The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of autoclave heating on the rumen protein degradation characteristics of flaxseed (<i>Linum usitatissimum</i>, cv. Vimy), and to compare them to differences in diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) and Synchrotron based Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy (S-FTIR) measurements of the protein alpha-helix to beta-sheet ratios. Hierarchical cluster analysis (CLA) and principal components analysis (PCA) were also conducted to identify differences in the DRIFT spectra. Flaxseed samples were kept raw for control or autoclaved in batches at 120°C for 20, 40 or 60 min for treatments 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The rumen degradation kinetics of protein were measured along with the protein sub-fractions of the Cornell net carbohydrate and protein system (CNCPS), and chemical composition. Intestinal digestibility was determined using the three-step procedure outlined by Calsamiglia and Stern (1995). Protein supply to the small intestine was determined using the NRC (2001) and DVE/OEB models. The results showed that heating increased dry matter (DM) and ether extract (EE) content, while reducing neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF), with little numerical difference between the three treatments. Soluble crude protein (SCP) also decreased upon autoclaving with concomitant increases in non-protein nitrogen (NPN), neutral detergent insoluble nitrogen (NDIN) and acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN). The CNCPS protein sub-fractions with the greatest changes were the buffer-soluble true protein fraction (PB1) and the fraction representing buffer-insoluble true protein which is not bound to NDF (PB2) showing dramatic increases, indicating a decrease in the overall protein degradability. <i>In situ</i>experiments showed a reduction in effective degradable dry matter (EDDM) as well as a reduction in effective degradable crude protein (EDCP) without significant differences between the treatments. Intestinal digestibility of protein as estimated by the three-step procedure showed no changes upon autoclaving. Modeling results, with flaxseed as the only feed source, for absorbable ruminally-undegraded feed protein in the intestines using both the NRC (2001) and DVE/OEB systems showed increases as a consequence of the autoclave treatments but again there were no differences between the treatments. The degraded protein balance results showed for both the NRC (2001) and DVE/OEB models that both were decreased upon autoclave treatment. However, the values for the NRC (2001) model suggested a potential nitrogen (N) deficiency and, therefore potentially impaired microbial crude protein (MCP) production, whereas the values for the DVE/OEB system showed potential N excess and, therefore, possible loss from the rumen. DRIFT analysis of protein secondary structure ratios showed a decrease in the alpha-helix to beta-sheet ratio for the whole seed, whereas results from S-FTIR spot data for cotyledon tissue showed autoclaving had the opposite effect on the ratio. CLA and PCA were successfully used to make distinctions between the different treatment spectra and showed enhanced sensitivity upon selection of a smaller spectral window to include only the amide I and II portion of the IR spectrum. The results failed to demonstrate any differences between the autoclave treatments used in this study, and showed that autoclaving generally decreased effectively ruminal degradability of flaxseed protein. The results further indicated that autoclaving had a significant enough effect on the flaxseed to permit identification of the altered alpha-helix to beta-sheet ratio with the mid-IR spectrum, as well as differentiation between the treatments using PCA and CLA. PCA and CLA results suggest that mid-IR spectral methods are more sensitive than traditional methods when used to identify differences between the heat treatments.

To make a High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission more energy efficient, the voltage of the system has to be increased. To allow for that the components of the system must be constructed to handle the increases AC and DC stresses that this leads to. One key component in such a transmission is the HVDC converter transformer. The insulation system of the transformer usually consists of oil and oil-impregnated pressboard. Modeling of the electric DC field in the insulation system is currently done with the ion drift diffusion model, which takes into account the transport and generation of charges in the oil and the pressboard. The model is however lacking a description of how charges are being injected from the electrodes and the oil-pressboard interfaces. The task of this thesis work was to develop and implement a model for this which improves the result of the ion drift diffusion model. A theoretical study of ion injection was first carried out and proceeding from this, a model for the ion injection was formulated. By using experimental data from 5 different test geometries, the injection model could be validated and appropriate parameter values of the model could be determined. By using COMSOL Multiphysics®, the ion drift diffusion model with the injection model could be simulated for the different test geometries. The ion injection gave a substantial improvement of the ion drift diffusion model. The positive injection from electrodes into oil was found to be in the range 0.3-0.6 while the negative injection was 0.3 lower. Determination of the parameters for the injection from oil-pressboard interfaces proved to be difficult, but setting the parameters in the range 0.01-1 allowed for a good agreement with the experimental data. Here, a fit could be obtained for multiple assumptions about the set of active injection parameters. Finally it is recommended that the investigation of the ion injection continues in order to further improve the model and more accurately determine the parameters of it. Suggestions on how this work could be carried out are given in the end.

Moon Island, one of 180 drumlins in the Boston, Massachusetts area, is composed of a compact, clayey till with the southeastern slope of the drumlin forming a cliff caused by marine erosion. Samples of pebbles from the cliff-face and drumlin surface show horizontal stratification of till units that are differentiated by pebble size. The stratification is interpreted as evidence that the drumlin was formed in two stages: (1) one or more ice advances or surges which deposited the size-distinctive till layers. Stratigraphic variation of pebble lithologies in the till indicates that the till layers were probably deposited by at least two different ice lobes, and (2) an ice advance which carved the drumlin form without distorting or reshaping the horizontal till layers.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

Duplex stainless steel flanges are normally forged to form, as required by the ASTM A182/A182M standard, but may also potentially be machined directly from forged stainless steel bar. In order to evaluate the integrity of such flanges, axisymmetric elastic-plastic finite element models have been developed, considering static effects such as bolt load and internal pressure. Additionally, tensile testing of a sample forged bar (UNS S31803) has been conducted. The stress distribution in a flange during gasket seating and operating conditions has been determined, as well as the degree of plastic strain caused by the bolt loads. The maximum stresses have been found to be around the same values as the minimum yield strength requirement of the studied material (UNS S31803), and the location of the maximum stress concentrations have been identified as the gasket groove. The tensile tests of the forged bar (UNS S31803) have shown that the yield and tensile strength properties are considerably higher than the standardized minimum requirements. The elastic modulus of the forged bar has also been determined, and was found to be lower than anticipated in the axisymmetric models. Some specimens have also been found to exhibit highly non-linear elastic properties.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of autoclave heating on the rumen protein degradation characteristics of flaxseed (<i>Linum usitatissimum</i>, cv. Vimy), and to compare them to differences in diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) and Synchrotron based Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy (S-FTIR) measurements of the protein alpha-helix to beta-sheet ratios. Hierarchical cluster analysis (CLA) and principal components analysis (PCA) were also conducted to identify differences in the DRIFT spectra. Flaxseed samples were kept raw for control or autoclaved in batches at 120°C for 20, 40 or 60 min for treatments 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The rumen degradation kinetics of protein were measured along with the protein sub-fractions of the Cornell net carbohydrate and protein system (CNCPS), and chemical composition. Intestinal digestibility was determined using the three-step procedure outlined by Calsamiglia and Stern (1995). Protein supply to the small intestine was determined using the NRC (2001) and DVE/OEB models. The results showed that heating increased dry matter (DM) and ether extract (EE) content, while reducing neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF), with little numerical difference between the three treatments. Soluble crude protein (SCP) also decreased upon autoclaving with concomitant increases in non-protein nitrogen (NPN), neutral detergent insoluble nitrogen (NDIN) and acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN). The CNCPS protein sub-fractions with the greatest changes were the buffer-soluble true protein fraction (PB1) and the fraction representing buffer-insoluble true protein which is not bound to NDF (PB2) showing dramatic increases, indicating a decrease in the overall protein degradability. <i>In situ</i>experiments showed a reduction in effective degradable dry matter (EDDM) as well as a reduction in effective degradable crude protein (EDCP) without significant differences between the treatments. Intestinal digestibility of protein as estimated by the three-step procedure showed no changes upon autoclaving. Modeling results, with flaxseed as the only feed source, for absorbable ruminally-undegraded feed protein in the intestines using both the NRC (2001) and DVE/OEB systems showed increases as a consequence of the autoclave treatments but again there were no differences between the treatments. The degraded protein balance results showed for both the NRC (2001) and DVE/OEB models that both were decreased upon autoclave treatment. However, the values for the NRC (2001) model suggested a potential nitrogen (N) deficiency and, therefore potentially impaired microbial crude protein (MCP) production, whereas the values for the DVE/OEB system showed potential N excess and, therefore, possible loss from the rumen. DRIFT analysis of protein secondary structure ratios showed a decrease in the alpha-helix to beta-sheet ratio for the whole seed, whereas results from S-FTIR spot data for cotyledon tissue showed autoclaving had the opposite effect on the ratio. CLA and PCA were successfully used to make distinctions between the different treatment spectra and showed enhanced sensitivity upon selection of a smaller spectral window to include only the amide I and II portion of the IR spectrum. The results failed to demonstrate any differences between the autoclave treatments used in this study, and showed that autoclaving generally decreased effectively ruminal degradability of flaxseed protein. The results further indicated that autoclaving had a significant enough effect on the flaxseed to permit identification of the altered alpha-helix to beta-sheet ratio with the mid-IR spectrum, as well as differentiation between the treatments using PCA and CLA. PCA and CLA results suggest that mid-IR spectral methods are more sensitive than traditional methods when used to identify differences between the heat treatments.

The fast coastal development has caused serious marine pollution with powerless policy and inappropriate management scheme, especially in dealing with the marine debris. The marine debris has been the major coastal problems over the year because of human related activities and nature disasters frequently occurring during the monsoon season or typhoon period each year around the coastal Taiwan. These make the marine debris issues to become the top priority for the government of Taiwan in dealing the marine pollution especially after the 8th of August, 2009. The present study is initiated to assess the current data information, policy, and regulation of Taiwan¡¦s coastal area debris management. This study uses comparative analysis, integrations of internal and external monitoring and management of marine debris-related researches. This thesis reports that Taiwan administration must undertake all three aspects of integration, monitoring and management to effectively managing the marine debris. As the aspect of integration, because marine debris come from land-based emissions, ocean currents carry and sea-based activities, the government needs to consolidate the entire river, rain water drainage systems, ports, ships and fishing areas, to establish an inter-ministerial and responsible agency, to truly develop and implement the bill of marine debris management. As the aspect of monitoring, the central and local government as well as civil society must do their best together to develop the monitoring operations format which needed both considering national unity and local differences, to take long-term continuous monitoring of all major coastal areas, to clarify the source of marine debris, so that government could effectively control the sources of marine debris. As the aspect of management, since the a variety of marine debris sources and diversity of monitoring, the inter-ministerial and responsible agency not only coordinates the various related fields, but also combines the public and private sectors, to truly implement the bill of marine debris management. Overall, Taiwan government must use a variety of economic incentives, cooperation issues and the law, as well as combines the strength of the IV private sectors to effectively manage the management of marine debris.

In this thesis, the a-PMT (amorphous lead magnesium titanate) membranes have been prepared by sol-gel technique as H+ ion sensitive layers. The C-V measurements of the a-PMT/SiO2/Si EIS structures prepared by spin-on coating are used for examining the fabrication parameters and sensing properties. There exhibits the quasi-Nerstain response of 55¡V59 mV/pH in the range of pH 2¡V12, fabricated with the Mg-modified content of 4 mole%, the firing temperature of about 400 ¢J and the thickness of about 0.5

In this thesis, the aluminum nitride (AlN) thin film was selected as a sensing membrane for the H+ ion-sensitive field-effect transistor (ISFET). The AlN thin films were prepared by a rf sputtering technology on the reference electrode/electrolyte /AlN /SiO2/p-Si/Al structure. The capacitance-voltage (C-V) measurement was used to detect the H+ ion concentration and the C-V characteristic curves were obtained in the different pH buffer solutions. On the other hand, AlN thin films were also prepared on the double layer structure of AlN/SiO2 gate ISFET devices. After packaging, the current-voltage (I-V) measurement with a PID temperature controller was utilized to measure a series of the I-V characteristic curves. The threshold voltage can be obtained to evaluate the pH sensitivity in the different pH buffer solutions. Additionally, the effects of non-ideal factors, such as temperature effect, drift and hysteresis phenomenon on the characteristics of the ISFET are also measured, analyzed and compared with other sensing materials. According to the experimental results, it can be found that the ISFET based on aluminum nitride thin film has a superior high pH sensitivity of approximately 50~58 mV/pH at 25¢J. The drift and hysteresis are dependent on the H+ ion concentration in pH=1~11, in which the drift rate increases with the pH value increased and the hysteresis magnitude depends on the measuring time and route. It is found that the hysteresis widths measured in pH=7&#x00AE;3&#x00AE;7&#x00AE;11&#x00AE;7 cycle at 960s, 1920s and 3840s loop time are 1.0, 1.5 and 4.5 mV, respectively. When the temperature effect was considered, it was found that the ISFET could be operated at 5~65¢J, in which, the pH sensitivity increased as the ambient temperature increased with the temperature coefficient of sensitivity of about 0.13 mV/pH¢J. In addition, the output voltage of AlN pH-ISFET can be obtained by a constant current constant voltage (CCCV) read out circuit with a fairly linear response, stability and reproducibility in the pH measuring cycle. From the characteristics mentioned above, the AlN thin film can be as a sensing membrane for pH-ISFET applications.

Hydrogen ion-sensitive field effect transistor with sol-gel-derived La-modified lead titanate gate Department of Electrical Engineering, National Sun Yat-Sen University *Jen-Fu Su **Ying-Chung Chen Abstract In this thesis the amorphous lead lanthanum titanate (Pb1-xLaxTi1-x/4O3, PLT) membrane has been prepared by sol-gel method as a novel pH-sensitive layer. The lead lanthanum titanate membrane was directly deposited on the SiO2(1000&#x00C5;)/p-Si substrate by spin-on coating to form the PLT/SiO2/Si EIS structure. The C-V measurement was used for examining the fabrication parameters and sensing properties. Moreover, the PLT membrane was grown onto the SiO2 gate ISFET as the PLT/SiO2 gate ISFET. The electrical properties with the different parameter conditions can be obtained by the I-V measurement. Experimental results show that the fabrication parameters and characteristics of the PLT membrane are determined at the La-modified content about 3 mol% and the firing temperature of 400¢J via the EIS structure. There exhibits the pH response of about 44-52 mV/pH in the range of pH 2-12. Furthermore, the nonideal factors, such as drift of 0.1-0.3 mV/h, hysteresis of 2-13 mV and lifetime decay of about 72 mV/pH-day, can be also obtained via the I-V properties of the ISFET. Finally, the hardware architecture of pH measuring system has been built up. The system makes use of constant current and voltage bias technique to ensure that the variations of the output voltage can give directly the variations of pH value. For the purpose of achieving the function of data calibration and driving the liquid crystal display (LCD), the 8051 microprocessor is employed. Keywords: ISFET, Sol-gel, Lead lanthanum titanate, Drift, Hysteresis, pH meter * Student ** Advisor

<p>Detta arbetes syfte är att göra en jämförelse av olika organisationer och undersöka vad som kännetecknar den organisation som finns uppbyggd kring intranätet och hur drift och förvaltning bedrivs av intranätet. Även frågan om vem eller vilka som ansvarar för intranätet behandlas i denna rapport. För att kunna göra jämförelser utifrån problemställningen har intervjuer genomförts i sju organisationer, som har eller är på väg att införa ett intranät, där alla är verksamma inom olika områden.</p><p>Slutsatserna visar att många av de större organisationerna har någon form av organisation runt sitt intranät, för de mindre organisationerna, som även har mindre intranät, är det oftast en eller kanske några som hanterar drift och förvaltning av intranätet. Även i avseende på ansvaret för intranätet visar slutsatserna att det främst är de större organisationerna som har en specifik person som ansvarar för intranätet.</p>