Most acoustic measurements and parameters provided by a manufacturer of acoustic elements, which are offering additional solutions to room acoustics as well as acoustic construction works, are mainly limited to the parameters associated with absorption of individual elements. Until now, these diffusional elements have been neglected. Diffusi- onal panels are used to e.g. eliminate direct reflection of sound waves to the listener or reflection of sound waves concentrated at one point. Combination of absorptive acoustic panels and diffusion elements results in a space that is customised to the submitter’s needs.

銷售力一直是一個企業關切的主要議題，借助Vidale-Wolfe數學模型，我們提出一個銷售力數學模型。藉由熱傳導方程，刻畫由資訊交流產生的自身銷售力。在資訊交流及商品促銷下產生的銷售力，可經由非齊次熱傳導方程描繪。然而，我們無法以單一非齊次熱傳導方程描繪所有情況，因此，模型建立與問題解決須於不同情況下逐一地討論。 透過充分的數據，銷售力是可以被預估的；另外，我們也可以利用此模型，對於行銷策略加以評估。 異於以往大部分的研究，此模型加入了空間上的概念，對於傳導現象而言，這是相當重要的。 / Sale intensity is always one of the major subjects that business is concerned about. We propose a mathematical model based on the concept given by Vidale-Wolfe to characterize the behavior of sale intensity. Using the sense of diffusion in heat equation, we could characterize the behavior of sale intensity starting from the spontaneous sale intensity caused by the circulating of information. The behavior of changing on sale intensity under the effect of diffusing by the circulating of information and the promoting activities can be generally modeled as nonhomogeneous heat equations. However, because of the great difference between cases, the problem formulating and model solving cannot be generally modeled as one certain nonhomogeneous heat equation and are restricted to be discussed case by case.% The further sale intensity is predictable possibly with sufficient data, but without sufficient data, we can also use the model to appraise the spontaneous sale intensity and the benefit of each advertising strategy in practical. Different from most previous relevant studies, the model supports the studies of sale intensity diffusing over geographic regions, which is especially of significance in spontaneous sale intensity.

L’objectif principal de ce travail de recherche est d’améliorer les connaissances concernant l’influence de la morphologie de particules issues de combustion sur leur comportement thermophorétique. A cet effet, un dispositif tri-therme (3T) original permettant le dépôt par thermophorèse de ce type de particules a été développé. Cet instrument est composé de trois tubes concentriques, permettant la création d’un espace annulaire où un gaz chargé en particules est injecté. Le tube interne est refroidi et le tube externe est chauffé, créant ainsi un gradient de température dans l’espace annulaire. Les particules se déposent donc par effet thermophorétique sur la paroi froide du tube interne du dispositif. Ce dernier est basé sur la méthode dite de pénétration, où des mesures de concentrations à l’amont et à l’aval du dispositif permettent l’évaluation de l’efficacité de dépôt par effet thermophorétique. Un modèle du rendement de dépôt développé dans cette étude a permis par la suite de calculer le coefficient de diffusion thermophorétique Kth. Afin de valider la mise en œuvre de ce dispositif expérimental, nous avons évalué les coefficients Kth de billes de latex monodispersées et de deux types de brouillards d’huiles mono et polydispersés. Le bon accord trouvé entre ces valeurs du coefficient Kth et celles déterminées par le modèle de Beresnev et Chernyak ou par des études expérimentales antérieure, a permis la validation du dispositif 3T. Nous avons par la suite appliqué le dispositif avec des agrégats de suies de morphologie et de nature physico chimique variables. Les résultats obtenus mettent en évidence l’augmentation du coefficient de diffusion thermophorétique avec le nombre de particules primaires, et donc avec la taille de l’agrégat, confirmant ainsi les résultats obtenus par Mackowski et Brugière. Une confrontation entre les coefficients de diffusion thermophorétique Kth obtenus pour les différents types d’agrégats a été proposée. Cette confrontation a permis de dégager des tendances vis-à-vis de l’influence de la taille des particules primaires, de la dimension fractale Df et du ratio EC/TC sur le comportement thermophorétique des agrégats de suies / The main objective of this study is to improve the knowledge about the morphological influence of fractal aggregates on their thermophoretic behavior. For this purpose, an original tri thermal device aimed to capture this kind of particles by thermophoresis deposition was developed. This device is composed of three concentric tubes where particles flows through an annular space between the inner and outer tubes with imposed temperatures, the inner one is cooled and the outer is heated. Particles will deposit by thermophoresis on the cold wall of the inner tube. This device is based on the so called penetration method, where the deposition rate on a cold wall is obtained by particles concentrations measurements upstream and downstream of the test section. A deposition model developed in this study allowed us to determine the thermophoretic diffusion coefficient Kth. We validated the tri thermal device using monodispersed spherical latex particles and also mono and polydispersed spherical oil particles distributions. Indeed, a good agreement was found between our experimental determination of the thermophoretic diffusion coefficient and the theoretical values of Beresnev and Chernyak and also experimental results of the litterature. We finally conducted a study where we applied the device with soot aggregates that have variable morphology and physicochemical nature. This study confirmed the results presented by Mackowski and Brugière about the increase of the aggregates thermophoretic diffusion coefficients Kth with the primary particle number and therefore with the electrical mobility diameter. A confrontation between the coefficients Kth of the different types of aggregates allowed us to find an influence of the primary particles diameter, the fractal dimension Df and also the ratio EC/TC on the thermophoretic behavior of soot aggregates

Accuracy in the effective diffusion coefficient of the gas diffusion layer (GDL)/microporous layer (MPL) is important to accurately predict the mass transport limitations for high current density operation of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells. All the previous studies regarding mass transport limitations were limited to pure GDLs, and experimental analysis of the impact of the MPL on the overall diffusion in the porous GDL is still lacking. The MPL is known to provide beneficial water management properties at high current operating conditions of PEM fuel cells but its small pore sizes become a resistance in the diffusion path for mass transport to the catalyst layer. A modified Loschmidt cell with an oxygen-nitrogen mixture is used in this work to determine the effect of MPL on the effective diffusion coefficients. It is found that Knudsen effects play a dominant role in the diffusion through the MPL where pore diameters are less than 1 μm. Experimental results show that the effective diffusion coefficient of the MPL is only about 21% that of its GDL substrate and Knudsen diffusion accounts for 80% of the effective diffusion coefficient of the GDL with MPL measured in this study. No existing correlations can correlate the effective diffusion coefficient with significant Knudsen contribution.

The topographical variations of the seas around Taiwan are great, which make the tides complicated. Taiwan is located in the juncture of the tropical and subtropical area. Geographically, it is located within the region of northwestern Pacific typhoon path. These seasonal and geographical situations causing Taiwan frequently threaten by typhoons during summer and autumn. In addition to natural disasters, the coastal area is over developed for the last few decades, which destroys the balance between nature and man. Storms and floods constantly threaten the lowland areas along the coast. An accurate and efficient storm surge model can be used to predict tides and storm surges. The model can be calibrated and verified with the field observations. Data measured by instruments at the tidal station constituting daily tidal variations and storm surge influences during typhoons. The model can offer both predictions to the management institutions and to the general public as pre-warning system and thus taking disaster-prevention measures. This study implements the numerical model, developed by Yu (1993) and Yu et al. (1994) to calculate the hydrodynamic in the seas around Taiwan. The main purpose of this study is to make a calibration and sensitivity analysis of the model parameters. Tidal gauge data around Taiwan coastal stations collected from June to October 2005 are used for the analysis and the comparison between the modeled data and the observations. Two steps have been taken for the model calibration and sensitivity analysis. First step is to calibrate the model for accurate prediction of the astronomical tide, and then the compound tide with meteorological influences. For the calibration of the astronomical tides, sensitivity analysis has been carried out by adjusting the horizontal diffusion coefficient and the bottom friction coefficients used in the model. The sensitivity of the time-step size used in the model and model grids fitted to coastlines are also checked. A depth dependent Chézy numbers are used in the model to describe bottom friction. The model has a better result when the Chézy value varied within 65 to 85. Modifying grids fitted to the coastline has improved the model results significantly. By improving the dynamic phenomenon brought about by the land features, the model calculation fits the real tidal phenomenon better. The analysis has shown that the model is less sensitive to the horizontal diffusion coefficient. Data from 22 tidal stations around Taiwan have been used for the comparisons. The maximum RMSE (root-mean-square error) is about 10 cm at WAi-Pu, whereas the minimum RMSE is about 1 cm for the stations along eastern coast. The calibration of the compound tide is divided into three cases. The first case is to calibrate the forecasted wind field. This has been done by comparing the forecasted wind field from the Central Weather Bureau with the satellite data obtained from QuikSCAT¡XLevel 3. The satellite wind speed has been applied to adjust the forecasted wind speed. The adjusted forecast wind field has shown improvement to the model predictions in the tidal stations south of Taichung, slightly improved in the eastern coast. The second case is tuning the drag coefficient on sea surface used by the hydrodynamic model. Several empirical formulas to describe the sea surface drag have been tested. The model result has shown little influence using various drag formulations. The third case is to single the influences by the meteo-inputs, i.e. the wind field and the atmospheric pressure. The tidal level is more sensitive to the variation of the atmospheric pressure through out the tests carried out during typhoon periods. The model simulation for 2006 using the best selected parameters has shown that the model is consisted with good stability and accuracy for both stormy and calm weather conditions.

Dexamethasone and dexamethasone 21-phosphate were loaded into NDGA-polymerized collagen fibers and release rate studies were performed to calculate their diffusion coefficients. Dexamethasone loaded fibers were placed in a PBS solution for specified time intervals (1, 3, 6, 7, 12, 24, 30, and 48 hours) after which the eluant was removed and analyzed by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). CZE is a tool that can be utilized for quantitative analysis of chemical compounds. This data was incorporated into mathematical models to determine the diffusion coefficient. The diffusion coefficient (D) for dexamethasone in NDGA-polymerized collagen fibers is D = 1.86 x 10⁻¹⁴ m²/s. Similarly, dexamethasone 21-phosphate loaded fibers were placed into a PBS solution and analyzed using CZE at these specified intervals (15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 minutes). Applying this data to the mathematical model provided a diffusion coefficient for dexamethasone 21-phosphate in NDGA-polymerized collagen fibers of D = 2.36 x 10⁻¹³ m²/s. In an effort to control drug delivery from these fibers a polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) coating was applied to the fibers. This coating helped sustain delivery of dexamethasone 21-phosphate for over a 100 day period. CZE experiments were again conducted in conjunction with another mathematical model to characterize release. A semi steady-state diffusion coefficient was estimated to be D = 4.59 x 10⁻¹⁴ m²/s.

Previous studies on wood instability have identified some wood basic properties which influence the timber distortion and shape changes while the wood is losing or gaining moisture. These properties include wood anisotropic shrinkage, equilibrium moisture content (EMC) in both desorption and adsorption, fibre saturation point (FSP) and water diffusion coefficient. This study investigated the stability related wood properties and their variations within the stems of the New Zealand grown radiata pine trees. The basic density, EMC and shrinkage for the earlywood and the latewood were also experimentally determined. In taking into account these properties and their variations, an analytical model was developed to simulate the wood distortion. The equilibrium moisture content was determined at 30°C and humidity range from 27% to 90%. It was found that the EMC difference between the earlywood and the latewood was negligible. The experimental results also show that the EMC decreases from pith towards the bark over the disc cross section and the trend is most obvious at high humidities (70-90%). Along the tree height, the EMC decreases from ground towards the top of the stem. The tangential shrinkage results were highly variable but, in general, the latewood has higher values than the earlywood. The opposite trend was found for the longitudinal shrinkage, higher values for the earlywood than the latewood. In the tree height direction, the tangential shrinkage was found to decrease with the tree height. This follows the same trend as the microfibril angle which in general also decreases with the tree height. The fibre saturation point (FSP) was determined from the tangential shrinkage values at different equilibrium moisture contents. These were taken as the intersection point of the tangential shrinkage line with the moisture content axis. The experimental results have revealed a trend that the FSP decreases from the pith towards the bark and also decreases with the tree height. Similar behaviour was found for the tangential and longitudinal swelling during the adsorption. The moisture transport within radiata pine was investigated based on the diffusion theory under transient and isothermal condition of 30°C. The moisture dependant diffusion coefficient was derived from the experimental data using the inverse analysis method. The surface emission coefficient was determined by taking into account the variable surface moisture content, wood density and the ambient conditions. In the experiments, 138 samples in total (46 samples for each XIV of the longitudinal, tangential and radial directions) were used and their diffusion coefficients were determined for both the adsorption and the desorption with moisture content ranging from 6% to 22%. The derived diffusion coefficients are comparable with the reported data in the literature. Further investigation of the wood type influence on the diffusion coefficient revealed that compression wood has the lowest diffusion coefficients in the three directions (longitudinal, tangential and radial) both in the desorption and in the adsorption. In addition, the moisture content has the least influence on the diffusion coefficient in the compression wood. Investigation on the effects of the wood density has shown that in general, the diffusion coefficient decreases with increasing wood density although the correlations are only significant for the longitudinal direction in desorption. An analytical model for the simulation of the wood twist was developed which is based on the geometry and geometrical changes of the grains aligning non parallel to the pith. A board consists of numerous such grains which change the length and shape with moisture content change. The model predictions confirm that the grain angle, the tangential and longitudinal shrinkage and the conical angle all affect the development of the board twist. However, the discrepancies between the model prediction and the experimental data are significant, partly due to the experimental uncertainties and partly due to the model errors. In this study, sound velocity in the longitudinal direction was measured for the test samples used in the shrinkage experiments. The results revealed that the correlations between the sound velocity and the volumetric shrinkage at oven dry are significant. Based on this finding, the relationship between the tangential shrinkage and the radial shrinkage, the tangential shrinkage can be predicted from the sound velocity measurements. As the tangential shrinkage has significant influence on the wood distortion, this method can be used to segregate logs which may be prone to wood distortion.

Magnetinio rezonanso tomografija (MRT) yra optimalus diagnostikos metodas vertinant gimdos kaklelio vėžio išplitimą. Pasaulyje pastaraisiais metais atlikta nedaug mokslinių tyrimų, kuriuose vertinamas gimdos kaklelio vėžys difuzinės MRT metodu. Daugumoje jų dalyvavo nedidelis tiriamųjų skaičius. Šis klinikinis tyrimas yra pirmasis Lietuvoje, kuriuo vertinamas gimdos kaklelio vėžys minėtu metodu, todėl jis turi nemažą mokslinę vertę optimizuojant MRT panaudojimo galimybes gimdos kaklelio vėžio diagnostikoje. Darbo tikslas – nustatyti konvencinės ir difuzinės MRT reikšmę vertinant gimdos kaklelio vėžio išplitimą ir chemospindulinio gydymo efektyvumą. Darbo uždaviniai: 1. Įvertinti konvencinės MRT metodu nustatytų gimdos kaklelio vėžio prognozės veiksnių tarpusavio ryšį su klinikinio ir histologinio tyrimų duomenimis. 2. Apskaičiuoti konvencinės MRT diagnostinės vertės parametrus gimdos kaklelio piktybiniam augliui ir liekamajam po chemospindulinio gydymo naviko audiniui. 3. Palyginti tariamojo difuzijos koeficiento (ADC) skaitinės reikšmės vidurkį sveikame gimdos kaklelyje, vėžio pažeistame ir po chemospindulinio gydymo. Nustatyti gimdos kaklelio vėžiui būdingą ADC skaitinės reikšmės ribą. Įvertinti ADC skaitinės reikšmės tarpusavio ryšį su įvairiais klinikinio ir histologinio tyrimų duomenimis. 4. Apskaičiuoti konvencinės ir difuzinės MRT derinio diagnostinės vertės parametrus gimdos kaklelio piktybiniam augliui ir liekamajam po chemospindulinio gydymo naviko audiniui. / Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the optimal method for evaluation of spread of cervical cancer. Only a few diffusion–weighted (DW) MRI studies in the field of cervical cancer have been accomplished around the world. Most of them included a small number of subjects. This is the first clinical study in Lithuania that assesses the cervical cancer by DW–MRI and it has the scientific value in optimizing the use of MRI potential in the evaluation of the diagnostics and treatment efficiency of the mentioned illness. The aim – to identify the significance of conventional and DW–MRI in the assessment of the outspread of cervical cancer and of the efficiency of chemoradiation therapy. The objectives: 1. To assess the interrelationship of prognostic factors of cervical cancer detected by conventional MRI with clinical and histological findings. 2. To calculate the diagnostic value parameters of conventional MRI for the malignant cervical tumor and for the residual tumor tissue after chemoradiation therapy. 3. To compare the mean value of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in a healthy, cancer affected cervix and the cervix after chemoradiation therapy. To identify the value range of ADC typical for cervical cancer. To evaluate the correlation of ADC with the various clinical and histological findings. 4. To calculate the diagnostic value parameters of conventional and DW–MRI combination for the malignant cervical tumor and for the residual tumor tissue after chemoradiation therapy... [to full text]

Accuracy in the effective diffusion coefficient of the gas diffusion layer (GDL)/microporous layer (MPL) is important to accurately predict the mass transport limitations for high current density operation of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells. All the previous studies regarding mass transport limitations were limited to pure GDLs, and experimental analysis of the impact of the MPL on the overall diffusion in the porous GDL is still lacking. The MPL is known to provide beneficial water management properties at high current operating conditions of PEM fuel cells but its small pore sizes become a resistance in the diffusion path for mass transport to the catalyst layer. A modified Loschmidt cell with an oxygen-nitrogen mixture is used in this work to determine the effect of MPL on the effective diffusion coefficients. It is found that Knudsen effects play a dominant role in the diffusion through the MPL where pore diameters are less than 1 μm. Experimental results show that the effective diffusion coefficient of the MPL is only about 21% that of its GDL substrate and Knudsen diffusion accounts for 80% of the effective diffusion coefficient of the GDL with MPL measured in this study. No existing correlations can correlate the effective diffusion coefficient with significant Knudsen contribution.

This thesis explores the concept of displacement of sorbed methane and enhancement of methane recovery by injection of CO2 into coal, while sequestering CO2. The objective of this study was to investigate the diffusion behavior of San Juan Basin coal under single and competitive gas environments. The movement of gas in a coalbed reservoir starts in the coal matrix with diffusion towards the naturally occurring cleat network surrounding the matrix blocks. The gas production potential from coalbed reservoirs under different gas environments was, therefore, estimated by studying the diffusion behavior of the coal type. The results clearly showed that the rate of diffusion increases with decreasing reservoir pressure, the increase being exponential at low/very low pressure. As a final step, a simulation study was carried out using the experimental results to predict long-term gas production from coalbed reservoirs with and without CO2 injection. This was followed by a preliminary economic analysis in order to estimate the feasibility of enhanced recovery method by CO2 injection by calculating the net present value of a project with and without carbon credits. The results showed that it is possible to obtain significant improvement in methane recovery by CO2 injection. However, it becomes economically feasible only with carbon credits.