jovens, constituem, no entanto, um desafio para esses esquemas devido ao baixo contraste entre as estruturas de interesse e os demais tecidos representados na imagem mamográfica. Nesta pesquisa, portanto, foram feitas investigações sobre as características das imagens radiográficas de mamas densas, a partir das quais foram desenvolvidas técnicas de realce de contraste que, somadas a outras técnicas de processamento digital, proporcionaram um desempenho mais apropriado de um esquema de processamento para detecção de c1usters. Foram ainda elaboradas técnicas que permitam o trabalho com uma resolução de contraste mais adequada, além de outras que consideram alguns dos parâmetros físicos envolvidos na obtenção das imagens e procedimentos para reduzir diagnósticos falsos-positivos. Os resultados registrados nos testes com diferentes conjuntos de imagens de uma base de dados montada para esse projeto indicam que a combinação das técnicas desenvolvidas permite incrementar o desempenho de um esquema de processamento para detectar agrupamentos de microcalcificações, possibilitando a identificação de estruturas em imagens de baixo contraste, não detectadas em processamento convencional antes do realce de contrate. Como efeito, essa investigação mostra a possibilidade de esquemas CAD em mamografia atingir agora desempenho satisfatório na detecção de microcalcificações em imagens de mamas densas. / Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) schemes have been developed intended to provide information for early detection of breast cancer. Image processing techniques are used in these schemes in order to indicate suspicious structures in mammographic images. Among these structures there are clustered microcalcifications, which usually drive to a more detailed examination in the location where they are. Images corresponding to dense breasts, which are characteristic mainly of young women, are however a challenge to CAD schemes due to the low contrast between the structures of c1inical interest and the other tissues registered on the film. Therefore, investigations were performed in this work on the characteristics of dense breasts radiographic images, from which contrast enhancement techniques were developed. These procedures were joined to other digital processing techniques to provide a better performance for a processing scheme intended to clusters detection. In addition, techniques which allow to work with a more suitable contrast resolution and others which take into account some of the physical parameters involved in the image acquisition process were developed together with a procedure designed to reduce false positive diagnoses. The results obtained during tests with different images sets from a data base developed for this research indicate that combining all the techniques developed here allow to improve the performance of a processing scheme designed to detect microcalcifications clusters, and it also allows to distinguish some of these structures in low contrast images, which were not detected in conventional processing before the contrast enhancement. As consequence, this investigation shows the possibility now for CAD schemes in mammography reaches a better performance in microcalcifications detection in dense breasts images.